me There were many People as usual sat up with us I preached from Heb. 2. 18. and contrived to be at Prayer at that Time when the Noise used to be greatest When I was at Prayer the Woman kneeling by me catched violently at my Arm and afterwards told us she saw a terrible Sight But it pleased God there was no Noise at all And from that Time God graciously freed her from all that Disturbance I examined this Person and could find nothing in her Circumstances fit to induce one to any satisfactory Judgment of her Case These Noises lasted about three Months and she was much enfeebled in Body and almost distracted thereby but soon recovered upon the Removal thereof Attested by me Daniel Williams Aug. 2â— 169â— The CONCLUSION Concerning Angels VVHile I consider these unquestionable Evidences of the certainty of Spirits and how much they have to do with Men I cannot but think that we have also much to do with them with the bad to resist them as our Enemies and the Enemies of the Gospel and the Church of God against whom we must continually Watch and Pray lest we fall into the Snares of their Temptations And with the good that we may be meet for their Preserving and Comforting Ministry But in all our Histories it is observable that bad Spirits Apparitions and Actions are far more frequent and more Sensible than good ones which may perhaps to some seem strange Concerning which I consider 1. That Corporeal Crassitude is an abasement and therefore fittest for the more Ignoble sort of Spirits We that dwell here in Bodies are of a lower Order than those of the more high and invisible Regions 2. And the bad Spirits as they have a baser Consistence have also a more base and Terrene Inclination And therefore it is the less wonder that they mind matters of Money and Lands And no doubt but the Souls of wicked Men carry with them much of the Vicious Habits in which they lived here That is of Covetousness and Revenge And they that tell us that such as Dives retain no Love to their Brethren on Earth speak more than they can prove and are not so Credible as Christ that seemeth to say the contrary Some make a state of departed Souls Good and Bad out of their own Inventions which it 's very likely Death will Confute 3. And it is far greater things than Visible Appearances that we constantly receive from Angels more sutable to their Nature and Dignity and to our good Some Men have long Laboured to attain a Visible or Sensible Communion with them and think they have attained it But while they presumptuously desire to pervert the Order of Gods Houshold and Government it is no wonder if in stead of Angels they Converse with Devils that are Transformed into seeming Angels of Light that by Delusion they may Transform such Men into Ministers of Righteousness It is a doleful Instance of the effect of a perverse kind of opposition to Popery and running from one Extream to another to note how little Sence most Protestants shew of the great Benefits that we receive by Angels How seldom we hear them in publick or private give thanks to God for their Ministry and Helps And more seldom pray for it When hear we any Ministers Teach Believers what Love and what Thanks they owe to Angels whereas the Excellency and Holiness of their Natures obligeth us to love them and their Love and Care of us bespeaketh Thankfulness Yea we have Teachers that would perswade Men that this Savoureth of Popery and doth Derogate from Christ And yet if the People Love and Honour and maintain them they take this to be no Derogation from Christ. As if they were more Amiable then Angels or Christ may not use the Ministry of Angels as well as their's The Lord pitty the distracted divided Societies of Christians who in all Countries are fallen into Uncharitable Sects that on pretence of saving the Truth and the Church from the Errours of each other do corrupt both by the Addition of contrary Errours so that it 's hard to find out many Errours of Popery or Ancient Heresie which hath not been avoided by contrary faults in the Corruption of Doctrine Charity or Concord Devils have a greater Game to play invisibly than by Apparitions O happy World if they did not do a hundred thousand times more hurt by the Baits of Pleasure Lust and Honour and by Pride and love of Money and Sensuality than they do by Witches O! that they did not more dangerously Hant the Houses and Souls of Lords Knights Gentlemen and Lustful Youths Who can Conjure them out of Universities and Pulpits out of a Malignant Sclanderous Clergy and Laity out of Worldly self-seeking Carnal Men I have before told you of the Witch Magdalen Crucia who got the Reputation of a Saint by having the Sacramental Bread brought to her Mouth in the sight of all the People by an Invisible Carryer Bodin and many others Record the Story and how to get Pardon she went to the Pope himself and confessed how from twelve years old the Devil had lain with her thirty years and made her the Abbess of a Monastery I fear lest the visible Hand of some Priest do play this Devils part and give the Sacrament to such as more openly serve the Devil all the week and are forced to receive it to escape a jail or do it as a Sacrifice to expiate the guilt of an Ungodly Life If the Devil can get People perhaps Lords and Ladies to spend the Day their precious Hours in Cards and Dice and Feastings and Stage-plays and Masks and Musick and perhaps filthy Lust he will let you say your Prayers at Night and cry God Mercy and perhaps tell him that you Repent that you may Sin on the more boldly the next day And it 's like he will provide you a Ghostly Father as bad as your selves that shall give you the Sacrament as a sealed Pardon and pronounce you absolved and that as in the name of Christ. All these effects of Devils the World abounds with but the effects of Angels are observed but by very few Because even as the Sadduces think that all these Vices and Confusions are only the effects of Mens own pravity and not of Devils not knowing that all such Births have a Father and a Mother the Devil and Mens own Hearts so most good people look so much to God and to Ministers in all that is done on them that they take little notice of Angels that are Gods greater Ministers as if they had little to do with us By this 1. We give not to God the due Honour of the Order of his Works 2. We are guilty of Unrighteousness in denying their Due Love and Gratitude to such Noble Agents 3. We lose the Comfortable Remembrance of our own Communion with them 4. We lose some helps to a Heavenly Mind and Conversation when as it would make the thoughts
a Body of gross Air and sometimes may gratifie the Lust of one Witch on another or on a tempted ignorant Wretch He that can bring a Witch in without opening the Door can bring such an one Male or Female into another's Bed 12. It is not impossible that wicked Souls may carry with them hence their filthy Inclinations and Desire to use them 13. It is plain that Devils and wicked Souls are not yet in the utmost of their Misery but are reserved in Chains to the Judgment of the great Day of Christ Such joking and dallying and whistling as the Devil of Mascon and many other used shew this 14. It is clear that whether you call it in State or Place I think both the blessed Souls and Angels are far above these in a higher World or Region and no wonder if they appear more rarely to Men on Earth 15. Yet Angels can be here and do their Office for us without such Descent as shall abate their Joy and Glory and why not blessed Souls too if they shall be equal with Angels The Sun can enlighten every Eye here without losing its higher Residence 16. When revengeful things are done as on Murderers Defrauders c. it seems to be from the revengeful Wrath of some bad Soul especially when it is about Money or Lands it seemeth to savour of the Worldly Mind Yet it is uncertain whether it may not be from the Justice of God and governing Angels sending the Evil Spirits on such Errands A Hawk and a Hound are fitter Messengers to destroy than a Dove or a Lamb. 17. When a Genius sheweth some Kindness to the Soul as his that I mentioned that knocketh at his Bed's Head and about him after every