01 Hermes.pdf

Hermes Trismegistus The First Book 1. O my Son, write this first Book, both for Humanitys sake, and for Piety towards God. 2. For there can be no Religion more true or just, than to know the things that are; and to acknowledge thanks for all things, to him that made them, which thing I shall not cease continually to do. 3. What then should a man do, O Father, to lead his life well, seeing there is nothing here true? 4. Be Pious and Religious, O my Son, for he that doth so, is the best and highest Philosopher; and without Philosophy, it is impossible ever to attain to the height and exactness of Piety or Religion. 5. But he that shall learn and study the things that are, and how they are ordered and governed, and by whom and for what cause, or to what end, will acknowledge thanks to the Workman as to a good Father, an excellent Nurse and a faithful Steward, and he that gives thanks shall be Pious or Religious, and he that is Religious shall know both where the truth is, and what it is, and learning that, he will be yet more and more Religious. 6. For never, O Son, shall or can that Soul which while it is in the Body lightens and lifts up itself to know and comprehend that which is Good and True, slide back to the contrary; for it is infinitely enamoured thereof. And forgetteth all Evils; and when it hath learned and known its Father and progenitor it can no more Apostatize or depart from that Good. 7. And let this, O Son, be the end of Religion and Piety; whereunto when thou art once arrived, thou shalt both live well, and die blessedly, whilst thy Soul is not ignorant whether it must return and fly back again. 8. For this only, O Son, is the way to the Truth, which our Progenitors travelled in; and by which, making their Jo