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.

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Title
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.
Author
Böhme, Jakob, 1575-1624.
Publication
London :: printed and are to be sould by Lodowick Lloyd, next to the Castle in Cornhill,
1656.
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Subject terms
Bible. -- O.T. -- Genesis -- Criticism, interpretation, etc. -- Early works to 1800.
Cite this Item
"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." In the digital collection Early English Books Online. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A28529.0001.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed May 6, 2024.

Pages

The spirituall figure is thus.

19. The forty years of the Age of Esau, or of Isaac after he begatt Esau, signifieth, that Adam with his Eve, when as he was man and wo∣man, and yet neither of them, did stand in Paradise forty dayes in the Temptation or Proba, and had joy with his fair Eve, viz. with his fe∣male property in himselfe.

20. But Abimilech, viz. the King of this world had introduced his lust into this fair female Rose-Garden, viz. into the Tincture of Venus; un∣derstand into the holy life of Love in Adam; and stirred the Centre of the Souls nature, whereupon Adam became lusting and longing to take

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to him in his property yet two wives, viz. the beastiall wife, according to the beast-like property out of the four Elements; and the Astrall [Sydereall or Starrie] wife from the Constellation [or Astrum of this world] which wicked woman did awaken in Adams female property, which he took up to wife for his lust; as Esau did the wives of scorn and mockery, with whom he caused meer grief of minde and lamentable perplexity to himselfe and his Right female property; and we indeed do still suffer and endure the same, and must consume our time with them in misery and lamentation.

21. Further, this figure denoteth the Forty years of Israel in the wilderness, when they did eate Manna, and Rejoyced with Rebecca un∣der a strange King, where they lived in the kingdome of this world, and yet were led, preserved and nourished in the divine Arm; and there∣fore they grew great before the world, as Isaac under King Abimilech, and when Israel after Forty yeares pitched their Tent at Beer sheba, viz. in the promised Land, they yet took these two wives to them in their fleshly lust, which caused meer grief of heart to them, for which two wives sake, they were sorely punished of God, and were at last for their sake, driven from Beer-sheba.

22. Thirdly, this figure denotes the hard combate of Christ in the wilderness in Adams stead, where Christ in our humanity took these two wives, (which were manifest in Adam through his strange Son, or will) unto his heavenly essentiality, & suffered them to hunger forty dayes, so that they must resigne and give in their desire to the divine Essence, and learn to eat heavenly Manna, to signifie, that this earthly lust [in us] from the Stars and four Elements, should be broken in Christs death and cease.

23. Fourthly, it denotes the Forty houres of Christ in the Grave, where these two wives of unquietnes in the humane property were chan∣ged againe into one Eternall wife; viz. into the true Rebecca, and Right Adamicall Eve, which was in Adam before his Eve.

24. Fiftly, it points at the Forty dayes of Christ after his Resurrection, when the two wives of Adam & Esau were again changed into a Manly virgin, when this virgin, viz. Christ in our male and female property did rightly stand out the Forty dayes of Adam in Paradise, when he was tryed, and therefore he set himselfe by divine might into the Royall throne of ejected Lucifer, as a Judge; and with these two wives in one virginity, and one onely person or Image, would rule over him, as the causer of mans misery, being he was the great cause, that Adam, viz. the Image of God, did manifest by his Son of the new will, yet two wives in his virginity.

25. This, the spirit in Moses and Esdras have mystically and secret∣ly hinted at under an outward figure, shewing how it should afterwards fall out: and although it is very likely that Reason will not beleeve us, we care not for that, and it matters not much; seing we have not dis∣closed this, for its sake, but for the sake of the understanding children. However, we know very well in what vision we write; [we know from what spirits illumination and knowledge we have set down some glan∣ces of the great mysteries signified by this short divine history of Moses.]

Notes

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