Memoirs of the life, death, burial, and wonderful writings, of Jacob Behmen

...displayed some of the many other infinitely wise and good reasons the blessed God might have why, in the midst of this current, generally and universally corrupted state of Christendom, He has condescended so far as to make manifest the MYSTERY The underlying spiritual reality of God and creation through such a poor but chosen instrument. He has revealed the divine ground and radical philosophy, rationale, or theosophy original: "Theosophy"; a system of religious philosophy based on mystical insight into the nature of God of the blessed religion of His dear and only Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. These reasons of His are most true, and they are therefore very earnestly recommended to the serious and careful reading of every good and honest-hearted reader, together with all the other passages in his powerful original: "nervous"; in this context, meaning vigorous, strong, and forceful in style writings referred to hereafter.

For the rest, I shall conclude this section with these instructive words of his:

"If any one will dispute or deny everything said
of J. B. Jacob Boehme (1575–1624), the German mystic, he will meet with no opposition from me.
Although he was no human writer—and in what he pub-
lished to the world, he spoke no more from opinion,
conjecture, or reason than St. John did when he put
his Book of Revelation in writing—yet he has no right to be
placed among the inspired authors original: "Pen-Men" of the New Tes-
tament. He was not a messenger from God bringing anything
NEW to religion; instead, he only had the mystery
of all that was OLD and TRUE, in both religion and
nature, opened within him. This is the uniqueness original: "Peculiarity"
of his character, by which he stands fully distinguished
from all the prophets, apostles, and extraordinary messengers."

"It is pointless to object to [the nature and necessity of
an immediate and continual inspiration] by saying that these kingdoms
are overrun with enthusiasts original: "Enthusiasts"; a term of reproach in the 18th century for those who claimed direct divine inspiration, often viewed as delusional of all kinds, and that Moravians A Pietist Protestant denomination,
with their several divisions, and Methodists The religious movement led by John Wesley of various kinds, are
everywhere acting in the wildest manner under the pretense of
being called and led by the Spirit. Whether that is so or not is a matter
I do not concern myself with, nor is the doctrine I am discussing in the least
affected by it. For what kind of argument would this be: Enthu-
siasts of the present and former ages have made a bad use of the
doctrine of being led by the Spirit of God; therefore, he is fanatical,
or encourages fanaticism, who preaches the doctrine of being
led by the Spirit of God. Now, as absurd as this is, if any of my
accusers were as high in genius and as massive in learning as the Colossus was
in stature, he would be at a loss to bring a stronger argument
than this to prove me an enthusiast or a supporter of them."

Can the most intense opponent of J...