Page:Fourth Book of Occult Philosophy, 1655.djvu/66

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42
Of Occult Philosophy,

But the characters which are understood by the revelation of Spirits, take their vertue from thence; because they are, as it were, certain hidden seals, making the harmony of some divinity: either they are signes of a Covenant entred into, and of promised and plighted faith, or of obedience. And those Characters cannot by any other means be searched out.

Moreover, besides these Characters, there are certain familiar Figures or Images of evil Spirits, under which forms they are wont to appear, and yield obedience to them that invoke them. All these Characters or Images may be seen by the table following, according to the course of the letters constituting the names of Spirits themselves: so that if in any letter there is found more then the name of one Spirit, his Image holdeth the pre-eminence, the others imparting their own order; so that they which are the first orders, to them is attributed the head, the upper part of the body, according to their own figure: those which are lowest, do possess the thighs and feet; so also the middle letters do attribute like to themselves the middle parts of the body, or give the parts that fit. But if there happen any contrariety, that letter which is the stronger in the number shall bear rule: and if they are equal, they all impart equal things. Furthermore, if any name shall obtain any notable Character or Instrument out of the Table, he shall likewise have the same character in the Image.

We may also attain to the knowledge of the dignities of the evil Spirits, by the same Tables of Characters and images: for upon what spirit soever there falleth any excellent signe or instrument out of the Table of Characters, he possesseth that dignity. As if there shall be Crown, it sheweth a Kingly dignity; if a Crest or Plume, a Dukedom; if a Horn, a County; if without

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