A consolatory treatise of the four complexions, that is, an instruction in the time of temptation for a sad and assaulted heart shewing where-from sadness naturally ariseth, and how the assaulting happeneth : hereto are annexed some consolatory speeches exceeding profitable for the assaulted hearts & souls, written ... March 1621 / by the Teutonicall philosopher, Jacob Behmen.

The Preface to the Reader.

OF all the works of Ja∣cob Behm, this is one of the least in bulk, but not in worth. Much and important matter lies here in∣clos'd in a narrow room. Besides, this Paradise of usefull truths stands not guarded by a fiery Cherubim hindring the Readers access, and dazling his eyes with a flaming sword of obscurities.

I speak not this to impute as a crime to our divine Author his uncouth Phrases, not affected, but enforc'd by the matters remotenes he writ of from human imaginati∣on, the Dictator of al expression in

mans language. Plato's Idea, Ari∣stotles Intelechia, Trismegists Aeon & Crater, Zoroasters Intellectiles, Iynges, the Cabalists Hochmah and Binah are words to this day not understood by many, yet not laught at by sober men; as non-sense; the Chymist, Lo∣gician, Physician are (for sparing circumscriptions) allow'd a coy∣nage of termes of Art, which pass for current in their severall jurisdictions, the mechanick, or other meaner Artisan is not de∣barr'd of this privilege; and shall a man rapt up into the third Hea∣ven, where he heard 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 things beyond human expression, be deem'd a Barbarian, because he cannot appareil his wisdom in the Bas Almain, and Lawyers French, spoken by the generality of mankind?

He wanted neither desire nor endeavour to have spoken to the meanest capacity, he did not, like some Spirit-pretenders in these times, upon his being acquainted with Truth in a more excellent way, decry and undervalue those other gifts of skill in nature and tongues acquir'd by a blessing up∣on mans industry, by which as ser∣viceable handmaids the Noble Sophia may be attir'd in a garb best suited for human converse. 'Twas his wish express'd some∣where in his writings, that if it had pleas'd God, his education had given him better skill in the lear∣ning and tongues of men, for then sayes he, I might perhaps have better suited those divine mani∣festations to the common apprehen∣sion, many of which for want of

that enablement remain lock'd up in the Magick language of the Spirit, and will scarce be under∣stood by any but men skill'd in that Dialect.

Hence comes that unusuall dif∣ficulty many are so much stumb∣led at in the works of this Au∣thor, especially in those transla∣ted into other tongues, in which the Interpreters out of a just fear of wronging his notion, having religiously followed the Oracles Counsell [Barbara nomina ne mutaveris] they have prov'd to be like Aristotles Acroams 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, extant in part only, the Dutch made English, but in the Magick each man left to his own skill. Yet by this are we set upon even ground with those of his own Nation, and to have done

more, had been not simply to translate, but interpret.

He that will in any Author whatever joyntly perform both these offices under one name, had need of a double sufficiency. First, He must be a bilinguist, a per∣fect Master in the Idiomes of both tongues he hath to deal with; as for an Englishman to make Demosthenes speak Latin, it suf∣fices not to get by rote his Camb∣den, and Lillies Grammer, and to have his head stuff'd with Voca∣bularies, but he must know the whole guise of the Countrey, and forms of elegance most in fashion in the several times and places of the Books double nativity by edi∣tion and translation; his not be∣ing an absolute free Denison of both, may make him defraud the

Reader he takes pains for, some∣times of the sense, but very often of the chief grace of his Authour. Secondly, He had need have, be∣sides the tongues, a double por∣tion of his Authors Spirit, else he will oft give us his words with∣out his sense, the Lions skin stuff'd with straw instead of Her∣cules that wore it.

But he that will be this Au∣thors right Trucheman, must be a trilinguist at least, skill'd no less in the language of An∣gells than in the Dutch and English, for want whereof much of the writings, not of this mans only, but even of Scripture Pen∣men, are in some parts rather clou∣ded than clear'd by translations.

For my own Part I pretend to no great expertness in any of the

three, yet have not been as to this work without good helps in all; in the English from my birth in Sparta, and education at Athens; in the Dutch, I eek'd out my own skill with the advice of a learned man of that Nation, one of our Society of Peter-house in Cam∣bridge; for the Angelique, my way was a little smoothed by my former Perusall of this Authors other original writings that speak the same language.

