Arbatel de Magia Veterum
(1575)

Isagoge: The Sixth Septenary of Aphorisms:
The Precepts of Magick

Aphorism 36

Care is to be taken that experiments be not mixed with experiments, but that every one be only simple and several, for God and Nature have ordained all things to a certain and appointed end, so that, for example's sake, they who perform cures with the most simple herbs and roots do cure the most happily of all. And in this manner, in Constellations, Words and Characters, Stones, and such like, do lie hid the greatest influences or virtues in deed, which are instead of a miracle.

So also are words which, being pronounced, do forthwith cause creatures both visible and invisible to yield obedience, as well creatures of this our world, as of the watery, aëry, subterranean, and Olympick supercelestial and infernal, and also the divine.

Therefore, simplicity is chiefly to be studied, and the knowledge of such simples is to be sought for from God, otherwise by no other means or experience they can be found out.

Aphorism 37

And let all lots have their place decently: Order, Reason, and Means are the three things which do easily render all learning as well of the visible as invisible creatures. This is the course of Order, that some creatures are creatures of the light; others, of darkness -- these are subject to vanity because they run headlong into darkness and inthral themselves in eternal punishments for their rebellion. Their Kingdom is partly very beautiful in transitory and corruptible things on the one part -- because it cannot consist without some virtue and great gifts of God -- and partly most filthy and horrid to be spoken of because it aboundeth with all wickedness and sin, idolatry, contempt of God, blasphemies against the true God and his works, worshippers of devils, disobedience towards Magistrates, seditions, homicides, robberies, tyranny, adulteries, wicked lusts, rapes, thefts, lies, perjuries, pride, and a covetous desire of rule. In this mixture consisteth the kingdom of darkness, but the creatures of the light are filled with eternal truth and with the grace of God, and are Lords of the whole world, and do reign over the Lords of darkness, as the members of Christ. Between these and the other, there is a continual war, until God shall put an end to their strife by his last judgement.

Aphorism 38

Therefore, Magick is twofold in its first division: the one is of God, which he bestoweth on the creatures of light; the other also is of God, but as it is the gift which he giveth unto the creatures of darkness. And this is also twofold: the one is to a good end, as when the Princes of darkness are compelled to do good unto the creatures, God enforcing them; the other is for an evil end, when God permitteth such to punish evil persons, that magically they are deceived to destruction; or, also he commandeth such to be cast out into destruction.

The second division of Magick is that it bringeth to pass some works with visible instruments, through visible things, and it effecteth other works with invisible instruments by invisible things, and it acteth other things, as well, with mixed means, as instruments and effects.

The third division is [that] there are some things which are brought to pass by invocation of God alone: this is partly Prophetical and Philosophical, and partly, as it were, Theophrastical.

Other things there are which, by reason of the ignorance of the true God, are done with the Princes of Spirits, that his desires may be fulfilled -- such is the work of the Mercurialists.

The fourth division is that some exercise their Magick with the good Angels in stead of God, as it were descending down from the most high God -- such was the Magick of Baalim.

Another Magick is that which exerciseth their actions with the chief of the evil Spirits -- such were they who wrought by the minor Gods of the heathens.

The fifth division is that some do act with Spirits openly and face to face, which is given to few: others do work by dreams and other signs, which the ancients took from their auguries and sacrifices.

The sixth division is that some work by immortal creatures, others by mortal Creatures, as Nymphs, Satyrs, and such-like inhabitants of other elements -- Pigmies, etc.

The seventh division is that the Spirits do serve some of their own accord, without art; others they will scarce attend, being called by art.

Among these species of Magick, that is the most excellent of all, which dependeth upon God alone. The second, them whom the Spirits do serve faithfully of their own accord. The third is that which is the property of Christians, which dependeth on the power of Christ, which he hath in heaven and earth.

Aphorism 39

There is a seven-fold preparation to learn the Magick Art.

The first is to meditate day and night how to attain to the true knowledge of God, both by his word revealed from the foundation of the world, as also by the seal of the creation and of the creatures, and by the wonderful effects which the visible and invisible creatures of God do shew forth.

Secondly it is requisite that a man descend down into himself and chiefly study to know himself -- what mortal part he hath in him, and what immortal; and what part is proper to himself, and what diverse.

Thirdly, that he learn by the immortal part of himself to worship, love, and fear the eternal God, and to adore him in Spirit and Truth, and with his mortal part, to do those things which he knoweth to be acceptable to God and profitable to his neighhours.

These are the three first and chiefest precepts of Magick, wherewith let everyone prepare himself that covets to obtain true Magick or divine wisdom, that he may be accounted worthy thereof and one to whom the Angelical creatures willingly do service, not occultly only but also manifestly and, as it were, face to face.

Fourthly, Whereas every man is to be vigilant to see to what kinde life he shall be called from his mother's wombe, that everyone may know whether he be born to Magick, and to what species thereof, which everyone may perceive easily that readeth these things, and by experience may have success therein, for such things and such gifts are not given but only to the low and humble.

