Preface.

[He] speaks to His own / so that the god-
less / who are on the outside / do not un-
derstand / what He says to His children
or what He intends / just as Christ
clearly says / that He therefore speaks
veiled in parables original: "Parabolis." From the Greek for "throwing alongside," a comparison or riddle that requires spiritual insight to decode. / through an al-
legorical, figurative speech (as
Pythagoras did with his dis-
ciples The Greek philosopher Pythagoras was known for his "Acousmatici"—students who listened to his teachings from behind a veil, receiving only the "outer" word until they were ready for the inner secrets.) / so that His
mystery remains hidden under the cloak
of the letter original: "Buchstabens." Franck distinguishes between the "dead letter" (the literal text) and the "living Spirit" (the inner meaning). / and remains within
the school Franck often refers to the "School of the Spirit," the internal community of true believers taught directly by God. / covered from the god-
less / and only perceived by His
children / Matt. 12.
John 12. Not that God with-
draws / but because He knows /
that they are not capable or
worthy of the truth / indeed, that they
are the swine and dogs / who only
trample upon it with their feet A reference to Matthew 7:6: "Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs.". For this
reason He keeps it from them / and
hides the Spirit / the dis-
position of Christ / the understanding of