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I know not how it is so, but it seems to me that Porphyry brushed for
his friends the theurgists; for he knew all that I have adduced, but
did not frankly condemn polytheistic worship. He said, in fact, that
there are some angels who visit earth, and reveal divine truth to
theurgists, and others who publish on earth the things that belong to
the Father, His height and depth. Can we believe, then, that the
angels whose office it is to declare the will of the Father, wish us
to be subject to any but Him whose will they declare? And hence,
even this Platonist himself judiciously observes that we should rather
imitate than invoke them. We ought not, then, to fear that we may
offend these immortal and happy subjects of the one God by not
sacrificing to them; for this they know to be due only to the one true
God, in allegiance to whom they themselves find their blessedness,
and therefore they will not have it given to them, either in figure or
in the reality, which the mysteries of sacrifice symbolized. Such
arrogance belongs to proud and wretched demons, whose disposition is
diametrically opposite to the piety of those who are subject to God,
and whose blessedness consists in attachment to Him. And, that we
also may attain to this bliss, they aid us, as is fit, with sincere
kindliness, and usurp over us no dominion, but declare to us Him
under whose rule we are then fellow-subjects. Why, then, O
philosopher, do you still fear to speak freely against the powers which
are inimical both to true virtue and to the gifts of the true God?
Already you have discriminated between the angels who proclaim God's
will, and those who visit theurgists, drawn down by I know not what
art. Why do you still ascribe to these latter the honor of declaring
divine truth? If they do not declare the will of the Father, what
divine revelations can they make? Are not these the evil spirits who
were bound over by the incantations of an envious man, that they should
not grant purity of soul to another, and could not, as you say, be
set free from these bonds by a good man anxious for purity, and recover
power over their own actions? Do you still doubt whether these are
wicked demons; or do you, perhaps, feign ignorance, that you may not
give offence to the theurgists, who have allured you by their secret
rites, and have taught you, as a mighty boon, these insane and
pernicious devilries? Do you dare to elevate above the air, and even
to heaven, these envious powers, or pests, let me rather call them,
less worthy of the name of sovereign than of slave, as you yourself
own; and are you not ashamed to place them even among your sidereal
gods, and so put a slight upon the stars themselves?
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