Chapter 33. How when a Man is made truly Godlike, his Love is pure and u... (Theologia Germanica) (Rhineland Mystics)

Hence it followeth, that in a truly Godlike man, his love is pure and unmixed, and full of kindness, insomuch that he cannot but love in sincerity all men and things, and wish well, and do good to them, and rejoice in their welfare. Yea, let them do what they will to such a man, do him wrong or kindness, bear him love or hatred or the like, yea, if one could kill such a man a hundred times over, and he always came to life again, he could not but love the very man who had so often slain him, although he had been treated so unjustly, and wickedly, and cruelly by him, and could not but wish well, and do well to him, and show him the very greatest kindness in his power, if the other would but only receive and take it at his hands. The proof and witness whereof may be seen in Christ; for He said to Judas, when he betrayed Him: "Friend, wherefore are you come?" Just as if He had said:

"You hate Me, and art Mine enemy, yet I love you and am your friend. You desirest and rejoicest in My affliction, and do the worst you can to Me; yet I desire and wish you all good, and would fain give it you, and do it for you, if you would but take and receive it." As though God in human nature were saying: "I am pure, simple Goodness, and therefore I cannot will, or desire, or rejoice in, or do or give anything but goodness.

If I am to reward you for your evil and wickedness, I must do it with goodness, for I am and have nothing else." Hence therefore God, in a man who is "made partaker of His nature," desireth and takes no revenge for all the wrong that is or can be done to Him. This we see in Christ, when He said:

"Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do."

Likewise it is God's property that He does not constrain any by force to do or not to do anything, but He alloweth every man to do and leave undone according to his will, whether it be good or bad, and resisteth none.

This too we see in Christ, who would not resist or defend Himself when His enemies laid hands on Him. And when Peter would have defended Him, He said to Peter: "Put up your sword into the sheath: the cup which My Father hasgiven Me, shall I not drink it?" Neither may a man who is made a partaker of the divine nature, oppress or grieve any one. That is, it never entereth into his thoughts, or intents, or wishes, to cause pain or distress to any, either by deed or neglect, by speech or silence.