16. Of Praying and Fasting
17. Of God's blessing in this World
18. Of Death, and of Dying
Alphabetical index of terms (very elaborate; Chapter-Verse indicated)
Appendix: list of author's works
PUBLISHER'S NOTE
WE venture to hope that the increasing interest in the study of Christian Mysticism will enable us to reprint the English translation of the whole of Jacob Boehme's Works * (see Appendix A) in a complete edition, uniform with this first volume, subscribers to which will receive, by post, in due course, intimation of the next and all subsequent issues. In any case, as many of Boehme's writings will be published as the demand warrants. Every issue will be complete in itself, and independent of those that precede or follow it. Those who may wish to be advised of the reduced subscription price of future volumes are invited to write to the undersigned for a prospectus.
Should the demand for the works of this great Christian mystic prove a success, we hope also to publish selections from the commentaries of Dionysius Andreas Freher (Boehme's greatest, though but little known, expositor), the MSS. of which are, fortunately, preserved in the British Museum, and in Dr Williams's Library.
* For a general survey of J. B.'s works we strongly recommend to the reader Dr Alexander Whyte's booklet, Jacob Behmen: An Appreciation (Oliphant Anderson & Ferrier).
For an example of Freher's genius, see the figures "left by the Rev. William Law," appended to the incomplete edition of Boehme's Works, in four volumes, large quarto, published by Richardson, and by Robinson, 1763 - 1781. Law was a close student of Freher as well as of Boehme, and with, his own hand made extensive copies of some of these MSS. He also possessed reproductions of some of Freher's symbolical figures and tables, which after Law's death ( 1761 ) were found amongst his papers by Mr George Ward, the editor of the eighteenth-century reprint of Boehme, and by him inserted in the said volumes.
An account of these MSS. is given in Walton's Notes and Materials for an Adequate Biography of William Law, pp. 141 - 142 and 679 - 688 (see Appendix B). The MSS. therein referred to as in Walton's possession were deposited by him in 1875 with the trustees of Dr Williams's Library, together with his valuable collection of mystical works, for the free use of students.
Examples of Freher's writings will also be found in Memorial of William Law, pp. 258 - 491 and 581 - 587.
A reprint of a small privately printed volume of collected essays on Boehme by that illuminative writer the late Mrs A. J. Penny, is also contemplated.
C. J. BARKER
HILL CROFT, RUSSELL HILL,
PURLEY, SURREY,
March 31, 1909.
Introduction to Boehme's Threefold Life of Man.
By George W. Allen
THERE was a time when the cry among philosophers was, " Back to Kant !" This cry, " Back!" always means that men are conscious that something is wrong somewhere, and suspect that the mistake may be as to first principles, rather than as to methods. For philosophy exists not for its own sake, but for the sake of producing a life of order and harmony; and when, after long application, men find that this result is not reached, they know that something is wrong somewhere. The error, then, may be as to first principles or as to methods. In the latter case the purpose, the aim, is right, but the means taken to achieve it may be wrong. In the former case the aim is wrong: there has been evidently some misapprehension as to what human nature is, what its real wants and capacities are; and where the aim is wrong, no means — however wise and well calculated to attain the aim — will produce satisfactory results. The task of devising means belongs to the department of practical politics, though philosophy may render valuable assistance; but the task of enquiring into and formulating first principles belongs to philosophy alone.
Philosophy may concern itself only with the seen, the surface of things, and refuse to enquire whether man has any deeper nature than the external of which he is immediately conscious.
But properly the enquiry cannot limit itself. It must seek to penetrate to the whole of the data, and if any Fact is left out of account the conclusion
16. Of Praying and Fasting
17. Of God's blessing in this World
18. Of Death, and of Dying
Alphabetical index of terms (very elaborate; Chapter-Verse indicated)
Appendix: list of author's works
PUBLISHER'S NOTE
WE venture to hope that the increasing interest in the study of Christian Mysticism will enable us to reprint the English translation of the whole of Jacob Boehme's Works * (see Appendix A) in a complete edition, uniform with this first volume, subscribers to which will receive, by post, in due course, intimation of the next and all subsequent issues. In any case, as many of Boehme's writings will be published as the demand warrants. Every issue will be complete in itself, and independent of those that precede or follow it. Those who may wish to be advised of the reduced subscription price of future volumes are invited to write to the undersigned for a prospectus.
Should the demand for the works of this great Christian mystic prove a success, we hope also to publish selections from the commentaries of Dionysius Andreas Freher (Boehme's greatest, though but little known, expositor), the MSS. of which are, fortunately, preserved in the British Museum, and in Dr Williams's Library.
* For a general survey of J. B.'s works we strongly recommend to the reader Dr Alexander Whyte's booklet, Jacob Behmen: An Appreciation (Oliphant Anderson & Ferrier).
For an example of Freher's genius, see the figures "left by the Rev. William Law," appended to the incomplete edition of Boehme's Works, in four volumes, large quarto, published by Richardson, and by Robinson, 1763 - 1781. Law was a close student of Freher as well as of Boehme, and with, his own hand made extensive copies of some of these MSS. He also possessed reproductions of some of Freher's symbolical figures and tables, which after Law's death ( 1761 ) were found amongst his papers by Mr George Ward, the editor of the eighteenth-century reprint of Boehme, and by him inserted in the said volumes.
An account of these MSS. is given in Walton's Notes and Materials for an Adequate Biography of William Law, pp. 141 - 142 and 679 - 688 (see Appendix B). The MSS. therein referred to as in Walton's possession were deposited by him in 1875 with the trustees of Dr Williams's Library, together with his valuable collection of mystical works, for the free use of students.
Examples of Freher's writings will also be found in Memorial of William Law, pp. 258 - 491 and 581 - 587.
A reprint of a small privately printed volume of collected essays on Boehme by that illuminative writer the late Mrs A. J. Penny, is also contemplated.
C. J. BARKER
HILL CROFT, RUSSELL HILL,
PURLEY, SURREY,
March 31, 1909.
Introduction to Boehme's Threefold Life of Man.
By George W. Allen
THERE was a time when the cry among philosophers was, " Back to Kant !" This cry, " Back!" always means that men are conscious that something is wrong somewhere, and suspect that the mistake may be as to first principles, rather than as to methods. For philosophy exists not for its own sake, but for the sake of producing a life of order and harmony; and when, after long application, men find that this result is not reached, they know that something is wrong somewhere. The error, then, may be as to first principles or as to methods. In the latter case the purpose, the aim, is right, but the means taken to achieve it may be wrong. In the former case the aim is wrong: there has been evidently some misapprehension as to what human nature is, what its real wants and capacities are; and where the aim is wrong, no means — however wise and well calculated to attain the aim — will produce satisfactory results. The task of devising means belongs to the department of practical politics, though philosophy may render valuable assistance; but the task of enquiring into and formulating first principles belongs to philosophy alone.
Philosophy may concern itself only with the seen, the surface of things, and refuse to enquire whether man has any deeper nature than the external of which he is immediately conscious.
But properly the enquiry cannot limit itself. It must seek to penetrate to the whole of the data, and if any Fact is left out of account the conclusion
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