Mysterium magnum, or An exposition of the first book of Moses called Genesis. Concerning the manifestation or revelation of the divine word through the three principles of the divine essence; also of the originall of the world and the creation. Wherein the kingdome of nature, & the kingdome of grace are expounded. For the better understanding of the Old and New Testament, and what Adam and Christ are. Also, how man should consider and may know himselfe in the light of nature, where he is, and where his temporall and eternall life, consist; also, where his eternall blessednesse, and damnation, consist. And is an exposition of the essence of all essences for the further consideration of the lovers, in the divine gift. Comprised in three parts: written anno 1623. By Jacob Behm. To which is added, The life of the author. And his Foure tables of divine revelation.

An Explanation of the fourth Table. MICROCOSMUS.

IN this Table, Man is held forth as a similitude of the Three worlds, accor∣ding to the Soul, Spirit, and Body; What he hath been in the beginning, according to his Creation; What he is become in the fall, by the Spirit of Er∣ror; and What he will be in the new birth through the Spirit of Christ; which is a true Essential Image, out of the three Principles of the Divine Revelation; as from the outflown Word of the Divine will.

Man according to the Soul, is an Eternal Nature of the firing quality, as a spark out of the Center, from whence the fire existeth: If this ground cannot reach into the divine Light; then is it a Darkness of the Magnetick attractive desiring power; but if he reacheth out of the fire, unto the light, that his Magne∣tick desire feeds on the out-flown Unity of Gods Love; the ariseth from that fire the good true Spirit, even as light shineth out of a Candle. These are now two Principles, the Soul, in the fire of Eternal Nature; and the Spirit in the light of Divine Power. But the Body is the third Principle; as an Es∣sence of the visible world, from the Starrs and Elements, formed into an Image, out of the seven Properties of Nature.

The Soul hath the seven Properties of the inward Spiritual world, accor∣ding to Nature; But the Spirit of the Soul is without these Properties; for it standeth out of Nature, in Gods unity but through the Souls firie Nature, is manifested in the Soul; for it is the true Image of God; as an Idea, in which God himself worketh and dwelleth; so far as the Soul brings her desire into God, and submits unto Gods Will: if that be not done, then is this Idea, or Spirit of the Soul, dumb and actless [not working], standing like an Image in a Looking-Glass, which soon vanisheth, and hath no being, as it befell Adam in the Fall. But if the Soul submits to God, and bringeth its Magnetick hunger into Gods Love, the Soul then attracteth divine Essence, namely, the Essential Wisedom of God; then her Idea or Spirit becometh Essential in the Lights power, and obtaineth a pious life; as being then the true Temple of God, wherein Gods Unity is revealed and operative.

But if the Soul herself with her desire, bring in self-love; and with her de∣sire turn herself into the seven Properties, to try them; and feedeth on the vain delights of the seven Properties; then she extolls herself, and maketh to herself an (a) Evestrum, as an Astrall Object; which Evestrum presently hun∣greth after the vanity of the false delight; even as it befell Lucifer and Adam, where the Evestrum of Lucifer imagined it self into a Phantasie; and the Eve∣strum of Adams Soul, into the Animalish Properties of the External world; whereby the Soul was poysoned, and the Body (out of the Earth's Limus) was suddenly infected; that the Animalish properties awakened in him, and longed after Earthly, Beastly sustenance; as Heat, Cold, Sharp, Bitter, Sweet and Sour; and with these Properties introduced it self into a springing foun∣tain of such delights; and so with the desire, Fed on Good and Evill; where∣by the Image of God, as the Idea, became obscure and unactive. Thus the true Spirit (as the active Idea) became dumb and dead, even as an Image in a Loo∣king-glass; and so was the Soul cut of from God, and stood in a Naturall will; but Gods will in the Spirit worked work'd no more; and the will of the Eve∣strum (as the Opposite Image of the dark eternal world began [to work], for the holy Genius was changed.

