Friedrich Breckling, the 1682 Boehme Edition, and Spiritual Alchemy

Abstract Since Georg Lorenz Seidenbecher died young, this chapter explores how one of his associates, Friedrich Breckling, shared his millenarianism and eventually described spiritual alchemy in his writings. After initially associating closely with the controversial prophet Ludwig Friedrich Gifftheil, Breckling discovered the writings of Jacob Boehme around 1680. His contacts included many who were directly involved with the first complete edition of Boehme’s works in 1682, including his estranged neighbour Johann Georg Gichtel. Breckling, too, may have contributed to this project. In two small treatises published in the same year, Breckling described the spiritual alchemy of rebirth and contrasted it against the fraudulent alchemy of priestcraft. Breckling’s spiritual alchemy prominently reflected his double calling as ‘God’s librarian’ and advocate of persecuted believers, to whom he extended hospitality throughout his life.