Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2010 with funding from Research Library, The Getty Research Institute http://www.archive.org/details/worksofjacobbehm01bohm T^JiU/: -the Tätt . THE WORKS O F JACOB BEHMEN, The Teutonic Theofopher. VOLUME I. CONTAINING, I. THE AURORA, n. THE THREE PRINCIPLES. To which is prefixed. The Life of the Author. With F I G u R E s, iUuftrating his P r i n c . p l e s, left by the Reverend W i l l i a m L a w, M. A. LONDON, Printed for M. R i c h a r d s o n, in Pater-nofter Row. MDCCLXIV. ADVERTISEMENT. EACH Volume of the Works of Jacob Behmen will be illuftrated with Figures, left by the Reverend Mr. Law. He had begun a Dialogue, to be prefixed as an Introdudion,* which was left unfinifhed. But the ineftimable Fragment, now publiflied, will fufficiently anfwer the Defign of the Whole, as it gives a clear, though concife Charader of this divinely illuminated Writer. It is proper to obferve, that in theTranflation of thefe Writings, where it is difficult at firft to underftand fome of the Words, {yl nonymous Expreffions are placed in the Margin, and fometimes betwixt two Semiquadratures [ ] in the Body of the Work. A 2 AN ILLUSTRATION OFT HE DEEP PRINCIPLES OF JACOB BEHMEN, the Teutonic Theofopher, IN FIGURES Leftby the Reverend WILLIAM LAW, M.A. DIALOGUE BETWEEN Zelotes, Alphabetus, Rusticus, and Theophilus. A FRAGMENT. 'Jljpbakfus. W^)^'^Wti'^^ are glad to fee you, Thecphirus, and the more fo, be- ^^)*K)K)!K^^ caufe we begun to defpair erf it. You have fo long, QQ W ^W ^"^ ^° ^^^^^ P"*^ °^ ^^^^ Meeting, that it has been ge- 6S C J nerally thought Things were at a full Stand with you, '^l^'^y^yn&l^ ^"^ ^^^^ y°" ^^^ ^^ unable to give up, as to defend tbeopMus. _ It will perhaps feem flrange to you that I Ihould begin with faying, that the Principles which I am here to vindicate would need no general Apology to be made for them, but becaufe they open and affert the true and plain Ground Vrom- which all Things proceed, and on which all Things ^and. For this fhould rather feem to be a Reafon of their needing no Apology at all, than that it fhould be wanted every where. But if it be confidered, that all the different Seds and Parties of Religion are but different Opinions built only upon the Ruins of one another, and have no further or deeper Knowledge than how to difcover and confute each other's Falflioods, it muft be plain, that \i Truth ///>//" fhould appear, as they would all be equally demolilhed by it, fo they would all have but one and thtfame Reafon to cry out bitterly againft it, as equally the fame Enemy to them all. Was there a Book publifhed that only confuted fome particular Seft of Men, all' the reft of the learned and religious World, would not only not be offended at it, buu according to their different Degrees of Zeal wifh it God Speed. But when a Book comes out in which Truth comes forthas it is initfelf, and in fuch; an open full Manifcftation, as not to lop off here and there a Twig or Branch, but to pluck up the whole Root and Tree of all Errors, leaving it no Ground to fpring: up again, fuch a Book becomes a common Scandal and Offence to AH, and AH mult unite in taking up Arms againft it, the Heated Enthufiüfl^ the Dry Scholaflic, th« Sagacious Critic, the Weighty Cor/imentator, the Scribe and Pharifee, every Methodift- and Moravian L^^JtT, the Orthodox i?z/?W//?, and the Pathetic ZeiJ7a;Tr, will all con- tribute their Mite of Skill towards the Demolilhing fuch a dangerous Invader of M their Territories. vi A D I A LO G U E &c. This is manifeftly the Cafe of that Depth and Fulnefs of divine Light and Truth, opened by the Grace and Mercy of God in the poor illiterate Be/men, who was fo merely an Inftrument of divine Diredion, as to have no Ability to think, fpeak, or write any Thing, but what fprung up in him, or came upon him, as independently o£ himfelf, as a Shower of Rain falls here or there mdependenlly''oi the Place where it falls. His Works being an Opening of the" Spirit of God working in him, are quite out of the common Path of iVIan's reafoning Wifdom, and proceed no more according to it, than the living Plant breathes forth its Virtues according to fuch Rules of Skill, as an Artill muft ule to kl up a painted dead Figure of it. But as the Spirit of God 'u.-crked in the Creation of all Things, fo the fame Spirit worked and opened in the Ground and Depth of his created Soul an inward Senfibility of it. His AVritJngs begin where the Spirit of God begun in the firft Rife of Nature and Creature. Tliey are led on by the Spirit of God, as it went on in the Creation of Angels and Men, and all this material Syftem of Things. The All-creating Spirit of God which did, and ftill does all in every Birth and Growth of Life, opened its Procedure in this Chofer) Infl-rument, fliowing how all Things came from a ivor/kiJig JVill of the Holy Triune Incomprehenfible God, manifefting himfelf as Father, Soft, and Holy Spirit, through an outivard perceptible working Triune Power oi Fire, Light, and Spirit, both in the eternal Heaven, and in this temporal tranfitory State of ma- terial Nature : Showing from this eternal Matiifefiation of God in the Unity and Trinity of heavenly lire, Light, and Spirit, hozo and tvh^.t Angels and Men were in their Creation -, how they are in and from God, his real Oftspring, and born Par- takers of the divine Nature ; how their Life begun in and from this divine Fire, which is the Father of Light, generating a Birth of Light in their Souls, from both which proceeds the Holy Spirit, or Breath of Divine Love in the Triune Creature, as it does in the Triune Creator : Showing how fome Angels and all Men are fallen from God, nnd their firfi: State of a Divine Triune Life in Him ; what they are in their fallen State-, and the Difference between the Fall of Angels and that of Man: Showing alfo what and whence there is Good and F.vil in all this temporal World, in all its Crea- tures, animate and inanimate, fpiritual and material •, and what is meant by the Curfe that dwells every where in it : Showing what are the Natures, Powers, and Qiialities of