Death do often Communicate their desires and reveal various Secrets unto their Friends for Dreams are Incorporeal and the Souls deceased have no other way to impart their Secrets that is so amiliar as this except some few who at their Death are greatly affectionated to Wife and Children or the like and dye with a strong desire of revealing something that lies hid or to manifest their affections to their surviving Friends and these sometimes do it by assuming an aireal Body and appearing Affections being the chief general Cause of Apparitions of Souls departed But then the will and desire must be very strong and powerful at the departure of the Soul from the Body or else it cannot cloath it self with a sidereal or Elemental thin Body for the External Eye cannot see any thing but what is like is self or compounded of them same Elements and there is great difficulty for any Soul to cloath it self with a material Body neither indeed can it be done if the Affections and desires be not wonderful strong and powerful Which shadow or thin Body continues no longer than the Radical moisture in the deceased Body does in some degree continue for as the moisture and matter of the Body does waste so the Apparition or Ghost does grow weak and at last vanish For the Soul cloathed it self by the help of the matter contained in the Body which is done by a sympathitical Operation between the External and Internal for there is some likeness or Relikes of the Spirit remaining in the deceased Body so long as it continues moist and full of matter for if it were not so it were impossible that any Soul should appear in any Body or shape either humane or Beastial Therefore it was that some of the Philosophical Antients commanded the Bodies of the dead to be burni to Ashes which did totally destroy the Humour Radicalis or Spirit of the external elemental Nature thereby perventing such Apparitions as wâ—… are speaking of and hindering Souls from Cloathing themselves with thin Aireal Bodies which they can do only by a Sympathetical agreement between themselves and their old Houses the deceased Bodies For if the Soul departs from the Body filld with Affections to external things be they what they will then finding it discomposed and disquieted it longs after its old Body or House and by Simile and help of the Fluid Humours and Spirits yet remaining in the Body it attracts a subtle matter in which having vested it self it becomes to outward view Corporeal â—…ut if the body should be consumed by Fire then the Spirit or Soul would be prevented wholly of matter for this sidereal Cloathing And therefore this way of burning the dead bodies was practised as in divers other Nations so also in England in former Ages for then it was more frequent for departed Souls as also for divers other sorts of Spirits to appear to the living than of late years for some Reasons which I shall not stand to insist upon or explain in this place And therefore they did consume their dead Bodies with Fire by which there was an immediate and full Separation between the Body and Soul and no simile remain'd and consequently no matter could be attracted or coagulated for the formation of such Spectre's or Apparitions For the like Reason we may note by the way that the first Midwives and Directors of Women after Delivery ordered the After-Birth with Consumption by Fire to put a period to the Atomes or subtle Spirits that can and do powerfully penetrate all Bodies for they are so subtle and quick that nothing can hold or hinder them from returning to their Centers but only the Annilation of the whole But it is further to be observed That all Midwives ought to let the After-Burthen be through cold before they burn it or else the fierce surprisal which the Fire makes upon the Spirits will force them back to their Center whence they proceed with a Rapid motion and carry with them the hot sulpherous Atomes and Particles of the Fire which in some Complections will wound the Health and oft-times cause Fevers and unnatural Heats and Indispositions and more heat the Milk by simile These things are seldom considered and therefore the Evils thereof are the ofter felt But to return from this Digression wherein we thought it not unfit to point out briefly the Nature Causes and Manner of Souls appearing after Death which sometimes happens where the affections are exceeding violent as aforesaid it is far easier and more familiar for the deceased Souls to communicate their secrets to their living Friends in Dreams then to appear thus in external Forms by cloathing themselves with thin Elemental Bodies for men in Dreams are nearer unto the condition of departed Souls then when awake and therefore they can with ease and great familiarity discourse and reveal their minds unto them more especially if there were a simile between their spirits or if there was a hearty Love and Affection whilst they lived For all the time the Body sleepeth it is as it were dead and ten hours is but as one minute but the spirit and soul liveth and acteth and seeth and apprehendeth things as if it had not any earthly Body but were already in Eternity for near and afar off is all a like unto it it can as easily visit remote Countries and Regions beyond the Equinoctial or Tropicks as a mans own House or Garden it can sink it self into the deepest of Depths and also sore aloft and range through all the Coelestial sphears the Etherial Spirits of men being thus volatile and busie when the outward body or senses are dead or which is all one for the time asleep the Immaterial Beeings or seperated Souls being of an homogenial Nature and like state can easily hold communication therewith by such means as are proper for the intercourse of such spirituous Essences especially if before the Death of the Body there was something strongly impressed on the Spirit of the deceased which proves very burthensome until they have by some means revealed it to those to whom they had a desire to impart it before their Death but by some accident were prevented or where there is some great sympathy or similitude between the Soul of the deceased and the Living and for this last reason the Souls of strangers sometimes do make application to such sympathizing Souls of the Living whilst the Body lies asleep and reveal great secrets or foretel them of things sometimes good and sometimes evil that are likely to befal them But there is such a vast disproportion between the Incorporeal Beeings viz. Souls departed Spirits and Angels on the one side and our outward material Senses and Reason on the other as makes all these Wonderful mysteries that happen to man of this Nature appear but as meer fantasies shadows or Vanity and therefore this secret spiritual converse and real Communications of Souls are deâ—…ided in the highest degree which
either pleasure or pain For this cause both good and evil Angels and Spirits can most easily and familiarly communicate with the Souls of men in sleep for then the Soul is near unto their Ubi or Beeing and there is a great affinity between them but when the Body is awake and all its sally-ports of the Senses wide open to let in outward material Objects the Soul is cloathed with a dark heavy earthy sensual vesture which does as it were wholly captivate and chain this incorporeal Essence and as those Communications Revelations Sights or whatever else does happen to the Soul in Dreams and Visions seems as nothing to the Body and Senses after waking which is one main cause so many slight Dreams so what is translated through the Senses or in the outward material World is nothing to the Soul in Dreams but the Beggar has as lofty Representations as the King and the poor Captive as free Enjoyments as his Judge therefore we should consider the vast differance between the internal and external principles and their respective Inhabitants and that the external Eye can see only into its own Birth or Original that is into the Things and Light of this outward material World as receiving its Light from thence for nothing can see further than its own principle whence it proceeded For this cause no mortal man can see and communicate with Angels and Spirits by sight and under the perfect Exercise of their outward Senses therefore when the holy Prophets and Antients received Visions and the good Angels and Spirits Communicated their Secrets unto them it was alwayes in Dreams Extasies or Raptures not knowing as the Apostle saith 2 Cor. 12. 2. whether they were in the Body or out of the Body and therefore the Prophet Daniel saith that in the great Vision before mentioned he had not the strength of a man that is his senses and natural understanding was during that time of the Vision weak dead or as it were asleep and did not see nor know any more of the mystery or divine sight than men do of their common Visions of the Night which are as nothing to the Body and Senses for every Eye sees into its own Radix that of the Body into the Principle of this World as being generated from the Light thereof and being it self Corporeal sees apprehends and comprehends all Corporal things but the Eye of the mind and soul is Incorporeal and therefore it can well see apprehend and comprehend things Incorporeal and Spiritual especially when it shakes off and as it were quits it self of the Chains and heavy Fetters of its earthly Tabernacle and the sensual Facultites of the external palpability as comes to pass in Visions and Dreams for the Soul has an eternal and Coelestial original proceeding from the Intelligible World and therefore when it is freed from Darkness it can well see into and communicate with the internal and heavenly Spirits and Angels But the Senses and Body take their original from gross palpable matter and therefore depend upon sublinary nature consequently subject to destruction and coruption The Body is a dull heavy Trunk but the Soul is quick as Thought and nimble as a Beam of Light and therefore when freed from the clog of the Body and sensual Power 't is capable of entertaining and receiving all things be they either material or immaterial But here it must be noted that it is common for Persons in Dreams to be presented