A compendious view of the grounds of the Teutonick philosophy : with considerations by way of enquiry into the subject matter and scope of the writings of Jacob Behmen, commonly called, the Teutonick philosopher : also several extracts from his writings and some words used by him explained

76 —° Confiderations on the Scope

The paffions are as furious, violent, impetuous ftorms, which often obfcure and impofe upon the eye of the mind, and fometimes immerfe the fhip of the whole man, fetting on fire and extremity the whole frame of nature, fo that the judgment wants power to get the will right.

Here the new man, as child of the holy fecond principle, has need enough to pray always fervently; to know, wait, ufe much abftinence, with higheft diligence to watch, to ftand on its guard, to ufe much violence and feverity, and that often, to fight the faithful combat until he kill the murderers that would deftroy him; to die from day to day, thereby to be plucked asa brand out of the fire. He fhall find great neceffity of help from heaven to bind the ftrong man.

But moft efpecially in fome perfons, whofe fource or originals having been ftrongly rooted in the firft four forms of the firft principle conveyed by generation, and perhaps alfo re-inforced by their conftellation, fo that they have much of the ferpent'in them. In fuch- fouls the work of refignation to the divine’ conduct goes very hardly, flowly, fadly on, with many

recoils,