The Magus/Book 1/Part 2/Chapter 23

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CHAP. XXIII.

OF THE NUMBER EIGHT, AND THE SCALE.

THE Pythagorians call Eight the number of juftice, and fulneſs: first, becaufe it is firft of all divided into numbers equally even, viz. into four; and that divifion is, by the fame reafon, made into twice two, viz. twice two twice; and by reafon of this equality of divifion it took to itfelf the name of juftice. But the other received the name of fulneſs, by reafon of the contexture of the corporeal folidity, fince the firft makes a folid body. Hence that cuftom of Orpheus fwearing by the eight deities, if at any time he would befeech Divine juftice, whofe names are thefe:—Fire, Water, Earth, the Heaven, Moon, Sun, Phanes, and the Night. There are only eight viſible fpheres of the heavens. Alfo, by it the property of corporeal nature is fignified, which Orpheus comprehends in eight of his fea fongs: this is alfo called the covenant, or circumcifion, which was commanded to be done by the Jews the eighth day.

There were alfo, in the old law, eight ornaments of the prieft, viz. a breaftplate, a coat, a girdle, a mitre, a robe, an ephod, a girdle of the ephod, and a golden plate. Hither belongs the number to eternity, and the end of the world, becauſe it follows the number feven, which is the myftery of time. Hence, alfo, the number of bleffednefs, as you may fee in Matthew. It is alfo called the number of fafety, and confervation; for there were fo many fouls of the fons of Jeffe, from which David was the eighth.

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THE SCALE OF THE NUMBER EIGHT.
The name of God with eight letters, Eloa Vadaath אלוה רדעת Jehova Vedaath יהוה רהעה In the original world.
Eight rewards of the blessed, Inheritance, Incorruption, Power, Victory, The vision of God, Grace, A kingdom, Joy; In the intelligible world.
Eight visible heavens, The starry heaven, The heaven of Saturn, The heaven of Jupiter, The heaven of Mars, The heaven of the Sun, The heaven of Venus, The heaven of Mercury, The heaven of the Moon; In the celestial world.
Eight particular qualities, The dryness of the earth, The coldness of water, The moisture of air, The heat of fire, The heat of air, The moisture of water, The dryness of fire, The coldness of earth; In the elementary world.
Eight kinds of blessed men, The peace makers, They that hunger and thirst after righteousness, The meek, They which are persecuted for righteousness sake, Pure in heart, Merciful, Poor in spirit, Mourners; In the lesser world.
Eight punishments of the damned. Prison, Death, Judgment, The wrath of God, Darkness, Indignation, Tribulation, Anguish; In the infernal world.
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