THere is another kind of Character received by Revelation only, which can be found out no other way: the vertue of which Characters is from the diety revealing, of whom there are some secret works, breathing out a harmony of some Divinity: or they are as it were some certain agreements or compacts of a league betwixt us and them. Of this kind there was a mark or sign shewed to Constantine, which many did call the Crosse write upon in Latin letters, In hoc vince i. e. in this overcome; and there was another revealed to Antiochus by Sirname Soteris in the figure of a pentangle, which signifies health; for being resolved into letters it speakes the word 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 i. e. Health: in the faith, and vertue of which signes both Kings obtain'd a great victorie against their enemies. So Judas, who by reason of that was afterward sirnamed Machabeus, being to fight with the Jews against Antiochus Eupator, received from an Angel that notable sign 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 in the vertue of which they first slew 14000 with an infinite number of Elephant; then again 35000. of their enemies: For that sign did represent the name Jehovah and was a memorable emblem of the name of 72. letters by the equality of number, and the exposition thereof is, 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 i. e. Who is there amongst the strong as Jehovah? The figures of these memorable signs are to be framed thus.
Moreover of those signs and Characters Porphyrie speaks in his book De Responsis, saying that they did signifie the gods themselves, by whom they did enjoy things, and by which they were called forth, and which were to be offered to them: And did shew the figures of the images what they should be; and that he perceived these things concerning the Oracle of Proserpina. He saith moreover that Hecate commanded how images should be constituted to her, and that they were to be cirrounded with wormwood, and that domestick mice were to be painted; & the finest ornaments such as were most pleasing to her, and so many mice as her forms were to be taken; then blood, myrrhe, storax, and other things were to be burnt: Which things if they were done, she would appear, and answer the worker thereof by dreams. But we shall here underwrite the Oracle of Hecate; for thus she speaks,
Marke I will teach What statue thou shalt make
For me; boughs of the wood, and wormwood take,
Then garnish it, on't paint domestick mice;
Let ornaments be fair, and of great price.
Then frankincense, myrrh, storax mix't with blood
Of mice; then sing thou words secret and good;
As thou seest shapes of mine, so on it lay,
As many reall mice; then take the bay,
And out of th' trunk thereof a case prepare
To put it in; then see thou have a care,
That to the Statue thou devoutly pray,
Also thy debts, and vows take care thou pay;
If that these things that here required be,
Thou shalt perform, in dreams thou shalt me see.
Such were in old time the secret mysteries of the gods and Demons of the Gentils, by which they did perswade themselves to be compelled, detained, and bound by men. Hence Jamblicus, and Porphyrie teach that he that cals upon sacred Demons must observe them, with their proper honour, and to distribute to each what is convenient to every one, as thanks, oblations, gifts, sacrifices, with words, Characters sutable to their conditions, and most like unto them; or elss he should never obtain the presence of the Dieties, and Demons, and the desired effect; Moreover if they were called upon, yet they shall be constrained to hurt them especially who did it neglegently.