But as concernyng the time and place, when and where Spirites doo proffer themselues to be séene, they say, no certaine rule can be giuen: for this standeth wholly in Gods pleasure, who if he list to deliuer any, suffereth him to make his appearaunce foorthwith, euen in such places as he may be well heard in. And that spirits do not alwayes appeare vnder a visible shape, but sometimes inuisibly, in so much that sometime nothing else is heard of them but snéesing, spitting, sighing, and clapping of hands &c. Of which point I haue noted somewhat before, when I spake generally of ghostes, because they appeare in sundry sorts. And wheresoeuer these spirits be, they say, that they endure punishment. Besides that soules doo not appeare, nor answere vnto euery mans interrogatories, but that of a great number they scantly appeare vnto one. How a man ought to vse himself when spirits appeare according to the Papists. Dan.10.11. And therefore they teache. Whensoeuer such visions of spirits are shewed, men should vse fasting and praier or euer they demaunde any question of them: which (say they) in the tenth and eleuenth Chapters of Daniell, is read to haue bene done by Daniell himself. Besides this, shrift, and massing should be vsed ere we question with them: farther, that we should not giue credit assoone as we heare but one sign, but waite to heare the same thrice repeated, which in the 1.Samu.3. first booke of Samuel and third Chapter, is read to haue bin done by Samuel being yet a childe: for otherwise the diuell may delude and deceiue vs, as he doth very often. And so soone as these thinges are dispatched and performed, that foure or fiue deuout priests are to be sent for, which should come to the place where the spirit was wont to shew himselfe, and that they should vse certaine ceremonies, as to take a candle that hath bene halowed on Candlemasse day, and light it: also holy water, the signe of the Crosse, a censor in their hand, and when they light their candle, should pray ouer it (as I remember) the seuen penitential psalms, or read the Gospell of S. Iohn. And when they come to the place, they should sprinkle it with holy water, and perfume it with Frankincense, casting about their neckes a holy stoale, and then that one of them kneeling on his knées, should rehearse this praier following.
O Lord Iesu Christ, the searcher of all secrets, which art alwaies wont to reueale healthfull and profitable things vnto thy faithful people and litle ones, which hast permitted some certaine spirit to shew himselfe in this place: we humbly beséech thee of thy great mercy, by thy death & passion, and by the sheading of thy most precious bloud for our sinnes, that thou wilt vouchsafe to giue in charge to this spirite, that he may declare and open what he is, without any fraying or hurting of vs, or of any other creature besides: shewing vnto vs thy seruants, or to other sinners as we be, who he is, why he is come, and what he desireth, so that hereby thou maist be honoured, he comforted, and thy faithfull people also holpen and succoured. In the name of the father, the sonne, and the holy ghost. Amen.
Yet do they teach, that a man may choose to vse this or some other forme of praier, and ceremonies: because that without these, spirites haue often appeared, & shewed what they required. This done, we should (as they teach) fall to questioning with them, and say: Thou spirite, we beséech thée by Christ Iesus, tell vs what thou art, and if there be any amongst vs, to whome thou wouldest gladly make answere, name him, or by some signe declare so much? After this, the question is to be moued,, eache man there present being recited whether he would answere vnto this or that man. And if at the name of any, hée speake, or make a noyse, all other demaunds remaining, should be made vnto him: As these and suche lyke. What mans soule he is? for what cause he is come, and what he doth desire? Whether he require any aide by prayers and suffrages? Whether by Massing, or almes giuing he may be released? Farther, by how many Masses that may be compassed, by thrée, six, ten, twentie, thirtie. &c. Furthermore, what manner of priests should say Masse for him, Monks, or secular priests. Then if he aske for any fasting, by what persons, how long, and in what sort he wold haue it done: If he require almes déeds, what almes déeds they should be, how many, and on what persons bestowed, whether on him that lacketh harbour, or that is diseased of the leprosie, or on some other sort of people.
Furthermore, by what signe it may be perfectly knowne that he is released, and for what cause he was first shut vp in Purgatorie. And yet they hold, yͭ no curious, vnprofitable, or superstitious questiōs shuld be demanded of yͤ spirit, except he wold of his own accord reueale and open thē. And yͭ it were best, yͭ sober persons shuld thus questiō wͭ him, on som holiday before diner, or in yͤ night seasō, as is commōly accustomed. And if the spirite will shewe no signe at that time, the matter should be deferred vnto some other season, vntill the spirit would shewe himselfe againe: and yet that the crosse and holy water should bee left there, for that by the secret iudgement of God, it was ordeined, that they should appeare at certaine houres, and to certaine persons, and not vnto all men. And farther, they say that we néede not to feare, that the spirite would doo any bodily hurt vnto that person, vnto whome it doth appeare. For if such a spirit would hurt any, he might justly be suspected that he were no good spirit.
By what tokens good spirites may be discerned from euil.
Luke 1.
Moreouer, popish writers teach vs to discerne good spirits from euill, by foure meanes. First they say, that if he be a good spirit, he will at the beginning, somewhat terrifie men, but againe soone reuiue and comfort them. So Gabriel with comfortable words did lift vp the blessed Virgin which before was sore troubled by this salutation. They also alleage other examples. The second note is to discrie them by their outwarde and visible shape. For if they appeare vnder the forme of a Lyon, Beare, Dog, Toade, Serpent, Cat, or blacke ghoste, it may easily be gathered that it is an euil spirit. And that on the other side, good spirits doo appeare vnder the shape of a doue, a man, a lambe, or in the brightnesse, and cleare light of the Sunne.
We must also consider whether the voyce whiche we heare be sweete, lowly, sober, sorrowfull, or otherwise terrible and full of reproach, for so they terme it.
Thirdly we must note, whether the spirit teache ought that doth varie from the doctrine of the Apostles, and other Doctors approoued by the Churches censure: or whether he vtter any thing that doth dissent from the faith, good maners, and ceremonies of the Church, according to the Canonical rites or decrées of Councels, and against the lawes of the holy church of Rome.
Fourthly, we must take diligent héede whether in his words, déeds, and iestures, he do shewe forth any humilitie, acknowledging or confessing of his sinnes & punishments, or whether we heare of him any groning, wéeping, complaint, boasting, threatning, slaunder or blasphemie. For as the beggar doth rehearse his owne miserie, so likewise doo good spirits that desire any helpe or deliueraunce. Other signes also they haue to trie the good Angels from the bad: but these are the chiefe.
How we may helpe and succoure soules.