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
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
a Book called the Reasons of the Christian Religion And after added a small Discourse called More Reasons for it provoked by one that called himself Herbert in which also I answered the Lord Herbert de veritate And since then a nameless Sadduce hath drawn me to publish an Answer to him And in my Life of Faith and other Books I have handled the same Subject All which I tell the Reader that he may see why I have taken this Subject as so necessary why I am ending my Life with the publication of these Historical Letters and Collections Which I dare say have such Evidence as will leave every Sadduce that readeth them either convinced or utterly without excuse Surely the certainty of so great a change of our place State Company and Works as Death will certainly and quickly make should possess every Man that hath the use of Reason with such serious Thoughts Affections and Diligence as is quite contrary to a Diverted Careless Sloathful Worldly Sensual and stupid Mind and Life How speedily shall I see the World that I have read of and Preached and talkt and written of O! What a difference will there be between my now hearing of frightful Apparitions and prodigious Acts of Spirits and that sight or knowledge of all their State and Affairs which I shall have and now am going to The sight of Devils and Damned Diveses and unholy Souls will hereafter be no Rarity and if my Soul must pass through the airy inferior Region where these Miserable Spirits now inhabit it will not be as dangerously Assaulted by them but in Triumph For I know whom I have trusted and into the hands of him do I commit my Spirit who hath conquerred Death and Devils and is now the Glorified Lord of all and can use them at his pleasure And those Angels that rejoice at the Repentance of of a Lazarus and now are Ministring Spirits for his safety will be ready in Obedience to our Lord to convey his Soul to Abrahams bosom Yea to be that day with Christ in Paradise He that chaineth up these Devils that they molest us no more as their Malice doth desire will make our passage safe through all their envy and defiled Regions But seeing it is the free will of Man that giveth the Devils their hurting power and they can do us no harm nor maâ—e us sin without our own consent or yielding O! With how careful and constant and resolved watchfulness should we live And how deservedly may every prayerless ungodly Family and person bâ— left for a prey to this devourer And indeed he hath already hurt them more by blindâ—ng and hardening their Hearts than a thousand haunting Apparitions could of themselves have done And when Excellent Zanchy hath said so much to proâ—e that it is by hâ—s very contigâ—ous Substance that the Devil doth work on Soul and Body how dreadful should Temptations and Sin be to us if we would not have the very substance of Devils dwell in us And why do any think it strange to read so much of Possessions and Dispossessions in the Gospel Lord Iesus let me Finish my Course with joy And then receive my Spirit Amen Iuly 20. 1691. Richard Baxter The CONTENTS Chap. I. Of the great and weighty Vses of the Histories of Spirits and their unusual Apparitions and Actions Ch. II. § I. Instance I. The Devil of Mascon 2. Collonel Bowen ' s Story in divers Letters 3. My Friend and Neighbour Collonel John Bridge ' s Story 4. One in London yet living 5. One at Belfast 6. One at Ilchester 7. Mr. Mompesson ' s Story 8. iAt Lutterworth 9. Mary Ellins of Evesham 10. One in Dorsetshire 11. Nathan Crab of Exeter 12. The strange Story of the Devil of Genluce in Dr. Sinclare 13. The Witches hanged in Suffolk and Essex 14. The Brightling Story 15. Lord Breghill ' s Story of one at St. James ' s. 16. Simon Jones of Kiderminster 17. Richard White of Wilden-Hall 18. Mr. Hopkins of Bewdley 19. An Instance now in London 20. Another as strange 21. Mr. White at Lambeth 22. One from Cambridge 23. One at Hunniton 24. Another there 25. Mr. Ch Hatt ' s Story Ch. III. The strange Story of Mr. May Hill Minister of Beckington in Somersetshire Mr. Increase and Mr. Cotton Mather ' s Instances The Story of Mr. Pacy ' s Daughters at Lesto Ch. IV. Many Histories sent me by Duke Lauderdale and one that taught a Minister to speak true Latin and his Detection of some Popish Frauds Ch. V. Of Witchcraft Inst. 1. Alexander Benedictus 2. Benevenius 3. Langius 4. Cornelius Gemma 5. Sidelicus in Skenkius 6. Wolphius 7. Sebastian Brand. 8. Fabricius Hildanus 9. Faelix Platerus 10. Hollerius 11. Petrus Forestus 12. Scribonius Many Instances of the Concubitus of Daemons with Women 13. Many struck by Daemons Scribonius 14. Witches raising Storms 15. Erasmus ' s Story of an Apparition that burnt the Town 16. The Selling of Winds in Lapland and Iseland 17. The Bleeding oâ— muâ—derâ—d Bodies 18. Scriboniusâ—s strange Story 19. Mr. Farmworth of an Indian Sacrifice to the Devil 20. Ludovicus Vives Testimony 21. Zanchy ' s Testimony 22. Melancthon ' s Testimony 23. A wonderful Story of Dr. Henricâ—ab Heere 24. Merik Causabone of Sir Theod Meyerne 25. Divers Instances from Fernelius 26. Sir Theod. Meyerne ' s prudent Iudgment 27. Gerh. Vossius ' s Testimony 28. Lavater 29. Bishop Jos. Hall 30. Cyprian and a strange Story in him from Firmilianus 31. The New England Instances on Mrs. Hutchinson and Mrs. Dyer published by Mr. Thomas Weld 32. Zanchy ' s Opinion that the Devil's Substance is in them that they move 33. Luther ' s Testimony 34. More of Melancthon ' s. Ch. VI. Mr. John Lewis and Mr. John Davis ' s Multitudes of Instances of Apparitions in Cardiganshire and near it of Knockers and Death-Lights Ch. VII Inst. 1. Mr. Tilson ' s Narrative from Rochester 2. Mr. Woodcock ' s Letter and four strange Stories One of Mr. Mun and one of Dr. Lamb and Mr. Barber and one of Mr. Herlakenden ' s House and of the Oundle Well Ch. VIII Of good Angels and some doubtful Spirits Inst. 1. Mr. Tate ' s Case 2. The Bolton Instance 3. The Afric Bishops whose Tongues were cut out 4. Somewhat from De la Cerda 5. Mr. Ketilby Woodhouse ' s Testimony of some saved from Sir Richard Greenvile 6. Of the Books of Prodigies 1662. 7. Of Lightnings tearing Churches 8. Of Whirlwinds and Hurricanes 9. Of Mrs. Britton s Apparition 10. More from De la Cerda 11. Hildanus ' s strange Story of Lightning Ch. IX Inst. 1. Of melancholy Persons Case 2. Of Enthusiasts Instances named of divers sorts Ch. X. Other strange Providences observable on my self on R. C. on Tho. Giles on J. D. Of Death fore-told Instance of Mr. Tiro Colonel Rich and his Lady's Letters of it Of the Glastonbury Thorn divers Letters Of the Kings of England and France Touching
after and returned home to his Trade and while I was there afterward which was fourteen years lived Honestly Religiously and without blame and I think is yet living which mindeth me of that which followeth though to me not known XVII When I was young most credible and religious persons born in Wilden-Hall near Wolver-hampton in Stafford-Shire oft told me dwelling with me in the same House that one Richard White a Smith of Wilden-Hall was a prophane Atheistical Man and believing that there was no Devils in his Cups would wish he could once see the Devil if there were such a thing and that suddenly he changed his Life and became a professor of zeal and strictness in Religion and told them that in a clear Moon-shine Night the Devil in the shape of a great ugly Man stood by his Bed side opening the Curtains and looking him in the Face and at last took up the Blanket and sometime smiled on him and then was more ugly and after a while in which he lay in great Terror the Apparition Vanished and he was affrighted into the aforesaid change of Life as Bruno is said to be the Founder of the Order of Carthusian Fryers XVIII My dear Friend Mr. Hopkins Father to my Faithful Brother Mr. George Hopkins Minister at Eversham till ejected Aug. 24 1662. and Grandfather to Dr. Hopkins lately Preacher at Laurences a chief Magistrate of Bewdley and since a Member of the Long Parliament oft pained as he thought with the Spleen but not at all Meclancholy came to me at Mr. Hanburyes the last time before I was driven out of the County and as a great secrettold