The Great Art

The Great Art page 34
The body is by itself a principle of death, analogous to that formless, cold and dark mass, from
which God formed the World. It represents shadows. The mind is derived from and participates in
this matter, animated by the spirit of God, which in the beginning moved upon the waters, and which
by its diffused light, infused into the mass that heat, producer of movement and life in all nature, and
that fertilizing virtue, principle of generation, which furnishes to each individual the means of
multiplying its species.
Infused into the womb with the germ which it animates, it works there to form and to perfect the
dwelling which it is to inhabit, according to the quality of the materials furnished, the geographical
conditions and the specification of matter. If the materials are of good quality, the building will be
more solid, the temperament stronger and more vigorous. If they are bad, the body will be weaker,
and less fit to resist the perpetual assaults which it will have to sustain as long as it will exist. If the
matter is susceptible of a more perfect organization, the mind will be able to exercise its action with
all the liberty and ease possible. Then the progeny who will proceed from it will be more alert, and
the mind will manifest itself in the actions of life with more brilliancy. But if something is wanting, if
the matter is gross and terrestrial, if this mind is weak in itself, because of its little strength or
quantity, the organs will be defective, or vitiated ; the mind can only work feebly in its abode; the
progeny will be more or less stupid. The soul which will be infused into it, will not be less perfect,
but its minister, being able to exercise its functions only with difficulty - because of the obstacles
which it meets at each step - will not appear in all its splendour and will not be able to manifest itself
as it is. The cabin of a peasant, even the house of a merchant, would not announce the dwelling of a
king, although a king should make his abode there. In vain will he have all the qualities required to
reign gloriously, in vain will his minister be intelligent and capable of aiding his sovereign ; if the
constitution of the state is bad, if they cannot command obedience, if there is no remedy, the state
will not be splendid; all will go wrong, all will decline; it will go to its destruction without one being
able to deny the existence of the sovereign, or to blame him for the lack of glory and splendour. One
will render, even to the king and his minister, the justice which is due to them.
Thus one sees why reason is manifested in children only at a certain age, and in some sooner than in
others; why, in proportion as the organs are weakened, the reason appeared to be weakened also:
Corpus quod corrumpitur aggravat animam, et terrêna inhabitatio deprimit sensum multa
cogitantem,(Sap. I.) A certain time is necessary for the organs to be strengthened and perfected. They
are finally consumed; they fall into decay and are destroyed. Even if the state were at its highest
degree of glory, if it begins to decline, if its destruction is inevitable, the king and his minister, with
all the care and aptitudes possible, will be able, at most, only to make from time to time efforts,
which will manifest their talents, but which will not suffice to arrest the ruin of the state.
Howsoever little an intelligent man looks into himself, and makes the analysis of his composition,
he will soon recognize these three principles of his humanity, really distinct, but united in a single
individual, (Nicolas Flamel, Explanation of Figures, Chap. 7.)
Let the pretended strong, minds, the materialists, ignorant and little accustomed to reflect seriously,
consider themselves in good faith, and follow step by step this little detail of Man, and they will soon
recognize their mistake and the weakness of their principles. They will see that their ignorance causes
them to confound the king with the minister, and the subjects, the Soul with the mind and the body.
Finally, that a prince is responsible both for his own actions and those of his minister, when the latter
acts by his order, or with his consent and approbation.
Solomon confounds the errors of the materialists of his time, and teaches us at the same time that
they reasoned as foolishly as those of our day:-
“They have, said he, (Sap. c. 2), spoken as madmen who think evil, and have said:-
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