time that he is drunk and one that Bodin mentioneth that was stricken when he said or did amiss it is uncertain to us whether it be a good Angel or the Soul of some former dear Friend that procureth this Leave to try to turn and save the Sinner Or whether Christ and Angels force Satan to do it against his Will 18. Though the unquenchable Fire which is to follow will shew the utmost Severity of God's Justice there is some signification of his Mercy to the Wicked in suspending it so far as to allow them such a Condition as many of these Apparitions signifie by their Words and Deeds 19. Yet here is nothing to encourage their Opinion that think such Souls or Demons are but in via and have another Day of Hope and Means to use in possibility of Salvation And though many are said to have begged of the Living for Mastes and Prayers it is liker to prove a Diabolical Cheat to promote Superstition than that there is a Purgatory-State of Hope 20. Those that are tempted to think that Souls are all one and that Individuation is only by Corporeal Matter and that Individuation ceaseth at Death are by all these Examples fully confuted Devils and wicked Souls have their Numerical Individuation and therefore no Godly Person need to fear the Loss of it Either it is good or bad for us If good shall the Wicked and Devils have it and not the Godly If bad why should it be desired Angels are Individuals and shall not our Souls § 6. These great Benefits we may get by the right Use of these Histories and such others 1. We may learn to admire that Frame of Divine Government that hath Creatures so various to rule and order and maketh one beautiful Frame of all As Toads and Serpents on Earth are not useless nor devouring Fishes Birds and Beasts so neither are Devils nor damned Souls no nor their Sins which God will use though he will not cause 2. We may gather that in Heaven it self there will be an orderly Oeconomy and difference of degrees of Superiority and of Glory when there is so great difference through all the World All shall not be equal to them that shall sit on twelve Thrones Judging the twelve Tribes There are many Mansions in that House even to them that be all with Christ. 3. We have great Cause to be very thankful to God that doth not let loose wicked Spirits against us that they are not here our Terror and Tormentors 4. How great a Mercy is it that we have a Saviour that hath power over them and hath Redeemed us from their Power and from everlasting Damnation 5. We may see that the Angels of God are not useless to us but their Ministry is one of Gods Means for our Preservation and we owe them Love and Thanks for all their Love and Service And it is not through Pride or Insensibility of this benefit that we do not worship them whom we see not 6. If the Devils possessing and tormenting Mens Bodies be so heavy a Plague how much worse is it to have him the Master of their Souls O! How carefully should we resist his Temptations Every Sin that we commit through Love to it or by Wilfulness or Sloth is worse to us and more pleasing to the Devil than to be Tormented so long by him He mist of his aim at Iob when he could not by all his Sufferings draw him to Sin O! how much more miserable is a Worldly Proud Gluttonous Dives Lord Knight or Gentleman and sensual Youth â—iâ—â—racted with Vain Mirth and Lust than one Bewitcht or Bodily only possest by Devils And how much should the most godly be afraid of Sin and of Temptations 7. It is a sensible help as to Convince Brutists and Atheists and Infidels so to confirm the best Believers against all Temptations to doubt of the Life to come and the Immortality of Souls and the future Judgment and Retribution And though it be our shame to need such helps it is a Mercy to have them If a Sadducee will say If one did come from the Dead or I saw such things I would believe should not our Faith be past wavering that have these added to the greater Gospel proofs 8. It 's matter of Comfort to departing faithful Souls that these evil Spirits that are chained up now and not suffered to disturb us shall not hinder our passage to Glory If we must pass through the Air inhabited by Devils and Wicked Souls Angels will Convey us and Christ receive us and it shall not be to our hurt or loss 9. It should always keep the Souls of the Faithful in joyful gratitude for the work of Regeneration Grace Justification and Salvation which was our great Deliverance from Devils And teach us to live as the saved of the Lord. 10. It should warn all to take heed that they be not helpers and Servants to Devils in Tempting and Destroying Souls O! how many do his work that defie his Name All that by wicked example and scandal harden Men in Sin they that Tempt People to Pride and Lust and fleshly pleasures They that draw them into the Company of Vain Lascivious Lustful Ryotous and Ungodly persons They that madly
THE CERTAINTY OF THE WORLDS of SPIRITS And Consequently Of the Immortality of Souls Of the Malice and Misery of the Devils and the Damned And of the Blessedness of the Justified Fully evinced by the unquestionable Histâ—ries of Apparitions Operations Witchcrafts Voices c. Written as an Addition to many other Treatises for the Conviction of Sadduces and Infidels By RICHARD BAXTER Eph 6.12 We wrestle not against Flesh and Blood but against Principalities against Powers against the Rulers of the Darkness of this World against spiritual Wickednesses in high Places in Celestials Matth 8. 31 32. The Devils besought him saying If thou cast us out suffer us to go away into the Herd of Swine And he said Go. Luk. 10. 18 20. I beheld Satan as Lightning fall from Heaven But in this rejoyce not that the Spirits are subject to you But rather rejoyce because your Names are written in Heaven Heb. 2. 14. Are they not all the Angels ministring Spirits sent forth to minister for them who shall be Heirs of Salvation LONDON Printed for T. Parkhurst at the Bible and Three Crowns in Cheapside and I. Salisbury at the Rising Sun near the Royal Exchange in Cornhill 1601. THE PREFACE It seemeth hard to unruly Minds that God should keep Intellectual Souls so strange to the unseen World of Spirits that we know so little of them and that our Knowledge of them is no more by the way of â—ente But there is in it much of Gods â—rbitrary Soveraign Power and much of his Wisdom and much of his Justice and also of his Love 1. It pleased him to make Variety of Creatures What harmony would there be without Variety were there nothing but Unity there would be nothing but God And various Creatures must have a various Scituation Reception and Operations The Fishes must not dwell in our Cities nor be acquainted with our Affairs 2. We here dwell in Flesh in Bodies organized for the Souls Receptions and Perceptions and Operations And the Wisdom of God doth suitably dispose of his Communications and give us that measure of Light which is agreeable to our State The Sun must not shine on the Infant in the Womb nor must he there see our Buildings and Tradings and Business in the World 3. We have Light here that is proportionable to our work and interest So much as is necessary to our knowing of our selves and our God and Governour and our Duty and all those hopes that are our necessary Motives thereto Men that will but observe the Operations of their Souls may competently know what a Soul or Spirit is And Men that will but open their Eyes and considerately look about them may as certainly know that there is a God as they can know that there is any Being And Men that cannot but difference Moral Good and Evil and that know the Duty of Children to Parents Subjects to Rulers and Neighbours to Neighbours may know their Duty to God and that the performance of it shall not be in vain And if Men will not know all this which they may know it is just with God to leave them to their chosen darkness and not to know that which further might be known It is a dismal case to havea Soul that will not know it self to be what it is till utter Misery convince him 4. And the God of Love maketh Advantage of our not-seeing the World of Spirits for our Exercise of our higher Intellectual Faculties by a Life