me that he was possest meaning I think Bewitcht I chid him as Fanciful and Melancholy But he without any shew of Melancholy affirmed that it was certainly true I could not stay with him and never saw him more But he long continued in pain and that Conceit and before he dyed a piece of Wood came down into the rectum intestinum which they were fain to pull out with their Fingers His good Wife told me it was of the length of ones finger And that he and they were sure that he never swallowed any such thing The best Men it seems may be thus Afflicted as Iob by Satan XVIII There is now in London an understanding sober pious Man oft one of my Hearers who hath an elder Brother a Gentleman of considerable Rank who having formerly seemed pious of late Years doth oft fall into the Sin of Drunkenness He oft lodgeth long together here in this his Brother's House And whenever he is drunken and hath slept himself sober something knocks at his Bed's Head as if one knock'd on a Wainscot when they remove his Bed it followeth him Besides lowd Noises on other Parts where he is that all the House heareth They have oft watch'd and kept his Hands left he should do it himself His Brother hath oft told it me and brought his Wife a discreet Woman to attest it who averreth moreover that as she watched him she hath seen his Shooes under the Bed taken up and nothing visible touch them They brought to me the Man himself and when we ask him how he dare so sin again after such a Warning he hath no Excuse But being Persons of Quality for some special Reason of Worldly Interest I must not name him Two things are remarkable in this Instance 1. What a powerful thing Temptation and Fleshly Concupiscence is and what a hardned Heart Sin brings Men to If one rose from the Dead to warn such Sinners it would not of it self persuade them 2. It poseth me to think what kind of Spirit this is that hath such a Care of this Man's Soul which maketh me hope he will recover Do good Spirits dwell so near us Or are they sent on such Messages Or is it his Guardian Angel Or is it the Soul of some dead Friend that suffereth and yet retaining Love to him as Dives to his Brethren would have him saved God yet keepeth such things from us in the dark XIX There is now in London a Youth the Son of a very Godly Conforming Minister who reading a Book of that called Conjuration coming to the Words and Actions which the Book said would cause the Devil to appear was presently very desirous to try and desirous that the Apparition might be accordingly He came to me in Terrour having before opened his Case to a Parish-Minister and affirmed to me that the Devil hath appeared to him and sollicited him with a Knife to cut his Throat and told him he must do it suddenly for he would stay no longer I told him how safe he was if he truly repented and begged Pardon through Christ and would resolvedly renew his Baptismal Covenant and renounce the Devil and live as truly devoted to God and our Redeemer And I have heard from him no more but must not name him This shews what Power Satan gets if Men do but consent For I had a very Godly Friend that a Week ago told me that he read Cornelius Agripâ—a's Occulta Philosophia and read the same Words that he saith will raise Devils but with no Desire but a Detestation of Success and of the Book and nothing appeared to him XX. Mr. Samuel Clark hath published the Apparition to Mr. White of Dorchester Assessor to the Westminster-Assembly at Lambeth The Devil in a light Night stood by his Bed-side He looked a while whether he would say or do any thing and then said If thou hast nothing else to do I have and so turned himself to sleep Many say it from Mr. White himself XXI This following I had from one of unquestionable Credit Amongst other things I called to Mind a Story sent me in a Letter from Cambridge that Week it was done in 1661 or 1662. and I did verily believe and do still that Mr. Illingworth sent it me but he could not reflect it however Mr. Cooper hearing it told it was a great Truth he heard Mr. Franklin a Minister of Wood-Rising in this County twelve Miles from this City Father to the Child tell it to Sir Philip Woodhouse Mr. Franklin his Character farther than that of a Minister of the Church of England I cannot give you was then Minister of a Town whose Name I know not in the Isle of Ely and upon this Account which I shall tell you removed to Wood-Rising in this County This Man had a Child to which a Spirit often appeared at his Father's House and grew so bold and free as very ordinarily to come in whilst Company was in the House and Franklin in the Room and sit down by the Boy At due Years about the Year 1661 or 1662. he was bound an Apprentice to a Barber in Cambridge or at least with him as a Probationer One Night the Spirit appeared to him in the usual Habit of a Gentlewoman and would have persuaded him to go home again asking him what he did there
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
bearing them with Christian-like Patience living in his House in Glamorgan was very much troubled one Night with a great Noise much like the sound of Whirl-wind and a violent beating of the Doors or Walls as if the whole House were falling in pieces And being in her Chamber with most of her Family after praying to the Lord accounting it sinful Incredulity to yield to Fear she went to bed and suddenly after there appeared unto her something like her Husband and asked her whether he should come to Bed She sitting up and praying to the Lord told him he was not her Husband and that he should not He urged more earnestly What! Not the Husband of thy Bosom What! Not the Husband of thy Bosom Yet had no power to hurt her And she together with some Godly People spent that Night in Prayer being very often interrupted by this Apparition The next Night Mr. Miles a Godly Minister with four other Godly Men came to watch and pray in the House for that Night and so continued in Prayer and other Duties of Religion without any interruption or noise at all that Night But the Night following the Gentlewoman with several other Godly Women being in the House the noise of Whirlwind began again with more violence than formerly and the Apparition walked in the Chamber having an unsufferable Stench like that of a putrified Carcase filling the Room with a thick Smoak smelling like Sulphur darkening the Light of the Fire and Candle but not quite extinguishing it sometimes going down the Stairs and coming up again with a fearful noise disturbing them in their Prayers one while with the sound of Words which they could not discern other while striking them so that the next Morning their Faces were black with the Smoak and their Bodies swollen with Bruises Thereupon they left the House left they should tempt the Lord by their over-bold staying in such Danger and sent this Atheist the sad News of this Apparition who coming to England about May last expressed more Love and Respect to his Wife than formerly yet telling her that he could not believe her Relation of what she had seen as having not a power to believe any thing but what himself saw and yet would not hitherto go to his House to make trial but probably will e'er long for that he is naturally of an exceeding rash and desperate Spirit August 1656. Mr. Samuel Jones's Letter in relation to Lieutenant Col. Bowen together with an inclosed Letter from Mr. Maur. Bedwell on the same Subject Worthy and much Honoured YOU may be pleased to remember that when I waited upon you at the Sherift's House in Sallop in August last amongst your other Enquiries touching the State of that poor Country where the Lord hath cast my Lot for the present you desired me then to impart what I had received by Relation concerning the Apparitions in one Col. Bowen's House and upon my return to procure you some further Intelligence touching that Tremendous Providence Whether it be by Time or Familiarity with the noise hereof or rather the no less to be admired Blockishness of the Spirits of Men that the Horror of that terrible Dispensation be allay'd I know not but surely the thing it self was very Stupendous and the remembrance of it carries much Amazement with it still to them that have any thing of Tenderness or Understanding left them By the inclosed from an Honest and Godly Hand not far from the Stage where these things were acted You may understand the Substance of that matter the Party being a Minister of the Gospel perfectly knew Colonel Bowen and hath often conversed with him both before and since his House was haunted If you are pleased to command any further Satisfaction herein I shall take a Journey my self into the place and endeavour to gratifie your desire as to any further particular that you desire the knowledge of If any publick use be made hereof you may conceal my Friends name and mine own lest any offence should be taken by some of the Parties Relations in Parliament and Council Of the receipt of this Paper I desire to hear with all convenient speed At the Throne of Grace vouchsafe to remember your weak and wretched Brother who yet desires to be found in the number of them that are Sir Yours in the surest Bonds to Honour and Serve you Samuel Jones Coedreken Nov. 28. 