On Numbers. frontispiece, emitted the hifings of a dragon? HE HAS. It alfo appears from St. John's Epif. tle, that he did not confider anti-chrift as one man. 1 John ii. 18. " even now there are many anti-chrifts, they went out from us-BUT they were not of us." Now attend to the characteristic of the Christian which he inftantly gives" But ye have an UNCTION OF THE HOLY ONE, and ye KNOW* all things." And again v. 27. No perfon is ignorant that this fpecific diftinction of a chriftian from anti-chrift, the teaching fpirit, the promijed comforter, has been the specific object of modern philofophy's attacks. Rev. xix. 10. "The teftimony of JESUS is the fpirit of PROPHECY. St. John xvi. 13, 14. "The SPIRIT of truth will guide you into all truth-for he shall not speak of HIMSELF, but whatfoever he shall hear that shall he fpeak, and he will fhew you things to come. HE fhall glorify me, for he shall take of minc, and fhall fhew it unto you. I defire, people would call themselves what they are, and not dare to profane and ufurp the name of CHRIST any longer. I have already extended this paper to fuch length, and fo clearly proved the general principle of man who abdicates the divinity of his nature, (either in the circuitous details of wild theory. and mad practice, or by an exprefs negation of divinity to that perfonage, by whom alone the fecretion has been and is carried on to even the finest ca pillary veffels of creation) being antichrift-a fact, which is alfo undeniable ex vi termini-that I think it needlefs to dilate on kings, hermits, clergy, and all the rabble of the ranks, and more particularly as I have taken the fountain head of folly in philofophers. Knowledge in Scripture, is always oppofed to fpeculation, and ufed to express certainty and palpable experience, John, . to v. II. inclufive. I John i. 1-5. This is the only correct ufe of the word; and fo Pope What can we reafon but from what we know? 223 Obferve I fhould have claffed clergy feparately, as they are in Revelations, but they have in general placed themfelves in England fo completely under the dominion of "the image of the beat"-philofophy; that I should have been wholly inaccurate in attempting to confider their cafe on religious principles. Will any one now doubt, that trinity in unity, and unity in trinity ought to be cultivated? That without it there is NO SALVATION? This has hitherto been a matter of faith-let it now remain as an evidence of reafon : it has hitherto been a mystery; now it is de monftrated. Jamque opus exegi, quod nec JovISIRA nec IGNES, Nec poterit FERRUM-nec ædax abolere vetuftas Cum volet ILLA dies, &c. As THREE is the complete number of unity-fo there must be a TRIPLE Revelation and difpenfation of the divine will to unite MAN to HIM. The first was of the Father, or INVISIBLE. DEITY; given, of course, by the minis tration of Angels; the SECOND of the SON, where the neceffary humiliation of Deity becoming vifible took place, and nothing farther was done, quoad the world; but this was left to leaven gradually. THIRD and LAST * is of the Holy Spirit, proceeding from the Father and the Son; THIS PERSONAGE speaks not of himfelf, but what he hears; GLORIFIES Chrift the Son, by taking of HIS, and coníequently of the Father's, John xvi. 14th and 15th, and fhewing to the world; that is, does not declare new principles, for that would be recommencing Creation, but developes the old, and brings them to their object, crowning the work; whereby "He allo fhews things to come," this being the neceflary confequence of throwing open the gates of a future and eternal ftate. The diftinguishing trait in the manifellation of this Spirit, is TRUTH-HC is called the "Spirit of TRUTH"- 224 True Property of Talismans. Now, this is a character which cannot be forged; and it is alfo a power that cannot be withfood, Luke, xxi. 15. In the manifeftation of the Son, the weakness of human eyes were confidered, and they had time allowed them to open, mercy being the principle of it: In the laft, thole eyes which cannot fee, MR. B. must be blinded, Luke xii. 1o. for the rays muft not be withdrawn, nor even foftened: they muft burl with all their fplendour, and where they do not illumine, burn-its principle being to GLORIFY, (John, xvi. 14.) to CON. QUER, to DECIDE, and to COMMAND. Rev. xix. 