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

The formal Caufe of eternal Nature. 35

Anfw. I thus define eternal Nature ; eternal Nature is an eternal effence, fubjifting in a fix-fold working property, infeparable one from tbe other. For the darknels generates the harfhnefs, the harflnefs the sine naeee this the anguifh, the anguifh the fire; this the water, the water the light; this the love fire, and the love fire the air; thus

they generate one another, and qualify one in ns and through one another infeparably and undivided ; but in ibe feventl> ) they all reft as in one only ground. So that’

eternal Nature fubfilts of fix working pro- (

perties in one only ground or fubftance. And all the properties of eternal Nature confidered in relation. to this one ground,, are all equally eternal, none of them can be accounted before other; they have all but one beginning, one mother, and fubfift in one ground; and in this their union they conititute the wreftling wheel of eternal Nature, wherein fometimes one is uppermoft, fometimes another, fometimes darknels, fometimes light, fometimes anguith, fometimes joy. Yet notwithftanding though they ’be all undivided, and none before the other, for diftinétion fake, we may place the darknefs and harfhnels in

the

ie 4

/Z