Theologia Germanica.: Or, Mysticall divinitie : a little golden manuall briefly discovering the mysteries, sublimity, perfection and simplicity of Christianity, in belief and practise. Written above 250 years since in high Dutch, & for its worth translated into Latine, and printed at Antwarp, 1558. Whereto is added definitions theologicall and philosophicall. Also a treatise of the soul, and other additions not before printed.

To the Reader.

Courteous Reader:

WHosoever thou art that lovest and rejoycest in the sublimity, and sim∣plicity of truth; I have here presented thee with a Manual, entituled, The German Di∣vinitie; a Book first written by a certain godly Priest, of the Order of the Lords of Teutonici, in high Dutch; about two hun∣dred and fifty years since, and afterward, for the incomparable value thereof it was tran∣slated out of the Dutch into the Latine tongue; by John Theophilus, and printed at Antwerpe 1558; in which tongue it did lye a long season veiled and obscured, from the eye of the illiterate and unexpert in the same: untill, some years since, through the desires and industries of some of our own Countrimen, lovers of the Truth, it was a∣gain translated, and made to speak to thee in thine own Dialect and Language. But the time of its Nativity being under the late,

wise, and wary Hierarchie, who had mono∣polized and engrossed the discovery of o∣thers into their own hands, keeping the people, wisely, at a distance, and dealing out to them, what, and so much only, for quan∣tity and quality, as seemed best to their grave wisdoms and discretions; lest they should grow as wise, if not wiser then their Teachers; and so the rude vulgar should be∣come as one of us: it walked up and down this City in Manuscripts at deer rates, from hand to hand, of some well-willets to truth, in clandestine, and private manner; like Moses in his Arke, or the little Child fled and hid from Herod: never daring to croud into the Presse, fearing the ruffe usage of those then in authoritie; whose maxime it was, That the Priests lips should preserve knowledge, though misunderstood, or ap∣plyed at least: forgetting this Priest to be the high Priest Jesus Christ after the order of Melchisedeck. But now it hath obtai∣ned such auspicious favour, as to appear without blush in the most publique way; it being ushered into the world under the safe conduct of an Imprimatur, a worthy work of piety and charity, the first to the truth it self, that it might not be buried in

silence through unknown tongues, the other to our own Countrymen, that they might not be buried in ignorance; and that the fa∣mous lights or lamps kindled in other Regi∣ons, might not be rendred uselesse, or un∣profitable to the meanest in literature.

The Author, Translators, and Licencer have done their parts, what remaineth now? but thine to be performed, which is, delibe∣rately to read, seriously to weigh, spiritually to discern, and piously to use and reduce in∣to practice and life, what thou shalt finde worthy herein: proving all things, and hol∣ding fast that which is good.

The Translator John Theophilus, in his Preface hereunto affixed, hath saved me the labour of informing thee, touching the Au∣thour, Nature, Matter, Method, and Style thereof, and in the Table annexed, and sub∣joyned in the end hereof wil direct thee to the several Chapters, and their pages, wich their distinct Contents.

There is nothing left behind for me do, neither to it, or thee; but only to invite thee to taste and see how sweet, how full of life and marrow this small Tracta••e is. it is as the extract or quintessence of other more thick and darkly composed Treatises of

Theology; being much in little: thou shalt finde some kernels herein with their shell ready broken to thine hand; some Riddles in their plain sence unridled; some myste∣ries of Histories revealed: so, that in many things the Scripture Parables are so explai∣ned, that thou shalt say, through the light of the truth herein; now know▪ we that thou speakest plainly and not in parables; mysteries hidden from former ages, being now in measure more brought to light. The Authors minde in the Latine dresse was elegantly, significantly and perspicu∣ously expressed; it may be the English style will not be so taking; yet if matter rather than words, be it thou seekest, here thou hast it according to the best sufficiencie of the Translatour, as I suppose; though he be to me altogether unknown.

In fine, it may well be called the German Divinitie, the child is like the Father, it sheweth it self one of that Imperiall Race, which beareth the Spread Eagle for its de∣vise. For as the Eagle in flight is highest, swiftest, in sight cleerest, in fight strongest; so this Tractate soareth aloft, buildeth on high, even above the starry Heavens, bearing her chickins the children of Truth, upon

wing to the face of the Sun, speedeth unto the farthest end of truth, pierceth into the inwards and bowels thereof, and over-pow∣reth the mind with her veritie, chasing away deceitfull vanity. Were it's worth but known, there would neither want hand or heart to give it entertainment: what more shall I say ? but as the Apostle in another case, Ʋse hospitality, for thereby some have entertained Angels; so use thou hospita∣lity to this German stranger, who knows but that, although he cometh to thee in the evening and twi-light of thy understanding, so that at, and sometime after it's first ap∣proach, 't appear to thee as the Angels did, but mean and in mans garbe, yet at the Sun∣rise before it depart from thee thou mayst see the Spirit and Angel of Gods Truth in it: and if the Father of Lights and Spirits shal lead thee profitably into and through this, it shal be an engagement to him, to pre∣sent thee with some other of the like nature, who is a lover of thee and the truth in the Truth.

Giles Randall.