GOD himself though he be only one in Essence, yet h• diverse names, which expound not his diverse Essences •• Dieties, but certain proprieties flowing from him, by which names he doth pour down, as it were by certain Conduits o• us and all his creatures many benefits and diverse gifts; ten •• these Names we have above described, which also Hierom reckoneth up to Marcella. Dionysius reckoneth up fourty si• names of God and Christ. The Mecubales of the Hebrew from a certain text of Exodus, derive seventy two names, both of the Angels and of God, which they call the name of seventy two letters, and Schemhamphores, that is, the expository; but others proceeding further, out of all places of the Scripture do infer so many names of God as the number of those names is: but what they signifie is altogether unknown to us: From these therefore, besides those which we have reckoned up before, is the name of the Divine Essence Eheia 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, which Plato translates 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, from hence they call God 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, others 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 that is the being Hu 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 is another name revealed to Esay, signifying the Abysse of the Godhead, which the Greeks translate 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, the Latins, himself the same. Esch 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 is another name received from Moses which soundeth Fire, and the name of God Na 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 is to be invovaced in perturbations and troubles. There is also the name Iah 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 and the name Elion 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 and the name Macom 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, the name Caphu 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, the name Innon 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 & the name Emeth 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 whic• is interpreted Truth, and is the seal of God; and there are two other names Zur 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 and Aben 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 both of them signifie a solid work, and one of them express the Father with the Son; and many more names have we placed above in the scale of numbers; and many names of God and the Angels are extracted out of the holy Scriptures by the Cabalisticall calculation, Notarian and Gimetrian arts, where many words retracted by certain of their letters make up one name, or one name dispersed by each of its letters signifieth or rendreth more. Somtimes they are gathered from the heads of words, as the name Agla 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 from this verse of the Holy Scripture 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 that is the mighty God for ever; in like manner the name Iaia 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 from this verse 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 that is God our God is one God; in like manner the name Iava 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 from this •erse 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, that is let there be a light, & there was ••ght; in like maner the name Ararita 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 from this verse 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 that is one principle of his unity, one beginning of his Individuality his cissicude is one thing, and this name Hacaha 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 is extracted from this verse 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 the holy and blessed one; in like maner this name Jesu 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 is found in the heads of these two verses, viz. 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 that is, untill the Messiah shall come, and the other verse 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 that is, his name abides till the end, Thus also is the name Amen 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 extracted from this verse 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 that is the Lord the faithfull King; sometimes these names are extracted from the end of words, as the same name Amen, from this verse 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 that is, the wicked not so, but the letters are transposed; so by the finall letters of this verse 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 that is, to me what? or what is his name? is found the name Tetragrammaton; in all these a letter is put for a word, and a letter extracted from a word, either from the beginning, end, or where you please; and sometimes these names are extracted from all the letters, one by one, even as those seventy two names of God are extracted from those three verses of Exodus beginning from these three words, 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 the first and last verses being written from the right to the left, but the middle contrarywise from the left to the right, as we shall shew hereafter; and so sometimes a word is extracted from a word, or a name from a name, by the transposition of letters, as Messia• 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 from Ismah 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 and Michael 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 from 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 Malachi. But sometimes by changing of the Alphabeth, which the Cabalists call Ziruph 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 so from the name Tetragrammaton 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 are drawn forth 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 Maz Paz 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 Kuz• sometimes also by reason of the equality of numbers, names and changed, as Metattron 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 for Sadai 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 for both of them make three hundred and fourteen, so Itai 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 and E• 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 are equall in number, for both make thirty one. And these are the hidden secrets concerning which it is most difficult to judge, and to deliver a perfect science; neither •• they be understood and taught in any other language excep• the Hebrew; but seeing the names of God (as Flato saith i• Cratyliss) are highly esteemed of the Barbarians, who had the• from God, without the which we can by no means perceive the true words and names by which God is called, there fore concerning these we can say no more, but those things which God out of his goodness hath revealed to us; for they are the mysteries and conveyances of Gods omnipotency, not from men, nor yet from Angels, but instituted and firmly established by the most high God, after a certain manner, with an immovable number and figure of Characters, and breath forth the harmony of the Godhead, being consecrated by the Divine assistance; therefore the creatures above fear them, those below tremble at them, the Angels reverence, the devils are affrighted, every creature doth honor, and every Religion adore them; the religious observation whereof, and devout invocation with fear and trembling doth yeeld us great vertue, and even deifies the union, and gives a power to work wonderfull things above nature: Therefore wee may not for any reason whatsoever, change them; therefore Origen commandeth that they be kept without corruption in their own Characters; and Zoroastes also forbiddeth the changing of barbarous and old words; for as Plato saith in Cratylus, All Divine words or names, have proceeded either from the gods first, or from antiquity, whose beginning is hardly known, or from the Barbarians: Jamblicus in like manner adviseth, that they may not be translated out of their own language into another; for, saith he, they keep not the same force being translated into another tongue: Therefore these names of God are the most fit and powerfull means of reconciling and uniting man with God, as we read in Exodus, in every place in which mention is made of my name, I will be with thee, and bless thee; and in the book of Numbers, the Lord saith, I will put my name upon the sons of Israel and I will bless them: Therefore Divine Plato in Cratylus & in Philebus commandeth to reverence the names of God more than the Images or statues of the gods: for there is a more express Image and power of God, reserved in the faculty of the mind, especially if it be inspired from above, than in the works of mens hands; Therefore sacred words have not their power in Magicall operations, from themselves, as they are words, but from the occult Divine powers working by them in the minds of those who by faith adhere to them; by which words the secret power of God as it were through Conduite pipes, is transmited into them, who have ears purged by faith, and by most pure conversation and invocation of the divine names are made the habitation of God, and capable of these divine influences; whosoever therefore useth rightly these words or names of God with that purity of mind, in that manner and order, as they were delivered, shall both obtain and do many wonderfull things, as we read of Medea.
