“/t is not possible to describe what kind of a Purgatory - }* such a Soul will have to pass through before, by means of her little spark of love, she can enter into Eternal life. The World would not believe such a description; the World is too clever and likewise too blind *to understand it. People cling for ever
* “ Three Principles.”
+ Jacob Boehme was of the “ Lutheran ” form of Belief.
.xiy ‘Prefatory {Memoir .
to the letter. I wish to God that no one should have to pass through that experience. I would then gladly keep still and say nothing about it”*
There is no Writer with whom Jacob Bâehme can be compared. His “Way to Christ” might to some minds suggest the “ Jmitation of Christ ” written by that good man THOMAS A Kempis ; but their similarity consists only in the identity of their subject. For the space of seventy-one years Thomas A KEMPIS led a calm monastic life, comfortably sheltered from the World and most of its every-day trials ; and his work, though traly beautiful in its composition, is of a nature, perhaps, more poetical than practical, and is indeed in the original written in metre. Jacob Boehm E on the contrary had to adhere to his convictions at the loss of his employment and means of sustenance : forced to silence respecting mysteries into which he had the deepest insight ; and banished from hjs home disgraced and ridiculed. It is therefore not surprising that his work should be of a nature strenuously practical ; the tfery title of his book the “ Way,” rather than the “ Imitation,” suggesting activity rather than passivity of its author’s own experiences.
In conclusion. Those whom this republication may lead to the study of Jacob BoEIIME’S Works should recollect the homely, but true, Maxim — that Where there is no Love there can be no True Knowledge ; and, if inclined — like the unenviably memorable Gregory Richter, Primate of Qoerlitz — to reject and condemn them, let it not be in his manner; but rather let them bear - in mind the cautious tolerance displayed by the old German Theologian Dr. Meissner, who, when asked for his opinion of them, replied: “How can we judge what we have not understood ?”
G. B. M.
\jth of January, 1894.
* Answers to Forty Questions.
O F
TRUE REPENTANCE.
SHOWING
How Man should stir up himself
IN
M' I N D and WILL ,
AND
What his EARNEST CONSIDERATION and PURPOSE should be.
Written in the German Language,
(Anno. 1622)
By y A COn no EH ME.
J ESUS said unto Nicodemus, Verily , verily , / unto thee ,
Except a Man be born again , tye cannot see the Kingdom of God. <■
Nicodemus saith unto him , How can a Man be born when he is old? Can he enter the second Time into his Mother s Womb and be born ? 4
Jesus answered , Verily , verily, I say unto thee , Except a Man be born of Water , 0 / Spirit , cannot enter into the Kingdom of God.
'That which is born of the Flesh , z'j Flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit , « Spirit.
“/t is not possible to describe what kind of a Purgatory - }* such a Soul will have to pass through before, by means of her little spark of love, she can enter into Eternal life. The World would not believe such a description; the World is too clever and likewise too blind *to understand it. People cling for ever
* “ Three Principles.”
+ Jacob Boehme was of the “ Lutheran ” form of Belief.
.xiy ‘Prefatory {Memoir .
to the letter. I wish to God that no one should have to pass through that experience. I would then gladly keep still and say nothing about it”*
There is no Writer with whom Jacob Bâehme can be compared. His “Way to Christ” might to some minds suggest the “ Jmitation of Christ ” written by that good man THOMAS A Kempis ; but their similarity consists only in the identity of their subject. For the space of seventy-one years Thomas A KEMPIS led a calm monastic life, comfortably sheltered from the World and most of its every-day trials ; and his work, though traly beautiful in its composition, is of a nature, perhaps, more poetical than practical, and is indeed in the original written in metre. Jacob Boehm E on the contrary had to adhere to his convictions at the loss of his employment and means of sustenance : forced to silence respecting mysteries into which he had the deepest insight ; and banished from hjs home disgraced and ridiculed. It is therefore not surprising that his work should be of a nature strenuously practical ; the tfery title of his book the “ Way,” rather than the “ Imitation,” suggesting activity rather than passivity of its author’s own experiences.
In conclusion. Those whom this republication may lead to the study of Jacob BoEIIME’S Works should recollect the homely, but true, Maxim — that Where there is no Love there can be no True Knowledge ; and, if inclined — like the unenviably memorable Gregory Richter, Primate of Qoerlitz — to reject and condemn them, let it not be in his manner; but rather let them bear - in mind the cautious tolerance displayed by the old German Theologian Dr. Meissner, who, when asked for his opinion of them, replied: “How can we judge what we have not understood ?”
G. B. M.
\jth of January, 1894.
* Answers to Forty Questions.
O F
TRUE REPENTANCE.
SHOWING
How Man should stir up himself
IN
M' I N D and WILL ,
AND
What his EARNEST CONSIDERATION and PURPOSE should be.
Written in the German Language,
(Anno. 1622)
By y A COn no EH ME.
J ESUS said unto Nicodemus, Verily , verily , / unto you ,
Except a Man be born again , tye cannot see the Kingdom of God. <■
Nicodemus says unto him , How can a Man be born when he is old? Can he enter the second Time into his Mother s Womb and be born ? 4
Jesus answered , Verily , verily, I say unto you , Except a Man be born of Water , 0 / Spirit , cannot enter into the Kingdom of God.
'That which is born of the Flesh , z'j Flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit , « Spirit.
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