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CHAP. XLV.
Of Conjuring and Necromancy.
THE Ceremonial Parts of Magick, Conjuring and Necromancy. Geocie or Conjuring, curs'd for being familiar with unclean Spirits, ceremonies of wicked curiosity, compos'd of Prayers and Inchantments, is held Abominable, and wholly Condemn'd by the De∣crees of all Lawgivers.
Page 116
Men hateful to the Gods, that stain the Skie,
And blot the Stars, though Natures Progenie:
The setled course of things they can confound;
Can fix the Poles, send Lightnings on the ground;
Pull down the Heavens, and Hills eradicate.
These are those that Invoke the Souls of dead Bo∣dies, who Inchant Children, and cause them to give the Answer of the Oracle; and as we read of Socra∣tes, carry about with them certain Pocket-Daemons; and who, as they say, nourish little Spirits in Glasses, by which they pretend to Foretel and Prophesie. All these proceed in a twofold manner. For some of them make it their business to adjure and compel Evil Spi∣rits to appearance, by the Efficacy and Power of sacred Names; because seeing that every Creature doth fear and reverence the Name of its Creator, no wonder if Conjurors, and other Infidels, Pagans, Jews, Saracens, or prophane Persons, do think to force the Devils Obe∣dience by the Terrour of his Creators Name. Others, more to be detested than they, and worthy the utmost punishment of Fire, submitting themselves to the De∣vils, sacrifice to them, and Worship them, become guilty of the vilest subjection and Idolatry that may be; to which Crimes though the former are not quite so ob∣noxious, yet they expose themselves to manifest dan∣gers. For the Devils are always watchful to intrap Men in the Errors they heedlesly run into. From this insipid crowd of Conjurors have flow'd all those Books of Darkness, which Vlpian the Civilian calls by the name of forbidden Writings. Of which, one of the first Authors is said to be Zabulus, a man wholly inclin'd to unlawful Arts. Then Barnabas 〈◊〉 Cyprian; and now frequently other Books are Published up and down, under the feigned Titles and Names of Adam,
Page 117
Abel, Enoch, Abraham, and Solomon; others under the Names of Paulus, Honorius, Cyprian, Albertus, Thomas, Hierome, and one Eboracensis; to whose silly trifles Al∣phonsus King of Castile, Robert the Englishman, Bacon, Apponus, and many other of deprav'd Fancies have adher'd. But besides this, they have not only made the holy Patriarchs and Angels Authors and Uphol∣ders of their detestable Studies, but also shew several Books which they pretend were written and delivered by Razial and Raphael, tutelar Angels of Adam and Tobias. Which Books notwithstanding, to any one that narrowly considers the Rules of the Masters, the Customes and Ordinances of their Ceremonies, the Na∣ture and Choice of their Words and Characters, their insipid and barbarous Pharases, sufficiently betray them∣selves to contain nothing but meer Toys and Geugaws, and that they were in far later Ages contriv'd by such as were utterly ignorant of that Magick Profess'd by the Ancients, being •ounded only upon certain pro∣phane Observations mixt with the Ceremonies of our Religion, with an addition of many unknown Names and Characters, to terrifie ignorant and silly people, and to amuse those that are void of sence and under∣standing. Neither doth it therefore follow, that these De∣lusions are Fables; for unless there were something of reality in them, and that many mischievous and wick∣ed things were accomplish'd thereby, both Divine and Humane Laws had not so strictly provided for the pu∣nishment thereof, and Ordain'd them to be quite extir∣pated from the Earth. Now why these Conjurers make use only of evil Spirits, the reason is, because the Good Angels seldome appear, being only attendant on the Commands of God, and not vouchsafing to be known, but only to upright and holy Men. But evil Spirits submit themselves more willingly to their In∣vocations, falsely assuming to themselves, and counter∣feiting
Page 118
Divinity, always ready to deceive, and delight∣ing to be ador'd and worship'd: and because Women are more covetous of the Knowledge of Secrets, and not less cautious and prone to Superstition, and more easily Deluded; therefore to them the Devils show themselves more familiar, and make them the perfor∣mers of many Miracles, as are related of Circe and Me∣daea; of many others the Stories of the Poets are full: and Cicero, Pliny, Seneca, St. Austin, and many others, both Philosophers, Doctors, and Historians, as also Sa∣cred Writ, bring many Testimonies; For in the Book of Samuel we read of a certain Woman-Witch that liv'd in Endor, that rais'd the Soul of Samuel: though most Interpreters agree, that it was not the soul of Samuel, but an Evil spirit that took upon him the shape of the Prophet. Yet some of the Hebrew Doctors aver, neither doth St. Austin to Simplician deny the possibility thereof, that it was the true Soul of Samuel, which before a compleat Year after its departure from the Body, might be easily call'd up, according to the rule of Necromancy. The Necromantick Magicians believe, that the same may be performed by certain Natural tyes and Obligations; which was the reason that the Ancient Fathers well-read in Spirituals, not without good cause, ordain'd, that the Bodies of the Dead might be buried in Holy-ground; should be assisted with Lights, and sprinkled with Holy-water, be perfumed with Incense, and pray'd for by the Li∣ving, so long as they were above Ground. For say the Hebrew Doctors, All our Carnal Body remains as Food for the Serpent which they call Arazel, which is Lord of the Flesh and the Blood, and Prince of this World: in Leviticus nam'd the Prince of the Deserts: to whom it was said in Genesis, Thou shalt eat the dust all the days of thy life. And in Isaiah, The Dust is thy bread, that is, our Corporeal Body Created out
Page 119
of the dust of the Earth, so long as it remains unsan∣ctifi'd, and not chang'd for the better, to be no longer then at the disposal of the Serpent, but of God, ac∣cording to the word of St. Paul: It is sow'd corporal, but shall rise spiritual: And in another place, All shall rise, but all shall not be chang'd; for that many shall re∣main perpetual food for the Serpent. This foul and detestable matter of the Flesh, the food of the Ser∣pent, lies in the Grave, in hopes of a better Lot, and spiritual Transmutation; which is already come to pass in those that have already tasted the first-Fruits of Redemption; and some have attain'd it by vertue of the Deifick Spirit, as Elias and Enoch, and as some are of opinion, Moses; whose bodies being chang'd into the nature of Spirits, never saw corruption, nor, as other Carcasses, were left to the power of the Serpent. And something to this purpose, it was thought, was the great dispute of Michael with the Devil about the body of Moses, which St. Jude mentions in his Epistle. Thus much concerning Conjuring and Necromancy.
