hearts and minds being an infinite Treasury of good and bad we should preserve the Good thoughts which are Gods not our Own and suppress the Evil which are the Devils and ours since the heavy fall of Adam and NOT bring forth the unfruitfull works of Darkness but as learned Scribes of the kingdom of heaven bring forth out of the good treasure of our Hearts Good things both old and new even the words and works which declare us indeed the children of Light which shall be our joyfull fruit and harvest and kingdom of heaven for evermore in Paradise when all our own that is our Evil Thoughts shall perish and we be saved as it were through fire or else our evil thoughts words and works shall be our evil treasure and kingdome of Perdition where our Works shall burn with us for ever also Sixthly It sayes in brief what the Mysterium Magnum or great Mysterie is which is that which is resembled to us in this visible world wherein all things belonging to darkness or light are hidden and manifested in the eternal substantial wisdome in which also all things both evil and good are eternally resident as in ONE world together though they must for ever be invisible incomprehensible and incommunicable the one to the other as Day and Night Heaven and Hell are so the one being the Love and Light the other the Wrath and Fire of the One only Spirit the Wonderfull and Incomprehensible GOD. The SECOND Book contained in this Treatise is the Answer to the 177 Questions called Theosophick because they are of such divine matters as are collected out of the Eternal Ground of the holy Scriptures and belonging to the mysteries of the divine Wisdome whose glimps and footsteps only are hinted at in the Holy Bible There are but Thirteen of these Questions here answered and a piece of the Fifteenth to the fifth verse though in his Preface to that Book the Author sayes they are all at large to be found in his other writings in this but briefly and summarily as if this book had been finished by him though no more then here is printed is yet come to our knowledge In this Treatise especially we may find how in the Eternal Darkness and Light there hath Eternally been a transaction as it were of Wonders and Powers in a real representation and working in each world by it self and in respect of one to the other both conducing to the Eternal infinite Glory and praise of the Unity in Trinity of the Omnipotent Omnipresent God whose Eternal Blessedness had never any Beginning nor ever can have End Herein also we may be helped to understand undeniably how any are a sweet savour to God of life unto life in them that are saved and a savour of Death unto Death in them that Perish though these two things seem very inconsistent with the Divine Unity and Goodness in the appehension of our Mortal Reason The THIRD Book hinteth how the Heavenly and Earthly Mystery may be seen distinctly manifested together in this outward world which is a Looking-Glass of the Eternal Great Mystery wherein both the Heavenly Divine and Hellish wrathfull Mysteries are represented in the visible things of this world which hath had a Beginning and we may thereby be furnished with Skill to go out of the Earthly Corruptible and Hellish Mystery with our souls into the Heavenly and Blessed It also lays down some Grounds of discovering the Times of the Great Separation of Good and Evil and the Manner of it when these Mysteries now visibly mixt shall no more continue so but all that hath been wrought and produced in each of them shall go into and remain in its Eternal Habitation in its own world and then the Creature be quite delivered from Bondage and brought into the glorious liberty of the Sons of God Matt. 25. from the 3◠verse to the en◠When the Goats shall be divided from the Sheep they to the Left hand and these to the Right and to the Goats shall be said Go ye Cursed into Everlasting Fire prepared for the Devil and his Angels and to the Sheep Come ye Blessed of my Father inherite the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world Here every one may consider in himself his Inclination Desire Propensity Condition and whole imployment of his Thoughts Words and Actions whether he be a Goat or a Sheep he may in this life transmute and change his desires and then all his powers in Soul and Body will follow with joy that he is a Sheep fit for the Table of the Lord at the great Supper of the Wedding of the Lamb at the Last Day and this pledge of Gods love that Better Part once participated in this Life will be impossible to be taken from him Or else if he continue to be an unruly Goat and will not be changed or renewed in the Spirit of his Mind to be a Meek Lamb of Christ but will remain stubborn wilfull and careless following the Vanity Bent Tendency Liking and Lust of the outward flesh wherein as in a Lodging dwells Sin and the Devil he will be fit only for the Table of Devils and to be tormented with him in his Kingdome in Eternal Damnation This consideration will be very easie to him that reads this Book and exerciseth himself in what is written therein The This is the 27. Book in the Catalogue FOURTH is after the manner of a Common-Prayer-Book in such a Way and Form as that is used in the Lutheran Churches as at the end of the small Germane Bibles are Set Prayers for Every Day in the Week both for Morning and Evening also peeces of Scripture appointed to be read called Epistles and Gospels because most of them were first taken out of the Epistles of the Apostles and the Histories of Christ called the Four Evangelists and those according to the occasion are appropriated to the Dayes of the Year and they have other spiritual Psalms and Hymns made by Luther and other Holy Men The Author also intended this of his for the help of Beginners in the Exercise of Divine Meditations and Prayers out of the deep Treasury of 〈◊〉 knowledge Not to set a form to be unvaried or to tie up others in the use of those only but that their minds might therby be opened to raise its Desires up to God and so get strength to make larger or shorter or other Prayers as the Spirit of God in every one should stirre and move in the Good desires of their souls at all times and upon all occasions continually In this Treatise he had consideration of the Internal Eternal Powers of the Dayes of the week beginning on Munday and ending on Sunday the seventh from thence according to the Seven Forms of the Eternal Nature or the Seven Spirits before the Throne of God he would have expounded in them by way of Medition and Desires the Ten Commandments the Belief and the Lords Prayer as
