EPI. That is according to the forme of their detention. If they be but
apprehended and deteined by anie priuate person, vpon other priuate
respectes, their power no doubt either in escaping, or in doing hurte, is
no lesse nor euer it was before. But if on the other parte, their
apprehending and detention be by the lawfull Magistrate, vpon the iust
respectes of their guiltinesse in that craft, their power is then no
greater then before that euer they medled with their master. For where God
beginnes iustlie to strike by his lawfull Lieutennentes, it is not in the
Deuilles power to defraude or bereaue him of the office, or effect of his
powerfull and reuenging Scepter.
PHI. But will neuer their master come to visite them, fra they be once
apprehended and put in firmance?
EPI. That is according to the estaite that these miserable wretches are
in: For if they be obstinate in still denying, he will not spare, when he
findes time to speake with them, either if he finde them in anie comfort,
to fill them more and more with the vaine hope of some maner of reliefe:
or else if hee finde them in a deepe dispaire, by all meanes to augment
the same, and to perswade them by some extraordinarie meanes to put
themselues downe, which verie commonlie they doe. But if they be penitent
and confesse, God will not permit him to trouble them anie more with his
presence and allurementes.
PHI. It is not good vsing his counsell I see then. But I woulde earnestlie
know when he appeares to them in Prison, what formes vses he then to take?
EPI. Diuers formes, euen as he vses to do at other times vnto them. For as
I told you, speking of _Magie_, he appeares to that kinde of craftes-men
ordinarily in an forme, according as they agree vpon it amongst
themselues: Or if they be but prentises, according to the qualitie of
their circles or conjurationes: Yet to these capped creatures, he appeares
as he pleases, and as he findes meetest for their humors. For euen at
their publick conuentiones, he appeares to diuers of them in diuers
formes, as we haue found by the difference of their confessiones in that
point: For he deluding them with vaine impressiones in the aire, makes
himselfe to seeme more terrible to the grosser sorte, that they maie
thereby be moued to feare and reuerence him the more: And les monstrous
and vncouthlike againe to the craftier sorte, least otherwaies they might
sturre and skunner at his vglinesse.
PHI. How can he then be felt, as they confesse they haue done him, if his
bodie be but of aire?
EPI. I heare little of that amongst their confessiones, yet may he make
himselfe palpable, either by assuming any dead bodie, and vsing the
ministrie thereof, or else by deluding as wel their sence of feeling as
seeing; which is not impossible to him to doe, since all our senses, as we
are so weake, and euen by ordinarie sicknesses will be often times
deluded.
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