PROLOGUE.¹¹   The following passages are taken from the Prologue prefixed by the B. Henry Suso to a manuscript copy of his Life and Writings. They contain all in it that relates to the Life. The Prologue is to be found in the ancient printed copies, and is quoted by Diepenbrock in his preface.

THE following book speaks throughout in an instructive manner of the life of a beginner, and contains, for those who look beneath the surface, information respecting the proper way in which a beginner should order his outer and inner man so as to be in harmony with God’s all-lovely will. And since good works are undoubtedly a better guide, and sometimes shed a brighter light into a man’s heart than mere words, therefore the book recounts, as examples, many different holy actions, which really and truly took place just as they are related. The book also tells of a man’s progress in holiness; that is, how, by avoiding things, by sufferings, and by exercises, he may break through his unmortified animal nature, and arrive at great and exalted dignity. Moreover, since there are some 2men who, with courageous hearts, strive to grasp at what is highest and best, and yet, from want of the necessary knowledge to discriminate, go astray and miss the road, therefore this book gives instruction how to distinguish rightly between a true and false use of reason in spiritual things; and it teaches the orderly and proper course by which a man may attain to the unalloyed truth of a blessed and perfect life.

It should be also mentioned, that the pages of this book lay for many years locked up in secret, awaiting the Servitor’s death; for he was in very truth reluctant to disclose himself to any one by means of them, so long as he lived. At length, however, his reason told him that, in these days of the decline of the human race, it would be better and safer that the book, by God’s permission, should be submitted to his superiors while he was still living, and could answer for its truth in all points, than after his death. And this, moreover, even though it should fall out that certain ignorant men, whose words are in no way worthy of account, should pass false and perverted judgments upon it, either because they would not regard the Servitor’s good intention in the matter, or because they were unable, from want of spiritual 3refinement, to comprehend any thing higher than what they had experienced in themselves. Besides it was quite possible that the book might, after his death, come into the possession of lukewarm and unspiritual men, who would not give themselves the trouble to communicate it for God’s glory to those who would receive it eagerly; and in this way the book might perish without fruit. Or again, it might chance to fall into the hands of men intellectually blind or morally bad, who from their sinful dislike of it might suppress it, as has often happened in other cases. Therefore, with the divine assistance, he took courage, and extracted from this book the sublimest thoughts and the most elevated teaching which it contains, and himself gave these extracts to a learned doctor, named Master Bartholomew, to read; a man richly endowed by God with virtues and graces, and of approved experience in spiritual science, and furthermore a Prelate with supreme jurisdiction over the order of Friars Preachers throughout Germany. The Servitor humbly gave him up the book, and he read it through with great satisfaction of heart, and pronounced that it was, all of it, as it were, a kernel of hidden truth drawn from Holy Writ for all clear-sighted men.

Afterwards, when the ordinary teaching had been added to it, in order that every man might find there what would suit him, and the Servitor was about to lay this part also before the Prelate, the good God withdrew from hence this noble Master. The Servitor, on hearing of his death, was exceedingly afflicted, for he knew not what to do. He therefore betook himself with great earnestness to the Eternal Wisdom, and prayed that it might be shown him what was the best thing to do in this affair. After a time his prayer was heard, and the aforenamed Master appeared to him in a bright vision, and told him that it was God’s good will that the book should be henceforth communicated to all good-hearted men, who with a right intention and an eager longing might desire to have it.

He then who wishes earnestly to become a good and blessed man, and who longs after special intimacy with God, or who has received a token of God’s love in heavy sufferings, as God’s way is with His peculiar friends,—such a man will find this book a help and comfort. It will also serve as a guide for good-hearted men to divine truth, as well as teach men of reason the right road to supreme bliss.