Demonology -- Early works to 1800; Magic -- Early works to 1800; Witchcraft -- Early works to 1800
I grant there maie be hearbs and stones found and knowne to the
physicians, which maie procure dreames; and other hearbs and stones,
&c: to make one bewraie all the secrets of his mind, when his bodie
sleepeth, or at least wise to procure speech in sleepe. But that
witches or magicians have power by words, herbs, or imprecations to
thrust into the mind or conscience of man, what it shall please them,
by vertue of their charmes, hearbs, stones, or familiars, &c: according
to the opinion of _Hemingius_, I denie: though therewithall I confesse,
that the divell both by daie and also by night, travelleth to seduce
man, and to lead him from God; yea and that no waie more than this,
where he placeth himselfe as God in the minds of them that are so
credulous, to attribute unto him, or unto witches, that which is onlie
in the office, nature, and power of God to accomplish.
♦Seeke for such stuffe in my booke of Hartumim.♦
Doth not _Daniel_ the prophet saie, even in this case; It is the Lord
onelie that knoweth such secrets, as in the exposition of dreames is
required? And doth not _Joseph_ repeat those verie words to _Pharaos_
officers, who consulted with him therein? Examples of divine dreames
you maie find a great number in the scripture, such (I meane) as it
pleased God to reveale his pleasure by. Of physicall dreames we maie
both read in authors, and see in our owne experience dailie, or rather
nightly. Such dreams also as are casuall, they are likewise usuall,
and come (as hath beene said) through the multitude of affaires
and businesse. Those which in these daies are called magicall or
diabolicall dreames, maie rather be called melancholicall. For out of
that blacke vapor in sleepe, through dreames, appeareth (as _Aristotle_
saith) some horrible thing; and as it were the image of an ouglie
divell: sometimes also other terrible visions, imaginations, counsels,
and practises. As where we read of a certeine man, that dreamed there
appeared one unto him that required him to throwe himselfe into a deepe
pit, and that he should reape great benefit thereby at Gods hands.
So as the miserable wretch giving credit thereunto, performed the
matter, and killed himselfe. Now I confesse, that the interpretation
or execution of that dreame was indeed diabolicall: but the dreame was
casuall, derived from the heavie and blacke humor of melancholie.
♦Dan. 2.♦
♦Gen. 11, 8.
Gen. 37, & 11.
Isai. 11.
Dan. 2.♦
♦_Aristot. de somnio._♦
The sixt Chapter.
_How men have beene bewitched, cousened or abused by dreames to
dig and search for monie._
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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