with various Figures Forms and Shapes of material things belonging unto the Animal Vegetable and Mineral Kingdoms which do signifie or often times fore shew or denote Prosperity Adversity Health Sickness the Death of themselves or Friends others have vocal Calls Voices or Blows before Death or Sickness Now all this variety of Nightly Representations or Dreams proceed from the variety of each mans Genius or Angel and are true or false according to its Nature and the vertuous or vicious Lives of the Persons But certain it is that many men have certain and assured signs or premonitions given them of the Death or Well-fare of absent Friends and Relations as also of their own of which were it needful numerous Instances might be given and this as it is very strange and wonderful so I see not which way it can come to pass otherwise than by the operation of the internal and supernatural Intelligers or Genji which amongst the wise and sober Antients was more frequent then of late years viz. when men fearing the Lord believed that he governed the world by Angels and when men lived in Sobriety Temperance and Cleanness which doth wonderfully prepare men for and render them capable of receiving true Dreams or Oracles For external as well as internal Purity and to be free from Violence and the defilements of Blood and of unclean Meats and Drinks is most necessary for all who would be worthy of this sublime Knowledge and Gift of true Dreams must keep a pure undisturbed and undisquieted Spirit and Imagination friendly compose the same for an unclouded Spirit is like a clear Glass or calm limpid spring of water wherein you may behold the true Images of things but if the same be troubled stirred or agitated then you perceive nothing but confused Figures so the Spirit being discomposed apprehends nothing as it ought to do but as long as it continues serene and tranquil it lets in the true Lights of distinguishing understanding and presents the real Figures and Notions of things to such as are of a sound and healthy Body Mind not dulled with Intemperance nor made sad by Anger nor provoked to Bitterness and Envy by Covetousness but when at peace with God and all its innocent Creation you quietly go to Bed and fall a sleep then the Soul being loosed from hurtful thoughts and freed from the heavy body and sensual Spirits does freely Communicate with divine Angels and Spirits and far more certainly clearly and efficaciously behold and enjoy wonderful things and oftimes is then instructed in and taught many abstruce Secrets and Mystries for the good Spirits being diffusive and communicative do invite the Soul to their Society by the opportunity of the Sleep of the Body Sences and the nocturnal solitariness nor will they be wanting to such when they are awake if they shall square and conduct their Lives and Actions by the measures of wisdom and rules of Piety On the Contrary such whose Fantsies and Spirits are dull and as it were unpolished and who languish under distemperatures of mind and a Body oppressed with excess of wine or other superfluity whence noxious Fumes arises that miserably becloud all the Intellectual Hemispere the access and intercourse of the benigne Spirits or Angels is prevented or frustrated and such peoples Dreams are confused oblivious and tending to Evil and Vanity for the good Intelligences cannot nor will give true Oracles or significant Dreams to persons intemperate and unclean and whose Souls are
to be noted that all or most Mad People are far stronger and more able to endure Hardship Hunger Cold and the like inconveniences although many of them are naturally of weak tender natures and during the continuances of their Senses and Reasoning Vigour did indulge and enure themselves to tenderness yet when once they become Mad they are so strong and powerful that some of them must have two three or four men to hold and rule them and as to their enduring of Cold it is wonderful for even nice tender Gentlewomen who Screen themselves all the Winter by lusty Fires in warm Beds and close Chambers and the like with choice Foods and cordial Drink are no sooner deprived of their Reason and Senses but they leap over all these things and endure hardship to admiration without prejudice to their health even beyond the sturdiest constitution the reason whereof is because when people by any of the fore-mentioned Accidents and Passions fall into Distraction the whole Systime of Nature being put into a tumultuous unequal Motion the same does in a moment of time rouse up or awaken the deep or great Original Fierce Poysonous Fire or the four first Forms of Nature Now when these turbulent Fires of Saturn and Mars have obtained the dominion and sole Government in the Soul they with a rapid motion destroy the Government of the Divine Light and also of the humane Nature which are and ought to be the Moderator and Allayers of the aforesaid original poysonous Fire and the true Distinguishers between what is good and the contrary and thus the Spirit being alwayes as upon a ferment and uncontrolable motion it warms strengthens and oftentimes does as it were put a new life into the very Element of the Body whence a strong vigerous strength and agility of body and a Defence of Cold Hunger and the like inconveniences does proceed This is further demonstrated by all sorts of people in Passion of either Love or Hate or when surprised or in Sudden Frights are they not Generally under such Circumstances of far greater Spirit stronger and more active Bodies and rendered more able to Lift Run Carry Fight or any other thing Good or Evil then at other times and have aboundantly more courage and they can attempt and perform many wonderful things without the least suspition of Danger which at other times they tremble to think of and would not for the greatest rewards be preswaded to undertake Nay when the Soul-Fires are kindled in the poysonous Root a man can whithout Dread and Fear lay violent hands on himself so wonderfully great is its â—…ower for this is a madness of tâ—…e highest degree since no man as the Apostle said hates his own Flesh but loveth and cherishes it which ought well to be considered by all Jurors concerned in such cases So likewise when men are overcome with Drink the spirituous Properties of the strong Liquor received in too great a quantity do by Simily incorporate with the Spirits of Nature in the Elements of the Body so that it inkindles the Original fierce Fires and puts the whole Frame of Nature into a tumultuous state of Inequality and during its operation Reason it captivated and men in this condition may truly be said to be in the worst kind of Madness as clearly is manifested by their idle leud Discourses and mischievious Actions Likewise Malancholy people when grievously oppressed with its taciturne Properties are in a degree deprived of their natural Sences and Reason and the Soul becomes as it were Spiritual so that it Imagines Sees Hears and Apprehends wonderful things which though to others appear as meer fansies yet to them are real and essential § 12. As for the Original Seed or Spring of Phrensies or Madness in the Body it must be noted besides what hath been already said that there is in the Pipe of the Artery of the Stomach a vital Faculty of the Soul for the in-beaming of Rayes of Light into the Heart so long as it is in a good state but when through Passions and Disorders it behaveth it self rashly or amiss then presently Heart-burning Fainting Giddiness of the Head Appoplexes Epilexsies Drousie-Evils Watchings Madnesses Head-akes Convultions c. by the means we have herein before described are sturred up And since the stomach is the Seat of the Concupiscible Faculty and from whose fumes both sleep and watchings are occationed and since that Alienation of mind chiefly proceeds from irreguler desire it may rationally be concluded that the Prime local Spring or Seed of Madness is in or near the stomach or its neighbouring parts the Midriff and the Spleen though afterwards it displays its male-influences upon the Brain for a man forms his Images in the Midriff as well those of the Concupiscible or Desiring as those of the Irascible or Wrathful Faculty so that Madness is therefore not undeservedly called Hipocondriacal for the prime Efficacy of disturbances consisteth in the Spleen and therefore perhaps Antiquity hath counted Saturn the principle of the Starry power and highest of the wandering Stars to wit that which should cast his influence downwards on the rest but that the rest should in no wise reflect upwards because they are believed to conspire for the Commodities of sublunary things but not on the contrary upwards and therefore though they called the same Saturn the Original of Life and beginning of Conceptions or Generations yet they also named him The Devourer of his own young Children as thereby intimating that as the Images or Ideas framed by the desirable Faculty do make Seed fruitfull so also the Inns of Digestion in us when they are exorbitant consume the new and tender Blood and bring many Diseases upon us § 13. But besides the before-mentioned most usual Causes of Maedness from the Passions we deny not but sometimes other things received in from without may occasion alienation of Mind Thus the Biting of a Mad-Dog conveys a Venom impregnated with its own raging Idea which is soon communicated to the Spirit of man and produces in him that wilde foolish conceit called by Physitians Hydrophobia or a fear of Water in which the Person affected by an error of his imaginations seems to see the Image of a Dog and in time if no Remedy be found grows raving Mad and dies so also those that are Bit with the Tarantula a venomous Beast or Insect seen sometimes in Italy and other forraign Parts are particularly disposed to a certain kind of skipping or Dancing Phrensie which at last proves Mortal So some by ignorance of Apothecaries who have taken Henbane-Seed insteed of Dill have immediately become Mad Stupid and Foolish so that they could not utter an intelligible word for all which there are distinct Reasons in Nature but too tedious here to be related and somewhat unnecessary because these Cases very rarely occur amongst us § 14. As to the Cure of Madness in general the Schools commonly prescribe Blood-letting and Sleep procuring Medicines
