Book II.

132
the devil, I mean that Being whofe engines (/. e. myriads of demons) are conti- nually in the adt of placing fenfual delights and luxuries before the depraved minds and hearts of man, and whofe chief bufinefs and property it is to counteract the benevolent actions and infpiration of thofe blelfed fpirits who are the inflruments of God our Creator.
Fear God and love thy neighbour] ufe no deceit, fwear not, neither lyc ; let all thy adtions be fincere. Here, O man ! is the grand feal of all earthly "wifdom, the true talifman of human happinefs. When thou (halt accom- plifh this, behold nothing will be impoflible unto thee as far as God permits i then with all fpeed apply thy mind and heart to attain knowledge and wif- dom j with all humility throw thy dependance on God alone, the author of all things that cannot die.
To know thyfelf is to know God, for it is a fpiritual gift from God that enables a man to know himfelf. This gift but very few poflefs, as may be daily feen. How many are there tolfed about to and fro’ upon the perilous fea of contending paffions, and who are more light than feathers ! how many in this great city who place their chiefeft good in debauchery and letchery ! See their adtions, manners , and difpoftions ; thefe poor, unfortunate, miferable wretches, fuch is their fatal magical infatuation and ignorance, that they think thofe mad who might even attempt to reafon with them on the vanity and mifery of their fituation. To make myfelf more intelligible, thefe are what the world calls men of fafhion, a phrafe infignificant enough when we confider that the univerfal falhion of this time is vice, and that fo glaring, that it needs no great intelledt to difeover what is daily open to- the view of the obferver. But to you, my friend, I have addreffed thefe lines ] therefore let it not be fuppofed that I am reprehending my friend for vices which I cannot fuppofe him attached to : for I know thou art a young man defigned for the receiving of inftrudtion, in much higher and more glorious contemplations than thofe fons of earth are capable of, therefore I have prefented thee with this tranflation which thou didft delire me to give thee.
But
' Part IV.
TO A FRIEND.
133
But beware of flattery, felf-Iove,and covetoufnefs, fo wilt thou thrive ; and be diligent in thy occupation, fo /hall thy body be fed. Idlenefs is offenfive to the Deity, induftry fhall fweeten thy brown bread, and the fruits of it fhallwarjm thine heart, and infpire thy foul with gratitude to him that blefles thee with enough : feek for no more, for it will damn thee ; pray for enough to feed and clothe thy body, but afk no more, leaf; thou pine away in heart-rending po- verty, and fpend the remainder of thy days in contumely and beggary. For know a thing moft neceflary for thee to know, that if by thy ftudy, by thy art, or any other thing, thou couldft command a million of fpirits, it thould not be lawful for thee to with to gain riches fuddenly, for the Wifdom Eternal has put forth the fiat ; and it has been faid by him who never fpoke in vain, and who cannot lye, that man /ball get bread bv the fee eat of his brow ; there- fore let us not have in view the enriching of ourfelves in worldly goods, by fu- pernatural means, or by a greedy defiring of what we ought to look upon with eyes of contempt, draw upon us the wrath of God. Rather let us cheerfully rely on, and follow in very deed, fpirit and truth, thefe words of the apoftle, “ Seek ye firft the kingdom of God, and all thefe things {hall be added unto you fear not but that God fhall make thy houfehold as a flourifhing tree, and thy wife fhall be as a fruitful vine. Farewell, remember my poor counfel, and be happy. From thy true friend, F. B.
N. B. To enable thee the better to comprehend this Book, I have drawn out the various figures, of which mention is made in this work, that thou mayeft fee the very exaCt method of working ; likewife the images of feals, fpirits, and various other rare, and curious inftruments, which are neceflary for thee to know and fee with the eye ; therefore in the conftruCtion of them thou canft not be liable to error.
Fig. 1. The form of the cryftal for invocating fpirits, with the plate of pure gold in which the cryftal muft be faftened, with the divine characters around.
Fig- 2,
134- A CAUTION TO THE INEXPERIENCED, &C« Book II.
Fig. 2. A magical circle (C DE F), ofa fimple conftru&ion, for the operator to Hand or fit in when he calleth the fpirits.
Fig. 3. The cryftal (A), two filver or other candlefticks (G G,) with the wax tapers burning, and tripod or vefiel for the oderiferous fuffumigation.
Fig. 4. A wand of black ebony with golden chara&ers. The chara&ers are explained.
A Caution to the inexperienced in this Art, and a Word of Advice to
thofe who would be Adepts.
BROTHER,
IT is neceffary for me to inform thee, that whatever thy defires are in the purfuit of this art, which we call Magic, fo wilt thy connexion and anfwer be. If in the purfiiit of revenge, it is but proper thou fhouldeft know that thou wilt, in any of thefe experiments he¥e laid down, draw to thyfelf a revengeful demon, or an infernal furious fpirit, ferving in the principle of the wrath of God ; if worldly riches and aggrandizement, then fhalt thou have an earthial or fiery fpirit, which will delude thee with the riches of the central world; if fame, or the blaze of glory, then the fpirits oj pride will bealloted thee, who will gratify thy inordinate defire of vain glory ; for all thefe offices are there fpirits allotted and will be eager to mix with thy fpirit : it will attradl thee to his own nature, and ferve all thy purpofes according to the extent of God’s permiffion ; and as thy defires are and from what principle they proceed, fo fhalt thou be anfwered : but if thou defireft to know nothing but for the ho- nour and glory of God, and the help of thy neighbour, and, in great humility, fill thy heart with the love of God, thou fhalt then have a pure fpirit which
will