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IN this ensuing booke we do intend to treat of the greatest and most occult secrets of Philosophy, and of all those things which do appertain to Magicke, Nigromancy, Necro∣mancy, Pyromancy, Hydromancy, and Ge∣omancy: Clearely and fully demonstra∣ting
and setting forth every thing that may be investigated, effected and brought to pass thereby: this Philosophy in the practice thereof is much abused, by Ce∣remonies and other abuses; and hitherto the foundation thereof hath been built falsely upon the sand; whereby the whole Artifice and instruments thereof are overthrowne with the least winde, and sometimes the Artificers themselves, espe∣cially the Nigromancers, are taken away out of the very middest thereof, with the windes, that is, with the Spirits, and are vanquished, overcome and carryed away. It is therefore necessary that the foundati∣on of these and of all other Arts be laid in the holy Scriptures, upon the doctrine and faith of Christ; which is the most firme and sure foundation, and the chiefe corner stone, whereupon the three prin∣cipal points of this Philosophy are grounded. The first is prayer, whereunto agrees this word of holy Scripture, Ask, seeke, and knocke, &c. By which we are to seeke unto God, and faithfully believe his promises; and doing this with a pure heart and minde, it shall be given unto us, and we shall finde what we seeke after: and
those things which before remained occult and secret, shall be made open and ma∣nifested unto us. The second thing found∣ed therein, is faith, which is able to re∣move Mountains into the Sea: for unto the faithful all things are possible, as Christ hath spoken. The third point is founded in our imagination, which after∣ward is kindled in our hearts, and then aptly agreeth and concordeth with the faith aforesaid.
Therefore all Ceremonies, Conjurati∣ons, Consecrations, and such like vanities are to be rejected and cast away, with all vain foundations, & the true corner-stone is the foundation that is onely to be im∣braced in our hearts, that is, every thing which proceedeth and springeth from the holy Scriptures, the light of nature, and fountain of truth: we will write therefore in most briefe and plain words, the most occult and secret things, which neither Cornelius Agrippa nor Peter de Abano, much less Tritemius, never un∣derstood or wrote of. Neither let any one raise scandall upon this my writing of Philosophy, but first rather let him well peruse and ponder every word; and then
it will appeare from whom I speake, and whether I have this knowledge from the Devil, or from the experience of the pure light of nature.