Professional Documents
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A System of Magic
A System of Magic
MA '
Gr I C K
O R, A
H I S T O R Y
O F T H E
B LA C K A R T .
B EI NG A N
J u s t w hist les up h is Sp i r it s a s ,
M
e n d o Ho unds .
t he lldill .
Cle m e n t s
Ch u r ch in the S tr a n d MD CC! ! V I II
. .
PREFACE .
very short .
will be m i staken .
the D ev il .
clien t s w ant of cunning that gives them the le a s t
,
all the preaching and all the p r eachers sho u ld prove
int o i t .
W he n he h ar angu d t o Ev e i n m as querade
.
P ART I .
agi ci an were
original ly understood .
CH AP II . . Ho w w i sdo m
and l e arning advance d m e n
in the rst age s to royalty and govern m ent ,
sum e a hum an sh ap e or no
,
.
s . M . b
xvi C O NT ENT S .
CH A P V I
. . O f wh o were the rst practi s ers Of m a
gi c as a ,
di abol i cal art and h ow i t w as ,
CHAP V II
. Of the practi c e and progre ss O f ma
.
gic as i t i,
s n o w e xplai n e d to b e a d i abol i
P A RT II .
CH AP I
. . O f modern m agi c o r the blac k art as ,
CH AP II
. . scene ch ange d ; th at as the D evil
Th e
acte d at rst w ith hi s black art wi th out the
m agi c i ans s o the m agi c i ans s ee m to carry i t
,
CH A P III
. . O f th e pre s ent pre tenc e s Of t h e m agi ,
CH A P I V
. . Of the doctrin e o f S pirits as i t i s under
stood by the m agi ci ans h ow far i t may b e
suppos e d the re m ay b e an intercours e wi th
superi or b eings with out any fam il i arity
,
CH AP V
. . Of the m agi c of the pres ent tim e as i t ,
or i s l ike to go i n de ludi n m an ki nd ; wh at
, g
the m agici ans can do and th at they re ally
,
co m e s to an e nd Of cours e .
CH A P V I
. .Of rai s ing the D evil b y m agi cal op er a :
. .
, ,
INTR OD U CTI O N .
s t ood .
th i ngs was .
s e n t ly .
Thus afterwards in th e Israelit e s times their, ,
call him .
them .
B 2
4 A S YST EM O F MAG I C .
( which by th
,
e way was not abov e seven
, pence half -
It s ee ms the lawyers fees were not S O high in
those days as th e y ha v e b e en Sinc e ; for if he h a d
not had that pi e c e Of silv e r p e rhaps about as big a s ,
man can do .
s a id tha t the sp ir it of th e ho ly Go ds w a s in h im
,
lik e
.
passa ge .
terrible .
earth .
c u r it y .
Sp e ak again at large as w e go on In th e m e an .
t i on
.
men or no .
subsequ e nt e vents .
over th e fac e of th e w ho le e a r th
, .
s M . . C
18 A S Y S T EM OF MAG I C .
them q u a rters .
kings .
poverty a nd insult .
good .
He th at i s ri ch i s wi s e ,
g ic ia n s a nd a strol o ge rs
(w h o by the way w e re all
, , ,
oth e r plac e s .
C2
20 A SY ST EM OF MAG I C .
astrology .
at E kron and th e l i ke
,
.
m a gic ia n s b e c a u s e I k n o w t h a t th e sp ir it of th e h o ly
,
g o d s is in th e e
c A n d SO in the 8 t h verse o f the
,
r .
w h os e n a m e is B e lte s h a z z a r af t e r th e n a m e of m y,
Go d a n d in w h o m is t h e Sp ir it of th e h o ly go d s
, .
m u ch a s a ll th e w is e m e n of m y hingd o m a r e n o t
a ble t o m a he hn ow n u n to m e th e in te rp r e t a tion, b u t
th o u a r t a b le , f or th e s
p ir it
f
o th e h oly go ds is in
the e .
to what was the people s opinion O f th e se magici ans ,
th e a s t r o loge r s , t h e Ch a ld e a n s a n d th e s oo ths a y e r s
, ,
did not expect them ; SO the king and his lords beg a n
to be the mor e surpris e d at it But now s e e the .
No w th e qu e e n by r e a s on of th e w o r d s of th e
,
hing a nd h is lor d s , c a m e t o th e b a n qu e t h ou s e a n d -
t h e qu e e n sp a he a n d s a id , 0 hing , liv e f o r e v e r : le t
n o t thy t h o ugh ts t r ou b le t h ee , n o r l e t t hy c ou n te
n a n ce b e c h a nge d
Th e r e is a m a n in thy hingd om , in w h om is t he
s ir it o t h e h o ly go d s : a n d, in th e d a s o th
p f y f yf a t h er ,
w e r e f ou n d in th e s a m e D a n ie l, w h om th e hing
n a m e d B e lt e s h a z z a r n ow le t D a n ie l b e c a lle d , a n d
h e w ill s he w th e in te rp r e ta tio n .
cases .
a trade Of it .
only with t his specic d i ffe rence nam ely that with , ,
holy gods .
people .
story .
He adds that S i mon s name was no t M agus a ma
, ,
and us e i t accordingly .
black art men ; and fools that are only not sorcerers
-
,
The word Magus from wh e nc e th e words m a ,
gic and magician are deriv e d i s a P e rs i an or , ,
Th e r e c a m e w is e m e n of t he Ea s t w h o h a v ing s e e n , ,
t h e s ta r of h im th a t w a s b o r n hing of th e J e w s ,
cam e so
f ar t o w o r s hip h im .
c a uses .
methods .
divine .
D 2
36 A S Y S TEM OF MAG I C .
CH AP II . .
s o I le a v e it, an d go on .
A S YS T EM OF MAG I C . 39
, ,
of th e G reci a ns .
a s well as th ei r knowledge .
,
.
great r a te .
like.
the gods .
Fle ct e r e si ne
q ueo su
p e r os , Ach e r o nt a m ov e b o .
n om
y 2
. A rtici a l.o r rational ma gi c in which ,
and suc h words over the pat ient repe a ted so many ,
5 M
. . E
50 A SYST EM OF MAG I C .
w a s due v 1 6 ; I t is n o t in m e b u t Go d s h a ll giv e
, .
,
E 2
52 A S Y S TEM OF MAG I C .
best of the art and the rst and only honest part of
,
c ian ; a n d this I s ,
nds occasion .
v il h a v ing u t it in to th e h e a r t o
p ,
f J u d a s I s c a r io t ,
S im on s s o n to b e tr a y h im
, and again S t Paul ,
.
in human shape .
j
s u b e ct l on .