1656. The Reasons why forbearing Names was desired being now over yet Mr. S. Iones still living I think my self disobliged as to that Restraint R. B. Mr. Maur. Bedwell's inclos'd Letter Dear Sir GLad I am of your safe return and gladder should I be to be instrumental according to my weak Capacity of nayling you to these parts I hope if my desires are agreeable to the Lord you will meet with some directing Providences from him which will answer all Objections As to Col. Bowen's House I can give you some brief Particulars which you may credit as coming from such who were not so foolish as to be deluded nor so dishonest as to report an untruth What I shall write if need were would be made good both by Eye and Ear Witnesses The Gentleman Col. Bowen whose House is called Lanellin in Gowersland formerly was famous for Profession of Religion but this Day is the saddest Man in his Principles I know living To me in particular he hath denyed the Being of the Spirit of the Lord His Argument thus Either 't is something or nothing if something shew me tell me what it is c. and I believe he gives as little credit to other Spirits as the Sadduces At his House aforementioned he being then in Ireland making Provision for removing thither these things happened About December last his Wife being in Bed a Gracious Understanding Woman and one whom little things will not affright one in the likeness of her Husband and just in his Posture presented himself to her Bed-side proffering to come to Bed to her which she refusing he gave this answer What refuse the Husband of thy Bosom and after some time she alledging Christ was her Husband it disappeared Strange miserable Howlings and Cries were heard about the House his Tread his Posture Sighing Humming were heard frequently in the Parlour in the Day time often the Shaddow of one walking would appear upon the Wall One Night was very remarkable and had not the Lord stood by the poor Gentlewoman and her two Maids that Night they had been undone as she was going to Bed she perceived by the impression on the Bed as if some Body had been lying there and opening the Bed she smelt the smell of a Carcase some-while dead and being in Bed for the Gentlewoman was somewhat Courageous upon the Tester which was of Cloth she perceived something rolling from side to side and by and by being forc'd out of her Bed she had not time to dress her self such Cries and other things almost amazing her but she
Answers to what my Lord and Court might propose I well remember a Gentleman on a Saturday came to my House Incognito to know of me the truth of the Country Report about this Maid having seen some of the Nails c. she had Vomited up I told him it was very true and if he would stay in Town till the Morning he might see it himself for his own Satisfaction Which he did and early in the Morning was called to see her But because Beer was not given her when she wanted it she lay in a very Deplorable Condition till past two in the Afternoon when with much Difficulty she brought up a piece of Brass which the said Gentleman took away with him Though before the said Piece of Brass came up he told me he was satisfied of the Truth of the thing because it was impossible for any Mortal to Counterfeit her miserable Condition She sometimes lying in a dead Fit with her Tongue swelled out of her Head and then reviving she would fall to Vomiting but nothing came up till about two a Clock in the Afternoon Nay so curious was he to Anticipate any Cheat that he searcht her Mouth himself gave her the Bear held her up in his hand and likewise the Bason into which she Vomited and continued with her all this time without eating and drinking which was about eight hours that he might be an Eye-Witness of the Truth of it Nay further he found the Maid living only with a Brother and three poor Sisters all young Persons and very honest and the Maid kept at the Charge of the Parish were sufficient Testimonies they were uncapable of making a Cheat of it The Gentleman I now mentioned was as I afterward learnt Esquire Player of Castle-Cary I have often wondred how it was possible for all that Trumpery to be conveyed into her Body which at Intervals she cast up I therefore made all the Observation I could to satisfie my self and others I found that those things which she brought up in the Morning were conveyed into her Body by some Diabolical Power when she was in Bed at Night What induced me easily to believe this was by considering these following Circumstances 1. That it was only in the Morning that she Vomited up Nails c. and scarce did any thing in the Afternoon 2. I found by Enquiry that she always slept with her Mouth open and could not help it and when asleep she could not be awaken'd either by calling jogging or pulling of her for some considerable time though at the same time she fetcht such deep and painful Groans as if she were awaked and sensible of her sad Condition 3. For my Farther Satisfaction I got some at my own Charge to sit up at Nights with her and watch her Mouth and to see it was kept close shut Whilst this was done the Vomiting of Nails ceased and that for thirteen Nights Successively but when it was neglected she would be sure to bring up something of Nails or some such stuff I then had her lodged at a Neighbours House to see whether her Vomiting of Nails would totally cease but it did not For coming one day to my House to refresh her self she had not bin there two Hours before she began to be ill we immediately gave her some Beer and she Vomited up a great board Nail Some time after this she threw up a great piece of Brass which I saw followed with much Blood and she being extreamly weakened with striving and falling into a Fit I caused a Woman to open her Mouth who took out as much Blood as she could hold in the hollow of her hand After the Assizes afore-mentioned was ended and she was turned home she grew worse than ever by Vomiting of Nails Pieces of Glass c. And falling one day into a Violent Fit she was swelled to an extraordinary bigness some Beer being given her she throws up several Pieces of Bread and Butter besmeared with a Poysonous matter which I judged to be white Mercury This so much affrighted the Neighbours that they would come no more near her So that one day she being taken desperate ill I was sent for to pray with her and Compassionating the Deplorableness of her Condition I at last resolved to take her into my own House where in some short time the Vomiting ceased though for some space her Distorting Fits followed her But blessed be God is now and has been for a considerable time last past in very good health and fit for a Service May Hill Minister of Beckington In the County of Somerset April 4. 