Book 13, Chapter 2: How the philosophers in times past travelled for the knowledge of naturall magicke, of Salomons knowledge therein, who is to be called a naturall magician, a distinction thereof, and why it is condemned for witchcraft
1 Manie philosophers; as namely Plato, Pythagoras, Empedocles, Democritus, &c: travelled over all the world, to find out & learne the knowlege of this art; & at their returne they preached and taught, professed and published it. Yea, it should appeere by the magicians that came to adore Christ, that the knowledge and reputation thereof was greater, than we conceive or make account of. But of all other, Salomon was the greatest traveller in this art, as may appeere throughout the booke of Ecclesiastes: and speciallie in the booke of Wisedome, where hee saith God hath given me the true science of things, so as I knowe how the world was made, and the power of the elements, the beginning and the end, and the middest of times, how the times alter, and the change of seasons, the course of the yeare, and the situation of the starres, the nature of living things, and the furiousnesse of beasts, the power of the wind, and the imaginations of men, the diversities of plants, and the vertues of roots, and all things both secret and knowne, &c. Finallie, he was so cunning in this art, that he is said to have bene a conjurer or witch, and is so reputed in the Romish church at this daie. Whereby you may see, how fooles and papists are inclined to credit false accusations in matters of witchcraft and conjuration.
2 The lesse knowledge we have in this art, the more we have it in contempt: in which respect Plato saith trulie to Dionysius; They make philosophie a mockerie, that deliver it to prophane and rude people. Certeinlie, the witchcraft, conjuration, and inchantment that is imputed to Salomon, is gathered out of these his words following: I applied my mind to knowledge, and to search and seeke out science, wisedome and understanding, to knowe the foolishnesse of the ungodlie, and the error of doting fooles. In this art of naturall magike (without great heed be taken) a student shall soone be abused. For manie (writing by report, without experience) mistake their authors, and set downe one thing for another. Then the conclusions being found false, the experiment groweth into contempt, and in the end seemeth ridiculous, though never so true. Plinie and Albert being curious writers heerein, are often deceived; insomuch as Plinie is called a noble lier, and Albert a rusticall lier; the one lieng by heeresaie, the other by authoritie.
3 A magician is indeed that which the Latines call a wise man, as Numa Pompilius was among the Romans; The Greeks, a philosopher, as Socrates was among them; the Aegyptians a preest, as Hermes was; the Cabalists called them prophets. But although these distinguished this art, accounting the one part thereof infamous, as being too much given unto wicked, vaine, and impious curiositie, as unto moovings, numbers, figures, sounds, voices, tunes, lights, affections of the mind, and words; and the other part commendable, as teaching manie good and necessarie things, as times and seasons to sowe, plant, till, cut, &c: and diverse other things, which I will make manifest unto you heereafter: yet we generallie condemne the whole art, without distinction, as a part of witchcraft; having learned to hate it, before we knowe it; affirming all to be witchcraft, which our grosse heads are not able to conceive, and yet can thinke that an old doting woman seeth through it, &c. Wherein we consider not how God bestoweth his gifts, and hath established an order in his works, graffing in them sundrie vertues to the comfort of his severall creatures; and speciallie to the use and behoofe of man: neither doo we therein weigh that art is servant unto nature, and waiteth upon hir as hir handmaiden.
Tap any verse to select it, then compare selected passages or ask Deep Thought. Public domain in the United States via Project Gutenberg