16. The love of God has graced the Author with this knowledge: for what intention the Author wants to put everything into writing.
17. If Man knows himself, then he knows God and all Creatures.
18. The Author locks his book for the wild calves of the Devil, but for the children of God he writes clearly enough.
19. Reason why the Author cannot refrain from describing everything.
20. These writings have an excellent testimony in all creatures: against all the ragings of the Devil, the Lily shall grow in the harsh tree The "Lily" is Böhme's symbol for the spiritual flowering of the soul and a coming age of enlightenment..
21. A wondrous time is coming.

An ornamental tailpiece or vignette composed of symmetrical leafy scrolls, floral motifs, and a central heart-like or shield shape.

A horizontal decorative headpiece border made of repeating floral ornaments.

Preface

CONCERNING THIS BOOK.

1. Large decorative initial 'D' within a square frame, containing scrolling foliage. FROM his youth onward, in the whole course of his time in this world, Man can undertake nothing that is more useful and necessary for him than that he learns to know himself: what he is, from what, by whom, or for what he is created, and what his office duty or role may be. In such earnest contemplation he shall immediately find how he (together with all the creatures that exist) comes from God. [He] shall also find in everything created how he is the most noble Creature original: "Edelste Creatuur" among all creatures [in this world]. From which he will well be able to find how God is minded toward him: since he has made him a Lord over all Creatures of this world, and has endowed him (above all Creatures) with mind, wit, and understanding: primarily with speech: so that he can distinguish everything (whatever gives a sound, or stirs, moves, hovers, and grows), and judge every thing's deed and origin. And that [God has placed all that same] under his hands, so that he (through his mind and wit) can compel it all, and use and drive it according to his will, as it pleases him.

2. And yet more, higher, and greater knowledge has God given him, so that he can see all things even into the heart, what kind of Essents essential nature or substance, power, and property it has, whether in creatures, in earth, stones, trees, herbs, in all moving and unmoving things, as well as in Stars and Elements, so that he knows what kind of being and power they are, and how in that same power all natural stability, growth, increase, and living-being stands.

3. Above all this same, God has given him the understanding and the