The Book of the Sacred Magic of Abra-Melin the Mage

OF THE INTRODUCTION,

By S. L. MACGREGOR-MATHERS.

Notice of the "Library of the Arsenal" original: "Bibliothèque de l’Arsenal" at Paris. — The Manuscript of the present work was known to Bulwer Lytton and Eliphas Lévi. — Similarity between Mejnour’s style of instruction of Glyndon in the novel Zanoni and that employed by Abra-Melin toward Abraham the Jew. — Critical description of the present Manuscript; its style; examples; and apparent date. — Abraham the Jew, his era, and his contemporaries in the occult. — His faith and his travels. — Abra-Melin. — Place of residence and the family of Abraham the Jew. — The value of this book to students of the Occult. — Notable persons with whom Abraham was brought into contact, and for or against whom he worked Magic. — His warnings against the error of changing one’s religion, whether one is a Jew, Turk In this period, "Turk" was often used as a general term for Muslims., Christian, or Pagan. — The absolute necessity of unshaken faith in order to produce a Magical effect. — The Author is comparatively broad in his views, though unjust toward women. — Good advice in other matters given by him. — His counsel to lead a retired life is not supported by his own personal history. — White and Black Magic. — Apparent fundamental definitions of this particular system of Sacred Magic. — Its advantages, especially regarding Abraham’s comments on other Professors of Magic he had met. — The employment of a Child-Clairvoyant: whether it is necessary or not. — Abraham’s intolerance of other Magical systems. — The basis of his system in the Kabbalah original: "Qabalah"; a school of thought in Jewish mysticism.. — An example of a Magical Square of Letters from the Third Book, compared with a Pentacle in the Key of Solomon. — The general character of these squares. — Practical Kabbalah. — Definitions of the nature of Angels, Elemental Spirits, and Devils, and the differences between them. — Behavior toward these beings, as advocated by Abraham. — The meaning of the word "Demon," as distinct