of Faith And Intuition a Nobler sort than our present Eye-sight will be seasonable and soon enough when ripeness hath made us ready for it We shall not need all the Organical parts of the Eye which Galen admiringly describeth for our Glorious sight And to see Devils and other Spirits ordinariâ—y would not be enough to bring our Atheists to the saving Knowledge of God without which all other Knowledge is vain They that doubt of a God the most perfect eternal infinite Being while they see the Sun and Moon and Stars the Sea and Land would not know him by seeing Created â—pirâ—ts As to the Originals of this Collection it had its rise from my own and other Mens need When God firâ—â— aâ—akened me to think with preparing seriousness of my Condition after Death I had not any observed Doubts of the Reality of Spirits or the Immortality of the Soul or of the Truth of the Gospel But all my doubts were about my own Renovation and Title to that Blessed Life But when God had given me peace of Conscience Satan Assaulted me with those worse Temptations Yet through Gods Grace they never prevailed against my Faith Nor did he ever raise in me the least doubt of the Being and â—erfection of God nor of my Duty to Love Honour Obey and Trust him For I still saw that to be an Atheist was to be â—â—ad But I fouâ—d thaâ— my Faiâ—h of Supernatâ—ral Revelaâ—ion â—â—st be more than a Believing Man and that if it had â—ot a firm Foundation and rooting even sure Evidence of Verity Surely Apprehended it was not like to do those great works that Faith had to do and to overcome the World the Flesh and the Devil and to make my Death to be safe and comfortable Therefore I found that all confirming helps were useful and among those of the lower sort Apparitions and other sensible Manifestations of the certain existence of Spirits of themselves Invisible was a means that might do much with such as are prone to judge by Sense The uses hereof I mention before the Book that the Reader may know that I write it for Practice and not to please Men with the Strangeness and Novelty of useless Stories It is no small number of Writers on such Subjects that I have read it 's near threescore years time from the fiâ—st occasion And finding that almost all the Athâ—ists Sadduces and Infidels did seem to profess that were they but sure of the Reality of the Apparitions and Operations of Spirits it would cure them I thought this the most suitable help for them that have sinned themselves into an incapacity of more Rational and Excellent Arguments And I have long feared lest secrâ—t unobserved defectiveness in their Belief of the Immortality of the Soul â—nd the truth of the Scripture is the great cause of all Mens other defects There lieth usually the unsoundness of Woridly Hypocrites where it is prevâ—iling and thence is the weakness of Graâ—e in the best though it prevail not against their Sincerity By which Motives I did though it displeased some make it the Second Fart of my Book called the Saints Rest And aftâ—rwardâ— provoked by Clement Writer I did it muâ—h more fully in a Book called the Unreasonableness of Infidelity And after that provoked by the Copy of a paper dispersed in Oxford said to be Dr. Walkers questioning the certainty of our Religion and seeing no answer to it come from the Univâ—rsity Men I wrote yet more Methodically of all in
for the Struma Ch. XI A strange Story from Belfast in Ireland fully attested in a Letter from Mr. Tho. Emlin a worthy Preacher now in Dublin Ch. XII A Dublin Instance attested by Mr. Daniel Williams now in London The Conclusion Concerning Angels and how to know bad Spirits from Good by the Matter and their Method And what Instruments Christ and Devils use in their greatest publick Warfare CHAP. I. Of the great and weighty Vses of these Histories of Spirits and their unusual Appearances and Works § I. I Have written this Collection only as an Addition to sufficient Proofs of invisible Powers or Spirits and their Actions towards Men which many in full Treatises have already given the World because how convincing soever those Discourses be Multitudes bred up in Idleness and Sensuality and thereby drowned in Sadduceism and Bestiality never see those Books nor will the Devil consent that they shall have so much Wit and Care of their future State as to make that diligent Enquiry after such Things as the Importance of the Matter doth require Nor will they read them if they have them nor believe the fullest Evidence though they read it pretending that of Persons and Things so long ago and far off they can have no Assurance not knowing what Fallacies may intervene Therefore I have chosen many near to them both for Time and Place of which if they think their Souls worth so much Labour they may enquire to Satisfaction § 2. Though I have taken many out of Foreign most credible Physicians and some from other Historians yet that I may not transcribe too much I desire them that need yet fuller Information to read especially Bodin and Remigius two Judges who condemned Multitudes of Witches themselves and Paul Grillandus and Sprangerus and the Mallei Maleficorum and Zanchy de Angelis Daemon and Danaeus Ioseph Glanvile with Dr. More 's Notes especially the Story in the West of Scotland near like that most convincing one of the Devil of Mascon and Dr. More of Atheism and Mr. Increase Mather and his Son Mr. Cotton Mather of New England their two Books of Witches of which the latter hath most convincing Evidence and Dr. Sinclare a Scot. § 3. I confess it is very difficult to expound the Causes of all mentioned in these Histories But proveâ— Matters of fact must not be denied but improved as well as we can And I confess very many Cheats of pretended Possessions have been discovered which hath made â—ome weak injudicious Men think that all are such Two sorts of Persons have oft been found Deceivers 1. Persons prepared and trained up purposely by Papists Priests to honour their Exorcisms You may find in print the Story of the Boy of Bilson Petrius who afterwards I heard turned Quaker at Bristol detected and shamed by Bp. Morton himself Many such abroad are recorded 2. Lustful Rank Girls and young Widows that plot for some amorous procacious Design or have Imaginations conquered by Lust Though I think when they come to a Furor uterinus Satan oft sets in But he forfeiteth the Benefit of his own Eye-sight who thinks that none see because some Beggars counterfeit Blindness § 4. The Instances tell us 1. That the State Converse Policy Laws of the AErial World or Regions are much thought not wholly unknown to us here 2. And so is the Natural State of the departed Souls of wicked Men as to their having Bodies or no Bodies their Power their Wits their Motions and Passions 3. And also whether they be proper Devils when joyned with them or of another Species 4. And 't is hard to know by their Words or Signs when it is a Devil and when it is a Humane Soul that appeareth 5. Yea it is oft hard to know whether it be the Soul of a good Person or a bad 6. And consequently what distance there is in their Habitations 7. Yea and oft whether it be a good Angel or a bad seeing bad ones may do good deceitfully or by Constraint 8. And 't is unsearchable to us how far God leaveth Invisible Intellectual Powers to Free Will about inferiour things suspending his predetermining Motion though not his general Motion and Concourse 9. Yea we are not fully certain whether these AErial Regions have not a third sort of Wights that are neither Angels Good or Fallen nor Souls of Men but such as have been there placed as Fishes in the Sea and Men on Earth And whether those called Fairies and Goblins are not such But as all these and more such are unknown to us so God seeth it meet for us that it should be so and we should not so much as desire or endeavour that it might be otherwise § 5. But we may know which must suffice us 1. That no Spirits can do any thing but by God's Will or Permission 2. And that God will never permit them eventually to frustrate his Love and Mercy to his People nor to break any one of his Promises to them 3. And that good Spirits are Servants and evil Ones Slaves to Jesus Christ our Redeemer and shall not frustrate his Grace and Undertaking 4. It is surely a wicked sort of Spirits that delight to do Mischief and that lye and deceive Men and that are ambitious to be worshipped and to have Men's Souls and Bodies in their power and make killing and damning Men their Work 'T is evident that their Knowledge and Misery hath not yet changed them by Repentance and made them better 5. 