At the head of this Table standeth TINCTUR divided into the seve•••••• Properties; which signifieth the Equalitie of the seven Properties according

to the Soul & Body that in the first man before the fall, the properties [or incli∣nation] to separation, (b) and Acceptation, stood in a like will; and all its desires were brought into God Unitie: thus were they the true Paradise; for the Es∣sential Spirit with the Unity of God, was revealed in them, who were to work through Gods love in all things. But the Devill envied them, and with his false Lust deceived the seven Properties of life, and perswaded them, it would be good for them, and they should become wise; if the Properties (each one according to its kinde) would introduce themselves into self-Ac∣ceptance, then should the Spirit tast and know what was Good and Evill: but then it could not subsist in Gods Unity, of that he told them nothing.

But no sooner had they brought themselves in their own lusts, than such a strife and contention awakned in them, tha•• ••ll the Properties began to be for∣med in their self-hood.

Thus the Unity, as the Element, was broken [or divided], and the four Elements strove for predominance; whereupon suddenly from without, fell in the Inequality, as Heat and Cold, and the Astral division working in the Bo∣dy; and Gods wrath (according to the Dark worlds propertie) in the Soul; which caused in them (according to the Soul), Horror, Anguish, Necessity, and Eternal despair; and in the Body, arose Heat, Cold, Woes, Sickness and a Mor∣tal life. Thus Gods Image, the whole man, fell from his Ordinance; and became a disguised monster: and the awakened Properties presently began to set up their Government, with Envying, Murthering, Raging, Tearing and Tormenting. Love was changed into Pride and self-love; Desire, into Co∣vetousness; Sensibility, into Envy; and the lifes fire, into wrath: Thus was the Hellish foundation, in the whole Man, revealed, and ruled both in Soul & Body.

Now this Hellish Foundation, is the Spirit of Errour; for which man must have been damned, had not the Divine mercy, the Serpent-treader (a•• the efflux of Gods love) after the fall, been presently (c) promised to the New birth, in the Holy Name Jesus. Which holy Name hath, in meer mercy, and great humility for mans soul & body, given it self forth, assumed humanity, broken the power of the diabolical Spirit of Error, killed the lives self-will, & brought again the Properties into Gods Unity. There the true Spirit (as the human Idea and Gods Image) is renewed again, and filled with the Divine Love-Essence. And thus the human Soul, through Christs Soul and Spirit in that love and divine Essence, hath again attain'd an open Gate unto God.

Thus in this Table is held forth [or drawn to the life] what Adam hath been; what, through the Fall, he is become; and how he is again Redeemed; and what is his New-birth out of Christ Spirit. And these are delineated in the seven Properties under the Word TINCTUR. In which Properties the Soul hath its Center, and in which the Spirit, and in which the Body [have their Centers also] of which the Reader may further consider; for under them stand the seven Dayes of the week, intimating, that Man is even the same.

This Table sheweth what Man is internally and externally; first ac∣cording to the good Adam, and then according to the corrupted Adam; and also what he is again in Christ. Whereby, we may understand, how Evill and Good is man; and whence exist the Propertie of good and evill, both in the mind and senses.

By the word Sathan (signifying the Spirit of Errour) is not understood a Creaturely-Devill; but the Spring [or fountain] of the Spirit of Error.

And by the word Christ, is understood the New-Man (according to the internal) in the Spirit of Christ. The other spaces, are understood as in the other Tables; wherein is understood the cause of mutation.

Notes

• What Man is in his Trini∣ty; as first ac∣cording to Pa∣radise; Second∣ly, according to the Spirit of Error; Third∣ly, according to the New-birth, which Christ reach∣eth and will have, John 3.
• N. B. The Difference between the Soul, and the Spirit of the Soul which without God, is but a dead Image.
• (a)

  Evestrum is a continued Astral Influ∣ence in the 4. Elements, and l••kewise, an A∣stral Spirit in Man.
• How the holy similit•••••• of God in Man becam•• quenched, a monstro•••• Image assu∣med.
• (b)

  Accepta∣bilitie Annehmlig∣keit.
• Thus was our Nature first corrupted: which ground was never be∣fore so plain∣ly discovered.
• (c)

  Origin is in-spoken.
• Souls ground. 1, 2, 3. first Princip. Souls Spirit out of God 4, 5, 6. second Princip. the 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 7. 〈◊〉〈◊〉, now ••••••thly.