Theosophical Epistles

Theosophical [Epistles]: The 4th Letter

...of the wrath original: "Grimmes." In Boehme’s cosmology, "Grimm" represents the harsh, consuming fire or the "severity" of God's first principle, which must be transformed by the light of love to produce spiritual fruit., so that the noble grapes and fruit of God may grow in us, in which God has a good taste and scent, so that we are a lovely scent to Him in Christ.

14. We shall truly enjoy this, if we become free from the vanity of this life; then we shall live and flourish in God, and eat of the pure life of God without blemish; and He will be our food, and we His, so that there is a lovely growth into one another—we in God, and God in us—an eternal source Quall: A technical term in Boehme’s writing that plays on the German words for "source" (Quelle) and "quality" (Qualität). It refers to the vital, pulsing energy or "drive" that characterizes a specific state of being. of the holy life in the growth of God, wherein stands sheer perfection in love.

15. For the sake of which we now labor thus, and let the world fool and despise us; so that, while our earthly life flourishes in death, our heavenly life may flourish through death; so that the earthly life appears as a mockery before the heavenly, which is not worthy to be called a life compared to the heavenly.

16. Therefore we suffer patiently in the earthly life, and rejoice in the heavenly, in the hope that we shall be free of vanity; then we shall truly delight ourselves: what we must sow here in tribulation, we shall reap in great joy.

17. Therefore, my very good brother in the life of God in which you stand, you shall be all the dearer to me, because you have awakened me again from sleep Boehme likely refers to his "Sabbath of Silence." After his first book, Aurora, was confiscated in 1613, he was ordered by the city council of Görlitz to stop writing. He "slept" (remained silent) for several years before resuming his work in 1618-1619., so that I may henceforth also bring forth fruit in the life of God, and may hereafter rejoice in the same with the children of God.

18. Thus I inform you that a very strong scent in the life of God has been given to me after I awoke again; I hope to bring forth fruit therein, and also to awaken those who sleep, just as my God has awakened me again from the sleep in which I lay.

19. And I ask you, for the sake of the holy life of God in Christ, that you would no longer be sluggish, but stir up your life in Christ, so that our spirits might be grasped and understood by one another, which cannot happen outside of the Divine power.

20. For each speaks from his essences Essentien: The fundamental spiritual substances or inner properties that make up a person's soul. Boehme believes our words reveal the specific "spiritual chemistry" of our internal state. in the wonders of God, according to how his life is kindled in God; and no one can bring us to understanding except the only Spirit of God, who transformed the tongues of all peoples into one in the mouths of the Apostles on the day of Pentecost original: "Pfingstage." Referring to the New Testament account of the Holy Spirit allowing people of different nations to understand one another as if speaking a single language., so that the languages of all nations...