The other thing that one finds in the wilderness is an assortment of beautiful flowers, for here they cannot be trodden upon by people. In the same way, a separate life may be compared to the wilderness. Many virtues are only obtained with good and strict practice. Whether it is with suffering or pain, it must be practiced, and as a result, few attain it. One finds white lilies and white flowers, which are the purity of the body and soul. One also finds red roses, which are the consumption of flesh and blood in order to overcome sin, even to the point of enduring martyrdom. This is not easily learned in the world. In this wilderness, one finds the violets of humility as well as other noble roots and flowers, which are the many good examples of the saints. In this wilderness, you are to pursue for yourself that good dwelling place, which is a good life, following after the saints in purity, in poverty, in obedience, and other virtues. As it is written in the Song of Songs: “Many flowers have revealed themselves in our lands, which means that many people have died in good virtue and life.”
The third thing that one finds in the wilderness is so few necessities. Therefore, the wilderness is impossible for those who love this world. For this same reason, the children of Israel complained against Moses for many faults. In this one understands a modest life in unity, and that is to live in debt to everyone. For if a person required all the world, he would still be in debt to take his necessity with fear alone, for thus the soul is strengthened. How few desires of the senses are here in this wilderness, but there is much comfort of the spirit which supersedes the world’s desires. Isaiah says, “The Lord shall comfort them in the wilderness, in the forests, and their unity [convent] is as a court of our Lord.” He also says, “Water will flow again in the wilderness and rivers in the fields.” Therefore, the one soul overcomes many more children of the holy service than the one who trusts in the world. God commanded Pharaoh to let God’s people go out into the wilderness, where they were to offer to the Lord and take spiritual comfort, for Egypt was worldly comfort.
The third point that one is to see is that when a person goes out into the wilderness, then he is admonished to see with internal eyes the King and his bride, which is the soul in which all loveliness is hidden. It is written, “Go out, you daughters of Zion, and see King Solomon,” referring to Christ. As Isaiah says, “Unto us a son is born and his name shall be wonderful.” Now see how wonderful God is in his deity, that he became human for the sake of his bride. That is the wonder of which Moses saw and spoke, “I will go and behold this great sight, that the thornbush is burning but not consumed.”
The thornbush is his human nature; the flame was his noble soul, burning with love. The light was his deity unified with the mortal and physical body. Now behold this Christendom and Solomon, into whom wisdom was poured; wisdom that had no end and understood all things. He is the truth, which has taught us the way of heaven. The soul should behold him, so that it follows him in the Spirit and not according to its nature. The nature of distastefulness shall be reinforced when it views the nature of its king. He completed his pilgrimage, and this shall greatly comfort the loving soul, which at times views its human sickness, and at times rejoices in its spiritual life.
One of the masters stated, “An abundance of pleasure weakens the strength, and superfluous spiritual waves consume the spirit.” Since great joy cannot last forever, it is necessary for joy to transform, for the soul does not yet inherently serve God in the Holy of Holies (Sancta sanctorum). O holy and intoxicating chalice, how clear are you! For this reason, the soul should gaze on the holy sovereignty from time to time during the time of its virtuous humanity. The unvisited and foreign souls should be encouraged in their need to believe in God. But an inwards-oriented, examined, and experienced soul should be encouraged in its need to gaze on this King in his beauty. With inwards-focused eyes, the loving soul shall gaze upon its fellow Christians to discern whether to endure them or resist them. Bernhard states, “O Lord, come and reign now on your throne, for I am often tempted to sit on that throne.” Self-importance, greed, impurity, and failure desire to be my king. As a result, malicious rumors, anger, hate, etc., all come to fight with me and desire to reign in me. I withstand them, I complain against them and say, “I have no other king other than Christ.” O peaceful King, come and reign in me, for I desire no king but you. O Lord, I tolerate you with astonishment, with knocking, with pleas, with many sufferings, and with joy. O, who shall let go from preparing himself for such a king? For God has made our finite nature receptive to his godly essence, and took upon himself our nature. He is covered in the color of our nature, and his beauty has been revealed to us. He loves us more than we love him. I would be completely damnable if I did not love him above all else, for he desires nothing from anyone but that they love him. Therefore, our first action must be a complete departure from ourselves so that we may secondly come into the sacred wilderness, and thirdly may desire the true king and recognize and behold the groom of our soul. To this end, Moses must lead us; that is, a good will in the mountain of divinity. But the people who were led and guided by Moses out of Egypt find it easy to return to the old ways, the familiar behaviors from which they recently turned. They cast a golden calf, follow the old flesh-driven ideas, the sensual or worldly thoughts to live according to the flesh and to serve the belly; to need, instead, the creature, not God. To this end, we need the true Moses, Jesus Christ, so that he may lead and guide us, and draw us after himself, so that we might again go out into the internal desert of our hearts, because God lies hidden there.
That we might all come to this end, so help us, God. Amen.
- translated from German to English by Laura Glassel
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Elements of Life, A Collection of Poetry.
Grace Upon Grace (31-Day Devotional).
Growing in Love: What Does It Look Like to Follow Jesus? An Exploration of the Letter of 1 John
Melanchthon’s German Catechism translated into English.
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