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 Cauje of eternal Nature. 37

is the true form or formal caufe of eternal Nature.

21. But methinks I hear fomebody objet againft what has been faid, that I feem to contradié& the divine Behmen, who places darknefs and light back to back as oppofite to one another, and makes the fire a diftint center from the light; fpeaking of a crofs birth in eternal Nature which divides the fourth form of the fire, from the fifth of the light?

To which I anfwer, that what Behmen {ays is moft true, but it muft be noted that be [peaks this of eternal Nature in its fallen and degenerate flate; whereas I [peak of it in its original {potle{s purity. Behmen /peaks of God in nature (of which I purpofe to write fomething hereafter, in order to take off that veil of obfcurity that feems to fpread itfelf over and through all his deep and myftical writings) But I now fpeak of eternul Natures birib, in order to God’s intreducing himfelf into Nature’s effznce. So that I do not in the leaft contradict Behmen’s. writings; by fome of which it clearly appears to me, that his fpirit had been taken up into the ourward court of the abyifal glove of ciérnity.

Concern-