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Diotimos Library · Esotericism & Spirituality Collection · Parallel Edition

Thomas Vaughan

Magia Adamica

The Antiquity of Magic · With the Complete Coelum Terrae

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Magia AdamicaThe Law, the Letters and the Book of Nature · Modern English

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Modern English Page · Branch 156 of 318

The Law, the Letters and the Book of Nature · Modern English

Original English

Philosophers. Lastly he describes the professors of Christianitie, with their Habit of Life, and the Excellencie of their Law. Difficile (saith he) est ei Nomen Congruum reperire, cum ejus effectus sit Illuminare, & omnia Claritate perfundere; unde Necessarium fuit eam appellare; Kim ki ao, h. e. Legem claram & magnam. That is: It is a hard matter to find a fit name for their Law, seeing the effect of it is to illuminat, and fill all with Knowledge; It was necessarie therefore to call it Kim ki ao, that is, the great Law of Light. To be short, Olo puen was admitted to the Court by Tai cum veu huamti King of China, here his Doctrine was thoroughly searched, examin'd, and sifted by the King himself, who having found it most true and solid, caus'd it to be proclam'd thorough his Dominions. Now upon what this Doctrine was founded, and what aestimat the King had both of it, and it's professor, we may easily gather from the words of his Proclamation. First then, where he mentions Olo puen, he calls him Magnae virtutis Hominem, a man of great virtue or power; it seems he did something more than prate and preach, could confirme his Doctrine, as the Apostles did theirs, not with words only, but with works. Secondly the Proclamation speaking of his Doctrine,

Modern English

philosophers. Lastly, he describes Christianity’s professors, their way of life and the excellence of their law. [New translation of the Latin:] “It is difficult to find a fitting name for it, since its effect is to illuminate and flood everything with brightness. It was therefore necessary to call it Kim Ki Ao, that is, the bright and great law.” [Vaughan’s English:] It is hard to find a suitable name for their law, since its effect is to illuminate and fill everything with knowledge. It was therefore necessary to call it Kim Ki Ao: the great Law of Light. Briefly, Tai Cum Veu Huamti, king of China, admitted Olo Puen to court. The king himself thoroughly investigated, examined and sifted his doctrine; finding it most true and solid, he ordered it proclaimed throughout his dominions. His proclamation’s words readily show both the doctrine’s foundation and his estimate of it and its professor. First, mentioning Olo Puen, he calls him [New translation of the Latin:] “a man of great virtue.” [Vaughan’s English:] a man of great virtue or power. Apparently he did more than chatter and preach: like the apostles, he could confirm his doctrine by works as well as words. Second, speaking of the doctrine, the proclamation

About This Reading Edition

Thomas Vaughan’s complete 1650 Magia Adamica publication, with all historical preliminaries and the complete appended Coelum Terrae, original and modern English, fresh translations of Latin, Greek and Hebrew, full poems, eight historical marginal notes, the complete recovered printed corrections, 312 annotations and the complete supplied Diotimos study apparatus.

Historical Text and Translation

Thomas Vaughan (Eugenius Philalethes), Magia Adamica: or The Antiquitie of Magic, with Coelum Terrae. London: T. W. for H. Blunden, 1650. Governing transcription: EEBO-TCP A64768.0001.001. The Getty Research Institute copy supplies surviving first-edition page images; the 1656 issue supplies explicitly disclosed missing or defective material. The complete shared 1650 errata are recovered from the Bibliotheca Philosophica Hermetica copy of The Man-Mouse.

About Diotimos Editions

This historical edition credits Diotimos Editions as its English translator.

Rights

The historical text is public domain; the EEBO-TCP Phase I transcription is released under CC0. The supplied 2026 reading, translations and Diotimos editorial material are published with the site owner’s authorization.