Fourth Book of Occult Philosophy

Of this Zoroaster The ancient Persian prophet and founder of Zoroastrianism, often regarded by Renaissance scholars as the first and greatest of the "Magi.", Eusebius Eusebius of Caesarea (c. 260–339 AD), a historian and bishop known as the "Father of Church History." in his work The Theology of the Phoenicians, using Zoroaster's own words, says: "He writes these things word for word" original: Hæc ad verbum ſcribit: "God is the first, incorruptible, everlasting, unbegotten, without parts, most like unto himself, the guide of all good, expecting no reward, the best, the wisest, the father of right, having learned justice without being taught, perfect by nature, wise, the only inventor of sacred nature, etc." original: 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. Thus says Zoroaster, word for word: God the first, incorruptible, everlasting, unbegotten, without parts, most like himself, the guide of all good, expecting no reward, the best, the wisest, the father of right, having learned justice without teaching, perfect, wise by nature, the only inventor thereof.

So that a Magician is nothing else but "a worshiper and interpreter of divine things" original: divinorum cultor & interpres, a studious observer and expounder of divine things; and the Art itself is none other than "the absolute perfection of Natural Philosophy" original: Naturalis Philoſophiæ abſoluta conſummatio, then the absolute perfection of Natural Philosophy In the 17th century, "Natural Philosophy" was the study of the physical world and its laws—the precursor to modern science.. Nevertheless, there is a mixture in all things: of good with evil, of falsehood with truth, of corruption with purity. The good, the truth, and the purity in every kind may well be embraced. As in the ancient worshipping of God by Sacrifice, there was no man who knew God among the Elders that refrained from worshipping the God of all power, or condemned that kind of worship, just because the devil was also adored in the images of Baal, Dagon, Astaroth, Chemosh, Jupiter, Apollo A list of ancient deities mentioned in the Bible and Greek mythology, here categorized as "demonic" or false imitations of the true God., and the like.

Neither did the abuse of Astrology terrify Abraham (if we believe the most ancient and religious writers) from observing the motions and natures of the heavenly bodies. Neither can it discourage wise and learned