Then she enquired, whether there was no mystery in numbers? No other mystery, answered the spirits, but reckoning or counting; for numbers are only marks of remembrance. But what do you think of the number of four, said she, which Cabbalists make such ado withal, and of the number of ten, when they say that ten is all, and that all numbers are virtually comprehended in four? We think, answered they, that Cabbalists have nothing else to do but to trouble their heads with such useless fancies; for naturally there is no such thing as prime or all in numbers; nor is there any other mystery in numbers, but what Man’s fancy makes; but what men call Prime, or All, we do not know, because they do not agree in the number of their opinion. Then the Empress asked, whether the number of six was a symbol of matrimony, as being made up of male and female, for two into three is six. If any number can be a symbol of matrimony, answered the spirits, it is not six, but two; if two may be allowed to be a number: for the act of matrimony is made up of two joined in one. She asked again, what they said to the number of seven? whether it was not an emblem of God, because Cabbalists say, that it is neither begotten, nor begets any other number?

There can be no emblem of God, answered the spirits; for if we do not know what God is, how can we make an emblem of him? Nor is there any number in God, for God is the perfection Himself; but numbers are imperfect; and as for the begetting of numbers, it is done by multiplication and addition; but substraction is as a kind of death to numbers. If there be no mystery in numbers, replied the Empress, then it is in vain to refer the creation of the world to certain numbers, as Cabbalists do. The only mystery of numbers, answered they, concerning the creation of the world, is, that as numbers do multiply, so does the world. The Empress asked, how far numbers did multiply? The spirits answered, to infinite. Why, said she, infinite cannot be reckoned, nor numbered. No more, answered they, can the parts of the Universe; for God’s creation, being an infinite action, as proceeding from an infinite Power, could not rest upon a finite number of creatures, were it never so great. But leaving the mystery of numbers, proceeded the Empress, let me now desire you to inform me, whether the suns and planets were generated by the heavens, or aethereal matter?

The spirits answered, that the stars and planets were of the same matter which the Heavens, the aether, and all other natural creatures did consist of; but whether they were generated by the Heavens or aether, they could not tell: if they be, said they, they are not like their parents; for the sun, stars, and planets, are more splendorous than the aether, as also more solid and constant in their motions: But put the case, the stars and planets were generated by the Heavens, and the aethereal matter; the question then would be, out of what these are generated or produced? If these be created out of nothing, and not generated out of something, then it is probable the sun, stars and planets are so too; nay, it is more probable of the stars, and planets, than of the heavens, or the fluid aether, by reason the stars and planets seem to be further off from mortality, than the particular parts of the aether; for no doubt but the parts of the aethereal matter, alter into several forms, which we do not perceive of the stars and planets. The Empress asked further, whether they could give her information of the three principles of Man, according to the doctrine of the Platonists; as first of the intellect, spirit, or divine light. 2. Of the Soul of Man herself: and 3.

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