CHAPTER Vn.

Errors mingled with the positive truths of Science — ^These have their origin sometimes in deliberate imposture, sometimes in the mystery in which the Occult Sdence is involved — ^Impostures exa^erated — Plretension of the Thanmaturgists ; Charlatanism; Jugglery; Tricks of Legerdemain more or less palpable — Chance and the fftdlity with which its results may be controlled ^Orades conjoined with equiyocation and imposture, to insure their fulfilment by natural means, such as Ventriloquism, &c. ; and by finally exact, but very simple observations 132—168
CHAFFER VIII.
Safeguards of the mystery that surrounded the Occult Sciences — Hieroglyphics, idioms, and sacred vmting — ^Not understood by ^e uninitiated -— Enigmatical language of the invocations- Gradual and partial revelations knovm in their plenitude only to a small number of priests — Oaths, and fidsehoods respecting the nature of the processes, and the extent of Ma^cal opera- tions — Consequences of this mystery: — I. The Science of
1 CONTENTS.
Magic was reduced, in the hands of the Thaumaturgists, to a practice, the nature of which, devoid of theory, became in time unintelligible — II. Great errors universally prevailed, owing to ignorance of the limits that circumscribed this power; the desire to penetrate into secrets of Magic, and the habit of attri- buting its efficacy to the visible and ostensible processes of Science . . . • 169—201