Boshme, Christopher FredericZx, a German theologian, was born in Eisenberg in 17G6; in 1793 he became professor of the gymnasium at Altenberg ; in 1800 he was made pastor o'f the Church of Magdalene, and in 1813 head pastor of Lucka. lie diedln 1844. Among his numerous works are i, Die Sache d. rationalen ,s:i,„ rnaturalismus | Neust. ab. Oder 1823) ; Die Religion Jesu I Halle, 1825, 2d ed. 1827); Die AV,V m ,1. Ajioste' Jesu (Halle, 1820); Die Reliqion d. chrisflichen Kircha unserer Zdt (Halle, 1832); Die Lekre v. d. efdltlichen tften | 1821, 2d ed. 1826); Brie/e Pauli a. d. Romer (Leipz. 1806) ; and a. d. Hebraer (Leipz. 1825).
Baehme, Jacob (Germ. Boiime; often written Beiimen in English), a theosophist or mystical enthu- siast, was born at old Seidenburgh, a >'hort distance from GSrlitz, in Upper Lusatia, 1575. His parents being poor, he was employed in tending cattle from a very early age, and afterward apprenticed to a shoe- maker, a business which he continued to follow after his marria ;e in 1594. Ho had (lie good fortune, for one in his station at that period, to learn reading and writing at the village school, and this was all the edu- c itioo he received ; the terms from the dead languages introduced into his writings, and what knowledge he I1'"' "' alchemy or the other sciences, being acquired in his own rule v.av subsequently, chiefly, perhaps, fn.m conversation with men of learning, or a little reading in the works of Paracelsus and Fludd. He iral marvellous stories of his boyhood: one of ""■'" '8, that a stranger of a severe but friendly coun- tenance e.nu. t j meter's shop while he was vet
an apprentice, and warned bin, of the great work to "be I, God should appoint him. His religious habits ; "" " " lered llil" <-<>u>pieuo,,s among his profane fel- low-townsmen; and he carefully studied the Bible especially the Apocalypse and the writings of Paul' !l < P began to believe himself inspired', and about
1GG0 deemed himself the subject of special revelations. Acquiring a knowledge of the doctrines of Paracelsus, Fludd, and the Rosicrucians, he devoted himself also to practical chemistry, and made good progress in natural science. Revolving these things in his mind, and believing himself commissioned to reveal the mys- teries of nature and Scripture, he imagined that ho saw, by an inward light, the nature and essences of things. Still he attended faithfully to the duties cf his humble home, publishing none of his thoughts until 1610, when he had a fresh "revelation," the substance of which he wrote in a volume called Aurora, or the Morning-Red, which was handed about in MS. until the magistrates, instigated by Richter, dean of Gor- litz, ordered Bcehmc to "stick to his last" and give over writing books. In seven years he had another season of "inward light," and determined no longer to suppress his views. In five years he wrote all tho books named below, but only one appeared during his life, viz. Der ]Vcg zu Christo (1G24, translated into English, The Way to Christ, Lond. 17G9, 12mo). .Rich- ter renewed his persecutions, and at last the magis- trates requested Bcehme to leave his home. To avoid trouble Bcehmc went to Dresden. It is said that ho had not been there long before the Elector of Hanover assembled six doctors of divinity and two profess- ors of the mathematics, who, in presence of the elec- tor, examined Bcehme concerning his writings and the high mysteries therein. " They also proposed to him many profound queries in divinity, philosophy, and the mathematics, to all which he replied with such meekness of spirit, depth of knowledge, and ful- ness of matter, that none of those doctors and profess- ors returned one word of dislike or contradiction." Soon after Boshme's return to Gorlitz, his adversary Richter died ; and three months after, on Sunday, November 18, 1624, early in the morning, Bcehme asked his son Tobias if he heard the excellent music. The son replied "No." "Open," said he, "the door, that it may be better heard." Afterward he asked what the clock had struck, and said, "Three hours hence is my time." When it was near six he took leave of his wife and son, blessed them, and said, "Now go I hence into Paradise;" and, bidding his son to turn him, he fetched a deep sigh and departed. His writings (all in German) are as follows: 1. Aurora- —2. Of the Three Pnncples (1619) :— 3. Of the Threefold L'fe of Man (1620): — 1. Answers to the Forty Questions of tli" Soul: — 5. Of the Incarnation of Jesus Christ; Of the Suffering, 1) ath, and Resurrection of Christ; Of the Tree of Faith: — G. Of the Six Points, great and small: — 7. Of the Heavenly and Earthly Mystery: — 8. Of the Last Times, to P. K. : — 9. De Signatura Rerum: — io. A Consolatory Booh of the Four Complexions: — 11. An Apology to Balthasar TilWn, in two parts : — 12. Con- siderations up n IsaiasSHefel'8JBook:—13. Of True Rc- pentanct 1 1622): — 14. Of True Resignation: — 15. A Booh of Regeneration: — 16. .1 Book of Predestination and Election of God (1G23) :— 17. .1 Compendium of Repent- ance:— 18. Mgsterium Magnum, or an Exposition upon Genesis:—^. A Table of the Principles, or a Keg of his Writings:— 20. Of the Supersensual Ufe:— 21. Of the Divine Vision.: — 22. Of the Tiro Testaments of Christ, Baptism and ///■■ Supper: — 23. .1 Dialogue between the Fn!igh/en<d ami Unenlightened Soul: — 21. An Apology f>r /// i pool: on True Repentance, against a Pa nip hi t of Gregory Richter: — 25. .1 Book of 111 Theosophic Ques- ti'ii/s: — 2G. An Epitome of the Mysd ri urn ilfuynum: — 27. The Holy Weeks, or the Prayer Book:— 28. A Table of the Dl fine Manifestation .-—29. Of the Errors of the Sects of Ezekiel Meths and Isaias Stiefel, or Antist/efelius II: —30. J Book of the Last Judgment: — 31, Letters to Divers Persons, with Keys for Hidden ]\'ords. These works certainly contain many profound philosophical truths, but they are closely intermingled with singu- lar and extravagant dreams respecting the Deity and the origin of all things. He delivered these as Divine