of God thou who movest in and over Heaven and Earth and art NEER unto ALL things pour forth thy self also I pray thee IN me that I may become new born again in thee and Sprout forth in thee and work good Fruits as a Branch on the Vine JESUS CHRIST to thy Eternall Praise and Glory 79. O thou Gate of the Holinesse of God shine I pray thee in thy Temple in my Spirit so that I may walk in thy Light and alwayes praise thee and serve thee in Righteousness and Holinesse as it is pleasing to thee who art ONE Eternall God Father Sonne and Holy Spirit highly praised in Eternity AMEN Now follow the Prayers upon EVERY DAY in the WEEK at Mornings Noones and Evenings shewing how Man should be in Continuall Exercise and Working 80. CHRIST said to his Disciples Watch and Pray that ye fall not into Temptation Math. 26.41 And Saint Peter saith Your Adversary or Accuser the Devill goetâ—â—â—bâ—ut as a Roaring Lyon and seeketh whom he may devoure 〈◊〉 withstand stedfast in the Faith in Prayer and in Hope that your heart may be defended or preserved against such Darts of the Evill one or Wickedness 1 Pet. 5.8 9. A Prayer on MUNDAY A short Prayer and Sigh penetrating to God when a Man waketh Early before he riseth 81. O Living God who hast made Heaven and Earth my Eyes look upon thee and rejoyce at thy Goodnesse that thou art so gracious and hast held thy hand over me in this dark Night and also defended and kept me by thy holy Angels from all hurt and Mischief 82. To thee thou living Source Quality or Fountain I presse and Blesse my self with the Holy Crosse on which thou didst worry Death and brought Life to us again through the Bloud of our Lord JESUS CHRIST in the Name * Of the Cross of of God the Father and of the Sonne and of the Holy Spirit Amen A Prayer and Thanksgiving when and as Man riseth I Thank thee O God my heavenly Father through JESUS CHRIST thy Dearly beloved Sonne our Lord and Saviour for all Benefits for thy Gracious protection and defence in that thou hast held thy hand over me and preserved me this Night from the Devils Subtlety and Treachery and from all Evill 84. And Commend now my Body and Soul to thee and all that thou hast given me and hast set me therein to be thy Servant or Minister into thy hand Also all my Senses Thoughts and Desires Rule and Govern me I pray thee this Day and all times with thy holy Spirit and lead me in right Paths 85. Giâ—â—â—e thy Word in my heart and teach me thy Truth that I may speak think or doe nothing but that which is right and Truth 86. Defend me from Lying and all evill Wicked Men which walk and converse in Lying and deceit that I may not follow after them but bring forth thy Truth in my heart and walk in right paths 87. Draw thou and put on to my Heart and Soul the Garment of Salvation and the Cloak of Righteousnesse and Purity and wash my heart with the Bloud of the Lamb JESUS CHRIST 88. Let my Eyes behold thy way that I may walk and converse therein Give me thy holy Angell that he may lead and conduct me and protect me from the Devils Suggestions or Representations and false or evill Net that I may not suffer my self to Lust after unrighteousnesse 89. Give me Chast and Modest Eyes that no evill or false Lust awake in me and protect me from Anger and Cursing that I may not misuse thy Name but so walk as is most pleasing and acceptible to thee through JESUS CHRIST thy dearly beloved Sonne our Lord and Saviour Amen A Prayer when we dresse our selves and wash O Eternall God by this Garment I call to mind the Garment of Innocency of our first Parents when they needed no such clothing or Garment as this which Earthly Cloathing or Garment took its beginning through Sinne. 91. O Mercifull God thou hast brought us again the fair bright Paradisicall Garment in thy Sonne JESUS CHRIST put it I pray thee on to my Soul seeing the Earthly Body is not worthy of it Till I shall once rise again out of the * Or Ashes Dust of the Earth and then thou wilt totally cloath me upon with the Cloaths or Garment of thy Power and Glory this I believe and hope according to thy Word And as I now wash me with outward Water so O Dear God wash also I pray thee my Heart and Soul with the Bloud of the Lamb JESUS CHRIST that I may be pure and clean before thee and be acceptable to thee as thy Bride and embrace Me in thy Armes as thy dearly beloved Bride whom thou hast Betrothed and Married to thee in the Faith and in the Love 92. O LORD Jesus Christ put on to me I pray thee the Garment of thy Innocency wherein thou in our Garment hast taken upon thee the scorn of ALL Men. 93. Thou hast O Lord JESUS CHRIST laid off from thee our Earthly Cloathes or Garment in thy Suffering and Dying the Souldiers plucked them off from thee and hast offered thy self naked and Bare to thy Eternall Father and hast thereby obtained for us the pure Garment of Innocency which our Father Adam had on him before his fall †Gen. 2.25 when he knew that he was Naked 94. O Dear Lord JESUS Put it on again I pray thee to my poor Soul Thou art indeed therefore come into our Humanity because thou wilt help us and bestow upon us the Garment of thy Power receive I pray thee my Mind into thy Garment that the same may in that Garment enter before God thy Father and pray unto him 95. O Lord JESUS CHRIST I cannot without the Garment of thy Power and Satisfaction come before God My Prayer can not otherwise â—â—tain â—o reach the City or Place of the Deity unlesse thou â—â—â—â—st my Mind and Desire upon with the Victory of thy resuâ—â—â—ction Wherein alone with my Mind I can come to thy â—â—â—â—â—nly Father 96. Therefore now thus I give thee my Mind and Will totally for thy own propriety Cloath thou it Lord JESU with thy Power even as I at present cloath the Body with Earthly Garments and wash thou away all impurity from my Mind 97. As I now wash my Face with Water so wash thou also my Mind inwardly with the Power of thy Grace so that it may be ready and chearfull to behold thee and have a Loathing against all Falshood or Wickednesse and Impurity of Lying Untruth Pride Covetousnesse Envy and Anger and all whatsoever is against God 98. As I now wash with outward Water so O Dear GOD wash thou my Heart and Soul I pray thee also with the Bloud of the Lamb JESUS CHRIST that I may be pure before thee and be acceptible to thee as thy Bride embrace me in thy Armes as thy Beloved Bride which thou in Faith
