The World Bewitched, Chapter 17
CHAP. XVII. That it is neceſſary to compare all thoſe various Doctrines and Practices of the Jews, Mahometans, and Chriſtians; and to examine wherein they differ, and in what they agree together.
Sect. 1. THE 11th Chapter of this Book was deſigned to compare together, the Opions and practices of the various Heathens, concerning Spirits. The natural light that remained in our underſtanding, notwithſtanding the darkneſs in which it has been involv'd by Sin, has been able, without the help of the Holy writ, to diſcover, whether thoſe Opinion and practices, were founded upon true, or falſe grounds. We have ſince heard, thoſe that acknowledge the Authority of the Holy writ, ſpeak very differently, by which means, the light of Reaſon may be encreaſed, and it's corruption better'd. Let us now ſee what they have done as to this, and how far their endeavours have attained. To that end, we ſhall Firſt conſider, wherein the latter differ from the Heathens, what they have retain'd of Paganiſm; and laſtly in what points they differ from each other; having always regard to that difference of Doctrines, and Worſhip, or Opinions and Practices, that have been ſet down before.
Sect. 2. Theſe 3 ſorts of People, Jews, Chriſtians, and Mahometans, rejecting the plurality of Gods that were believed and adored by the Heathens, and Worſhiping one Only God, have overthrown whatever the others had invented, concerning confederate, inferior, and mean Gods, or familiar Spirits, that were born with Men and outlive them; and at the ſame time, have deſtroyed whatever Conjurations and Witchcrafts were grounded upon ſuch principles, by which Men preſume to acquire ſome certain knowledge, and produce ſome certain effects. We have found nothing like, amongſt the Jews and Mahometans; for thô they may have ſomthing that appears like it, yet 'tis quite different, as we ſhall ſhow hereafter. And as to the Chriſtians, we ſee that they unanimouſly reject all theſe things, and look upon them as deluſions and impieties; and as to what the laſt, together with the Jews and Mahometans, have retained of the Opinions and practices of the Heathens, it has been taken from the Philoſophy of this laſt Sect, and accommodated to the Holy Scripture, or gather'd from it by falſe explications. This I ſhall now briefly ſhow, concerning the Spirits in general, and the Soul of Man in particular.
Sect. 3. As to the Spirits in general. Firſt, That Opinion, that they are partly corporeal, received of old by the Jews, Ch. 12. Sect. 5, 11, to 15 By the Mahometans, Ch. 14. Sect. 4, 5. and by the Chriſtians, Ch. 15. Sect. 5, 14, 15, 23, 24, 31. draws it's Original from the Philoſophy of the Heathens, as has been ſhown, Ch. 2. Sect. 14, 16. Ch. 11. Sect. 6.
Second. The Opinion that aſcribes ſome life and underſtanding to the ſtars, as to the Sun and Moon; whether it be inſignificantly expreſs'd, as among the Jews, Ch. 12. Sect. 3, 13. or only darkly as amongſt the Mahometans; or propoſed as a doubt, as it has been by Origen and St. Auſtin, amongſt the Chriſtians, Ch. 15. Sect. 11, 19. That Opinion, I ſay looks very Heatheniſh, and differs not much from the Intelligencies of Ariſtotle, Ch. 2, Sect. 5. Nor from the eſteem which the modern Heathens have for thoſe celeſtial Lamps, of which mention has been made, Ch. 6. Sect. 2. Ch. 11. Sect. 2.
Sect. 4. We may alſo eaſily compare their belief touching Human Souls.
Firſt, … …inion of the tranſmigration of Souls, ſo common am…gſt the Heathens, Ch. 2. Sect. 17. is not rejected by the Jews, but converted into that of the revolution of the Souls, Ch. 12. Sect. 19. It is publickly t…ught by ſome Mahometans, Ch. 14. Sect. 12. As to the Chriſtians, 'tis true, that they admit it not, thô ſomthing like it be found in Origen, Ch. 15. Sect 13. But I muſt ſay by the way, that I ſee not how thoſe that ſtill hold, that all Human Souls were created together in the beginning, and afterwards each in his time, introduced into their bodies, could ſolidly confute that Opinion of the Metempſychoſis.
