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

74 What kind of Principle eternal Nature is. cannot be co-equal with the Deity, no more than the creature can be with the Creator: fhe is placed below the globe of eternity, is influenced from the fame, and ‘does depend upon it: therefore muft needs be a fubjeéted and fubordinated principle. “We may hence gather the abfurdity of that atheiftical principle which makes matter almighty, and to be the caufe of all things; for we fee here clearly that eternal Nature, ‘che matter of all things, is wholly paffive and fubordinate to the will and power of her great Creator, in whole hand fhe is as clay.in the hand of the potter.

An{w. 13. In the laft place, if it be afked, what kind of principle eternal Na‘ture is? I anfwer, that it isa ufeful and ferviceable principle, and that becaufe it fully anfwers to all thofe ends for which it was created by God: but more efpecially the ufefulnefs thereof appears in thefe following particulars:

Firft, Becaufe ‘ the principle of eternal « Nature is, as it were, the body of the © Holy Trinity, wherein they live, act, and © move; as the foul in our bodies, and is “ therefore called, the eternal humanity, © and eternal pure fubftantiality : for with-

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