Fourth Book of Occult Philosophy

These Witches and Necromancers are also called evil-doers original: Malefici or poisoners original: venefici; sorcerers or poisoners; by which name witches are rightly called, who without the Art of Magic do indeed use the help of the devil himself to do mischief, practicing the mixing of the powder of dead bodies with other things prepared by the help of the devil; and at other times making images of wax, clay; or otherwise (as it were sacramentally original: sacramentaliter; used here to suggest that the witches use physical objects as "unholy sacraments" to enact the devil's will) to bring about those things which the devil accomplishes by other means. Such were, and to this day partly, if not altogether, are the corruptions which have made the very name of Magic hateful, having chiefly sought—as is the way of all frauds—to counterfeit its highest and most noble part.

A second kind of Magic is Astrology, which judges the events of things to come, both natural and human, by the motions and influences of the stars upon these lower elements, as observed and understood by them.

Philo Judaeus Philo of Alexandria (c. 20 BCE – 50 CE) was a Jewish philosopher who sought to harmonize the Torah with Greek philosophy. affirms that by this part of Magic or Astrology, together with the motions of the Stars and other heavenly bodies, Abraham found out the knowledge of the true God while he lived in Chaldea. "He who, through the contemplation of created things, knew the Creator" original: Qui Contemplatione Creaturarum, cognovit Creatorem (says Damascene John of Damascus (c. 675–749), a Syrian monk and scholar known for his theological writings.). Josephus Titus Flavius Josephus (37–c. 100 CE) was a Romano-Jewish historian whose works provide key insights into first-century Judaism. reports of Abraham that he instructed the Egyptians in Arithmetic and Astronomy; who, before Abraham's coming to them, knew none of these Sciences.

"Abraham, the most outstanding of all in holiness and wisdom, taught first the Chaldeans, then the Phoenicians, and finally the Egyptian priests, Astrology and Divine matters." original: Abraham sanctitate & sapientia omnium praestantissimus, primum Caldaeos, deinde Phoenices, demum Egyptios Sacerdotes, Astrologia & Divina docuerit. Abraham the holiest and wisest of men, did first teach the Chalde-