11, and sequel, TALISMANS. HAVING in the laft number of the Conjuror's Magazine read a propofal of yours for making Talifmans, and having but little faith in their pretended virtues, fhould be glad to have the opportunity of spending an hour in your company, when, if you can then convince me by vifible proof of their virtue and efficacy, fhall be happy in being more intimately acquainted with you. Your's, &c. J. P. ASTRO. PHILO. P. S. A line from you will be efteemed a favour. SIR, February 7, 1792. I Have been favoured with your's this inftant. The reafons why Talifmans fail is, either because they have not been undertaken under a proper planetary pofition; or elfe, if this has been attended to, that the perfon's own mind has not been ripe for (that is, has not been wholly given to) the intended effect. Next, external circumftances will throw obftacles in the way; but, where the mind is intenfe, thefe muft be overcome-for the mind, when brought into its principle, is, muft be, omnipotent. Its principle is its lifeand its life must be eternal. Therefore the end of Talismans is, to clear away the circumftances, which impedes the body from enjoying what the mind wills. To effect this, your life must be with your Talisman, for remember, that according to my definition of a Talifman (and it must be the true one, as the vital principle cannot be altered, but only regenerated) it is not to force the B. mind, but derives its force from the mind. It is, however, to reflect this power; as a perfon, who finds circumftances favouring his wishes, naturally grows bolder and more powerful, from this conjunction of body and raind. I ap-' prehend, that a total misconception of this point, is the radical error of all in the theory of Talifmans. But having afcertained the place and duty of Talifmans, I will add, it is impoffible for any thing to be done for duration with only them, as they conftitute the links, uniting fpirit and matter. I fhall be happy to see you any day you appoint; and am, Your fincere well-wisher, N. B. In addition to the above an fwer, I fhall obferve to the public, that, as the COURSE OF LIFE must accompany the Taliman, which proceeds from its fountain, it will be neceffary, in order to give it efficacy, for perfons to attend to the molt minute circumftances, which can operate on it; and as a thousand may fo operate, wholly unknown to the unintelligent fcholar or practitioner, but which yet bear point-blank by their principles, it is abfolutely indifpenfible to receive and apply the rules, I, and only I, (having alone previously evifcerated the practice) can give. And as thus enlightening the mind is flated to be the only means whereby Talifmans can be effectual-namely, making the perfon intelligently mafter or mistress of every circumitance of their life-every idea of playing on cre dulity or blindnels is excluded. B. THE ( 225 ) THE QUERIST. N° VII. ANSWER TO QUERY III. IN NO IV. MISS Williams wifhes fome recent instance of the verification of a Chiromantic prophecy: I will give her feveral. I was defired to look into a young gentleman's hand whom I had never feen before, and of whofe fituation in life I was altogether uninformed. From the completion of a line from the table of his hand, to the finger of I judged him to belong already to fome Mercurial profeffion, moft likely the law but from the tendency of a line firmly drawn to the mount of 24, I concluded, that he attempted to promote himfelf by friends to fome place or genteel fituation, rather than purfue the profeffion he had affumed. The line to being weakly drawn and retracting, confirmed at once the difpofition, and gave prefage of an accordant event. I was then afked, without being told whether I were right or wrong fo far, if he were likely to vifit diftant parts. I obferved, that I certainly faw a journey, and of fome extent, but it did notappear to be taken all at once; there were various ftops and good inns on the road. It was then confefled, that he had been called to the bar, and had gone the Circuits and I declare, I had not even the idea of a legal circuit, when I defcribed his journeying: fhortly after, I was myfelf defired by him to folicit a poft abroad. This is within three months. On the fame day I told a lady whom I had never feen or heard of before, that he would