Yet hath the rare occurse of those Idioms in this manual, to∣gether with its brevity, been my chief encouragement to under∣take it, leaving the grand body of his Divinity to the greater know∣ledge and paines of that publick spirited gentleman who hath al∣ready enrich'd our Nation with

some of his larger volumes, and not yet weary of well-doing, is in travell with more.

As for the matter and scope of this discourse, 'tis to shew each complexion its good and evill, temptations and remedies.

I know his Colloquies with Black-John in the melancholy will make some men smile, espe∣cially our Atheist and Sadducee, that laugh at the thought of a God, Angell, Soul, or Devill, and know nothing of the joyes of Gods Kingdom, or thorough what a wilderness of tribulations 'tis arriv'd to; and how that roa∣ring Lion that goes about daily seeking whom he may devour, failes not to use all meanes of continuing the separation 'twixt the Soul of man and that rock

whence it was hewn, and where he cannot, by fraughting their ves∣sell with hellish or terrene appe∣tites and cares, keep God out of all their thoughts, strives to beget such an Idea of him in the imagi∣nation, as may justly render him a prick in their eyes, and thorn in their sides; which is no hard task for him to perform with many sad soules in all religions that give more credit to human sur∣mises than to Gods oath [that he hath no pleasure in the death of a sinner] with those cleer Evan∣gelick Oracles, that [God would have all men to be sav'd and come to the knowlege of the truth] and that there is joy in heaven over one sinner that re∣penteth.]

This of despair hath been even

in our dayes a Rock many have been split upon, and the hand of the Devil oft very visible in sedu∣ctions of this nature: we need not wonder our Author should store us up some provision of advise for such a necessity, and in parti∣cular a weapon offensive as well as defensive against those as∣saults.

It's true, his Replies in conflict with that wicked Spirit may seem at first to have somewhat of gall, but we may take notice he both shewes how effectual a weapon this of contempt is above all o∣ther for repulsing this enemy, be∣sides advizes an abstinence from this bitterness but upon impor∣tant necessity.

The Devill (sayes he) is a proud, arrogant Spirit: in his visible terri∣fying

apparitions you cannot better get quit of him than by a bold de∣fiance and contempt. As oft ther∣fore as by his frightning appea∣rances & discouraging suggestions he endeavours to drive thee to di∣straction or self-murder, flinch not an ace at his presence; but meet him with a stout courage, and upbraid him with the memory of his lost glory and present shame, how of a glorious Prince in heaven he is fall'n to be an infamous hangman in Hell. This is a bitter pill, he is not long able to digest, two or three doses of it, will say hard to set him a packing; but use it only as a neces∣sary evill, in cases of grand terror, otherwise do not by such bitter moc∣kings bestorm thy own Spirit, and add new affliction to the calamity of his fall.

This inoffensive carriage, even to the Devill himself (like that of the Archangell Michael, not re∣proaching him with railing accu∣sations, and our Saviours not re∣fusal so far of gratifying them in their moderate request, as to qua∣lify their grief for the loss of their Nobler habitation, by a Per∣mission to enter the foul carcasses of the Swine) shews in the man and his doctrine an unparalleld mildness of spirit, scarce visible in the writings or practices of any that now pretend most to the Go∣spel. First, we think it lawfull, nay an act of godly zeal, to spit all our venom in the face of the De∣vill, and then every contrariety to our humours, opinions, inte∣rests, looking like him, and pre∣sum'd to have much of the Devill

in it (though indeed of Christ) must be serv'd with the same sauce.

Lastly, if any be offended with the ill savour the Devill leaves behind him, when he flies away in fume, he may know that Me∣lancthon a grave Author reports the same circumstance of the same Spirit or one of that Regiment being flouted away by Luther, and some others, that when a De∣vill comes off with shame in such an assault, he becomes a laughing∣stock to his fellow-Devills in the air spectators of the combat, S. Paul affirming 1 Cor. 4. 9. That we are made a spectacle to An∣gells as well as to the world and men; Now the Passions of mens souls oft reflecting their Images so cleer upon their bodies in co∣lour,

gesture, and some other more gross demonstrations, why may not the perturb'd imagina∣tion of a wicked Spirit produce the like symptomes upon its aë∣rial Vehicle.

Much more reason in nature might be given to assert the pro∣bability of Such a Phaenomenon, but that the Book's short, and the Preface must not be long.

I commend thee to the grace of God in a sober use of these dis∣coveries of thy self.

Ch. Hotham.