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

34 The formal Caufe of eternal Nature.

to ferve the younger, namely, the water and light effence, which could not be done by any other hand but that of Omnipotent Wifdom. If we proceed to confider of this order, how incomprehenfible will the fcill of Wifdom appear! For the darknefs was hid in the light, and though it was there with all its properties, yet nothing of it was to be feen or felt; for it was fwallowed up in that of the light, as the night is fwallowed up of the day; fo the fiercenefs, bitternefs and anguifh of the fire were perfectly diffolved in and fwallowed up of the meeknefs, mildnefs, foftnefs and pleafantneis of the water, and nothing remained but the pleafant glances of the fire arifing from the mixture of fire and water. This was the beauty and excellence of eternal Nature, that all ber divided, contrary properties were united into cne undivided property in the eternal earth, where all their contrarieties were reduced to the moft perfec? umon, agreement, and harmony.

20. Queft. If you farther afk me, What eternal Nature’s effence is, in relation to her formal being, as fhe fiood in her original purity and beauty ?

B 4 Anfw,