PERSONAL CHRISTIANITY a science The Doctrines of Jacob Boehme THE GOD-TAUGHT PHILOSOPHER WITH AN INTRODUCTION AND NOTES by FRANZ HARTMANN, M.D. author of "magic, white and black," "paracelsus", etc. MACOY PUBLISHING CO. NEW YORK. 1919 COPYRIGHT, 1919, by B. HARDING LUZAC & CO., LONDON preface This work, which has been out of print for some years, was originally published under the title, "Jacob Boehme." The present title has been selected as conveying a clearer meaning of the message the book contains. In the preface of the earlier edition Dr. Franz Hartmann writes: "The following is an attempt to present an epitome of the principal doctrines of Jacob Boehme in a certain systematic order, so as to afford a general view of them and to serve as an introduction to the study of Boehme©s works." "The greatest obstacle to the understanding of the mysteries of the religion of the living Christ, is the very narrow view which we have become accustomed to take of them, according to the merely external and superficial interpretation of the Old and New Testaments. A study of Boehme©s writings, by means of entering into the spirit in which they were written, is sure to expand the mind and to elevate the heart of the reader, giving him a greater and more sublime conception of God, Nature, and Man, than any other book of which I know." As a result of the greatest war in history, a spiritual awakening has taken place throughout the world. Proximity of death in battle and its reflection of anxious waiting in the home, have forced a conviction that God is a reality. In these pages will be found a basis for religion which should appeal to thoughtful and earnest readers. By continued study, new thoughts will be uncovered, as the spiritual insight is opened to their discovery Jacob Boehme wrote of his works as follows: "That which is (now ignorantly) rejected by my fatherland will (in future days) joyfully be taken up by foreign nations." (Letters March 15th, 1624.) Dr. Hartmanns work is republished in the hope that many may find profit, in its study. B. H. preface to the electronic edition This book on Jacob Boehme, written by Franz Hartmann, a famous theosophist in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century, is clearly a labor of love. It has been out of print for a long time and I couldn©t believe my eyes when I discovered it somewhere on the internet, as a scanned book. It occurred to me that it would be a useful thing when it would become available as an electronic text which could be indexed and searched. Hence, this edition. I consider this book an excellent introduction to Jacob Boehme©s ideas, since Franz Hartmann has elicited many relevant quotes from many or most of Boehme©s oevre and ably commented upon them. This has an added bonus: not only does one get a good impression of Boehme©s work, but also of the source of Western esoterism from the nineteenth century: Theosophy, that little understood philosophy of life which has so much gems present in its teachings. The true student of this work will get to understand that the core ideas of Boehme and later true esoteric teachings are absolutely compatible and virtually the same. Strip away fringe figures and fringe ideas and it is absolutely clear that true esoterism (like Boehme©s teachings) and Theosophy have the same core ideas, like those about dualism and manifestation, the eternal becoming of nature, the seven properties of nature and the three principles. As to this matter, I have published a free ebook on bridging the gap between science and spirituality that expounds some of the core ideas of Theosophy, as well as ideas from related philosophies. I may come to indicate some clear relations between Jacob Boehme©s ideas and modern esoterism in a separate article. See also the links mentioned below. Before I forget to mention it, Jacob Boehme©s book Clavis (or Key to his work) is also available in text format on www.scribd.com/meuser: Jacob Boehme©s Clavis or Key and my Gnosis website (see also link to Boehme page on that site) The correct approach to Boehme lies in the exercising of one©s feel-know faculty (a kind of intuition). A purely analytical approach will help you nothing since the experience of the working of the spirit in manifestation is holistic, whole, rather than on a pure intellectual level. Hence you must learn to tune in to the state or level of mind and soul that Boehme raises himself to. Studying his works in this way will be rewarding in itself, like the feeling of coming home, to your rightful place in the vast world we call the universe. Boehme uses Christian, Rosicrucean and alchemical symbols to elucidate his meanings. This may make understanding of his work a little difficult, at times. A small appendix has been added to this book by Franz Hartmann