CHAPTER III.

What was Taught tn the Schools of the Egyptians.
The Chaldeans, Persians, and Eg>'ptians had all of them the same know- ledge of the secrets of Nature^ and also the same religion* It was only the names that differed. The Chaldeans and Persians called their doctrine Sophia and Magic* ; and the Egyptians, because of the sacrifice, called their wisdom priestcraft. The magic of the Persians, and the theology of the Egy^ptians, were both of them taught in the schools of old. Though there were many schools and learned men in Arabia, Africa, and Greece, such as Albumazar, Abenxagel, Geber, Rhasis, and Avicenna among the Arabians ; and among the Greeks, Machaon, Podalirius, Pythagoras, Anaxagoras, Democritus, Plato, Aristotle, and Rhodianus ; still there were diff"e rent opinions amongst them as to the wisdom of the Egy^ptian on points wherein they themselves differed, and whereupon they disagreed with it. For this reason Pythagoras could not be
• Before all things it is necessary lo have a right under»tanding of the nature of Celesiial Magk. It originates from divifie virtue. There h that magic which Moses ptractisedi and ihere is the tnaleficenl magic of the sorcerers. There are, then, different kirid& of Magi So al-^ there is what k called the Magic of Nature ; there is the Celestial Ma£\ii ; there b the Afaguai of Fatth» ihal vs^ one whose faith make^ him whole. There i&, hAxlft the Magtis of Perdition.— /*A»Vwtf/*i*i J«/n,r, lib. IL, c. 6.
The Aurora of the Philosophers.
51
called a wise man, because the Egyptian priestcraft and wisdom were not per- pectly taught, although he received therefrom many mysteries and arcana; and that Anaxagoras had received a great many as well, Is clear from his discussions on the subject of Sol and its Stone, which he left behind him after his death. Yet he differed in many respects from the Egyptians, Even they w*ould not be called wise men or Magi ; but, following Pythagoras, they assumed the name of philosophy : yet they gathered no more than a few gleams like shadows from the magic of the Persians and the Egyptians. But Moses, Abraham, Solomon, Adam, and the wise men that came from the East to Chnst. were true Magi, divine sophists and cabalists. Of this art and wisdom the Greeks knew very little or nothing at all ; and therefore we shall leave this philo- sophical w^isdom of the Greeks as being a mere speculation, utterly distinct and separate from other true arts and sciences.