Book III, Chap. X. Of Divine emanations, which the Hebrews call Numerations, others attributes: The gentiles gods and Dieties; and of the ten Sephiroths and ten most sacred names of God which rule them, and the interpretation of them.

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GOD himself, though he be Trinity in persons, yet is but one only simple Essence; notwithstanding we doubt not but that there are in him many Divine powers, which as beams flow from him, which the Philosophers of the Gentiles cal gods, the Hebrew masters numerations, we name Attributes; as wisdom which Orpheus cals Pallas; understanding, which he Mercury; The conception of the Form, which he Saturn; The Productive power, which he Neptune; the secret nature of things, which he Juno; Love which he Venus; pure life, which he the Sun or Apollo. The matter of the whole world, he calleth Pan; the soul, as it ingendereth things below, contemplateth things above, and retracteth its self into it self, he honored with three names, viz. Maris, Neptune and Ocean, and more of this kind, of which he sings elsewhere,
Plato and Jupiter, and Phebus, are one;
But why do we speak twice? Gods one alone.
And of the same Valerius Soranus sang,
Omnipotent Jove the God and King of Kings,
The Father of the gods, One, yet all things.
Therefore the most prudent Theologians of the Gentiles did worship the One God, under diverse names and powers, ye• diverse sexes; whom as Pliny saith, Fraile and weak mortality hath digested unto more, being mindfull of his one frailty, that every man might worship that portion which he especially wanteth; so those who had need of faith invocated Jupiter; they that wanted providence, Apollo; wisdom, Minerva; and so as they wanted other things, they invocated other powers. Hence arose that great variety of Dieties, by reason of the many and diverse distribution of graces; but God is one, from whom all things. Therefore Apuleius in his book De mundo to Faustin saith, Whereas there is but one God and one power, yet he is named by diverse names for the multitude of species, by whose variety he is made of many shapes; and Marcus Varro in his book of the worship of God, saith, As all souls are reduced to the one soul of the world or universe, so are all the gods referred to Jupiter, who is the same God, worshipped under diverse names. Therefore it is meet to know the sensible proprieties, and perfectly to intellectualize them by the way of more secret Analogy; whosoever understandeth truly the Hymnes of Orpheus and the old Magicians, shall find that they differ not from the Cabalisticall secrets and Orthodox traditions; for whom Orpheus cals Curets and unpolluted gods, Dionysius names Powers; the Cabalists appropriate them to the numeration Pahad, that is to the Divine fear: so that which is •nsoph in the Cabala, Orpheus calleth Might; and Typhon is the •ame with Orpheus, as Zamael in the Cabala; but the Mecubales of the Hebrews, the most learned in Divine things, have received the ten principal names of God, as certain Divine •owers, or as it were members of God, which by ten numerations which they call Sephiroth as it were vestiments, Instruments or examplars of the Archetype, have an influence on all things created, through the high things, even to the lowest, yet •y a certain order; for first and immediately they have influence on the nine orders of Angels, and quire of blessed souls, ••d by them into the Celestiall Spheres, Planets and men, by •e which Sephiroh everything then receiveth power and ver •e; The first of these is the name Eheia, the name of the Divine •ssence; his numeration is called Cether, which is interpreted a Crown or Diadem, and signifieth the most simple Essence of the Divinity, and it is called that which the eye seeth not, and is attributed to God the Father, and hath his influence by the order of Seraphin••, or as the Hebrews call them Haioth Hacadosch, that is creatures of holiness, and then by the primum mobile, bestows the gift of being to all things, filling the whole Universe both through the circumference and center, whose particular intelligence is called Merattron, that is, the prince of faces, whose duty it is to bring others to the face of the prince; and by him the Lord spake to Moses. The second name is Iod or Tetragrammaton joyned with Iod; his numeration is Hochma, that is wisdom, and signifieth the Divinity full of Idea's, and the first begotten; and is attributed to the Son, and hath his influence by the order of Cherubins, or that the Hebrews call Orphanim, that is, forms or wheels; and from thence into the starry Heaven, where he fabricateth so many figures as he hath Ideas in himself, and distinguisheth the very Chaos of the creatures, by a