The Law was made and ordained of old.
The Law was made for the Wicca, that it might advise and help them in following the Path of Light and of Initiation.
The Wicca should give due worship to the Gods and obey Their Will, for the Gods love the Brethren of the Wicca, and the Will of the Gods is the True Will of the Initiate.
As two people love each other by living together and loving together,
So the Wicca should love the Gods by living always in Their Sight, and joining Them in Spirit and in Body.
And it is necessary that the Circle, which is the true Holy Temple of the Gods, should be truly purified and cast, that it may be a fit Place for Gods to enter.
And the Wicca should be properly prepared and purified to enter into the Presence of the Gods.
With love and worship in their hearts, they shall raise Power from their bodies, and channel Power from the Universe, to give Power to the Gods and help to humankind,
As has been taught of old.
For in this way only may folk have Communion with the Gods, and use the Power for Aid, and Growth, and Wisdom, for the Gods cannot help humankind without the help of humankind.
And the High Priestess shall rule the Coven as the representative of the Goddess.
And the High Priest shall rule the Coven as the representative of the God.
And the High Priestess shall choose whom she will, be they of sufficient rank, to be the Maiden, the deputy of the High Priestess; and the High Priest shall choose whom he will, be they of sufficient rank, to be the Guardian, the Summoner, the deputy of the High Priest.
And they shall rule the Coven jointly and equally; yet the High Priestess shall have charge within the Circle, and the High Priest shall support her.
For, as the God Himself kissed Her Feet in the Fivefold Salute, laying His Power at the Feet of the Goddess because She is the Source of All Life and Being and He draws His Life and Being and Power from Her as Her First-Begotten Son and Lover,
So He resigned all His Power unto Her, and received it back again.
But the High Priestess and the High Priest should ever mind that all Power comes from the Gods.
It is only lent to be used wisely and justly.
And the greatest virtue of a High Priestess or High Priest be that he or she recognizes that spiritual growth is necessary to the Life of the Coven.
So will he or she gracefully retire in favor of another should it be necessary for the Life of the Coven.
For the true High Priestess or High Priest realizes that gracefully surrendering pride of place is one of the greatest virtues.
And that thereby he or she will return to that pride of place in another life, with greater Power and Wisdom.
In the old days, when Witchdom extended far, we were free and worshipped in all the great Temples.
But then came unhappy times, when our Sacred Mysteries were celebrated in secret.
And it was ordained that none but the Wicca might see our Mysteries, for our enemies were many and torture loosens the tongue of man.
And it was ordained that no Coven should know where the next Coven bode,
Or who its members were, save only the Priest and Priestess and the Messenger.
And there should be no communication between them, save only by the Messenger of the Gods, or the Summoner.
And only if it were safe might the Covens meet in some safe place for the Great Festivals.
And while there, none should say whence they came