'T is evident that they are Enemies to God and to Jesus Christ for their whole Design is against them and against sanctifying saving Work 6. It is plain that they know that Man hath another Life to live Their Works attest the Immortality of our Souls and the Truth of Christianity in that they maliciously do so much against them They urge Men to renounce God and Christ and his Commandments and Worship their Baptism and all true Service of God They urge Persons to sell their Souls to them and to forsake all that tends to save them Their Importunity to destroy us should teach us the Need of the greatest Care and Diligence for our Salvation 7. It seemeth plain that they are now of a low and base Condition of Nature in that they seek such sordid Employments about Graves and Corps and multitudes of sordid trivial things 8. And it seems that they dwell near us in the Air Earth and Sea and not in the higher glorious Regions 9. And it is apparent that they have a natural Strength and Ways of working unknown to us by the Wonders that they do 10 It is very like that the â—ouâ—s of wicked Men now dwell with them as they must do for ever and are like them 11. I think it most likely that when Witches Men and Women confess their filthy Lying with Devils that it is done more to exercise the Lust of the Witch than of the Devil And that sometimes he doth it by
contradict Gods Word and Cavil and Argue against Faith and Holiness They that deride and mock at the Obedience of Gods Commands and Reproach the most Religious by scornful Nicknames They that seduce them by false Doctrine and that draw them from Gods Worship and they that silence necessary Faithful Preachers and they that dissuade Men from hearing or regarding them O! what an Army hath Satan for his work of destroying Souls These Men should think that it 's greater Cruelty to destroy Souls than to Rob or Murder Bodies It is fighting against the Office and Work of Christ that came to save them and against all the Ordinannances and Word of God and all the Course of his saving Mercies and all the Desires and Endeavours of the Godly that Long and Labour for Mens Salvation It is to be like Devils and do the Devils work and by hurting others they more hurt themselves And if Gods Mercy should Convert and Save such wretches they cannot Convert and Save those that they have deceived and drawn to Sin And God only knoweth what thoughts they would have if they come to Heaven to see or know of Souls in Hell that they brought thither But if they die Unconverted and go to them their Presence and Torment will be the increase of their own 11. These thoughts should stir up all believers to labour to save Souls from the Snares and Powers of Devils O! do not say as Cain Am I my Brothers Keeper say not that it is only the Work of Ministers They are Guides in Christs Army but you are Soldiers You are Vowed to fight against the Devil the World and Flesh and that for others as well as for your selves Societies are for Mutual Helps A Minister is but one Man and not an Army and can be but in one place at once You live among and near your Family Neighbours and such as you Converse with and may often speak to them All in your places must be Lights and Salt to Enlighten a Dark and season a Corrupt Generation O! You that believe the Life to come make haste to help poor Miserable Souls before Death put them past Remedy or Sin hath utterly hardened their Hearts Do you love your Neighbours as your selves and will see them continue in Ignorance Worldliness and Profaneness and do nothing or little to save them If you saw but their Bodies in need and shut up the Bowels of Compassion against them what love have you to God to Christ or them If Christ in Judgment will Condemn Men for not relieving Podies Math. 25. will it prove less sinful to afford no help to Souls If you are not for Christ and his Works you are against him If you saw them fall down in a Swound you would help them up And if their Houses were on Fire you would help and haste to quench it yea if your Enemies Beast fall into a Pit you must help him out And do you believe a Hell and not help Sinners The Devil their Adversary and yours as a Roaring Lyon seeketh Night and Day to Devour And will you do nothing to save Men. If you cannot do what you would do what you can Do but take it for your Duty and Works for which you must give account to God and keep you an account how you perform it Ask your selves what have I done for Souls this Week or this day Begin at home and give to all an Example of Holiness Heavenly meekness and Self-denial Then look to your Families O! betray not the Souls of your Children and Servants with a few slight good words or forms but with Love and Diligence Labour to make them understand Gods Word and the things of their Salvation Catechize them and help them to understand and apply it Keep them from ill Company Labour to render Gods Service to them as it is Necessary Honourable and Pleasant Time is short Souls are precious Hell is dreadful Heaven is joyful Devils and their wicked Servants are busie While you have opportunity labour to do good to all Your Labour if sincere shall not be in vain If you want Ability labour to increase it and get the help of such as can do better get them to able Ministers Put suitable Books into their Hands Do not as those Sectaries that to shew their Gifts are ready to intrude as publick Preachers but instead of Patient and Compassionate Diligence with the Ignorant and Ungodly about them do but exasperate them by Reproaches and Disgrace Condescend to the least and lowest Do all with Humility and Winning Love Alas Satan hath a greater and more dangerous Army to fight against Christ and Holiness and Mens Salvation among the Great and Rich and Proud and Careless Voluptuous Sinners than among Witches and possessed Bodies He wins and undoes most by pleasing them If he can get them to prefer Earth before Heaven and Wealth and Honour before Holiness and to be lovers of fleshly Pleasures more than of God and keep them from any serious Minister or Means that would waken them and bring them to their Wits and keep them from serious Consideration and from thinking whither they are going and how all their Carelesness Ease and Sin will end this is it that answereth his Soul murdering desires 12. But especially these Instances of Satans Diligence and Malice should teach Ministers how to preach on what Subjects in and what manner and how to converse personally with those of their charge Shall the Captains in Christ's Army see the Devourer go away with the Prey and do little for their rescue Is ignorant cold jingling contentious Preaching meet for them that are so greatly obliged to militate under Christ against the Destroyer and for the everlasting saving of Mens Souls The Lord heal and pardon our Unbelief and cruel want of Pitty and our Sloth and Lukewarmness for it is great and serious Work which we undertake But of this I refer those that will read it to my formed Pastor O Lord give to the Christian World a greater number of Wise Humble Holy experienced Teachers and save them from those that hate or believe not the Doctrine which for worldly Ends they preach and that serve the Devil in the name of Christ and calling themselves the Church and their Conceits its Canon or Rule do Preach and Rule for themselves their Honour Will and Wealth on pretence of the Welfare and Unity of the Church and become the Trumpeters of Malignity Persecution and Schism and have not known the way of Mercy CHAP. II. Several Historical Instances of Apparitions Witches and marvellous convincing Works of God's Providence § 1. THere are in this City of London many Persons that prosess their great unbelief or doubt of the Life to come the Immortality of the Soul and therefore much more of the truth of the Gospel and Christian Faith and Supernatural Revelations But they say that could they be certain of Spirits Apparitions Witchcraft and Miracles it would do more to