1691. II. They that will read Mr. Increase Mathers Book and especially his Sons Mr. Cotton Mathers Book of the Witchcrafts in New-England may see enough to Silence any Incredulity that pretendeth to be Rational Mr. Emlin a Preacher now in Dublin told me the Story of the Bewitching of two Gentlewoman Sisters to Mr. Pacy now a Pious Justice in Lestoft in Suffolke He and his Sisters now Married are all yet living They were used much like those in New-England mentioned by Mr. Cotton Mather being Children then about nine and eleven years old But I understand that the Story is in Print and it is also in M.S. from Judge Hale himself who Condemned the Witch which no Man was more backward to do without full Evidence A Lady of my Acquaintance hath it under his Hand Therefore I forbear the particulars Only one odd passage that Mr. Emlin told me I shall recite A Godly Minister yet living sitting by to see one of the Girls in her fits suddenly felt a force pull one of the Hooks from his Breeches And while he looked with wonder what was become of it the Tormented Girl Vomited it up out of her Mouth Any that doubteth of this Story may be satisfied of Mr. Pacy and both his Sisters yet living and may know all the Evidences and Circumstances which I pass over CHAP. IV. Instances sent me from the Duke of Lauderdale More in other Letters of his I gave away and some Books of Forreign Wonders he sent me SIR IT is sad that the Sadducean or rather Atheistical denying of Spirits or their Apparitions should so far prevail and sadder that the clear Testimonies of so many Ancient and Modern Authors should not convince them But why should I wonder if those who believe not Moses and the Prophets will not believe though one should rise from the Dead One great cause of the hardening of those Infidels is the frequent Impostures which the Romanists obtrude on the VVorld in their Exorcisms and pretended Miracles Another is the too great Credulity of some who make every thing VVitchcraft which they do not understand And a third may be the Ignorance of some Judges and Juries who condemn Silly Melancholy People upon their own Confession and perhaps slender Proofs None of these three can be deny'd but it is impertinent arguing to conclude that because there have been Cheats in
the World because there are some too credulous and some have been put to Death for Witches and were not therefore all Men are deceived There is so much written both at home and abroad so convincingly and by so unquestionable Authors that I have not the Vanity to add any thing especially to you But because you have desired me to tell you the Story of the Nuns at Loudun and some others I shall first tell you of a â—eal Possession near the place I was born in â—ext of disquietings by Spirits both which â— had from unquestionable Testimonies and â—hen I shall tell you what I saw at Loudun â—oncerning that which I do not doubt to â—all a Pretended Possession sure I am a Cheat. About 30 Years ago when I was â— Boy at School there was a poor Woman â—enerally believed to be really possessed â—he lived near the Town of Duns in the Mers and Mr. Iohn Weems then Minister of Duns a Man known by his Works to be a Learned Man and I knew him to be a Godly Honest Man was perswaded she was â—ossessed I have heard him many times â—peak with my Father about it and both of â—em concluded it a real Possession Mr. â—eems visited her often and being convinc'd â—f the truth of the thing he with some Neighbour Ministers applied themselves to the King 's Privy Council for a Warrant to keep Days of Humiliation for her But the Bishops being then in Power would not allow any Fasts to be kept I will not trouble you with many Circumstances one I shall only tell you which I think will evince a real Possession The Report being spread in the Countrey a Knight of the Name of Forbes who lived in the North of Scotland being come to Edenborough meeting there with a Minister of the North and both of them desirous to see the Woman the Northern Minister invited the Knight to my Father's House which was within Ten or Twelve Miles of the VVoman whither they came and next Morning went to see the VVoman They found her a poor ignorant Creature and seeing nothing extraordinary the Minister says in Latin to the Knight Nondum audivimus Spiritum loquentem presently a Voice comes out of the VVomans Mouth Audâ— loquentem audis loquentem This put the Minister into some amazement which I think made him not mind his own Latin he took off his Hat and said Misereatur Deus peccatoris the Voice presently out of the VVomans Mouth said Dic peccatricis dic peccatricis whereupon both of them came ouâ— of the House fully satisfied took Horse immediately and returned to my Fatherâ— House at Thirlestane Castle in Lauderdalâ— where they related this passage This I do exactly remember Many more Particulars might be got in that Countrey but this Latin Criticism in a most Illiterate Ignorant Woman where there was no pretence to dispossessing is Evidence enough I think Within these 30 or 40 Years there was an unquestionable Possession in the United Provinces a Wench that spoke all Languages of which I have heard many Particulars when I lived in the Low-Countries but that being Forreign I will not insist on it As to Houses disquieted with Noises I shall tell you one that happened since I was a Married Man and hint at more which if you please I can get you authentically attested Within four Miles of Edenborough there lived an Aged Godly Minister one that was esteemed a Puritan his Son now Minister of the same place and then ordained his Assistant Their House was extraordinarily troubled with noises which they and their Family and many Neighbours who for divers Weeks used to go watch with them did ordinarily hear It troubled them most on the Saturday Night and the Night before their weekly Lecture-day Sometimes they would hear all the Locks of the House on Doors and Chests to fly open yea their Cloaths which were at Night lock'd up into Trunks and Chests they found in the Morning all hanging about the Walls Once they found their best Linnen taken out the Table covered with it Napkins as if they had been used yea and Liquor in their Cups as if Company had been there at Meat The rumbling was extraordinary The good old Man commonly called his Family to Prayer when it was most troublesome and immediately it was converted into gentle knocking like the modest knock of a Finger But as soon as Prayer was done they should hear excessive knocking as if a Beam had been heaved by strength of many Men against the Floor Never was there Voice nor Apparition but one thing was remarkable You must know that it is ordinary in Scotland to have a half Cannon Bullet in the Chimney-corner on which they break their great Coals A merry Maid in the House being accustomed to the Rumblings and so her Fear gone told her fellow Maid-Servant That if the Devil troubled them that Night she would brain him so she took the Half-Cannon Bullet into Bed The Noise did not fail to awake her nor did she fail in her design but took up the great Bullet and with a threatning threw it as she thought on the Floor but the Bullet was never more seen the Minister turned her away for meddling and talking to it All these Particulars I have had from the Mouth of the Minister now living he is an Honest Man of good Natural Parts well bred both in Learning and by Travel into Forreign Parts in his Youth I was not in the Countrey my self during the time but I have it from many other Witnesses and my Father's Steward lived then in a House of mine within a Mile of the place and sent his Servants constantly thither his Son now serves me who knows it I could tell you an ancienter Story before my time in the House of one Burnet in the North of Scotland where strange things were seen which I can get sufficiently attested Also in the Southwest Border of Scotland in Annandale there is a House called Powdine belonging to a Gentleman called Iohnston that House hath been haunted these 50 or 60 Years At my coming to Worcester 1651 I spoke with the Gentleman being my self quartered within two Miles of the House he told me many extraordinary Relations consisting in his own Knowledge And I carried him to my Master to whom he made the same Relations Noises and Apparitions Drums and Trumpets heard before the last War yea he said some English Soldiers quartering in his House were soundly beaten by that then irresistible Inhabitant This last I wonder'd at for I rather expected he should have been a Remonstrator and opposed the Resistance And within this Fortnight Mr. Iames Sharp was with me him you know and he is now at London he tells me that Spirit now speaks and appears frequently in the shape of a Naked Arm But other Discourse took me off from further inquiry These things I tell you in obedience to your desire but as I said before I desire them not to be Printed
