THE

TRANSLATOR’S PREFACE.

It has been accurately observed concerning Madam Bourignon Antoinette Bourignon (1616–1680) was a Flemish mystic who gained a following across Europe but faced significant opposition from established churches. that "she has been highly respected by a few people in all churches (whether established or unestablished) but despised and persecuted by the vast majority in every one of them." This has always been the case, for the very same reasons and on the very same grounds, for all other truly spiritual writers, especially those known as Mystics. Even today, this is clearly proven in the person and writings of JACOB BEHMEN Original: "Behmen," a common 17th and 18th-century English phonetic spelling of the German mystic Jacob Böhme (1575–1624)., who is the subject of these following memoirs.

In the very nature of things, it cannot be otherwise as long as mere uninspired HUMAN REASON arrogantly claims to be a competent judge of the MYSTERIES of God. Reason—no matter how much it is improved by standard studies or even by studying the literal text of Scripture—can never judge these mysteries without the restoration of its original source of life, along with its divine instinct or inspiration. Ah! Ordinary people rarely suspect WHO stands behind and directs the responses of this supposedly infallible ORACLE (human reason) to serve his own evil purposes in spiritual matters, even though it is currently in such high demand everywhere.

If we can never expect a human judge who is blind, corrupt, and biased to pronounce a just and fair sentence, how much less can we expect a true decision in matters where the Prince and God of this world A biblical reference to Satan (John 12:31; 2 Corinthians 4:4), whom the author suggests influences human reason to reject spiritual truth. has undeniably held so much influence from the very beginning, and is now so deeply concerned and interested? Surely our dearest SAVIOR

Letter attached to Marsay’s Discourses*, Page 20.