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.

Of the Sanguine.

THou maist live orderly according to this noble complexion, but let not hypocrisy take place in it. By the largness of thy comprehension, thou art capable of great inventions. Take heed thou bring not stubble and straw into thy sanguin habitation, and mi∣stake and give it forth for the Holy Ghost. For thou hast in the comple∣xion a shining light, tis but humane, however defile it not, nor embase it by the letting in of earthy vanity.

A sober temperate life is good for thee, keep thy self carefully from drunkenness, els thou castest thy self wilfully into thine enemies armes. Thou art much inclin'd to Love, place

it upon the right object, love not un∣chastity and pride.

And though thou beest naturally of a pliant, gentle and humble disposition, yet mayest thou be easily surpris'd with pride: For thou bearest about thee (as the air and upper waters) a recep∣tacle of all the influences of the Starrs and Planets.

If thou wilt enter into the fear of God, and behave thy self a right there∣in, thou mayest easily find the Great Mystery, yet not of thy self, but through Gods gracious revelation, on∣ly thou hast above other complexions a lightsome chamber, and an open door thereunto. Therfore beware with what kind of food thou nourish thy soul.

For there is nothing so good by na∣ture, but it may be converted and a∣bus'd to evill, by the letting in that which is evill, to contaminate and commix with it. If men despise thee, pass it over with neglect, and trust in God, for this will oft happen unto

thee from the wise of this world, by reason of the candid simplicity of thy disposition. Keep well what thou hast, content thy self with the pure simpli∣city of the Divine wisdom, and have not much commerce with the subtill inventions of the alienated humanity, lest otherwise to thy hurt, thou admit of a stranger into thy noble palace. Tis better to suffer here a little shame, than everlasting misery hereafter.

If thou shouldst addict thy self to drunkenness, the Devill would then bring into thy tender house great mis∣fortune and much evill: For thy com∣plexion is most hatefull to him, being a property wherein he can have no possession, till he hath first induc'd to infect it by false imagination, or some sinfull mis-use of the creature. A pri∣vate quiet life is best for thee, but thou art full of wandring thoughts, and like the air thou art resembl'd to, easily tak'st in all impressions, and as easily lett'st them vanish again.

Take heed to thy goings out, and comings in, mark well what thou lettest out of thy soul, and what thou tak'st in, that it be not the product of a Starry influence, but a genuine issue of the Deity in thee; els, if thou be not very watchfull, thou mayst be ea∣sily misled to the deceiving both of thy self and others.