(Vol. vii., pp. 469. 579.)
Perhaps you will allow poor old Jacob Behmen, the inspired cobbler of
Gorlitz, a niche in your temple of writers of emblems. I think he is
legitimately entitled to that distinction. His works are nearly all couched
in emblems; and, besides his own figures, his principles were pictorially
illustrated by his disciple William Law (the author of _The Way to Divine
Knowledge_, _The Serious Call_, &c.), in some seventeen simple, and four
compound emblematic drawings. Of these the most remarkable, and in fact the
most intelligible, are three compound emblems representing the Creation,
Apostasy, and Redemption of Man. Every phase of each stage in the soul's
history is disclosed to view by means of double and single doors. We are
now concerned only with such of Behmen's emblematic works as have been
translated into English. The following list contains only those in my own
library. I am acquainted with no others:
(1.) "The Works of Jacob Behmen, the Teutonic Theosopher, to which is
prefixed the Life of the Author, with Figures illustrating his Principles,
left by the Rev. William Law, M.A. In four thick Volumes, royal 4to.
London: printed for M. Richardson in Paternoster Row, MDCCLXIV." With a
fine portrait of Behmen facing the title-page of the first volume. This
edition contains the following works:
1. Aurora: the Day-spring, or Dawning of the Day in the East; or
Morning-redness in the Rising of the Sun: that is, the Root or Mother
of Philosophy, Astrology, and Theology, from the True Ground; or, A
Description of Nature.
2. The Three Principles of the Divine Essence of the Eternal: Dark,
Light, and Temporary World.
3. Mysterium Magnum: or an Explanation of the First Book of Moses
called Genesis.