L I B. III. Of the Advancement ofLearninft, 



107 



§ But it feems requifite in this place that the word Magia. , ac- 

 cepted for a long in the vvorfe part , be reftored to the ancient 

 and honourable fence. Magia. atmngji the Terficms , was taken for a 

 fapience , and a Science of the harmony and contents of univer- 

 fals in Nature 5 fo thofe three Eaftern Kings which came to adore 

 Chriji , are ftiled by the name of Alagi : and we underftand it in 

 that fence , as to be , <« Science which dednccth the knowledge of 

 Bidden forms to jirange and wonderful effeQs and operations , and as 

 it is commonly fuid , by joyning A3ives with Pajjives , which difclo- 

 feth the great wonders of Nature. As for the Natural Magick^, (which 

 flies abroad in many mens books) containing certain credulous and 

 fuperftitious traditions , and obfervations of Sympathies , and Anti- 

 pathies^ and of hidden and fpecifick proprieties, with Ibme experiments 

 commonly frivilous j ftrange, rather for the art of conveyance anddif- 

 guifement, than the thing it felf ^ furely he (hall not much err, who. 

 (hall lay, that this kind of Magick, is as far differing in truth of Na- 

 ture, from (uch a knowledge as we require , as the Books of the Gefts 

 oi Arthur of Britain, or oC.Hugh oi^Burdeaux, differs from Cafurs Com- 

 mentaries in truth of ftory. For it is manifeft, that Cafar did greater 

 things de vero, than they durft feign of their Heroes , but he did them 

 not in that fabulous manner. Of this kjnd of Learnings the Fable oflxxou 

 was a figure f who projefting with himfelf to enjoy Juno the Goddefsof 

 Power, had copulation with a f/^K^, of which he begot Ce«/^«r/ and 

 Chimeraes. So whoever are carried away with a frantick and impotent 

 paffion, and vaporous conceit to thofe things, which only, through the 

 fames and clouds of Imagination , they fancy to themfelves to fee, in 

 ftead of fubftantial operations •■, they are delivered of nothing but airy 

 hopes, and certain deformed and monftrous apparitions. The ope- 

 ration and efftd: of thisfuperficiary^and degenerous Natural Magic k^n^- 

 on Men , is like fome foporiferous drugs , which procure fleep , and 

 withal exhale into the fancy, merry and pleafant dreams in fleep. F/>/?, 

 it cafts mans underftanding into a fleep, (till chanting and fuggefting 

 fpecifick proprieties, andiecret virtues, andfet down, as it were, from 

 heaven, to be delivered , and to be learned only by auricular traditi- 

 ons '■) whence it comes to pais, that men are no more (tirred up and a- 

 waked to fearch with diligence, and to force out tRe true caufes; but 

 (it down fatisfied with thefe frivolous and credulous opinions : and then 

 inftills an infinite number of pleafing fidtions, in the manner of dreams, 

 and fuch as one would moft wi(h to be true. And it is worth the pains 

 to note, that in thefe Sciences, which hold fbmuch of imagination (as 

 are that adulterate Magicl^, whereof we now fpeak , Alchymie , Aiiro- 

 nomy^ and the like) the means and Theory are evermore monftrous, 

 than the end and pretences. The turning if Silver ov ^ick^ftlverj or 

 any other metal into Gold, as a hard thing to believe : yet it is a thing 

 far more probable, to a man well skilled , and experimented in the na- 

 tures of weight, yellow, colour, malleable and extenfiblej as alfofij^c 

 and vola'iile : and likewile to one who hath exadily feafcht into the 

 firft feeds and menftruous Purgings of Minerals ^ that Gold by an in- 

 duftrious and curious wit, may, at la(t, be produced ^ than that a fevV 

 grainjof Elixir^ or of the power of Produftion, Ihould be of force, 



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