Such are the main characteristics of the
religious teachings which we find in the German mystics. Among the successors of
Eckhart, from whose writings the following extracts are taken, the most notable
names are those of Tauler, Suso, and Ruysbroek. From Tauler I have taken very
little, because a volume of selections from his sermons has already appeared in
this series.[xxv]
Accordingly, it will only be necessary to mention a very few facts about his
life.
John Tauler was born at Strassburg about
1300, and studied at the Dominican convents of Strassburg and Cologne. At both
places he doubtless heard the sermons of Eckhart. In 1329 the great interdict
began at Strassburg, and was stoutly resisted by many of the clergy. It is a
disputed point whether Tauler himself obeyed the Papal decree or not. His
uneventful life, which was devoted to study, preaching, and pastoral work, came
to an end in 1361. Like Eckhart, he had a favourite "spiritual
daughter," Margaret Ebner, who won a great reputation as a visionary.