that shall make a perfect Cure that you shall need come to me no more then he gave them a Bag to hang about the Youth's Neck and Powder to take in White wine for one weeks time Order was given by him when the Youth had worn the Collar about his Neck for a while the Youth should take it off himself and burn it but Mr. Elson the Boy 's Master took off the Collar after it had been on two Days and a Night and shewed it to some to inquire whether it were not a charm there being nothing in the Collar but a Paper with this writing Callen Dan Dant Dan Dant Callen Dan Callen Dant Mr. Elson kept the Paper by him after 't was taken from the Boy 's Neck about eighteen Weeks not suffering it to be applied again being told that it seemed to be a meer Charm and the Boy being ask'd if he were content to have his Fits again rather than have a Cure from the Devil who would not cure his Body without greater prejudice to his Soul than his Bodily Distemper could be reckoned he very readily answered he would rather choose to have his Fits again and would leave himself to the Hands of God for his Disease or Cure When this Distemper left him for the Eighteen Weeks he returned considerably to his Senses and Memory beyond what he had before particularly to be able to sort Wooll at his Trade which he had not been able to do in a Year and quarter before About the Sixth Week of these Eighteen the Father went to Mr. Gibs again and told him how the Note was taken off and that several had the sight of it Gibs then said If the Fits do return again he will be worse than ever and at their return he should be able to do him no good His Fits at the return were indeed far more terrible than before and much of another kind than those of other Persons in the Fallen-sickness And these Fits did return to him about 18 or 19 VVeeks after they ceased upon a Shrove-Tuesday Mr. Elson inquiring into the time when they returned said it was when he threw the Paper that haâ— been about the Youth's Neck into the Firâ— and burnt it unwilling to keep such a thing any longer This Gibs hath the general repute of a VVizard and his Father before him The Youth hath a long time been utterly deprived of the use of his Reason and is clothed and otherwise used as a meeâ— Natural and his Fits so dreadful that Persons are afraid to behold him After the return of his Fits he was puâ— to one Yoe's in St. Thomas's where hâ— wrought at his Trade of VVorsted-combing and some means were used for his Fits which he pretended to have some Skill in curing whose Means were used about a Month without any success then and therâ— being at his VVork and some signs appearing of an approaching Fit they set him oâ— a Stool thence he fell in a Fit and brakâ— his Leg the main Bone in two pieces another Bone in many pieces Then he waâ— brought home to his Father's House and the Bones being set the Chyrurgion said iâ— he should have another Fit his Cure would be impossible he lay about a Month oâ— five VVeeks very free from Fits till his Bones were so well knit that he could walk abroad with Crutches which he did for a while and then his Fits returned in the same manner as before his Bone was broken After his Leg was well recovered he was carried to Mr. Pridham of Morchard he prescribed Means which he hop'd would do him good if there were any alteration by the use of his Pills which he then gave him to carry with him and take when he came home but before the Pills he had ordered a Vomit to be taken in the working of which they thought he would die Then they gave him the Pills which after they had stay'd above an Hour in his Stomach he vomited them up as they were taken which were put up again in the Box and shewed to Mr. Pridham who said If they had been given to a Child of two Months old they would have been digestâ—ed in half an Hour Upon hearing the whole he said certainly there is something extraordinary in the case Being asked if he could do him no good he said he did not question but he could but being a Minister he feared he should lose his Benefice by Peoples saying he was a VVhite-VVitch The Youth's Mother apprehended that Mr. Staddon drop'd some such words that her Son was bewitch'd or possess'd or somewhat to that purpose who went through a Course of Physick with the Youth and found nothing did answer Expectation For some Years the Youth hath been much prejudiced in his Speech sometimes he cannot speak at all but is as one dumb for a VVeek or Fortnight together He speaks plain enough between but when be hath the Dumb Fits he can hardly move his Tongue in his Mouth and he is generally so deprived of Reason that he is clad and otherwise used as a meer Idiot This Narrative was taken in the beginning of April 1688. Memorandum The Youth continues in the same condition till this 27 th of September 1689. XIII Tho' I collect much written heretofore I must not transcribe other Mens Books I here desire the Reader to read in Dr. Sinclare's Book called Satan's Invisible World among 36 Histories the X. called The Devil of Genluce where he will find such another Case as that of the Devil of Mascon where the Spirit besides other Acts oâ— Molestation and Violence for a long time continued familiar talking to Men before so many Witnesses as leaveth the truth oâ— the History unquestionable XIV The Hanging of a great number oâ— Witches in Suffolk and Essex by the discovery of one Hopkins in 1645 and 1646 iâ— famously known Mr. Calamy went along with the Judges in the Circuit to heaâ— their Confessions and see that there werâ— no Fraud or Wrong done them I spake with many Understanding Pious and Credible Persons that lived in the Countries and some that went to them to the Prisons and heard their sad Confessions Among the rest an old Reading Parson named Lowis not far from Franlingham was one that was Hanged who confessed that he had two Imps and that one of them was always putting him on doing Mischief and he being near the Sea as he saw a Ship under Sail it moved him to send him to sink the Ship and he consented and saw the Ship sink before him One Penitent Woman confessed that her Mother lying sick and she looking to her somewhat like a Mole ran in to the Bed to her which she being startled at her Mother bid her not fear it but gave it her saying Keep this in a Pot by the Fire c. and thou shalt never want She did as she was bid shortly after a poor Boy seemingly came in and askt leave to sit and warm him at
and saith that if much Aluminous Matter and Salt Peter not throughly prepared be mixt they will send up a Cloud of Smoak even to the middle Region of the Air which will come down as Rain in Drops XVI Erasmus and others tell us of a Witch at a Town near them or rather as Devil that appeared and threatned to burn their Houses and on the top of a Chimney holding a Pot of Ashes scattered them abroad and presently the Town was burnt XVII The felling of Winds in the Northern Seas towards Lapland and Iseland is so commonly asserted by Mariners and Historians that I shall omit particular Instances Olaus Magnus and others will tell the Reader of that and more in those cold parts XVIII What shall we say to the many certain Histories of the fresh bleeding of Murdered Bodies when the Murderer is brought to it or at least when he toucheth it whether it be by the Soul of the Dead or by a good Spirit that hateth Murther or by the Devil appointed for Revenge it seems plainly to be by an invisible Spirit 's Operation I have heard persons so Credible give Instances of it seen by themselves that though it be not a constant Event it is surely Credible The aforesaid Scribonius ubi supra p. 123. c. faith This is done so manifestly and in so many places that to deny it is but open Lies And he answers them that refer it to other Causes only and saith I'll testifie what I have seen when Iames ab Aquaria Patricius of Arles was dead Vateriola a Physician of great Experience citing some Verses of Lucretius of mad