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
D d and
�� �
