173. The Conclufion of the whole Matter is this, that seeing thefe Things are fo a Man should be a Man and not a Beast. He fhould govern himself, like a Man, with his better Part the Soul, not with the Brutish Instinct of the Complexion; and fo may he attain the Higheft and Eternal Good, let his natural Complexion be what it will. And on the other fide, there is no Complexion fo noble, but that it is open to the Evil Influence of the Stars, and the Wiles of the Devil. So that if a Man will Live only to the Conftellation, the Devil will certainly take his Range and Paftime in it.

174. Therefore that Precept of St. Peter's is a seasonable and proper Piece of Advice to all Complexions. Be fober and watchful, for your Adverfary the Devil goeth about as a Roaring Lion, fecking whom he may devour. Whom refift, fedfaftly in the Faith, or through the Grace of God, and be at no Time fecure, or careless of his Temptations.

O Lord, Thou art our Refuge.

AN

EPISTLE

FROM

JACOB BEHMEN

TO A

PERSON

UNDER

Temptation and Trouble of Mind.

Being the Thirteenth of his printed Epiftles.

Matt.

Matt. xi. 28, 29.

Come unto me, faith Jefus Chrift, All ye that labour, and are heavy laden, and I will give You Reft.

Take my Yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in Heart; and Ÿe shall find Reft unto Your Souls.

John viii. 12.

I am the Light of the World; He that followeth me, fhall not walk in Darkness, but fhall have the Light of Life.

John xvi. 33.

Thefe Things have I fpoken unto You, that in Me ye might have Peace. In the World Ye fhall have Tribulation: but be of good Cheer, I have overcome the World.

A N

EPISTLE,

&c.

Our Life is in the Salvation of Jefus Chrift in us.

Y dear Brother and Fellow-Member 1. Min in Chrift our Saviour, to whom I heartily wish and pray for the Divine Love and Grace. I write this to acquaint you, that I have in a true Chriftian Sympathy confidered your distressful Cafe, and in that Spirit have brought it before the Gracious Compaffion of the Moft High, to fee what He would be pleased to make known to me concerning it.

2. Whereupon, Sir, I muft acquaint you that in and through That Gracious Compaffion I obtained fuch an Infight into the fame, that the Ground and Caufe of it is opened to me. And I will here give you a fhort but true Account of it, for your private and serious Confideration.

3. The First Cause then of fuch strong and buly Temptation is the Super-natural, Super-a

bundant,