A S Y STE M OF MAG I C . 55
sev e r e revenge .
into S atan s favour at least s o much as to set tle a
,
the fut u r e .
and conj ur e rs .
s un
?
4 The brazen birds of Boetius which did both ,
hiss .
To which we may a dd F ri ar Bacon s br a zen he a d , ,
which spoke .
unde rtaki n g .
60 A S Y ST EM OF M AG I C .
CH AP III . .
c ie n t h on e s t m a gi, w h os e o r igin a l s t u dy w a s
p h ilo s o h , a s t r o n o m , a n d t h e w o r ks o
p y y f n a tur e,
t o t u r n s o r ce r e r s a n d w iz a r d s , a n d d e a l w ith
t h e D e v il a n d h o w th e ir c o n v e r s a t io n b ega n .
go along .
to be done .
i
gp y se
-
ridden by t hem even to this day
,
.
or igin ally att ended with two things which nat ur ally ,
gy ,
nay the river its elf the sand the crocodiles and
, , , ,
and miraculous .
deeper .
aft e rward .
with th e god
H e re also th ey cut the ir diabolical marks wh i ch ,
mor e probabl e .
the pyramid .
the gods
A S Y ST EM OF MAG I C . 67
F 2
68 A S YS T EM OF MAG I C .
with th e D e v i l succeede d ev e n by th e m e re c on s e
,
u e n ce o f things
q .
a s we shall s e e in its pl a ce .
s ign d os t th o u s he w, th a t th ou d o e s t s u ch t h ings as
your a ssent .
more of that sort ; for it se e ms the king s court w as
n o t th e n without a su f cient numb e r o f cl e rgy in
H
may b e call e d the kin g s astronomer or ,
blood .
, ,
tion.
everything he said .
th ey h a d r ega r d b e c a u s e f o r a lo ng t im e h e h a d b e
,
witc h e d th e m w ith h is s o r c e r ie s .
e n c h a n t m e n ts .
c ou ld n o t d o it
f o r t h a t it w a s th e n e r
, g of God ,
E xod viii 1 9
. . .
A SYS T EM OE MAG I C . 77
N ow whether the magicians m e ant i t is the nge r ,
than usual .
a bus e d .
G o d b les s e d f o r e v e r
But this is still too solemn a n d I am not also ,
s M . . G
82 A S YS T EM OE MAG I C .
ch i ef
.
r e spond e d .
sa
y
, h e ought to hav e secured from th e o i ce r s of
piec e o f servic e .
G2
84 A S Y ST EM OE MAG I C .
do what he is n ot able to do that s their fault not , ,
co uld save h i m .
he was obst i nat ely and incons i derat ely bold ; and
the D evi l is n ot bo u nd to sav e those that resolve
they will b e ha n ged Nay if I am n ot misinform e d
.
, ,
loss about .
t heir hands .
m e on the pr e s e nt occas i on .
( th e E ast ) made
, o u t th ei r armies an d came upon
post diluv ian ages I will not say his acqu a i ntance
.
b e gun her e though if I Should suppos e it did I do
, ,
I am at pr e s e nt acting in th e capac i ty of an h i s
torian ) of do i ng t h e D e vil any wrong o r inj ury so
I e nt e r my cav e at too aga i nst an obj e ction here ,
n ot a ble to s a on e wo r d t o t h e m at t his
y .
A S Y ST EM OE MAG I C . 91
CH AP IV . .
Of wh a t s hap e s th e D e v il
in his r s t
a ss u m ed
a e a r a n ce s t o th e m a ic ia n s , a n d o th e r s , in t h e
pp g
r s t a ge s of th e w o r ld ; a n d w he th e r h e is o r h a s
b e e n a llowe d t o a s su m e a h u m a n s hap e , o r n o .
by its elf .
n ot the same .
Take then the Devil s rst m e thod with mankind
, ,
drinking it at all ?
G en ix 20 No a h b ega n to b e a n h us b a n d m a n
. . .
,
a nd h e p la n t e d a v in ey a r d .
2 1 A n d h e d r a nh of t h e w in e ,
. a nd w a s d r u nk e n .
vail e d .
m o v e d D a v id t o n u m b e r th e p e op le Wh e r e by the .
,
t h e h e a r t of J u d a s t o b e t r a y Ch r is t Now I say as .
, ,
tim e .
Babel .
them .
it on t oo far .
1 00 A SYS TE M OE MAG I C .
G en xv l The w o r d of the Lo r d c a m e to A b r a m in
. .
,
e ll u o n A b r a m ; a n d lo a h or r o r o
f p , fg, r e a t d a r knes s
f e ll u
p o n h im A n d h e s a id u n t o h im
. ver 1 2 1 3 .
,
.
sa
y o f him is true He was it
. se e ms a S abian by , ,
h ave e xhal e d .
pours of
th e earth which is occasioned by the me ,
t e or s unusual nearn e ss to this h e mispher e the n e ,
im a ginabl e
.
a n d n othing else .
soul abhorred .
S u r e ly t h e r e is n o e n ch a n t m e n t a ga ins t J a c o b ,
n e ith e r is th e r e a ny d iv in a tio n a ga in s t I s r a e l : in t i
r e c e iv e d co m m a ndm e n t to b les s , a nd h e h a th b le ss e d ,
a nd I c a n not nothing
r e verse it : can b e plain e r ;
he would but th e Devil an d he to ge th e r w e r e n ot
,
th e Devil .
N ow i t is m os t cer ta in t h a t no thing c a n mo r e
A SY ST EM or MAG I C . 1 13
S M
. . I
1 14 A S Y ST EM or MAG I C .
to th e devi l Python !
How much were it t o be wished that some of ,
his will .
p l e t e s t con t raries .
G en xx 3 Go d c a m e t o A b im e le ch in a d r e a m ;
. .
,
in a dr e am .
stanc e s and t h e re a son too of the Devil s way of
, ,
It is S atan s misfortune to say no worse of him , ,
him .
A SY STE M OF MAG I C . 1 17
se e.
W e hav e ind ee d some of Balaam s dream e rs that ,
they s ee m to b e o r seem to b e w h at th e y ar e B ut
, .
a noth e r .
if they want him they must give him his own pric e
, ,
he managed accordingly .
r o he t c o m e s s h e ws s i n s a n d w o n d e r s and then
p p g
, ,
mor e .
go to th e ir palm tr e es to m e et visions ; th er e th e y
-
,
th e m .
h ad outli ve d th e battle .
ligio n whatsoev e r .
CH AP V . .
