The Soul of Man, Part 8 · Doctrine · Question 4
QUEST. IV. Whether separated Souls have any knowledg of, or commerce and intercourse with men in this life: and if not, What is to be thought of the Apparitions of the Dead?
1. By separated Souls, understand the departed Souls both of the Godly and Ungodly indifferently: and not as it is restrained to one sort only in the Text; for of both it is pretended there are frequent Apparitions after death.
2. By the knowledge such Souls are supposed to have after death both of persons and things in this lower World, we understand not a general knowledg, which one fort of them have of the state and condition of the Church militant on earth; for this we think cannot be denyed to the Spirits of the just made perfect, seeing they are still fellow Members with us of the same mystical body of Christ, and do behold our High-Priest appearing before God, and offering up our prayers for us; and long for the consummation of the Body of Christ as well as cry for vengeance against the persecutors thereof, Rev. 6. 10. Nor do I think those words, Isai. 63.16. repugnant hereunto, Abraham is ignorant of us, and Israel acknowledgeth us not. For I look upon the import of those words only as an humble acknowledgment of their defection, which rendered them unworthy that their Forefathers should own or acknowledg them any more for their children,Iob. 14. 21. Eccles. 9. 5,6. John 19.25. and not as implying their utter ignorance or total oblivion of the Churches state on earth.
But I here understand such a particular knowledg of our personal states and conditions, as they once had when they dwelt amongst us in the Body, and this seems to be denied them by those Scriptures alledged against it in the margent.
3. By commerce and intercourse, understand not their intercession with God for us, which the Papists affirm; but their concernments about our natural or civil interest in this World, so as to be useful to our persons, by warning us of death, or dangers; or to our Estates, by disquieting such as wrong us, in not fulfilling the Wills and Testaments they once made; or by giving us notice by words or signs of the death of our friends who died at a distance from us, or come to some violent and untimely end.
The sense of the Words being thus determined, and the Question so stated, I will for the resolution of it give you
1. The strength of what I find offered for the Affirmative.
2. The general Concessions, or what may be granted.
3. My own judgement about it, with the grounds thereof.
(1) Some there are even among the learned and judicious who are for the Affirmative part of the Question, and do with much confidence assert, that departed Souls both know our particular concerns in this world and intermeddle with them: confirming their assertion both by reasons to convince us that it may be so, and variety of instances that it is so. I will produce both the one, and the other, and give them a due consideration and censure.
The substance of what is pleaded for the affirmative I find thus collected and improved by Dr. Sterne a learned Physician in Ireland, Dissentatio de morte, à p. 208. ad p. 214.in his Book entituled a Dissertation concerning Death, where he offers us these four Arguments to convince, that is possible for departed Souls thus to appear, and perform such offices for their Friends on Earth.
Argument I.
ANgels by command from God are useful and helpful to men;(1)Angeli jussu Dei hominibus opitulantur, ha…d quaquam ambigitur; unde animas à corpore solutas sese reb s humanis miscere comprobari videtur. Sequtlae sundamentum duplex est, prius, quod animae separatae Angeli sunt, saltem Angelis aequales, posterius, quod magis idonti sunt quibus officium generi humano succurrendi demandetur, quàm Spi…itus inter quos, & corpus nullus unquam intercessit nexus, &c. they are the Saints Guardians, and it is probable that each Christian hath his peculiar Angel: whence it will follow that separated Souls do mingle themselves with humane affairs, and that because they are Angels, at least equal unto Angels, Luke 20.36. Besides, they being Spirits that were once embodied, must needs be more fit for this imployment, than those who never had any tie at all to a Body: unless we can imagine them to have lost the remembra… of all that ever they did and suffered in the Body, as also that they put off and buried all, their affections to us with their Bodies, which is hard to think. Even as Christ our High-Priest is qualified for that office above all others in Heaven, because he once dwelt and suffered in a Body like ours here upon Earth; so separated Souls are qualified above all other Spirits who are unrelated to Bodies of flesh.
Argument II.
THE Church triumphant and militant are but one Body,(2)Ecclesia est corpus unum, cujus membra quo meliora, to magis ad aliis) ejusdem corporis membris o…it…landum sunt propensa; hujus autem corporis pars altera est triumphans in coelis, altera militans in terris: illa melior, hec opis magis indiga, &c. and by how much better the triumphant are than the militant, by so much the more propense they are to succour and help the other that stand in need of it. This being the case, we cannot imagine but they are inclined to perform all good Offices for us; for else they should do less for us now they are in a state of highest perfection in Heaven, than they did, or were willing to do in their imperfect state on Earth.
