Jacob Behmen's theosophick philosophy unfolded in divers considerations and demonstrations, shewing the verity and utility of the several doctrines or propositions contained in the writings of that divinely instructed author : also, the principal treatises of the said author abridged, and answers given to the remainder of the 177 theosophick questions, propounded by the said Jacob Behmen, which were left unanswered by him at the time of his death : as a help towards the better understanding the Old and New Testament : also what man is with respect to time and eternity, being an open gate to the great mysteries / by Edward Taylor ; with a short account of the life of Jacob Behmen.

CHAP. XXII. Of the Original of Actual Sin, &c.

1. EVery word of Man proceeds from an Eternal Ens, either of Love or Anger. A word conceived becometh substance when 'tis sounded, and then must have a place of Rest, either in its like in another, or it will return to its Mother; the Fountain or Mind whence it is.

2. Doth a wicked Man Curse? Eccho a word of Love against him; let not his Curse enter, infect and take Root, but will return and heap Coals of Fire on the Reviler; for the enkindled Spirit layeth hold of the Inventers very outward Body.

3. Sin, at first, and ever since, is Born of a strange Ens; when the will, leav∣ing the pure simplicity in which it was Created, entreth into the Serpents Craft and Poison. But tho' the will to good, may have evil adhere to it, yet, if it hath not consented to the evil, but rejects it, that the sinful desire cannot come into Essence, that good will hath not hereby wrought evil, but the holy Word judg∣eth the false.

4. The Serpents Ens, was a Virgin of Heavenly Beauty, but Lucifer introduced thereinto the dark Worlds Property; yet hath the Serpent (according to the right of Eternity) both Tinctures. The Pearl is in it, but hidden; because of the Worlds false Magick, that the holy Virgin Ens might not be introduced into an ungodly Serpentine one. It were good the Artist knew this.

5. The Children of God are the Temple of the Holy Ghost who dwelleth in them; without this, there is no true knowing or will, but strife by the Craft of the Serpent about confused verbal wranglings, as did the Jews carry Moses words in their Mouths, but mixed them with the crafty Serpents Ens, and so it must be still, that the word in Gods Children may be stirr'd and whetted, and the Truth struggle to the Light. Therefore must the Body die, it cannot Inherit the King∣dom.

See more of the Original of Sin in this Book of Extracts of Aurora, and in the sixth Chapter of the Book of Predestination. And mentioned also in the 15th of the Forty Questions.