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
and Significations of future things Twelve Years ago there was a Woman in Saxony that never learnt Letters and yet when she was acted by the Devil after Torment she spake Greek and Latin of the future Saxon War Sixteen Years ago there was in the Marke a Girl that when she pull'd Hairs from Cloaths they were turned into Mark-Money which the Girl devoured with long and loud gnashing of Teeth and those Figures or Shapes of Money sometimes suddenly snatcht out of her Hands were true Money which are yet kept by some and after the Girl felt great Torment But she was delivered from all that Disease after some Months and yet liveth in Health But frequent Prayers of Godly Persons were made for her and other Ceremonies were purposely omitted Thus Melanchthon CHAP. VI. Mr. Jo. Lewis a Learned Iustice of Peace in Cardigan-shire with the Testimony of Dr. Ellis and Mr. John Davis about the Dead Mens Lights the Knockers and Apparitions MR. I. Lewis being a Justice of Peace and a Man of Learning at the time when under Cromwell and Harrison the Reading and weak Parsons were cast out and Itinerant Preachers set up that turned four or five Parishes into one of their Circuits and did little but Preach and shut up the Doors where they came not and by ignorant decrying Superstition Forms and Ceremonies set up Error Anabaptistry and unjust Separations He being greatly grieved for these Confusions wrote largely to me about them whereupon and on more such Instances I wrote my five Disputations of Church Government Liturgy and Ceremonies And Mr. Lewis joined with me in a design to have begg'd Money in Pity to Wales to have set up a Welch Colledge at Shrewsbury and his Notices about Apparitions came in but on the by at my request But tho' I dismember his Letters with regret by casting away the main part that was well worth the reading and all my Answers to them yet it would be so unsuitable to insert such Matters in a History of Spirits that if any of his acquaintance blame me for it they must accept of this Excuse He is known by published Books of his own Part of Mr. John Lewis's First Letter relating to Spirits and Witches Most Worthy Sir I Have now another Motion to you as to that passage in your Vureasonablenese of Infidelity where you shew the meaning of the Spirit as to Humane Learning c. and those 29 Considerations for the page I cannot cite because I have not the Book at this very instant because it is in the midst of the Book and not so discernable to all Readers I could humbly beg of you to get your Printer and Stationer to print them apart in a few small Leaves for there is nothing generally that is more mistaken among us than that and I see the publishing here but so much of them in this kind would do infinite good here and I would my self be at charge of buying and dispersing many scores of them And because of that Copious Satisfaction you give of Spirits than which there cannot be greater convincements against Infidelity and Atheism I could afford you several strange Instances from these parts but I shall trouble you only with two Since the time I received your Letter there happened in my Neighbourhood this following A Man and his Family being all in Bed about after Midnight awake in Bed he could perceive a Light entring a little Room where he lay and one after another of some a Dozen in the shape of Men and two or three Women with small Children in their Arms entring in and they seemed to Dance and the Room to be far lighter and wider than formerly they did seem to eat Bread and Cheese all about a kind of a Tick upon the Ground they offered him Meat and would smile upon him he could perceive no Voice but he once calling to God to bless him he could perceive the whisper of a Voice in Welch bidding him hold his peace being about four Hours thus he did what he could to awake his Wife and could not â— they went out into another Room and after some Dancing departed and then he arose yet being but a very small Room he could not find the Door nor the way to Bed until crying out his Wife and Family awaked Being within about two Miles of me I sent for the Man who is an honest poor Husbandman and of good Report And I made him believe I would put him to his Oath for the truth of this Relation who was very ready to take it 2. The Second if you have not formerly heard the strange and usual appearance of Lights called in Welch Dead Mens Candles before Mortality This is ordinary in most of our Counties that I never scarce heard of any sort Young or Old but this is seen before Death and often observed to part from the very Bodies of the persons all along the way to the place of Burial and infallibly Death will ensue Now Sir it is worth your Resolution whether this may proceed from God or no it is commonly imputed to the Igneous Air of the Counties But that Evil Spirits can come by so much Knowledge as to be always so Infallible though herein I confess them very vast and be so favourable and officious unto Man as to be such seasonable Monitors of his Dissolution and to give so much discovery of Spiritual Essences and the Immortality I doubt whether they mind us so much good as this Some Wiles I confess they may have by such Appearances but it carries the Benefits mentioned with it whereas their Disappearance makes more for Infidelity and Atheism But this I leave to your Judgment begging Pardon for this Boldness in diverting you from your far better Thoughts and seeing it is my Happiness to have this little Invisible Acquaintance with you I shall omit no Opportunity of troubling you with such poor Thoughts as the Lord shall give unto me of the best Things humbly wishing as for the making up the sad Differences of Religion among us the Lord would give those in Authority to weigh that Pious and Wise Course you have proposed as to those four great Parties in the Dedication of your Saints Rest with my unfeigned Prayers for your Health and Happiness Sir Your very thankful Friend and Servant in Christ John Lewis Glaskerigg near â—laubadarnevour or Aberystwith in Gardiganshire Octob. 20. 1656. Mr. John Lewis's Second Letter AS for Apparitions I am stored with so many Instances that require rather a Volume There is that Evidence for the Candles that scarce I know any of Age but hath seen them and will depose it There is here a talk whereof yet I have not certainty that a Daughter of the Man mentioned in the last fetching Water at a Well had a blow given her and a Boy coming towards her she charged him with the blow who denyed he was so near her but bid her look upon her Father that stood not far
was it but an invisible Power that there caused the Lord's Child that was Governor to be blown up and cast down again on the Leads without Hurt Angels have a special Care of Infants The Church that my Grandmother wâ— boâ— near had a Ball of Fire by Lighâ—ning came in at the Belfrey-window anâ— turn'd up the Grave-stones and went out aâ— the Chancel-window The Church that I was baptized in Higâ— Ercall close to the Lord Newport's Housâ— had in such a Storm the Leads 〈◊〉 and cast on the back-side of the 〈◊〉 land in the War was levelled 〈◊〉 Ground The Church of Anthony in Cornwall near Plimouth was torn by Lightning at the time of Worship on Whit-Sunday 1640. and People hurt and ones Brains struck up to a Pillar It is in Print So was used much like the Church of Withicombe in Devonshire near the same time The Church where the present Lord Chamberlain Earl of Dorset and Middlesex his Ancestors Monuments were was torn by Lightning that came in at the Steeple melted the Bells and went up to the Chancel and there tore the Monuments in pieces I saw pieces of the Monuments that had some of the Golden Letters which a truly worthy Lady brought home that went from TunbridgeWaters to see the Church Many and many Churches have been thus torn proportionably so much beyond all other Buildings especially of Stone that I cannot but think there is some knowing Agent that maketh the Choice though I know not who nor why Except a few Hay-Ricks I remember not that till this Seventy sixth Year of my Age I have known Lightenings to have had Hurting Power on any Buildings but Churches save very rarely and small as this last