all Creatures; what and whence and why their numberlefs Variety; what they have of Good in them, and how they have it; what is the Evil in tliem, and why there is fuch Strife and Enmity betwixt Creatures and Creatures, Elements and Ele- ments, what is meant by it, to what End it works, and when it (hall ceafe ; how and why Sin and Mifery, Wrath and Death, fliall only reign for a Time, till the Love, 'the Wifdom, and the Power of God, fhall in a Superjiatv.rallVay (the Myflery of God Viiade Man) triumphing over Sin, Mifery, and Death, make fallen Man rife to the Glory of Angels, and this material Syftem fhake off its Curfe, and enter into an cverlafting Union with that Heaven from whenpe ic fell. A N A D D R E S S T O T H E EARNEST LOVERS OF WISDOM. ^;^gf^^)!5?g^^ H E whole World would not contain the Books that would be 1^^ ^ ^ k.j^ written of Chrift, if all that he did and fpoke ftiould be written Jg[*C J^^K °f h™' flowing from that Fountain of Wifdom which dwelt Wy* vm ^" ^™ • ^^^^^ ^^^^ can be expefted in a fhort Introduftion, ^-U^^-t/^^^lii but fome few Obfervations of the Foot-Steps and Paths of kjM(^®^kj«( Wifdom ? Many have been her Scholars, in the Way which Nature has inclined them to, or God in them, that have kindled the divine Nature, and have been made Partakers of it in their Souls : We may perceive their Excellence by what has been left on Record by them. This Author, Jacob Behmen, efteems not merely his own outward Reafon, but acknowledges to have received a higher Gift from God, freely beftowed upon him, and left in Writing, for the Good of thofe that fhould live after him. And in his Writings he has difc&vered fuch a Ground, and fuch PriiYciples, as reach into the deepeft iMyfteries of Nature, and lead to the attaining of the higheft powerful na- tural Wifdom, fuch as was among the Philofophers Hermes 'Trifmegißta, Zorcnfler, Pythagoras, Plato, and other deep Men, both ancient and modern, converlant in. the Myfteries of Nature. Thefe Principles lead to the attaining fuch Wifdom as was taught in Egypt, in all which Learning Mojes had Skill, to the Wifdom which was taught in Babylon among %\iQCaldeens, AJtrologians, andWifemen ox Älagi, among whom Dafttel \vaseduGat«dv ^"^ -^^^ Addrefs to the earmß Lovers of Wifdom. and to that Widiom of the Eafl:, from w4nce came the M../, who faw the Strr that led them to >-.>/,;. and ,o Bethlehem, where they faw%he Chi d Je Us and .f Tl!'%? a""1 •^"'^o^/'"'''^!^' ^" his Writings lead to the attaining the Wifdom SL no. ?k' '"'' ^'^''^'", '^''^' ^"'^ ^^°^^ ^" '^he Pr.t..r^., and in a Book (whkh has not yet been extant with us, but was reported to have been in the Eaft) wherdn of TlTv^nVcSuä/"" '" ^'''' " ^'^ ^°^^ ^^^^ S-- "P- ^^^ Wat and" His Ground dii"cov-ers the Way to attain, not only the deepeft Mvfleries of Na- ture but D.v.ne Wdom rheofophy, the Wifdom of Faith, which ftl e Su^ ftance Thk XV?? f ^ ^°'' '"^ '^'^ ?"'^^"^^ °^ Things not feen with the outward Eyes I h>s \\ Udoni bnngs our inward Eyes to fee fuch Things as Mofes faw in the ixlmmt" ft .t "hi'; m;^'''^/^'^"/''' V°?^ "^^"^^ ^''^^^d-' ^-h Things as GvS w H r r ^ ^^^f ^^"^ P'^y^d ^^^^ h^^ 5yes "^ight be opened, his in- fJeinl r* "^ ■' outvvardwere as open before, 'if not rSore, than any of our", t 2X ?/^;7' r' ? ^h^'"' ' Prophet fo they were opened, and he L Angel ifÄ-r f ^ Aich Things as 6V./^.« faw, who faw Jefus fitting at the Riaht- iCd 1^° ' T. '"' ^'" '^Tf ?"^^ '^^ ^"'^^ °f ^" ^"g^^l -t hi? Stoning, ''and Fml who aw 1 hings unutterable in Paradife, when his ou" ward Eyes were'ftruck blind : Such V\ ifdom as this fees and knows all Myfteries, fpeaks all Tongues of fSnlt ;?: ?\r"'S^°"rf '? -^'^^^ "^'""^ ^" theCre'atures by in p'^aradife Ton k n .f P f '? ^ ^u'; '^' Enjoyment of which Men would give all their Co™r nn i- ' \ ^f'?^ ' ' '^^'"S '^ ^^ ^'^ ^"J«y '^ i" this Life •. But whilft no Sthe M^y r^'I^^T^ ^^^^^^^ ^^^ Seed of Faith w not bear lie truit of eternal Lite in Paradife for ever, where there is nothincr hnr an eternal Miracle, of which all Miracles on Earth are but in Part but wlef tha S' V'-^Ä '^rrVr ^'"' fV" " ""P"^^'^ ^^" be done' away Th s h.\vudoin by which Mofes wrought his Wonders above Nature, and all the Pro- phets from the firft KoChriß , and k is that which our Saviour jjfus Ch ft himSf \.^Vt\-^'^^K^ thefe Writings, Men may come to know (every one according, to o aU Sot" mav I?'"'' v".' ^"^^-^^-") >«- ^» ^he real fSiffercLes of Opin ons! ? Im ^5 ff ' ^ . reconciled ; even the n.ceft Differences in all Ages. That which eadie tl!^^ rt N '" TT' "^'^^ ^-^ ■"^conc.led, by confidering what this Author eaches, tha the Names which were given to the feven Planets, fignify the feven lopernes of the eternal Nature, and are the Caufe of all thofe fhings,^hich are deepScaX"of"ali:" ^''P""^^-^ in Nature- frequently accountedM:e firft and Thereby aUo the Difterences in Religion may be fo reconciled, that the Minds plt?rca"""or 'Y'^'l^''^ P-^°- -^y be fatisfied about the moft difficult .Hw ! 1 ^^ . """' Corruption, Salvation, and Reitoration, fo clearly, that i rn arl m' ^""-^f ^'■'. f .^^ ^^at hard LefTon, to love our Tnemie's, will be readily W%' f ^'? will qinckly contribute to the ftudying that one neceffary Thin/ that I' 1 his iL K-f' ^"''^ |"^Love, Chrift and God, when they Ihall perceive heSJ'i J / f r'" r''^ ?°"'' '" °"' ^^^'■"'■^ °'- °^'^^'-' ^"d may be totind, and t.K \\ ay let down fo plain, that every Soul may find it. Thereby An AcUr^fs to the earneß Lovers of Wifdom. Thereby the Writings of all Men will be underftood, and the very darkeft Myfteries contained in the Writings of the Prophets and Apoftles will be made plain and eafy to the moft fimple thirfty Soul ; and when that appears which is no'.v hidden, when that excellent Glory fliall dilcover itfelf to Men, they will not only fee it, but walk in the Way of it, and fo attain it in the higheft Degree of every one's Capacity. Read thefe Writings diligently and ferioudy, till you apprehend the Meaning but of fome Part of the W^ay this Author defcribes, which may well be done, and you will be fatisfied the Things are true, and that the Way he fhows is true, and be able to walk in it, and alfo be very earned to profecute that Way more and more, till you attain your whole Defire; and then you will keep them as an ineftimable Jewel, a Memorial of all Myfteries. But let All read them themfelves, the greateft King that fits upon a Throne, or the meaneft Slave, or let them hear them read, if they propofe and defire to par- take of this fo high a Gift from the moft High, or elfe, by Prejudice and Perverlion of others, the Devil may eafily deprive them of it. IK. Vö.L. L THE LIFE O F JACOB B E H M E N, The Teutonic Theofopher. K)^)^j§C)3i^'^H0EVER have made their Appearance in the World ia ^'^M.