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.

On the 37th Question and Answer. To what end, and wherefore were the mortal Creatures made.

1. When the gracious Creator placed Man here, it was in a Farm well stockt,

but that which meets my Meditation on the present Subject in the last Paragraph of the Answer, which is the Eternity of them in their Idea, how fading and transito∣ry soever they are. The glorious Work of the Creation is not a bare Pageantry, it must cease as to its present Forms, but not vanish into a non-entity; for it shall bud forth for the sake of it's Tincture, by the strife of the Properties, to the Glory of the God of Glory, and as Instances or Trophies of the Victory, the weak Mem∣bers of the Almighty Lord Jesus Christ have obtain'd by their Lord's strength, forti∣fying them to tr••ad his steps, and follow him in the Regeneration.

2. By the reverting of those Figures, shall the blessed see how meekly the patient Lambs and other good Creatures pour'd out their lives, how quick and punctually the Fowls contributed, as did the Quails and Raven, how readi••y the Inhabitants of the Water yield themselves as those to the Apostles Nets, how liberally the Olive and other Fruit Trees pour'd forth their fatness, and the Elements their several Stores. And to the cursed Rejecters of God, shall all Creatures be plain material Demonstrations of their Abuses by Man's Excess and Cruelty; the toil of the labo∣rious Oxe, the sweat of the macerated Horse, the life of a multitude of other Creatures profusely lavished away to pamper base sordid Lusts, run as with one cry, not as the Lambs against a devouring Wolf, or the Turtle against the Vulture, but that as those Devils in Humane shape should ransack the Indies and four Ele∣ments to humour their insatiable Lusts.

3. What Arguments (my Soul) may be drawn hence for Sobriety, Moderation, Humility, Thankfulness, Improvement of the Strength given us, liberal breaking to the Poor, and Mercy to the Dumb Creatures, of doing all not only as before the Omniscient Eye, who will be a swift Witness, before the good Angels, Devils, our own Consciences, but the whole Creation also, who as they (the Creatures) par∣take of the Properties and Tincture, are branches of the whole Astral and Elemen∣tary Creation, shall in their Aethers be more than a meer History, (viz.) an express, material Representation and Wi••ness for or against thee in the other Country, though the Fool and Atheist will not know it.