DEDICATION

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...[those giants whom] God took away with a universal deluge. From these antediluvian Giants the "Nephilim" mentioned in Genesis 6, often interpreted in this era as the inventors of forbidden arts, CHAM the biblical Ham, son of Noah learned Magic, and he taught the same to his descendants: the Egyptians, Chaldeans, Persians, and others. The historian Berosus calls this Cham Zoroaster, as if he were a "living star" original: vivens aftrum.

According to the same source, when Cham saw that his father Noah loved the other children born to him more ardently, while he alone was despised, he became hostile toward his Father. Seizing an opportunity when Noah lay overcome by drunkenness with his genitals exposed, he touched his father's virility with a sorcerous hand. Silently murmuring a magic incantation, he rendered him sterile and incapable of impregnating any woman. This was truly the most wicked deed of a most wicked son! It was worthy of the divine punishment that followed from his father’s curse, and of eternal damnation. Indeed, it is said he perished struck by a lightning bolt.

His disciples, however, believed his soul had been carried up among the constellations, and he was called by them Zoroaster, which is to say, "living star." The author Majolus Simon Majolus, a 16th-century bishop known for writing about natural and supernatural wonders follows this history in greater detail; see his works. From that time on, lest that crafty "man-flatterer" Greek: androkolax; one who deceives people through fawning and fraudulent schemer Latin: veterator should allow any part of his dominion to be lost, he introduced a multitude of Oracles.

For perceiving that by the command of God, the Over-shoulder garment Latin: Superhumerale, a priestly vestment had been prepared—into which the EPHOD a ceremonial garment worn by the High Priest of Israel was set with wondrous art and worked with precious stones—the Devil thought he should not rest until he turned the seats of the Church into brothels the author uses the term "prostitutions" to refer to idolatrous shrines, from which growth toward increasing his own dominion would come daily.

Now the EPHOD was a woven fabric the size of a span approximately nine inches, like a Breastplate, made with various arts from golden thread. In the middle was something like a star, entirely of gold. On both sides were two emeralds, each of which bore the six Israelite Tribes engraved upon them, with a diamond placed between the two. And it was with two...