predominate in each Pag. 267 258 269 Section 9. A description of Madness according to the seven Planets that the Stars especially the Moon has great Power over such distemper'd People from pag. 269. to p. 274. Section 10. The humours of Drunkenness and Phrensie compared from Pag. 274. to p. 279. Section 11. Why Mad people are stronger and can endure more Cold and Hunger then when in their Sences from Pag. 279. to p. 284. Section 12. Of the Original Seat or Spring of Madness in the Body that it is the Spleen which first disorders the Brain Pag. 284 245 286. Section 13. Of External Causes of Madness as by the bite of a mad Dag eating Jarantula Hanbane and the like Pag. 286 287 288. Section 14. Of the Cure of Madness why no more succesfuls Humble Advice to the Governors of Bethlem to restrain their Officers from admitting swarms of people to come in and prate with the poor distracted people showing the several mischiess thence arising and intimation of the right method of Cure from P. 288. to p. 296. Section 15. A fine Experiment of Curing such as are bitten by a mad Dog recommended to Tryal in all other sorts of inveterate Madness And Concludes with advice for preventing disorders of mind Pag. 296 297 298 299. A DISCOURSE OF Dreams AND Uisions c. The INTRODUCTION Shewing the Difficulty and yet Usefulness of this Subject and how Imperfectly the same has hitherto been Handled by Others THE matters we propose to handle in this Treatise are abstruce various profound and mysterious since man has so far Eclipsed those glorious Intellectual Beams planted in his nature by the Father of Lights since he has interposed such a Chaos of gross Imaginations and Earthly Affections and Clouds of Bituminous Smoke fetcht from the Infernal pit so that he seems altogether inveloped with a pithy Darkness Dismal as that of Egypt which might be felt and is forced as the Prophet speaks to grope even at noonday being become almost an utter stranger to himself and all the marvellous Works of his Creator insomuch that the most Towering Mortals that call themselves Philosophers feed their halffamisht intellectuals with Airy Notions instead of Solid Speculations blunder on Hoodwinckt by Tradition in a constant flesh-pleasing Rood of Error and a Contentious Sophistry of Words whilst in Truth they know nothing as they ought to know of Themselves or their Maker of the principals themselves are composed of or what makes them Men much less are they acquainted with the Sympathetical Harmony of the Universe that true Musick of the Sphears that Golden Chain which unites Heaven and Earth nor indeed do they ken the Reason of the most obvious operations of Nature Now 't is no wonder if a Discourse of such sublime Subjects as the Entertainments of our Souls during the Body's Nocturnal repose when they having shaken off for a time the Fetters of the Senses are upon the Wing in the Suburbs of Eternity of the secret Intercourses of Spirits with Humanity and the wonderful Communications of the divine Goodness to his Servants in Dreams and Uisions 'T is nothing strange I say if such discourses seem very uncouth and extravagant to their unprepared Apprehensions nor is it unlikely that as pride is always a Companion of Self Conceited Ignorance they should scoff at and deride the very mention of such things with the highest Contempt But as we write not to such Spirits that like the deaf Adder will not hear the Voice of the Charmer charm he never so wisely people full of themselves that is of Noise and Vanity so to the meek and modest souls that in humility daily wait at the Gates of Wisdom's Temple have some hopes that this discourse may be both acceptable and in some kind useful I acknowledge 't is very difficult and not to be undertaken by such a weak unlearned unworthy Worm 't is not therefore on any Confidence of Self-Strength Wisdom or Knowledge but in by through and under the Assistance of that illuminating Spirit which reveals Secrets to Babes and giveth both the will and the deed that I with fear and trembling begin this disquisition according to the proportion of Light he hath or shall be pleased to grant unto me and therefore as the wise and holy Antients commend every important Enterprize with Humble Prayers for the fear of the Lord is alwayes the beginning of Wisdom so with an intire Resignation on the bended knees of my soul at his adorable Footstool I beseech His All 〈◊〉 to supply my Weakness His Truth to sustain my Error His Wisdom to enlighten my Dulness and ignorance that I may in some measure comprehend and explain those condite Mâ—…steries and the knowledge thereof encreasing be serviceable to his Glory and the profit of those that fear his name and desire to live unto him and be partakers of his blessed Kingdom of Love and Glory Yet it is not unlikly that som good and very well-meaning pâ—…rsons being sway'd with popular opinions and possessed with certain narrow principles which they have long imbib'd without ever throughly examining or so much as inquiring into nay never in their Lives having deliberately thought upon the nature of the things here treated of may think our pains very superfluous and that the whole subject of Dreams is altogether Vanity or perhaps as some may conceive Superstitious and unlawful to be taken notice of But if these honest souls will be pleased but to consider First That Physitians generally agree that the natural temperament or complexion and consequently many times the secret Diseases of persons are as soon or better found out by then Dreams than by any outward signs Secondly That since the Heart of man is deceitful above all things therefore for him that wâ—…uld truly know himself it has by the wise â—…octors of Morality been always advised to take notice amongst other things of his usual Dreams there being scarce any thing that more discovers the secret bent of our minds and inclinations to Vertue or Vice or this or that particular Evil as Pride Covetousness Sensuality or the like then these nocturnal sallies and reaches of the Soul which are more free undisguis'd with less reserve than such as are manifested when we are awake Thirdly If they shall call to mind which I more especially advise them to do that as Dreams are one of the clearest natural Arguments of the Immortality of our Souls so they were one of the usual wayes whereby God vouchsafed of old to Reveal his commands and secrets to the Prophets and holy men and that it is one of his gracious promises touching the Glory and fuller manifestations of the Gospel dispensation that then their young men should See Visions and their old men Dream Dreams And if withall they shall without prejudice read over what we have candidly written touching all these Considerations and many other Remarkable matters relating thereunto in the following Treatise When I say
or Hob-Goblin yet the truth is it proceeds from inward Causes This Discease being an obstruction of Motion or an interception especially of Breathing and Speech with a false apprehension of some heavy thing lying upon their Breast and as it were stiffling them occasioned by means the free penetration of the Spirits to the Nerves is hindred the passages being stopt by a surcharge of the aforesaid Humors This happens most to such as use to lie upon their Backs and whilst it is upon them they are in great Agony being unable to speak but strive to do it with imperfect groans but if any person speak to hem and call them by name the animal spirits being excited force their way and the oppression ceases or if they can move or turn the body on one side and especially if the Brest be rubbed to dissipate the Humor The Cure is to be effected by a regular diet and such as may generate good spirits and prevent the increase of Melancholy and Phlegm avoid full Suppers and excess in Liquors which oft occaâ—…ion the Disease use convenient purging and sometimes breathing a Vein may be expedient especially in Women in certain obstructions peculiar to that Sex the black Seeds of the Male Piony are much commended in this Distemper Thus much though it be a digression from our main Subject I thought fit having this opportunity to say of these two Nocturnal disturbances conceiving it might be of use and satisfaction to some Readers CHAP. III. Of the General Cause of Dreams or Radix whence they are derived in Nature IT is a Truth generally acknowledged but feldom so well considered as it ought to be that Man is the compleat Image of God and Nature and contains the Principles and Properties of all things Corporial and Incorporeal that he is endued with an Elemental or Palpable body actuated enliven'd or informed by an etherial spirit and so answers to the great Body of the World from whence the same is taken and is an Abridgment or Epitome thereof or if you please its Son or Off-Spring and as it doth contain all the true Properties of the gross Elements viz. Earth Air and Water which are as it were the Mothers of the Body that nourish and sustain it So he has also the Principle of Fire and Light that is Soul and Spirit which gives Life and Motion to the Body of Flesh and answers to the Soul of the great World or that mighty Spirit which is moving vivifying and most wonderfull creative and conservative Power in this vast Systime of things which we call the World and which does preserve and sustain it and every part thereof in Beauty Splendor and Harmony which living and creating power does never stand still or cease from generating and operating for if it should the whole Systime or Body of this World would immediately fall and perish as the Apostle Paul saith without the Spirit the Body is dead and profiteth nothing The like is to be understood in the little World Man all lively Motion strength vigour and beauty resides in the Spirit or Soul in which there is no standing still Idleness or Cessation no more than there is in the great world and as the universal spirit or power of the Lord is always forming shaping and bringing to manifestation the hidden