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

40 The final Caufe cf eternal Nature.

Anfw. I anfwer, that it was the eternal defire of their mind; for from the defiring mind the eternal will proceeds.

Quelt. If you enquire, what moves the eternal mind of the Trinity to defire ?

An{w. I anfwer, the fpirit of eternity itfelf. Queft. But you will fay, what awakened the firft thought in the fpirit of eternity to create eternal Nature ?

Antw. I anfwer, the Divine Magia moyed and awakened the {pirit of eternity to defire; from the defiring mind proceeded the will, and from the will it came to be brought forth into exiftence by the creating Fiat; which being placed in the divine Omnipotence, brought forth eternal Nature’s efience out of the divine chaos.

Queft. If you afk farther, what moved the eternal Magia of the Holy Trinity, to awaken the firft motion in the eternal fpirit, to create eternal Nature with her eclements and working properties ?

Anfw. I anfwer, that none can tell this, but the fpirit of eternity itielf: and therefore here we muft reft: becaufe we cannot go beyond the firft. Hence we may learn that the pirit of the Holy Trinity is magical,

and