The PREFACE.

...divine, and as Plato affirms original: "affirmeth", the art of Magic is the art of worshipping God. The Persians called their gods

Magi original Greek: "Ma$γε\varsigma$’s":
He who is a god by nature, or a servant of the gods original Greek: "$\dot{o} \ κατα \ φυσιν \ Θε\grave{o}\varsigma, \ η \ θεραπευτ\grave{η}\varsigma \ τ\tilde{ω}ν \ Θε\tilde{ω}ν$"

Magi. Regarding this, Apollonius Apollonius of Tyana, a first-century Greek philosopher often compared to Jesus for his reported miracles says that a Magus is either a god by nature or a servant of the gods original Greek: "$\dot{o} \ κατα \ φυσιν \ Θε\grave{o}\varsigma, \ η \ θεραπευτ\grave{η}\varsigma \ τ\tilde{ω}ν \ Θε\tilde{ω}ν$". This means that Magus is a name sometimes used for one who is a god by nature, and sometimes for one who is in the service of God. It is used in this latter sense original: "fence," an OCR error for "sence" in Matthew 2:1, 2, when the wise men came to worship Jesus. This is the first and highest kind of magic, which is called divine Magic. The Latins entitled original: "intitle" these people Sapientes, or wise men; for the fear and worship of God is the beginning of knowledge.

The Greeks call these wise men Philosophers, and among the Egyptians they were termed Priests. The Hebrews called them Cabalists, Prophets, Scribes, and Pharisees; among the Babylonians they were distinguished by the name of Chaldeans, and the Persians called them Magicians. One author, speaking of Sosthenes An ancient Persian magician mentioned in the writings of Pliny the Elder (one of the ancient Magicians), uses these words: "He honors the true God with deserved majesty, and acknowledges that the angels are God's ministers, yet he knows how to assist in the worship of the true God; likewise, he reveals that there are demons who are earthly, wandering, and enemies to mankind" original Latin: "Et verum Deum merita majestate prosequitur, & angelos ministros Dei, sed veri ejus venerationi novit assistere; idem dæmonas prodit terrenos, vagos, humanitatis inimicos". Sosthenes ascribes the due majesty to the true God and acknowledges that His Angels are ministers and messengers who attend the worship of the true God. He also has taught original: "delivered" that there are earthly and wandering devils who are enemies to mankind.

So the word Magus in itself implies a student original: "Contemplator" of divine and heavenly sciences. However, under the generic name of Magic, all unlawful arts are also included, such as Necromancy the practice of communicating with the spirits of the dead and Witchcraft, and such arts which are performed through a pact with the devil and in which he is a participant.

These Witches and Necromancers are also called Malefici evildoers or performers of harmful magic or Venefici sorcerers or poisoners. Witches are rightly called by these names because, without the Art of Magic, they do...