Signature of All Things

Jacob Boehme (1575 - 1624) was a German Christian mystic and theologian of the Lutheran tradition. Boehme's view of a universe where a creative and destructive principle are in conflict was later repurposed by Hegel as the dialectic. Newton, Nietzsche, the Quaker George Fox, and even Phillip K. Dick have all been cited as being influenced by Boehme.

"We had great expectations about J. Boheme's work and the discussions arisen around it: 'The first German philosopher', Hegel claimed"Dialogo Filosofico vol III, issue 14, September/December"Boehme's text was an important influence on modern accounts of the relation of God as Trinity to the cosmos, creation or 'nature', including those of Hegel, William Blake and Alfred North Whitehead. The reissue of the Elliston English translation as revised by William Law is therefore a welcome new book from Lutterworth Press."-Michael Northcott, The Expository Times, Vol. 127, No. 2, November 2015

• Preface to the Reader by Clifford Bax I. How that all whatever is spoken of God without the Knowledge of the Signature is dumb and without Understanding, and that in the Mind of Man the Signature lies very exactly composed, according to the Being of all Beings II. Of the Opposition and Combat in the Essence of all Essences, whereby the Ground of the Sympathy and Antipathy in Nature may be seen, and also the Corruption and Cure of each Thing III. Of the great Mystery of all Beings IV. Of the Birth of the four Elements and Stars, in the metalline and creaturely Property V. Of the Sulphurean Death, and how the dead Body is revived and replaced into its first Glory or Holiness VI. How a Water and Oil is generated; and of the Difference of the Water and Oil, and of the vegetable Life and Growth VII. How Adam (while he was in Paradise) and also Lucifer were glorious Angels, and how they were corrupted and spoiled through Imagination and Pride VIII. Of the Sulphurean Sude, or Seething of the Earth; how the Vegetation proceeds from the Earth; and also the Difference of Sex, and various Kinds of Creatures; an open Gate for the searching Philosopher IX. Of the Signature, shewing how the inward [Ens] signs the outward X. Of the inward and outward Cure of Man XI. Of the Process of Christ in his Suffering, Dying, and Rising again: Of the Wonder of the Sixth Kingdom in the Mother of all Beings; how the Consummatum Est was finished, and how likewise, by way of Similitude, it is accomplished and effected in the Grand Philosophic Work, or Universal Tincture XII. Of the Seventh Form in the Kingdom of the Mother; shewing how the Seventh Kingdom, viz. the Solar Kingdom is again opened and revived, set forth in the Similitude of Christ's Resurrection XIII. Of the Enmity [contrary Will or annoying Distemper] of the Spirit and Body, and of their Cure and Restoration XIV. Of the Wheel of Sulphur, Mercury, and Salt; of the Generation of Good and Evil: how the one is changed into the other, and how the one manifests its Property in the other, and yet remains in the first Creation in the Wonder of God to his own Manifestation and Glory XV. Of the Will of the great Mystery in Good and Evil; how a good and evil Will originally arises, and how the one introduces itself into the other XVI. Of the Eternal Signature and Heavenly Joy; why all Things were brought into Evil and Good; wherein the real Ground of Election and Reprobation may be rightly understood Of the Supersensual Life: Two Dialogues between a Scholar or Disciple and his Master - Dialogue I. Dialogue II. The Way from Darkness to True Illumination: A Discourse between a Soul Hungry and Thirsty and a Soul Enlightened