A f u r the r f D e v il s
a c c ou n t o th e in im ita t c ond u c t
w o n d er s , f a ls e a s w e ll a s t r u e , a n d th e ch ea ts of
the f o r m e r .
the Devil .
r o he t a m on
p p g y ou I t h e Lo
, r d w il l m a k e m y lf
s e
k n ow n to h im in a v is ion , a nd w ill s
p ea k u n to h im
in a d r e a m ZlIy s e r v a n t
. M os e s is n ot s o, (that is
t o s ay was more than
, s o,
) w ith h im w ill I s
p ea k
1 24 A SYS T EM or MAG I C .
m o u th t o m ou th, even a
pp a r e n tl
y , a nd no t in d a r k
e e c h es , (
p
s
3 0.
,
-
o f nobody else : a n d l e t n ot o u r mo d e rn e n t h u s i
a r e no t al w ays to be discerned no n or e a sy t o be , ,
to d e c eiv e i os s ib le t h e v e r y e le c t
, f i t w er e
p ,
.
r o he t or a d r e a me r
If t h e r e a r is e a m o n
g y ou a
p p ,
o
f d r ea m s a nd
,
g iv e th th e e a s ign o r a w o n d e r a n d , ,
b e as infall i bl e as M opsus .
in h i s e ar ; o r to cl e ar up th e j ug gl e M opsus had ,
c e s s ar
y
.
sa
y ,
A re you so ignorant in th e customs o f this
country as n ot to know that a man in my post must
,
populous as i t was at t h at t i m e
H o w Jos e ph cam e by all t hi s knowl e dg e and
wisdom t he y (as w e ha v e l ik e r e ason to b e li eve )
,
K 2
1 32 A SYS T EM or MAG I C .
This part of Joseph s story is useful to explain by
what m ann e r of communication the diviners of those
days used to maintain th e ir acq u aintance w i th th e
infe rnals a n d how mean and scandalous m ethods the
,
tant di fculti e s .
raise h im ; S i nc e th e b e es in th e ir gr e at e st hurr i es
and tumults are qui e t e d as abo ve by th e sam e , ,
in i ts plac e .
B u t if t hi s was n o t th e cas e it s ee ms to me th at , ,
them know h e is pl e as e d .
l i k e r e mote and un a c
u a in t e d parts of th e world w e do not nd much
q
,
l ik e a d e t e ct e d th ie f in th e dark and i mp e rc e pt i bl e , ,
than it is .
, .
,
T hi s subtl e a gr ee m e nt i n misch i e f b e tw ee n t he
m agician and the spirit that acts w i t h hi m i s not at ,
1 38 A S YS T E M or MAG I C .
B u t he r e w e con ve rs e w i t h t he m e n knowin g no ,
CH AP VI . .
Of w h o w e r e th e r s t p r a c t is e r s of m a gic, a s a d ia
b o lic a l a r t, a n d h o w it w a s h a n d e d o n t o t h e
Egyp t ia n s a n d I h aen ic ia ns , w h e r e it w a s r s t
y
o e nl e n c ou r a e d
p y g .
look e d up o n th e e a r t h, a n d , b e h o ld , it w a s c or r up t ;
f f
o r a ll les h h a d co r r u t e d h is w a
p y pu o n th e e a r th
v er 5 sp e aking o f m an , th e im a gin a t io n of t h e
. .
t h o u gh t of h is h e a r t w a s o n ly e v il c o n t in u a lly ; a n d
'
t h e w ick e d n e s s qf m a n w a s gr e a t up o n th e e a r th .
art
the water .
th e n in use .
an
y such th i ng as th e knowl e dge and use o f letter s
a tion wh i c h i t h a d b e for e .
, , ,
rity as w e nd it at th i s day
, .
one anoth e r t h us
Cham p e opl e d E gypt the year o f the worl d 1 8 47 , ,
y e a rs after th e ood .
Babylon .
.S M . L
1 46 A SYST EM or MAG I C .
way how far the patrio t and the royalty go toge ther
in th e se d ays how the name an d t h e d i gnity corre
,
m a gic ia ns of Egyp t a n d a ll th e w is e m e n th e r e of
,
t here were .
L 2
1 48 A S Y S T EM or MAG I C .
art which upon concert between hell and the h ell ish
,
host .
a ccordingly did it .
w ay a little .
him .
thus
ABRACADABRA
ABRA CADABR
ABRACADAB
ABRACADA
A BRACAD
AB B ACA
A BRAC
ABBA
A BR
AB
A
contain th e na m e o f G od seems to me to be a ,
Of th e n a t u r e a n d o r igin a l o
f e n ch a n tm e n ts .
tio n of a ny sort .
other circumstances .
w ell a s fam e .
was se e n no mor e .
as above .
o f that in particular .
occasion of them .
t hem ?
S ays the s t ranger There are me t hods to know
,
consequenc e s to th e world .
o n e sid e c h i e y
( as we s e e ,this burning ) with a ,
i n th e years of Pharaoh s gr e at grandfathe r s fath e r
-
,
was gon e .
M
1 62 A SYSTEM or MAG I C .
again in a dream .
P l e
years h ence ?
Can anything be more natural tha n th at when I
had t old th e e this thou shouldst know also that
,
what e ver .
a ct obedience t o them .
account of it .
together tow a rds the hill which was abou t the dis ,
tan ce of t wo miles .
s w e r to giv e .
, ,
news was soon spread into all parts of the city that ,
not rest .
to death .
m an d e d a par ticular o f the king s dream had it ,
the case .
nounce war .
s ch e m e
, d ictated by the Dev il himself and oh ,
da r k v e il of f o rg e tfu ln e s s b e ing h o r r ib ly a s t on is he d
, ,
a n d t r ou b le d w ith
! s tr a n e
g ] a
p p a r itio n s N o is e s
! a s .
of w a t ers
]f a llin
g d o w n s o u n d e d a b o u t th e m
,
a n d ,
s ad v is io ns a e a r e d u n to h ea v th e m w ith
n t
pp y cou e
n a nc e s Verse 6 ; On ly th e r e ap p e a r e d u n to th e m a
.
b e w o r s e tha n th e s igh t th ey s a w n o t .
at .
were in u s e .
t o appe a r .
c as e s mi ght be expect e d .
wh e n b e pl e ased to assist in it ,
.
e n c h a n tm e n ts a n d d ea lt w ith
f a m ilia r sp ir its a n d
w iz a r ds 2 Kings xxi 6
, . .
s M
. .
1 78 A S Y ST EM OF MAG I C .
s h a ll n o t b e f o u n d a m o ng y ou
(mar k t he kinds ) ,
w An observer of times .
o
o An ench a nte r .
h A witch
n
.
o A ch a rmer .
c
x A consulter with fa mili a r Spiri t s .
q A wizard .
o
o .A nec r om an cer .
a b o m in a tio n t o th e Lo r d .
t h o u s h a lt p oss e s s h e a r k e n e d u n to o b s e r v e r s ofytim e s ,
a nd u n to d iv in e r s .
q u a in t in
g them with secre t a nd hidden things .
din ar y c a ses .