in the pure Life of Man which Life desireth that Tree and it can become compreprehended or apprehended in no Dark Life This now is thus the Fourth Point The Fift Point The Seventh Chapter How a Life in this Tree may Perish How it pâ—sseth out of the Source or Quality of Love and Joy into a Source or Qualitie of Misery which is contrary to all other 1. Every Life is a Clear * Glasse Glance Reflexion Glimpse and Looking Glasse and appeareth like a Flash of a terrible Aspect or twinckling but when the Flash catcheth or receiveth the Light then it changeth it self into a Meekness and letteth the terror sink down for the Skreek or terrour uniteth it self into the Light and thus the Light shineth out of the terrible Flash for the Flash is the Lights Essence it is the Fire thereof 2. The Flash containeth in it the Center of Nature for the fourth Form of Nature is the Flash and there the Life ariseth which in the steddy Fire as in the Principle cometh to Perfection but becometh set in the Light viz in another source or quality 3. But now the Originall of the Imagination is in the first Form of Nature viz in the desirous harsh astringency which bringeth its Form quite through the Dark-world even into the Fire for the first desire goeth through all Formes also it maketh all Formes and driveth it self on into the Fire even into the Principle 4. And there is the Seperation limit of the Spirit where it becometh generated which is now free it may enter back again with its Imagination into its Mother the Dark-world or sink down forward into the Fires anguish and spring and grow forth in the Light how it will it standeth in its choice or Election into which it giveth up it self there it must be for its Fire must have Substance that it may have to Consume 5. Will the Spirit now Eat of its first Mother the harshnesse that is will it give to its Fire the fierce wrathful Substance in the Center for food or the Lights Substance in the Light-world it standeth all in its might and power whatsoever its Fire embraceth or Conceiveth in that property it burneth 6. In the dark property it burneth in the dark harsh strong or stern source or quality and seeth in it self only a Flash it hath only the Looking-Glasse of the Darknesse and seeth in the Darkness 7. And in the Lights property it catcheth or receiveth the Meeknesse of the Light in which the Light-fire burneth and seeth in the Light-world 8. All is nigh unto the Spirit but it may not see in any other Worlds property but only in that wherein its Fire burneth That World alone is the Spirit capable of it seeth not in the other World for it hath no Eyes to do it it continueth to be an Eternall hiddenness to it 9. If it have been in another World and is gone out from thence and hath given it self up into another Fire as the Devils did who have indeed a knowledge of the Light-world but no Experimentall perception or Seeing or beholding thereof the Light world is neer unto them and yet they know it not 10. Thus now is to be known the Lifes perdition which is done in the Principle there is the * Or Tongue of the Ballance Angle there the Will may cast or incline it self whither it will will it into the Multiplicity to be its own Lord then it can no otherwise apprehend the Multiplicity but in the dark stern harshnesse or astringency in the Dark-world 11. But will it into the Nothing into the Liberty then must it give up it self into the Fire and then it sinketh down into the Death of the Principle and so it Sprouteth out of the Fires anguish forth into the Light For whensoever it yeildeth up it self then the Eternall Will bringeth it to Nature which is God the Father in it self forth through the Fire 12. For with the giving in it falleth home to the first willing to Nature And that bringeth it with the second willing which is its Heart or Sonne forth out of the Anguish of Nature and setteth it with the Sonnes Will in the Liberty without or beyond the Fire-source or quality and there it getteth for the Multiplicity the †The All which is in the Abysse where nothing is yet Manifested but is the power of All things ALL not to its own Glory Authority or Power but to Gods Glory and Power God is in it its willing and doing 13. But whatsoever will be Lord in the Fire that goeth into its own * Or dwelling Number in its own Substance which it self is And whatsoever giveth up its power that giveth up also its Fire-burning and falleth home to that which is a cause of the Fire viz to the Eternall willing of God 14. And thus in the Liberty it is fallen without or beyond its source-or-quality-Fire and the Liberty kindleth its Fire And now it is become a Light to it and a Clear Looking Glasse for it hath given up it self into the Liberty viz into God And thus its Fire is a shining and Glance of GODS Majesty 15. But that which will not do so but will it self be Lord that continueth its own and that canâ—â—â—â—â—â—ng it self higher in its own Formes then to the Fire moreover 〈◊〉 the â—lash for there can no Clear bright Fire burn in it for it hath in 〈◊〉 self no clear or bright Substance for the Fire The Center of Nature hath â—othing in it self out of which a clear shining brightness may Exist but â—n the Liberty without or beyond Nature is a cause of the shining or brightness 16. Whatsoever giveth it self up into Nature but desireth not the property of Nature but the Liberty that becometh in its Flash of Life kindled with the Liberty in that manner as the Second Principle hath kindled it self from Eternity 17. Thus we understand how a Life perisheth how it introduceth it self into anguish and the painfull source or quality in the darkness viz when it will be its own Lord and desireth the Multiplicity when it will not give it Self up into Death and then it cannot reach or attain any other World 18. For every Life existeth in the Anguish source in Nature and hath no Light in it self unlesse it entereth into that which causeth Nature there it receiveth or conceiveth the Light 19. For all whatsoever is in Nature is dark and in Anguish as is to be known in this World if the Sun should be taken away then all would be meer anguish and Darkness And therefore hath God moved himself that he might give a Light to this World that the outward Life might stand in the Light 20. But concerning the inward Life of Souls it hath another manner or Form the outward cannot attain this inward Life and if the Souls-fire hath not Gods Light then also cannot the Souls-will enter into Gods Light it must continue in the Darkness of