mysteries of Eternity and cloathing the various Spirits with Elemental Bodies the like does the Soul and Spirit in Man it is always in motion and generating and as the Scripture saith of the wonderful and ever-blessed Creator That he slumbereth not nor sleepeth for sleep does truly signifie death and weakness and nothing sleepeth but what is mortal and finite So the soul and spirit in man sleepeth not as being the Breath of God and Eternal for in God there is no Time nor Seasons or divisions of Time as nights days years or the like nor any use as to himself of Sun or Moon but they are Creatures made by him for the Accomodation of this lower World and the Inhabitants thereof as St. Iohn in the Revelations doth declare speaking of the new Ierusalem or Super-Caelestial Paradise There was there neither days nor nights nor Light of the Sun or Moon but the divine Power and Spirit of the Lamb was the Glory and Light thereof And this Glympse of the ineffable Splendor he saw upon the Lords-day when he was in the spirit not in the operations of the senses of the external Nature or Body of this world unto which the properties of the natural sleep do belong but the Soul or Spirit cannot sleep for then it could not be eternal but when the Body and Senses lie lock't up fast in the Arms of Merpheus then is the soul or spirit as it were unchain'd or unbound as being free'd from the continual Interruption of the senses and Earthly dispositions which whilst they are waking and in full strength and vigour do captivate the soul and hinder its generating and progress in that manner as it doth when the body is a sleep or dead for the soul of man hath so great Power when freed form the Earthly Quality and heavy sensual power that it can make something where nothing is and from the Representations of Swords or Guns Fire or Water as real when and where there is indeed no such palpable substance but it is real and substantial in the spirit even as the good and evil words and works of men shall be unto them in Eternity their works do follow them not after the manner of this world but in the Spirit yet real and essential Now it is from the Soul or Spirit in man which is the Image of the divine Eternal Spirit and never standeth still Sleepeth or Slumbereth whence Dreams and all Nocturnal Visions do arise and proceed for whilst the Senses and Powers and Faculties of the outward Nature do sleep rest or cease from their Functions the Soul and Spirit ceaseth not from its operation but goeth on forming figureing and Representing of things as real and substantial for in truth though ofttimes we perceive it not and more often cannot remember particulars yet when ever we sleep we dream for you may as well imagine Fire without heat Sun without Light as to conceit that an Intellectual Immortal Soul can for one moment cease from Actions suitable to its Nature But here some will be apt to object and say This is a strange Paradox for if we always Dream in some kind or other as often as we sleep how is it that we but seldom perceive or are sensible of it Sure if the Soul and Spirit be as you teach evermore busie in framing and representing of things we should remember somewhat of the matter whereas we sleep soundly for several nights together sometimes and cannot remember that we had any Dreams at all To this I answer That the thoughts of worldly Affairs and the intemperances most men commit in Meats Drinks Labours Exercises and Passions do not only becloud
estate whether in the Good or in the Evil. Thus in Dreams the soul enjoys a more compleat and unmixed pleasure and delight than is possible for any person to enjoy when awake and in the use of the perfectest Senses for then in the height of his Complacency fears and apprehensions of losing the pleasing objects or jealousies of others sharing with him therein or one thing or other is apt to crowd in and interrupt his Joy But in many Dreams the Horizon is all Light and clear no Cloud to be seen and the whole seems to be so real that nothing we possess in this world can for the time be more insomuch that these Joys and delightful Transports do oft times awaken the sensitive power of the outward Nature the thoughts and Consideration thereof is very delightful to the mind even after the waking of the Body As on the other side Evil Dreams cause strange Trouble Fear and Horror to the Soul it apprehends it self to be in real danger of drowning falling killing being run through with Knives Swords and the like falling down from precipices being in pain anguish and agony and many other things of that kind which do all arise from the awakening or kindling of the wrath and fierce poisonous Nature or Central Fire which cruel fears and pains are real and essential to the Soul as the Body or Senses are dead or asleep which is as it were all one and yet there is no material thing neer them that can wound or hurt them So great is the power of the Soul when it has either wholly or in part for a small time quitted it self from the operation of the Senses that it can make something where no thing is and create either Grief or Sorrow all according to that Principle or Form that is chief in the Government of the Soul For as that is quallified such is the nature of those Ideas that are generated and the Phantasies arising either of joy or fear as the Radix stood in Equality or Inequality for in the seperated state whether in the Bliss or the Curse there is no Matereal thing that can hurt or afflict the Soul but only its own Imaginations or Turba and what it forms unto it self in the principle of Evil in which it self is comprehended being the Root and Fountain whence all sorrow and fear takes its Birth As on the contrary those that are comprehended in the blessed Fountain or friendly principle of Light Love their Joy Pleasure does arise and is continually generated from the same principle in the Spirit and is real and essential beyond all outward Enjoyments or what can be apprehended because none in the Body can have the full enjoyment or true sense of it For that property or principle man has precipitated himself into and which has gotten the upper dominion in the Soul From the very same principle after death does proceed and is generated either his Joy or Sorrow according to the degree and nature of that Form and as it is more or less kindled in the good or the Evil whilst the Soul remain'd in the Body Which is a great Figure and true signe that the Souls and Life's-Spirit does burn or quallifie between the wrath and the noises and bussle of this world and acts or Suffers as it is tinctured and impressed for every property and principle doth contain the true nature of the whole and therefore has wonderfull power and efficacy to generate and form strange unheard of things to the Imagination For which cause many persons dream of and see such strange things in their sleep as they never beheld nor thought of when awake for the formings of the predominate principle in mans soul are beyond all humane Number Now let us suppose a man in a terrible Melancholy frightful Dream were never to awake but to continue eternally in this imagined Agony and Dread what a disconsolated State and Condition would this be to the soul where all these fears and troubles are apprehended to be Essential as indeed they are during the Sleep of the Senses But when the Soul is thus perplexed and in this terible fear and horror it violently seizes on the Body as its Natural House and with its fierce motion awakes it and causes the very flesh to tremble and then the Soul or Spirit is glad and rejoyces that it hath escaped those dangers it apprehended whereas if it had not been cloathed with an humane Body it would have been destitute of any such refuge to ease its self as Soul are after Death Dreams and Visions are incorporeal like the Soul or Spirit and the Joy Pleasure Trouble or Sorrow that is apprehended is as Essential to the Soul as any sensual pleasure fear or grief is to the Body And what we have said of the Kingdom of Darkness Sorrow and woe the like is to be understood in the Light and Blessed Kingdom of Heaven where the Paradisical Ioys are incorporeal or else the beautified Inhabitants could not have any pleasure in or Simile with them for when the body is dead and the Soul separated from it then all incorporeal things became as substantial as material things do to the Body and the Seeing Hearing Smelling Tasting and Feeling is as real and essential to the Spirit as all sorts of gross substances are to the outward senses and during sleep the Soul is as it were seperated and as if it were in Eternity does really enjoy pleasure or pain according to that principle that predominates therein whilst the Body lies at it were dead and also all the senses not at all concerned with or capable of those sights pleasures or sorrows but oft-times the Soul or Spirit being affrighted with hideous apprehensions and dangers oâ—… too highly lifted up with Ioy and Delight does return and seizes the Body and awakens the outward senses which immediately puts a period to the Joy or Sorrow Griâ—… or Pleasure and they seem to the outward Sense and Reason as iâ—… there had not been any such thing but all had been a Romance or Illusion for so it may well be apprehended by the senses for the immatereal world and the wonders thereof are as nothing to the material there being such a vast gulf or difference between the internal and external principle of each and yet they are very near each other but one is Corporeal the other Incorporeal therefore the latter hath no Simile with the outward Senses but on the other side there is a great Analogg and Similitude between the internal World or Incorporeal Beeings and the Soul and Spirit of Man CHAP. VI. How departed Souls Communicate with Persons living in Dreams and sometimes in Apparitions The Converse of good and bad Angels with men how promoted c. BY reason of that Affinity or Similitude between incorporal Beeings and the Soul of man mentioned in the last Chapter it comes to pass that Souls departed or seperated from their Bodies which divorce we call