Most pleasant sleep she caus'd, words thrice she spake,
The Seas appeas'd, and soon their fury brake.
Which the Ancient Doctors of the Hebrews have especially observed, who were wont to do many wonderfull things by words; the Pythagorians also have shewed, how to cure very wonderfully the diseases both of body and mind, with certain words; we read also, that Orpheus, being one of the Argonauts diverted a most fierce storm by certain words; in like manner that Apollonius, by certain words whispered, raised up a dead maide at Rome; and Philostratus reporteth that some did by certain words call up Achilles Ghost; and Pausanias relates, that in Lydia in the Cities of Hiero-Cesare• and Hypepis, were two temples consecrated to the Goddess whom they called Persica, in both of which when divine service was ended, a certain Magitian, after he had laid dry wood upon the Altar, and in his native language had sang Hymnes, and pronounced certain barbarous words, out of a book which he held in his hand presently the dry wood, no fire being put to it, was seen to be kindled, and burn most clearly. Also Serenus Samonicus delivereth amongst the precepts of Physick, that if this name Abracadabra be written, as is here expressed, viz. diminishing letter after letter backward, from the last to the first, it will cure the Hemitritean Feaver or any other, if the sheet of paper or parchment be hanged about the neck, and the disease will by little and little decline and pass away.
But Rabbai Hama in his book of speculation delivereth a sacred seal more efficacious against any diseases of man, or any griefes whatsoever, in whose foreside are the four squared names of God, so subordinated to one another in a square, that from the highest to the lowest those most holy names or seales of the Godhead do arise, whose intention is inscribed in the circumferentiall circle, but on the backside is inscribed the seven lettered name Araritha, and his interpretation is written about, viz. the verse from which it is extracted, even as you see it here described.
The former part.
The hinder part.
But all must be done in most pure gold, or Virgin Parchment, pure, clean and unspotted, also with Jnke made for this purpose, of the smoak of consecrated wax lights, or incense, and holy water; The actor must be purified and cleansed by sacrifice, and have an infallible hope, a constant faith and his mind lifted up to the most high God, if he would surely obtain this Divine power. In like manner against the affrightments and mischief of evil spirits and men, and what dangers soever, either of journey, waters, enemies, arms, in the manner as is above said, these Characters on the one side 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 and these on the back side 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 which are the beginnings and ends of the five first verses of Genesis, and representation of the creation of the world; and by this Ligature they say that a man shall be free from all mischiefes, if so be that he firmly beleeveth in God the creator of all things.
In the fore part.
In the hinder part.
Neither let any distrust or wonder, that sacred words, applyed outwardly can do very much, seeing by them the Almighty God made the heavens and the earth; and further, by experience it is found as saith Rab Costa Ben Luca, that many things not having Physicall vertues do very much, As for example, the finger of an abortive childhanged on the neck of a woman hindreth conception, so long as it remaineth there; Moreover that in diverse sacred words and names of God, there is great and Divine power, which worketh miracles, Zoroastes, Orpheus, Jamblicus, Synesius, Alchindus, and all the famous Philosophers testifie; and Artephius both a Magician and Philosopher hath written a peculiar book concerning the vertue of words and Characters. Origen not inferior to the famousest Philosophers, doth maintain against Celsus, that there dothly hid wonderfull vertue in certain Divine names, and in the book of Judges the Lord saith, my name which is Pele 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 signifieth with us, a worker of miracles, or causing wonders; but the true name of God is known neither to men nor to Angels, but to God alone, neither shall it be manifested (as the holy Striptures testifie) before the Will of God be fulfilled; Notwithstanding God hath other names amongst the Angels, others amongst us men; for there is no name of God amongst us (as Moses the Egyptian saith) which is not taken from his works, and signifieth with participation, besides the name Tetragrammaton, which is holy, signifying the substance of the Creator in a pure signification, in which no other thing is partaker with God the Creator; therefore it is called the separated name, which is written and not read, neither is it expressed by us, but named, and signifieth the second supernall Idiome, which is of God, and perhaps of Angels. In like manner the Angels have their name amongst themselves, and in their Idiome, which Paul calleth the tongue of Angels, concerning which we have very little knowledge with us, but all their other names are taken from their offices and operations, which have not so great efficacy, and therefore the Magicians call them by their true names, namely the heavenly ones, which are contained in the holy Bible.