N 2
1 80 A S Y ST EM or MAG I C .
o f philosophers .
Arabs .
CH AP VII . .
Of the p r a c t ic e a nd
p g f ro r e ss o m agic, as it is now
e x la in e d t o b e a dia b o lic a l a r t h w i t ad
p o s
p r e
?
writ e by and who could read wha t was wr itt en ,
public in th e world
Hence I infer that M os e s was the rs t his t orian ,
favour .
Joseph di e d 2 370 .
M os e s was born 2 43 3 .
d e r ab l e time .
c asion .
n o no ; plenty o f grace
,
and paucity o f brains I
, ,
, ,
brough t univers all y to h ave kep t the Devil s cou n
sel, and have come into the plot at the price of ,
The Devil s plot would cert a inly h ave been blown
long before it was and t he pri e s t s of the oracle s
,
and the loss of their craft and trade yet was carried ,
ping t he Devil .
beasts a nd th e like
, .
o r even paganism in
gener a l w a s establi shed u pon ,
oth e rs .
idolatry .
his mind and will giving the man rules and laws,
himsel f .
e n e my .
o f th ei r own brain .
m ag i c .
dead !
Y et all this while th e ir r e ligion was devil worship ; -
ribl e .
fellow creatures
-
.
superstition .
th e vulgar or as we s ay th e canaill e th e m ob
, ,
,
2 00 A S YS T EM OF MAG I C .
the Tully s t h e gr e at and th e great e s t heroes philo
, ,
T his is j us t wh at I h a d s a id alre a dy ; b u t it is
A SYS T EM OE MAG I C . 20 1
e m w h ich u s e d c u r iou s a r ts
, an
y f
a lso o t h ,
a nd
f o u n d it
f y
t t h ous a nd
p i ece s o
f s ilver Wh a t
a h e ight m u st the black art of the D e vil be come t o
at that time that th e books which were to be found
,
o u t of th e
p l e b e ii or common p e ople S o a mbitious .
it examined .
j esty of th e ir go d s .
The augur s Observa t ions were attended with a
gr e at v ariety of those things as the appar a tus t o ,
hear o r se e by n i ght .
divination .
good of m ankind .
the D e vil and depends entir ely upon his assist a nce
, ,
hereaft e r .
, ,
2 08 A S Y ST EM OE MAG I C .
s on all
y with them all that , he mak e s h i s bargains
and agreem e nts with them always s e parat ely i n all ,
them .
p ow e r .
qu e ntly b e liev e d .
s M
. . P
2 10 A S Y ST EM OE MAG I C .
n o t by forc e a nd power .
do a n y mischief by it .
P 2
2 12 A S YS T EM OE MAG I C .
By h i s s e cret correspond e nc e w i th t he m it is t h at
h e lls th e world with s h am wond e rs an d fals e ,
proceedings in t he world .
A S YS TE M OE MAG I C . 215
A SYS T E M OF MAG I C .
P ART II .
I N T R OD U C TI O N .
Of th e b la ck a r t its e lf ; w h a t it r e a lly is , w hy t he r e
a r e s ever a l d
if e r in
gp f
r a c t ic e s o it in th e s e v e r a l
e w o r ld, a n d w h a t th os e
p a r ts
of t h p r a c t ice s a r e
a s a ls o, w h a t is c o n ta ine d in it in g e n e r a l .
O bserving o f times .
Usin g enchantmen t .
Witchcraft .
Necromancing .
at i on o f t e rms as I go on .
I Divining A di vi n e r I understand to be th e
'
. .
d a m s e l p os s e s s e d w ith a sp ir it of d iv in a t io n m e t u s ,
w h ich b r o u gh t h e r m a s te r s m u c h ga in by s oot h
sa in
y g: so that di v ination and so u thsaying is the
same thing .
her .
s en tl
y,
Th e
god s a r e co m e down to us , in the lik e nes s
A S YS T EM OE MAG I C 219 .
of m e n Thus the
. magicians in Pharaoh s court
mad e frogs turned the water into blood and the
, ,
abov e th e D ev il .
c onsider e d by itself .
5 Charm i ng
. This is c e rta i nly a piece of the
.
Sires .
a n d e n c h a n t m e n ts a n d d e a lt w it h a a m ilia r s ir it
, f p .
in its full perfe ction this being one who not like ,
,
to the Devil s mill c u stomers to his shop and fur , ,
and th u nd e r .
word inst e ad of i nqu i ring at th e D e vil s oracl e
, ,
in their order .
A SYS TE M OE MAG I C . 225
CH AP I . .
Of m od e r n m a g ic, o r th e b la ck a r t as n ow in its
p r a c t ic e a n d
p f
e r e c t io n .
knowledge th at th e y w e nt a gr e at way to th e im
pro v ing it for th ey mingl e d th e bl a ck art so
,
a t e ly d i r e cted by th e D e vil .
also .
w e r e t he G r ee ks to th e ir n otions o f th e m th at on ,
cut i n pi e c e s .
a r d o n iu s l e ad e r o f th e army o f ! e rx e s t h e
k i n g o f P e rs i a .
thousan d Persians th e ower of ! e rxes army ; ,
lik e .
a foot .
k i ll e d u pon th e spot .
brought mank i nd .
rep e at S uch as d ii c o ns e n t e s s e le c t i d ii p a t r it ii
.
, ,
d ii m e d ii in s ig n io r e s d ii m e d io r u m or common gods
, ,
gods .
b e at i e d by m e n E p i m e n i d e s Cr e t e nsis e r e ct e d
.
D evi l .
to b e impos e d upon an d ch e at e d th an n o w w he n , ,
god at all .
and pr e s e rve r .
p owers !
T he s e cre t tre pi dati on rack s the soul ,
and so d e al w i t h th e De v il myself wh i le I am ex ,
o r at l e ast a fu ll accoun t o f i t
, for I am under a full
persuasion that i t is b e yond h im that th e original ,
me e t w i th it again i n ou r way .
n e w e mp i r e to h i s d om i n i on ; h e whos e ambition
had b e for e grasped th e whol e world in i m ag i nation ,
y e t gr ee d i ly acc e pt e d th e d isco ve ry h o w m e an s o ,
in g to b e outshot in hi s o w n b ow y e t gr ee d i ly em ,
far as i t is a cr i m e wh i ch d e ri ve s from th e m a n as
an i nd e p e ndent and acti n g th e D ev il by h i ms e lf I
, ,
evil .
