This text, a summary of Friedrich Christoph Oetinger's theosophical system, was first published in 1776, and is presented here in an historico-critical edition. As a peculiarly original exegete of scripture and with profound knowledge both of kabbalistic traditions and Jakob Bohme, Oetinger views a new stage of development of humanity as being on the way to the fulfilment of creation. Within the horizon of his century's enlightenment, he combines piety with the optimism of progress.