Jacob Boehme — the works in English

The Threefold Life of Man

Open to allJacob Boehme (1575–1624)655 of 703 segments carry a modern register · 235 pp
page 190

46. In the syllable Na- it inclineth inwards, and in the syllable -me it comprehendeth the heavenly substantiality: and this is done in the will of the soul.

47. And when we say wer-, then the whole creature goeth along in the will: for wer- hath the whole centre, and with the syllable -de, it layeth itself down in obedience in the meekness, and will not kindle the wer- in the fire, as Lucifer had done.

48. And when we say ge-, then the soul goeth into the heavenly substantiality, as a quiet child without anger, and then -hei- is the powerful entering upon the cross, into the Number Three, where the soul's will presseth into the Majesty, into the light of God; with the syllable the soul's will hath comprehended the Holy Ghost. [In the syllable] -get, there the soul's will goeth forth with the Holy Ghost: for the brightness of the Majesty shineth in the will, and the Holy Ghost goeth along in the glance of the Majesty upon the chariot of the soul; for the will is the soul's wedding chariot, with which it rideth in Ternarium Sanctum into the Holy Ternary, wherein the Holy

Ghost sitteth with the brightness of the Deity.

The Second Petition.

Dein Reich komme.
Thy Kingdom come.

49. Dein, there the poor soul giveth itself up again into the will of God, as God's child.

50. Reich, here the soul giveth itself into the virtue and power of the angelical world, and desireth to come out of the deep of the waters into the power of God.

51. Komme, in the syllable Kom-, it goeth into the virtue and power, and apprehendeth it: and with the syllable -me, it maketh the heaven be open, and goeth forth with the apprehended power into the kingdom, as a sprout: for the -me maketh the lips be open, and letteth the sprout of the will go forth, and lets it grow softly by degrees.

The Third Petition.

Dein Willen geschehe wie im Himmel also auch auf Erden.
Thy Will be done as in Heaven so also on Earth.

52. Dein, here the soul doth with its will, as in the first and second petition: it casteth itself into

God's will.

53. Wil- is its desire to will the same with the Holy Ghost: -len, with this syllable it taketh in the spirit with the will into the centre, as into the heart, and willeth that its will in the Holy Ghost should flow up in the heart.

54. Ge-, with this syllable it goeth into the will: -sche-, with this syllable it worketh the work of God: for there it doth what the counsel of the Father is, what the Heart of God wills:

as the soul of Christ suffered itself to be hanged on the cross, and as we in misery bow down under the cross: -he, in this syllable it taketh patiently what God worketh; it boweth itself as a child.

55. Wie, there it goeth again into the voice of the high Majesty. Im, is the Heart of God, out of which the spirit goeth forth: in which will it would be. Him-, is again the creating of the creatures; -mel, is the soul, that is, it willeth to act in the will of God, like the angels, who do that which God's will accepteth.

56. AI-, there it comprehendeth that will, and driveth it on, with the syllable -so, out of its centre into this world, into the outward Principle. Auch, there it affordeth all whatsoever it hath in itself out into the outward, out from itself into this world.

57. Auf, with this syllable it apprehendeth the same again, and desireth that its substance should not be dissipated: for it only letteth the will of the substance go forth through the closed lips to the teeth, and desireth that the form of the will should remain as a figured substance eternally.

58. Er-, with this syllable it bringeth its substance into the spirit of this world upon the earth, and there the will shall work wonders, as in the kingdom of the angels in the power of God: the will must manifest the hidden secrets of God: -den, with this syllable it sheweth that they must not be done in the fire of the anger, in which the devil dwelleth: for this syllable doth not break up the centre: they should be done in meek love, and yet be taken out of the Er-. The soul shall mightily rule in all hidden secrets: but it must not let in the devil.

page 190

46. In the syllable Na- it inclins inwards, and in the syllable -me it comprehends the heavenly substantiality: and this is done in the will of the soul.

47. And when we say wer-, then the whole creature goes along in the will: for wer- has the whole centre, and with the syllable -de, it lays itself down in obedience in the meekness, and will not kindle the wer- in the fire, as Lucifer had done.

48. And when we say ge-, then the soul goes into the heavenly substantiality, as a quiet child without anger, and then -hei- is the powerful entering upon the cross, into the Number Three, where the soul's will presses into the Majesty, into the light of God; with the syllable the soul's will has comprehended the Holy Ghost. [In the syllable] -get, there the soul's will goes forth with the Holy Ghost: for the brightness of the Majesty shines in the will, and the Holy Ghost goes along in the glance of the Majesty upon the chariot of the soul; for the will is the soul's wedding chariot, with which it rids in Ternarium Sanctum into the Holy Ternary, wherein the Holy

Ghost sitts with the brightness of the Deity.

The Second Petition.

Dein Reich komme.
Your Kingdom come.

49. Dein, there the poor soul gives itself up again into the will of God, as God's child.

50. Reich, here the soul gives itself into the virtue and power of the angelical world, and desires to come out of the deep of the waters into the power of God.

51. Komme, in the syllable Kom-, it goes into the virtue and power, and apprehends it: and with the syllable -me, it makes the heaven be open, and goes forth with the apprehended power into the kingdom, as a sprout: for the -me makes the lips be open, and letts the sprout of the will go forth, and lets it grow softly by degrees.

The Third Petition.

Dein Willen geschehe wie im Himmel also auch auf Erden.
Your Will be done as in Heaven so also on Earth.

52. Dein, here the soul does with its will, as in the first and second petition: it casts itself into

God's will.

53. Wil- is its desire to will the same with the Holy Ghost: -len, with this syllable it takes in the spirit with the will into the centre, as into the heart, and wills that its will in the Holy Ghost should flow up in the heart.

54. Ge-, with this syllable it goes into the will: -sche-, with this syllable it works the work of God: for there it does what the counsel of the Father is, what the Heart of God wills:

as the soul of Christ suffered itself to be hanged on the cross, and as we in misery bow down under the cross: -he, in this syllable it takes patiently what God works; it bows itself as a child.

55. Wie, there it goes again into the voice of the high Majesty. Im, is the Heart of God, out of which the spirit goes forth: in which will it would be. Him-, is again the creating of the creatures; -mel, is the soul, that is, it wills to act in the will of God, like the angels, who do that which God's will accepts.

56. AI-, there it comprehends that will, and drivs it on, with the syllable -so, out of its centre into this world, into the outward Principle. Auch, there it affords all whatsoever it has in itself out into the outward, out from itself into this world.

57. Auf, with this syllable it apprehends the same again, and desires that its substance should not be dissipated: for it only letts the will of the substance go forth through the closed lips to the teeth, and desires that the form of the will should remain as a figured substance eternally.

58. Er-, with this syllable it brings its substance into the spirit of this world upon the earth, and there the will shall work wonders, as in the kingdom of the angels in the power of God: the will must manifest the hidden secrets of God: -den, with this syllable it shows that they must not be done in the fire of the anger, in which the devil dwells: for this syllable does not break up the centre: they should be done in meek love, and yet be taken out of the Er-. The soul shall mightily rule in all hidden secrets: but it must not let in the devil.

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