Goſpel it ſelf ſooner then receive the name of Magick into favor; ſo conſciencious are they, that neither Apollo, nor all the Muſes, nor an Angel from Heaven can redeem me from their curſe. Whom therefore I adviſe, that they read not our writings, nor underſtand them, nor remember them. For they are pernicious, and full of poyſon; the gate of Acheron is in this book; it ſpeaks ſtones, let them take heed that it beat not out their brains. But you that come without prejudice to read it, if you have ſo much diſcretion of prudence, as Bees have in gathering hony, read ſecurely, and believe that you ſhall receive no little profit, and much pleaſure; but if you ſhall find any things that may not pleaſe you, let them alone, and make no uſe of them; for I do not approve of them, but declare them to you; but do not refuſe other things, for they that look into the books of Phyſitians, do together with antidotes and medicines, read alſo poyſons. I confeſs that Magick it ſelf teacheth many ſuperfluous things, and curious prodigies for oſtentation; leave them as empty things, yet be not ignorant of their cauſes. But thoſe things which are for the profit of man, for the turning away of evil events, for the deſtroying of ſorceries, for the curing of diſeaſes, for the exterminating of phantaſmes, for the preſerving of life, honor, fortune, may be done without offence to God, or injury to Religion, becauſe they are, as profitable, ſo neceſſary. But I have admoniſhed you, that I have writ many things, rather narratively then affirmatively; for ſo it ſeemed needful that we ſhould paſs over fewer things following the judgements of Platoniſts, and other Gentile Philoſophers when they did ſuggeſt an argument of writing to our purpoſe; therefore if any error have been committed, or any thing hath been ſpoken more freely, pardon my youth; for I wrote this being ſcarce a yong man, that I may excuſe my ſelf, and ſay, whileſt I was a child, I ſpake as a childe, I underſtood as a child, but being become a man, I retracted thoſe things which I did being a boy, and in my book of the vanity and uncertainty of Sciences I did for the most part retract this book. But here haply you may blame me again, ſaying, Behold thou being a youth didſt write, and now being old haſt retracted it; what therefore haſt thou ſet forth? I confeſs whilſt I was very yong, I ſet upon the writing
