Part II.

CHAP. XV.
the GREAT VIRTUES OF NUMBERS, AS WELL I.N NATURAL THINGS AS IN SUPERNATURAL.
THAT there lies wonderful efficacy and virtue in numbers, as well to good as to badr the molt eminent philofophers unanimoufly teach ; efpecially Hierom, Auftin, Origen, Ambrofe, Gregory of Nazianzen, Athanafius, BaSilius, HilariuS, Rubanas, Bede, and many more conform. Hence Hilarius, in his commentaries upon the Pfalms, tellifies that the feventy elders, according to the efficacy of numbers, brought the Pfalms into order. The natural number is not here considered ; but the formal consideration that is in the number ; — and let that which we fpoke before always be kept in mind, viz,, that thefe powers are not in vocal numbers of merchants buying and felling 9 but in rational, formal, and natural 9 — thefe are the diflin£t myfteries of God and Nature. But he who knows how to join together the vocal numbers and natural with divine, and order them into the fame harmony, ffiall be able to work and know wonderful things by numbers 9 in which, unlefs there was a great myftery, John had not faid, in the Revelation — “ He that hath underftanding, let him compute the number of the name of the beaft, which is the number of a man — and this is the moft famous manner of computing among!! the Hebrews and Cabalifts, as we ffiall ffiew afterwards. But this you muft know, that Simple numbers fignify divine things, numbers of ten 9 celeftial numbers of an hundred 9 terreftrial numbers of a thoufand — thofe things that ffiall be in a future age. Befides, feeing the parts of the mind are according to an arithmetical mediocrity, by reafon of the identity, or equality of excefs, cou- pled together 9 but the body, whofe parts differ in their greatnefs, is, accord- ing to a geometrical mediocrity, compounded 9 but an animal confifts of both, viz. foul and body, according to that mediocrity which is Suitable to harmony. Hence it is that numbers work very much upon the foul , figures upon the body, and harmony upon the whole animal.
CHAP-
Chap. XVI.
TALISMANIC MAGIC.
103
CHAP. XVI.
OF THE SCALE OF UNITY.
NOW let us treat particularly of numbers themfelves ; and, becaufe num- ber is nothing elfe but a repetition of unity, let us firft confider unity itfelf ; for unity doth molt firnply go through every number, and is the common meafure, fountain, and original of all numbers ; contains every number joined together in itfelf entirely ; the beginner of every multitude, always the fame, and unchangeable ; whence, alfo, being multiplied into itfelf, produceth no- thing but itfelf : it is indivifible, void of all parts. Nothing is before one, nothing is after one, and beyond it is nothing ; and all things which are, defire that one, becaufe all things proceed from one ; and that all things may be the fame, it is neceifary that they partake of that one : and as all things proceed of one into many things, fo all things endeavour to return to that one, from which they proceeded ; it is necelfary that they fhould put' off multitude. One, therefore, is referred to the moft high God, who, feeing he is one and innumerable, yet creates innumerable things of himfelf, and contains them within himfelf. There is, therefore, one God — one world of the one God — one fun of the one world — alfo one phoenix in the world — one king amongft bees — one leader amongft flocks of cattle — one ruler amongft herds of beafts — ■ and cranes follow one, and many other animals honour unity. Amongft the members of the body there is one principal, by which all the reft are guided ; ■whether it be the head, or (as fome will) the heart. There is one element, overcoming and penetrating all things, viz. fire. There is one thing created of God, the fubje6t of all xuondering which is in earth or in heaven — it is actually animal, vegetable, and mineral ; every where found, known by few, called by none by its proper name, but covered with figures and riddles, without which neither Alchymy, nor Natural Magic can attain to their complete end or per- fection. From one man, Adam, all men proceeded — from that one, all became mortal — from that one, Jefus Chrijl , they are regenerated ; and, as faith St. Paul, one Lord, one faith, one baptifm, one God and Father of all, one
Mediator
TALISMANIC MAGIC.
104-