Year at Islington it entred a House and kill'd a Woman and Child Nor to have torn any Wood but Oak which in Trees and Buildings I have seen torn where I dwelt But divers persons have been killed and scorch'd by it An Eminent Knight that I knew is commonly said to have been struck dead by it in his Garden VIII Though Hurricanes and Whirlwinds have Natural Causes yet I have great cause to think that they are managed by some Spirits as I said before of Storms Gunpowder worketh in Guns according to its nature but if some Rational Agent did not invent make and manage it all its Power would be of little use I have marvelled to see my own small Linnen spred out by Servants to dry to be suddenly catcht up and carried over the Town and Steeple away and never more heard of Near the time when some Reapers in the Vale of Evesham were hurt writhen and one killed with a Whirlwind I was walking in a Gravelly Way in a Corn-field there being a Lane besides me between two Hedges suddenly a Whirlwind came up the Cart-way casting up the Gravelly Sand directly to meet me when it came within Ten or Twelve Yards of me I was about stepping out of the way into the Corn to escape it but it suddenly turned out of the way to the Right-hand into the Lane from me so as perswaded me that it was a voluntary Motion directed by a friendly Power for it went straight on up the Lane and tore the Hedges and Branches of the Trees on the side of the Laneâ— But these are small effects to what other see especially of the great Hurricanes at Sea in the West-Indies The Spirits that Rule in the Air have great Power of the Airy Motions IX Though Porphyry and Proclus and Iamblicus tell us that bad Demons will oft speak for good Actions and against bad in Pride and Subtilty to be thought good yet it is hard to think that it is not rather a good Spirit that speaks for some notable good Work where no by-End is discernable As that mentioned by Mr. Glanvil and Dr. More of Dr. Britton's Wife whose likeness appeared after Death to her Servant-Maid and shewed her a parcel of Land that was as part of her Brothers and told her it belonged to the Poor and was unjustly alienated from them and bid her tell the Possessor that he must restore it and gave her a Secret to tell him if he refused And upon the angry refusal when he heard the Secret he yielded and restored the Land to the Poor who now possess it X. The said Heathen Philosophers say that they are all bad Spirits that seek to be worshiped and that to procure it they will seem to be Religious but will tell many Lies for one Truth and that lying is a chief mark to know them by By this I suspect that there are bad Spirits that come to speak for the getting so many Masses to be said for them to deliver them from Purgatory and such Pilgrimages to be performed And those that tempt the People to Pray to them and to Honour them for their Services and Prayers for them of which their Legends abound with Instances De la Cerda concludeth his Book of Angels with Forms of such Prayers And what Office hath not such De la Cerda lib. 23. citeth Miraculous Appearances of the Cross and so do many others which I leave to the Readers Judgment As also the Lady of Lauretto's Miracles and others such which many write of XI I think some Rational Spirit was probably the Agent of what was written by our great Pious Credible Surgeon and Physician Fabricius Hildanus Obser. Cent. 3. obs 26. A Noble and Virtuous Lord Iob. a Rosle going for his Studies to Friburg with two Servants on the way rose a great Storm with Thunder Lightening and Rain His Servant perswaded him to let him ride close to him and cover him with his Cloak so joining their Horses they rode under one Cloak A great stroke of a Thunderbolt struck down the Master the Servant and both the Horses the Servant and two Horses immediately were dead The Nobleman by God's keeping scaped safe and sound yet no hurt was seen on the Horses nor on the Servant save on his Hat which had a great Hole and the Head after swelled and turned black But on the Nobleman himself were all these Marvels 1. The Thunderbolt struck him about the Left-Arm and there made a hole through the Sleeve of his Doublet and Shirt and made a black mark on the Skin which remained but without hurt The hole in the Sleeve was small without and great within 2. Thence it descended and broke in pieces some Coral Beads of a Bracelet which he wore on his Arm but broke not the String 3. Then on his Left-side his Sword Sheath being tyed it melted the point of his Sword as if it had been Lead and by melting the gilded Iron it made a hole in the Band for its passage out 4. And on both his Ancles were black spots like Pitch and are yet visible Another riding a Stones cast before him his Horse and he were cast down but without hurt save the loss of his Hearing Hildanus saw the Cloaths Boots and Sword
and had all from the Man himself CHAP. IX IN my Vnreasonableness of Infidelity having many other Testimonies of Satan's War against Christ and his Kingdom I will here mention one which elsewhere also I have mentioned and that is the Case of melancholy distracted and Enthusiastick Persons which clearly prove a Diabolical War I. As to melancholy Persons I think few Men in England have had more advantage to know their Case than I have had I know not how it cometh to pass but in the Country and in London multitudes that are melancholy are sent by their Friends or of themselves come to me imagining that I can counsel them for Soul and Body so that they have taken up a great part of my time And in almost all I perceive besides their Disease that a malignant Spirit by advantage of it doth agitate them incessantly against God and Jesus Christ and against themselves as he acteth Witches to do mischief to others I know that the Disease it self is to the Imagination as disquieting as a Dislocation or Lameness is to a Joint But there is some malignant Spirit that driveth it so importunately to Mischief chief They are constantly tempted to self-tormenting Thoughts to despair and cry Vndone undone and to think that the Day of Grace is past and that they have committed the unpardonable Sin and any thing that may keep their Minds on a tormenting Rack And they are strongly at last tempted to destroy themselves If they see a Knife tâ—â—y feel as if one within them said Now cut thy 〈◊〉 or sâ—â—b thy self Do it do it If they go by a Water they feel as if one urged them presently to leap in And often are they urged vehemently to hang themselves or to cast themselves headlong from some high place And alas many do it And it is so in other Lands as well as here How many doth Platerus in his Observations tell us of that near him in Helvetia destroyed themselves And it is to be noted that unless it be God's Judgment for some heinous Crime it is few of the ungodly Rabble that have any such Trouble and Temptation for Satan holds them faster by presumptuous Unbelief and Carelesness and worldly Love and Pleasure But those that will not be so deceived that he cannot torment hereafter he would torment here Alas divers Persons have I known thus destroy themselves who I have great reason to believe were as really Godly as any that I have known But Satan's Advantage was in their Disease and Temper As he can tempt a Phlegmatick Man to Sloth and a holerick Man to Anger and a Sanguine Man to Lust or sinful Pleasure so can he a Melancholy Man to Despair and Self-destruction and against God 2. And they are impetuously tempted against God and Jesus Christ They are so haunted with blasphemous Thoughts to think ill of God or to deny Christ or the Scripture that they have no rest And these come in at Prayer at Sermon at Sacrament and they have no more power to keep them out or turn their Thoughts another way almost than they have of the Thoughts of another Yea somewhat urgeth them from Day to Day to speak some ill blasphemous word of God or of Christ and if they yield to the Importunity it presently as it were saith within him Now thou art damned There is now no Hope And it is much to be noted that let the Person be Religious or not they usually are all thus tempted alike For worldly Crosses and Discontents do make bad People sometimes melancholy and they also have much of the same Sollicitations So