A compendious view of the grounds of the Teutonick philosophy : with considerations by way of enquiry into the subject matter and scope of the writings of Jacob Behmen, commonly called, the Teutonick philosopher : also several extracts from his writings and some words used by him explained

Concerning the eternal Element of Fire. 21

the divine chaos or abyffal nothing: I do not fay it came immediately from the Deity in its eternal unity and fimplicity; for in the pure Deity there are no eternal elements, no duality, no contrariety, becaufe the pure Deity is an eternal unity in itfelf. 13. In the third place, it is neceflary to fpeak a word how the eternal will brought forth this element of fire, out of the divine chaos. The eternal element of fire was brought forth from the abyffal effence, by the wifdom and omnipotence of God; neither need we to enquire further into the manner of its production, becaufe a multitude of words will but darken the manner of its birth. The highly illuminated Behmen has fet it forth from its deep ground, how this eternal element was brought into exiftency by, through, and from, the eternal will of God; but there are but few that can underftand him, and thofe that do, comprehend a great myftery; for reafon, with all its academical knowledge, cannot comprehend it; it being only to be difcerned by!an_ intelleétual fight.

14. In the next place let us, confider, what is the nature of eternal fire ? This