Pride in its Hypocriticall flattering Mantle cannot gâ—t the Power and Authority by Subtilty and Falshood then it must afterwards set up the Fourth Power or vertue which striketh with fists thereupon and raiseth Warres upon it 56. O how frolick is the Devill when his Four Elements thus rule then he supposeth he is yet Lord upon Earth though indeed he is Captive and yet the Beast Men perform his office well and so he therewith doth but reproach Men that they are and doe worse then he himself can doe 57. Thus these are the four Elements of the Dark-world in which the Devill supposeth to be a God wherewith he ruleth upon Earth with his faithfull Sonne Falshood which first is the Smugge Kitlin which before hand giveth good words and yet watcheth continually upon the Mouse if it can but once catch it O how brisk and Jocund it is when it can bring the Roastmeat to the Devill 58. With these Four Elements is Man surrounded and hath them in the false Kings Land and Country for his Lodging They Shoot him at an houres to the Heart and would Murther his Noble Image 59. He must continually be in Strife against these For they are with and in him as in a Lodging They stand alwayes upon him And would Murther his best Jewell 60. If but one of these Four Elements have power and Authority to qualifie or operate in Man then that One kindleth all the other and instantly robbeth Man of his Noble Image and maketh out of it a vizard of the Devill 61. And none can with truth say who letteth these Four Elements have power and authority to qualifie or operate that he is a Man for he qualifieth or operateth in the Devils property and is an Enemy of God 62. And though perhaps the Devill cloateth him with the flattering Hypocriticall Mantle so that he can give good words and knoweth how to behave himself finely that a Man supposeth he is a Childe of God yet for all that he is no Man so long as these four Elements lead the upper dominion 63. But he is a Devillized Man half Devill and half Man till he maketh his measure full and then he is a Totall Devill in Mans Form or Shape 64. * NOTE Therefore let every one learn to know what kind of Properties rule in him if he find that these four Elements or but one of them rule in him then he hath time to draw into Battle against it or else it will not be Good he should not dare to comfort himself with the Kingdome of Heaven 65. Only let him not suffer the Devill to cast the flattering Hypocriticall Mantle about him as is done now adayes when Men live in these four Elements and doe but finely tickle themselves with the Sufferings of Christ that must be this wicked mans Cloak and Covering 66. The deceitfull Man might hold his dominion if he did not thus tickle himself with Christs Satisfaction Oh how the Glistering Hypocriticall Mantle of Christ will be pulled off from thee and then Men will see the Whore of Babell standing with the four Powers or Vertues 67. It is not only Comforting will doe it but hinder and resist the deceitfull Man that he may not be Lord in the House he must not have the Dominion but Rihhteousness Love Humility and Chastity and a continuall willing to doe well 68. Not in Pride Covetousness Envy and Anger but in Humility in well-doing with a good heart not dissembling and giving good words but in DOING It must be DOING 69. †Note To withstand the Devils willing to be satisfied with a little in patience to shut up himself in hope upon God to withstand the four Elements of the Devill and to take in * 1. Humility 2. Meekness 3. Patience 4. Love Gods four Elements which are Humility Meekness Love or Mercifulness and Patience in Hope these are Gods Elements these a Man should awaken or stirre up in himself and therewith continually strive against the †1. Pride 2. Covetousnesse 3. Envy 4. Anger Devils four Elements 70. Man must here be in Strife against himself if he will become a heavenly Citizen he must not be a Lazy Sluggish Sleeper in Eating Drinking Gourmandizing and Drunkenness only to fill his Belly whence the Devils Elements begin to * Labour and bring forth fruit qualifie or operate But he must †1 Pet. 5.8 be Temperate Sober and Watchfull as a Souldier that standeth before his Enemy 71. For Gods Anger striveth continually against him he will have enough to doe with that to defend himself For the Devill is his Enemy his own perished corrupt Flesh and Bloud is his Enemy Gods Anger is his Enemy in himself and the whole World is his Enemy Wheresoever he looketh he seeth Enemies All which would rob him 72. Therefore it is striving that must doe it NOT with Mouth and Sword but with Mind and Spirit and not give over or leave off though perhaps Body and Soul should break to pieces and so then must God yet continue to be the Comfort of the Heart as King David saith * Psal 73.26 When Body and Soul shall happen to break in sunder then yet thou art my God the Comfort of my heart and my Refuge 73. And though a Man should see that the whole World were wicked yet if he doth think to be a Childe of God he must still remain stedfast 74. And though perhaps he should think that he were alone in this Path and that the whole World also should say to him Thou art a Fool and art Mad yet he should be in the World as if he were dead and should have that said by the Devill who is his worst Enemy 75. And he should depart no whither but think or Consider that in his purpose he pleaseth God and that God himself in him is his purpose That he will deliver him from the Devill and bring him into HIS Kingdome AMEN THe 18. of April 1639. The Second Translation of this Book into Low-dutch was finished out of Three different Copies One of which was by Herr Michael von Endern compared with Jacob Behme's own Copie and found very Correct And Englished out of that Nether-dutch Copie compared also with a High-dutch Copie in September 1657. Den Oversetter Den 27. February 1638 Aen alle Kinderen van de Edele SOPHIA DEes Pen was noyt soo stout in seven volle Jaren Dat sy dorst grijpen aen dit diep gegront Gewas Om uyt't Hoogh-duyts in ons Lief Moeders-taal te baren Maar nu heeft Sy't vol-brach in veert ien-dagen ras Daar voor Zy't NIETS tegen't geschapene en Al Zijnde Alles in Alles NIETS en AL en't Gonigh Goeth ghepresen Door De Ecuwighe wijsheijt Sophias gheslacht met Siel Beeldt Geest bereyt Het Guwigh EEN will on s van't blindt ghesicht ghenesen Dat wy doorts mogen Sien Gods groote Of Verborgentheyt Heymlijkheyt SONNET Op den In-hout van dit Tractaat Op't I. en II.
