Section 20

p. 39 1 Sc . the race of the righteous, of the spiritual or perfect. It has many names in mystical literature of the first centuries, as for instance in Philo, who distinguishes 'race' and 'kin' of God from 'people' of God. See for references and quotations my Thrice-greatest Hermes (London, 1906), Index s.v. 'Race.' 2 The same mystic idea underlies the words of Philo about the women Therapeuts ( D.V.C. ): "Their longing is not for mortal children, but for a deathless progeny which the soul that is in love with God can alone bring forth." See my translation in Fragments of a Faith Forgotten (London, 2nd ed., 1906), p. 75. It is the Melchisedec motive also. 3 The Later Platonists glossed 'old age' as used by Plato to signify the age of wisdom. p. 40 1 The prophets are god-sons of their god-parents; father and son are the usual terms for the relationship between master and pupil in sacred things. 2 That is, the heavenly messengers. 3 The Heavenly Man of Light. The Man-doctrine is an essential element of the Gnosis, as it was also with Jesus. ('Son of Man' is the Aramćan idiom for 'Man' simply.) See Reitzenstein's Poimandres (Leipzig, 1904), my Thrice-greatest Hermes (1906), and Bousset, op. cit. (1907), indexes. 4 This introductory formula, as is the case with other headings and conclusions, is due to the collectors and editors. It is unexplained, but seems to refer to the dark period before the dawn of the Day of Light which was expected. The days of this age are spiritual nights. N.B. (a prophet 'proclaims,' he does not 'preach.' 5 This-World-rulers or Archontes, the Planets or Planetary Spirits, which the MM. regarded as evil powers. They are the 'Dead' as having no spiritual Life.