Semiphoras and Schemhamphoras
(1686)

Of the Benefit and Use of the Semiphoras

That man, who lays hold in strong faith and trust in the first Creator, must first implore the divine help and blessing, not only wiih the lips, but also with holy gestures and humble heart, praying fervently and continually, that he may enlighten the mind and take away from the soul all darkness of the body. For, precisely as when our souls are moved by some ordinary cause, so the soul moves all the members of the body to contribute something toward the accomplishment of a contemplated work. Therefore, the great Creator, when he is worshipped in spirit and in truth, and when no unnecessary things are asked of Him, when the prayer is devoutly preferred, will cause the lower order of creatures to yield obedience to the wishes of man, according to their state, order, and calling, for man was made in the image and likeness of God and endowed with reason. And working under the favor of God, he will obtain his desire through faith and wisdom: first, from the stars and from the heavens by the rational reflections of His spirit; second, by the animal kingdom, through his senses; third, by the elements, through his four-fold body.

Therefore, man binds all creatures through comparison, by calling upon the higher power, through the name and power which governs one thing, and thereafter through the lower things themselves, etc.

And now, he who desires to become master of the workings of the soul, must become familiar with the brder of all things, just as they are obtained by God in their proper state, from the highest to the lowest, through natural connections, that he may descend as if from a ladder. On this account the Heathens committed the error of worshipping the planets and fixed stars, not because they heard but because they were moved by the powers which governed them and were, at the same time, impelled thereto by the influence of their founder and creator. And in this manner, likewise, Christian nations have committed the error of paying homage to departed saints and giving honor to the creature which belongs only to the Creator, and God is a jealous God and will not permit the worship of idols. The prayer of faith, therefore, in proper language, and for proper objects, is intimately related to the name of God, from which we distend by words, from one to the other, following each other out of a natural relationship. in order to accomplish something.

The son, therefore, prevails upon the father that he may support him, although the father may not do so willingly. Still, since he is his offspring, he must calculate to maintain him. How much greater care our heavenly Father must feel for us, if we serve him in a proper manner!

He who desires the influence of the sun must not only direct his eyes toward it, but he must elevate his soul-power to the soul-power of the sun, which is God himself, having previously made himself equal to God by fasting, purification, and good works, but he must also pray in the name of the Mediator, with fervent love to God and his fellow man, that he may come to the sunspirit, so that he may be filled with its light and lustre, which he may draw to himself from heaven, and that he may become gifted with heavenly gifts and obtain all the desires of his heart. And as soon as he grasps the higher light and arrives at a state of perfection, being gifted with supernatural intelligence, he will also obtain supernatural might and power. For this reason, without godliness, man will deny his faith in Christ and will becoine unacceptable to God, therewith often falling prey to the evil spirits against whom there is no better protection than the fear of the Lord and fervent love td God and man.

Most people who are skilled in divine works and who possess the right to command spirits, must be worthy by nature or become worthy by education and discipline for their calling -- must keep all their works secret, but may not conceal it from a true ad pious person. Dignity of birth comes from station, but it is due to Saturnum, Sol, Mercurium, or Martem that he is made prosperous -- that he is learned in Physics, Metaphysics, and Theology.

The Ten Sephiroth