The PREFACE.

Creator through the study of Magic and Astrology; as his writings, which remain with us to this day, testify.

The third kind of Magic contains the whole Philosophy of Nature; which brings to light the innermost virtues, and extracts them out of Nature's hidden bosom for human use: "Virtues hidden in the center of the center," original Latin: Virtutes in centro centri latentes according to the Chemists original: "Chymists," referring here to Alchemists. Of this sort were Albertus Magnus, Arnold of Villanova, Raymond Lully, Roger Bacon, and others.

The Magic these men professed is defined as follows:

Magic is the connection of natural agents and patients In this context, "patients" refers to things that receive an action or effect, answerable to each other, wrought by a wise man to bring forth such effects as are wonderful to those who do not know their causes. original Latin: Magia est connexio à viro sapiente agentium per naturam cum patientibus, sibi, congruenter respondentibus, ut inde opera prodeant, non sine eorum admiratione qui causam ignorant.

In all these, Zoroaster An ancient Persian prophet and spiritual leader was well-learned, especially in the first and the highest forms. For in his Oracles he confesses God to be the first and the highest; he believes in the Trinity, which he did not seek to investigate by any natural knowledge alone. He speaks of Angels and of Paradise; approves of the immortality of the soul; and teaches Truth, Faith, Hope, and Love, while discoursing on the abstinence and charity of the Magi The priestly class of ancient Persia, from which the word "magic" is derived.

Regarding this Zoroaster, Eusebius A 4th-century Christian historian writes in the Theology of the Phoenicians, using Zoroaster's own words:

He writes these things word for word (says Eusebius): God is the first of incorruptible things, eternal, unbegotten, without parts, most like unto himself, the driver of all good things, not expecting gifts, the best, the most prudent, the father of right, having learned justice without being taught, perfect by nature, wise, the sole inventor of sacred nature, etc. original Latin: Hæc ad verbum scribit... Deus primus, incorruptibilium, sempiternus, ingenitus, expers partium, sibiipsi simillimus, bonorum omnium auriga, munera non expectans, optimus, prudentissimus, pater juris, sine doctrina justitiam perdoctus, natura perfectus, sapiens, sacræ naturæ unicus inventor, &c.