the metaphor of the tree here is reminiscent of the tree of knowledge from genesis, further underlining the importance of accepting human limitations. just as adam and eve were forbidden from eating the fruit of that tree, practitioners of the sacred magic must avoid seeking knowledge beyond what is permitted. it serves as a cautionary statement, warning against overreaching ambitiona recurring issue in the esoteric tradition, where seekers of knowledge often risk falling into the sin of hubris. > it is then not only proper, but further also we are compelled to conform ourselves unto the will of the lord, walking in that path, by the which also our predecessors went, without seeking out through a vain curiosity how it is that god reigneth and governeth in his divine wisdom; because such would be a very great presumption and a bestial conceit. (p. 49) this section builds upon the earlier message of humility by warning against the danger of curiosity that crosses divine boundaries. the vain curiosity mentioned here refers to the human impulse to seek out answers to questions that are not meant to be answeredparticularly those concerning the mechanics of god's governance and his divine wisdom. the phrase "bestial conceit" suggests that this curiosity, far from being a noble pursuit, is actually a form of arrogance and folly that reduces human beings to a lower state of existence. this echoes the mystical and philosophical traditions that value acceptance of divine mysteries over attempts to deconstruct or rationalize them.
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