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Diotimos Library · Esotericism & Spirituality Collection · Bilingual Edition

Attributed to Abraham the Jew

The Manly Hall Manuscript Collection, Volume I

Book of Hieroglyphic Figures

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The Manly Hall Manuscript Collection, Volume IGood and Evil Angels · Manuscript 55v · Scan 138

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English Page · Branch 131 of 351

Good and Evil Angels · Manuscript 55v · Scan 138

French

Ms. 55v

du huitième ordre; les derniers esprits de notre neuvième sphère aussi bien que les intelligences angéliques du neuvième ordre sont chargés de la conservation de toutes choses sublunaires et du soin de la génération. Les esprits de la dernière et la plus basse classe céleste sont naturels, et comme ils sont composés de la substance élémentaire, ils ne sont point esprits à parler proprement et théologiquement; à cause de leur délicatesse, de leur pureté, de leur subtilité et de leur facilité à pénétrer l'essence éthérée, nous leur donnons le titre d'esprits; ils ont tiré leur origine du plus pur mercure de l'ancien limbe, pour secourir la nature et pour servir à son ministère, c'est pourquoi tout ce qui est créé dans la nature, soit végétal, soit animal, soit minéral coule de lui et des parties des éléments, et est même attiré par sa vertu bénéfique et aimantine, comme l'âme raisonnable dans les organes du corps humain y est retenue par ce fort lien d'amour qui l'attire, et par l'identité de nature, et retenue par le corps, devenu comme un instrument propre à tout ce qui opère ce que vous [illegible].

Tous le reste des essences pures, simples et incorruptibles, comme le soleil, les astres, les anges et l'âme raisonnable, et

Ms. 55v

The Manly Hall Manuscript Collection, Volume I: Good and Evil Angels

Ms. 55v

of the eighth order. The last spirits of our ninth sphere, as well as the angelic intelligences of the ninth order, are charged with preserving all sublunary things and attending to generation. The spirits of the last and lowest celestial class are natural. Since they are composed of elemental substance, they are not spirits in the proper theological sense. Because of their delicacy, purity, subtlety and ability to penetrate the ethereal essence, we give them the title of spirits. They drew their origin from the purest mercury of the ancient limbo to assist nature and serve her ministry. This is why everything created in nature—vegetable, animal or mineral—flows from it and from the parts of the elements, and is even attracted by its beneficent, magnetic power, just as the rational soul is held within the organs of the human body by this strong bond of love that attracts it, and by identity of nature, and is held by the body, which has become an instrument suited to everything that works what you [illegible].

All the remaining pure, simple and incorruptible essences, such as the sun, heavenly bodies, angels and rational soul, and

Ms. 55v

About This Reading Edition

The first manuscript in the Manly Palmer Hall collection at the Getty Research Institute: the Book of Hieroglyphic Figures, presented in French and English with 463 explanatory notes, 13 manuscript plates, 25 source details, an introduction, chapter outline, glossary, bibliography, and register of readings.

Historical Text and Translation

Book of Hieroglyphic Figures (Livre des figures hiéroglyphiques), attributed in the witness to Abraham the Jew. Getty Research Institute, Manly Palmer Hall collection of alchemical manuscripts, accession 950053, Box 1, Hogart manuscript 3; French witness catalogued circa 1800. Manly Palmer Hall is the collector, not the author.

About Diotimos Editions

This historical edition credits Diotimos Editions as its English translator.

Rights

The circa 1800 source manuscript is public domain. The supplied 2026 French reading transcription, English translation, introduction, notes, outline, glossary, register, and editorial arrangement are published with the site owner’s authorization. Source photographs are credited to the Getty Research Institute and Internet Archive in the supplied edition.