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 â—eer 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 Sâ—rrow 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 seperaâ—ed 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 bâ—ssle 〈◊〉 this world and acts or Suffers as it is â—inctured and impressed for every property and principle doth contain the true nature of the whole and therefore has wonderfull power and efficacâ—â—o generate and form strange unheard-of things to the Imagination For which cause many persons dream of and see such strange things in thâ—ir 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 bath 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 case 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 as it were dead and also all the senses not at all concerned with or capable of those â—ights pleasures or sorrows but oft-times the Soul or Spirit being affrighted with hideous apprehensions and dangers or 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 Grief or Pleasure and they seem to the outward Sense and Reason as if 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 â—pparitions The Converse of good and bad Angels with men how promoted c. BY reason of that Affinity or Similitude between incorporal Bâ—eings and the Soul of man mentioned in the last Chapter it comes to pass that Souls depâ—â—ted or seperaâ—ed from their Bodies which divorce we call 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 a â—ilâ—ar as this except some few 〈◊〉 at their Death are greatly affectionated to wife and Children or the like and dye
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 eiâ—her 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 Vnbelief Superstition impenitent Arrogancâ— 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 Idaea'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 counâ—el of the Voice of Wisdom they let no Conception or Imagination be formed into words before it be presented by the five Counselâ—â—rs 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 sleepth but his generative 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 Senâ—â—s 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 Nâ—â—â—lation in which state nothing 〈◊〉 â—e bâ—ought into Manifestation 〈◊〉 it must be done through Motion Stâ—ife 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 ere 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 retain their Senses and Reason for those two serve to cover and hide the Conceptions Thoughts and Imaginations which continually are generated from the various Properties and Centers in man which in innocent Children as soon as they have the use of their Tongues and in mad people is not done but all Conceptions are promiscuously formed into words as they are generated there being no Judge nor Councellors to advise or determine whether they are fit to be divulged and Coin'd into Language or to be stiffled and suppressed § 7. The truth is as the knowledge of evil is mans fall so if this sort of Madness were practised amongst all men that have the use of Reason and their Senses it would be more like Innocency and Christiaâ—ity then most mens general practises are now-a-days I mean if
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 Dog 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 mischiefs 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 Vsefulness 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 Intellâ—ctual 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 Road 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 Vniverse 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 Noctural 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 â—o the meek and modest souls that in humility daily wait at the Gates of Wisdom's Temple have some hopes thâ—â— this discourse may be boâ—â— acceptable and in some kind useful I acknowledge 't is very difficult and 〈◊〉 to be undertaken by such a â—â—ak unlearned 〈◊〉 by Worm 't is 〈◊〉 therefore 〈…〉 Confidence of Self-Strength Wisdom or Knowledge 〈◊〉 by through and under the Assistance of that illuminating Spirit whicâ— reveals Secrets to Babes and giveth both the will and the deed thaâ— I with fear and trembling begin thâ— dâ—quisition according to the proportion of Light he hath or shall be pleased to grant unto me and therefore as the wise and holy Aâ—â—ients commend every important Enterprize with Humble Praâ—ers for the fear of the Lord is alwayes the beginning of Wisdom so with an inâ—ire Resignation on the benâ—â—â— knees of my soul at his adorable Fooâ—stool I beseech His All-suffiâ—iency 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 Misteries 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 imbâ—b'd without ever throughly examining or so much as inquiring into nay never in their Lives haying 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 their Dreams than by any outward signs Secondly That since the Heart of man is deceitful above all things therefore for him that would truly know himself it has by wise Doctors 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 saâ— in a true Light they have seriously laid to heart all this I am apt to think they may find cause to entertain other Conceptions and more favourable Sentiments and judge this hitherto too much neglected
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 dâ—â—â—pate the Humor The Cure is to be effected by a regular diet and such as may generate good spirits and prevent the increase of Mâ—lancholy and Phlegm avoid full Suppers and excess in Liquors which oft occasion 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 seldom 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 Wâ—rld would immediately â—ail 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 〈…〉 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 Min 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 â—orm 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 mage 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 the Soul and Intellect and over-whelm their powers and operation so that they cannot see or perceive any Coelestial things with Clearness as Experience daiâ—y proves they do the same things when we are awake