^^'Q'^ a truly godlike Form, and only in a pure fpiritual Miniftra- Bö -^Y §§ tion, it has had the greatePc Antipathy and Averfion to them M55C K^ that can pofllbly be conceived. And in the whole Creation, KSsC^M)ö(ie(^ there are not two Forms of Beings more intirely contrary to each It is very true, that Mofes, Joßiia, Samuel, David, and Others, came forth in this Life in much Applaufe, but had withal a Delegation to the temporal Maglftracy, wherein by God's good Power they led the People through many- Difficulties, made them vidorious, and gave them PoflefFxons, and Reputation among the Nations round them ; all which allayed and lefTened the Hatred, which the divine Form in which they lived neceflarily produces. And yet, notwithftanding, fome of them had died under the People's Hands, had not God entrufted with them, upon defperate Mutinies, miraculous Ope- rations, beyond the Power of ordinary Men, to put a flop to the heady Rage of the Multitude. But as for thofe, whom in thefe laft Ages he has fent with this plain uncouth Meffage to Mankind, to injoin them to drive with Earneftnefs, telling them they fhiil have Heaven, a Joy, a Paradife, a Territory, a Dominion ; but that all this is in themfelves, the Territory is themfelves, that it is in the Devil's Pofleflion, there he rules, and lives ; that with him they muft encounter, and cafi: him forth, elfe their expected Heaven will turn into a Hell ; thefe are dif- mal Mellengers of odious Things, efpecially to thofe, that in their feveral Forms of Religion have been promifed eternal Happinefs at a far cheaper Rate. We may appeal to the World, whether thefe Meffengers of evil Tidings do not well defcrve to be crucified, and the Dodtiines of Indulgence anql T M p u TAT I o N reftored to their ancient Dignity. a z xii T H E L I E E O F There is a fmall Market-Town in the Upper Lufatia, called Old Seidenbtirg^ diflant from Görlitz about a Mile and half, in which hved a Man whofe Name was Jacob, and his Wife's Name was Vrfula. People they were of the poorefl Sort, yet of fober and honefi: Behaviour. In the Year j 575 they had a Son, whom they Xi-SiXXi^^ "Jacob, This was the divinely-illuminated J ac oB Behmen, the Teutonic Theofopher, whom God raifed up, in the moil proper Period, both as to the Chiliad and Century, to fhow the Ground of the Myftery of Nature and Grace, and open the Wonders of his Wifdom. His Education was fuitable to their Wealth, his hrft Employment being the Care of the common Cattle among the reft of the Youths of the Town. But when grown older, he was placed at School, where he learnt to read and write, and was from thence put Apprentice to a Shoemaker in Görlitz. Having ferved his Time, in the Year 1594 he took to Wife Cathariite, the Daughter oijohn Hiinßmian., a Citizen of Görlitz, and had by her four Sons, living in the State of Matrimony thirty Years : His Sons he placed in his Life-time to feveral honeft Trades. He fell fick in Sileßa of a hot burning Ague, contraded by too much drinking of Water, and was at his Defire brought to Görlitz, and died there in 1624, being near fifty years of Age, and was buried in the Churchyard. As in Men that have appeared to the World with great and fuperior Accom- pliiliments, to promote fome great Defign beyond the Powers of Nature, it has pleafed God to uflier them in with fome fignal Difpenfations, to dire(fl the Eye of the World to obferve his Work ; fo in this Inftance of Jacob Behmen, not only a new Star myftically appeared fome Time before his Birth, but when he was a Herd's Boy he had a moft remarkable Trial, and providential Prefervation and Prevention. For in the Heat of Mid-Day, retiring from his Playfellows to a litlie ftony Cragjuftby, called t\\t Lajids Crown, where the natural Situation of the Rock had made a feeming Inclofure of fome Part of the Mountain, finding an Entrance, he went in, and faw there a large wooden Vefiel full of Money, at which Sight, being in a fudden AftoniHiment, he in Hafte retired, not moving his Hand to it, and came and related his Fortune to the reft of the Boys, who coming with him, fought often and with much Diligence an Entrance, but could not find any. But fome Years after, a foreign Artift, as Jacob Bebncn himfelf related, ft^illed in finding out magical Treafures, took it away, and thereby much enriched him- felf, yet perifiied by an infamous Death, that Treafure being lodged there, and covered with a Curfe to him that fl:iouId find and take it av^ay. Truly, this appears to have been aSedudlion of this tender Youth into this Cave of Phdo, and to have had a deftru6tive Defign in it. Our Saviour had the World and the Glory of it offered to Himfelf, but the Condition was intolerable. When he had been for a Time an Apprentice, his Mafter and his Miftrefs being abroad, there came a Stranger to the Shop, of a reverend and grave Coun- tenance, yet in mean Apparel, and taking up a Pair of Shoes, defired to buy them. 