The Way to Christ

Preface. II

[...does not] enter through yieldedness original: Gelassenheit. A central concept for Böhme, referring to a state of spiritual surrender or letting go of the self-will to allow God to work within.; rather, it forces itself in by its own power and pride original: Hoffart. This refers to a specific type of spiritual arrogance or haughtiness. into another person, and always wants to be the fairest child in the house, demanding to be honored and worshipped.

As each person’s soulful spirit is constellated, so is their knowledge.

The children of God have various gifts, according to the rule of the Apostle: God gives to each to speak as He wills. Human gifts all occur according to the unsearchable will of God, and all spring from one root, which is the mother of the Three Principles In Böhme’s cosmology, the "Three Principles" represent the three "worlds" or dimensions of reality: the dark fire-world (the Father’s power), the light-world (the Son’s love), and the outer visible world.. As each person's soulful spirit is constellated Böhme uses the language of astrology—"constellated"—to describe a person's inner spiritual makeup or character, shaped by eternal forces. in the eternal mother, so also is their revelation and knowledge.

God opens our spirit with His Spirit.

For God brings no new or foreign spirit into us; instead, He opens our own spirit with His Spirit, revealing the hidden things of the wisdom of God which lie within every human being, according to the measure and manner of their inner, hidden constellation. For Christ said: My Father works, and I work also. [John 5:17]. Thus the Father works in the essence of the soulful quality, and the Son works in the essence of the Image of God original: Ebenbildes GOttes. This refers to the original divine likeness in humanity that Böhme believes is being restored through Christ., as in the divine likeness.