2 36 A SY STE M OE MAG I C .
wh i ch gave t he m b ei n g !
Nor do e s the magic consist in the fact neither do ,
furth e r I nquiry .
t e lls yo u th e r e is no G o d at all .
k ind o f Sp e c ie s th ey t e ll yo u t h at th e y ar e arri ve d
,
D eus es tJ up it e r gu o d c u n gu e c up is .
Ex p e ct to h a e Al m i ghty b ei n g m a d e k n own
v
, ,
, ,
knowledg e .
familiar sp i rits .
with h i s guards .
CH AP II . .
Th e s c e n e ch a ng e d th a t as th e D e v il a c te d a t r s t
w ith h is b la c k art w ith o u t t h e m a gic ia n s , s o th e
m a gic ia n s s eem to c a r r y it o n n ow w ith ou t t h e
D e v il .
a im and ambition .
mor e things wh i ch to be s u r e t he De v il d i d b e
, , , ,
c ause w e don t kno w h o w e lse th e y could b e done .
, ,
th e ar t say he m u st com e h e can t help it : then
, ,
o u t horribly .
I don t know what argumen t a n d entr e aties he
used s o as to move compassion in him that is kn own
,
Devil a ny mo r e .
A SYS TE M O E MAG I C 2 49 .
the way .
becomes of m e .
suppos e
A Y es I mean s o indeed ; you ll be but an o dd
.
, ,
gu id e to me if yo u can t keep yours e lf out of harm s
wa
DA . I said before I car e n o t what b e comes of
s ,
me but however mast e r I ll guide you well
, , ,
(H e r e he s to
pp ed a nd
f e t ch e d a si h
g a n d I ,
t h o u gh t I s a w t e a r s s t a n d in h is ey e s ) .
A An d th e n what then
. what will you do with
yourself th e n
C Nay I don t know n ot I ; ha n g myself I
.
,
, ,
think I don t know anything I can do b e tter
,
.
yours e lf !
C It i s a gr e at m atter to m e though it may be
.
, , ,
y ou .
Northampton to day -
.
I don t understan d yo u .
nd o u t the man ?
A An d what if you did n d o u t the man ? what
.
p rev e nt it ?
C 0 I d prevent it I warrant ye ; I would not
.
,
C Nay I don t care where I go rather th a n be
.
, ,
a cuckold .
a cuckold
0 Why master what mus t I do
.
,
?
,
2 52 A S YS T EM OE MAG I C .
I must an d will nd i t ou t .
who t is
.
that in master ,
.
m u rd e r your wife
'
.
(1 got o u t o f my clutches .
C Ay bu t sh e h as robbed me too
.
, .
A SYS T E M O E MAG I C 2 53 .
ground .
t ogeth e r
C Nay if I knew that then I should know who
.
, ,
t o be i nform e d of .
Devil to discover ?
C If I was sur e h e or any one els e could bu t tell
.
me I didn t car e wh e r e I w e nt
,
.
no and i f h e do e s
A W h at th e n what if he do e s ?
.
,
A W h at d y e m e an o u t o f th e De v il ? why
.
, ,
wh e r e are you go i ng ?
C To o n e o f h i s acqua i ntanc e m aster that will
.
, ,
really going to th e De v il ?
2 54 A SYS T EM OE MAG I C .
Ol d e d yo u don t yo u ?
,
he t e ll o n e th i ng as w ell as another ?
A H e ll take your money to b e sure that s all
.
,
and s e e him in my Sl ee p .
th at d e als in m agic and h e ll raise the D ev il for me ,
mysel f .
A SYS TE M O E MAG I C 2 55 .
A A . n d y o u b e l ie ve it do y o u ?
,
O I
. shal l b e li e ve it sur e w he n I see it sha n t I ?
,
why d ye th i nk I won t b e l i eve my own e y e s ?
master
A I believe n ot : did you e ver s e e the Devil i n
.
your life ?
C No not I but I ha ve heard of a gr e at m a ny
.
, ,
on e word of it .
backward ?
C Ay certainly master ; why you d on t doubt
.
, , ,
that d ye ?
,
try it yourself .
t o him .
m anage him as th e y d o ; they are used to him ; t is
t heir tra d e to deal between him and u s .
A W ell ,
. if you h a nt b e en in h is company I d are ,
sa
y h e has be e n in yours .
C W hy s o master ?
.
,
man .
A S YS TE M OE MAG I C . 2 57
'
C W e ll th e n h e d e als with th e Devil not I .
.
, ,
can do ; I am resol ve d I ll go to him .
Wh e n I found he was so positive I bade him e e n ,
a t nigh t .
th e strangest thin gs
W e ll come in then s ays I an d S it down ; I
, , ,
on t .
A What do you mean o f a night s work wher e
.
,
h a ve yo u been ?
C Why rst master I w e n t to my cunning man
.
, , ,
he t e ll th e e
C O he e xam i n e d me v ery stric tly I a ssure you
.
,
.
A E xamine yo u about wh at ?
.
t e n a n ce upon th i ngs .
v e re l
y b e for e Sh e w e nt N o w I could n o t d e ny
.
,
ning man
A W e ll e noug h when h e h a d e xam i n e d yo u so
.
make me mad .
me .
s 2
2 60 A SYS TEM OE MA G I C .
com i ng .
y ourself about it ?
C Hang him rogue ; when h e had made all his
.
,
u gly story .
kn e w that w e ll enough .
, ,
cuckold o f you .
d iscours e
'
.
fore fro m you and you can t h elp it ; yo u a r e t oo
,
then
C Why then he fell to pr e aching a n d giving me
.
, , ,
and b e quiet .
indeed .
A Nay then
. tis l ik e you hav e had good ad
, ,
vice inde e d ; mayn t a b ody kno w wh a t you h av e
met with there too
C Truly master I don t know whether I can tell
.
,
c an .
s oon as I looked at it .
pretend to ?
C I r e pli e d S ir I w as told you w a s on e that
.
, ,
y ou can .
s e nt l
y h e s h ould tell y o u who it was .
m e too as t other had don e and asked me abund an ce ,
of questions .
you n o t ?
C But I did not except once that I he a rd a
.
,
disturb me .
mistaken .
be mistaken Well says he I ll go a gain and con
.
, , ,
th e oor b e tw ee n t h em ; ev e ry on e of th e m had a
long white wand in their hands t h e lower end of ,
C Y e s all o f them
.
,
.
understand nothing of it .
e a rnest
C Ay s o I was ; but it was wors e ye t for they
.
, ,
n o t s e e it .
go ou t a s other folks do
,
.
i t would .
A S Y ST EM OF MAG I C . 2 69
to mys elf y e t .
o f it so I l e t it alon e
, .
your business ?
e asy .