Love saith In this Verse Lucretius thinks that the Blood of a Man affected and wounded by a Beam from the Eyes doth pass into wounded as the Blood of one slain by a a Man's Sword falleth into him that falleth But saith Scribonius I had rather Valeriola had said It is done by the Secret Judgment of God XIX Scribonius p 126. For the strangeness of the thing saith he I will bring but one Example In the County of Lippia at Vftenia a Woman that had killed her Child cast it into the next River Secretly the Child after 3 weeks was found there by 2 Maids and by the Command of the Magistrates it was put into the Lap or Bosom of the Mother being in Prison to try whether the Carkass would sweat Blood Hereupon the dead Infant presently opened the left Eye and weeping much look'd on the Mother and that Eye being shut Blood flowed out of it This Example is certainly a stupendous sign of God's Judgment It was seen of very many most Grave Men and is not doubted of by the Inhabitants of that place XX. A Godly Minister Mr. Farnworth that came hither from New England being a Nonconformist and extream poor dyed as all about him said of meer Poverty for want of warm Cloaths Fire and Food when the Act of Uniformity had begger'd many into extream necessity he testify'd that in America hearing of a Sacrifice to the Devil that the Savages used to keep by offering a Man to him he went to see them perform it and he found a great number about a dry Pit and they brought an old Man bound and by many ugly Ceremonies devoted him And he saw the Man carried up into the Air and quickly thrown down again dead among them XXI Ludov. Vives de Verit. fidei lib. 1. saith That in America it is a common thing to see Spirits appear to Men in various Shapes day and night So Olaus Magnus saith of the Iselanders XXII I know none that hath written better de Angelis de Potentia Daemonum than Zanchy who Tom. 3. c. 4 de Pot. Dem. saith He wonders that any should deny that there are such Spirits as are called Hags or Fairies as exercise Familiarity with Men and without hurting them come to them and trouble them as playing with them I could saith he bring many Examples of persons yet living that have had Experience of them on themselves But hence it appeareth that there are such Spirits in the Air and that when God permits them they use their Power on us for sport or hurt Read him there further XXIII I have elsewhere cited the most Credible Melanchthon saying he had seen some and that many persons of his Acquaintance had seen and talk'd with them and that the Devil appeared to his own Aunt in the likeness of her dead Husband with a Franciscan Fryar and told her she must hire some Masses to be said for him and took her by the Hand saying he would not hurt her but it so burnt her Hand that it remained black ever after See Fernelius de abditis rerum Causis lib. 2. c. 16. of many things that he saw himself that are convincing XXIV Dr. Henricus ab Heer Observ. viii A little Girl in the ninth year of her Age for Beauty Education or Birth inferior to none where she lived having innocently put into her Mouth a Sorrel Leaf which was given her by a Witch that begged at the Door to whom she had first given a piece of Bread and then some Beer it was scarce swallowed by her when she began to be Tortured in her Bowels to Tremble all over and then to be convulst and in fine to swoon away and fall as one dead The Doctor and Doctress being called for at Vtrecht where this thing happen'd in May 1625. it is Customary for both Sexes to practise Physick though they for many days Experimented the Remedies usual in this case the Child found no Relief but was still Afflicted with very frequent and most terrible paroxysms Whereupon as the Custom of the Country is they Consult the Exorcists The Priest appointed for that work a Capuchin had scarce laid his hand on the Ritual when the Child was Transformed by the Demon into such Shapes as a Man that hath not beheld it with his Eyes will hardly be brought to imagine It began first to rowl it self about and next to Vomit Horse-dung Needles Pins Hairs Feathers Bottoms of Thread Pieces of glass Windows Nails drawn out of Cart or Coach Wheels an Iron Knife above a Span long Egg and Fish Shells In the mean while her Parents and those of the Neighbourhood observe that whenever the Witch came near the House or so much as turned her Eye towards it even at the Distance of two hundred paces the poor Child was in much greater Torment than before insomuch that she could by no means be eased of her Fit or shew one sign of Life until she was at a very great Distance from her This Witch was soon after apprehended and confest both this and infinite other the like Feats for which she was Strangled and Burnt Being desired by a Father Jesuit who Assisted her in her last Agony and at that Moment on which depends Eternity when the Executioner had now sitted the Rope to her Neck that she would dissolve the the Spell and
know and that that Prince of Darkness lurking under the thick Cloudiness of that black Humour immixeth himself in divers Diseases and that he exciteth cruel Troubles or Storms in divers Subjects I HAVE BY MANIFOLD EXPERIENCE FOUND but I am not of so facile a Mind as to be struck at the meeting of every Phantasm though portentous nor is my Reason like Wax to receive every Impression By two signs I can know Demoniacks If a person untaught and without Philosophy speak in divers and strange Tongues and nervously and solidly dispute of Sciences and Arts never studied And if a weighty Body rapt up on high hang long in the Air and fall not with their weight Black Choler in the Spleen Brain Womb may move a thousand Symptoms which by the Ignorant pass for Miracles There liveth in this City an Irish-man who with unmoved Lips maketh a long Oration and deceiveth those near him as if one spoke to them far of I my self discovered a notable Cheat in a Servant in my own House and many such are detected by which the Ignorant Undiscerning and Incredulous are drawn to disbelieve those that are most fully proved Read of Cheats De Loier a Frenchman XXVIII The Learned and Judicious Gerh. Vossius saith de Samuele in Beverovicii Epist. Pag 203. I know there were many fabulous stories and of Fraud c. but by Men both Learned and Quick-sighted and Grave and Honest in many Ages past there are reported and at this Day remembred and told innumerable Instances in which it is not possible but that with the endeavour of man there concurred the Illusion or Force of the Devil a malignant Spirit supplying that which was beyond the power of Man XXIX Lavater de Spectris is a Book so common and well known by him a Learned Godly Protestant Divines that I will suppose the Learned Reader to have read it and will not recite what is therein XXX Pious and Peaceable Bishop Ios. Hall saith Soliloq 15. P. 53 54. Satan's Prevalency in this Age is most clear in the marvelous number of Witches abounding in all places Now hundreds are discovered in one Shire and if Fame deceive us not in a Village of 14 Houses in the North are found so many of this Damned brood Heretofore only barbarous deserts had them but now the Civilest and Religious Parts are frequently pestered with them Heretofore some silly ignorant old Women c. now we have known those of both Sexes who professed much Knowledge Holiness and Devotion drawn into this damnable Practice XXXI I have elsewhere cited divers Passages to this use out of Holy Cyprian but that in the Epistle of Finnilianus to Cyprian Ep. 75. Pag. 238. seemeth strange like that of Magdalena Crucia and others among the Papists A Woman pretending to have the Holy Ghost proved a Witch and did many Wonders She had a Gift of Prayer and did Baptize and Administer the Lords Supper in the ordinary way c. XXXII This is so like to the well known Case of Mrs. Hutchinson and Mrs. Dyer in New England with Mr. Wheeler and the rest in the time of Sir Henry Vane's Government detected by the Wondrous Monsters that I intreat the Reader to get the History of all in Mr. Tho. Weld's Book one of their Ministers called The rise and fall of Antinomianism and Familism in New England Though I find no proof