Argument III.
A Will or Testament (as Vlpian defines it) is the just sentence or declaration of our minds concerning that which we would have done after our decease.(3)Testamentum (Ulpiano definiente) est voluntatis nostra justa sententia, de co quod post mortem nostram fieri volumus. Testamentum autem tanquam res sacra ab omnibus gentibus religios… observatur, Gal. 3.15. Ratio autem tam religiosa taniq; universalis observantia est, quoniam animas corum qui Testamenta condiderant, etiam suam post mortem, in tadem voluntate perseverare, ejus complementa curare, ac dein que , ejus vel executrices, vel non praestila vindices esse praesumitur. These Testaments have always, and among all Nations, been religiously observed, as the Apostle witnesseth Gal. 3.15. The reasons of this so religious observance are a presumption that those who made them when a live, continue in the same mind and will after death, that they take care for the fulfilling of them, and revenge the non-performance upon the unjust Executors. For otherwise there can be no reason why so great a stress should be laid upon the Will of the Dead, if they care not whether their Wills be performed or no. Why should we be so solicitous and studious about it, and pay so great reverence to it, but on this account?
Argument IV.
(4)In sacris Scripturis consulere mortuos pa…s…m prohibetur, ut Deut. 18.10, 11. Sed si homines à mortuis non suscitentur, legibus ha…d opus est; & si mortuirogati non aliquando responderent, ab hominibus haudquaquam co…erentur. Sterne de Morte, ubi sup.THe Scriptures forbid consultations with the Dead, Deut. 18.10, 11. This prohibition supposeth some did consult them and received answers from them; which must needs imply some commerce betwixt the Living and the Souls that are departed. And considering he had before forbidden their consultation with the Devil, it appears that here we must needs understand the very Souls of the Dead, and not the Devil personating them only.
These are the Arguments of this learned Author for the Affirmative, which he closes with two necessary Cautions; First, That this layes no foundation for religious Worship or Invocation of departed Souls. Those that are helpful to us, are not therefore to be worshipped. Secondly, That we must acknowledg our selves to be under much darkness as to the way and manner of the converse of Spirits with us.
Dr. Mor… of the Immortality of the Soul, Lib. 2. c. 16.The most acute and learned Dr. More I find of the same Opinion. He affirms that departed Souls are capable of a vital Union with an airy vehicle, (or Body) in which they can easily move from place to place, and appear to the Living; and act in their own affairs, as in detecting Murthers, rebuking injurious Executors, visiting, and counselling their Wives and Children, forewarning them of such and such courses, &c. To which we may add the profession of the Spirit thus appearing, of being the Soul of such a one; as also the similitude of the person: And all this ado is in things very just and serious, unfit for a Devil with that care and kindness to promote; and as unfit for a good Genius, it being below so noble a nature to tell a lye. All these things put together, and rightly weighed; the violence of prejudice not pulling down the balance, I dare appeal (saith he) to any, Whether it will not be certainly carried for the present cause, and whether any indifferent Judge ought not to conclude, if these stories which are so frequent every where, and in all Ages concerning the Ghosts of men appearing, be but true, That it is true also that they are their Ghosts, &c.
These are the strongest Arguments I meet with for the …ffirmative, that the matter is possible, it may be so, and then adding the credible instances that it is so, the matter seems to be determined.
To this purpose Dr. Sterne alledges several instances out of Scripture, as that appearance of Samuel unto Saul, and the conference betwixt them, as also the Letters that were sent to Iehoram, by Elijah, after that Elijah was translated to Heaven, as appears by comparing 2 Chron. 21.12. with 2 Kings 3.11. In which it appears that in Iehosaphat's time who preceded this Iehoram, Elijah was dead, and yet in Iehoram's time who succeeded him, he is said to receive Letters from Elijah. The appearance and conference also betwixt Christ and Moses and Elias upon the Mount in the presence of some of the Disciples confirms it, Matth. 17.3.
These are principal Scripture-instances: others are almost innumerable. From among that vast heap I will select some few that are most material, and of clearest credit.
