The Certainty of the Worlds of Spirits and Immortality of the Soul, Treatise · Chapter 9
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 selftormenting 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, t…y feel as if one within them said, Now cut thy … or s…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, lets 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. 'Tis 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 Moonshine 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 place some visible mark; and there was presently the mark of black spots, like as if a Hand had burnt it; which her Sister witnessed, she saw presently, and after, there being no such thing before.
I told her, that she had sinfully tempted God, and gone out of his way into a way of her own, and God might justly for it, give Satan power to deceive her: But yet, whether it would prove a Truth or a Falshood, it was not I, but the Event that must tell her, and therefore that she must wait in Patience and Innocency, and lay no stress on such a sign.
But the Womans strange Impulse and Mark proved but a Delusion.
The Rosie-Crucians, and such as addict themselves to find the Philosopher's Stone, have some of them seemed to be deluded by some Evil Spirit; by the violence of their Desires, and the blind confidence of their Expectations, and the ill Means that some have used: Histories of such are too many to be recited. Faelix Platerus, in his Observat. l. 1. tells us of one of his Familiars, a Person of Honour and Wealth, a Baron, and Religious, and addicted to good Works, that was so set upon it, that he not only so spent his Time and Study, but his Estate, reducing himself and his Family to great Poverty; and yet would never abate his Confidence, that he was near attaining it: And though still frustrate, he was still near it: Insomuch that he laboured with the Magistrates for their Grant and Power, that with the Gold he made he might build a new Bridge over the River, and might build a Colledge for the University, &c. and though he died a poor Man, and left his Children Poor, he believed to the last, that he was near finding out what he fought, had he had longer life.
To such deluded by Spirits, I think I may add the Comforts of many Persons that I have known, that long lived in doubt of their Salvation, next Despair: And when a Deceiver hath but drawn them to change their Religion from Sound Doctrine to some Error, they have presently been delivered from their Troubles, and lived in Peace and Confidence. It cannot be from the Nature of the New Doctrines received; for it befals divers that turn to contrary Doctrines from each other: Some that turn Papists, some that turn Quakers, some Anabaptists, some Antinomians, some Millenaries, and are against each other, yet have sudden Peace upon their change. I confess, that the conceit of having found out a better way may do much; and the diversion of their thoughts to dispute may do much: As Pet. Forestus tells us of a Melancholy Papist, that after other means used in vain, was at last cured by eager disputing against the Protestants: But when the Persons before had no doubt of the Doctrines of Religion, but only of the state of their own Souls, and when they had no such Disputes to bring them to it, but sudden hearing a Seducer, and when it is only False Doctrine that comforteth them, when sound Doctrine professed, could not, it seemeth to be done by a lying Spirit that comforteth Men with Evil, as God's Spirit doth with Good.
Bodin tells us of a French Baron that confest, that he worshiped the Devil, and prayed to him, and had Sacrificed nine Children to him, and intended to have Sacrificed one of his own; and he ask'd him for what he did this? And he said, That he promised to make him Great, and yet that he never gave him any thing, and to make him know what he desired to know, and yet told him more Lies than Truths: This promise of Knowledge was the old Temptation to Eve: And yet Knowledge is the great Gift of our great Comforter, the Holy Ghost; so that there is a true Comforting Knowledge which God giveth, and deceitful shadow of it; and a useless hurtful Knowledge by which Satan comforteth the deluded: Its true, Needful Saving Knowledge that is of God: Many Conjurers have by the desire of knowing what vain Curiosity is pleased with, become the Devil's Slaves.
To what sort shall we rank those Men that tell Men of things stolen and lost, and that shew Men the Face of the Thief in a Glass, and cause the Goods to be brought back, who are commonly called White Witches: We have had so many Credible Reports of such, as alloweth not Reason to doubt of it. When I lived at Dudley, Hodges at Sedgley, two Miles off (even where famous William Fenner preacht) was long and commonly accounted such a one: And when I lived at Kederminster, one of my Neighbours affirmed, that having his Yarn stolen, he went to Hodges (ten Miles off) and he told him, that at such an Hour he should have it brought home again, and put in at the Window, and so it was; and as I remember, he shewed him the Persons Face in a Glass; yet I do not think that Hodges made any known Contract with the Devil, but thought it was an effect of Art.