who sat on the throne of the Lord, and reigned over those on high and those below, his wisdom being greater than that of all the children of the East’.

That our MS., over 200 years old, is but a copy of an older one is clear from internal evidence, as I have indicated in several passages of my former ‘description’ (pp. 16, 25, 36).

The opening passage of the MS. (fol. 1 a) is as follows :

With the help of God, may He be blessed original: בעה״י, an abbreviation for Be'ezrat HaShem Yitbarach.

From here begins the book

Introduction to the Book

Behold, after we have desired the commands of Solomon—peace be upon him original: הע״ה, abbreviation for Alav Ha-Shalom.—and chosen to follow in his footsteps according to our ability, we first acknowledge the existence of one necessary Beginning. And know that in the Beginning was the Glory of the Lord and true thought, which prevents [falsehood] from the heart of the believer; and from a righteous deed comes strength and power. Solomon—peace be upon him—said: besides the one God, may He be blessed, and besides virtue and faith, from which one arrives at a unique spiritual work original: סגולה, "Segulah," referring to a special property or talismanic power.. There is one beginning and one perfection, yet it is divided into many things; and in this way the quantitative parts return to being a single whole, even though it is in an incomplete manner; thus from these also grow every virtue and power.

In the name of the true living God, who is Alpha and Omega original: אלפ״א ואו״, the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet, symbolizing totality., the Beginning and the End: by the composition of the Seal of God, blessed be He, it is known in the first part from the vision of God; to the knowledge of the second part from the vision of the angels; from the subduing of spirits to the knowledge of the fourth part; and from the imprisonment of those in the lower depths referring to the inhabitants of the underworld or demons. to the knowledge of the fifth part. The angels are of three kinds: that is to say, celestial, aerial, and terrestrial. And the celestial ones are also of two kinds, some of whom serve the blessed God alone; and they are nine ranks: Cherubim, Seraphim, Aralim, etc., of whom mortals should not speak, neither by natural power nor by artificial power. And these shall not be called upon in any way, for they are always before the Lord and His glory in praise and law; and they shall never depart from His presence. Perhaps because the soul of humankind was created with them, and with them it can become enriched and prosper. Behold, the spirit, through the grace of the Aleph referring to the first letter of the Hebrew alphabet, symbolizing the Oneness of God. with its body, can look upon the wondrous Glory in truth, and praise them and recognize its Creator. And this recognition is not the recognition of God in His [full] glory and power, except in the way that humans and all the prophets knew Him. And it is proper that you should know that in this name Aika original: אייקא nothing evil is to be understood; for Mano original: מאנו in the Greek tongue signifies "Philosopher," and in the Christian tongue original: בלשון נוצרי, likely referring to Latin or a Romance language. "Wise Man," and in the Hebrew tongue "Scribe." And by these the wisdom of the wise is understood, for through them a person writes them, and by it are known things present, past, and future.

After this introductory passage come twenty-six ‘prayers’ (i. e. Invocations), some in pure Hebrew, others consisting simply of Cabbalistic names. I here reproduce the first seven with translation.

First Prayer: AGLA original: אגלא, Light of Truth and Life, the Merciful Judge, preserve me and help me by the power of mercy and long-suffering in this holy vision, and be Thou gracious unto me. Amen .'.

AGLA (the initial letters of the Hebrew words Ata, Gibbor, Leolam, Adonai, meaning, ‘Thou art mighty for ever, Adonai’), Light of Truth and Life, Merciful Judge, preserve me and help me by the power of Mercy and [Thy attribute] ‘Long-suffering’ in the course of this holy vision, and be Thou gracious unto me. Amen!