'The Boy, being fcarce got higher than fweeping the Shop, would not prefume to fet a Price on them, but told him his Mafter and Miftrefs were not at Home, and himfelf dürft not. venture the Sale of any Tiling without their- Order. JACOB BEHMEN. But the Stranger being very importunate, he offered them at a Price, which if he got, he was certain wouW fave him harmlefs in parting from them, fup- pofing alfo thereby to be-rid of the importunate Chapman. But the old Man paid down the Money, took the Shoes, and departed from the Shop a little Way, where ftanding (till, with a loud and an earneft Voice, he called, 'Jacob, Jacob, come forth. The Boy, within hearing of the Voice, came out in a great Fright, at firft amazed at the Stranger's familiar calling him by his Chrif- tian Name, but recollefting himfelf, he went to him. The Man with a fevere, but friendly Countenance, fixing his Eyes upon him (which were bright and fparkling) took him by his right Hand, and faid to him : Jacob, thou art Utile, but ßjalt be great, ajid become another Man., fitch a one as at whom the World ßjall wonder. 'Therefore be pious, fear God, and reverence his Word. Read diligently the Holy Scriptures, wherein you have Comfort and InflruBion. For thou muß endure much Mifety and Poverty, and fuffer Ferfecution, but be courageous and perfevere, for God loves, and is gracious to thee. And there- with preffing his Hand, he looked with a bright fparkling Eye fixed on his Face, and departed. This Prediction took deep Impreffion on Jacobs Mind, and made him be- think himfelf, and grow ferious in his Actions, keeping his Thoughts ftirring in Confideration of the Caution he had received from that Man. So that from thenceforward he much more frequented the public Wor- fliip, and profited well therein in the outward Reformation of his Life; ferioufly confidering with himfelf that Speech of our Saviour, Lukeii, 13. My Father which is in Heaven will give the Spirit to him that afks him, he was thereby thoroughly awakened in himfelf, and fet forward to defire that pro- mifed Comforter; and continuing in that Earneftnefs, he was at laft, in his own Expreffion, furroimded with a divine Light for feven Days, a?id food in the highefl Contemplation and Kitigdo?n of Joys. And this happened to him, whilft he was with his Maftcr in the Country about the Affairs of his Vocation. When the Vifion and Revelation were paffed by him, he grew more and more accurately attentive to his Duty to God and his Neighbour, diligently fre- quented the Church, read the Scriptures, and lived in all Obfervance of outward Miniftrations. Scurrilous and blafphemous Words he would rebuke, even in his own Mailer, who was fomewhat intemperate in his Tongue ; and from- Day to Day continuing upon his Watch, he endeavoured after the Chriilian Growth, becoming, by his Contrariety of Manners, a Scorn and Deriiion to the World. And at laft his own Mafter, being not able to bear a Reprover fo near Home in that Relation, fet him at Liberty, with full Permillion to feek. his Livelihood as he liked beft. After this, about the Year 1600, in the twenty fifth Year of his Age, he was again furrounded by the divine Light, and repleniflied with the heavenly Know- Ledge ; infomuch, as going abroad into the Fields, to a Green htiovc Neys-G ate ^ at Görlitz, he there fat dov/n, and viewiig the Herbs and Grafs of the Field, in his inward Light he faw into their Effences, Ufe and Properties, which were difcovered to him by their Lineaments, Figures, and >^ignatur€s., Xlll xiV THE LIFE OF In like Manner he beheld the whole Creation, and from that Fountain of Re- velation he afterwards wrote his Book, De Signntura Rerum. In the unfolding of thole Myfterics before his Underftanding, he had a great Meafure of Joy, yet returned Home and took Care of his Family, and lived in great Peace and Silence, fcarce intimating to any thefe wonderful Things that had befallen him, till in the Year 1610, being again taken into this Light, left the Myfte- ries revealed to him fliould pafs through him as a Stream, and rather for a Me- morial, than intending any Publication, he wrote his firft Book, called y^r^rom, or 'The Moniing'Rednefs, The Book being found about him by a Man of great Quality, with whom he converfcd, was received with that Defire, that he immediately disjoined it, and caufed it to be copied out in a few Hours. Thus, contrary to the Author's Intention, it became public, and after a while, fell into the Hands of Gregory Richer, the Superintendent of Görlitz, who making Ufe of his Pulpit, and the Liberty he had of fpeaking without an Oppofer, to revile what and whom he pleafed, he endeavoured to ftir up the M*agiftracy, to exerclfe their Jurifdiiftion in rooting out this fuppofed Church- Weed. And this he did with fo much Vehemence, and Pretence of godly Zeal, that the Senate took fome Notice of it, and convened 'Jacob Behmen before them, feizing his Book, and admoniOiing him to employ his Mind in the Affairs of his Trade, and for the Future leave off writing any more Books, which he faw gave fo much Offence. This Occafion brought this Man firft into public Notice, for at the Hearing of the Bufmefs, fuch was the unchriftian Heat and Violence of the Minifter, and io much the Meeknefs of Jacob Behmen, that it gave great Advantage to his Reputation, and Credit to that inward School, from whence he came out fo well taught. This very Book, which the Senate had feized on, was by themfelves after- wards prefented to the Prince Eleöor of Saxony^ Marflial of his Houfe, George Pßiigc?i, in 1 641, when he came to Görlitz, being brought to Light by D. P. S. a Burgomafter of Görlitz; and it was fent by the Marfhalto Afnßerdam, where it was printed. Upon the Command of the Senate, he refrained from writing feven Years ^ at the End of which, a nev/ Motion from on high feizing on him, and taking captive thefe rational human Prohibitions, he wrote again ; out of what Princi- ple, and how moved, his own Words can beft exprefs. " Art, fays he, has not wrote here, neither v/as there any Time to confider '■' how to let it punduaUy down, according to the right Underftanding of the " Letters, but all was ordered according to the Direction of the Spirit, which " of en v/ent in Hafte ; fo that in many Words, Letters may be wanting, and in " fome Places a Capital Letter for a Word ; fo that the Penman's Hand, by " reafon he was not accuftomed to it, did often fliake. And though I could " have wrote in a more accurate, fair, and plain Manner, yet the Reafon was 2 • this V JACOBBEHMEN. xv *' this, that the burning Fire often forced forward with Speed, and