fhortly remove, and had spent an eafy and fimooth life. Confcffed the lalt, and before I faw her again, the firft had unexpectedly happened. I told an old lady, long heavily afflicted with the cramp, fhe would get over it. She has fo. I could add more, but for taking up too much room. I will convince Mils Williams if the pleafes.Vide alfo J. Lackington's Life: B. ANSWER TO QUERY 4. BY W. D. THE first thing to be confidered on this question is, whether any fpecies of corn ever grows naturally. Buffon and others have been inclined to deny it. The queftion being thus limited, and the inquiry made, not about corn in general, but about certain fpecific kinds of corn, as wheat, barley, oats, &c. for fome kinds of corn will grow in the north, which are not to be found in the fouth, and vice versa. The eaftern nations have rice and maize, and know nothing of wheat, barley, or oats, which latter were not known even in Italy in the time of Pliny. Another thing to be confidered, is the varieties introduced into the fpecies of cultivation. Thus rye, which was formerly bitter, has been foftened by long cultivation; the better kinds of wheat cannot be found in our countries; and even in the happieft foils, red ftrong wheat eafily degenerates into an infe rior kind, which again, when carried to a good foil, recovers its proper quality. Different kinds of corn muft, therefore, have had different origins; nor does it follow, that the difcovery of one naturally and indifpenfably leads to the knowledge of the utility of the other. Therefore, from the queftion thus reduced, there refults this information, that the firft corn was the manured produce of the first founded fociety, and that this improved fpecies was the growth of the vicinity of the firft city. Upon the whole, it appears that agriculture originated with mankind, and kept pace with their other improvements; and this opinion is fupported by Shukford and Linnæus, who both allow the wild produce of indigenous pulfe to every country. Thin and flight foils have an aptnefs to produce oats and barley, but in no degree of perfection without the improvement of ploughing inftruments. LIVES LIVES OF EMINENT MAGICIANS, &c. AN ENGLISH PENMAN. JOHN BLAND, an excellent English Penman, whofe improvements in Callygraphy do honour to his country and himself; was born Auguft 17, 1702, in Crutched Fryars, London. His father, who was a clerk in the Victualling-office, fent him to Westminster fchool, where he continued about four years, and then removed him to Mr. Snell's school in Fofter-lane. He had early in life a clerkship in the Customhoufe, which he held for nine years, and left it to be writing mafter at Mr. Watts's academy in Little Tower-ftreet, where he remained about 13 years. In 1739 he opened an accountant's-office in Birchin-lane, to qualify youths for the compting-house, trades, or publicoffices. He was afterwards fettled in Bifhopfgate-ftreet, near Cornhill; and died in 1749, aged 47 years. In 1730, Mr Bland publifhed his effay in writing, exemplified in forms of bulinefs, fol. in 21 plates engraved by G. Bickham, and is very neatly performed.. He has five plates in that artift's Penman's Companion, dated 1728 29, 30, and feveral in the Univerfal Penman, befides feveral fingle pieces. Vid. Maffey's Origin and Progrefs of Let two fucceeding reigns. John Langton, a writing-maiter at Stamford in Lincolnshire, in the reign of Anne. Price and Rowel, the latter a plumber, practifed giafs-painting at High 'Wycomb, in the county of Bucks, and afterwards at Reading in Berkfhire of late years. He painted a fet of windows for Dr. Scawwen Kenrick, in the church of Hambledon in Buckinghamshire, and executed many pieces for Dr. Maddox, late Bishop of Worcester; and the late Duke of Richmond employed him at Goodwood, A BOHEMIAN ASTROLOGER. CIPRIAN LEOVITUS, or Leovitoz, was a celebrated Bohemian aftronomer, and the most skilful aftrologer of that country. He was born in 1540, and owed all his knowledge entirely to his own industry, for he was not fo much as taught to read, and could name and place upwards of 1000 ftars before he could write. In 1565 he foretold that the Sultan Soliman the Second fhould take Sigetha, the itrongest place in Hungary, in the very face of the Emperor and his army, notwithstanding what they could