to help you in this regard. A more elaborate appendix can be found in Hartmann©s book on Paracelsus, also available on www.scribd.com. Introductory articles on Boehme can be found in the internet archive: (copy links and paste in your browser) http://web.archive.org/web/19990128234751/http://theosophycompany.org/art166.html http://web.archive.org/web/19990129010640/http://theosophycompany.org/art167.html Definition of Boehme terms http://web.archive.org/web/19990129031932/http://theosophycompany.org/art169.html http://web.archive.org/web/19990129045333/http://theosophycompany.org/art170.html Lastly, I wish you a profitable meditation on the sublime teachings of one of the greatest seers of the West, Jacob Boehme. Martin Euser meuser.awardspace.com My tripod page (see also my blog over there and main page/purpose) Spirituality and science: bridging the gap (on www.scribd.com/meuser) CONTENTS. I. THE LIFE OF JACOB BOEHME. Account of His life and Labors, and of the influence of his Writings upon the Outside World II. THE DOCTRINES OF JACOB BOEHME. CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTION. The only realityÐExternal reasoning is inadequate to compre- hend internal truthÐHistorical aspect of the BibleÐMan created in the image of GodÐThe universal and the per- verted self-will of manÐAtonementÐThe Yoga practiceÐ Illuminated seersÐJacob Boehme©s spiritual knowledge and his terrestrial conditionsÐHow his writings can be under- stood CHAPTER II. UNITY. God in his aspect as the FatherÐThe unity of the AllÐEternity and timeÐThe willÐEternal wisdomÐThe Son and the Holy SpiritÐTrinityÐThe will the positive energyÐWisdom is merely passiveÐThree-personality of GodÐGod revealed in beingÐThe magic principleÐThe antithesis or dualityÐ Fire and Light CHAPTER III. THE SEVEN QUALITIES. Seven states of eternal nature referring to the TrinityÐEach quality existing within the othersÐSeven in oneÐMatter, darkness, corporiflcation, motion, consciousness, salt, sul- phur and mercuryÐThe lightning flash, illumination, light, substantiality, the water spirit, soundÐThe seventh form ÐEssential wisdom, the body of God, transcendental magnifi- cence, the eternal virgin, glorification CHAPTER IV. CREATION. God the All and nevertheless not the AllÐPantheism and The- ismÐPersonality of GodÐPerfectionÐThe subjective becom- ing objectiveÐDivine loveÐThe world not divineÐEternal nature, wisdomÐDifferentiation of divine powersÐNecessity of the dark fireÐEternal chaosÐBeginning, unfoldingÐ The seven divine spiritsÐCo-operation of Spirit CHAPTER V. THE ANGELS. Three types of God relatively to the TrinityÐSub-divisions of divine intelligencesÐHarmonyÐThe seven accords in each bodyÐ The celestial world objective to the angelsÐIts products corresponding to their terrestrial typesÐRealms of LuciferÐMichael and Uriel, dominions, guardian angels, fidelity, freedom of willÐLucifer, his pride and fallÐHell produced by the ignition of the lower principlesÐ Hell not yet completeÐEvil spiritsÐLucifer©s knowledge merely scientific, but not divineÐAn end of hell inconceivable, unless creation were destroyed CHAPTER VI. THE RESTORATION OF NATURE. Mosaic account of the restoration of NatureÐThe outcast spirits ÐThe allegory of the FloodÐThe appearance of the lightÐ The seventh dayÐThe separation of the material from the immaterial element of waterÐTheir separation not referring to localityÐThe conjunction of the fiery and watery essence lifeÐGeneration of gold and precious stonesÐRelative good and evilÐThe light that shines into the darknessÐThe sun and the planetsÐManifestation of divine wisdomÐThe sun the life of the starsÐThe objective planetsÐSidereal life ÐThe spirit of the starsÐThe superiorityÐThe third prin- cipleÐMan a compendium of Nature and all terrestrial quali- tiesÐ The soul CHAPTER VII. MAN. Man an image of GodÐHis celestial bodyÐHis powersÐEden ÐThe paradiseÐMan not the equal of GodÐHis free willÐ Object of the third principleÐObject of man©s existenceÐThe heart of God and its antithesis the devil and the terrestrial worldÐAdam©s fallÐThe tree of temptationÐThe protection offered by the terrestrial form against the powers of evilÐ The weakening of the divine imageÐHow Adam fell asleep ÐThe terrestrial woman the saviour of manÐCreation of EveÐEating the forbidden fruitÐThe serpentÐAdam caused Eve to sin and Eve seduced himÐThe rise of the desire for the knowledge of good and evil CHAPTER VIII. NATURE, OR THE THIRD PRINCIPLE. The origin of NatureÐDualityÐThe powers of light and darknessÐ Lucifer©s influence in the worldÐThe power of God in the inner world- The external sun an image of the divine heart of loveÐThe sun omnipresentÐ Ruling of the planetsÐTheir good and evil influencesÐTheir living powerÐ Individual life of the earthÐWhy the earth turns around