The History and Life of the Reverend Doctor John Tauler with Twenty-Five of his Sermons Author(s): Winkworth, Susannah (1820-1884) Publisher: Grand Rapids, MI: Christian Classics Ethereal Library Description: John Tauler was a German Dominican mystic living in the 14th century. He is known as one of the Friends of God, an informal group of Catholic mystics who strove to deepen both their communal relationship as well as their inner spirituality. Tauler was a leader of this group. His sermons demonstrated his mastery of combining the mystical with the concrete, the spiritual with the practical. 25 of his sermons are included in this volume. He also taught that each human has a desire for God which is satisfied through detachment from earthly things. Also in this volume is a biography of Tauler, which allows readers to gain better insight into this ancient religious man©s life and work. Abby Zwart CCEL Staff Writer Subjects: Practical theology Practical religion. The Christian life Mysticism i Contents Title Page 1 “Tauler” by John Greenleaf Whittier 2 Table of Contents 5 Translator’s Preface 10 Preface to the Original Edition 14 The History and Life of the Reverend Doctor John Tauler 23 First Chapter 24 Second Chapter 25 Third Chapter 29 Fourth Chapter 32 Fifth Chapter 34 Sixth Chapter 37 Seventh Chapter 39 Eighth Chapter 42 Ninth Chapter 44 Tenth Chapter 47 Eleventh Chapter 51 Fourteenth Chapter 53 Introductory Notice Respecting Tauler’s Life and Times 56 Sermons of the Reverend Doctor John Tauler 109 I. Sermon for the First Sunday in Advent 110 II. Sermon for the Second Sunday in Advent 114 III. Sermon for the Third Sunday in Advent 117 IV. Sermon for Christmas Day 122 V. Sermon for Epiphany 126 VI. Second Sermon for Epiphany 130 ii VII. Sermon for the Fourth Sunday after Epiphany 134 VIII. Sermon for the Sixth Sunday after Epiphany 140 IX. Sermon for Septuagesima Sunday 142 X. Sermon for Ash Wednesday 149 XI. Sermon for the Second Sunday in Lent 155 XII. Sermon for the Fourth Sunday in Lent 161 XIII. Sermon for Palm Sunday 164 XIV. Sermon for Thursday in Easter Week 169 XV. Sermon for the First Sunday after Easter 173 XVI. Sermon for the Fourth Sunday after Easter 176 XVII. Second Sermon for Fourth Sunday after Easter 180 XVIII. Sermon for Ascension Day 183 XIX. Sermon for Whit Sunday 188 XX. Sermon for the Fourth Sunday after Trinity 195 XXI. Sermon for the Tenth Sunday after Trinity 201 XXII. Sermon for the Twelfth Sunday after Trinity 205 XXIII. Second Sermon for the Twelfth Sunday after Trinity 208 XXIV. Sermon for the Fifteenth Sunday after Trinity 211 XXV. Sermon for St. Stephen’s Day 216 XXVI. Sermon for St. Peter’s Day 224 XXVII. Sermon on a Martyr’s Day 227 Indexes 233 Index of Scripture References 234 Index of Scripture Commentary 235 Index of Pages of the Print Edition 236 iii This PDF file is from the Christian Classics Ethereal Library, www.ccel.org. The mission of the CCEL is to make classic Christian books available to the world. • This book is available in PDF, HTML, ePub, Kindle, and other formats. See http://www.ccel.org/ccel/winkworth/tauler.html. • Discuss this book online at http://www.ccel.org/node/3475. The CCEL makes CDs of classic Christian literature available around the world through the Web and through CDs. We have distributed thousands of such CDs free in developing countries. If you are in a developing country and would like to receive a free CD, please send a request by email to [email protected]. The Christian Classics Ethereal Library is a self supporting non-profit organization at Calvin College. If you wish to give of your time or money to support the CCEL, please visit http://www.ccel.org/give. This PDF file is copyrighted by the Christian Classics Ethereal Library. It may be freely copied for non-commercial purposes as long as it is not modified. All other rights are re- served. Written permission is required for commercial use. iv Title Page Title Page THE HISTORY AND LIFE OF THE 3 REVEREND 45 DOCTOR JOHN TAULER WITH TWENTY-FIVE OF HIS SERMONS Translated from the German, with Additional Notices of Tauler’s Life and Times, by SUSANNAH WINKWORTH Translator of “Theologia Germanica” ALLENSON & CO., LTD. 33 STORE STREET • LONDON W.C.1. Made and printed in Great Britain by 6 A. Wheaton & Co. Ltd., Exeter [1905?] 