*Insularum Sco…icarum incolae ad agros, cum pro deploratis habentur, accedunt, & rogant, at certo, à morte, die, locoq, certo ip…as conveniant; quod & mort…i tempore & loco praestitutis …r… stant. Sterne ibid.It is a thing (saith my Author) both known and frequent, that the Inhabitants of the Scotish Isles, when their Friends are dying, come to them, and request them that upon such or such a day after their death, and in such a place, they would meet them; which the Dead accordingly do at the time and place agreed upon, and have sometimes discourse with them.
Infinite examples of Murthers (saith Dr. More) have been discovered by Dreams, the Souls of the Persons murthered seeming to appear to some or other asleep, and to make their complaints to them; giving us a notable example out of Baronius, of Marsilius Ficinus, who having made a solemn vow with Michael Mercatus, (after they had been pretty warmly disputing of the immortality of the Soul out of the Principles of their Master Plato) that whether of them two die first, should appear to his Friend, and give him certain information of that truth. It was Ficinus his fate to diel first, and that not long after this mutual resolution. He was mindful of his promise when he had left the Body; for Mercatus being very intent at his studies, betimes on a morning, heard a Horse riding by with all speed, and observed that he stopt at his window; and therewith heard the voice of his Friend Ficinus, crying out aloud, O Michael, Michael, vera, vera sunt illa: That is O Michael, Michael, those things are true, they are true. Wherepou he suddainly opened his window, and espying Marsilius upon a white Steed, called after him, but he vanished out of his sight. He sent therefore presently to Florence to know how Marsilius did, and understood that he died about that hour he called at his window.
Much to the same purpose is that so famous and well attested story of the apparition of Major George Sydenham to Captain William Dyke, Sadducismus Triumphatus, second Part, p. 183.both of Somerset-shire, attested by the worthy and learned Dr. Thomas Dyke a near Kinsman of the Captain's, and by Mr. Douch, to whom both the Major and Captain were intimately known. The summ is this, The Major and Captain had many disputes about the Being of a God, and the immortality of the Soul, in which points they could never be resolved, though they much sought for and desired it, and therefore it was at last fully agreed betwixt them, that he that died first, should the third night after his Funeral, come betwixt the hours of twelve and one, to the little house in the Garden adjoining to Major Sydenham's house at Dulverton in Somerset-shire. The Major died first, and the Captain happened to lie that very night which was appointed, in the same Chamber and Bed with Dr. Dyke; he acquainted the Doctor with the appointment, and his resolution to attend the place and hour that Night, for which purpose he had got the key of that Garden. The Doctor could by no means divert his purpose, but when the hour came he was upon the place, where he waited two hours and an half, neither seeing, nor hearing any thing more than usual. About six Weeks after, the Captain and Doctor went to Eaton, and lay again in the same Inn, but not the same Camber as before at Dulverton.
The Morning before they went thence, the Captain stayed longer than was usual in his Chamber, and at length came in to the Doctors Chamber, but in a Visage and form much differing from himself; with his hair and eyes staring, and his whole body shaking and trembling: whereat the Doctor wondering, demanded, what is the matter, Cousin Captain? The Captain replies, I have seen my Major: at which the Doctor seeming to smile, the Captain said, if ever I saw him in my life, I saw him but now: adding as followeth. This Morning (said he) after it was light, some one came to my Bed side, and sudainly drawing back the Curtains, calls Cap, Cap, (which was the term of familiarity that the Major used to call the Captain by) to whom I replied, What, my Major? To which he returns, I could not come at the time appointed, but I am now come to tell you, That there is a God, and a very just and terrible one, and if you do not turn over a new leaf, you will find it so. This stuck close to him, little Meat would go down with him at Dinner, though an handsom Treat was provided; these words were sounding in his ears frequently, during the remainder of his life: he was never shy or scrupulous to relate it to any that asked him concerning it, nor ever mentioned it but with horrour, and trepidation: they were both men of a brisk humour and jolly Conversation; of very quick and keen parts, having been both Vniversity and Inns-of-Court Gentlemen.
The Apparition of the Ghost of Sir George Villiers, Father of the Duke of Buckingham, giving three solemn warnings, by three several Apparitions to his Servant Mr. Parker, is a known and credible Story. But I will wade no farther into Particulars, they are almost innumerable: let these suffice for a taste.
