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

116 Confiderations on the Scope

the Almighty God in all the three principles, Ac wonder was the fprouting of that plant in obedience of his royal magical defire? which was io potent as to be in all the three principles (as to any thing in them) irrefiftible. Seeing he had divided himéelf, from what he originally was, what could hinder but that a plant with divided properties of good and evil fhould put forth its fruit in the third principle, and offer itfelf to the touch and tafte of him who was immediate Lord in peffeflion, in and over the fame third principle.

The fixth ftep was Eve, who being lefs than the half of the new enthroned prince (her hufband) curioufly eying the fair form of the tree, and charmed by the ferpent’s fubtle rhetoric, took and eat of it, as alfo then did Adam, feeing that fhe fell not inftantly dead, which introduced fuch an ample fall, as at which the heavens bluth, the earth trembles, the dark world domineers. For, by the departure of the luftre of the fecond principle of love and mecknels, peace and joy; Adam’s firft principle confifting of the four firft forms, became dreadful, and full of anguifh, And his

7 third