viz as to one part to the Commandement with their Will directed into Gods Will as the first Patriarchs and all the honest good People of Israell 96. The other acted with their Hands the Works of the Law and clave with their Will to their poysonous Magia viz to Covetousness and sought nothing Else but the Numbers of the Multiplicity 97. Their Mouth was a Jew and the Heart a Babylonish Whore an Hypocrite and Antichrist with good words and a false covetous Heart 98. And thus in Christendome and with all People and Nations is the Babylonish Whore together with Antichrist sitting and there in one only People two Kingdomes dwell at once and they let themselves not mix in the inward Spirit so that they become one * Dan. 2.43 as Lime and Iron mingle not 99. They doe indeed mingle themselves according to the outward Body But their Spirits are of two sorts of Tribes or Generations as the Prophet Daniel saith Daniel 2. from 40. to the 45. verse 100. Therefore whosoever will know the Antichrist let them seek him only thus they will find him in every House but the worst of all is the Crowned Whore and her God-mothers who elevate her out of the Baptisme of Whoredome that they also may live in Number of the Multiplicity viz the Cryers who lead from the one Will of God into Many Wills that they alone may inherit the Number of the Multiplicity and may stuffe of fatten Earthly Bellies 101. And the other part belonging to the Free-Will of God goeth forth with the Magick Will hereof out of it self into the Liberty viz into the one only incomprehensible Will of God and it standeth * In the Philosophick Globe in the 40. Questions of the Soul turned Backward in the Magick Figure 102. The Life thereof seeketh Bread and goeth forward and its Will is not in the Bread but goeth out of it self out of the seeking into God into one only Number these are the right Children of the Eternall Mâ—gia 103. For Gods Spirit dwelleth in their Will and openeth to them the Eternall Wonders of God and their Lifes Spirit openeth the Wonders of this World and they are free from Babell and the Antichrist though indeed they should sit in the Bosome thereof for the right true Image of God standeth in the Spirit of the willing which becometh generated out of the Spirit of the Soul The Ninth Text. 104. WHereas then there are thus two Magia's in one another so there are also two Magi which manage and drive them viz two Spirits the one is Gods Spirit and the other the Spirit of Reason into which the Devill insinuates himself and in the Spirit of God the Love of the Unity stirreth it self 105. †Note And Man cannot better try and prove himself then by taking serious Consideration To what his Desire and Lust or Longing driveth him The same he hath for a Conductor and its Child he is 106. Neverthelesse he hath Now Might and Strength that he can break and alter that Will for he is Magicall and hath the Might or Ability Yet it must be Sincere or Earnest for he must Tame or subdue the Starry Spirit which ruleth in him Note Note 107. To this belongeth a Temperate sober and quiet Life with continuall giving up into the Will of God for the taming or subduing of the Source or Quality of the Starres there is no Wisdome nor Art needfull but Sobriety or Temperance of Life with continuall going out from the Influxes or * Instigations of Evill in Lusts and Passions Instigations the Elements continually dart into him the seeking of the Starres into the Will 108. Therefore it is not so easie a thing to become a Child of God to that belongeth great Labour and Toyle 109. And yet the Antichrist dares call himself a Child of God but Christ saith * Math. 7.21 22 23. They shall not all come into the Kingdome of Heaven that say LORD LORD and have not we Cast out Devils in thy Name and done great works but he faith to them away from me ye stinking Goats I know you not you have done this out of the false or wicked Magia and are not become known in my Spirit and Will 110. Ye are in your Spirituall Figure Goats Tyrants Covetous Proud Stately Voluptuous ye have brought my Name on to your Tongue but have sacrificed your Heart to the Pleasures and Voluptuousnesse of the Flesh and are generated in the Turba ye must be tryed through the Fire and so Each Kingdome getteth home its Fruit. 111. Therefore ye brave World behold your self in these Writings which have set before you the Eternall Ground and Consider further and deeper concerning it else you will become captivated in your Turba and there you shall with your Substance goe through the Fire of God and whatsoever is †1 Cor. 3.13 14 15. a work without the Will of God that shall remain in the Fire but whatsoever is generated in the Will of God that shall stand to Gods Glory and deeds of Wonder and to the Eternall Joy of the Image of Man 112. Now Consider what thou doest For Babell standeth already in the Flames and beginneth to Burn there is no Quenching or Extinguishing More nor no Remedy or Medicine she is become known to be Evill her Kingdome goeth to the End Hal-le-lu-jah The 8 of May. 1620. The Translation into the Nether-dutch was the second time made 1642. in July out of Three written High-dutch Copies Out of which Nether-dutch this was translated into English Saturday 6. of February 1657 8. Old Stile And compared with a High-dutch Copie The Holy Week Or A PRAYER-BOOK In which is mentioned the true Ground of Right Praying Set forth upon the entreaties and desires of his loving and good Friends for the daily Exercise of True Christianity in their Hearts and Little Church of their Families In the Year 1624. left unfinished By Jacob Behme Teutonicus Philosophus Englished by JOHN SPARROW London Printed by M. S. for Lodowick Lloyd and are to be sold at the Castle in Cornhill 1661. The brief Contents of this Prayer-Book for Every Day in the Week HOw Man should continually consider and call to mind his Employment Office or Duty his State Condition and Conversation wherein God hath set and ordained him and how he should Commit and Commend his Beginning Middle and End of all his Doings to God and Continually work all his Works with and IN God just as the Stock of the Tree generateth its Branches with and IN the power of the Root and bringeth forth its Fruit upon them And how in all his Beginnings he should draw Power and Vertue to his Works out of Gods Fountain or Well-spring and thank his Creatour for all Benefits Together with a hearty Consideration of the Suffering Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ shewing how Man should continually bring his Soules hunger and desire through Christs Death in his Resurrection into
