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-etersal Element of Fire, 24

elevating itfelf: thefe are the effential propertics of the eternal anguifhing fire fpirit : becaufe it cannot fubfift without them, nor be feparated from them,

Now it is eafy by thefe properties to give a defcription ot the nature of this fireeffence, namely, that it is a dark, harfh, bitter, anguifhing, fierce, fiery, wrathful, ftern, brimftony, falnitrous, confuming, elevating fire fpirit: and the ftrength and force of this effence confifts in the forementioned properties, and more particularly in its fiercenefs, confumingnefs, and felfelevation; for without thefe it would be weak and feeble.

Queft. If you afk me, wherein the goodnefs of the fire-effence confifts ?

Anfw. I anfwer, in all its effential properties, for they are all good and ferviceable to the end for which they were created, and the eternal fire-effence by means of them becomes a fit inftrument for God to work with. Therefore there is no evil property to be found in this fireeffence, for if there was, God muft be the author of it, he being the fole creator of fire. But indeed God created it to be a good fervant, to ferve his eternal will, not

that