Page:Three Books of Occult Philosophy (De Occulta Philosophia) (1651).djvu/20

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it ſaid, The wearyed Ox treads hard, Whereas no man, to the judgement of the wiſe, can be truly learned, who is ſworn to the rudiments of one only faculty; But you hath God gifted with a large, and ſublime wit, not that you ſhould imitate Oxen, but birds; neither think it ſufficient that you ſtay about particulars, but bend your minde confidently to univerſals; for by ſo much the more learned any one is thought, by how much fewer things he is ignorant of. Moreover your wit is fully apt to all things, and to be rationally employed, not in a few, or low things, but many, and ſublimer. Yet this one rule I adviſe you to obſerve, that you communicate vulgar ſecrets to vulgar friends, but higher and ſecret to higher, and ſecret friends only. Give Hey to an Ox, Sugar to a Parret only; underſtand my meaning, leaſt you be trod under the Oxens feet, as oftentimes it fals out. Farewell my happy friend, and if it lye in my power to ſerve you, command me, and according to your pleaſure it ſhall without delay be done; alſo, let our friendſhip increaſe daily; write often to me, and ſend me ſome of your labors I earneſtly pray you. Again farewell.

From our Monaſtery of Peapolis, the 8. day of April, An. M.D.X.