Knight of the Sun, or Prince Adept | Chapter 28 Part 3

The Pythagorean ideas as to particular numbers are partially expressed in the following

LECTURE OT THE KABALISTS.

Qu∴ Why did you seek to be received a Knight of the Kabalah?

Ans∴ To know, by means of numbers, the admirable harmony which there is between nature and religion.

Qu∴ How were you announced?

Ans∴ By twelve raps.

Qu∴ What do they signify?

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Ans∴ The twelve bases of our temporal and spiritual happiness.

Qu∴ What is a Kabalist?

Ans∴ A man who has learned, by tradition, the Sacerdotal Art and the Royal Art.

Qu∴ What means the device, Omnia in numeris sita sunt?

Ans∴ That everything lies veiled in numbers.

Qu∴ Explain me that.

Ans∴ I will do so, as far as the number 12. Your sagacity will discern the rest.

Qu∴ What signifies the unit in the number 10?

Ans∴ Gob, creating and animating matter, expressed by O, which, alone, is of no value.

Qu∴ What does the unit mean?

Ans∴ In the moral order, a Word incarnate in the bosom of a virgin–or religion. . . . In the physical, a spirit embodied in the virgin earth–or nature.

Qu∴ What do you mean by the number two?

Ans∴ In the moral order, man and woman. . . . In the physical, the active and the passive.

Qu∴ What do you mean by the number 3?

Ans∴ In the moral order, the three theological virtues. . . . In the physical, the three principles of bodies.

Qu∴ What do you mean by the number 4?

Ans∴ The four cardinal virtues. . . . The four elementary qualities.

Qu∴ What do you mean by the number 5?

Ans∴ The quintessence of religion. . . . The quintessence of matter.

Qu∴ What do you mean by the number 6?

Ans∴ The theological cube . . . The physical cube.

Qu∴ What do you mean by the number 7?

Ans∴ The seven sacraments . . . The seven planets.

Qu∴ What do you mean by the number 8?

Ans∴ The small number of Elus . . . The small number of wise men.

Qu∴ What do you mean by the number 9?

Ans∴ The exaltation of religion . . . The exaltation of matter.

Qu∴ What do you mean by the number 10?

Ans∴ The ten commandments . . . The ten precepts of nature.

Qu∴ What do you mean by the number 11?

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Ans∴ The multiplication of religion . . . The multiplication of nature.

Qu∴ What do you mean by the number 12?

Ans∴ The twelve Articles of Faith; the twelve Apostles, foundation of the Holy City, who preached throughout the whole world, for our happiness and spiritual joy . . . The twelve operations of nature: The twelve signs of the Zodiac, foundation of the Primum Mobile, extending it throughout the Universe for our temporal felicity.

[The Rabbi (President of the Sanhedrin) adds: From all that you have said, it results that the unit develops itself in 2, is completed in three internally, and so produces 4 externally; whence, through 6, 7, 8, 9, it arrives at 5, half of the spherical number 10, to ascend, passing through 11, to 12, and to raise itself, by the number 4 times 10, to the number 6 times 12, the final term and summit of our eternal happiness.]

Qu∴ What is the generative number?

Ans∴ In the Divinity, it is the unit; in created things, the number 2: Because the Divinity, 1, engenders 2, and in created things 2 engenders 1.

Qu∴ What is the most majestic number?

Ans∴ 3, because it denotes the triple divine essence.

Qu∴ What is the most mysterious number?

Ans∴ 4, because it contains all the mysteries of nature.

Qu∴ What is the most occult number?

Ans∴ 5, because it is inclosed in the centre of the series.

Qu∴ What is the most salutary number?

Ans∴ 6, because it contains the source of our spiritual and corporeal happiness.

Qu∴ What is the most fortunate number?

Ans∴ 7, because it leads us to the decade, the perfect number.

Qu∴ Which is the number most to be desired?