Part II.

alfigns to each of them three qualities, viz. to the fire, brightnefs, thinnefs, and motion — to the earth, darknefs, thicknefs, and quietnefs ; and, according to thefe qualities, the elements of fire and earth are contrary. Now the other elements borrow their qualities from thefe, fo that the air receives two qualities from the fire, — thinnefs, and motion ; and the earth one, viz. darknefs. In like manner water receives two qualities of the earth, — darknefs and thicknefs ; and the fire one, viz. motion. But firft is twice as thin as air, thrice more move- able, and four times brighter ; the air is twice more bright, thrice more thin, and four times more moveable. Therefore, as fire is to air, fo is air to water, and water to the earth ; and again, as the earth is to the water, fo is water to air, and air to fire. And this is the root and foundation of all bodies, natures, and wonderful works ; and he who can know, and thoroughly underhand thefe qualities of the elements, and their mixtures, lhall bring to pafs wonderful and aftonilhing things in magic.
Now each of thefe elements have a threefold confideration, fo that the num- ber of four may make up the number of twelve ; and, by palling by the num- ber of feven into ten, there may be a progrefs to the lupreme unity, upon which all virtue and wonderful things do depend. Of the firlt order are the pure elements, which are neither compounded, changed, or mixed, but are incorruptible ; and not of which, but through which, the virtues of all natural things are brought forth to a6l. No man is able fully to declare their vir- tues, becaufe they can do all things upon all tilings. lie who remains igno- rant of thefe, lhall never be able to bring to pafs any wonderful matter.
Of the fecond order are elements that are compounded, changeable, and impure ; yet fuch as may, by art, be reduced to their pure fimplicity ; whofe virtue, when they are thus reduced, doth, above all things, perfe£l all occult and common operations of Nature *, and thefe are the foundation of the whole of Natural Magic.
Of the third order, are thofe elements which originally and of themfelves are not elements, but are twice compounded, various and changeable into another. Thefe are the infallible medium , and are called the middle nature , or foul of the middle nature ; very few there are that underhand the deep myf-
teries
Chap. II. TALISMANIC MAGIC. 75
teries thereof. In them is, by means of certain numbers, degrees, and orders, the perfe6tion of every effe6l in what thing1 foever, whether natural , celejlial*, or fuperceleltial : they are full of wonders and myfteries, and are operative as in Magic natural, fo divine. For from thefe, through them, proceeds the binding, loofmg, and tranfmutation of all things — the knowledge and foretelling of things to come — alfo, the expelling of evil, and the gaining of good fpirits. Let no one, therefore, without thefe three forts of elements, and the true knowledge thereof, be confident that he can work any thing in the Occult Sciences of Magic and Nature.
But whofoever fhall know how to reduce thofe of one order into another, impure into pure, compounded into fimple, and fhall underhand diftinHly the nature , virtue , and power of them, in number, degrees, and order, without dividing the fubftance, he fhall eafily attain to the knowledge and perfe6l operation of all natural things, and celeftial fecrets likewife ; and this is the perfection of the Cabala, which teaches all thefe before mentioned ; and, by a perfect knowledge thereof, Ve perform many rare aud wonderful experiments.
CHAP. II.
OF THE PROPERTIES AND WONDERFUL NATURE OF FIRfi AND EARTH. ,
THERE are two things, (fays Hefmes) viz. fire and earth, which are fufficient for the operation of all wonderful things : the former is a£t ive, and the latter paffive. Fire, in all things and through all things, comes and goes away bright ; it is in all things bright, and at the fame time occult, and unknown. When it is by itfelf (no other matter coming to it, in which it fhould manifefl its proper a6tion) it is boundlefs and invifible ; of itfelf fufficient for every action that is proper to it ; — itfelf is one, and penetrates through all things ; alfo fpread abroad in the heavens, and fhining. But in the infernal place, ftraitened, dark, and tormenting ; and in the midway it partakes of both. It is in Hones, and is drawn out by the ftroke of the Heel ; it is in earth, and
K 2 caufes
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76 talismanic magic. Part II.
