So it is an established fact that Beauty that delights the eye is more often a curse from Lucifer than a blessing from God. Let the reasonable and righteous man content himself with that which is plain and seemly—whether it is a church or wife or horse or land that he considers. Let him not yield to the delights of the eye, but rather to the beauty of goodness, piety, etc., which burns from within.
4
Some remarkable Wonders of an Invisible Kingdom.
For fairy women came to her by night, whispering.... ‘Get up ... get up ... get up....’
Strange hands plucked at her bedclothes, pinched or patted her.
Although her window was fast shut, once a great scaled and hairy arm came in by that same window, and she trembled. Now the arm grew to three times, four times, the length of human arm. She saw it sweep the room with a blind and scythe-like motion. It searched for her. She remained still. Then it was gone as miraculously as it had come.
There was a vast animal that rubbed nightly against the house, sniffing and blowing.
A monster (she thought it a demon) treaded the roof-tree by night.
Such was her appreciation of these awful and yet to her (coming from him she chose to accept as God) pleasing sights, she scarcely slept, being more awake by night than day, for at night she could hardly lie upon her bed nor close her eyes. She was forever staring and listening, listening and staring. With the crowing of the cock these disturbing visions retreated to that same Hell in which they had their geneses.
Sometimes she floated forth without volition, as on a certain night when she cried out, ‘Master, command me and I will come.’ Then far away and from the midst of the moonlight, she heard fairy women cry, ‘Get up ... get up ... get up....’