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 abyffal Effence. 15 |

‘ he brought forth eternal Nature and crea© tures, and from whence he brought torth * eternal Nature.’

7. And thus I have led you to the original ground of eternal Nature, even the abyffal effence of eternity, or divine chaos; wherein God’s eternal eye does fee all things lie hid, yet without effence. All eternal effences, centers, principles, worlds, elements, colours, and whole eternal Nature with her feven working properties are hid therein, and from thence are brought forth by the wifdom of God.

8. God brought this abyfial effence out of himfelf, that it might be the original ground of all effences; this was the end why the Holy Trinity introduced themfelves into this eternal beginning. God indeed is without any beginning, but the will of the Trinity has been pleafed to generate itfelf into a beginning, which is the abyffal effence, the beginning of all effences whatfoever, and particularly of eternal Nature.

We are to obferve here, that the eternal world, where the majeftic fovereignty of the Deity is manifefted, called the ftill eternity, (heretofore treated of by me) is far

different