The Labyrinth of the World and the Paradise of the Heart

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Paulist Press, 1998 - Religion - 250 pages
"The texts are first-rate, and the introductions are informative and reliable. The books will be a welcome...addition to the bookshelf of every literate religious person." Spiritual Life John Comenius: The Labyrinth of the World and The Paradise of the Heart translated and introduced by Howard Louthan and Andrea Sterk preface by Jan Milic Lochman "May the mercy of God be praised, for he opened my eyes also, enabling me to see the manifold vanities of this pompous world and the wretched deceit hiding everywhere under outward brilliance. I have learned to seek peace and security of mind elsewhere." From To the Reader, 4 The study of Protestant spirituality in the early modern period has generally focused on Puritans and Pietists. The tradition of the Slavic Reformation that culminated with John Amos Comenius (1592-1670) has been largely ignored. This volume seeks to redress this imbalance by introducing Comenius's neglected masterpiece, The Labyrinth of the World, to a broader audience. Though a better known as the father of modern education, Comenius was a pastor and spiritual leader of the Bohemian Brethren (Unitas Fratrum), a Czech Protestant group inspired by the Hussite movement of the fifteenth century. The Labyrinth, an allegory of the spiritual journey in the style of Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress, represents the culmination of his literary accomplishments. The work was written against the backdrop of the calamitous Thirty Years' War and Comenius's profound personal sufferings. His satirical castigation of the world's false ambitions and values is paralleled by a deep yearning for understanding and experience of life with God. The work comprises two parts. The first introduces a pilgrim in search of a profession. Escorted by a series of guides who lead him through the maze of life's occupations, he visits tradesman, scholars, clergy, rulers and various other classes of society. Disillusioned by the petty rivalries and deception that mark every vocation he explores, the pilgrim ultimately despairs of the vanity and emptiness of human existence. In the second part of the text the pilgrim turns inward, where he finds "the paradise of the heart." After encountering Christ, he is led on a spiritual journey among those who have found the true meaning of life in relationship with God. With the collapse of communism in Eastern Europe, Comenius has reemerged as one of this region's most prophetic and relevant figures. Though written three centuries ago, his Labyrinth is a timely critique of the postmodern world and its spiritual plight. +

From inside the book

Contents

To the Reader
1
Introduction
7
Notes to Introduction
46
The Labyrinth of the World and the Paradise of the Heart
55
On the Reasons for Wandering in the World
62
Chapter 6
70
Chapter 8
78
Chapter 9
84
Solomon with His Great Retinue Comes to the Palace of Wisdom
170
The Pilgrim Observes the Secret Judgments and Government of the World
171
Solomon Reveals the Vanities and Deceptions of the World
180
Chapter 14
181
Solomons Company Is Dispersed Captured and Put to Hideous Death
183
The Pilgrim Wants to Flee from the World
185
The Pilgrim Finds His Way Home
186
He Receives Christ as His Guest
188

A General Survey
93
Chapter 11
102
Chapter 12
112
The Pilgrim Observes the Legal Profession
119
The Pilgrim Observes the Promotion of Masters and Doctors
121
The Pilgrim Observes the Religious Profession
122
He Examines the Christian Religion
125
The Pilgrim Observes the Ruling Class
134
The Military Profession
142
The Knightly Order
145
The Pilgrim Finds Himself Among the Newsmen
147
First of All the Entrance
149
The Pilgrim Observes the Lifestyle of the Rich
151
The Ways of the Hedonists
153
Life of the Worlds Elites
158
The Glory of the Famous People in the World
159
The Pilgrim Begins to Despair and Quarrels with His Guides
163
The Pilgrim Examines the Castle of Wisdom the Queen of the World
165
The Pilgrim Is Accused at the Palace of Wisdom
166
Their Betrothal
189
How the Pilgrim Was Transformed
195
The Pilgrim Is Sent to the Invisible Church
196
The Light of True Christians
198
The Freedom of Hearts Devoted to God
202
The Code of True Christians
203
All Things Are Light and Easy for Hearts Devoted to God
207
The Saints Have an Abundance of All
209
The Security of People Committed to God
210
The Godly Have Complete Peace
213
The Godly Have Constant Joy in Their Hearts
217
The Pilgrim Examines Christians According to Their Classes
218
The Death of Faithful Christians
221
The Pilgrim Is Received into Gods Household
222
The Conclusion of All
223
Notes to Text
226
Selected Bibliography
240
Index
247
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