A Neapolitan in 20 Books all this this single volume. This book has been so well applauded that it was forthwith translated into many Languages, as Italian, French, Spanish, Arabic; and passed through the hands of incomparable men. Yet I am assured there will be many ignorant people, void of all serious matters, that will hate and envy these things and will rashly pronounce, that some of these experiments are not only false, but impossible to be done; and while they strive by arguments and vain disputes, to overthrow the truth, they betray their own ignorance; Such men, as vile, are to be driven from the limits of our NATURAL MAGICK For they that believe not natures miracles, do, after a manner, endeavor to abolish Philosophy. If I have over-passed some things, or not spoken so properly of them as I might; I know there is nothing so beautiful, but it may be adorned; nor so full, but it may be augmented.
There are two sorts of Magick; the one is infamous, and unhappy, because it has to do with foul Spirits, and consists of incantations and wicked curiosity; and this is called Sorcery; an art which all learned and good men detest; neither is it able to yield an truth of reason or nature, but stands merely upon fancies and imaginations, such as vanish presently away, and leave nothing behind them; as Jamblicus writes in his book concerning the mysteries of the Egyptians. The other Magick is natural; which all excellent wise men do admit and embrace, and worship with great applause; neither is there any thing more highly esteemed, or better thought of, by men of learning. The most noble Philosophers that ever were, Pythagorus, Empedocles, Democritus, and Plato, forsook their own countries, and lived abroad as exiles and banished men, rather than as strangers; and all to search out and to attain this knowledge; and when they came home again, this was the Science which they professed, and this they esteemed a profound mystery. They that have been most skillful in dark and hidden points of learning, do call this knowledge the very highest point, and the perfection's of Natural Sciences; inasmuch that if they could find out or devise amongst all Natural Sciences, any one thing more excellent or more wonderful then another, that they would still call by the name of Magick.
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