Histories of Visions Apparitions Prophecies Spirits Divinations, Title page – To the reader
A COLLECTION Out of the beſt Approved Authors, CONTAINING HISTORIES OF Viſions, Apparitions, Propheſies, Spirits, Divinations, and other wonderful Illuſions of the Devil wrought by Magick or otherwiſe.
Alſo of divers Aſtrological Predictions, SHEWING As the wickedneſs of the former, ſo the vanity of the latter, and folly of truſting to them.
LONDON: Printed for Joſhua Kirton, at his ſhop in S. Pauls Church-yard, at the ſign of the Kings-Arms. 1657.
Courteous Reader,
HOw great an influence that bewitching Art of Magical-Aſtrology hath had on multitudes of both men and women in theſe our times, too ſad experience doth truly make evident; yea ſo far, that it may well be feared, that ſome are more ready to harken to, and place more confidence in, theſe their pretended Divinations or Prognoſtications, then ought well to ſtand with a true Chriſtians proſeſſion. Somewhat to undeceive thoſe that either hitherto have been, or hereafter may be deluded by theſe deceivers and their deceits, is the end of this Collection. In which you ſhall find, that the Author hath faithfully, and from well approved Writers, ſet forth, as the original of that Diabolical Art, and the ſtrong deluſions of Satan; ſo likewiſe by ſeveral examples, ſhewed the wickedneſs of the Profeſſors, and how exceedingly they have been deluded, that over credulouſly have given credit to the ſame; if pleaſure or profit prevail with thee, I hope this may prove acceptable to thee, wherein thou haſt not onelyonly variety of ſtory, but the ſame improved for thy good; which that it may ſo prove, as the hearty deſire of,
Yours, I. K.