Earnest Praying if we would obtain any thing from God a right true Repentance and in-turned Humility For right Praying is a receiving of that which the Soul desireth concerning which Christ saith From henceforth the Kingdome of Heaven suffereth violence and the violent take it by force to themselves Math. 11.12 43. For which cause I will set down a brief Form of a Confession or Preparation how a Man should prepare himselfe when he will bring his short Prayer and Requests before God 44. For he may as well be heard in a short Prayer as with many words if his heart stand right in the presence of God It needeth not long Prayers or many words but only a Beleiving or faithfull repentant Soul which with totall Earnestnesse giveth it self up into the Mercy of God into Gods Compassion For one onely sigh worketh with God if the Will standeth nakedly or purely before God and hath cast away from it the Earthly Garment viz the false or wicked Lust This for an Intimation to the Reader and for a quickening stirring to him 45. For there needeth not to be used just such a Form of Confession but the Holy Spirit will well enough make a Form for him in the heart when the Will in true earnest Sincerity turneth it self to God 46. Only for an Introduction to every one who doth not yet know how a true Prayer should be fitted I will set down this Confession to direct his Soul therewith and I will commit the work of Confession together with the Praying to the Holy Spirit in every Soul which is truly and rightly Earnest He will well enough make for him a Confession and Prayer if any doe but earnestly sincerely and rightly come to the Gate where GOD the LORD in Man Speaketh operatively Then he will find it so A Confession and Right Acting or Working of Repentance before Gods Countenance 47. O Deepest of all Greatest Unsearchable Holy God! Thou who out of meer Grace and Mercy after the terrible apostacy of our first Parents with thy great Love and Mercy in thy Sonne JESUS CHRIST hast manifested thy self in our Humanity and in him hast made an open Gate of Grace again for us poor Men to thy Countenance and abolished Sinne and Death in his Bloud and callest us now to such Grace as a Mercifull God we poor Sinners now should only Convert again and come to thee and thou wilt quicken or refresh us Math. 11.28 48. I poor unworthy sinfull Man come upon the invitation of thy Word and acknowledge to thee that I am not worthy of such Grace which thou offerest us For I Stick in the Slime of Vanity and am Laden with vain Lusts of the Flesh and own-self Will my Sinnes have captivated and obscured me so that I neither tast nor see thy Grace in me also I have no Right Trust or Confidence nor Faith towards thee and have totally given my self up into the vanity of the World and of the Flesh and am compassed about therewith 49. I have defiled my fair bright Garment which thou hast put on to me in the Baptisme with the Lust of the Flesh and lye in the Devils Net captive in thy fierce Wrath. Hell setteth its Jaws wide open against me and my Conscience gnaweth me thy Judgement standeth alwayes before me and the Bands of Death wait upon me 50. I lye in the slime and mire of Sinnes and Vanity so that also I neither know my Sinnes nor can bewail them For they have hidden me from thy Countenance and I have only yet a little sparkle of the living breath in me through thy drawing which desireth thy Grace 51. And I come now before thee with the Lost Sonne and the Publican in the Temple and fly to thy Mercy and pray thee in my weak power through the Bitter Suffering and Dying of my Redeemer JESUS CHRIST whom thou hast Set before thee for a Grace-Throne and offerest us thy Grace through his Satisfaction that thou wouldst receive me yet again for thy Child and Heir in thy Sonne and wouldst awaken for me a right Earnest Repentance also Sorrow and Grief for my former committed Sinnes in my Heart that I may goe out from the wicked way or Conversation and turn my heart totally and altogether to THEE 52. O Great God strengthen I beseech thee my weak Faith in Me rouse my heart I pray thee that it may acknowledge and bewaile my manifold Sinnes Touch thou my poor Soul with thy Power that it may acknowledge it self that it standeth deviated and turned away from thee 53. O thou Breath of the Mercifulnesse of God doe thou draw me to thee through my Redeemer Jesus Christs Death and Resurrection and abolish my Sinnes in his Bloud and Death and make my poor Soul living in his Bloud and wash it clean from its Sinnes that its desire may presse into thee O thou Holy God! and fetch Power out of thy Spring or Fountain of Grace 54. Awake thou I pray thee in me a right hunger and thirst after true Repentance and Sorrow for my former committed Sinnes that I may hate or be at Enmity and angry against them and turn my self to Thee 55. O thou great deep of Mercy I am afar off from thee and cannot reach thee in my weak Power turn thee to me I beseech thee and comprehend my desire into thee and kindle it O Lord that I may tast thy Grace 56. Forgive I pray thee my Trespasses and Sinnes and heal my weaknesse bruise I pray thee my Heart and Soul that I may acknowledge and humble my self before thee Be thou I pray thee my beginning to Conversion and lead me upon the right path that I may walk with thee 57. Give me I pray thee thy holy Spirit in my Soul and Spirit and Sanctifie me in thy Grace As thy beloved Sonne Jesus Christ hath engaged to me saying My Father will give the holy Spirit to them that pray unto him for it Luke 11.13 Also Knock and so it will be opened unto you Math. 7.7 Luke 11.9 58. Now come I poor Sinner upon the Invitation of thy Word and take to me thy Saying in my Soul and Heart and will not leave off from thee unless thou blesse me with JACOB 59. And though indeed my Sinnes are many yet thou art God and the Eternall Truth which cannot Lye where thou hast Spoken in the Prophet Isaiah If we Convert and Repent then we shall be snow-white as wool Isai 1.18 60. Upon thy Saying I trust and give my self totally and altogether up to thee and pray thee receive me into Grace and bring me to thy Children who walk in the way of the Living and let me walk with them and enter into thy Commandement give me a true humble and obedient Heart that may alwayes fear before thy Anger and Sinne no more 61. O thou Well-Spring or Fountain of all Grace what shall I say before thee Or why should I flatter my self and comfort my evill Will