that the manner of their Trouble plainly telleth us that it is of the Devil And yet Physick may do much to cure it because it taketh from the Devil that Instrument or bodily Disposition without which he cannot do his Work And it is not for nothing that in the Gospel the Distracted and Epileptick are said to be possessed of Devils for he may cause the Disease and work by it accordingly when he hath done it I have oft marvelled that the Worst are not as commonly distracted by Sadness as better People But besides the Reason before given there is a peculiar Sin that bringeth this of its Nature and so lets the Devil in and that is Over-valuing some worldly thing and then falling into Discontent and Impatience at the loss or want of it He that breaks down his own Hedge or Wall le ts in the Trespasser or Thief He that cannot take God and Heaven as enough to content him is better without his Idol than to find Content in it 'T is meet that Child be left to cry that will cry if he may not have his Will and that will hurt him worse than crying He that will add to God's Corrections the Self-Torment of sinful Impatience shall find Satan ready to farther his Work God is disobliged when he is not trusted And if we consent not that he do with us what he will he will not do what we impose upon him His Wisdom and not our Flesh and Folly must determine of all his Way and Work II. And there have been many Enthusiasticks that Satan hath notoriously deluded by pretended Angelical Revelation for some great increase of Knowledge You may find many sad Instances in Epiphanius and other Histories of the old Hereticks And few Ages since have been without some such The Madness of Iohn of Leydens Munster Rebels shewed it what Zeal and seeming Fortitude did their deceiving Spirit inspire them with while by Murders they cryed up their new Sion Leo Iuda witnesseth that when the Flesh was pull'd off Clipper dolling with hot Pincers he scarce uttered a Complaint or great regard of the pain Satan's Hand was notorious in the delusions of David George in Holland and of Hacket Coppinger and Arthington here The horrid Wickedness of the Ranters here proclaimed him to be their Teacher When the Quakers first rose here their Societies began like Witches with Quaking and Vomiting and Infecting others with breathing on them and tying Ribbons on their Hands And their Actions as well as their Doctrine shewed their Master When some as propesying walked through the Streets of Cities naked and some vainly undertook to raise the Dead as Susan Pierson at Worcester And usually they disturbed and publickly reviled the most Godly Ministers worse than the most debauched of the Rabble did He that would know how manifestly Satan ruled such Enthusiasts in Germany may read it at large in Beckman's Exercitations and in the Life of Paracelsus testify'd by Opporinus that lived with him as his Servant and others that were affrighted with his Drunken Rage and Satanical Converse And how dangerous it is to desire such Converse with Angels and Spirits as God hath not judged suitable to our Condition here in the Flesh the case of Iacob Behmen and Dr. Pordage here and his Society may tell us His chief Proselyte Companion and Successor whose name I
mention not for the sake of his Worthy Kindred condescended to open secretly to me in Writing his Judgment by which I soon saw that their Guide differed much from the Scripture One of extraordinary Learning and Reputation was a while distracted by going to them to try their Way Some of my very much esteemed Friends have been distracted and overcome with Melancholy by studying Behmen and that way What Dr. Pordage his Doctrine was you may see partly in his Posthumous Mystical Theology published by his Friend Dr. Hooker Mr. Fowler of Reading accused him as a Conjurer and he hath published his Defence in Folio which I may the rather mention because in it he hath made use of my name against Mr Fowler as speaking against me for our difference in explaining the Doctrine of Imputed Righteousness In this Defence the Dr. confesseth that the Devil was too familiar in his House where a Society lived with him that kept their Exercises and Hours of singing Night and Day He and his Friends pretended that he knew when good Spirits and when bad ones were about him by Smells and Gusts and the temper of their Sense and Spirits And he confesseth that in his great Room the Devil appeared to him by Night in the likeness of a Fiery Dragon that almost filled the Room and long conflicted with him And that once he made on the Brick-Wall over his Chimney the likeness of a Coach drawn by Tygers so deeply impressed that they were fain to use a Pick-Ax to cut it out of the Bricks And that the like Impression was on the Glass of his Windows which they could not wash out But all this he imputed to Everard that intruded into his Society taking him to be the Conjurer And he saith that when he was gone he appeared to him in the Night walking in his Chamber in Boots and Spurs So that Diabolical Apparitions and open Effects were confessed by him as his Book declareth Among others I think meet to add the History of some Enthusiasticks that I have known not as a Condemnation of their Opinions but of the way of receiving them A Country Man of Inkburrough Parish as he said in Worcestershire came to me to Acton near London to tell me that God had revealed to him the truth of that thousand Years Reign of Christ on Earth and he was possessed with a strong Zeal to propagate it and I must needs promote the publication of his Papers I examined him how he came to his knowledge of it and I found it was not by any hard Study nor Zeal in Religion nor by Reading any Book for it nor by Converse with any of that Opinion for he had been no such Man nor had come among such But it was by seeming Revelation finding him Ignorant and Enthusiastical I displeased him by advising him to suppress his Papers and I after heard that he turned distracted At Coventry there dwelt with me in the Governours House Major Wilkie a Scottish Soldier and a Scholar of considerable Learning he was Engineer for Fortification He would drink too much and had the signs of a heated Brain but no failing of his Reason perceivable He confidently affirmed his constant notice of Spirits good and bad about him that he had a good Genius and an Enemy That one Night his Enemy said I have torn his Liver and that he made a Chamber-Pot full of Blood in the Morning He was confident that Thunder and Lightning was the Wars of Spirits foretelling and respecting such things below He pretended to know by the Thunder and Lightning which side in the Wars should have the Victory In 1643 or 1644 about a Year and half after the Wars begun he said That it was revealed to him that the War should endure three Years and an half and the Parliament should Conquer but their own Divisions should after keep them long unsetled He said that being in Paris in a clear Moon-shine Night many Years before being walking in his Chamber and repeating Buchanan's Version of the second Psalm Quare fremuerunt gentes c. suddenly a great noise made him look out and he saw a Constellation in the shape of a Lion Rampant against the Moon and while he long gazed on it one Leg broke off and turned to the similitude of a Cock and after the three other Legs broke off And when he was in Bed his good Spirit expounded it to him and told him that the Moon was the Church here and the Assaulting Lion was England Wales and Ireland by the King turned against the Church that the Foot first broken off was Scotland as a Cock by crowing awakened the other three and that all should end in Conquest of the Assailants And his Genius taught him the Millenary Reign of Christ and taught him how to Expound many Texts for it as drinking with them the Fruit of the Vine new that is in its renewed Paradise state and the time of Restitution of all things c. And he Expounded to him many other Scriptures as that the Devils Contending about the Body of Moses was that it might be drowned in the Basket of Bulrushes to prevent what he was to do c. How much of this was true or false I know not but I heard credibly that after some time he was quite distracted partly through want and partly by a hot Brain over-heated too oft with drinking What but Diabolical Delusion and Instigation could make Venner and his Followers that were for the Millenary Fifth Monarchy to arise so madly as two days to come into such a City and think by Arms to conquer all Opposers at King Charles II. his beginning of the new Prelatical way of Church Government Men in their Wits would not have so hasted to the Gallows A little after the K. Ch. II. Parliament and Bishops began the overthrowing dividing Works which Bartholomew day Aug. 24. 