the Hand *' and Pen muft haften diredly after it ; for it comes and goes as a fudden " Shower." And further he fays, " I can write nothing of myfelf, but as a " Child which neither knows nor underftands any Thing, which neither has " ever been learnt, but only that which the Lord vouchfafes to know in me, *' according to the Meafure as himfelf manifefts in me. " For I never defired to know any Thing of the Divine Myftery, much " lefs underftood I the Way to feek and find it. I knew nothing of it, as it " is the Condition of poor Laymen in their Simplicity. " I fought only after the Heart of Jefus Chrift, that I might hide myfelf " therein from the wrathful Anger of God, and the violent Affaults of the " Devil. And I befought the Lord earneftly for his Holy Spirit and his " Grace, that he would pleafe to blefs and guide me in him, and take that *' away from me which turned me from him ; and I refigned myfelf wholly " to him, that I might not live to my own Will, but his ; and that he only " might lead and diredl me, to the End I might be his Child in his Son " Jefus. " In this my earneft and Chriftian Seeking and Defire (wherein I fufFered " many a fhrewd Repulfe, hut at laft refolved rather to put myfelf in Hazard, " than give over and leave off) the Gate was opened to me, that in one *' Quarter of an Hour I faw and knew more, than if I had been many Years together at an Univerfity, at which I exceedingly admired, and thereupon turned my Praife to God far it. " For I faw and knew the Being of all Beings, the Byfs and the Abyfs, and the eternal Generation of the Holy Trinity, the Defcent and Original of the World, and of all Creatures through the Divine Wifdom : I knew and faw in myfelf all the three Worlds, namely, The Divine^ angelical, and paradifical j and The dark World, the Original of the Nature to the Fire j and then, thirdly, the external and 'oifible World, being a Procreation or external Birth from both the internal and fpiritual Worlds. And I faw and knew the whole working Eflence, in the Evil and the Good, and the Ori- ginal and Exiftence of each of them ; and likewife how the fruitful- bearing Womb of Eternity brought forth. " So that I did not only greatly wonder at It, but did alfo exceedingly re- joice, and prefently it came pov/erfuUy into my Mind to fet the fame dowi> in Writing, for a Memorial for myfelf, though I could very hardly appre- hend the fame, in my external Man, and exprefs It with the Pen. " Yet however I muft begin to labour in thefe great Myftcries, as a Child that goes to School. I faw it as in a great Deep in the Internal. " For I had a thorough View of the Univerfe, as in a Chaos, wherein all Things are couched and wrapped up, but it was Impofiible for me to explain f' the fame. " Yet it opened itfelf in me, from Time to Time, as In a young Plant ; though the fame was with me for the Space of twelve Years, and it was as (C related. riu's Fi?/"k,jus This Minifler had lent a young Baker a Dollar, to buy a little Meal, to Ptrficutor. make Cakes againft the Holidays, out of which he brought him a pretty C. Weiße^'T ^^"^Z^ ^"^ ^'^"^ ^ Thank-offering. And having within a Fortnight fold off his Letter at the Batch, he reftores him prefently his Money with Thanks, not imagining an Hndof the Expectation of any further Interefl: for fo (hort a Loan. But this it feems Letters. latished nun not, the Minilter m high Rage curfes the Man, with little lefs than Damnation to his Soul ; upon which he, defpairing of his Salvation, falls into a deep Melancholy, and being almoft diftraded, his Wife gets her Kinfman, Jacob Behmen, to come and confer with him ; who having heard the Caufe of his Dillemper, and comforted him, repairs to the angry Clergyman, exprelles with all Submiflion the young Man's Error, if he had through Igno- rance of his Pleafure committed any, offers him, if he defired it, the utmoft Satisfaftion, and upon thefe Terms intreats his Favour to the perplexed Soul. But the Minifter turning his Choler upon the IntercelTor, demands angrily. What had he to do to trouble him ? And bids him get him gone about his own Bufinefs, or he would fend him away with a Vengeance. So feeing no Hopes of appealing him, he prays to God to keep his Worfhip, and was going to depart ; but before he was got out of the Door, the furious Prelate enraged yet more at his mild Salutation, throws his Slipper at him, calling him wicked Rafcal, difdaining a good Night from his Mouth. The humble Man, nothing moved at it, takes up the Slipper, and lays it at his Feet, intreats him not to be angry, fays that he knew not how he had wronged him, prays God -to have him in his keeping, and fo departs. The Superintendent's Choler does not yet ceafe boiling; the next Sunday he rails bitterly in the Pulpit againft Jacob Behmen, even by Name, thunders sgainft the Senate for tolerating fuch a pernicious Heretic, and fworn Enemy of -^ JACOB BEHMEN. of the minlfterlal Fundion, who not content to write blafphemous Books, and pervert Souls dürft prefume to come and difturb the Minirter in his own Woule; and tells them, that if they longer fuffered, and did not expel him their i^7"?xT',!n. '^ '''°"''^ ""^^^ ^°^ "^ ^''' ^V'-^^h to fink their City, as he did thofe Withftanders of Mofes and ^^m/, the rebelHous Kora/^, Dathan, and Abiram, with their Accomplices. The innocent Man, all the While he was thus bitterly railed againfl, fat iuft at a Pillar diredly over-againfl the Pulpit, heard all with Patience, and ftaid in the Church till all were gone out, and the Superintendent among the laft ; he followed him into the Church-yard, and there told him he was grieved to • hear h.mfelf fo pubhckly, and as he thought without Caufe, defamed, yet re- quefted that rather than proceed in that Way of public Reproach, he would there before his reverend Chaplain, that accompanied him, let him privately know his Offence ana it (hould be amended. The Minifter at firft would give noAnfwer to hisSuit; at length, upon much Importunity, turning to him with a fell and fternVifage he cries. Get thee behind me, Satan ! avant. thou turbulent unquiet Spirit, to thy Abyfs of Hell ! Doft thou ftill perfift, without all Refpedt to my Fundlion, to moleft and difgrace me? To which furly Repulfe, the true-fpirited Chriftian gave this incomparable modeft>RepIy. ... . % '".'