of Witchcraft in their Case there is much of Satanical Delusion joined with Humane Self-conceit and Pride XXXIII I have before mentioned Zanchy's Judgment and his excellent Books de Deo de Angelis de potentia Daemonum than whom no Man hath given us a more full Testimony in general of Diabolical Operations I shall here only repeat his Opinion of the Manner of Satan's Working He thinketh Tom. 3. l 4. c. 10. p. 188. that it is the very Substance of the Devil that entereth into Men and that they have Bodies more Subtile than the Air. The doubt is 1. Whether it be only other Causes that enter by this moving of them by Devils 2. Or whether they Operate and enter only Virtute by some force sent from their Substance 3. Or Operate by Contiguity of their Substance it self in Men. 1. The first way no doubt they work as by moving Winds and Fire and Water and our Blood and Humours and our Tempters and Enemies c. but not that way alone 2. What Energy or Force he can send that is neither his own Substance nor any other Substance I cannot conceive 3. That his very Substance entereth into the Possessed I see no cause to doubt for he can penetrate any part of our Bodies as he is a Spirit And if we knew that he Operate only in some Body or Vehicle Air or Air and Fire mixt yet what part of our Bodies cannot Air and Fire penetrate And this Supposition would countenance Dr. More 's Opinion that all Spirits are the the Souls of some Bodies And Scripture saith so much of Devils entring into Men and being in them and being cast out of them that I see not how we can deny it to be their Substance And how else should they move us besides by Instruments Is it any more wonder that Devils permitted can enter than Air Or how else work they on Mens Souls I must say it to humble us that I fear that in most Temptations that sollicit our Thoughts and our Wills and Affections and Passions if not sometimes our Tongues and Hands it is the very present Substance of Evil Spirits that by Contiguity move us even true Christians when they Sin And that it is no unseemly thing to pray God to cast Satan out of our Thoughts and Hearts Oh that we better knew what cause we have to fear letting him in and by yielding and custom to give him advantages to tempt and rule us But yet his Substantial Presence and his Operations are to be distinguished He hurteth not all that he is present with but those that he hath Power to work upon and that are prepared to receive his Operations God himself doth not work Life or Grace on all that he is present with and that what he doth he doth it by his Substantial Presence or his Essence XXXIV I have elsewhere cited Luther's Testimony and how the Devil appeared to himself at Coburge And Melancthon's and Peter Martyr's I have cited here and elsewhere See Pet. Martyr Loc. Com. Clas I. c. 9. and cap. 8. § 8. pag. 39 40. XXXV The most Judicious Credible Melanchthon in his Epistle to Hubert Languetus the Author of Iunius Brutu's Vind. con Tyran Epistolar l. 2. p. 550 551. saith Though there be sometimes Natural Causes of Madness yet it is most certain that Devils enter into the Bodies of some and cause Madness and Torments to them either with Natural Causes or without them for it is manifest that such persons are oft delivered without Natural Remedies And these Diabolical Spectacles are oft Prodigies
of Heaven more Familiar and Pleasant to us to think of such a Holy and Amiable Society and would make us the willinger to die As to them that say that it is enough to know that Christ is all to us and we must take heed of ascribing any thing to Creatures I Answer is Christ the less all to us for giving us his Mercies For giving us the Ministry of Angels Is he the less All to us for giving Gifts to Men for giving Comforters and Merciful Relievers to the poor For giving to Children the Love and Care of Parents Or for giving Men good Princes and Magistrates to Rule them Or for giving them Soldiers to fight for them Or for giving you Ministers to Teach you Who more praiseth their Teachers than such Objectors Will you be unthankful to your Benefactors for fear of ascribing to Creatures Will you not praise a Godly Man above a Wicked Will you not praise and admire the Glory of the Sun and Stars and the Frame of Heaven and Earth for fear of ascribing to Creatures Is the praising of a Work a wrong to the Workman Indeed this agreeth with their Doctrine who because â—aul counted all his Mosaical Legal Righteousness as loss and Dung in Comparison of the Righteousness that God gave him in and by â—hrist do therefore â—â—y that we must count all that Righteousness as Dung which â—hrist himselâ— worketh in us by his Spirit even Faith it seâ—â— which is imputed or reckoned to us for Righteousness This enticeth Men to be out of Love with Christian Righteousness when Christ hath made it our own if it be no better than Dung And to fear that some such Men have no better But they say they account Faith and Love to Christ to be Dung only as to Iustification As if God did not make all Men just whom he justifieth by Esteem and Sentence Or as if that were Righteousness that doth in no part or degree make a Man Righteous Or as if any but Christians as such are justified Or any Man were a Christian before he accepteth Christ by a Loving and Thankful Consent or Trust as his Saviour and his Teacher and his Lord and Ruler But this is a Digression which Mens talk against ascribing to Angels led me to We are not for ascribing to Angels nor to Faith and Love and Holiness the least part of the Honour proper to God or to Jesus Christ They do none of the Work of our Redeemer for us nor can we do the least of it for our selves unless as the Work of his Instruments and Agents may be called Christs Work They save us indeed but it is but as Timothy was taught by Paul how to save himself and those that heard him and we are bid to save our selves Christ teacheth us and Ministers teach us Christ Feedeth us and we Feed our selves yea he faith that we feed him And that he will for so doing say Come ye Blessed inherit the Kingdom Angels and Men do Christs Commanded Work But no Creature doth the least part of Christs own proper undertaken Work Objection But these high Thoughts of Angels have drawâ— the Papists to Idolatry in Praying to them and Worshipping them Answer It is your denying them the Honour that is due to them which is a Temptation that hardneth Papists in their Excess Must we not Love and Honour Kings Ministers and Saints though some herein run into Extreams We have many Reasons against Praying to Angels or offering them Visible Corporeal Worship Because we know not just when they are present And because it may Countenance the Heathens Demon Worship and Idolatry And because God hath appointed us no such sort of Worship But God having largely told us of their Love to us and their constant eminent Service for us he thereby obligeth us to answerable Regard Affections and Acknowledgment I have said so much in a small Discourse in Mr. Isaack Ambroâ—e his Book of Communion with Angels at his request who is now with Angels that I will not here Recite very many particular Texts of Scripture about this Subject But if you will but look in your Concordance you may see what abundant mention of Angels there is throughout all the Scripture while we hear so little of them in our Books or Pulpits It 's true that in the Old Testament time they ofter Visibly appeared than they do now But that is no Derogation to our Gospel State As it is more Spiritual than theirs that needed more Visible means so our Spiritual Benefits by them before named are greater than theirs were 1. How Familiar were Angels with Abraham who entertained them as Men till they made themselves better known to him They were the Messengers of the great promise to him of the Numerous and the Holy Seed They Reproved Sarah for her Unbelief that they might comfort her by the promised Seed How Familiar were they with Lot when they came into his House and took him in and blinded his Enemies and told him their Message concerning Sodom and when they carried him while he delayed to depart And when they saved Zoar for his sake How Familiar