ering that it was in her power to damne and save
all persons, and if any were at the point of death, and in the way
to damnation, so that he were capable to receive the secrets of the
goddesse, it was in her power by divine providence to reduce him to the
path of health, as by a certaine kind of regeneration: Finally he said
that I must attend the celestiall precept, although it was evident and
plaine, that the goddesse had already vouchsafed to call and appoint me
to her ministery, and to will me refraine from prophane and unlawfull
meates, as those Priests which were already received, to the end I might
come more apt and cleane to the knowledge of the secrets of religion.
Then was I obedient unto these words, and attentive with meek
quietnesse, and probable taciturnity, I daily served at the temple: in
the end the wholesome gentlenesse of the goddesse did nothing deceive
me, for in the night she appeared to me in a vision, shewing that the
day was come which I had wished for so long, she told me what provision
and charges I should be at, and how that she had appointed her
principallest Priest Mythra to be minister with me in my sacrifices.

When I heard these divine commandements, I greatly rejoyced: and arose
before day to speake with the great Priest, whom I fortuned to espie
comming out of his chamber: Then I saluted him, and thought with my
selfe to aske and demand his counsell with a bold courage, but as soone
as he perceived me, he began first to say: O Lucius now know I well
that thou art most happy and blessed, whom the divine goddesse doth so
greatly accept with mercy, why dost thou delay? Behold the day which
thou desiredst when as thou shalt receive at my hands the order of
religion, and know the most pure secrets of the gods, whereupon the old
man tooke me by the hand, and lead me to the gate of the great temple,
where at the first entrie he made a solempne celebration, and after
morning sacrifice ended, brought out of the secret place of the temple
books, partly written with unknown characters, and partly painted
with figures of beasts declaring briefly every sentence, with tops
and tailes, turning in fashion of a wheele, which were strange and
impossible to be read of the prophane people: There he interpreted to me
such things as were necessary to the use and preparation of mine order.
This done, I gave charge to certaine of my companions to buy liberally,
whatsoever was needfull and convenient, then he b