I was directed to th e house but I can t nd it ,
will .
ou t .
I ve r ily b elieve ther e s nothi n g at all in it ; but you
h av e be e n a cru e l husband ha v e used your w i fe l i ke ,
hi m I d e ny
, .
B ei ng .
G od i s th e p e rfection of good .
hims el f .
s M
. . T
2 74 A S YS T EM OF MAG I C .
Her e then is a t e st of the magicians art and let ,
ang e l o f light .
the sci e nc e .
ord i n a ry conception .
t r ol ogy .
can be form e d .
m atter .
manner .
CHA P III . .
De vi l .
.
,
myself .
doctor .
S ay whe n we c a me t o t h e pl a ce a se r van t c a me t o
, ,
A S YS TE M o r M AG I C 2 83 .
days .
of h is bus i ness .
i
g y b l to h i m in wr i t i ng .
in t o the n e xt room .
be v e ry k i nd to do so .
D r Y ou sp e ak of my practising as an art ; n ow
.
th e n what it i s yo u do practis e ?
D r N ei t he r w i ll I b e o ffe nded ; but if you will
.
you hith e r to me ?
A Why r e ally S ir my answ e r must b e I cannot
.
, , ,
as a man of art .
as you fancy I d o .
D r Wh y I w i ll t e ll yo u i n fe w word s t h e n ; your
.
,
cur i osity .
yo u rs e l f .
wer e in th e right .
wheth e r it i s true or no .
A You
. know S ir t i s natural for people t o say a
, ,
t i ce .
by th e help o f a fam i l i ar sp i r i t .
.
, ,
goo d spir i ts ?
formed .
a nd y of
too whateverou you please, t o in for m
me ; perhaps I may be in the wrong a s to what you
sa of good Spirits bu t I nev e r heard o f any
y ,
.
myself .
cen t .
not answ e r .
without o ffe nc e
D r Ay your u t most liberty S ir ; why Should I
.
, ,
nd S ir I won t ca vi l I ll answ e r directly : I make
, , ,
c alled invisible .
you trouble .
d ir e ctly as I would do .
deed .
S M. . U
2 90 A SYS TEM OF MAG I C .
world ?
A Truly it is a nice ques t ion a nd wha t I h ave
.
, ,
I a m sure of it .
D r Wi t h all m y he a rt s ir ; pr ay as k wh at you
.
,
ple a se .
sa
y you are sure there is such a converse with t h e
s pirits o f the invisible world ?
myself .
Spirits
D r Why t herei n you and I di ffer in our circum
.
,
i nt ellig i ble .
i t be gin
D r I could r un you back s ir t o its original and
.
, , ,
iv e you the h i story of it but two ul d be too long
g ,
.
pat i e nce .
U 2
2 92 A SYSTEM OF MAG I C .
n ot be c apable of
blessed
D r Why does no t all your accounts o f those times
.
,
( which you c a ll so
) the king and go v ernor and , ,
w ith and to th e m ?
A Y es we b el i eve G od hi mself convers e d with
.
,
f ?
grees o spiri t do yo u think t h e servants did not
convers e i f the master did ?
,
I co nfess .
A S Y STE M OF MAG I C . 29 3
Dr But where els e had they the kn owle dge of
.
d e r s t an d you .
so freely conversed .
Sible t o be otherwise .
t hem .
ligible .
mathem a tics
D r An d s o no doub t they d id
. There s t he ark .
appe ar we desired it .
ood pu t an e nd t o i t ?
A S YS T EM OF MAG I C . 29 5
s eek a ft e r th e h i gh il luminatio n .
a fter another ma nn e r ?
A I t is v e ry true I did
.
, .
folks do nor so m u ch ne i th e r
, .
t aken .
s t o r y a nd he went on thus
,
t o t his man .
I don t kno w who yo u look for said I a nd I dou b t , ,
Why th e Devil says he ; who d ye th ink I seek
, ,
a little frighted t oo .
b a ckwa rdness .
Why sir says the m an I can t say but I a m a
, , ,
us
Why you don t al ways de al with the Devil do
, ,
Why that s as much a s to t e ll me s ays t he
, ,
please .
mg .
N 0 no t I s ays he no t at all an d t h at m a de m e
, , , ,
u n e a sy .
then .
d evils or n o .
t o hu r t you .
But says the m a n a gain I don t know wh at t o
, ,
sa o u speak in gener als ; pr a y don t frigh t me
y y , ,
I t ell th ee ag a in s ays t he doc t or I ll neither hur t
, ,
do yo u n ot c a re t o le a ve your c a se with me an d ,
come again ?
This was such a reasonable proposal that I coul d ,
b a ck to me in a gre a t h urry tho u gh I han t orde r ed ,
wh at he will .
I think said I h e s a fool he don t s tay now ;
, ,
yon .
did .
Pretty well says h e but I m glad I am got a w ay
, , .
more not I , .
u ?
But what is it yo go t o him for th e n said I .
If you won t b e lie ve what he says what signies ,
N ay th at s tr ue said he a nd that was the re a son
, , ,
But you have le ft it with him says I han t you ? , ,
ag a in .
Wh a t s ays I won t you go t o him for an a n swer ?
, ,
drops .
?
Why wh at d ye s weat for now said I You ar e .
,
far enough out o f his way her e an t you ? ,
Well well you ll come again for all that said I
, , , , ,
I warrant you .
him says b e
, .
Y ou don t know your own mind said I Why he , .
,
I warrant you ll come again to him says I for an , ,
an sw e r t o morrow -
.
dream of it all n i ght : I don t doubt but you ll be
see th e D evil h e r e I m sure m y house is n ot
,
haunt e d I fancy h e h a s b ee n at Dr Bor e m an s
. .
lately .
the D ev il ?
I don t kn ow for that says my landlord I c a n t , ,
things F olks t h a t deal wi t h the De vil do n t u s e t o
.
do anything that s good .
him .
low kiss her but the doctor will tell ; and if they
,
prove with child he ll tell the father of it pr e sently ;
,
That s very true ind e ed says I ; but wha t the n , ,
drew a circle the oth e r day round a young lass s bed
th at was suspect e d ; and when the fellow that they ,
could not get a way till the docto r was sen t for to
release him .
soldiers .
I m e an th e wick e d part of t he m in aw e ; w he t h er ,
s M
. . x
3 06 A S YS T EM OF MAG I C .
W e ll says the doctor what s the matt er now ?
, ,
you .
Why so you hav e sir says h e han t you ? pray , , ,
tham to n i ght ? -
a m but j ust up .
, ,
you a n d yo u to me
, .
