Spiritual Reformers in the 16th & 17th Centuries Part 24

[23] A contemporary of Sparrow, probably Samuel Pordage, wrote an Encomium on Sparrow in the Introduction to a long Behmenite Poem called _Mundorum explicatio_ (London, 1661). The pa.s.sage is as follows:

"And learned Sparrow we thy praises too Will Sing; rewards too small for what is due, The Gifts of Glory and of Praise we owe: The English Behmen doth Thy Trophies show.

Whilst Englishmen that great saint's praise declare, Thy Name shall join'd with his receive a share.

The Time shall come when his great Name shall rise, Thy Glory also shall ascend the skies.

Thou mad'st him English speak, or else what Good Had his works done us if not understood?

To Germany they beneficial prove Alone: till we enjoyed them by thy Love.

Their German Robes thou took'st from them, that we Their Beauties might in English Garments see.

Thus has thy Love a vast rich Treasure showen, And made what was exotic now our own."

[24] Preface to Boehme's _Epistles_ (1649).

[25] Preface to Boehme's _Epistles_.

[26] _Ibid._

[27] _Ibid._

[28] Preface to _Epistles_.

[29] _Ibid._

[30] Preface to _Sig. re._

[31] This question was raised by Barclay in his _Inner Life of the Religious Societies of the Commonwealth_ (London, 1879), pp. 214-215.

[32] Thomas Taylor's _Works_ (London, 1697), p. 86.

[33] The writings themselves constantly use the word "Seeker," and the Introductions emphasize the Seeking att.i.tude.

[34] _Christian Information Concerning these Last Times_, by F. E.

(London, 1664), pp. 10-11.

[35] _Op. cit._ pp. 11-12.

[36] _Journal_ (ed. 1901), 28. Unfortunately the Cambridge Journal does not contain any biographical incidents prior to 1652.

[37] Hotham's _Life_, D. 4.

[38] Preface to _Epistles_, p. 10.

[39] The _Three Princ._, trans. 1648, xx. 40-41.

[40] _Sig. re._ viii. 23.

[41] _Ep._ xv. 18. For another pa.s.sage on "the new smell," see _The Three Princ._ iv. 27.

[42] _Journal_, i. p. 29.

[43] _Ibid._ i. pp. 29-30.

[44] See _Journal_, i. pp. 31-34.

[45] _Ibid._ i. p. 33.

[46] _Op. cit._ A.

[47] See, for specimen pa.s.sages, _Journal_, i. pp. 36 and 124.

[48] See especially _Myst. mag._ x.x.xviii. sections 52-59.

[49] Preface to _Aurora_, B.

[50] _Journal_, i. p. 19.

[51] _Three Princ._ xvi. 31-37.

[52] See _Journal_, i. p. 13; pp. 190-191 and _pa.s.sim_.

[53] _Three Princ._ iv. 5. See also _ibid._ xv. 24; xvi. 42; and xviii. 24.

[54] _Journal_, i. p. 12.

[55] _Three Princ._ ix. 25-26.

[56] _Ibid._ xix. 33.

[57] _Myst. mag._ lxii. 17 and lxiii. 36.

[58] See Fox's _Journal_, i. p. 19.

[59] _Reliquiae Baxterianae_ (London, 1715), i. 77.

[60] _A Fountain of Gardens_, 4 vols., London, 1696-1701.

[61] _Op. cit._ i. pp. 17-19.

[62] _A Fountain of Gardens_, p. 25.

[63] _Theologia mystica_, p. 81.

[64] Christopher Walton, in his _Notes and Materials_ (1854), gives a list of eighteen of her books.

[65] _Ibid._ p. 238.

[66] _Op. cit._ p. 9. Pordage disliked the Quakers and speaks slightingly of them in _Theologia mystica_. He also wrote a Treatise against them. See Walton, p. 203.

[67] Important material on this subject may be found in Walton's _Notes and Materials_, especially pp. 188-258.