More particularly of the same.9. But to speake in general concerning apparitions, why they are so seldome seen; and why such spirits as appear, can not without mans assistance accomplish their design; It may easily be apprehended, that all Spirits, or spiritual Substances, and Devills, have their life, breath, and motion in another source, or Element then this external world; And as any creature, whom the Element of Water hath nourished, and bred, can live but short while upon the Land; So its with them, when they come out of their proper habitations: which is the cause of the rarity of apparition; it being as difficult for any spirit to manifest it self in this outward principle, of the four Elements, as for a man to continue with his head under water: yea it is rather pain, then pleasure for any spirit, whether good, or bad, to come into this outward world.
The nefarious practices of Necromancers in an example.10. Great is the villany of Necromancers, and wicked Magicians, in dealing with the spirits of men departed; whom they invocate, with certain forms, and conjurations, digging up their Carkasses again, or by the help of Sacrifices, and Oblations to the infernal Gods; compelling the Ghost to present it self before them: how this was performed in antient times, by Hags, and Witches, is notably described in the Æthiopian History of Heliodorus, in the practice “of an antient woman, who coming into the Camp, in the dead of night; where amongst many slaughtered bodies, the body of her Son was also slain; whose carkase she laid before her, digging a hole, and making a fire on each side, with the body in the midst; Then taking an earthen pot from a three footed stool, she poured honey out of it, into the pit; then out of another pot, she poured milk; and likewise out of the third: Lastly, she cast a Lump of hardned dough, in the form of a man into the pit: the Image was Crowned with Lawrell: then she threw in some of the Shrub called Bdellium: This done, with a sword she ran frantickly up and down, cutting herself; and with a Lawrell branch sprinkled of her blood into the fire: at length whispering at her Sons ear, she caused him to arise, and questioning him of the fortune of his Brother, what was become of him, he answered dubiously speaking prospe/rity47. to two persons that secretly beheld her, and telling her, That suddain death for her impiety attended her, which came to passe ere she left the place; after all these predictions, the Carcase ceased to answer any more: and tumbled groveling on the ground again.”
Example.11. And although by most men, as also by the Author in his foregoing Discovery, it is constantly believed, that the Witch of Endor raised not Samuel, nor the Ghost of Samuel, as not beleeving that there is an Astral Spirit or Ghost belonging unto every Man; yet it is very probable, that by her conjurations she caused his Sydereal Spirit to appear: which is possible to be effected: and hath been often done: as Weaver in his Funeral Monuments records of Edward Kelly, “who in the Park of Walton Ledale in the County Lancaster, with one Paul Waring, Invocated a Devil, and afterwards digg’d up the Corps of a poor man, that had been buried that very day, in a place near the same, called Law Church-yard: whom he compelled by Incantations, and Conjurations to speak, and utter prophetical words, concerning the master of one of his Assistants.”
The state of the Starry Spirit.12. According to the state and condition wherein a person dyes, so is it with their Astral Spirit: for if they died in perfect peace, and had come through the valley of true Repentance; being dead to this Life before it left them; then their starry Spirit doth enter into rest, in its proper source, or quality at the instant of their Decease: nor is it possible for all the Conjurations in Hell, to cause them to return, or appear again.
Why the Ghost of Samuel appeared.13. But some might object, That Samuel was an Holy Prophet, and attaind unto a perfect Life; which is thus to be answered, that before Christ came into the world, none of the most Holy Prophets of God, did ever attain to that degree of blessednesse, that the Christians after Christ possessed: for in the time of the Law, a covering, or vail was spread over the faces of all people: and something there was that letted, or hindred their souls from any plain and perfect vision, and fruition of God; otherwise then through types, and shaddows, which partition wall, the end of Christs Incarnation was to break down.
The opinions of Plato.14. In the writings of Plato, there be many strange Relations of the apparitions of Souls, of their torments, and purgations, of the cause of their returning, what their nature is, what their substance and property is, and what their food, and nourishment is: but he mistakes the Soul for the Astral Spirit: for the Soul in its returning and apparition is farr different; if a Holy Soul appear, it is to persons like it self, and that in sleep, warning them of dangers, and discovering heavenly secrets unto them: And if a Damned Soul appear, it is likewise to such as are of a nature like it self: whom it instigates, asleep, teaching them notorious Villanies in Dreams; and provoking them to every wicked cogitation.
Of Pythagoras.15. The sect of Pythagoras have strange and antick opinions, concerning Souls, and Ghosts, or starry Spirits: whom they alledge to be frequently converted into Gods, or Dæmons, or Demi-Gods, and Heroes: (as the Platonicks do,) And that there is a continual traduction, and transmigration of Souls, from one to another, till they attain to be deify’d at last; and then that they do frequently appear, to those that be like themselves; instructing, and forewarning them: It was also the belief of many wise, and antient Philosophers, that the Oracles were from such Dæmons, as had been the Ghosts, or Souls of wise and excellent men: as Apollo’s Oracle, and the Oracle of Pallas, or Minerva: which opinions have much of reason and probability.
Of other Philosophers.16. It is also the opinion of some, that the particular Spirits of famous men do after the death of the body, take up some particular habitations, near such places Cities, Towns, or Countries, as they most do affect, as Tutelaries, and Guardians unto them; Which is reported by Vopiscus, of Apollonius Thyaneus; That when his City Thyana was taken by Aurelianus the Emperour: and when he was in his Tent, pondering furiously how to destroy the same; the Ghost of Apollonius appeared unto him saying, Aurelianus, if thou desirest to be a Conquerour, suppose not to slay these my Citizens: Aurelianus, if thou wilt be a Ruler, shed no innocent blood: Aurelianus, be meek, and gentle, if thou wouldst be a Conquerour./
48.17. I have heard many wonderful Relations from Lunaticks or such as are almost natural fools, who have asserted,The Raptures of Lunaticks. That being for many daies together conversant amongst Faeries in Woods, Mountains, and Caverns of the Earth, they have feasted with them, and been magnificently Entertaind with variety of dainties, where they have seen several of their Neighbours or Familiar acquaintance in the habit they were wont to weare, notwithstanding they were known to have been dead some years before.
Their Entertainments.18. And many Learned Authors have also insisted upon this particular, alledging, That when such as the Faeryes have brought into their Society do feast and junket with them, though they have a real and perfect knowledge of their neighbours and acquaintance amongst the rest, yet their Language they are not able to understand, neither do these Acquaintance of theirs acknowledge or take notice of them at all, but do either sit (both they and all the rest) in a profound and tedious silence, or else discourse in a most stupendious kinde of Gibberish, not intelligible to strangers.