(2) In the next place therefore I will lay down some Concessions about this matter: and the
First Concession is this.
That the separated Souls or Spirits of men are capable of performing and executing any Ministry or Service for God, (if he should please to commissionate them so to do) as well as Angels are, whom we know he frequently imploys about the persons and affairs of his people on earth.
Though they become not Angels by their separation, as Maximus Tyrius calls them, but remain Spirits specifically distinct from them; yet are they Spiritual Substances as the Angels are: This their nature capacitates them either to live and act out of the Body, or to assume (as Angels do) an aerial Body for the time of their Ministry: nor do I know any thing in Scipture or Philosophy repugnant hereunto.
Concession 2.
It cannot be doubted but upon some special and extraordinary reasons and occasions, some departed Souls have returned to, and appeared in this World by order and commission from God.
This is too manifest to be doubted by any that understands and believes the instances recorded in Scripture. Moses and Elias long after their departure, appeared to, and talked with Christ upon the holy Mount, in the presence of some of his Apostles, Matth. 17.3. nor is there any reason to question the reality of their Apparition, or to think it to be no more than a Phantasm, Non enim conveni…bat ut veritas mendacio, vel imaginariis testibus probaretur. Maldon. Capellus in loc.or imaginary resemblance of these persons; but very Moses and Elias themselves. For they came to be Witnesses to Christs Prophetical office, and it was not fit so great a point should be attested by imaginary Witnesses: or that they should be called Moses and Elias, if they were not the very same persons.
'Tis therefore most likely they both appeared in their own Bodies:Credibilius est verè corporibus suis apparnisse. Parcus in loc. for Moses's Body we know was hidden by the Lord, aud Elias his Body immediately translated with his Soul to Heaven: when therefore the Lord would send them upon this solemn errand, the Soul of Moses probably re-assumed that Body which was never found by man, and Elias was already embodied and fit immediately for this Expedition.
In like manner we read, Matth. 27.52, 53. that at the Resurrection of our Lord, many Bodies of the Saints arose, and appeared unto many: these were no Phantasms, but the very Souls of the departed Saints returned (having re-assumed their own Bodies) unto this World, not only to confirm the truth of Christs Resurrection, and adorn that great day: But as a Specimen or handsel of the Resurrection of all the Saints in the vertue of his Resurrection at the great Day.
Nor will I deny, but upon some lesser (though never without weighty and solemn) occasions and reasons, God may sometimes send the Souls of the dead back again into this World, as in the cases before recited, to evidence against the Atheism of men, &c. Augustine relates a memorable example which fell out at Millan, Aug. in lib. de cura promortuis agenda.where a certain Citizen being dead, there came a Creditor to whom he had been indebted, and unjustly demanded the money of his Son. The Son knew the Debt was satisfied by his Father, but having no Acquittance to shew, his Father appeared to him in his sleep, and shew'd him where the Acquittance lay: whether it were the very Soul of his Father, or rather an Angel, as Augustine thinks, is not certain, though the one as well as the other be possible. But though rarely, and upon some weighty and solemn occasions some Souls have returned and appeared; yet I judge this is not frequently done, upon slight and ordinary errands: and therefore to give you my own thoughts, I judge
(3) That those Apparitions which seem to be, and are generally reputed and taken for the Souls of the Dead, are not indeed so, but other Spirits putting on the shapes and resemblances of the Dead, and (for the most part) tricks of the Devil to delude, or disquiet men.
Religio Med. Sect. 37. p. 82.In this I think the learned Dr. Brown delivered his judgment more solidly and orthodoxly, than in some other points, when he saith, I believe that the whole frame of a Beast doth perish, and is left in the same State after death, as before it was martialled into life. That the Souls of men know neither contrary, nor corruption? that they subsist beyond the body, and continue by the priviledge of their proper nature, and without a Miracle: that the Souls of the faithful, as they leave earth; take possession of Heaven. That those Apparitions and Ghosts of departed persons, are not the wandering Souls of men, but the unquiet Walks of Devils, prompting and suggesting us unto mischief, blood and Villany. And with this Opinion I concur, as to the ordinary and common Apparitions of the dead: and my Reasons are,
(1) Because the Scriptures every where describe the state of departed Souls as a fixed state, either in Heaven, or in Hell: and assigns the good or evil done in this World by Spirits, not to the departed Spirits of men, but to Angels or Devils: and it is our duty to regulate our Conceits by Scripture, and not according to the vain Philosophy of the Heathens, or the Superstitious Traditions and Opinions of Men.
