[Note: the Ruysbroek selection has not
been reproduced in this electronic edition. An electronic text of a larger
collection of Ruysbroek's works may be available.]
8.
THEOLOGIA GERMANICA
The "Theologia Germanica," an
isolated treatise of no great length by an unknown author, was written towards
the end of the fourteenth century by one of the Gottesfreunde, a
widespread association of pious souls in Germany. He is said to have been
"a priest and warden of the house of the Teutonic Order at Frankfort."
His book is both the latest and one of the most important productions of the
German mystical school founded by Eckhart. The author is a deeply religious
philosopher, as much interested in speculative mysticism as Eckhart himself, but
as thoroughly penetrated with devout feeling as Thomas a Kempis. The treatise
should be read by all, as one of the very best devotional works in any language.
My only reason for not translating it in full here is that a good English
translation already exists,[xxx]
so that it seemed unnecessary to offer a new one to the public. I have therefore
only translated a few characteristic passages, which are very far from
exhausting its beauties, and a few of the more striking aphorisms, which
indicate the main points in the religious philosophy of the writer.
