The First Chapter.

...knowledge; not those which arise from superstition and false belief, nor by one's own conjuration and unjust summoning, as the devil-binders original: "Teuffelsbanner". This refers to practitioners of "low magic" or folk exorcists who claimed the power to command or "bind" demons through spells and threats. are accustomed to do. Rather, I mean here such Magic, as was practiced by the Magi from the East original: "Magi aus Orient". Referring to the Biblical Three Wise Men, often cited by alchemists as the primary examples of "holy" or "natural" magicians., who judged by the inspiration of God and the rightful, permitted art.

It is also such an art as the ancients before us possessed, and which was in use among the Egyptians and Arabs. Before writing was invented, they were able to record, observe, and preserve their affairs through signs, characters original: "signa, characteres". In this context, these are not linguistic letters, but symbolic seals, planetary glyphs, and mystical diagrams used to store knowledge., and the like. Thus, it is also not forbidden to use such blessings as Christ the Son of God himself used, as the Scripture says: And he took the little children, laid his hands upon them, and blessed them.

But whatever else in this is against God and His word, those things are justly to be rejected and not permitted; for they are not Divine, but Devilish. However, such supernatural things that are not contrary to God and His holy word, these belong under Ma-

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