But also they cause Indispositions breed bad Blood impure Spirits and beclouded senses as well internal as external and thereby enfeebles and destroys the brisk lively apprehensions and stupifies all the Faculties of Nature and particularly the properties of the Memory and retaining Power are so dulled and rendred fluid and oblivious so as not to concerve any Impressions made thereon as we see in drunken men the next day remember none of those loud Vociferations and mad pranks they plaid over-night And you may as well argue That such lewd people did not commit any such Extravagancies because very often they are not sensible of them after they came to be sober as to think you do not dream because sometimes you cannot remember it when you wake As the Disorders you commit are greater or lesser in respect of your particular Constitution so is your perception of your dreams more or less whence sometimes you can repeat a whole long story of the Râ—presentations in your sleep with the several senses words and discourses c. all clearly and distinctly other times you have a more imperfect and confused Apprehension of particulars and sometimes there does remain only a bare memory that a dream you had but the particulars are quite lost or forgot which was the case of King Nebuchâ—dâ—ezer Dan. 2. 5. It is also to be noâ—ed That the Spirit and Sâ—ul of a man by such Intemperances as aforesaâ—d is so debilitated and eclipsed that the creative and generating Power thereof does as it were loose its strength and vigour and thereby is made more gross and stupid so as that its sight is not clear to perceive so neither is its generative Faculty strong and powerful enough to make such deep Impressions on it self and on the Memorative properties of Nature as otherwise it would do for the perfect memory of and advantage to be made by Dreams does chiefly consist in the cleanness of the Microcosmical Temple and the brisk livelyness of the Spirits of Nature as well as an unpolluted Soul â—or no man can behold with a clear sight and remember such sublime matters as those of Dreams and Visions but such whose souls are strong and vigorous and do powerfully Tinge or impress the natural Spirits and also they must be such as do abandon Superfluities and Passions which Nebuchadnezer not doing he therefore after he had seen a Dream or Vision could not remember it but said the thing was gone and departed from him Therefore such as would remember and understand the Circumstances of their Dreams and make a due use of them let them depart and separate themselves from Intemperances and Uncleanness and as much as in them lies from all the Furies and Passions of Revenge Hate Sorrow Love c. which are apt to debauch and pollute the Intellect that it cannot foresee any Coelestial thing for none but such as have experienced it can know the wonderful power and vertue of Seperation and Self-denial from Evil not only in its gross Acts but also in its Protiatartick Causes or first springs and occasions and how by degrees it opens a door or gives advantage if I may so speak after the manner of men in so sublime a matter to the Spirit of God to open shew and manifest the hidden Mysteries of his Kingdom which does always reacâ— every one according to their respective capacities and as each man does continue in Separation from the Impurities of the Flesh the World and the Devil and is found proceeding in and pressing on by self-denial towards the price of our high-calling as it is in our ever-blessed Iesus This is most apparent in the first work or beginning of each Christtians Regeneration or new birth whereby he Infrancheses himself from the world and all its ways works words and desires and begins to aspire towards a City made without hands and to be Endenizond or made a proprietary in the new Ierusalem as every one upon a Conviction in his Conscience of Evil does actually close with that Conviction and Seperate himself from his former ways and practiles so his Eyes become open'd more and more to see the hideousâ—ess of that evil or as the Apostle spakes The sinfulness of Sin whereas before he was not able to apprehend it to be so gross an Evil. Hence it is that most men in the beginning of the work of Gods Spirit on their souls are much more humble more fearful and thoughful of commitâ—â—ng Evil and far more zealous than afterwards The Reason whereof is clear viz. so long as they remain'd truly sâ—nsible of their former Evil state and keep continually pressing on towards Virtue daily denying themselves of their former Superfluity and subduing their sensual Appetites and Affections keeping both Body and Spirit cool and clean by Abstinenâ—â— Temperance and Purity in Meats Drinks Exercises and Communications they thereby feel and find a daily Growth and Increase of Vertue and Manfestaâ—ions of Grace But if once such shall set up their rest in External Fâ—â—ms and Modes of Râ—â—gion and therein begin as it were to stand still and satisfie themselves with their former Attainments and Separations which mighâ— be excellent in their day and time and the only means the Lord then used to 〈◊〉 the soul to vertue I say when any shall fall into such a slothful state they will in a little time find that saying veâ—â—fied in their souls That not to go forwards is to go backwaâ—ds and lose all their inward spâ—â—itual strength which is divinely signified by our Lord in that parable of the Servanâ—â— and the inâ—rusted Talent he that care esly laid it up in a Napkin set up his Rest with such a portion oâ— Grace or Lâ—ght and indeavour'd not to augment it is condâ—â—â—â—d and ' as added that from suâ—â— an one shall be taken even thaâ— which he seem'd to have and so Christians came to wither and languish like a Tree that is sapped at the Root and then they sensibly decline and Apostatize or at best do only retain the Complemental outside of Religion and do indeed keep in memory their first good state which can no more nourish their Souls to a Spiritual Life and Growth then a mans bare thinking upon or boasting of a good wholesom meal he made a week or fortnight agon can support his outward Body in strength and vigour Whereby 't is evident there is no such thing in God nor his wonderful workmanship Nature as standing still or Cessation from working and therefore the illuminated Apostle admonishes the Ancient Christians and in them all others in succeding Times to press 〈◊〉 towards the mark of their high Calling and greater discoveries of the divine Vision And this was after they had seperated themselves from gross Evils and several Vanities of the world and observed many of the Commands of God and lived in the Forms and Rites or Ordinances prescribed unto them by the most holy Spirit of God yet all this was not Sufficient
