them back into the way of Righteousness. For he has sent his Angels [or Spirit] into the dark places, and made plain the Ways, and with his loving kindness re∣plenishes such as love him.
III. Know then my Bro∣ther, that this Magistery of our Secret Stone, and this Valuable Art, is a secret of the Secrets of God, which he has hidden with his own People; not revealing it to any, but to such, who as Sons faithfully have deserv∣ed it, who have known his Goodness, and Almighti∣ness.
IV. If you would request any Earthly thing at the Hand of God, the Secret of this Magistery is more to be desired, than any thing else. For the Wise Men, who have perfected the knowledge thereof, have not been wholly plain, but speaking of it, have partly concealed it, and partly re∣vealed it: And in this very thing, I have found the preceeding Philosophers to agree, in all their so much valued Books.
V. Know therefore, that Musa, my own Disciple, (more valuable to me than any other) having diligent∣ly studied their Books, and laboured much in the Work of this Magistery, was much perplexed, not knowing the Natures of things belong∣ing thereto: Whereupon he humbly begged at my Hands, my Explanation thereof, and my Directions therein.
VI. But I gave him no other Answer, Than that he should read over the Philosophers Books, and therein to seek that which he desired of me: Going his way, he read above an hun∣dred Books, as he found, or could get them, the true Books of the Secret of the Great Philosophers: But by them he could not attain the knowledge of that Mi∣stery which he desired, tho continually studying it, for the space of a Year, for which reason, he was as one astonished, and much trou∣bled in mind.