Mystics And Mysticism. No. Ii.

MYSTICS AND MYSTICISM . No . II .

LONDON , SATURDAY , FDEBXTAET 2 , 1 , 1369 .

Jacob Boelimen , Belimen , or Boelirne called blie Teutonic Theosophist , was a noted visionary of the 17 th century . He was born iu a village of Germany , near Goerlitz , in Upper Lausatia in 1575 . Bred a shoemaker , he travelled for many years as

a journeyman till finally he married , and supported a large family by this occupation . After amusing Himself with chemistry , a visionary turn of mind , heated by meaningless sermons and German divinity , got the better of his common sense ,

producing raptures and visions of divine illuminations . Even as a boy , while tending the herds of his native village , the constant intercourse with nature deeply impressed his contemplative mind . Exhuberant fertility of imagination , a deep rooted

love of the mysterious workings of the divine will , enthusiastic warmth of feeling , a rare power of intuition , and withal a want of severe mental discipline , rendered him | subject to hallucinations during which lie imagined himself to be in direct conversation with God . . From the rude theological controversies of his time lie fled to what he

denominated the pure ethereal regions of intuition , where , in the ecstacies of feeling , elevated to the wildest sublimity , he found an intense mental enjoyment . These be first gave vent to in 1612 , in the

publication of a treatise entitled " Aurora , or the Rising of the Sun , " being a mixture of astrology , philosophy , chemistry and divinity , written in a quaint obscure style . This being censured by the magistrates of Goerlitz , at the instigation of the

clergy who endeavoured to suppress it , he remained silent for six years ; but improving that interval by pursuing the fights of his imagination , he resumed his pen ; and resolving to redeem the time he had lost , he in the remaining six years of his life ,

published about twenty books which greatly needed what he concluded with , viz ., a table of Ma principles , or a , Icey to his ivritings , though this has not proved intelligible to a common understanding . The key appeared in 1624 , and he did not

long survive it , for early in the morning of tho 18 th of November of that year , he called to one of his sons , and asked him if he also heard that excellent music , to ivhich being answered in the negative , he ordered the door to be set open , that the music might be better heard . He asked

afterwards what o clock it was ? and being told that it had struck two , he said , " It is not yet my time , my time is three hours hence . " In the interim he was heard to speak these words 0 thou strong God of hosts , deliver mo according

to thy will ! 0 thou 'crucified Lord -Jesus , have mercy upon me , and receive me into thy kingdom . '" When it was six o ' clock he took his leave of his wife ancl sons , blessed them ancl said , " Now I go hence into Paradise . " Bidding his son to turn him ,

he immediately with a deep sigh , surrendered life . Many have been inveighled and led astray by the visions of this fanatic . His talent in involving the plainest things in mystery ancl enigmatical jargon have exercised a powerful influence upon

small aud feeble minds , as also upon men of strongpassions and brutal tempers . Among others the famous Quii-inus Kahlman may be reckoned the

principal of his followers in Germany , who says , he had learned more alone in tlie study from Boehman than he could have learned from all the wise men of that age together . That we may not be left iu the dark tis to what sort of

knowledge this was , he acquints us , amidst an infinite number of visions that it happened , that having been snatched out of his study , he saw thousands , and thousands of lights rising round about him .. Nor has Boehman been without numerous admirers

in England , among whom was the famous William Law , author of Christian perfection , & c , who published an English edition of tbe German ' s works , in two volumes . Law was a pious ancl amiable although weak man , but Kahlman was a dangerous '

fanatic , and his furious temper at length brought about his destruction , for lie was burned ab the stake , at Moscow in 1684 .

It is very difficult to obtain a clear and brief idea of Boehmen ' s conceptions , from the quaint and obscure metaphors which are so intimately blended with his thoughts . It may well be doubted , whether he himself was able to discern between

the substance and the fantastic form of his effusions but his views , if closely analysed , boar a striking resemblance to the fundamental doctrines of Hegel's speculative system . Another admirer of this eccentric fanatic was

the celebrated Plucld , who also published a Latin edition of his works . We shall have in a future paper an opportunity of noticing Fludd , as also to farther consider Boehmaiv's doctrines , if rhapsody and religious madness of the wildest character can deserve such a term .