were they with Iacob in his Travels and his Return when he saw them as by a Ladder ascending and descending And when one of them wrestled with him and Blessed him though he made him halt I know that many excellent Divines do that one of these called Angels was Christ. To which I say 1. If it were so that doth not deny but confirm what I am pleading for If Christ appearing made Angels his Companions it was the more for their Honour 2. But if this be true either Christ had a Body yea many Bodies before his Incarnation by Mary or not If not what were all these Similitudes of Men that did eat and drink and talk and act Were they mere â—hadows and Delusions How then could they speak and act so Potently If yea then was the pure God head Hypostatically united to these many appearing Bodies Or not Who can prove a difference save as to the Matter and Duration between his union with these and with his last assumed Flesh. And yet the Scripture appropriateth Christs Incaâ—â—â—tion and coming in the Body to the Funâ—â—â— of Time and to those last days I am â—â—th to say without proof that Christ 〈…〉 Bodies lest any should infer that there have been many Christs But if this 〈◊〉 be held it will introduce Peter Sterrâ— Doctrine as most probable that Christ as the Eternal Word 〈◊〉 God first 〈◊〉 the Noblest reâ—ted Nature abâ—â—e 〈◊〉 or as Dr â—â—ore calleth it an Eternal 〈◊〉 or as he and Iohn Turner a pâ—ime Created â—e in the priâ—â—e Matter and did unite â—â—â—â—lf to this 〈◊〉 ‑ lical Nature and by it cause all the rest And that this second Nature appeared to the Fathers by such Temporary assumed Bodies and at last assumed the Body of a Man being say some it self a Soul to it but as others assuming both
a Human Soul and Body And so that Christ hath three Natures a Divine a Superangelical and a Humane But of this oft elsewhere This opinion is reconciling as to the Artans who have affirmed Christ to be a Creature above Angels And if God made such a Creature methinks it should be easie to perswade them that he that is as the Center and more than a Soul maketh all the World to be One though of unlike parts doth primarily unite himself with the first and Noblest of his productions Objection But Scripture saith that Abraham called one of these Lord. Answer That Name both Adonai and Elohun are oft given to Creatures And if the Name of Iehovah be sometimes used as to Angels it is only meant to God speaking by them whom Abraham knew to be present though Invisible and to know all that was said Yet further it was an Angel that appeared to Mâ—ses in the burning the Bush and so that sent him on his work to deliver the Israelites from Egypt and Fortified him with power of Miracles and made him his great promises of Success And yet no doubt it was God and the Text is true that affirmeth both Therefore it must be God speaking and acting by the Ministry of an Angel Commissioned to use his Name It was Angels that gave Mâ—ses the Law in the Mount Sinai For so saith the Scripture But it was God by them who were his Voice and Finger that made and wrote the Tables and spake all the words these were all Great and Wonderful Ministrations God promised Moses that his Angels should go before the Israelites to conquer their Enemies and bring them into the promised Land And he chargeth them not to provoke him for Gods Name was upon him and he would not forgive their Iniquities What greater things could be said than that an Angel shall bear Gods Name and be their Captain and Conquer their Enemies and be their Governour and not forgive their wilful Sins In Ioshuahs War at Iericho an Angel appeareth and professeth himself the Captain of the Lords Hosts Josh. 5. 14 15. and Joshua fell on his face to the Earth and Worshipped him and prayed to him to tell him his Message If Angels be not the Generals or Captains of our Armies we are unlike to Conquer It was by an Angel that God brought the Israelites out of Egypt Numb 20. 16. It was an Angel that chose a Wife for Isaack Gen. 24. 7. 40. The Angel of Gods Presence saved the Israelites Isa. 63. 9. An Angel delivered the three Men Dan. 3. from the Fire and Daniel from the Lions Dan. 6. Angels Preached Christ to the Shepherds An Angel made the pool in Ierusalem healing Io. 5. 4. An Angel Preacheth to Cornelius An Angel delivereth Peter Act. 12. The Angel of the Lord Encampeth round about them that fear him and delivereth them Ps. 34. 7. God giveth his Angels charge over us to keep us in all our ways They bear us up in their Hands lest we dash our Foot against a Stone Psal. 91. 11 12. Rev. 1. Tells us that God first Revealeth his Will to Christ and Christ to Angels and Angels to Iohn and Iohn to the Churches and the Churches to Posterity Yea Angels Ministred to Christ himself when he was hungry Mat. 4. 11. And appeared in his Agony strengthening him Luke 22. 43. Legions of Angels are at his Service And all the Holy Angels will come with him at Judgment and they will be the Reapers at the end of the World Above 260 times are Angels mentioned in Scripture and yet how little notice do we take of their help But is it only our Bodies that they help Can they reach or help our Souls Answ. If Devils can touch our Souls with their Temptations are Angels farther from us or less able to move us to our Duty But are they ordinarily present or know our Case Answ. They rejoice in our Conversion and therefore know it They are present in our Assemblies as Paul intimareth 1 Cor. 11. 10. Say not before the Angel that it was an Errour Eccl. 5. 6. which intimateth the Angels Presence Every Believer hath his Angel beholding the Face of our Father in Heaven Matth. 13 10 and they are not Strangers to their Charge We feel that the Devil is present with us by his Temptations continually in all our Duties molesting or hindering us And are Angels less intent upon their Work It is Michael and his Angels that fight against the Dragon and his Angels to save the Church While such Texts make the Papists think that Angels are always or ordinarily present if they give them not Divine Worship but such as we would do a Prince though I have said before why I approve not of their Doings I dare not as some late Expositors of the Revelation judge the Catholick Church to have become AntiChristian Idolaters as soon as they gave too much Worship to Angels and to Saints We are come to the New Ierusalem to the Innumerable Angels Heb. 12. and must honour them that fear the Lord Psal. 15. And we know that we are translated from Death to Life becauâ—e we love the Brethren And is it so damnable Idolatry to love and honour Angels and Saints a little too much while they give them nothing proper to God I blame their Irregularities but I dare not judge so hardly of them and the ancient Church for this as some do nor think them much better that love and honour Angels and Saints as much too little Some now would call a Man an Idolater that should say as Iacob Gen. 48. 16. The Angel which redeemed me from all Evil bless the Lads They say This Angel was Christ. Answ. Scripture saith it was an Angel Hos. 12 4. saith He had power over the Angel I dare not call God an Angel though Angels may be called Gods as Princes be If Christ had then no Nature but the Divine I should suspect it is Arianism to call him an Angel or Messenger of God If he had a Body then was it Ubiquitary Or had he infinite numbers of Bodies Or could he be but with one in the World at once For my part I have had many Deliverances so marvellous as convinceth me of the Ministry of Angels in them not here to be recited But I am satisfied that there is no less of the Presence and Efficacy of the Father Son and Holy Spirit when he useth and honoureth any Instruments Angels or Men than if he used no Means at all As I will not desire so to alter the stated Government and Order of God as to expect here visible Communion with Angels nor will offer them any unrequired Worship so I would not unthankfully forget how much we receive by them from Christ and how much we are beholden to them and to God and our Redeemer for them And I hope they will shortly be a Convoy to the Soul of this poor Lazarus to Abraham's Bosom or to the Paradise