things by setting them forth in publick Our Lord Christ himself whilest he lived in the humane Nature spake after that manner and fashion that only the more intimate Disciples should understand the mysteries of the Word of God but to others he spake onely in Parables he also commands that holy things should not be given to Dogs nor Pearls cast before Swine Therefore saith the Prophet I have hid thy Word in my Heart that I might not sin against Thee And Mary the blessed amongst women when the Angel Saluted her and told her what glorious things should happen unto her it is said that she laid up the sayings in her heart and pondered them in her religious mind which reverence and serious meditation on these wonderful things which the Angel communicated unto her was well pleasing to the blessed Creator whence every good and perfect gift proceeds For all celestical vertues are wonderfully strengthened by secrecy and the holy powers attracted who detest publick and profane things and vain bablings Now Dreams are no other then certain discourses and incorporeal Sights of the Soul being in sleep loosed from the heavy Fetters of the Body and sences whereby it hath an near affinity with the matereal beeings and according to what property of the sevensold Nature she is subjected unto such and such Phansies Representations or Dreams she apprehends which appears as real as if they were corporeal qualities and the Soul is thereby either tormented and full of perplexity or on the other side filled with Joy and Delight apprehended in the Divine Vision somewhat to this purpose is imitated by Iohn the Divine in the Revelations where 't is said Blessed are they that dye in the Lord for their Works do follow them For the Manners Habbits Temperance Sobriety Innocency of Life doing unto all as they would be done unto and the true illuminated understanding of the Mysteries of God and his great Divine Law in nature are works that may be said to follow a pious Soul after death which then calls to mind those things that it did in its life and still more intently meditates and thinks on them and endeavors to do them again for they being the Souls chief delight in the time of its continuation with the Body it still takes Pleasure in them but in a more perfect and exalted degree For after Death the Soul being deprived and wholy destitute of all the Faculties and Functions of humaâ—…e Life as Nourishing Growing Generating and various Occupations of the Senses all the delights of the Body must needs cease and be terminated but their works follow them in the Mystery and become substantial for all things then appear in their real Figures Forms and Shapes as they do in this World but in the greatest Perfection and most Sublime The truth of this St Iohn in the Revelations does demonstrate where the Gate of the Heavenly Paradisical Kingdom of Eternal Happiness being opened and shewed unto him it appeared in most beautiful curious Fâ—…ms Shapes and Figures of the things of this external World but in a far higher degree of perfection for the Furniture of this World viz. the innumerable and vast variety of Creatures in the Animal Vegative and Mineral Kingdoms are gross and as it were half dead in comparison of the Heavenly and Spiritual for all these lower things are but faint dull imperfect corporal Figures and Forms af the Spiritual Kingdom whence they had their original It is therefore to be noted that no man ever dreamed that he saw any Thing Figure or Shape of the Animal Vegative and Mineral Kingdoms which he never saw thought or heard of before at least in the parts if not in the whole for though many times things are magnified or diminished and made better or worse or Heterogeneous things conjoyned in a representation that never were in nature yet still there is nothing that hath not before been seen heard or though of The like is to be understood of the contrary or dark Kingdom of Wrath or Hell such as have by transgression precipitated their souls thereinto their work do also follow them and all Figures Forms Shapes or what ever else is represented unto them is Fearful and Hideous according to what degree they have with their wills entered into the wrathful fierce unclean Principle Their Conditions is like men in terible Dreams who are afraid of Swords killing falling from high places drownings Rocks falling on them or being torn to peices with wild Beasts and the like strange fierce or malancholy imaginations and representations which are all real and most essential and yet no danger of death near them nor any period to their woful condition And therefore the state of the damned is called Eternal death and a worm that never dyeth and therefore no end of their sorrow and misery These strange â—…hansies and yet real apprehensions do follow each Spirit or Soul according to that property which carried the upper dominion in the time of the Body from which predominating property do arise and are generated most frightful hideous representations whiâ—…h put the captivated Soul into unexpressible fears agonies make it desious to die cannot but continuing forevermore in this doleful torture perplexity yea the predominating quality gives the form to the new Body viz. of a Dog Cat Bear Lion Fox Tyger Bull Goat or other savage Beasts according to what degree such persons in their life time entered into any of their respective natures by Cruelty Lust Subtilty or the like for this very cause as was before intimated all the evil Angels Souls that have at any time appeared in Dreams or Visions have been clothed with beastial Shapes Figures Forms but good Angels and blessed Spirits in human Form and cloathed with the product of clean innocent vegetation as fine Linning and the like for which reason some of the Philosophical Ancients would not wear any other cloathing or garment then what had an innocent original as pure Linning and the like of their Foods whereby immitating the good Angels they attracted their benevolent Influences Thus every persons Joys or Sorrows in the Worlds to come are of that nature as where the predominant properties and inclinations the will entered into in the time of its corporeal pilgrimage for from the two internal or immaterial Worlds viz. the Good Heavenly and Paradisical and the Hellish Wrathful does proceed is generated this good evil or material World of which external beeings are but a platform or figure Which may afford a very sublime and Philosophical Speculation and he that would truely know the great adorable and ever blessed Creator must with fear and earnestness pray unto him to teach him the knowledg of himself and of the things that are every one of which does in its respective degree contain the true nature and property of the whole for the wonderful all forming Creator is in the midst of his own works and does sustain and
been true to the heavenly Power for unto them alone is granted the Key that opens the Gate of the Heavenly Ierusalem CHAP. XII The Causes why Dreams are always Represented us actually present As also some means tending to promote intellectual Communications The Excellency of Temperance and a Regular Diet and Sober Vertuous Life to conciliate and advance true significant and profitable Dreams and to make an honest useful improvement thereof THE Soul of man having a divine original being an Eye or Ray of the Eternal power and Heavenly Fire when looseried from the outward gross senses of the Elimental nature as in Dreams sees into the great Mystery of Eternity as into its Motheâ—… where there is neither Place nor Time but near and afar off is all one and the same For the Soul in Dreams when the Body and sensual Powers of the outward elemental grosness are asleep or dead which is all one during the sleep of the Body is as it were already in Eternity and swims in the great Depth or Abysses and sees with an eternal Eye or Sight in the same measure like its Creator whence it had its birth and whose Image it beareth For this cause the Soul is busied in Dreams and Visions that are represented not only really actuated but present as if they were already done or at the same time accomplished for all things whether past present or to come appear present to the Great Eye of the Eternal beeing and the same in proportion is to be understood of the Soul in its separate state that is to say dead asleep or loosed from the chains and dark clouds of the body and sences of outward composition for the Lord sees and knows all things for unto him there is neither time nor place night nor day but all is essencially present for things in Eternity goes not on by degrees or by progressions as they do in time the like is in its kind to be understood of the Soul in Dreams when it swims out of the grosse sleepy Body more especially after Death in which state all the mystries of that Principle into which the Soul had entered and immorsed its self in the time of its Cohabitation with the Body whether Good or Evil and also all its works do follow attend and are present naked and bare unto each Soul hence the Scripture saith Blessed are those that dye are Comprehended in Gods Love for their works follow them that is are Essensually present with them as their Figures and Representations are in Dreams so the same divine Scripture saith of Christ that he was a Lamb slain from the Foundation of the World nevertheless the same was not accomplished according to time in some thousands of years after And as in Eternity all things and time are present so it thence follows that it comprehends all times and is not capable of being measured or divided much less comprehended so the Soul of man being inspirited by the eternal divine Principle of Love and Light and thereby capable of having its Conversation in Heaven and taking its Flight into Eternity for every thing is capable to reascend as high as its first Fountain whence it first descended in which state it is capacitated according to its Gifts to see things either actually past and Transacted or as yet to come and to be Transacted in time both as still or already actually present for so they all stand in Eternity there being no Yesterday nor to Morrow but t is always the same Yesterday to Day and for Ever there being in him no Turning Variation nor Shadow of Change Thus Moses saw the Transactions of the Creation the Fall of man the Flood and all those several Actions done in the World to his own time as we may find it Recorded to us in his Five Books 2 Esdras Chap. 14. 