Theosophical Epistles

...as from the beginning of the 22nd chapter to the end / where then truly the noble Pearl-tree A recurring symbol in Boehme’s work representing the growth of divine wisdom and the soul’s spiritual maturation. stands open / and my mind original: "Gemühte." In Boehme’s vocabulary, this refers to the inner disposition or the seat of the soul's thoughts and desires. shows me / that it will please Your Honor original: "E. Gestr." (Eure Gestrengigkeit), a formal title for a person of rank. / and you will also obtain a little pearl herein / so long as Your Honor will set your mind in God : The other / being about thirty sheets / our good and known friend has / he will provide it / there are very high and deep things in them / and they were well worth not perishing / Your Honor shall also receive them / if it be pleasing to read something.

12. And although it is / that I also tend to keep somewhat quiet about it / it is nevertheless revealed / and has come to my ears / how it is desired by proud people / among whom the enemy Referring to the Devil, whom Boehme believed used intellectual pride to obstruct divine truth. might hasten as a destroyer from the middle to the end / for I know / what kind of enemy / as the devil I have against me / as an opponent ; Therefore I pray / to proceed wisely with it / I will demand it back if I need it / and there will yet / if God wills / be something greater and higher made / than concerning Moses and the Prophets / and then finally the whole Tree of Life in the Essence of all essences Wesen aller Wesen: A central theosophical concept referring to the ultimate ground of being or the Godhead from which all existence flows. / how everything manifests and ends / and to what kind of essence each one appears in this world and comes to light.

13. There I then hope the beautiful Lily The "Time of the Lily" is Boehme's term for a future age of spiritual peace and enlightenment. promised by God shall grow green in the Pearl-tree / in its own spirit / in the children of God in the love of Christ. For we find even now a very noble little pearl budding / to me not yet recognizable in the body / but budding in the mind ; I recommend Your Honor to the gracious love of God.

J. B. Jacob Boehme.

The 3rd Epistle.

1. My greeting through God / with the wish for the light of the divine kingdom of joy in our Emanuel Hebrew: "God with us." / beforehand.

2. Your letter sent to me / along with my writings I have correctly received from the messengers / and immediately sent sealed to Mr. N. with N. N. Placeholders for names, likely to protect the identity of his underground network of readers. / who was just with me ; I wanted to send this to him / because it was already sealed / and provided with my letter / which lies inside ; Now I understand / in my mind...