Page:Three Books of Occult Philosophy (De Occulta Philosophia) (1651).djvu/471

 And out of th' trunk thereof a case prepare To put it in; then see thou have a care, That to the Statue thou devoutly pray, Also thy debts, and vows take care thou pay; If that these things that here required be, Thou shalt perform, in dreams thou shalt me see.

Such were in old times the secret mysteries of the gods and Demons of the Gentils, by which they did perswade themselves to be compelled, detained, and hound by men. Hence Jamblicus, and Porphyrie teach that he that calls upon sacred Demons must observe them, with their proper honour, and to distribute to each what is convenient to every one, as thanks, oblations, gifts, sacrifices, with words, Characters sutable to their conditions, and most like unto them; or else he should never obtain the presence of the Deities, and Demons, and the desired effect; Moreover if they were called upon, yet they shall be constrained to hurt them especially who did it neglegently.

Chapter xxxii. How good spirits may be called up by us, and how evil spirits may be overcome by us.

By the efficacy of Religion the presence of spirits doth dispose the effect, neither can any work of wonderfull efficacy in Religion be done, unless some good spirit the ruler and finisher of the work be there present. Now good spirits, if they may be divers wayes called up, yet can by no bonds, or vary hardly be allayed by us, but we must by some sacred things beseech them, as we read in Apuleius, by the Celestiall Stars, by the infernall dieties, by the naturall elements, by the silence of the night, by the increase of the Country of Nilus, by the secrets of Memphis and elsewhere is Porphyrie: Thou who art risen out of the mud, who sittest in thy place, who sailest in ships, who every hour dost change thy shape, and art changed in each sign of the Zodiack. By these, and such like, Symbolicall orations and hymnes, because they are signes