with a strong desire of revealing something that lies hid or to manifest their affections to their surviving Fâ—â—endâ— and these sometimâ—s do â—t by assuming an aireal Body and appeâ—â—ing Aâ—â—ections being the chief general Cause of Apparitions of Sâ—uls 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 â—idereal 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 Wâ—ich 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 burnt to Ashes which did totally destroy the Humour Radicalis or Spirit of the external elemental Nature thereby perventing such Apparitions as we 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 But 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 â—odies 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 someâ—imes do make application to such sympathizing Souls of the Living whilst the Body lies asleep and reveal great secrets or â—oretel them of things someâ—imes good and sometimes evil that are likely to beâ—al 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 derided in the highest degree which unbelief and contempt doth drive away and cause a seperation of the Souls of the deceased as also of all good Spirits and Angels which otherwise would be more prompt and ready to such Communications as being forward to serve help and enlighten those that are sober and weâ—l-minded and such as believe and are
to boast of the Arm of Flesh rather than trust in the Lord his God It is said 1 Chro. 21. 1â— God sent an Angel to Ierusalem to destroy it and herepented 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 Ieâ—usite 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 prefuming 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 Egyptiâ—ns 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 Vbi 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 fâ—erce wrathful Vbi 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 Vbi 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 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 Vbi or Beeing and there is a great affinity between them but when the Body is awake and all its â—ally-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 Angâ—ls 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 greaâ— 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 â—erene 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 Fantasies 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 benigâ—e Spirits or Angels is prevented or frustrated and such peoples Dreams are confused oblivious and tending to Evil and Vanity for the good Intelligâ—nces cannot nor will give true 〈◊〉 or significant Dreams 〈…〉 intemperate and unclean and whose Souls are estranged and degenerated from their principle and precipitated into wrath and Violence But the Inhabitants of the infernal World have the nearest Affinity to such and do by their secret sympathitical Communications suggest and dart into the Soul many Lying Fantasies and Mischevious Dreams and teach them sundry vile pranks and evils For there is as great a variety of Spiritual Creatures and Beeings good
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 deâ—est 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 〈◊〉 near affinity with the matereal beeings and according to what 〈◊〉 of the sevenfold Nature she is 〈◊〉 unto such and such 〈◊〉 Representations or Dreams 〈◊〉 appreâ—ends which appears as â—eal 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 humane 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 Forms 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 〈◊〉 variety of Creatures in the Animal Vegative and Mineral Kingdoms arâ— 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 as 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 Kingdome 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 magnifâ—ed or diminished and made 〈◊〉 or worse or Heterogeneous 〈◊〉 conjoyned in a representation 〈◊〉 never were in nature yet still 〈◊〉 is nothing that hath not 〈…〉 seen heard or though 〈◊〉 〈…〉 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 phansies 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 Spiritâ— 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 otherâ— 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 uphold and continually generate them and leads the wise Seeker into the knowledg of the two grand Fountains of Good and Evil and whence they proceed whilst the profane tread them under their feet CHAP. XI That these Communications from good Angels by Dreams c. are not wholely ceased the Reasons why the same are now so rare and seldom BUT notwithstanding all those numerous instances we have produced from sacred Scripture of the frequent Apparitions and Communications
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 bydegrees 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 4◠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 ordered 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 Destruction 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 deduce 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 instuctive above others Can you show us 〈◊〉 method box we should procure such significant 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 tend to their Satisfaction Since True or Prophetical Dreams are a kind of Revelation of a divine power unto the Soul and that this sublime state of the minde is much advanced or depressed by Temperance or Intemperance Vertue or Vice it follows that the first step to all true wisdom is the fear of the Lord which teaches all men Sobriety Temperance and Cleanness therefore all such as are desirous to arrive at that supream state of the Soul and to be rendered capable of the Communications of Good Angels and Spirits and to receive true and profitable Dreams ought to be Chastly and Devoutly disposed and in an especial manner to observe Cleanness in Meats and Drinks and not to over-charge Nature with to great a quantity for such surplussage does strangely dull and becloud all
