PREFACE

enlightenment and a full abundance of knowledge may be appropriately distributed by God even among individual men of this age, according to that word of the prophet Joel, chapter 2: God promised through the mouths of his Prophets that he wishes to pour out his spirit upon all flesh, and the sons and the daughters of men shall prophesy, and the young men shall see visions, and the old men shall have dreams. Similarly, he promised he would give to all those who would call upon him in that name the Holy Spirit, who would teach them all truth. Luke 12, John 14, 15. And elsewhere, They shall all be taught by God. Isaiah 54, Jeremiah 31, John 6. From him alone, and from no other, true wisdom and the key of knowledge is to be obtained.

Did not even the Pharisees themselves—although unworthy—obtain this key of knowledge for themselves? Luke 11. The author refers to Luke 11:52, where Jesus rebukes the lawyers for taking away the "key of knowledge." Here, the author argues that if even the "unworthy" Pharisees had access to such spiritual keys, it is wrong to deny them to modern seekers. And yet you forbid these things to the men of this age, and if any should enjoy them by a favorable divine power, you will immediately condemn them with the suspicion of the crime and wickedness of Necromancy original: Necromantia. Literally "divination through the dead," but often used in this period as a general slur for any forbidden or demonic magic. and superstitious Magic.

Yet it is indeed impious and wicked to pursue someone sharply with suspicion and to condemn them lightly without a proper investigation of the cause having first been conducted. Let us therefore inquire and weigh with care the actions of these brothers; let us look upon their character and conditions with a sharp and intent mind; and with everything diligently weighed, let us grasp with a just mind, and set before the eyes of the intellect, whether the brothers are? from God or from the Devil. We find that the Holy Spirit is known by its gifts. Let us examine therefore? whether these gi-