and Desire I desire no Comfort from thee in my earthly evill Will but pray thee out of all my power which yet is in me mortifiâ— my Earthly Evill Will and let it no more live before thee For it desireth only hypocrisie dissembling or flattery and own self Love and is never sincerely upright before thee It giveth thee good words and pretendeth Truth and yet is a Constant Lyar before thee 62. Give me only thy Will that I may will nothing without thee Doe thou with thy Will tread down my self evill Will to the ground and let me in thy Power co-will and act with thee 63. O LORD what shall I in my vanity pray for from thee I pray for Nothing from thee but for the dying of my Saviour JESUS CHRIST That thou wouldst put me to Death in his Death and make me living again in his Resurrection in him that I may no more walk or converse according to my Spirits Will in me but in him That I may be his Temple and Dwelling-house that he may lead and conduct me so that without him I may be able to will or doe nothing 64. Unite thou and bind me with him so that I may be a fruitfull Branch on his Vine and bear good Fruit in his Power into thy Promise I sink my self down totally and altogether Be it done unto me according to thy Word and Will Amen A Thanksgiving and Prayer When a Man after such Acting Repentance findeth the divine Power in himself 65. O GOD thou Well-Spring or Fountain of Love and Mercy I glorifie and praise thee in thy Truth and Thank thee in my Heart that thou presentest to me thy Countenance again and lookest upon me unworthy and Miserable Wretch with the Eyes of thy Mercy and givest me a Ray or Beam of Comfort so that my Soul CAN hope on Thee 66. O thou Infinite Love of JESUS CHRIST thou who hast Broken Death in our Humanity and changed Gods Anger into Love to thee I give up my self totally and altogether My Soul Laudeth and honoureth thee It rejoyceth it self in thy Power and Love that thou art so Good and Gracious My Spirit sporteth in thy Power and joyeth it self in thy Truth All thy doing is right and Truth Thou rulest over Sinne and breakest the Power of Death Thou holdest the Might and Power of Hell captive and shewest us the Way of Life 67. None is like thee O LORD Who releasest the Captives out of the Pits and Graves of Death and refreshest the Miserable Thou givest them drink in their Thirst and givest them Water of Eternall Life Thou directest their Feet in right Paths and guidest them with thy Staffe The dry parched Places of the Heart and of the Soul thoâ— fattenest and bedewest with thy Rainy Showers and givest them Water of Mercy 68. Thou makest them living in the Midst of Death and settest them up before thee so that they live before thee Thou thinkest on the Mercy and Covenant which thou hast made with us through thy Bloud and Death and forgivest us our Sinnes 69. Thou pourest into us of thy Power so that we acknowledge thee and givest us Food of the Eternall Life whereby we become quickened and continually hunger and thirst after thee This now my Soul acknowledgeth therefore it praiseth thee and exalteth thee in thy great Might and Glory 70. O thou Well-Spring or Fountain of Divine Sweetnesse comprehend or receive my Soul into thee and fill my Spirit with thy Love and bind me to thy Band that I never more depart from thee Strengthen I pray thee my weak Faith and give me an assured Hope and Confidence 71. Cleanse I pray thee my Heart and Soul and give me Chastity Modesty and Purity in my Conscience that I may be ashamed of Sinne before thy Countenance and depart from it Mortifie I pray thee all Evill Lusts in me that I may cleave unto thee with clean and pure desire and walk in thy Will 72. Keep and Maintain me I pray thee in thy Power and acknowledgement and give me an humble Heart towards thee and my Neighbour so that I may alwayes acknowledge and love thee Help also that I may Love my Neighbour as my self through JESUS CHRIST Our Lord. AMEN A Prayer to the Great Fire-burning Love of God shewing how rightly to Pray for it O Thou Holy GOD thou that dwellest in a Light that None can câ—â—â— unto but only the Love of thy Sonne Jesus Christ which thou hast out of meer Grace poured into our Humanity in JESUS Christ Wherewith thou hast loved us poor Men before the foundation of the World And hast through this Love redeemed us from thy fierce Wrath and from the power of Death and of Hell and offerest us now this Love through thy Sonne Jesus Christ in thy Fire-flaming Spirit that we should pray unto thee for it and thou wilt give it unto us 74. I poor unworthy Man acknowledge my self in◠〈…〉 worthy of it But seeing thou hast manifested or revealed 〈…〉 in our assumed Humanity and callest therewith the poor * Luke 19.10 1 Joh. 4.2 3. 2 John 7. lost Sinners And art* Come in the Flesh so that thou wilt seek them in their Sinnes and Miseries and thereby deliver them from Sinne and save them as thy Word teacheth us this Therefore come I upon the invitation of thy Word and receive thy Word and truth in my Heart and Soul and Comprehend it in me as thy Free-Gift and pray thee O thou Fire-flaming Love of God in the Covenant of JESUS CHRIST freely given to us poor thirsty Soules kindle also my poor Soul with this Love that it may attain a New Life and Will and become delivered out of its Prison and Captivity of thy Anger and out of the Jawes of Death 75. O thou fiery Love of God thou who hast in our Humanity broken Death and destroyed Hell and brought forth our Souls victory in Christ through Death Thou who hast at †Acts 2. the holy Pentecost moved in the Apostles Mouths and Hearts in fiery flames and kindled all thy Saints and done thy Miracles or Works of Wonder by them Thou that lovest and preservest the whole World and all thy Creatures To THEE I come and give my self wholly into thee 76. O thou great Fountain of God Open thy self also in the Spirit of my Inwardnesse and kindle also in me the Fire of thy Love so that my Spirit may burn in thy Love and acknowledge and praise thee therein 77. O thou great Holinesse through the Merits of my Saviour JESUS CHRIST through his Bloud and Death I presse in me to thee and give my self up into thy Flame Through his Resurrection and Ascention or going to Heaven I bring my Will into thee and give it up to thee totally and altogether Doe thou with it how thou wilt Doe but deliver it from false or wicked Lust and break its power that it may only look upon thee 78. O thou holy Power
