Jacob Boehme — the works in English

Aurora, or the Day-Spring

Open to allJacob Boehme (1575–1624)604 of 628 segments carry a modern register · 210 pp1 passage withheld
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Observe the Depth. 4. There are seven spirits of God, all these seven have moved themselves, and the light therein hath moved itself also, and the spirit, which goeth forth out of the seven spirits of God, hath moved itself also. 5. Now the Creator intended, according to his Ternary, to create three hosts, not one from another, but one by another,* as in a circle or sphere. * " not one from another, but one by another " (nicht weit von einander, sondern eins am andern), " not far [apart] from one another, but close [together] to one another." Instead of " far " and " close," St M., to bring out the idea more clearly, prints " detachées " (detached) and " unies " (united). 6. Now observe: As the [seven] spirits were therein in their moving, boiling or rising up, so also were the creatures: In the midst or centre of each host was the heart of each host incorporated or compacted together, out of which an angelical or great or chief prince proceeded or came to be. 7. And as the Son of God is generated in the midst or centre of the seven spirits of God, and is the life and Heart of the seven spirits of God, so there was one angelical king created in the midst or centre of his circumference, sphere, extent or region out of nature, also out of nature's heaven, out of the power of all the seven qualifying or fountain spirits, and that now was the heart in one host, and he had in him the quality, might, power and strength of his whole host, and was the fairest among them, or of them all. 8. Just as the Son of God is the heart and life and strength of all the seven spirits of

God, so also is that one king of angels, in his host. 9. And as there are seven principal qualities in the divine power, out of which the Heart of God is generated; so there are also some mighty princely angels created in each host, according to each head or chief quality, the number of which I do not exactly know; and they are with or near * the king, and are leaders of the other angels. * "with or near" (neben), "by the side of, close to, near." 10. Here thou must know that the angels are not all of one quality, neither are they equal or alike to one another in power and might: Indeed every angel hath the power of all the seven qualifying or fountain spirits, but in every one there is somewhat of one quality more predominant and strong than another, and according to that quality is he also glorified. 11. For such as the Salitter was in every place, at the time of creation, such also was the angel that came forth; and according to that quality which is strongest in an angel, he is also named and glorified. 12. As [in] the flowers in the meadows, every one receiveth its colour from its quality, and is named also according to its quality, so are the holy angels also: Some are strongest in the astringent quality, and those are of a [dusky or grey] brownish light, and are nearest of quality to the cold. 13. So when the light of the Son of God shineth on them, then they are like a brownish or purple flash of lightning, very bright and clear in their quality.

14. Some are of the quality of the water, and those are light, like the holy heaven; and when the light shineth on them, then they look like to a crystalline sea. 15. Some are strongest in the bitter quality, and they are like a green precious stone, which sparkleth like a flash of lightning; and when the light shineth on them, then they shine and appear as a greenish red, as if a carbuncle did shine forth from it, or as if the life had its original there. 16. Some are of the quality of heat, and they are the lightest and brightest of all, yellowish and reddish; and when the light shineth on them, they look like the flash or lightning of the Son of God. 17. Some are strongest in the quality of love, and those are a glance of the heavenly joyfulness, very light and bright; and when the light shineth on them, they look like light blue, of a pleasant gloss, glance or lustre. 18. Some are strongest in the quality of the tone or sound, and those are light or bright also; and when the light shineth on them, they look like the rising of the flash of lightning, as if something would lift itself aloft there. 19. Some are of the quality of the total or whole nature, as a general mixture; and when the light shineth on them, they look like the holy heaven, which is formed out of all the spirits of God. 20. But the king is the heart of all the qualities, and hath his circumference, court, [or province] quarters or residence in the midst or centre, like

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Observe the Depth. 4. There are seven spirits of God, all these seven have moved themselves, and the light therein has moved itself also, and the spirit, which goes forth out of the seven spirits of God, has moved itself also. 5. Now the Creator intended, according to his Ternary, to create three hosts, not one from another, but one by another,* as in a circle or sphere. * " not one from another, but one by another " (nicht weit von einander, sondern eins am andern), " not far [apart] from one another, but close [together] to one another." Instead of " far " and " close," St M., to bring out the idea more clearly, prints " detachées " (detached) and " unies " (united). 6. Now observe: As the [seven] spirits were therein in their moving, boiling or rising up, so also were the creatures: In the midst or centre of each host was the heart of each host incorporated or compacted together, out of which an angelical or great or chief prince proceeded or came to be. 7. And as the Son of God is generated in the midst or centre of the seven spirits of God, and is the life and Heart of the seven spirits of God, so there was one angelical king created in the midst or centre of his circumference, sphere, extent or region out of nature, also out of nature's heaven, out of the power of all the seven qualifying or fountain spirits, and that now was the heart in one host, and he had in him the quality, might, power and strength of his whole host, and was the fairest among them, or of them all. 8. Just as the Son of God is the heart and life and strength of all the seven spirits of

God, so also is that one king of angels, in his host. 9. And as there are seven principal qualities in the divine power, out of which the Heart of God is generated; so there are also some mighty princely angels created in each host, according to each head or chief quality, the number of which I do not exactly know; and they are with or near * the king, and are leaders of the other angels. * "with or near" (neben), "by the side of, close to, near." 10. Here you must know that the angels are not all of one quality, neither are they equal or alike to one another in power and might: Indeed every angel has the power of all the seven qualifying or fountain spirits, but in every one there is somewhat of one quality more predominant and strong than another, and according to that quality is he also glorified. 11. For such as the Salitter was in every place, at the time of creation, such also was the angel that came forth; and according to that quality which is strongest in an angel, he is also named and glorified. 12. As [in] the flowers in the meadows, every one receives its colour from its quality, and is named also according to its quality, so are the holy angels also: Some are strongest in the astringent quality, and those are of a [dusky or grey] brownish light, and are nearest of quality to the cold. 13. So when the light of the Son of God shines on them, then they are like a brownish or purple flash of lightning, very bright and clear in their quality.

14. Some are of the quality of the water, and those are light, like the holy heaven; and when the light shines on them, then they look like to a crystalline sea. 15. Some are strongest in the bitter quality, and they are like a green precious stone, which sparkls like a flash of lightning; and when the light shines on them, then they shine and appear as a greenish red, as if a carbuncle did shine forth from it, or as if the life had its original there. 16. Some are of the quality of heat, and they are the lightest and brightest of all, yellowish and reddish; and when the light shines on them, they look like the flash or lightning of the Son of God. 17. Some are strongest in the quality of love, and those are a glance of the heavenly joyfulness, very light and bright; and when the light shines on them, they look like light blue, of a pleasant gloss, glance or lustre. 18. Some are strongest in the quality of the tone or sound, and those are light or bright also; and when the light shines on them, they look like the rising of the flash of lightning, as if something would lift itself aloft there. 19. Some are of the quality of the total or whole nature, as a general mixture; and when the light shines on them, they look like the holy heaven, which is formed out of all the spirits of God. 20. But the king is the heart of all the qualities, and has his circumference, court, [or province] quarters or residence in the midst or centre, like

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