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

12 Concerning the abyffal Effence.

operators in every created effence ; they work infeparably : one does not work without the other. But the myftery is yet in the manner how God does generate this aby ffal effence out of himfelf. To clear this, you muft know that in God there is an eternal will, and this eternal will does make a beginning and end-to himfelf; and fo the beginning entering into the end, 2nd the end into the beginning ot himfelf, there is formed out of himfelf this (round] aby fal felobe, } Thus you fee the will of God if tbe beginning and end of this abyffal effence. The materiality alfo of this abyfs is generated out of himfelf; becaufe there was nothing befide himfelf to eenerate it from, therefore the eternal de‘firing will, muft generate this abyfs out of ‘itfelf; and he formed it into a circle or globe, that is, the defiring will looking into itfelf, and finding nothing but himfelf, does put an end to himfelf; and fo the beginning clofing with the end there is tormed around or glebe. Thus you fee the higheft groynd that we can have of tlis aby {fal effence, namely, the defiring will of God, which will is the firft and lalt caufe. of all things, from which free, e¢ffi-

. ° cacious