Two Physical Treatises: On the Imposture of Healing Wounds by the Weapon Salve and On the Bleeding of Corpses

oppose them, the harmony of which was nevertheless necessary for the magical attraction.

163. Indeed, it very often happens that the constitution of the heavens is hostile to the injured thing at the very time it is injured, and it sometimes lasts longer.

164. For a friendly [heavenly body] does not allow it to be injured, according to those magicians.

165. Yet that fat, or prepared ointment, could not in any way be so strong that it turns away every adverse force of God, the demon, the heavens, and the elements.

166. Therefore, either the cure will not be begun, or it will be interrupted.

167. It is impious to interpret magical attraction as similar to the action and divine presence in the Church.

168. For the dissimilarity is maximal.

169. For He promised the latter, but rejected the former.

170. He performs the latter willingly out of love for men, not for medicines; He forbade the former.

171. It also follows beautifully from the foundations of the magicians that the contrary is true.

172. For if divine power is repelled by that which opposes it:

173. And God hates magic.

174. By none of its powers can He be brought to consent to the effect by acting through it Himself.

175. If the attraction is so powerful that it can lead a suitable power from the heavens to the weapon,