and in Love hast Betrothed and Espoused 99. O God HOLY SPIRIT let me walk and Converse in thy Power and let thy Holy Angels which thou hast appointed to me Lead me through JESUS CHRIST Crucified Our Lord Amen A Prayer when a Man will goe about his Work or Labour and Calling or Employment wherein God hath set Every One. 100. ALmighty Eternall God and Loving Father Creatour of Heaven and of Earth thou hast Created ALL Things to thy Prayse and MAN to thy Expresse Image and set him to be a Lord and Ruler of thy Works and hast put all under his hands 101. I poor unworthy sinfull Man consider with my self the heavy Fall of our first Parents whereby thy Curse came upon this Work and upon the Earth and I consider with my self how our first Parents are fallen out of Paradise into this Curse wherein now all of us must swimme in Weariness Toyle Incumberances Cares and Necessities and make our selves weary sick and faint that we may uphold and sustain our Lives till at length we enter again into Dust and Ashes the Substance out of which we are proceeded Where we are to Expect and wait for thy true and reall Promise that thou wilt awaken and raise us up again out of the Dust in the Last Day and form us into the fair Paradisicall Image again 102. This now I consider with my self when I take in hand the Work Calling and Employment wherein thou hast by or through Nature appointed or ordained me and pray thy Great Mercy which thou after this Heavy Fall and Apostacy hast turned towards us again in the Grace of JESUS CHRIST blesse me I pray thee in my Calling State Condition and Employment and turn away thy Curse and Anger from me through the Love of Jesus Christ that the Evill Spirit may not touch or sift me in my Calling and Condition and bring me into Falshood that I may not at all therein hurt deceive betray or wrong my Neighbour with Words or Deedâ— or desire that which I should not 103. Give me I pray thee O Dear LORD a ready Heart and Minde that I may with a Good Conscience without any false or wicked desire also without Pride Covetousness Envy and Anger perform my work and order my Condition according to thy Will and also rest satisfied with thy Grace with what thou givest me and that with the Works and Labour of my hands in my Office Duty State and Condition wherein thou hast set me I may NOT seek my own only to serve my self and my own turn alone but also my Neighbours benefit also may come to help the Miserable and the Impotent also the Weak Blind Simple and needy which are not gifted or furnished with understanding of thy Works of Wonder to manage them 104. Help I pray thee O Loving GOD that I may rightly know my self that I in my State and Condition and Office or Employment am but thy Servant or Minister and that all whatsoever I possesse cometh from thy hand and that I in this World have nothing my own but am only a Pilgrim and Sojournour upon Earth and thou O God the FATHER together with thy Sonne JESUS CHRIST in the Power of the HOLY SPIRIT dost thy self work drive manage and rule all and that all is thine alone and not mine 105. Give me I pray thee rightly to know that all Men are proceeded from One and in that regard that all are my fellow Members Brethren and Sisters as a Tree in its Branches So that I should Love them ALL. 106. As thou O Loving God hast loved us with One only or singular Love in JESUS CHRIST before the Foundation of the World and yet lovest us with the same Love and hast attoned or reconciled us all in one only Love as to thy Anger So O Loving God awaken and stirre up I pray thee also that same Love in ME and kindle my Soul and Mind therewith that I also may with and in THEE in thy Love love all my fellow Members and readily and willingly serve and minister to them That thy Name in us all may be sanctified and thy Will in us be done so that we all in One Love may Eat and Drink thy Blessings 107. And take from us the Evill and the Heavy Guilt viz thy Curse and Anger that the Devils Envy and Covetousnesse may not Spring or flow up in us and introduce us into Vengeance and Malice 108. That we also may heartily love one another and forgive one another our slips failings and infirmities as thou daily forgivest us in thy Love in JESUS CHRIST 109. O LORD prevent I pray thee the suttle Talons of the Devill that he may not Tempt us and bring our evill Inclinations aloft whereby I may be drawn into false or wicked Lusts 110. Deliver me O Dear God from all such Evil through the Bloud and Death of our Lord JESUS CHRIST and give me a Chearfull-Mind to manage thy wonders 111. Help me so that I may Work Will or Act nothing without thy Power bring my Life through thy Wonder-Works and Creature into the Eternall Heavenly working in into the Spirituall hidden Secret World and let me here in thy Works of Wonder increase in Power and Knowledge that also my in ward Ground may grow and increase in thy Wonder-Works in thy Power to the Manifestation or Revelation of the New Jerusalem in us where thou O True GOD wilt work will and be all in all in us 112. Therefore give me I pray thee constantly and continually to know this that I may have it for a token of remembrance to think upon in my Mind and not sinne nor break off my Mind from thee and generate a false or wicked Image which lusteth only after State Pride Covetousness and self-Honour and be Damned with the Evill Spirits but let me be One Spirit and Will with thee and Co-work with thee in the power of my Saviour JESUS CHRIST and of the HOLY SPIRIT Amen A Prayer on Munday at Noon or Midday or whensoever such an attentive Thought stirreth to consider ones State and Condition 113. O God Eternall FATHER I thank thee and praise thee that thou hast appointed and ordained me in this State and Condition that thou hast given me Good Things and meanes for Sustenance and set me among honest vertuous People whom I should serve and Minister to and benefit with my Gifts and hast indued me with Reason and Vnderstanding and Created me a rationall Man so that I know thee and that I am not a Dull Dead foolish ignorant Man who knoweth nothing of thee and thanketh not thee for such benefits But hast Created me from or out of the Light of the World that I may with and in thy Light work or act and live and shewest me all thy Wonders in thy Light 114. I thank thee for this that thou hast created me to thy Expresse Image and set thy Wonders under my hand that I may know them and may