8
The Qabalists explain the “First Cause” * by the
phrase: “FromO to I, as the circle opening out into the
line.” The Christian dogma is really identical, for both
conceive of a previous and eternally existing God, though
the Qabalists hedge by describing this latent Deity as
“Nor”. Later commentators, notably the illustrious
MacGregorMathers, have explained this Not as
Snegatively-existing”. Profound as is my respect for the
intellectual and spiritual attainments of him whom I am
proud to have been permitted to call my master, I am
bound to express my view that when the Qabalists said
Not, they meant Not, and nothing else. In fact, I really
claim to have re-discovered the long-lost and central
Arcanum of those divine philosophers.
Thave no serious objection to a finite god, or gods,
distinet from men and things. In fact personally,I
believe in them all, and admit them to possess inconcei-
yable though not infinite power.
The Buddhists admit the existence of Maha-Brahma,
but his power and knowledge are limited and his age-
long day must end. I find evidence every-where, even
in our garbled and mutilated version of the Hebrew
Scriptures, that Jehovah’s power was limited in all sorts
of ways. At the Fall, for instance, Tetragrammaton
Elohim has to summon his angels hastily to guard the
Tree of Life, lest ke should be proved a liar. For had it
occurred to Adam to eat of that Tree before their trans-
gression was discovered, or had the Serpent been aware
* An expression they carefully avoid using.