^-^''''r^ ^"^"^ '^'"' ^"^ '""^^ ^^°"°"'^ yo"«- fundlion. I defire not to fix any Afperfion upon it, or yourfelf, only intreat you, for your own and your Fundlion's Honour, which engages you not to trample upon a fub- miffive Offender, much lefs one that is innocent, to tell me candidly where my Faulthes And further turning to the Chaplain, faid, Reverend and courte- ous Sir, I pray be pleafed to intercede for me with our Minifter, that he would &W ? T^T .^'5^°"' ^'^^ "^^ ingenuoufly wherein I have offended him that I may by the beft Satisfadlion lean, app^afe his Wrath, and he may ceafe mcenfing the Magiftrate againft me. But no Submiffion wiuld allay hil - Rage, but in Heat he fends his Servantfor the Town-Serjeant to lay hold of • him, and carry him away to Prifon : But his Chaplain, modeftly excufing the poor Man, diffuaded him from the Execution of this Part of his Fury ^ The next Morning, the Senators meeting in the Council-houfe, cited Jacob Behmen to appear before them, and examined him of his Life, and the Scandal he had given the Minil^er, that made him w^th fuch Vehemence exclaim againft him, But he conftantly affirming he was entirely ignorant of any juft Caufe of Oftence rrnnn^fT». T' ''"/.^""^^ praying he might be fen t for, to declare the of On 'I ?ll '^ '''°"' '^"^^ '^'""^^"S ^^'^ ^ j"^ M°'^°"' fent two Men of Qua.ity o. the Town to him, to defire him cither to come and perfonally M^'p. r?^ ^/\^'^'l^^"?^ to 'he Court, or at leaft inform them of the Matter by thofe they had fent to him for that Purpofe. But he again falling into a Paffion at this Demand, faid, he had nothing to do with the Council? wh".^H ^\l^ xt ^° H ^' ^°"^^ ^P^^^ '" ^'^ Council-throne, the Pulpit , r^l I Jt\?'^J-'^ 'H'y "^"^ °^^>^ ^^'"'^«"t Contradidtion, and without: more ado difablethis wicked Heretic from further oppofing the miniftemV, ,\ OL. 1. |j xvn xyiii THE LIFE OF Funftlon, by banifhing him their City > ehe the Curfe of Kor ab, Dathan, and Abiram, would light upon them all. Upon this tlie poor Senate, a little terrified, fearing the Preacher's Spleen, and his Power in the Duke o{ Saxo?ifi Court, fell to frefli Confultation ; and fome of the more upright and moderate Men (feeing neither their Reafons nor Votes able to countervail the Fears or worfe Paffions of the major Part) departing the Court, the reft, upon this mere groundlefs Clamour of their Caiaphas, haftily palled a Sentence of Banifliment againft their innocent Fellow- Citizen, and profecuted it with all Vehemence. He hearing it, faid only. Gentlemen, with all willing Submiffion I obey your Decree, only defire I may go Home to my Houfe to fettle my fmall Affairs there, and take my Family along with me, or at leaft take Leave of them ; but neither would this fmall Piece of Humanity be allowed him, but he muft, according to the Court's unalterable Decree, forthwith depart. His Anfwer was, That feeing it would be no better, he was content, and thereupon prefently went out of Town, fpending the Remainder of the Day in a melancholy Walk about the Town- fields, and the Night in what Harbour we know not. But the Senate, meeting again next Morning, upon more fober Thoughts repealed their Sentence, and fent to feek out their innocent Exile, and brought him back with Honour: Yet ftill tired with the Prelate's inceffant Clamour, they at length fent for him again, and intreated him, that in Love to the City's Quiet, he would feek himfelf a Habitation clfewhere ; which if he would pleafe to do, they (hould hold themfelves obliged to him for it, as an acceptable Service. In Compliance with this friendly Requefl of theirs, he removed from thence. After this, upon a Citation, Jacob Behmen came to Drefden, before his Highnefs the Prince Eledor of Saxony, where were afiTembled fix Dodlors of Divinity, Dr. Hoe, Dr. Meißer, Dr. Baldwin, Dr. Gerhard, Dr. Leyfern, and another Doflor, and two Profeflfors of the Mathematics. And thefe, in the Prefence of his Highnefs the Prince Eledlor, begun to examine him concerning his Writings, and the high Myfteries therein ; and many profound Queries in Divinity, Philofophy, and the Mathematics, they propofed to him. To all which he replied with fuch Meeknefs of Spirit, fuch Depth of Knowledge, and Fulnefs of Matter, that none of thofe Doftors and ProfefiTors returned one Word of Diflike or Contradiction. The Prince his Highnefs much admired him, and required to know the Refult of their Judgments, in what they had heard. But the Dodors and Examiners defired to be excufed, and intreated his Highnefs that he would have Patience, till the Spirit of the Man had more plainly declared itfelf, for in many Particulars rhey could not underftand him. Neverthelefs they hoped, that hereafter he would make it more clear to them, and then they would offer thei; Judtrments, but for the prefent thev couhl not. Then Jacob Behwen propofed fome Q^ieftions to t^-m, to which they -re- turned Anfwers with much Mudefty, and as it were amazed that they fhould JACOB BEHMEN. (fo much beyond their Expedation) hear from a Man of that mean Quality and Education, iuch myilerious Depths as were beyond the Reach of their Comprehenfion. Then he conferred with them touching moft of the Errors of thcfe Times- pointing as it vvcre with the Finger at the Original of them feverally, declaring to them the naked Truth, and the great Difference betwixt that and fome e re" neous Suppofitions. ^^"i^cuo R lV^%^-^"f'^"^f% ^'?f ^^^5°"'^^ Something of their Science, he faid. Behold, tkcsjar ts the KnmMge of your Art right and good, grounded in the Myßery of Nature- käjhat is over and abo.e (i/ftancing fn fe'vfral P^tlula s are mere heathemß. MdtUons, the Folly and Blindnefi of Heathens, m1 Chrtßians ought not to follow or imitate. ti-'J iie JftZ ^t ft"""^' ^he Prince Elector, being very much fatisfied with his Anfwers, took him apart from the Company, and difcourfed with him a ^ood ^^s^tlr^'^' °' ^^^^"^^^' -^^-^ '^-^ -" ^^^^^'^> ^e After this Examination Dr. Meißer and Dr. Gerhard, meeting at Witten- lerg, begun to difcourfe of 7^..