caufes it, after digging np, to fmoak ; it is in water, and heats fprings and wells *, it is in the depths of the fea, and caufes it, being tolfed with the winds, to be hot ; it is in the air, and makes it (as we often fee) to burn. And all animals, and all living things whatfoever, as alfo vegetables, are preferved by heat ; — and every thing that lives, lives by reafon of the in- clofed heat. The properties of the fire that is above, are heat, making all things fruitful ; and a celeftial light, giving life to all things. The properties of the infernal fire are a parching heat, confuming all things ; and darknefs ; making all things barren. The celefiial and bright fire drives away fpirits of darknefs ; — alfo, this our fire, made with wood, drives away the fame, in as much as it hath an analogy with, and is the vehiculum of, that fuperior light ; as alfo of him who faith, “ 1 am the light of the world,” which is true fire— the Father of lights, from whom every good thing that is given comes ; — fending forth the light of his fire, and communicating it firft to the fun and the reft of the celeltial bodies, and by thefe, as by mediating inftruments, con- veying that light into our fire. As, therefore, the fpirits of darknefs are ftronger in the dark— fo good fpirits, which are angels of light, are augmented not only by that light (which is divine, of the fun, and celeftial), but alfo by the light of our common fire. Hence it was that the firft and moft wife inftitutors of religions and ceremonies, ordained that prayers, fingings, and all manner of divine worfhips whatfoever, thould not be performed without lighted candles or torches : hence, alfo, was that fignificant faying of Pythagoras — “ Do not fpeak of God without a light !” — And they commanded that, for the driving away of wicked fpirits, lights and fires Ihould be kindled by the carcaffes of the dead, and that they fiiould not be removed until the expiations were, after a holy manner, performed, and then buried. And the great Jehovah himfelf, in the old law, commanded that all his facrifices Ihould be offered with fire, and that fire Ihould always be burning upon the altar, which cuftom the Priefts of the Altar did always obferve and keep amongft the Romans. Now the bafis and foundation of all the elements is the earth ; for that is the obje6t, fubje6t, and receptacle of all celeftial rays and influences : in it are contained the feeds, and feminal virtues of all things ; and, therefore, it is faid to be
animal.
Chap. III. . TALISMANIC MAGIC. 77
animal, vegetable, and mineral. It, being made fruitful by the other ele- ments and the heavens, brings forth all things of itfelf. It receives the abun- dance of all things, and is, as it were, the firft fountain from whence all things fpring ; — it is the centre, foundation, and mother of all things. Take as much of it as you pleafe, feparated, wafhed, depurated, and fubtilized, and, if you let it lie in the open air a little while, it will, being full and abounding with heavenly virtues, of itfelf bring forth plants, worms, and other living things ; alfo ftones, and bright fparks of tnetals. In it are great fecrets : if, at any time, it lhall be purified, by the help of fire,* and reduced into its fimple nature by a convenient walhing, it is the firft matter of our creation, and the trueft medicine that can reftore and preferve us.
CHAP. III.
OF THE WATER AND AIR.
THE other two elements, viz. water and air, are not lefs efficacious than the former •, neither is Nature wanting to work wonderful things in them. There is fo great a neceffity of water, that without it nothing can live —no herb nor plant whatfoever without the moiltening of water, can bring forth ; in it is the feminary virtue of all things, efpecially of animals, whofe feed is manifeltly wateriffi. The feeds, 'alfo, of trees and plants, although they are earthy, mutt, notwithflanding, of neceffity be rotted in water before they can be fruitful ; whether they be imbibed with the moifture of the earth, or with dew, or rain, or any other water that is on purpofe put to them.— For Mofes writes, that only earth and water can bring forth a living foul 5 but he afcribes a two-fold production of things to water, viz. of things fwim- ming in the water, and of things flying in the air above the earth \ and
* Agrippa here, fpeaking of the element of earth being reduced to its utmoft fimplicity, by being purified by fire and a convenient wafhing, means, that it is the firft and principal ingredient neceffary to the pro- duction of the Philofopher’s ftone, either of animals or metals.
that
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