Aurora (The Day-Spring)
- Language:
- English
- Translation:
- John Sparrow
- Status:
- Complete work
- Authorship:
- Written by the author
- Condition of the text:
- Some scanning errors (automatic measure over the whole text, not checked by hand) · 3 illegible passages, excluded from answers
- Extent:
- ~170,000 words · 824 passages
Cite this work
- APAJacob Boehme. (n.d.). Aurora (The Day-Spring) (John Sparrow, Trans.). Digital reproduction: SigPhi. https://sigphiai.com/en/works/jacob-boehme/aurora-the-day-spring
- MLAJacob Boehme. Aurora (The Day-Spring). Translated by John Sparrow. Digital reproduction, SigPhi, https://sigphiai.com/en/works/jacob-boehme/aurora-the-day-spring.
- ChicagoJacob Boehme. Aurora (The Day-Spring). Translated by John Sparrow. Digital reproduction, SigPhi. https://sigphiai.com/en/works/jacob-boehme/aurora-the-day-spring.
Reference to the edition that SigPhi reproduces: SigPhi is its digital reproduction, not its publisher. The edition's year is not in the metadata (hence "n.d."), and the translator appears only when recorded.
What it is about
Jacob Böhme's first book: a vision of God, nature and the origin of evil, written in the vocabulary of a shoemaker with no schooling.
Context and history
He wrote it around 1612, after what he describes as a sudden illumination while looking at a reflection in a dish. He did not publish it: a manuscript circulated without his leave, the Görlitz consistory condemned it, and he was forbidden to write for years — a ban he kept until he could not keep it any longer. The prose is hard going because he invents his vocabulary as he goes. Much of later German mysticism comes from here, and Hegel and Schelling read him in earnest.
Editorial context, not a citable source: unlike the passages of the work itself, these statements cannot be checked against the corpus.
tAnd indeed^ had not the Holy Scripture mentioned this thing concerning the Blood of Chriftj it had not been p'ofsidle for any Man but fuch as the Prophets and Apofiles were^to have procured any that are now coded Chriftian% to Believe and Confeffe it. Neither can any underfland this though he reade of it in the Scriptures^ but by the Holy Spirit within himfelje , which proceeded from the Father and che Sonne in the Soul of every QXiQ*>andby the word in the Hearty the word of Preface to the Reader. of Faith, which is Godandchri^even that true [Divine} Light which ligbteth every one that comith into the world. The fame alfomay be [aid concerning all thofe that have been, are, orjhall befaved, though they attain not the understanding of the myfteryes of Salvation^ in this Life,** thofe did who wrote the Holy Scriptures, neither can any understand them as they did> but by the Same Gifts of the Hoi) Spirit in the Soul Therefore let none boaft that he is not lorn among thofe fh at are called Heathens 3 but among thofe, that were outwardly called Jewes of old, or Chriflians now, or of the Church of Rome i or Proteflants or. of the Reformed Religi-. on or Presbyterians independents Separatifls Seekers or VerfeBijts ; though every one of thefe have outwarcly a high Prerogative and Excellency above the Heathen yet the lives and fruits of thefe not exceeding their 's,they will rife up in Judgment againfl thefe: but let every Soule , in Love, rtjoyce> with all other Soules, in this, that God is our Father 5 in whom wee live and move and have our Being , ruling in our Settles' and manifefting his infinite Grace and Mercy } and bringing all things to pafse, according to his unconceivable wifdome and Goodnefle , And According to the purpofe of his good will towards Men , which if his Eternal!…