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

50 What kind of Principle eternal Nature is.

and compounded of the four elements and their effential forms ; and thus it is an eflence compounded of multiplicity, variety and contrariety, and therefore muft needs be diftinét from the divine effence, which is an eternal unity and fimplicity, which cannot admit of any mixture or compofition whatfoever. Now we mutt farther know, that this mixture and compofition of the eternal elements in eternal Nature, is wrought by the art of divine Wifdom in fuch a manner, that all their contrarteties are reduced to the greateft harmony and agreement; infomuch that they qualify in and through another, with the greateft concord and amity, as brethren and members of the fame body. This harmonious mixture and compofition of the elements in eternal Nature is the beauty and perfection of eternal Nature; and that whereby it is fitted to become the fruitful mother of all things. If we confider eternal Nature only as ‘made up of fighting contrarities, we fhall find nothing but deformity and diforder in her; but if we regard her, as fle is mixed and compounded by the band of eternal Widom, to a perfel? temperature, harmony and concord; fhe appears, and is indeed all beautiful and lovely. Anfw.