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

36 The formal Caufe of eternal Nature.

the firft place, as being the root of the dark fire effence, which fire effence is the center of eternal Nature; the prickly flinging bitternefs in the fecond place, the brimftony anguifh in the third place, the fire in the fourth place: From which fire the water is generated, together with the light and love fire, which belong to the fifth form of nature, and in the fixth place, out of the light and love fire the eternal element of air, from which air proceeds the feventh and laft, namely, she eternal element of earth, in which the fix foregoing properties fubfift in perfect unity and harmony. Now according to this order we can better underftand the beginning and end of eternal Nature’s effence, and how it is diftin@t from God’s eternal unity and pure Deity; though indeed in irfelf, it be an eterna! indiffoluble band, in which property itis diftinét from or before another; but all co-equal and co-eternal in one only ground and fubftance. So that we conclude that the original beauty and excellensy of eternal Nature did confift in this, that the fix working properties were harmonized into a perfect untly, and triumpbing joyfulne[s in the feventh form: Which harmony, peace and unity,

is.