21 to the end Esdras Likewise by the Spirit of the most high dictated to his Scribs the lost Bible for it is said in the 42 verse They wrote the wonderful Visions of the Night as for me saith Esdras I spake in the Day and in the Night I held not my Tongue v. 43. The Prophet Isaiah having a grevious Vision declared to him was orderd to set up a watchman and he to declare what he saw Chap. 21. and amongst other things he saw a Chariot with a couple of Horsmen and he answered and said Babylon is Fallen is Fallen Thus the prophet Ieremiah Chap. 51. 8. declares the Word of the Lord against Babylon and saith Babylon is suddenly Fallen as if her â—…estruction were Actually present or rather past and yet as to time the City Babylon Flourished many years after those Visions of Ieremiah And Isaiah after the same manner spake of Cyrus in the present Tense Chap 44. v. 29. Cyrus he is my Shepherd and shall perform all my pleasure and Chap. 45. v. 1. Thus saith the Lord to his Anointed to Cyrus whose Right hand I have holden as if Cyrus had then been in being when as to time it is recorded that this Vision was more then an hundred Years before Cyrus was born The Angel that appeared unto St Iohn Rev. 14. 8. saith Babylon is faln is faln and another Angel also appeared unto him and cryed mightily with a strong Voice Babylon the Great is Fallen is Fallen Rom. 18. 2. yet whether this mystical Babylon or that Confusion and Oppression to the meek humble divine Kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ be yet fallen we are all witnesses altho the fall thereof was seen and represented as already done in Eternity at that time of St. Iohn's Vision which is about sixteen hundred years ago Thus much I'thought fit to observe from that which every man from his own experience may find True that Representations of things in Dreams are alwayes actually present not past or future whereof the judicious Reader may from these hints I have given deduâ—…e several notable Remarkes But here 't is probable some may be apt to inquire If there be so much in Dreams as you seem to teach and that some Dreams are so useful and instructive above others Can you show us a method how we should procure such signifiant Dreams and retain them and come to understand their true significations I answer those Inquirers do it out of pride vanity or curiosity desireing Dreams and the understanding thereof that they may vapour therewith and seem some-body in the World or to get money thereby and the like devilish intentions then neither I nor any man else can possibly contribute any thing to the satisfaction of their desires because they act in a contrary Principle and these mysteries are Sealed up from them and all that are of their Spirit but to the Meek and the Humble who drives on no foolish design but the glory of God in the first place their own and Neighbours Happiness so far only as it may be subservent to that I will propose a few considerations which may somewhat
great 3d Remember to let your quality be sutable and agreable to your Nature and Constitution 4th Let none of your food be attended with the dying Groans of of the innocent Creatures 5th Consider the first state of man and what Foods were ordained for him viz. none but innocent Herbs Seeds Fruits and Grains 6th Bethink your self and understanding from what Principle Killing and Eating of Flesh did first arise and do proceed 7th Consider also the Nature Shapes and Forms of these Creatures that by Nature incline to eat Flesh. 8th Note that all the Wilde Savages of the Desart in whom the Principle of the fierce Wrath does predominant are formed by the same Principle which the fierce Spirits are formed and look also with Teeth and Claws like so many terrible Weapons of War to Prev upon and Tear their Fellow Creatures to pieces and all their Actions and Inclinations do â—…fficiently declare what property has the dominion in the Center of their Lives 9th Consider further Man the finest and most innocent and noble of all others and Governor of the whole Terrestial Orb view and mark well his Form Shape and intire Symmetry how Curiously and yet withal how innocently he is made and particularly that his all wise Creator has not furnished him with any Weapons of Violence so that he is thereby rendered almost uncapable of tearing Flesh off his Fellow Creatures and if he were not by the seeking out of many Inventions faln from his original State and Furnisht by the â—…evil with the Weapons of Mars he would scarce be able to kill and feed upon the inferiour Graduates of the Creation who are his equals in all the outward Elements for would it not be hard for a man to kill a Cow an Hog or a Sheep and Tear it to pieces and eat it as Dogs and Wolves do but what the fierce savage Creatures can do with the Wrathful Weapons of nature that most men do by invention and the helps of the dark fiery Art whereby almost as many humane lives have been destroyed as by the common course of nature or diseases Therefore upon the whole matter such as would have the free undisturbed converse of Good Angels and Spirits and the advantage of real Dreams let them endeavour and with equal constancy and earnestness pursue after purity both of mind and body to avoid all excess of foods or drinks either in quantity or quality to eschew things derived from violence and therefore to be considerate in eating of Flesh or Fish or any thing not procurable but by the death of some of our fellow Creatures rather let them content themselves with the Delicacies of the Vegetables which are full as nourishing much more wholsome and indisputablely innocent particularly avoiding all Gluttony and intoxicating Liquors as strong Drink Brandy-wine and the like and fumes as those of Tobacca Opium and the like Poysons let them make little or light Suppers viz. of Bread and Water Bread and Raisins or the like for the fewer the Body is from supperfluities and the Head from vapours and the mind from perturbations the brisker are the natural Spirits and the finer and consequently the Soul has a clearer Light and is more near the divine Power by Affinity and more susceptible of their influences and communications but above all let them at their going to Bed divest themselves of all worldly Cares as well as of their Cloathes and with an ardent Faith and intire Charity commend themselves to God the Giver of every Good and Perfect Gift and the Revealer as well as Auther of all divine Secrets and then if it be convenient for thee doubt not but thou shalt have such Discoveries as thou art capable of AN APPENDIX Shewing The Cause of Madness AND Several Observables relating thereunto § 1. THere being an Affinity or Analogy between Dreams and Madness so that the understanding of one will somewhat illustrate the other for Madness seems to be a Watching or Waking Dream I have therefore thought it might not be unfit to subjoyn here certain Considerations touching Phrensie and Distraction its Causes Nature and Effects the rather because the same has very barrenly been handled as far as I can learn by those that have undertaken to treat thereof I shall not insist upon the several sorts reckoned up by Authors as Phrensie which they define to be An Inflamation of the Brain and its members with a continual raving and sharp constant Feaver caused by cholerick Blood to which is joyned also excrementious Choler Mania or Madness which is a loss of the wits with raging and fury but without a Feaver being a cold and dry Distemper which they say arises from adust or burnt-black Choler And Melancholy which is a doting or Delirium without a Feaver and so different from a Phrensie but with fear and sadness whereby it differs from madness which is accompanied with boldness and Fury As all those and others varying in Symptoms are but several Species of Distraction so though Galen having constituted four Humors in the Body laid it down for a Principle that from the excess of some or one of them all Diseases do proceed and consequently was bound to assign these as causes for such Distempers yet more narrow Searchers into the Mysteries of Nature have long since discarded that Doctrine which seems to consist meerly in Forms and Words rather then Reallities and do conclude that most Diseases arise either from Irregular passions of the mind or poysonous ferments occasioned by ill Dyet or inproper Physick in the Body § 2. The truth is Madness and Phrensie do generally and for the most part for some other few particular causes we shall give an account of by and by arise and proceed from various Passions and extream Inclinations as Love Hate Grief Covetousness Dispair and the like which do too violently awaken or stir up the Central Fires or four first Forms of the original of Nature which thereupon do break forth violate and destroy the five inward Senses of the Soul whence the outward Senses do arise So that the Soul loseth its distinguishing property and then the Imaginative property and Soul's Power becomes rampant unbounded or as it were without a Guide and consequently such a Soul is unchain'd or let at liberty from the dark Confinements of the grosser Senses and Reason even as men in Dreams for whatsoever in this state is represented unto the Soul by the uncontrolable and unbounded Imagination is essential unto them whether it be good or evil For it is evident that in Madness persons are not deprived of their grosser Senses of the outward Nature As Seeing Hearing Tasting Smelling and Feeling for those they retain as well as before but they are bereft of the inward Senses or distinguishments and whensoever this happeneth to any then the Soul is unclothed and all its Fantasies and Imaginations become as it were substantial unto them as material things are to those that are in