1662. did bring to open Birth a Gentlewoman of London came to me secretly with her Sister as Witness Persons as commonly called of Quality and Moderation to be resolved how to Expound a strange thing that had befallen her which was That as she was praying in Secret she begg'd for Deliverance of the Church and Religion and Ministers from the dreaded Sufferings that were determined and the sad effects of Persecution Division and publick dangers and it was suddenly given her as an Answer that there should be a speedy Deliverance even in a very short time She desired to know which way and it was by somewhat on the King which I refused to hear out whether it was Change or Death it being set strongly on her as a Revelation she earnestly prayed that if this were a true Divine Impulse and Revelation God would certify her by some visible sign and she ventured to choose the Sign her self and laid her Hand on the outside of the upper part of her Leg and begg'd of God that if it were a true Answer he would make on that
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
where I hope to be with Christ Amen One thing more I think meet to mind the Reader of that he may not lose the Benefit of these Histories That is How to discern a good Spirit from a bad The Scripture telling us that three things are the Characters of Devils Lying Malignity and Hurtfulness Ioh. 8. which include all Uncharitableness Revenge and Division we may certainly gather that it is a Diabolical Spirit that promoteth these whatever the Pretences are 1. The Antichristian Errour called Antinomian that would set Christ against Christ and make Men believe that his Death hath made all our Obedience to his Government a thing that shall never do us any good being called Works and all our Sins against his Grace to be so harmless that we ought not to think that we shall be ever the worse for them and that the Elect that live in Perjury and Murder and Adultery or any other Sin are not perjured Murderers Adulterers because now they are Christ's Sins and not theirs with many such Reproaches of Christ called by the Crispians the Exalting of him These certainly are from Devils and God doth notably disown them as the fore mentioned Instances of the Ranters and those in New England mentioned by Mr. Weld do shew And the doleful Form of Mr. Davies Congregation about Rowel in Northamptonshire of the Madness Blasphemies Barkings and Beastility there I leave to the Enquiry of sober Persons Though I am no Witness of it the Reports are such as are not meet to be silenced Mr. Samuel Crispe hath published this Week a Book as against me in defence of his Father telling the World that he understands not what he writeth of and ignorantly defending what I affirm and confuting his Father thinking it a Defence of him I deny not but a Crispian may be a Christian while through Ignorance he believeth not his own Words But he that will but read the Scripture and particularly the Texts cited by me in my Confession of Faith shall see how fully Christ hath confuted Crispe and vindicated his Mediatorial Office II. And all those Principles Passions and Practices that are against the Love and Concord of Christians whatever pretence of an Angel of Light or other Ministers of Righteousness may be their Cloak are undoubtedly from the dividing Devil III. And more evident is it that it is no better Spirit that inspireth all the Slanderers Silencers and Persecuters of the faithful Ministers of Christ and those that make and execute the Laws for the imprisoning and ruining of the most consâ—ionable Christians for their avoiding notorious Sin or at least for doubtful Infirmities incomparably less than these Persecuters Clergy or Laity are guilty of By their Fruits you may know what Spirit acâ—â—â—eth these Men. Wolves Thorns and Thistles are known by Hartfulness Christ's Miracles were Doing Good and Healing But Devil's Work is Hurting and Destroying And let those Men and Women think of it that cannot forgive but are set upon Revenge Mark whether Revenge be not the most ordinary Business of Witches and of Devilized Souls most of these Histories tell it you Therefore Christ telleth us that if we forgive not we shall not be forgiven so contrary is he to the Diabolical Spirit of Revenge though yet he hath just and punishing Governours Were but the Histories of Witches and Apparitions well considered it would help Men to understand that Devils make no small number of the Laws and Rulers that are made in the World and have no small number of honoured Servants and are the Authors of most of the Wars in the World So that the Phrase Rev. 3. The Devil shall cast some of you into Prison should not seem strange And I would I had no Cause to say that this Mark of Lying Malignity and Hurtfulness tells us that many Sermons are made by Devils and too many of the Books written by them that adorn the Libraries of many learned Men. And though Demons do good in order to do hurt yet by this Rule of Judging of Spirits by their Fruits I cannot but think that though there was a Mixture of Good and Bad there was more of the good Spirit than of the Bad in most of the ancient Monks and Hermites that lived so strict and mortified Lives And as I find not only by Erasmus but by the Complaint of Protestant Divines that it was a Desire of Liberty from the Papists Austerities that prevailed with most of the Vulgar to cast off Popery so the Case of many Monasteries their Mortification and Devotion though ignorant doth make me hope that in many such Monasteries there is more of the Spirit of God than among the common worldly sensual sort of Protestants I that must say so of our well-meaning Separatists here must say so of such Papists For I find by the multitude of Instances in Caesarius and others that just as deep Repentance for former Sin doth now bring many to think it safest to joyn with the Congregations which they think are most strict So before Luther's time it was ordinary when God humbled any deeply for their Sin to think that they must presently joyn with such as renounced the World and fleshly Pleasures and minded nothing but Religion and Salvation And thence it came to pass that among the Papists the Monasticks were called Religious in distinction from Secular and other sorts of Men. And as our separating religious Protestants do now demand of such as they admit to their Communion an Account of some special Experiences of God's Work on their Hearts in their Conversion So did the Monasteries by such as they received The aforesaid Author Caesarius will tell you of multitudes of Instances how God converted Sinners and brought them into their Religious Houses What can one think of all this but that as all that we here do is imperfect and faulty and yet pardoned through Christ to the Sincere so among Papists and honest Sectaries there is much that is of God and shall be accepted though Satan by their Ignorance and his Subtilty do obscure and maculate the Lustre of it and turn it into Scandal For such is his Warfare against Christ and his Kingdom in this World God is good and doth good and will have Mercy and not Sacrifice And his Justice doth hurt for a greater Good The Devil is a Do-Evil And if he do Good it is to greater Hurt And Oh that I could get my own and all Readers Hearts sufficiently affected with this Observation That as all our Life is carried on in a Warfare and Satan's Malice is both against Christ and us so his great Work is to draw us into some Sins which shall cloud the Glory both of the Grace and the Miracles of Christ and damp the Comfort which we might have received by all his Mercies If he see an honest Christian zealously affected draâ— him by Temptation of the Flesh into some Scandal or by Ignorance into some false Opinions and that Glory of