^ Behmen, expreffing ho^ greatly they adm red the cont-ued Harmony of Scriptures produced by him at hi Examination and that they would not, for all the World, have ferved his Enemies Malice in cen- furing him : For fays Dr. Meißner, who knows but God may have deßgnedlL for fome extraordwary Work, and how can-wewith Jußice pafs JudJnZlanF of the Sprit, though we cannot at prefent, from any Ground of Certainty approve er difapprove of ,nany Things he holds ! *^ -^' ^^ How much more ingenuous is this, than the Charafter given him by Jo Laur Moßemus, Chancellor of the Univerfity of Gottingen, ^n cccM^^H^tZv quo ed by the Bifhop of Glouceßer, Dr. Warburton? <^ J^c. Böhm" W Gorluenßs, Vtr tmumerts & Amicis & Inimicis inclytus, qttem rhecfcphlmGerua gandas, & Rob^ Fluddn ac Rofcecruaanorum Seit a cogmviffct, Theologiam, iL Buc^ Imagtnatjone Comtte tnvemt, ipß Pythagoricis Numerisi Heracltti Notht^^^ rem,~-ttaemm Chymtas Imagtnationibus &tantaVerborum Confufwne & Cali'ril omnia nnßet, ut tpßßbi obßrepere videatur." By this he would inlW direaiy contrary to what has been fhown, that he derived his Knowled. from nw^ h-^' ^l\ w^j"'^ ^^'''''' ' "^' '' ^' %^ i" ^n°ther Place, that he owed his whole Wiflom to one of them he there fpecifies. What Cre 1^ can be given to an Hiftorian in Matters more remote, when he has ^iven fo itlZtT'lrrY ''J'' -^^1 known? A fit Hiftorian Äh t lu%^ ?P'?' ""^ characterizing that^.^? Light of the Age, Mr Law fpentaLongLtß in hunting aß er, and with an incredible Appetite devouring the .T^f Ä^Tp""-'- t"" f ^^->' ^^P-*^ r,e in mL of what ratlZs tell us of a horrid Fanatic fm m the Eaß, where the DenMee makes afilemn Vow ne^ h 2 XIX XX T H E L I F E O F to taße- of other Food than ivhat has paß ed through the Entrails offome impure or Ja- •vage Animal. Hence their lihole Lives are pajfed (like Mr.LcLw' s among his Afcetics) in Woods and Foreßs, far removed from the Converfe of Mankind:' This PaiTage fully {hows the State of Mind of the Writer of it, and no Cenfure paffed upon it can add to it. See» in this Volume, 'Fhe "Three Principles, Chap. 3. ver. 6 — 8. Chap. 25. ver. 29, 30. Chap. 8. ver. 15. How xiifferent from thefe was the Son of the Primate of Görlitz ? His Father, who had been fo violent a Per- fecutor of Jacob Behmen, had in the moft ignominious Manner wrote againft him ; to which the blelled Man fo well replied, that he totally filenced him. After the Deceafe of both, willing to confult the Honour of his Father, he determined to write an Anfwer, that he might remove the Odium from him. But behold a moft unexpeäed Event ! Reading Jacob Be/jmens Writings, to finidi the Defign he had in View, his Mind is convinced, and affeded in fuch a Manner, that inftead of proceeding in his former Purpofe, he v/as rather difpofed to take up his Pen in Defence of our Author, crying out, with Aftonifhment, in this mournful Exclamation, " Oh ! my Father, what haß thou done?" So great was the Power of Truth on his Mind. It was the Pharifees Judgment of our Saviour, Say we not well thou art a Samaritan, and haß a Devil? And in another Place, TZ'/i Man caßs out Devils by Beelzebub the Prince of Devils. So unwilling is human Reafon to fubmit,- or conceive a Poffibility of that perfed Wifdom and Pov/er, that in Death and Self-denial is brought forth to the Glory of him, that is the Father of it. The fame Meafure Jacob Behmen received in his Generation. For the Appearance of that unulual Knowledge and deep Revelation of Myfteries, in a Veffel fo contemptible to the magnibcent Mind of Man, brought fuch hard Cenfures as thefe from the ftupid V^^orld, which appeared one Time more efpecially. The Manner was thus. Sitting by himfelf in his Houfe, a Man knocked at his Door, to which repairing, a Perfon of a mean Stature, of a iliarp and ftern Look, faluted him courteoufly, congratulating him on that great and wonderful Know- ledge he had received, and humbly let him know, that he heard that he was bleft with a fingular Spirit, the like to which had not lately appeared among the Children of Men ; that it was a humane and friendly Duty, incumbent upon every Man, £0 impart the good Things vouchfafed him to his needy Neighbour, and himfelf was now a needy Petitioner, that he would yield fome of that Spirit to him. In which Requeft if he pleafed to gratify him, he would, in fuch Things wherein he abounded, give a fuitable Recom- pence, making a covert Offer of fome Monies, to {2.\.My Jacob Behmen's. Necef- fities. To whom he replied, with Thanks, That he accounted himfelf unworthy of the Eßeem of having thefe greater Gifts and Arts, as was by Urn imagined, and found only in himfelf an intire Love to his Neighbour, andßmple Perfeverance in the upright Belt ef and Faith in God; and for any other Endowments beyond thef^ he neither had them, nor eßeemed them ; much Icfs (as his Words ieemed to intimate) enjoyed the Society of any familiar Spirit. JACOBBEHMEN. 3^i 'But, fays he, if there be in you that Beßre of obtaining the Spirit of God, ■you rmißy as I have done, enter into earnejl Repentance, and pray the Father, from ivhom all good Gifts proceed, ajid he ivill give it, and it will lead you into all Truth. This foolifli Man, contemning this plain Inftruftion, became uncivilly im- portunate, and begun with Words of Magic Conjuration, to force the fuppofed familiar Spirit from Jacob Bchmen. At which Boldnefs and Folly, Jacob Behmen, being not a little moved in Spirit, took him by the Right-hand, and looked him fternly in the Face, in- tending an Imprecation to his perverfe Soul. At which this Exorcifl, trem- bling and amazed, afked Forgivenefs; whereupon Jacob Bchmen remitted his Zeal, dehorting him earneftly from that fimonian and diabolical Pradtice, and permit him, in Hopes of future Amendment, to depart in Peace. The Publication of his firfl Book, \.