1 ªTaulerº by John Greenleaf Whittier “Tauler” by John Greenleaf Whittier Tauler By 7 John Greenleaf Whittier TAULER, the preacher, walked, one autumn day, Without the walls of Strasburg, by the Rhine, Pondering the solemn Miracle of Life; As one who, wandering in a starless night, Feels, momently, the jar of unseen waves, And hears the thunder of an unknown sea, Breaking along an unimagined shore. And as he walked he prayed. Even the same Old prayer with which, for half-a-score of years, Morning, and noon, and evening, lip and heart Had groaned: “Have pity upon me, Lord! Thou seest, while teaching others, I am blind. Send me a man who can direct my steps!” Then, as he mused, he heard along his path A sound as of an old man’s staff among The dry, dead linden-leaves; and, looking up, He saw a stranger, weak, and poor, and old. “Peace be unto thee, father!” Tauler said, “God give thee a good day!” The old man raised Slowly his calm blue eyes.” I thank thee, son; But all my days are good, and none are ill.” Wondering thereat, the preacher spake again, “God give thee happy life.” The old man smiled, 8 “I never am unhappy.” Tauler laid His hand upon the stranger’s coarse grey sleeve: “Tell me, O father, what thy strange words mean. Surely man’s days are evil, and his life Sad as the grave it leads to.” “Nay, my son, Our times are in God’s hands, and all our days 2 ªTaulerº by John Greenleaf Whittier Are as our needs: for shadow as for sun, For cold as heat, for want as wealth, alike Our thanks are due, since that is best which is; And that which is not, sharing not his life, Is evil only as devoid of good. And for the happiness of which I spake, I find it in submission to His will, And calm trust in the Holy Trinity Of Knowledge, Goodness, and Almighty Power.” Silently wondering, for a little space, Stood the great preacher; then he spoke as one Who suddenly grappling with a haunting thought Which long has followed, whispering through the dark Strange terrors, drags it, shrieking, into light: “What if God’s will consign thee hence to Hell?” “Then,” said the stranger cheerily, “be it so. What Hell may be I know not; this I know— I cannot lose the presence of the Lord: One arm, Humility, takes hold upon His dear Humanity; the other, Love, Clasps His Divinity. So where I go, He goes; and better fire-walled Hell with Him Than golden-gated Paradise without.” Tears sprang in Tauler’s eyes; a sudden light, Like the first ray which fell on chaos, clove 9 Apart the shadow wherein he had walked Darkly at noon. And, as the strange old man Went his slow way, until his silver hair Set like the white moon where the hills of vine Slope to the Rhine, he bowed his head and said— “My prayer is answered. God hath sent the man Long sought, to teach me, by his simple trust, Wisdom the weary schoolmen never knew.” So, entering with a changed and cheerful step 3 ªTaulerº by John Greenleaf Whittier The city gates, he saw, far down the street, A mighty shadow break the light of noon, Which tracing backward till its airy lines Hardened to stony plinths, he raised his eyes O’er broad façade and lofty pediment, O’er architrave, and frieze, and sainted niche, Up the stone lace-work chiselled by the wise Erwin of Steinbach, dizzily up to where In the noon-brightness the great Minster’s tower, Jewelled with sunbeams on its mural crown, Rose like a visible prayer. “Behold!” he said, “The stranger’s faith made plain before mine eyes. As yonder tower outstretches to the earth The dark triangle of its shade alone When the clear day is shining on its top, So darkness in the pathway of Man’s life Is but the shadow of God’s providence, By the great Sun of Wisdom cast thereon; And what is dark below is light in Heaven.” 10 4 Table of Contents Table of Contents Table of Contents PART I Translator’s Preface 11 Preface by the Rev. Charles Kingsley The History and Life of the Reverend Doctor John Tauler Introductory Notice respecting Tauler’s Life and Times, by the Translator PART II SERMON I. Sermon for the First Sunday in Advent How that we are called upon to arise from our sins, and to conquer our foes, looking for the glorious coming of our Lord in our souls. II. Sermon for the Second Sunday in Advent How that God is very near to us, and how we must seek and find the Kingdom of God within us, without respect to time and place. III. Sermon for the Third Sunday in Advent How that we must wholly come out from ourselves, that we may go into the wilderness and behold God. IV. Sermon for Christmas Day Of the things by which we become children of God.