every man laying aside all subtilty and hypoâ—risie would speak his mind freely to his Neighbour without Cover or mental Reservations and leave off speaking of one thing to their neighbour or Friends faces and quite other and contrary things behind their backs To complement persons present with a thousand Flatteries and Lyes and revile the same persons as soon as they are absent with as many Calumnies Slanders and unjust Reproaches which is one of the worst kinds of Madness and indeed a Devilish one because they know they do not as they ought being at that very time accused and condemned by the Voice of Wisdom or divine Principle nor is there scarce one thing in Ten that men in the World do act but is far greater Madness and Evil than those things which persons do that are deprived of their Sences For Example Is it not a greater Extravagance for an Ambitious man to fell his Liberty and became a slave to the Lusts and Capricio's oâ— Grandees to spend whole years in supple Attendanâ—â—s â—â—ouching Cringing Fawning or Dissembling only in hopes of being one day made a great man or having an airey Title added like a Rattle to his name and seeing people stand Cap in hand to him whom he imagines to admire him though in truth as many of them as are wise deride and pitty his egregious Folly For a Lascivious man to wasâ—e his Wealth his Strength and expose both Body and Soul for the filthy imbraces of a loathsom Strumpet And hazard his Life and honour in attempting the Chastity of some virtuous Woman and be ready to dye for the Love of her whom as soon as he has debaucht he will â—corn and hate For men to swallow down vast Estates at their Tâ—â—oats and 〈◊〉 away the Labours of their 〈…〉 their Table with variety of Dishes and be at any charge for â—â—inant Sawâ—es to provoke the Appetite beyond the power as well as nâ—cessities of Nature that their Bodies may be filled with Diseases That they may roar under the Stone and the Illiaâ—c Passion and live Tormented Lives and dye an Immature Death For Parents to cark and care and vex and torment themselves with unreasonable Toils and many times hazard their Souls for unjust Gain meerly to heap up Estates for their Children who all ready wish them dead or to leave Riches amongst strangers who in their frolicks laugh at the memory of the old Miser and make themselves and their Companions merry with telling ridiculous Stories of him who for their sakes and for the getting those very Houses and those Bowls they 〈◊〉 in lies perhaps broyling in the 〈◊〉 Caverns of the Everlasting Tophet These and an hundred the like things which are the main business and the daily imployment of many that would be counted the shrewdest and most notable part of Mankind Are not I say all these far greater and more mischievous Phrensies than for a man to pull of his Garments and sit naked and spend time in weaving of Sraws or Building with Chalk upon the Walls innumerable Cities whereof he fancies himself to be Emperor To speak Truth the World is but a great Bedlam where those that are more mad lock up those that are loss the first presumptuously and knowingly committing Evils both against God their Neighbours and themselves but the last not knowing what they do are as it were next door to innocency especially when the Evil Properties were not awakened nor predominant in the Complexion in the time of their Senses Tell me I pray Are not all these Intemperances Violence Oppression Murder and savage Evils and Superfluities deservedly to be accounted the worst Effects of Madness As also Lying Swearing vain Imaginations and living in and under the power of evil Spirits more to be dreaded than the condition of those that want the use of Senses and Reason and therefore are esteemed Mad § 8. As for the Species of Madness they are as various as men are in their Complexions for according to what Principle and property whether good or evil does govern the Life in the time of their retaining their Reason and Senses such a property does more clearly manifest it self when the Reason and Senses are broken to pieces for this cause some who have seemed very Religious and soberly inclined as long as they retain'd their Senses and outward Reason as soon as they become deprived thereof the bitter envious fierce wrathful proud Spirit appears in its own form and has its operation without let or hindrance which was before by the cunning Reason and sensual subtilty kept in that it could not manifest it self for some men have obtain'd so much outward government over this bitter Spirit that they can at one and the same time cry Hosanna and Crucifie say God bless you and in their hearts wish your destruction But when such people who hide their Woolvish and Bearish Natures in the external sheeps cloathing of a dissembled Innocency happen to be Mad or deprived of outward Sense and natural Reason then they discover the Savage Nature that ruled before in the Center of their Souls But others who in the time of their sound Senses were accounted harsh and moross or severe their Tongues not so smoothly plain'd or Tipt with Complements but yet their words and works more agreeable to their insides that is they speak as they think and do not play the Hypocrites by retaining subtil Reservations or saying one thing and at the same time resolving on another such I say though many of them did not seem to be so fair and good men as the former yet they are really more innocent and have far better Principles within than the others who made use of their Natural Faculties to hide and cover the subtil bitter Spirit and therefore when these latter plain sort of people happen to be distracted they appear more calm and friendly than the former because the good property had a greater dominion in the Soul. § 9. Every person when disturbed in his Senses and Reason then the distinguishing Faculties of Nature does variously appear in properties and Qualities differing according to which of the 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 in 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 lovial 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 â—ruel 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 blasphemoâ—s apt to all mischief and violence great Sweaâ—ers 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 thâ—y 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 〈◊〉 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 Configuration And Aspects of the Coelestials and thier 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 â—â—id open is manifest in 〈◊〉 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 Râ—ason 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 felt 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 Midness 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 sufferâ—ing the Organs and Properties of Nature to form them into Articular Expressions § 11. It is also further to be noted that all or most Mad People are far stronger and more able to endure Haâ—dship 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