Theosophical Epistles

mind original: "Gemühte." This refers to the inner disposition, the emotional and spiritual center of the person. / because it just so happens / that you are suited for it / so that it may be a providence of God; I send it to you herewith / please consider it / there is a very noble jewel original: "Edel Kleinod." In Boehme’s symbolism, this often refers to the "Pearl of Great Price" or divine wisdom discovered within the soul. within it / which God has given since your departure / and I add this to you / that quite a lovely gate Boehme uses the term "gate" (Pforte) to describe a breakthrough in spiritual understanding or a direct revelation from the divine realm. has opened / where we / if God wills / as it then appears in a high state / wish to enter / though I can say nothing of it / for it is not of my outward man Boehme distinguishes between the "outward man" (the physical, worldly self) and the "inward man" (the spiritual self capable of divine communion).; but as all the plants of the earth rejoice / when the sun rises / and looks upon them with its power : so also does my soul in the beautiful wonder-flowers / in which the Lord is so sweet and friendly / I hope to fare well in this / which you will well notice in this last part of this book / if God opens the gates in His Spirit to you.

3. I cannot write to you now / for it is wonderful / I hope / God will open your heart / that you may also taste something of it. You desire to know / whether I have conversed original: "conversiret," meaning to hold discourse or associate with. with the well-known gentlemen / thus I let you know / that I have not been able to come to them / for I have had much to do in another land / where I am indeed not at home with my outward man / and am thus for this time still prevented by a journey to Prague At the time of Boehme's writing, Prague was a major center for alchemy, occult philosophy, and religious heterodoxy under the influence of the late Rudolfine era. for 7 days / then let happen / what God wills / although a deep gate stands open to me at present / I will therefore do / what God wills.

4. I send you the completion of this book sealed / and if you have the opportunity / to send it either to Mr. N. or only with the writing / for it was already on its way to Mr. N. [but] because the messenger came / I thought it good to send it packed thus / and I add for you to note highly and well / that a very highly-praiseworthy work has been recognized in the spirit / I hope God will grant it to us / you may search further after it / in a short time it shall be sent to you; And I commend you into the Divine Kingdom of Joy of the eternal fountain original: "Quellbrun." A frequent Boehme image for the "source-spring" or the unceasing flow of divine life and light..