Nay s ir says the young man tis a plain case
, , ,
Why S ir says h e han t you told me th e very
, , ,
case ? h an t you told me I have been dreaming of
th e D evil and seen the Devil ? h ow can you s ay
,
a nything for me .
, ,
In short the fellow s case was thus (t ake it in my
,
fri e nd s o wn words a gain He wa s d e sper a t ely in
lo v e with a young g e ntlewoman in the country had ,
a t lib e rty she was grown cold and ind i ffe rent to
,
t o good advice .
marriage be happy .
Ask me not by what rules I Obtain this i nfor m a
tion ; qui e t thy mind in the view of other o ffe r s
which may present ; pr e serve thy virtue and tem
e r a n c e ; there seems som e thing in view though
p ,
did .
was ha u nt e d .
fusion .
gib l e .
u nd e rstand th e m .
b ooks .
in sil e nc e praising G od
, .
ta ught.
CH AP IV. .
with a t r a n s it io n to th e p r e s e n t t im e s .
te xt says in a r age J e s u s I k n o w a n d Pa u l I k n ow
, , , ,
t h e e vi l spirits .
g oe th n ot b u t by p r a y e r a n d f a s ting, and I do
ou t
I nqu i ry .
failed .
d anger .
, ,
hateful .
ma i ns to b e consid e red .
5 M
. . Y
322 A S YS TEM OF MAG I C .
not understand it .
for thus
Two ways those spirits nd to converse with
m a nkind ; be it for good or evil that s a question ,
ICI a n
g .
s er v ants .
h
t e laird i ntend t o take ? says th e man S uch a .
Y2
3 24 A SYS T EM OF MAG I C .
hands .
c h ie v e d .
th e y call se e rs ? ha ye b e e n seeing a vision this .
?
morn i ng pr ythee how m any were th e y and what , ,
did they s a to o u ?
y y
An your honour will gang says t h e man gang , ,
m an .
h is o w n h ous e .
avoided t he dan ge r .
avoid i t .
knowle dge .
32 6 A SYS TE M OF MAG I C .
I w a s at a gentl e man s h ou s e in this town nea r ,
S t Jam e s s an d he happened to have some friend s
.
,
good gur e .
This for e ign e r i t seems cam e to the gentleman s
house n o t as invited to th e entertainm e nt but upon
, ,
aft e r w ard .
that the lady had been very ill and was come into ,
withi n a we e k after .
part of th e world .
as this .
party .
a n d worship without a G od .
himself .
l ie v e d h im
on
mag gots , t o t h om in e s , t o t d i
his own opinions preac h es t he m to h i mself is his
, ,
o f con ve rsation .
?
Spirits will any man tell me this could happ e n by
the n at ur e of things or e v e n by t h e th i ngs of
,
d in a r y g e nius o f th e in u e nc e o f th e i n vi s i bl e
world upon th e a ffa i rs of mortals h e r e ! seeing if he ,
3
Croc u s an d Hin de rlan ds
are t w o partic ul a r sorts o f
c o ars e G er m an y l i n e n whi ch are i m ort e d b y the Ha m
p ,
Roch to S hadwe l . .
sa
y
, t hat as witchcraf t generally sp e akin g , has for ,
more eminent pr e t e nders about Baldwin s gard e ns -
w i th fe ather b e ds -
.
a l l In h i s po e try .
Where s t he cadence th e propriety th e plot the, , ,
u
p ; and if t he y have any intercourse with the in
z
338 A S Y ST EM OF MAG I C .
blessing of mankind .
dom in t he worl d .
A SYST EM OF MAG I C . 3 39
S O m onarchs ,
when their politics gro w stal e ,
Upon this chang e of the D e vil s measur e s he fr e ,
play .
them .
W hen
i ni sters o f s tat e
m
Cease to be o
p p u lar the
y k n
,
o w th e i r fa t e .
3 40 A SY STE M OF MAG I C .
o n his game : a s ,
those from the ston e that carry this tal i sman about
them ; and t h at that of a scorpion mad e und e r t he S i gn
S corpio sec u res from the wounds o f that an imal
,
.
Ax ie r u s Ax ioc e r s o Ax ioc e r s u s
, ,and Cas m il u s , ,
h a v e exp e ct e d .
it would .
dove .
346 A S Y S T EM OF MAG I C .
u
p th e boldest the grossest and the
, most s e ns e l e ss,
besid e s .
t h e particulars .
has bee n than all the mag i c of pagan i sm and all the
,
'
g od
,
that th e y s h ould rst worsh i p a n d th e n de
v our !
That whol e nations Should r elinquish the glorious
host o f hea ve n th e much mor e rat i onal gods of
,
all to t h emselves .
it is with us
But th e se are merry times a n d the church magic ,
c e ss ar
y to your illumination ; and though it should
bring me back and dra w me in again to th e Sin of
,
will b e .
o f hell .
o r e al e ss e nc e s ; th e ir abstracts f qu i nt e ssenc e
p o ,
will end .
of th e wick e d ?
CH AP V . .
Of th e m a gic of th e p r e s e n t t im e , a s it s ta nd s
s tr i
pp e d in th e l a s t c h a t e r ,
p f r o m a ll t h e
p r e te n c e s
o
f t h e m a gic ia n s , a n d th e d e lus io n s o
f h e ll ; of
w h a t le ngth it h a s go n e , o r is lih e t o go, in d e
lu d ing m a nk in d ; w h a t th e m a g ic ia ns c a n d o,
a n d th a t t h ey r e a lly h a v e n o w n o c o n v e r s e w ith
th e D e v il a t a ll : s o t h a t th e a r t b e ing a t a n e n d,
th e h is to r y co m e s t o a n e n d of c o u r s e .
i ts e l f
.
c ome b a ck a sha m ed .
A SY STE M OF MAG I C . 3 53
no harm .
This is the D e vil s low prized game and he -
,
get s mor e cli e nts than the couns e llor a nd his age nts ,
5 M
. . Aa
3 54 A S Y STEM or MAG I C .
t owards a cure .
n ativities look e d in th e girls hands p ee ped in their
, ,
?
m a n will marry me o no Th e girl coloured and
r
,
.
,
, ,
s o i n de e d and th e n go e s o n ) I by th e h e lp o f my
, , ,
A a2
3 56 A S Y ST EM or MAG I C .
in her face .
in t h e utmost confusion .
a nd I ll come to yo u aga i n
.
,
3 58 A SY S T EM or MA G I C .
11 .
pany .
I am in great haste says G eorge ; I can t go ,
now .
s ays Thomas .
Why what does that s i gnify says G eorge ? tw a s
, ,
spirit .
me a little .
mean
H ow many times did it call yo u ? says G eorge .