As for the Souls of the godly, they are at rest with Christ, Rev. 14.13. Isai. 57.2. and as fixed as pillars in the house of God, Rev. 3.12.
And for the wicked, their Spirits are confin'd and secured in Hell as in a Prison, 1 Pet. 3.19. there is a fixed Gulph betwixt them and the living, Luke 16.27, 28, 29, 30, 31.
What good offices are to be done by Spirits for us, the Angels are Gods Commission-Officers to do them, Hebr. 1.14. They are all ministring Spirits sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of Salvation: these are the Spirits sent forth to walk to and fro through the earth, Zech. 1.10. their Ministry was emblematically represented in Iacob's Vision, where they were seen ascending and descending as upon a Ladder, betwixt Heaven and Earth, Gen. 28.12. Yea, their very name Angel, is a name of office, signifying a Messenger, or one sent.
And for the mischief done by Spirits in this World, the Scriptures ascribe that to the Devils: those unquiet Spirits have their Walks in this World, they compass the whole earth, and walk up and down in it, Iob 1.7. and 1 Pet. 5.8. they can assume any shape, yea, I doubt not but he can act their Bodies when dead, as well as he did their Souls and Bodies when alive: how great his power is this way, appears in what is so often done by him in the Bodies of Witches. They are not ordinarily therefore the Spirits of men, but other Spirits that appear to us.
(2) If God should ordinarily permit the Spirits of men inhabiting the other World, a liberty so frequently to visit this, what a gap would it open for Satan to beguile and deceive the living!Quid enim idololatriam inter Ethnicos & Christianos magis propagavit? Hinc flux…runt multae perigrinationes, monasteria, delubra, dits festi, & alia. Lav. In Job. 33. What might he not by this means impose upon weak and credulous Mortals? There hath been a great deal of Superstition and Idolatry already introduced under this pretence: he hath often personated Saints departed, and pretended himself to be the Ghost of some venerable person, whose love to the Souls of the people and care for their Salvation drew him from Heaven, to reveal some special Secret to them. Swarms of Errors, and superstitious and idolatrous Opinions and Practices, are this way conveyed by the tricks and artifices of Satan among the Papists, which I will not blot my Paper withal: only I desire it may be considered, that if this were a thing so frequently permitted by God, as is pretended, upon what dangerous terms had he left his Church in this World, seeing he hath left no certain marks by which we may distinguish one Spirit from another, or a true Messenger from Heaven from a counterfeit and pretended one.
But God hath tied us to the sure and standing rule of his Word, forbidding us to give heed to any other voice or spirit, leading us another way, Isa. 8.19. 2 Thes. 2.1, 2. Gall. 1.8. It was therefore a discreet reply which one of the Ancients made, when in Prayer a Vision of Christ appeared to him, and told him, Thy Prayers are heard, for thou art worthy: The good man immediately clapt his hands upon his eyes and said, Nolo hic videre Christum, &c. I will not see Christ here, it is enough for me, that I shall behold him in Heaven.
To conclude.
My Opinion upon the whole matter is this, that although it cannot be denied, but in some grand and extraordinary cases, as at the transfiguration, and Resurrection of Christ. God did, and perhaps sometimes though rarely may order or permit departed Souls to return into this World; yet for the most part I judge those Apparitions are not the Souls of the Dead, but other Spirits, and for the most part evil ones.
Lib. de cura pro mortuis.Of this Judgment was St. Augustine, who when he had at full related the Story above, of the Fathers Ghost directing his Son to the Acquittance, yet will not allow it to be the very soul of his Father, but an Angel: where he farther adds, If (saith he) the souls of the dead might be present in our affairs, they would not forsake us in this sort; especially my Mother Monica, who in her life could never be without me, surely she would not thus leave me being dead.
Object. 1.Objection 1.
But it was pleaded before, that we allow the Apparitions of Angels; and departed Souls, if they be not Angels, at least are equal unto Angels, and in respect of their late relation to us, are more propense to help us, than Spirits of another sort can be supposed to be.
Sol.Solution:
It seems too bold an imposing upon Soveraign Wisdom to tell him what Messengers are fittest for him to send and imploy in his service: who hath taught him, or been his Counsellor?
