The Confessions of Jacob Boehme
In loving thyself, thou lovest not thyself as thine own ; but as given thee from the love of God thou lovest the divine ground in thee, by which and in which thou lovest the divine wisdom, the divine goodness, the divine beauty. Thou lovest also God's works of wonder, and in this same ground thou lovest thy brethren. In hating thyself thou hatest only that wherein the evil sticks close to thee. There is, there can be, no selfishness in love ; they are opposed one to another. Love, that is, divine love (of which alone we are now discoursing) hates all evil selfhood. It is impossible that these two should subsist in one person ; by a necessity of nature the one drives out the other.
p. 152
The height of love is as high as God ; it brings thee to be as high as God himself is, by uniting thee with God. Its greatness is as great as God : there is a latitude of heart in love which cannot be expressed ; it enlarges the soul as wide as the whole creation of God. This shall be experienced by thee, beyond the compass of all words, when the throne of love shall be set up in thy heart. Its power supports the heavens and upholds the earth ; its virtue is the principle of all principles, the virtue of all virtues. It is the worker of all things and a vital energy through all powers natural and supernatural. It is the power of all powers, nothing being able to let or hinder the omnipotence of love, or resist its penetrating might. If thou findest it thou comest into that fountain from whence all things are proceeded, into that ground wherein they subsist; and thou art a King over all the works of God.
Be silent therefore and watch unto
p. 153
prayer, that thy mind may be disposed for finding that jewel, which to the world appears as nothing, but which to the children of Wisdom is all things. The way to the love of God is folly to the world, but wisdom to the children of God, for whom that which is despised of the world is the most precious treasure ; yea, so great a treasure it is, that no life can express, nor tongue so much as name, what this inflaming, all-conquering love of God is. It is brighter than the sun ; it is sweeter than any thing that is called sweet ; it is stronger than all strength ; it is more nourishment than any food, more cheering to the heart than wine, more pleasant than all the pleasantness of this world. Whosoever obtaineth it is richer than any monarch on earth, and he who winneth it is nobler than an emperor and more potent and absolute than all earthly powers and authorities.
PRINTED BV
MOKRISON AND GIBB LTD.
EDINBURGH
In loving yourself, you lovest not yourself as your own ; but as given you from the love of God you lovest the divine ground in you, by which and in which you lovest the divine wisdom, the divine goodness, the divine beauty. You lovest also God's works of wonder, and in this same ground you lovest your brethren. In hating yourself you hatest only that wherein the evil sticks close to you. There is, there can be, no selfishness in love ; they are opposed one to another. Love, that is, divine love (of which alone we are now discoursing) hates all evil selfhood. It is impossible that these two should subsist in one person ; by a necessity of nature the one drives out the other.
p. 152
The height of love is as high as God ; it brings you to be as high as God himself is, by uniting you with God. Its greatness is as great as God : there is a latitude of heart in love which cannot be expressed ; it enlarges the soul as wide as the whole creation of God. This shall be experienced by you, beyond the compass of all words, when the throne of love shall be set up in your heart. Its power supports the heavens and upholds the earth ; its virtue is the principle of all principles, the virtue of all virtues. It is the worker of all things and a vital energy through all powers natural and supernatural. It is the power of all powers, nothing being able to let or hinder the omnipotence of love, or resist its penetrating might. If you find it you comest into that fountain from whence all things are proceeded, into that ground wherein they subsist; and you are a King over all the works of God.
Be silent therefore and watch unto
p. 153
prayer, that your mind may be disposed for finding that jewel, which to the world appears as nothing, but which to the children of Wisdom is all things. The way to the love of God is folly to the world, but wisdom to the children of God, for whom that which is despised of the world is the most precious treasure ; yea, so great a treasure it is, that no life can express, nor tongue so much as name, what this inflaming, all-conquering love of God is. It is brighter than the sun ; it is sweeter than any thing that is called sweet ; it is stronger than all strength ; it is more nourishment than any food, more cheering to the heart than wine, more pleasant than all the pleasantness of this world. Whosoever obtains it is richer than any monarch on earth, and he who winns it is nobler than an emperor and more potent and absolute than all earthly powers and authorities.
PRINTED BV
MOKRISON AND GIBB LTD.
EDINBURGH
Date Due
&
■ ,Vpr> ,;
-
.-
-9-fflBE* k f <=»— ^
P
lW*W-2-fr
■**jk}
W ^^
■"
DtCt3f«
p. 1
•MS f 7>5f rJ
p. 3
^1 v i i £g
NOV 2 3 '58
! ^ ^ s • fcfdsaai o$&r
L. B. CAT. N
0. 1137
\atMUlt
3 5002 00167 1499
S?oenf.i2?«bs of Jacob Boehme/
p. 1920
B ohme, Jakob, 1575-162-4,
The confessions of Jacob
Boehme
No commentary for this page.
There is commentary on page 1.