Origen, in particular, expressly says: "If, when invoking God, or swearing by him, you call him _the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob_ you will, by these words, do things the nature and force of which are such that the evil spirits submit to those who pronounce them; but if you call him by another name as _God of the roaring sea_, etc., no effort will be produced. The name of _Israel_ rendered in Greek will work nothing; but pronounce it in Hebrew with the other words required, and you will effect the conjuration." The same Origen had these remarkable words: "There are names which are powerful from their own nature. Such are those used by the sages of Egypt, the magi of Persia, and the Brahmins of India. What is called _magic_ is not a vain and chimerical art, as the Stoics and Epicureans pretend. The name _Sabaoth_ and _Adonai_ were _not_ made for created beings, but belong to a mysterious theology which has reference to the creator; hence the virtue of these names when they are arranged and pronounced according to rule," etc. It was by pronouncing letters according to the magical method, that the moon was made to descend to the earth. Virgil must be pardoned for having faith in this nonsense, and speaking of it seriously in his eighth eclogue: _Carmina de cœlo possunt de duecere lunam._ Pale Phœbe, drawn by verse, from heaven descends. --DRYDEN'S VIRGIL. In short, the alphabet was the origin, of all man's knowledge, and of all his errors. ABBÉ. The word _abbé_, let it be remembered, signifies father. If you become one you render a service to the state; you doubtless perform the best work that a man can perform; you give birth to a thinking being: in this action there is something divine. But if you are only _Monsieur l'Abbé_ because you have had your head shaved, wear a small collar, and a short cloak, and are waiting for a fat benefice, you do not deserve the name of _abbé_. The ancient monks gave this name to the superior whom they elected; the _abbé_ was their spiritual father. What different things do the same words signify at different times! The spiritual _abbé_ was once a poor man at the head of others equally poor: but the poor spiritual fathers have since had incomes of two hundred or four hundred thousand livres, and there are poor spiritual fathers in Germany who have regiments of guards. A poor man, making a vow of poverty, and in consequence becoming a sovereign? Truly, this is intolerable. The laws exclaim against such an abuse; religion is indignant at it, and the really poor, who want food and clothing, appeal to heaven against _Monsieur l'Abbé_.