Page:Fourth Book of Occult Philosophy, 1655.djvu/225

 Axbaiel of UMagick. 211

grace of God, the fpiritual effences doferveto manifeft the knowledge of the whole univerfe, 8c of the fecrecs of Nature contained therein, whether chey are viable or invifible. This defcription of a Magiiip.n plainly appeareth,and is univerfal.

An evil Magician is he, whom by the divine permiffion the evil Spirits do ferve,to his temporal and eternal de- finition and perdition, to deceive men,and draw them away from God; fuch was Simon fJMagutffi whom mention is made in the csftts of the v4poHUs^ and in Clemens j whomSainc Teter commanded to be thrown down upon the earth, whenas he had commanded himfelf, as it were a God, to be railed up into the air by the unclean Spirits.

Unto this order are alfo to be referred all thofe who are noted in the two Tables of the Law ; and are let forth with their evil deeds.

The fubdivifions and fpecies of both kindes of Magick,we will note in the Tomes following. In this place it fnall fuf- fice, that we diflinguiflh the Sciences, which is good, and which is evil : Whereas man fought to obtain them both at firft, to his own ruine and defiru6tion,as Mofes and Hermes do demonftrate.

tA^hor. 4&,

Secondly, we are to know, That a Magitian isaperfon predeflinated to this work from his mothers wombe; nei- ther let him aflumc any fuch great things to himfelf, unlefs he be called divinely by grace hereunto, for fome good end; to a bad end is,that the Scripture might be fufilled/r mu[i be that offences will come ; but wo be to that man through whom they come. Therefore,as we have before oftentimes admonifhed, With fear and trembling we muft live in this world.

Notwithflanding I will not deny, buc that fome men may with ftudy and diligence obtain fome fpecies of both kindes of Magick, if it maybe admitted. But he (hall never afpire to the higheft kindes thereof; yet if he covet to affail them, he fhall doubtlefs offend both in foul

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