PREFACE

To the Earnest

(Salvation-seeking) Soul.

1.

A small decorative initial letter D features floral and foliage patterns. THIS Book of the threefold life of man is one of our Author’s small books in which he lays most of the foundations of all his high sciences. Thus, one should read and understand this book, as well as the book of the Three Principles, before one will be able to properly grasp his following books. We have therefore seen fit to share the same in our mother tongue, translated from the High German manuscript, so that this light might not remain obscured by the awakened wrath of God in our corrupt age, but may shine for the children of the noble Sophia Divine Wisdom through the mercy of God. To this understanding, the little book of Repentance and of True Resignation points out a certain access for us.

2. By the "Threefold Life," he understands the triple life in Man, and in the soul of man. The first is according to the dark world, according to which God calls himself a jealous, angry God and a consuming fire. The second is according to the light world, according to which God calls himself the only merciful God and the eternal light, which is the only eternal good and the eternal Unity. The third is according to the breathed out, or spoken, manifested, and created visible world, in which God manifests himself according to light and darkness, according to love and wrath, and sees himself in his works, and is known by Angels and Men.

3. Also, the threefold life is to be understood by the three qualities, or properties, of the temporal man, such as the good and the evil qualities, which are in conflict against each other until the end of life, and by the four elemental qualities...