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. 61

that if this eager attraction of the fire {pirit was not allayed and pacified, it would bring itfelf into anguifh’and pain, as having nothing to feed upon and refrefh itfelf with, but its own burning fulphur, poifonful mercury, and infected fal-nitre; therefore to cover and allay the harfhnefs and bitternefs of the fire fpirit, fo that it might never know its fierce, wrathful anguith, nor perceive its own burning fulphur, mercury, and fal-nitre, whereby in the elevation of its might and power the fire would devour all that come in its way, if once it fhould be inflamed, and fo fpoil the work that he intended to bring forth.

In the third place, God brings forth the water effence, being the root of the fifth form, namely, the light effence. This water is the food of the fire, whereby its eager hunger is allayed, and its painful attraction ftilled, and the effeéts of its fulphurous, mercurial, and falnitrous properties, palliated and concealed. This water fpirit is placed at the bottom of the fire root, where the fire finds its own eternal refrefhment in itfelf, and needs not to feek it elfewhere : yet the fire cannot reach it by flying upwards, but by finking down into its own

root,