- Judicious Reader!
here is the outſide, and the inſide of Philoſophy; but the former without the latter is but an empty flouriſh; yet with this alone moſt are ſatisfied. To have a bare notion of a Diety, to apprehend ſome motions of the Celeſtials, together with the common operations thereof, and to conceive of ſome Terreſtial productions, is but what is ſuperficiall, and vulgar; But this is true, this is ſublime, but Occult Philoſophy; to underſtand the myſterious influences of the intellectuall world upon the Celeſtial, and of both upon the Terreſtiall; and to know how to diſpoſe, and fit our ſelves ſo, as to be capable of receiving thoſe ſuperiour operations, whereby we may be enabled to operate wonderfull things, which indeed ſeem impoſſible, or at leaſt unlawfull, when as indeed they may be effected by a naturall power, and without either offence to God, or violation of Religion. To defend Kingdoms, to diſcover the ſecret counſels of men, to overcome enemies, to redeem captives, to increaſe riches, to procure the favor of men, to expell diſeaſes, to preſerve health, to prolong life, to renew youth, to foretell future events, to ſee and know things done many miles off, and ſuch like as theſe, by vertue of ſuperior influences, may ſeem things incredible; Yet read but the enſuing Treatiſe, and thou ſhalt ſee the poſſibility thereof confirmed both by reaſon, and example. I ſpeak now to the judicious, for as for others, they neither know, nor believe, nor will know any thing, but what is vulgar, nay they think, that beyond this there is ſcarce any thing knowable; when as indeed there are profound myſteries in all beings, even from God in the higheſt heavens, to the divels in the loweſt hell; Yea in very numbers, names, letters, characters, geſtures, time, place, and ſuch like, all which are by this learned Author pro-
foundly