do; which happened accordingly. In 1569 he had a conference with Tycho Brahe, who vifited him on purpofe. He died young in 1574. We have of his in print, in Latin, a defcription and hiftory of eclipfes in fol. Ephemerides from 1564 to 1574, and continued fince by other hands to 1607, in 8vo. these are very fcarce a curious work entitled De Judiciis Nativitatum 4to. 1570; and there has lately been published a tranflation from fome part of his works, and called in English an Aftrological Catechifm; but as it does him and the tranflator no credit, we fhall pass it over. SIMON DR. SIMON FORMAN. Forman's Sigils. WHEN my miftrefs died, fhe had under her arm-hole a small fcarlet bag full of many things, which, one that was there, delivered unto me. There was in this bag feveral figils, fome of Jupiter in Trine, others of the nature of Venus, fome of iron, and one of gold, of pure angel gold, of the bignefs of a thirty-three fhilling-piece of King James's coin. In the circumference on one fide was engraven, Ficit Leo de tribu Jude Tetragrammaton †, within the middle there was engraven an holy lamb. In the other circumference there was Amraphel and three †. In the middle, Sanctus Petrus, Alpha, and Omega, The occafion of framing this figil was thus; her former hufband traveling into Suffex, happened to lodge in an inn, and to lie in a chamber thereof, wherein, not many months before, a country grazier had lain, and in the night cut his own throat; after this night's lodging he was perpetually, and for many years, followed by a fpirit, which vocally and articulately provoked him to cut his throat; ne was ufed frequently to fay, "I defy thee, I defy thee!" and to fpit at the fpirit: this fpirit followed him many years, he not making any body acquainted with it; at laft, he grew melancholy and difcontented; which being carefully obferved by his wife, fhe many times hearing him pronounce, "I defy thee," &c. fhe defired him to 'acquaint her with the cause of his distemper, which he then did. Away fhe went to Dr. Simon Forman, who lived then in Lambeth, and acquainted him with it; who having framed this figil, and hanged it about his neck, he wearing it continually until he died, was never more molefted by the fpirit: I fold the figil for thirty-two fhillings, but tranfcribed the words verbatim as I have related. Şir, you fhall now have a story of this VOL. I 227 Simon Forman, as his widow, whom I well knew, related it unto me. But before I relate his death, I fhall acquaint you with fomething of the man, as I have gathered it from fome manu̟fcripts of his own writing. He was a chandler's fon in the city of Westminster. He travelled into Holland for a month in 1580, pur. pofely to be inftructed in aftrology, and other more occult fciences; as alfo in phyfic, taking his degree of doctor beyond feas: being fufficiently furnifhed and inftructed with what he defired, he returned into England towards the latter end of the reign of Queen Elizabeth, and flourished until that year of King James, wherein the Countess of Effex, the Earl of Somerfet, and Sip Thomas Overbury's matters were queftioned. He lived in Lambeth with a very good report of the neighbourhood, efpecially of the poor, unto whom he was charitable. He was a perfon that in horary queftions (especially thefts) was very judicious and fortunate; fo alfo in fickneffes, which indeed was his mafter-piece. In refolving questions about marriage he had good fuccefs; in other queftions very moderate. He was a perfon of indefatigable pains. I have feen fometimes half one fheet of paper wrote of his judgment upon one queftion; in writing whereof he used much tautology, as you may fee yourself (moft excellent Efquire) if you read a great book of Dr, Flood's, which you have, who had all that book from the manufcripts of Forman; for I have seen the fame word for word in an English manufcript formerly belonging to Doctor Willoughby of Gloucestershire. Had Forman lived to have methodized his own papers, I doubt not but he would have advanced the Jatro-mathematical part thereof very completely; for he was very obfervant, and kept notes of the fuccefs of his judgments, as in many of his figures I have obferved. I very well remember to have read in one of his manufcripts, what followeth. "Being in bed one morning," fays Ff he, |