Second. The Jews, Mahometans, and Chriſtians, too eaſily credit the apparitions of Souls, which takes place amongſt the Jews, becauſe they ſuppoſe the Souls to wander for a Year, about the bodies from which they are ſeparated, Ch. 12. Sect, 20. Neither can the Mahometans reject that Opinion, ſince they hold the Souls to be made up of the Elements, Ch. 14. Sect. 13. and that after their ſeparation from the body, they ſee and hear in Trees, Sect. 14. As to the Chriſtians, we find Juſtin, one of the Firſt, who ſays, that a ſeparated Soul may yet operate upon living perſons, Sect. 5. All the Opinions that are related here, are drawn from Philoſophy, or mixed with Paganiſm. But the Holy Writ, either taken in its true Senſe, or miſ-interpreted, has given occaſion to the following, which we ſhall mention hereafter.
Firſt, The opinion that the Angels have been created from Fire, Air, or the moſt ſubtile Elements, which the Jews only hint. Chap. 12. Sect. 15. but what the Mahometans publickly teach, Chap 14, Sect. 4. has likewiſe been received by ſome Chriſtians, Chap. 15. Sect. 4, 5, 24. becauſe they thought it conſonant to what is ſaid, Pſal. 104. ver. 4. That God makes Spirits his Angels, and flames of fire his Miniſters, 2 Kings 2.11. that Elijah was taken up into Heaven in a Chariot with fiery horſes, Chap. 6.17. That they defended Eliſha, and that Ezekiel, Chap. 1.4, 5. ſaw the likeneſs of four Animals going out of the midſt of fire; ſeveral other miſunderſtood paſſages have contributed to the eſtabliſhing of that Opinion.
Second. The Morning Stars rejoycing together when God ceeated the World, Job 38.7. gave occaſion to Philo, as has been obſerved, Chap. 12. Sect. 4. to confirm himſelf in that Opinion, that the Stars are Ʋnderſtanding Beings; as has been likewiſe proved as to many other Authors.
Sect. 6. It likewiſe appears, that thoſe that believe Spirits to be corporeal, ground their Opinion upon the Holy Scripture.
Firſt, for having no Idea of other Sons of God, that fell in love with the Daughters of Men, as is mention'd Gen. 6. but of ſuch as are diſtinguiſhed and ſeparated from Men: And conceiving not the true nature of Spiritual Beings, they fancied that the Angels had begotten thoſe Giants, of whom 'tis ſpoken in that place; add to this, that they could not think that thoſe Nephilim (which word we Tranſlate Gyants) ſhould be other Creatures, beſides fall'n Angels, who for that reaſon are called by that Name, which ſignifies as much as Rebels. We have ſeen that Opinion received by the Jews, Chap. 12. Sect. 14. By the Mahometans, Chap. 14. Sect. 5. and even by ſome Chriſtians, Chap. 15. Sect. 5, 31.
Second. I grant that it may be inferr'd from thence, that there are Incubi and Succubi, that is Devils, who now in the ſhape of Males, then of Females, lye with Men and Women; that Opinion of the Jews is ſtill now a days much diſperſed among the Chriſtians, as ſhall be ſhewed hereafter.
Sect. 7. Such are their Sentiments, as to the nature and fall of the Angels; but as to their diſtinction into ſeveral Orders, and the ſhare they bear in the Government of the World, the ſame differences, or very near, are aſcribed to them that are atributed to the Heathen Gods and Spirits. Chap. 11. Sect. 6. And that Opinion is ſtrengthned by a miſunderſtanding of the Holy Scripture.
Firſt, The Jews explain themſelves clearly and largely upon the different Orders of Angels. Chap. 12. Sect. 4, 7, 11. The Mahometans treat of it more confuſedly and obſcurely Chap. 14. Sect. 16, 17, 18, 25, 32. but the Chriſtians ſpeak of it, as tho' it could not be doubted but the Holy Writ underſtands ſuch a Hierarchy of Angels, by the different names it gives them.
Second. As the Heathens fill'd the Air with Spirits, or placed them above, under, and in the midle of the World, Chap. 2. Sect. 6. Chap. 7. Sect. 2.5, 8. So have the Jews, according to Philo, Chap. 12. Sect. 5, 12. Neither do the Chriſtians diſagree from them. Chap. 14. Sect. 25. Suppoſing that Opinion to be confirmed in the Scripture, Epheſ. Chap. 2.2. Chap. 6.12. and by ſeveral paſſages in the Hiſtory of Job.
Third. They agree together again, in that they acknowledge as many Guardian Angels of Men and Nations, as the Heathens did their Titular Gods. The Opinion of the Jews, as to this point, may be in ſome manner perceived by the quotations that are ſet down Chap. 12. Sect. 4.10. That of the Mahometans, is more clearly expreſs'd, Chap. 14. Sect. 9. But that of the Chriſtians ſtill plainer. Chap. 15. Sect. 6, 17, 18, 29. to which they have applyed the paſſages of the Holy Writ already mention'd.