Nay I don t like it I confess, s ays G eorge ; it
, ,
No really says G eorge I can t go s o far as that
, , .
ays he to T h omas .
What s th e matter ? says Thomas .
M atter says G eorge nay you best kno w wh at s
, ,
s e e nothing there ? (H e p o in ts t o a g r e a t t r e e w h ic h
Nay says G eorg e I don t d e sire to frigh t you
, , ,
?
But what is it says Thomas Dear G eorge tell .
,
me is it the D e vil ?
,
N o no not the Devil says G eorge bu t t is a
, , , ,
A SYS TE M OF MAG I C . 36 1
spirit tis a ghost to b e sure ; that m a de me ask if
,
, ,
s e e t h at .
speak to m e ?
I don t kno w ye t says G eorge it m ay be not I ll
, , ,
S tr i k e m e ! s ays Thomas : n ay then twill kill me
t o b e sure .
what I c a n do for th ee .
S tand still says G eorge a little I think t is a
, , , .
going .
Dear G eorge says Thomas don t leave m e why
, , ,
worth .
off h is h ab it , an d
made the best of h is w ay to their
l od g i ng ; where wh e n Thom a s came he found G eorge ,
life til l he do e s .
bri n g it about .
u
p, and call e d him aloud with the same hollow d e ad ,
sound as h e d i d b e for e .
good .
G ood G eorge says Thomas don t p ut it off till
, ,
hom e .
H e re sir says Thomas you may s e e I an t burnt
, , ,
in the hand .
n o robb e ry or fe lony ? don t com e to m e if you ar e
guilty of any such crimes as yo u ought to b e ha ng e d
for.
No indeed I han t e nd t please you says
, , , ,
Thomas .
inj ury to ?
Ye s s ir with all my heart s ays Thomas ; a nd
, , ,
life .
Come I ll ask the e b u t o n e q u estion more : h as
,
for you and now pays you home for it and plagu e s
, ,
No inde e d s ir s ays Thomas I ne e r had any
, , , ,
done .
e r e paration C s it down
y o u sa
y you ll mak ome .
,
, ,
ev e ryt h ing
N o no Thomas says the doctor I don t ask you
, , , ,
to confess anything ; I ll come back pr e s e ntly and
t ell you as w e ll as if yo u told m e yours e l f
,
.
aft e rwards .
That s very tru e Thomas says the doctor , , ,
tell me .
deed tis so sir , .
suppos e .
Y e s s i r says Thomas there s no hiding anything
, ,
from you I t hi nk , .
?
Sh e you say she s al ive it s ee ms , .
3 70 A SYS T EM or MAG I C .
Y es an d t please yo u she s alive says Thom a s ;
, , ,
sh e don t live far o ff .
by dayl i ght .
through the laws neith e r I ll tell you what you shall .
Why Thomas says the doctor to secure you I ll
, , ,
her that s a fair proposal Thom as , .
N ay m aster a md t pl e as e you says Thomas I
, , , ,
think I Should tak e h e r that s the truth o n t ; and ,
I ll e en have her I th i nk wh e the r I am d eli v er e d , ,
or n o sinc e you say tis j ust an d I should d o it
, ,
.
for wors e .
stand .
it ve ry w e ll b e stow e d .
A n d h e r e s n o t a n ounce of m agic in it all ; h e r e s
B b 2
3 72 A S YS TE M or MAG I C .
oth e r employments .
A SYS T E M or MAG I C . 3
C H AP VI . .
Of r a is ing th e D e v il by m a gic a l o
p e r a tio n s w h e th e r
t h e m a g ic ia n s r e a lly h a v e s u c h a p o w e r o r n o, a n d
if th ey h a v e , w h e th e r it is p e r o r m e d a s f an a r t,
a nd by t he c o n s e qu e n c e of m a g ic a l e xp e r im e n t s , o r
w h e t h e r it is b y c o n c e r t a n d m u t u a l c o ns e n t, b e
t w e e n S a t a n a n d t h e m a gic ia n s .
2 No t i n th e s e a : t h is is appar e nt by th e devils
.
b e low ?
However if we will talk int elligibly we m u st call
, ,
h e ar me sp e ak o f ra i s i ng t he D evil t h ou gh at the ,
common sense .
force .
A S YS TE M or MAG I C . 3 77
word n ei th e r .
for e m e .
it done
As to what it is I take it to be n o more tha n,
sp e nd .
A SYS T E M or MAG I C . 79
2 . Tha t the Dev i l was presen t before only not ,
visibly .
a n d suggestion if h e b e n o t pr e s e nt
,
fo r thou gh it
may be true that Spirits con ve rs e without t h e h elp
of voice y e t infer n al spirits cannot act as the inni t e
,
whic h is v isibl e .
o th e r foot .
'
All w e have to say for our m agicia n s is to hop e ,
so I am l e ss of th e O pin i on t h at th e good sp i r i ts
would b e call e d backward and forward o n th ei r tri
vi al and fri v olous e rrands n or is i t rat i onal to b e ,
li eve th e y should .
mon e y .
to n or is it really in them
,
.
n o man c a n op e n .
has not the k eys of t other plac e too ; if h e h a s ,
preh e nd him .
t h e r e in Job i 7
, H e has fre e liberty O f egress an d
. .
pleases .
wh e n h e thinks t ? If it is s o it is a voluntary ,
S e e ing, a s th e m a gic ia ns p r e t e n d , th ey d o n o t d e a l
w ith th e D e v il, o r r a is e t h e D e v il, w h o it is th ey
d o d e a l w ith , h o w is t h e ir c o r r e sp o n d e n c e m a n age d,
a n d w hy d o t h ey d e a l w ith
goo d sp iri ts , b y c o n
u r ings a n d t h e b la ck a r t ?
j
TH E R E remain but t wo questions then which have ,
creat ur e s .
m u n ic at e to th e m a sup e r i or knowl e dg e o f t hi n gs ,
and couns e l .
by n o m e ans grant it .
c c 2
38 8 A S YS TE M OF MAG I C .
a nd paw w aw in gs ?
-
gions ?
A S YS TE M OF MAG I C . 389
l ik e .
put upon it .
posed now .
ou t,
a nd t his is that they do not go to conver se
,
formed O f it ?
N ow here is the only crisis in which the magi
cian makes himself necessary ; for if the good
Sp irits had j oined t o s o u nivers al b e n e ce n c e in
,
d e l i ver him .
performanc e s .
cure all t he inc u rabl e s in G uy s Hospital an d m ake
th a t ol d
s charity a s useless a s h is s
,
all.
T H E END O F T H E S Y ST EM OF MAG I C .
O ! F OR D : I
PR NTED BY D A. TALBOYS .
.