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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 IThe Two Natures of Natural Spirits · Manuscript 66v · Scan 160

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The Two Natures of Natural Spirits · Manuscript 66v · Scan 160

French

Ms. 66v

Il est certain que le corps peut être clarifié ; l’expérience l’atteste, et la nature en convient ; c’est-à-dire que le corps acquiert certaines qualités accordées par la nature aux esprits naturels, par le moyen desquelles il arrive à la clarification comme nous dirons en parlant de la résurrection des corps.

Un véritable chrétien doute encore moins que les âmes des justes lavées dans le sang de l’agneau n’acquièrent pour elles et leurs corps certaines conditions, savoir la subtilité, la clarté, l’agilité et l’impassibilité par lesquelles elles peuvent être bien heureuses et clarifiées. C’est un point de foi inébranlable qui subsistera éternellement. Peut-on, je vous prie, pour peu qu’on ait de bon sens, douter que le corps doué de ces dons glorieux ne jouisse de tous les délices. Y a-t-il quelque obstacle qui l’empêche, vu sa subtilité et son agilité à parcourir les lieux même les plus éloignés, et à pénétrer les corps les plus solides sans perdre ses qualités ? Puisque c’est une grâce accordée, je ne dis pas à tous les esprits, mais aux rayons luisants des corps célestes et même à notre pierre glorieuse ? Est-il surprenant, puisqu’ils

Ms. 66v

The Manly Hall Manuscript Collection, Volume I: The Two Natures of Natural Spirits

Ms. 66v

It is certain that the body can be made radiant: experience attests it, and nature agrees. That is, the body acquires certain qualities that nature grants to natural spirits, by means of which it reaches this radiance, as we shall explain when speaking of the resurrection of bodies.

A true Christian doubts still less that the souls of the just, washed in the blood of the Lamb, acquire for themselves and their bodies certain conditions: namely subtlety, brightness, agility, and impassibility, through which they can be blessed and made radiant. This is an unshakable point of faith that will endure eternally. Can anyone, I ask, possessing the least good sense, doubt that a body endowed with these glorious gifts enjoys every delight? Is there any obstacle to prevent it, given its subtlety and agility, from traversing even the most distant places and penetrating the most solid bodies without losing its qualities? Since this grace is granted, I do not say to all spirits, but to the shining rays of heavenly bodies and even to our glorious stone? Is it surprising, since they

Ms. 66v

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.