The 4th Letter

...I am willing to explain this to you fully in a very short time.

28. For I have been so burdened with travels and other business lately that I have not been able to comply with your wishes; I ask you to wait a little longer.

29. For I still have so much to do regarding my late brother’s surviving little daughter that I must travel to the village every week; I have also had to complete two difficult journeys, by which time has slipped away.

30. Would to God I could be relieved of the trouble of traveling; I hoped it might serve many a poor soul well in their hunger Boehme refers to "spiritual hunger"—the longing for divine truth.. Yet, whatever God wills happens, although it is true that many a little blade of grass withers if the heavens give no rain: so too do worldly affairs hinder the Kingdom of God.

31. At this time, however, I know of no other way to sustain the earthly body with wife and child Boehme was a shoemaker by trade and struggled to balance his craft and family responsibilities with his calling to write theosophical works.. I will therefore apply myself and set the Heavenly above all else as much as is possible for me. If you have the desire to read something with me in my simple writings original: "einfältigen Schrifften." Boehme frequently uses the term "simple" or "simple-minded" to distinguish his divinely inspired insights from the "historical art" or academic learning of the university-trained scholars., it shall be faithfully shared with you; although I would also gladly learn from the children of God and take delight in their writings.

32. For I consider myself the most simple among them, and have written a little for myself as a reminder and for constant practice in God; but since it pleases you so well to read it, I rightly do not hide it from you.

33. For I recognize the great effort you expend on it, and I thank my God, who has sent me a person in this world with whom I may speak of God’s Kingdom; whereas otherwise almost everyone wants to be blind and mad, such that I dare not even open my mouth original: "mein Maul auffthun." This is a blunt, rustic expression. Boehme often uses humble language to contrast his social status with the gravity of his spiritual message..

34. I hear mockers who run among the people, about whom I care very little, for I know whose spirit's children they are original: "weß Geistes Kinder die sind." An idiom meaning he understands their true nature or motivations.; and I wish them my understanding, for then they would stop such behavior.

35. Regarding N.’s copying original: "Nachschreibens." This likely refers to a specific individual (N.) who was making unauthorized or premature transcriptions of Boehme's manuscripts. of my future writings, I do not know how best to guard myself against him, for he does not keep silent; and I often hear frivolous people interpreting my current writings, which I believe comes from him, for I have shown them to no one else. So he then