Page:Fourth Book of Occult Philosophy, 1655.djvu/228

 214 Arbatel of Magick.

are not too much bufied about unneceffary things, according to the admonition of Chrift ; CMartha^ Martha, thou art troubled about many thirds ; but Mary hath chofen the better part^which (ball not be taken from her. Therefore let us alwaies have regard unto the faying of Chrift, Seck^Jfe frfi the \ingdom of God and his right eon fr.efi, ami all thefe things (hall be added unto you. Ail other things, that is, all things which are due to the mortal Microcofme, as food, raiment, and the necefla- ry arts of this life.

c/fphor.46.

There is nothing fo much beccmeth a man, as conftancy in his words and deeds, and when the like rejoyceth in his like ; there are none more happy then fuch, becaufe the holy Angels are converfant about fuch, and pofTefs the ctiftody of them : on the contrary, men that are unconftant are lighter then nothing, and rotten leaves. We chufe the 46 Apho- rifme from thefe. Even as every one governeth himfelf, fo he allureth unto himfelf Spirits of his nature and con- dition ; but one very truely advifeth, that nomanfhould carry himfelf beyond his own calling, left that he draw un- to himfelf fome malignant Spirit from the uttermofl parts of the earth, by whom either he fhall be infatuated and de- ceived, or brought to final definition. This precepr appear- eth moft plainly : for Midat, when he would convert all things into gold, drew up fuch a Spirit unto himfelf, which was able to perform this ; and being deceived by him, he had been brought to death by famine, if his foolifhnefs had not been corrected by the mercy of God. The fame thing happened to a certain woman about Fanckford at Odera, in our times, who would fctape together & devour mony of any thing. Would that men would diligently weigh this precept, and not account the Hiftories of Midas, and the like, for fa- bles; they would be much more diligent in moderating their thoughts and affections, neither would they be fo perpe- tually vexed with the Spirits of the golden mountains of U- topia. Therefore we ought moft diligently to obferve, that

fuch

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