Object. 2.Object. 2.
But these offices seem to pertain properly to them as they are not only fellow-members, but the most excellent members of the mystical Body, to whom it belongs to assist the meaner and weaker.
Sol.Sol.
If there be any force of reason in this Plea, it carries it rather for the Angels than for departed Souls: for Angels are gather'd under the same common head with the Saints; the Text tells us, we are come to an innumerable company of Angels: they and the Saints are fellow Citizens, and we know they are a more noble order of Spirits: and as for their love to the Elect, it is exceeding great, as great to be sure as the departed Souls of our dearest Relatives can be. For after death they sustain no more civil Relations to us: all that they do sustain is as fellow members of the same body, or fellow Citizens, which Angels also are, as well as they.
Object. 3.Object.
But saith the Doctor, the reason why all Nations pay so great honour and religious care to the Wills of the Dead, is a supposition that they still continue in the same mind after death, and will avenge the Falsifications of Trusts upon injurious Executors, else, no reason can be given why so great a stress should be laid upon the Will of the Dead.
Sol.Sol.
This is gratis dictum, to say no worse, a cheap and unwary expression: can no reason be given for the religious observance of the Testaments of the dead, but this Supposition? I deny it: for though they that made them be dead, yet God who is witness to all such acts and trusts, liveth: and though they cannot avenge the frauds and injustice of men, he both can, and will do it, 1 Thes. 4.6. which I think is a weightier ground and reason to inforce duty upon men, than the fear of Ghosts. Besides, This is a case wherein all the living are concerned, all that die must commit a trust to them that survive; and if frauds should be committed with impunity, who could safely repose confidence in another? Quod tangit omnes, tangi debet ab omnibus: that which is of general concernment, and becomes every mans interest, infers a general Obligation upon all.
As for the Letters of Elijah, 'tis a Vanity to think they came Post from Heaven: no, no: they were doubtless left behind him, out of due care to the Government, and produced in that fit occasion.
Object. 4.Object. 4.
But what need of a Law to prohibit Necromancy or consultation with the Dead, if it were not practicable!
Sol.Sol.
I do not think the wicked art, there prohibited, enabled them to recal departed Souls, but it was a conversing with the Devil who personated the dead: and therein a kind of homage was paid him, to the dishonour of God: or he might possibly raise the Bodies of wicked men, and appear in them, but I think the Spirits of the dead return not, except as was before limited.
Object. 5.Object. 5.
But the matters they discover are found to be true, and the causes in which they concern themselves are just: real Murthers are detected by them, and real frauds and injuries corrected and rectified: but the Devil being himself a lyar and Deceiver, would never do it: 'tis not his interest to discover or discourage such things.
Sol.Sol.
Though it be not his interest meerly to discover it, yet it is certainly his interest to precipitate wicked men, and hasten their ruine by the hand of Justice: and he will speak the truth, and seem to own a righteous cause to bring about his great design of ruining the Souls and Bodies of men. I will shut up with three Cautions.
Caution I.
Strain not Conscience to enrich Posterity: be true to the trusts committed to you by the Dead, or by the Living, remembring, that though they be dead and cannot avenge the wrong, yet the Lord lives, and will surely do it in a severer manner than they could, should they appear in the most terrible and frightful forms to you. Beside, your own Consciences will haunt you worse than a Ghost. Be just and true therefore in all your Promises and trusts, for God is the Avenger.
Caution II.
Finish your work for eternity before you die: for as the Cloud is consumed, and vanisheth away; so he that goeth down to the Grave shall come up no more: he shall return no more to his house, neither shall his place know him any more, Job 7.9, 10. Your Souls will be fixed in eternity, soon after they are loosed from your Bodies: when death comes, away you must go, willing or unwilling: ready, or unready: but no returning hither how willing soever.
Caution III.
Keep your selves from that heathenish and accursed practice of consulting the Devil about your absent or dead Relations: a practice too common in Sea-port Towns, and of deep and heinous guilt before God, Isa. 8.19. And when they shall say unto you, seek unto them that have familiar Spirits, and unto Wizards that peep, and muter: should not a people seek unto their God? for the living to the dead.
You need not call the Devil twice, that subtil and officious Spirit draws the living into his Net by such a bait as this: You meet your Mortal enemy under the disguise of your dead friend.