particular Intelligence called Raziell, who was the ruler of Adam. The thid name is called Tetrogrammaton Elohim; his numeration is named Prina, unprovidence and understanding, and signifies remission, quietness, the Jubilee, penitentiall conversion, a great Trumpet redemption of the world, and the life of the world to come it is attributed to the Holy Spirit, and hath his influence by th• order of the thrones, or which the Hebrews call Aralim, that • great Angels mighty and strong, and from thence by the sphere of Saturn administreth form to the unsettled matter, who particular intelligence is Zaphchiel, the ruler of Noah, and • nother intelligence named Iophiel the ruler of Sem; and the are three supream and highest numerations as it were seats •• the Divine persons, by whose commands all things are ma•• but are executed by the other seven, which are therefore call•• the numerations framing. Therefore the fourth name is • whose numeration is Hesed, which is Clemence or goodne•• and signifieth grace, mercy, piety, magnificence, the scep• and right hand, and hath his influx by the order of the Dominations, which the Hebrews call Hasmalim, and so thro• the sphere of Jupiter fashioning the Images of bodyes, bestowing clemency and pacifying justice on all; his particular intelligence is Zadkiell the ruler of Abraham: The first name is Elohim Gibor. that is, the mighty God, punishing the sins of the wicked; and his numeration is called Geburach, which is to say, power, gravity, fortitude, security, judgement, punishing by slaughter and war: and it is applyed to the Tribunall of God, The girdle, the sword and left hand of God; it is also called Pachad, which is fear and hath his influence throw the order of powers which the Hebrews call Seraphim, and from thence through the sphere of Mars, to whom belongs fortitude, war, affliction, it draweth forth the Elements; and his particular intelligence is Camael, the ruler of Samson; The sixt name is Eloha, or a name of four letters, joyned with Vaudahat, his numeration is Tiphereth, that is apparel, beauty, glory, pleasure, and signifieth the tree of life, and hath his influence through the order of vertues, which the Hebrews call Malahim, that is Angels into the spere of the Sun, giving brightness and life to it, and from thence producing mettals; his particular intelligence is Raphael, who was the Ruler of Isaac ••d Toby the younger, and the Angel Peliel, ruler of Jacob. •he seventh name is Tetragrammaton Sabaoth, or Adonai Sabaoth, that is the God of hosts; and his numeration is Nezah, that triumph and victory; the right Columne is applyed to it, and signifies the eternity and justice of a revenging God; it hath •• influence through the order of principalities, whom the hebrews call Elohim, that is Gods, into the sphere of Venus, •es zeal and love of righteousness, and produceth vege •les; his Intelligence is Haniel and the Angel Cerviel, the •e• of David; The eighth is called also Elohim Sabaoth, which is also interpreted the God of Hoasts, not of war and •ice, but of piety and agreement; for this name signifi • both, and precedeth his Army; the numeration of this •alled Hod, which is interpreted both praise, confession, ho • and famousness. The left column is attributed to it; it hath influence through the order of the Archangels, which the hebrews call Ben Elohim, that is the sons of God, into the sphere of Mercury, and gives elegancy and consonancy of speech and produceth living creatures; his intelligence is Michael, who was the ruler of Salomon; The ninth name is called Sadai, that is Omnipotent, satisfying all, and Elhai, which is the living God; his numeration is Iesod, that is foundation, and signifieth a good understanding, a Covenant, redemption and rest, and hath his influence through the order of Angels, whom the Hebrews name Cherubim, into the sphere of the Moon, causing the increase and decrease of all things, and taketh care of the genijl, and keepers of men, and distributeth them; his intelligence is Gabriel, who was the keeper of Joseph, Josuah, and Daniel; The tenth name is Adonai Melech, that is Lord and King; his numeration is Malchuth, that is, Kingdom and Empire, & signifieth a Church, Temple of God, and a Gate, and hath his influence through the order of Animastick, viz. of blessed souls, which by the Hebrews is called Issim, that is Nobles Lords and Princes; they are inferior to the Hierarchies, and have their influence on the sons of men, and give knowledge and the wonderfull understanding of things, also industry and prophesie; and the soul of Messiah is president amongst them or (as others say) the intelligence Metattron, which is called the first Creature, or the soul of the world, and was the rule of Moses.