\it Aurora, or Morfiing-Rednefs, brought from all Parts great Refort to him of learned Men, and more efpecially of Chemifts ; with whom converfing much, he got the Ufe of thofe Latin and Greek Words that are frequent in his Works, as being fignificant Expref- fions of thofe Notions that were in his Mind, and of great \Jk and Con- venience, for the Illuftration of what he had to propofe. Of thofe learned Men, that converfed with him in the greateft Familiarity, •was one Balthazar Walter ; this Gentleman was a Silefan by Birth, by Pro- feffion a Phyfician, and had, in the Search of the ancient Magic Learning, travelled through Egypt, Syria, and Arabia, and found there fuch fmall Re- mains of it, that he returned unfuccefsful and unfatisfied into his own Country ; where hearing of this Man, he repaired to him, and did, as the Queen of Sheba with King Solomon, try him with thofe hard <^eftions concerning the Soul, which, with the Anfwers to them, are now public in many Languages. From whence, and from frequent Difcourfes with him, he was fo fatisfied, that he flayed there three Months, and profefled, that from his Converfation he had received more folid Anfwers to his curious Scruples, than he had found among the heft Wits of thofe more promifing Climates : And for the Future, he defifted from following Rivulets, fince God had opened a Fountain at his own Door. After his Examination at Brefden, and the Publication of his Book, it pleafed God to turn the Hearts of many learned Men and Preachers, to the üudying themfelves, and teaching others thofe Dodrines of the Regeneration, and the Means of attaining it, they had formerly in a blind Zeal exclaimed againft as Heretical; whereupon they ceafed from preaching up Difputes and Controverfies in Religion, as prejudicial to divine Charity, and the common Peace of Mankind ; but for the Solution of all Doubts, they referred Men to an earneft Endeavour after the Recovery of the Life of Chrift, the only Foun- tain of all true Light, and right Underftanding in divine Things. Thus was that excellent Light, fining in this heavenly Mail's Soul, by the crofs Defign of a malicious Adveriary, fet in its Candleftick, and brought 3 '^^n THE LIFE OF to open View, to give Light to the World. So that his Writings came to be read in Rußa, Sweden, Poland, Denmark, the Netherlands, England, German, France, Spain, Italy, and even in the City of Ro,ne. For by thefe Examina ' tions, the Man's Worth came to be taken Notice of, and his Writings foueht for and ftudied not only by mean People, but by many great Rabbi?s of fhs Church, and Great Men of the World. Nay, Many in their Hearts In- fidels to all Religion, m catching only at the Bait of his myfterious Philofoohv were drawn to the true Faith and Church of God. •^' Let us with Oil in our Lamps, and the Wedding Garment of a renewed Spirit, prepare to meet the Lord at his Coming. His Superfcription, and Motto in ail his Letters, were thefe Wordsj Our Salvation tn the Life of Jefus Chriß in us. In his Seal-ring he had engraven a Hand ftretched out from Heaven, with a Twig of three blown Lilies. ' It has been a Cuftom with many in Germany, to carry a little Paper Book in fur u ?• ^T '^^'''^ "^f':" F^^i^ds write fome remarkable Sentence, and ^blcribe their Names, and this Book is called Album Amkorum, FThe Book of iTiendlhip.J Into fuch as thefe our Autlior wrote thefe Verfes : 'To whom Time and Eternity Harmonioußy as Ofie agree ; His Soul isfafe, his Life's amejided^ His Battles o'er, bis Strife is ended. Or thus, Whofe Time end Ever are all one. His Soul's at refi, his Warfare's done. When the Hour of his Departure was at Hand, he called his Son Tobias and afl-.edhim. Whether he heard that fweet harmonious Mufick ? He replied ?■ %"', ^^^'' ^^' ^^^ ^°°''' ^^^^ y°^ "'^y the better hear it. And allein^ what o Clock It was, he told him it was Two : My Time, fays he, is not yet three Hours hence is my Time : In the mean While he fpoke thefe Word/ 6 thouflrong God of Zebaoth, deliver me according to thy Will. Thou crucified Lord Jejus, have Mercy on me, and take me into thy Kingdom. When Six in the Morning came, he took Leave of hit Wife and Son, bleffed them, and laid. New I go hence into Paradife. And bidding his Son turn him he fetched a deep Sigh and departed. "' Thus have you feen the Journey of this blelTed Man on Earth, with his laft l^arewel. Over his Grave was eredled the followin<^ Device as fent from ;S:f|^ ^/nendofhisoutof^/^.: A black wooden ^Ci.fs,\th the H^r^^ Nam" £ux.. -^itM^ ^"«twelve golden Beams encompaifing it, under which refted a Child on a Death's Head, with the Arms placed on its Sides, with thefe eight Letters, V. H. L L. J. C. L V. underwritten. On a broad ovaL JACOB BEHMEN. Circle, or Field, were written thefe following Words, Bom of God, died in JHSVH, fealed with the Holy Ghoji, does reß here Jacob Behmen o/" Old Seidenburg, u'ho^ the feventeenth of November, about Six o'CIock i?z the Forenoof2, in the fiftieth Tear of his jige, bkJJ'edly departed. In the Midft under the oval Field, upon the Tree of the Crofs, flood a Lamb with a Bifhop's Mitre, under a Palm-tree, by a Water-fprino- in a green Pafture, feeding among the Flowers; there flood the Word F£ A''/. On the South Side was painted a black Eagle on a high Rock, which trod with his Left-foot on the Head of a great Serpent folded together ; in the Right-foot he held a Branch of Palm, and in his Beak the Branch of a Lily, which was reached to him out of the Sun j by that was written the Word VID I. On the North Side flood a Lion, having on his Head a Crofs and a Crown., placed with his right Hinder-foot on a Cube, with the left on a Globe ; in his right Fore-paw he held a flaming Sword, in his Left a burning Heart i by him was written the Word VIC I. Upon the Tree of the Crofs flood his lafl Words, Now I go hence into Taradife. This hieroglyphical Monument would not have remained long, but have been razed and imbezzled by the rude Hands of the Envious, had they not been pre- vented by the Magiflracy ; for they would willingly have lavifhed their impo- tent Wrath againfl him, on this wooden Crofs, and difcovered their Hatred to the Memory of his Goodnefs, whom they would long before have crucified. XXlIi U/Aey t^rL