Sect. 8. It goes, even ſo, with their belief of the Devils; Firſt, we hear the Jews, Chap. 12. Sect. 13, 16. The Mahometans, Chap. 14. Sect. 5. and the Chriſtians, Chap. 15. Sect. 21, 31. All ſpeaking in a manner the ſame Language, as to their Original and Fall. The laſt commonly quote the Scripture, Geneſ. 3.6. and Iſai. 14.12. to maintain their Opinions, but they quote it, no leſs adorned with their fooliſh fancies, upon the Nature and Creation of Spirits, than the others do by their fabulous Tales.
Second. The Opinion of the Jews concerning the malice of the Devils, their Virtue and Power to hurt, partly appears, Chap. 12. Sect. 12, 15, 18, 20. And that of the Mahometans ſeems to be almoſt the ſame. As to the Thoughts of the Ancient Chriſtians, they are explained more at large, Chap. 15, Sect. 7, 12, 23, 26. In the mean while I find not that they have aſſerted any thing contrary to the Opinion of the others.
Sect. 9. It is convenient to ſay alſo ſomething of Purgatory, the ſpring of a vaſt number of Apparitions and Witchcrafts.
1, Whether the Jews, Mahometans, and ancient Chriſtians ſpeak clearly upon that ſubject, or obſcurely and doubtful; yet they all agree in eſtabliſhing a purging Fire, or ſome ſuch other Pain to be endured. Such are the Pains which the Devils of Torments inflict upon the Jews at the time of Gilgul, or the Revolution of Souls, Chap. 12. Sect. 20. The Mahometans are not remote from that Opinion, Ch. 14. S. 11. but the Chriſtians, Ch. 15. Sect. 27, 28, 34. or at leaſt, part of them, have blown up that Fire from under the Aſhes, though the others, whoſe number is far greater, have not the leaſt inclination to credit it.
2. However, thoſe that are not altogether remote from them, reject not wholly the Apparitions of the Souls ſeparated from their Bodies, nor their various Operations, to which Juſtin and Irenaeus have traced out the way for them, as we have ſeen, Ch. 15. S. 7.
Sect. 10. But neither the Jews nor the Mahometans, carry Exorciſms and Conjurations to ſo great a height as the Chriſtians; in the mean while they all agree in this.
1. That they are powerful upon the Spirits, by the means of Names, Words, and Signs, that they have ſo much virtue as to force them to anſwer, to caſt them out, or to turn them off. The Practices of the Jews, Ch. 13. Sect. 6.11. Thoſe of the Mahometans, Ch. 14. Sect. 14, 18. and the Declaration of the Chriſtian Writers, Ch. 16. Sect. 5.10. make it ſufficiently evident that their Opinions are not much different as to this Point, though the laſt bring not them into Practice.
2. The Reader ſhall not find in my Quotations a very particular explication of Magick, properly ſo call'd, which, as 'tis ſuppoſed, cauſes ſo many diſturbances to Men upon Earth; unleſs it be this, that ſince on the one ſide, the evils produced by thoſe wicked Spirits are granted, and on the other their obedience to Exorciſts; it is eaſie to infer, that all the damage that Magicians cauſe by the help of the Devil, muſt likewiſe be aſcribed to them.
Sect. 11. When we compare all theſe things together, we ſee the Heathens and Jews delivering their Opinions, as from hand to hand, to the Mahometans and Chriſtians; ſo that we eaſily perceive that both Jews and Chriſtians, have by degrees, and inſenſibly, received the Opinions of the Heathens, by whom they were ſurrounded, amongſt whom they were mixed, and from whom the Chriſtians are deſcended: And that the laſt have alſo borrowed much from the Jews, who have delivered to them the Sacred Writings, with moſt of their particular Interpretations, that have been greedily ſwallow'd down, and ſince increaſed to a great exceſs. As to the Mahometans, whoſe Law is a mixture of Heathen, Jewiſh, and Chriſtian Doctrines, and more compoſed of what is evil in them all than of what is good; and therefore ſtored with more Errors than Truth; It is not ſtrange they ſhould have ſo much agreement with thoſe of the Nations we ſpeak of. We may obſerve hereafter how all theſe Opinions have inſenſibly been cheriſhed and increaſed by Popery, and have iſſued not only for the ſame Spring, but alſo from another, whence Mahomet has drawn ſomething for the making up of his Syſtem. But as I have ended the 11th Chapter of this Book with the Opinion of the Epicures, I think it convenient to make a particular Chapter of thoſe of the Manichees.