The third booke of the authour, being The high and deepe searching out of the threefold life of man through (or according to) the three principles by Jacob Behmen, aliàs Teutonicus Philosophus ; written in the Germane language, anno 1620 ; Englished by J. Sparrovv ...

Of the Eternall Nature, and its seven Properties.

55. Nature is nothing but the Properties of the receivingnesse of the owne arisen Desire: which Desire ariseth in them variation of the Breathing Word, (that is, of the Breathing Power and vertue) wherein the Properties bring themselves into substance: and this substance is called a Naturall substance, and is not God himselfe.

56. For, though God dwellethn through and through Nature, yet Nature comprehendeth him but so farre, as the unity of God yieldeth it selfe into, and communicateth it selfe with a Naturall Substance, and maketh it selfe substantiall, viz. a substance of Light; which worketh by it selfe in Nature, and pierceth and penetrateth Nature: or else the unity of God is incomprehensible to Nature, that is, to the desirous Receivingnesse.

57. Natureo ariseth in the outflowne word of the Divine percep∣tion and knowledge: and it is a continuall framing and forming of Scienees and perception: whatsoever the Word worketh by the Wisdome, that nature frameth and formeth into Properties: Na∣ture is like a Carpenter, who buildeth a House which the mind figu∣red and contrived before in it selfe; so it is here also to be under∣stood.

58. Whatsoever the Eternall mindep figureth in the Eternall wisdome of God in the Divine Power; and bringeth into an Idea, that, Nature frameth into a Property.

59. Nature in its first ground consisteth in seven Properties: and these seven divide themselves into infinite.

The first Property. 60. The first Property is the Desire which causeth and makethq harshnesse, sharpnesse, hardnesse, cold, and substance.

The second Property. 61. The second Property is the stirring, or Attraction of the De∣sire it makethr stinging, breaking, and dividing of the hardnesse: it cutteth asunder the attracted desire, and bringeth it into multipli∣city and variety; It is a ground of the bitter paine, and also the true Roote of Life: it is thes Vulcan that striketh fire.

The third Property. 62. The third Property is the perceivingnesse and feelingnesse in the breaking of the harsh hardnesse: and it is the ground of An∣guish, and of the Naturall will; wherein the Eternall will desireth to be manifested; that is, it will be a Fire or Light (viz. a flash, or shining,) wherein the Powers, colours and vertues of the wisdome, may appeare: in these three first Properties consisteth the Founda∣tion of Anger, and of Hell, and of all that ist wrathfull.

The fourth Property. 63. The fourth Property is the Fire, in which the Unity appea∣reth, and is seen in the Light, that is in a burning Love: and the wrath in theu Essence of Fire.

The fifth Property. 64. The fifth Property is the Light, with its vertue of Love, in, and with which, the Unity worketh in a Naturall substance.

The sixt Property. 65. The sixt Property is the sound voyce, or Naturall understan∣ding, wherein the five senses worke spiritually, that is, in an under∣standing Naturall Life.

The seventh Property. 66. The seventh Property is the Subject, or thex Contence of the other six Properties; in which they worke, as the Life doth in the flesh: and this seventh Property is rightly and truly called the Ground or place of Nature, wherein the Properties stand in one onely Ground.

The first SUBSTANCE in the seven Properties.

67. Wee must alwayes understand two Substances in the seven Properties: we understand the first, according to the Abysse of these Properties, to be the Diviney Being; that is, the Divine will with the outflowing Unity or God, which together floweth forth through Nature, and bringeth it selfe into Receivingnesse to sharpnesse, that the Eternall Love may become working and sensible thereby, and that it may have something which is passive, wherein it may manifest

it selfe, and be knowne, of which also it might be desired and belo∣ved againe: viz. thez Aking passive Nature, which in the Love is changed into an Eternall Joyfulnesse: and when the Love in the Fire manifesteth it selfe in the Light, then it over-flameth Nature, as the Sunne a Plant, and the Firea Iron.

The second SUBSTANCE.

68. The second Substance is Natures owne Substance, which isb Aking and Passive, and is the Toole and Instrument of the Agent: for where no passivenesse is, there is also no desire of Deliverance, or something better; and where there is no desire of something better, there a thing resteth within it selfe.

69. And therefore the Eternall unity bringeth it selfe by its Ef∣fluence and seperation into Nature, that it may have an object, in which it may manifest it selfe, and that it may love something, and be againe beloved by something; that so there may be a perceiving, or sensible working and will.

Notes

• m

  Or separati∣on.
• n

  Or throughly inhabiteth, or Totaliter.
• o

  Or consisteth.
• p

  Or mod∣delleth.
• q

  Or Astrin∣gency.
• r

  Or pricking.
• s

  Faber, or Smith.
• t

  Grimme, fierce, cruell, odious, or evill.
• u

  Operation, or property.
• x

  Compasse, conclusion, comprising, or continent.
• y

  Essence, or substance.
• z

  Or painefull.
• a

  A red hot Iron.
• b

  painefull.