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

What kind of Principle eternal Nature is. 53

evil in eternal Nature, which is the effect. Queft. But you will queftion farther, if evil be not in God, nor in eternal Nature, where then will you place it? What will you make the ground and fource of evil?

Anfw. I anfwer with certainty, that ‘ THE MUTABILITY OF THE CREATURE IS _ ‘ THE CAUSE OF EVIL. For though all * things be created good by God, yet they * are not immutably fo; but may become © evil.’

But we wil] fpeak no farther of this matter, becaufe this is not the proper place to {peak of the original of evil and fin, for we are here only treating of eternal Nature, as it came out of God’s hand, and before any creatures were created or brought forth out of it.

Object. It may be you will objeé, that Jacob Behmen makes eternal Nature the ground of good and evil.

Sol. To which I anfwer again, that what Jacob Behmen writes concerning eternal Nature is very true; for he does not make it the ground of evil, in its ftate of purity, as it came out of God’s hand: but as it is in its fallen ftate. And the caufe of

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