their prefect Senses and under the Goverment of Reason § 3. For when any shall forsake and slight the counsel of the voice of Wisdom and suffer their wills and desires too violently to entertain and enter into any of the fore-mentioned passions then presently the Saturnine and Martial Poysonous Fires are awakened whence does arise such an Hurley-burley Confusion Strife and In-equality between the properties in the Seven-fold Wbeel of Nature as will in a moments time subvert the government of the inward Senses and Spirit of Wisdom and puts Reason under Hatches and all its Faculties into a Tempest and Confusion so that the Soul is left either without Pilot or Rudder in this outward sensible World And being thus deprived of its true Senses and friendly Guide or Moderator viz. The divine implanted Light then the first Forms of the Original nature mutiny and make War one upon the other a sullen wrathful property being exasperated powerfully attracts and endeavours to compass all with a certain in-drawing Power and this is called the first Form or Saturnine Property which gives a Body or Covering to all Spirits according to the nature of each Thing or Creature The second Form is called Mars viz. The high lofty out-going bitter fierce fiery Property which cannot endure to be much holden or captivated by the attractions and in-drawing Property of Saturn whence does arise in the Soul a most terrible Contest and annoying Heat for the Saturnine Property does most powerfully draw inward and endeavour to encompass and captivate all but this the fierce high lofty property and martial bitter Fire cannot endure it being contrary to its Nature so that in this intestine Civil War or Agonous State there is a terrible dark brimstony or sulpherous fire generated which does so disturb all the inward parts as if Nature were all on Fire even in the Center The Heart akes the inward Body seems to swell and becomes too little for the Soul which in this Combustion is so terribly afflicted that it will no longer be confined to the Body and outward Senses but either withdraws it self and flings up the Reins of Government and lets Reason like a wilde Horse that hath cast off Bit and Bridle and thrown his Rider ramble confusedly whithersoever the Imagination shall hurry it or else sometimes breaks off wholly all Commerce with the Body and separates its self in Indignation and so the Life its self is destroyed this being the great and immediate cause both of Distraction and of Hanging Drowning and various other sorts of Self-Murder which are too frequently commited in the World § 4. The truth is Pride may justly be said to be the chief Procatarick or remote original cause of Madness for an abusive Self flattering Perswasion Credulity or Esteem of Falshood do at first Seduce a person into Presumption and a despising of others or into an Indignation of Self-Love Anger Hatred or Wrathfulness towards his Neighbour from whence proceeds Irreligion Unbelief Superstition impenitent Arrogancy drunken Disparation and sottish Carelesness For as Faith is the Gate unto Humility which is the Truth of the Intelector Understanding so a credulous esteem or judgment of Falshood is the entrance of Presumption and Arrogancy and the first madness of the Soul But other Disturbances as Love Desire Sorrow Fear Terror c. are especially stirred up by extrinsical occasion and therefore they do produce their effects not only in the Soul but in the Body For all passions do in their beginning take away sleep weaken the Appetite and Digestive Faculties and impress dark Idea's upon the spirits and at length through a long immoderate strong or sudden inordinacy those Idaea's do infatuate the Archeus subvert the Iudgment and the Soul is as it were shaken out of its place § 5. Now when the five inward senses of the Soul are weakened or destroyed then they can no longer present before the Judge the Thoughts Imaginations or Conceptions but they are all formed into words as fast as they are generated there being no controul or room for Judgment to censure what are fit and what are unfit to be coyn'd into Expressions For this cause Mad People and innocent Children do speak forth whatever ariseth in their Phantasies but on the contrary all those that attain to Maturity of Years and the knowledge of good and evil their inward Senses of the Soul being unviolated especially such as adhere to the counsel of the Voice of Wisdom they let no Conception or Imagination be formed into words before it be presented by the five Counsellors of the Soul before the Judge which keeps its Court and Seat of Justice in the Center of Life for if this were not more or less observed would not every man in the world seem to be Mad or Distracted For what wild incoherent absurd ridiculous notions should we hear from the most serious people if they should continually Speak and form into words the various Imaginations and Conceptions that do continually arise from the Magie or Generating Wheel of the seven Forms of Nature which never standeth still or ceaseth from working and generating the Soul of man and all the Faculties thereof being a compleat Image of its Creator who slumbereth not nor sleepeth but his generativo and wonderful creating power is always active for never hath any man ceased from Imaginations one quarter an hour in his whole Life or indeed one moment no not even when the Body Sences are asleep For though man can cease from speaking and may attain the Gift of Silence as any shall give their wills thereunto yet they cannot cease from thoughts and Conceptions either good or evil according to what property or principle has obtained the government in the Soul for if a man could or should cease from Imagination then also he must of necessity cease from all Motion and Action and become an eternal Stilness or Nihilation in which state nothing can be brought into Manifestation but it must be done through Motion Strife and Contention of the Properties for all Material and Immaterial were and are brought into Manifestation first by Imagination Desire and Motion For the Imagination and the Desire have a most wonderful deep and hidden Original and if its mighty property were not captivated darkned and as it were chained in the Clouds of gross flesh and dark Powers of the outward and corporeal Nature it would do wonders § 6. Therefore it is not perhaps alwayes so very deplorable an estate as some suppose to be deprived of common Sense and Reason as they call it especially to be a mad Innocent that is if the property of Friendliness have dominion in the Soul For when men are so divested of their Rational Faculties then they appear naked having no Covering Vail or Figg-leaves before them to hide themselves in and therefore they no longer remain under a Mask or Disguise but appear even as they are which is very rare to be known in any that
and his too Daughters consumed those wicked Cities whose Inhabitants burning with unnatural Lusts were justly destroyed with a shower of Fire and Brinstone the Lord by the Angels of his vengeance raigning down as it were Hell out of Heaven upon them such was his Abhorance of their Abominations When David had provoked the Lord by numbering the People and thereby shewing his Inclinations to boast of the Arm of Flesh rather than trust in the Lord his God It is said 1 Chro. 21. 15. God sent an Angel to Ierusalem to destroy it and he repented him of the evil and said to the Angel that destroyed It is enough stay now thy hand And the Angel of the Lord stood by the threshing Floor of Ornan the Iebusite and David lift up his Eyes and saw the Angel of the Lord stand between the Earth and the Heaven having a drawn Sword in his Hand stretched out over Ierusalem then David and the Elders of Israel who were cloathed in Sackcloath fell upon their Faces When Senacherib King of Assyria presuming upon the strength and number of his Army had proudly Blesphemed the God of Israel the Lord sent an Angel which cut off all the mighty men of valour and the Leaders and Captains in his Camp so that he returned with shame into his own Land 2 Chron. 32. 21. which is also Recorded more particularly Isaiah 37. 36. The Angel of the Lord went forth and smote in the Camp of the Assyrians an hundred and fourscore and five thousand and when they arose early in the morning behold they were all dead Corps In like manner when Herod had accepted the blasphemous Flatteries of the people Acts 12. 23. immediately the Angel of the Lord smote him because he gave not God the glory and he was eaten of Worms and gave up the Ghost So the Angel that slew the first-born of the Egyptians is called the Destroyer Exod. 12. 23. As also the Angel that smote the rebellious Israelites in the Wilderness Neither murmur ye as some of them murmured and were destroyed by the Destroyer 1 Cor. 10. 10. For when men by imitation do come near and sympathize with the principle of the evil Angels they become incorporated with or swallowed up by their wrathful dark Nature as the Kingly Prophet David saith Pfal 78. 