In the fifth place we are to take care that we understand when the Spirits are assisting us in undertaking the greatest business, and he that understands this, it is manifest that he shall be made a Magician of the ordination of God -- that is, such a person who useth the ministery of the Spirits to bring excellent things to pass. Here, as for the most part, they sin, either through negligence, ignorance, or contempt, or by too much superstition; they offend also by ingratitude towards God, whereby many famous men have afterwards drawn upon themselves destruction; they sin also by rashness and obstinacy; and also when they do not use their gifts for that honor of God which is required, and do prefer [illegible Greek].

Sixthly, the Magician hath need of faith and taciturnity, especially that he disclose no secret which the Spirit hath forbid him, as he commanded Daniel to seal some things -- that is, not to declare them in publick -- so as it was not lawful for Paul to speak openly of all things which he saw in a vision. No man will believe how much is contained in this one precept.

Seventhly, in him that would be a Magician there is required the greatest justice, that he undertake nothing that is ungodly, wicked, or unjust, nor to let it once come in his minde, and so he shall be divinely defended from all evil.

Aphorism 40

When the Magician determineth with himself to do any incorporeal thing, either with any exterior or interior sense, then let him govern himself according to these seven subsequent laws, to accomplish his Magical end:

The first Law is this, that he know that such a Spirit is ordained unto him from God, and let him meditate that God is the beholder of all his thoughts and actions; therefore, let him direct all the course of his life according to the rule prescribed in the word of God.

Secondly, always pray with: "David, take not thy holy Spirit from me, and strengthen me with thy free Spirit, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. I beseech thee, O heavenly Father, do not give power to any lying Spirit, as thou didst over Ahab, that he perished, but keep me in thy truth. Amen."

Thirdly, let him accustome himself to try the Spirits, as the Scripture admonisheth, for grapes cannot be gathered of thorns. Let us try all things and hold fast that which is good and laudable, that we may avoid everything that is repugnant to the divine power.

The fourth is to be remote and clear from all manner of superstition -- for this is superstition, to attribute divinity in this place to things wherein there is nothing at all divine; or to choose or frame to ourselves to worship God with some kinde of worship which he hath not commanded. Ssuch are the Magical ceremonies of Satan, whereby he impudently offereth himself to be worshipped as God.

The fifth thing to be eschewed is all worship of Idols, which bindeth any divine power to idols or other things of their own proper motion, where they are not placed by the Creator, or by the order of Nature -- which things many false and wicked Magitians faign.

Sixthly, all the deceitful imitations and affections of the devil are also to be avoided, whereby he imitateth the power of the creation and of the Creator, that he may so produce things with a word, that they may not be what they are, which belongeth only to the Omnipotency of God and is not communicable to the creature.

Seventhly, let us cleave fast to the gifts of God, and of his holy Spirit, that we may know them and diligently embrace them with our whole heart and all our strength.

Aphorism 41

We come now to the nine last Aphorismes of this whole Tome, wherewith we will -- the divine mercy assisting us -- conclude this whole Magical Isagoge.

Therefore, in the first place it is to be observed what we understand by "Magician" in this work.

Him then we count to be a Magician to whom, by the grace of God, the spiritual essences do serve to manifest the knowledge of the whole universe and of the secrets of Nature contained therein, whether they are visible or invisible. This description of a Magician plainly appeareth and is universal.

An evil Magician is he whom, by the divine permission, the evil Spirits do serve, to his temporal and eternal destruction and perdition to deceive men, and draw them away from God. Such was Simon Magus, of whom mention is made in the Acts of the Apostles and in Clemens, whom Saint Peter commanded to be thrown down upon the earth when, as he had commanded himself, as it were a God, to be raised up into the air by the unclean Spirits.

Unto this order are also to be referred all those who are noted in the two Tables of the Law and are set forth with their evil deeds.

The subdivisions and species of both kindes of Magick we will note in the Tomes following. In this place it shall suffice that we distinguish the Sciences -- which is good and which is evil -- whereas man sought to obtain them both at first, to his own ruine and destruction, as Moses and Hermes do demonstrate.

Aphorism 42

Secondly, we are to know that a Magician is a person predestinated to this work from his mother's wombe -- neither let him assume any such great things to himself, unless he be called divinely by grace hereunto, for some good end; to a bad end is that the Scripture might be fulfilled: "It must be that offences will come; but woe be to that man through whom they come." Therefore, as we have before oftentimes admonished, With fear and trembling we must live in this world.

Notwithstanding, I will not deny but that some men may, with study and diligence, obtain some species of both kindes of Magick, if it may be admitted. But he shall never aspire to the highest kindes thereof, yet if he covet to assail them, he shall doubtless offend both in soul and body. Such are they who, by the operations of false Magicians, are sometimes carried to Mount Horch, or in some wilderness or deserts, or they are maimed in some member, or are simply torn in pieces, or are deprived of their understanding, even as many such things happen by the use thereof, where men are forsaken by God, and delivered to the power of Satan.

The Precepts of Magicians