[The translation is taken from the Middle High German text from the authoritative edition of Josef Quint. Few of the sermons have as yet appeared in this edition so that the choice was limited; moreover these sermons are for the most part reconstructed somewhat disjointedly from verbatim notes. In reading this sermon therefore one should be careful to remember that here only a portion of the mystic’s thought is given, and that it stands out of its context. But in view of the immense importance of Meister Ekkhart in the subsequent development of mystical theology almost any words of his have a tremendous significance. At risk of misrepresenting the author this excerpt is published as being of considerable interest to those who study the development of mysticism.]

Ekkhart

’In hoc apparuit caritas Dei in nobis (1 John iv. 9).

What has revealed the love of God, where we are concerned, is that he has sent his only-begotten Son into the world, so that we might have life through him’ (that is with him and in him); for all who do not live in the Son, are surely on the wrong road’.