49. The Lord casts upon them the fierceness of his Anger Indination and Wrath that is by the sending out or granting Commissions unto evil Angels to vex and plague them for man by his Out-rages Gluttony Drunkenness and Oppressions both to Man and Beast and killing of those of his own kind has opened the Gate of Gods fierce warthful anger which does powerfully attract the evil Angels and give them oppertunities to commit Evils without Remorse having a free access both by Dreams and Visions and other Spiritual Communications which do exert and inwardly stir up man ever even in the very center of his Life to Evils whence those numberless strong lewd Immaginations wicked Words ungodly Works do proceed so that a rational man would think that no thing or Creature that is cloathed with the humane nature could be so much depraved and precipitated into Error and all kind of Ungodliness Therefore well may the Angel of the Lord in the Revelations cry woe unto mankind or the Inhabitants of the Earth for the Devil is cast out of Heaven and is come down on the Earth in great Wrath and Indignation that is into the wrathful or evil part of the Adamical Earth and not into the good part for this world and all things therein do consist both of Good and Evil Light and Darkness Love and Hate but into the good the Devil that is evil Angels or Spirits cannot enter as being contrary to their Ubi or Beeing the Light being set in an eternal opposition to Darkness and Satan and all his associate Angels being fallen from the Light are entered into the dark original wrath whence the evil part of this world proceeds and therefore he and his Legions are only capable of the poysonous fierce wrathful Ubi or Station and consequently where persons give themselves up unto Oppression Violence Envy Back-biting Gluttony Drunkenness Swearing Lying Lustful Frothy Romancing Discourses and vain foolish Jestings all which do arise and are generated from the fierce poysonous wrath both inward and outward wherein Belzebub has his Throne to and with the souls and spirits of such men the evil Angels have free access and a ready Intercourse because they are nearly allyed in their original principle Ahabs Prophets were before false and lying Prophets and had made a Trade of soothing up that wicked King in his Idolatry with counterfeit Visions and Flatteries and therefore it was that an evil Angel was so ready to offer himself to be a lying Spirit in their mouthes It was the Sin of David that drew down the before-mentioned destroying Angel with his Sword in his hand against Ierusalem and when David and his people repented of their misdeeds then presently the Lord commanded the Angel to put up the Sword of wrath for by such their Repentance the principle of Indignation was weakned and on the contrary the principle of Light and Love was thereby strengthened and corroborated which did discuse the wrathful particles or cause the destroying Angel to disappear attracted the presence and assistance of the good Angels who have their Ubi or are conversant in the good part of this world as the evil Angels are in the dark maligne part thereof and as men enter either into Good or Evil so do they contract a familiarity with the one or the other and acquire good or bad Guardians which do powerfuly stir them up either to vertue or vice Hence we read Gen. 48. 16. Iacob acknowledging Gods divine hand of providence saith to his Son Ioseph The Angel which hath delivered me from all evil bless the Children as also the same sacred Scripture Gen. 32. 24. declares that the Lord wrastled with Iacob all Night in a Vision or Dream by his good Angel and Iacob's Spirit or Soul was in good earnest and strove so with the divine power or good Angel that he would not let him depart untill he had blessed him which did manifest Iacob's firm Faith and inward acquaintance with and understanding of Gods goverment by Angels which of late Years has hardly any being in the Heads or the Hearts in the Understandings or Desires of men CHAP. X. Man cannot Communicate with Spirits in his outward Senses but in Dreams and Extasies Strange material Figures Calls Blows c. before Death Of middle Spirits Against telling of Dreams and how Dreams are always represented in Corporeal Forms and in what sence mens works are said to follow them after Death VVE have before demonstrated that during the sleep of the Body the Soul is as it were already Seperated and in Eternity so that both Joy and Sorrow is essential unto it and the Soul does really enjoy
seven Forms Nature did carry the upper dominion in the Complexion Therefore Mad People vary as much in their inclinations and passions of Love and Hate as they did when in their Senses For Example If the first or Saturnine Property did preside in the Soul and be not corrected moderated allayed and made friendly by Wisdoms Voice whilst they remained in their Senses then such will manifest themselves when Mad in sullen dogged mischievous Melancholy dispositions and Inclinations with blasphemous words apt to hurt and be injurious with Sour evil Complexion and Looks But if the Iovial Properties had the uppermost Governments in the time of their Reason then such when out of their wits are for the most part affable and friendly using no cruel words nor so apt to do hurt or be churlish or dogged But if the Martial Property be superior in the Complexion such when deprived of Sense and Reason become furious blasphemous apt to all mischief and violence great Swearers and very unruly fierce turbulent and raging But if the Solar Property do bare Rule such have great and high thoughts and lofty Imaginations fancying themselves to be Kings and Princes and that all are in subjection to them and between while they are very unruly fierce and boisterous when they think they are not respected or humoured according to that Quality they have assumed to themselves So where the Venereal Property swayes in the Complexion such are between whiles friendly apt to laugh and be merry often discoursing of Love affairs and will sing and dance but sometimes are little out-ragious though not like the former for these people seldom do any hurt nor are they subject to Cursing Swearing or such like evil Speaking Where the Property of Mercury does bear sway in the constitution there is a strange mixture of Imaginations they are apt to think themselves very cunning extraordinary free and frolicksom with their Tongues running out of one thing into another prone always to talk too much and very furious bold and raging but calm at certain Intervals Lastly where the Lunar property predominates such people are extreamly unconstant fierce and raving never at any certainty but roaming out of one thing into another And not only this last sort but all other Mad people are better or worse according to the Motions Influences Configurations and Aspects of the Coelestials and their benevolent or malevolent Rayes towards the Ruling Constellation of each mans Complexion because all people that are deprived of the use of their Reason Sense and distinguishing Faculties are more immediately subjected to the outwardmost Government and Influences of the Stars and Elements And you may perceive a sensible alteration in their Humours Dispositions and Inclinations as the Coelestials alter which as they have Influence upon and do vary and change all things so more especially do they opperate upon those that have lost the guidance of the Will which is the Primum Mobile of mans Life Therefore it is observed that distracted people are more subject to be altered by the Influences Coelestial especially by the progress and Configurations that the Moon has with the other Erraticks and Constellations she being the Mansion-house or Magazine which receives all the Influences of the greater and higher Bodies or Stars And therefore persons bereaved of their Wits are in our English Laws called Lunaticks from the great power she hath upon such people § 10. By Custom Sense and Reason most men do hide their inward Inclinations Dispositions Complexions and what property carries the upper dominion in their Hearts and Souls so that the same may by several means be discovered and laid open is manifest in Drunkenness which is a kind of short Phrensie or Temporary Madness which make people appears in various Moods and Dispositions for those that seemed of a Malancholy Complexion seem Sanguine and the Sanguine Malancholy for it renders men to be that outwardly which they are inwardly for this cause some that are counted and seem to most men to be Severe and Austere when drink has opened the Sanguine Gate of Nature are found to be very familiar friendly and kind in their words and works But on others it hath a quite contrary operation viz. such who carried themselves very affable and friendly when overcome with Liquor grow Cruel Quarrelsom Devilish and Uncivil which does clearly intimate that the Saturnine and Martial Principles did predominate in the Soul for drink makes people appear in various Forms because during the operation thereof they are really deprived of the Exercise of their Right Reason and Sences of true distinguishments of things whereby they are uncovered and as it were left naked as Noah was after he had drank too liberally of the fruit of his new planted Vines And so the inside appears as it is in its own Form and Nature which does most truly discover the Complexion and natural Inclinations and what property does govern essentially in a man for then all glosses and cunning are removed whereas whilst a man is himself as they use to call it Shame Reason and good Breeding put a Restraint upon those vitious Inclinations lurking within and suffer them not to appear but when they are deprived of their Senses and Reason then they have no power to use those subtil Arts of Hypocrisie but what form soever has the predominancy does display and manifest it self in its own Colours And therefore as soon as they recover their Reason and come to their Senses they are ashamed of what they did and by Reason and Breding endeavour to hide these Defects and Ill Qualities which rule over them And thus not a few through Wit and Subtilty appear as if they were Saints but in truth they remain but little better than Devils so great is the power of mans Wit and contrived Understanding that he can appear with two faces to deceive others first and himself at last It is therefore a very difficult matter for any to judge of mens Complexions or real Inclinations except God have endued him with somewhat of the universal understanding of the nature of things and of the signatures of nature for the form or figure of each thing does to the enlightened Eye discover the inward Properties thereof But this is more evidently discovered in Phrensy or Madness the same being a real turning of the inside of all the natural Properties and Faculties of the Soul outward so that whatever mad people do externally in words or actions the very same other Folk do inwardly in thoughts and Imaginations and the difference is only this The one speaks and forms every thought into words having not the Bridle of sense nor Reason to restrain him the other often times cuts off such and such thoughts and Imaginations in the Budd or at least shuts the grand Gate the Mouth and keeps those shameful unruly Stragglers in not sufferring the Organs and Properties of Nature to form them into Articular Expressions § 11. It is also further