Of Conjuring and Necromancy.
THE Ceremonial Parts of Magick, Conjuring and Necromancy. Geocie or Conjuring, curs'd for being familiar with unclean Spirits, ceremonies of wicked curiosity, compos'd of Prayers and Inchantments, is held Abominable, and wholly Condemn'd by the De∣crees of all Lawgivers.
Page 116
Men hateful to the Gods, that stain the Skie,
And blot the Stars, though Natures Progenie:
The setled course of things they can confound;
Can fix the Poles, send Lightnings on the ground;
Pull down the Heavens, and Hills eradicate.
These are those that Invoke the Souls of dead Bo∣dies, who Inchant Children, and cause them to give the Answer of the Oracle; and as we read of Socra∣tes, carry about with them certain Pocket-Daemons; and who, as they say, nourish little Spirits in Glasses, by which they pretend to Foretel and Prophesie. All these proceed in a twofold manner. For some of them make it their business to adjure and compel Evil Spi∣rits to appearance, by the Efficacy and Power of sacred Names; because seeing that every Creature doth fear and reverence the Name of its Creator, no wonder if Conjurors, and other Infidels, Pagans, Jews, Saracens, or prophane Persons, do think to force the Devils Obe∣dience by the Terrour of his Creators Name. Others, more to be detested than they, and worthy the utmost punishment of Fire, submitting themselves to the De∣vils, sacrifice to them, and Worship them, become guilty of the vilest subjection and Idolatry that may be; to which Crimes though the former are not quite so ob∣noxious, yet they expose themselves to manifest dan∣gers. For the Devils are always watchful to intrap Men in the Errors they heedlesly run into. From this insipid crowd of Conjurors have flow'd all those Books of Darkness, which Vlpian the Civilian calls by the name of forbidden Writings. Of which, one of the first Authors is said to be Zabulus, a man wholly inclin'd to unlawful Arts. Then Barnabas 〈◊〉 Cyprian; and now frequently other Books are Published up and down, under the feigned Titles and Names of Adam,
Page 117
Abel, Enoch, Abraham, and Solomon; others under the Names of Paulus, Honorius, Cyprian, Albertus, Thomas, Hierome, and one Eboracensis; to whose silly trifles Al∣phonsus King of Castile, Robert the Englishman, Bacon, Apponus, and many other of deprav'd Fancies have adher'd. But besides this, they have not only made the holy Patriarchs and Angels Authors and Uphol∣ders of their detestable Studies, but also shew several Books which they pretend were written and delivered by Razial and Raphael, tutelar Angels of Adam and Tobias. Which Books notwithstanding, to any one that narrowly considers the Rules of the Masters, the Customes and Ordinances of their Ceremonies, the Na∣ture and Choice of their Words and Characters, their insipid and barbarous Pharases, sufficiently betray them∣selves to contain nothing but meer Toys and Geugaws, and that they were in far later Ages contriv'd by such as were utterly ignorant of that Magick Profess'd by the Ancients, being •ounded only upon certain pro∣phane Observations mixt with the Ceremonies of our Religion, with an addition of many unknown Names and Characters, to terrifie ignorant and silly people, and to amuse those that are void of sence and under∣standing. Neither doth it therefore follow, that these De∣lusions are Fables; for unless there were something of reality in them, and that many mischievous and wick∣ed things were accomplish'd thereby, both Divine and Humane Laws had not so strictly provided for the pu∣nishment thereof, and Ordain'd them to be quite extir∣pated from the Earth. Now why these Conjurers make use only of evil Spirits, the reason is, because the Good Angels seldome appear, being only attendant on the Commands of God, and not vouchsafing to be known, but only to upright and holy Men. But evil Spirits submit themselves more willingly to their In∣vocations, falsely assuming to themselves, and counter∣feiting
Page 118
Divinity, always ready to deceive, and delight∣ing to be ador'd and worship'd: and because Women are more covetous of the Knowledge of Secrets, and not less cautious and prone to Superstition, and more easily Deluded; therefore to them the Devils show themselves more familiar, and make them the perfor∣mers of many Miracles, as are related of Circe and Me∣daea; of many others the Stories of the Poets are full: and Cicero, Pliny, Seneca, St. Austin, and many others, both Philosophers, Doctors, and Historians, as also Sa∣cred Writ, bring many Testimonies; For in the Book of Samuel we read of a certain Woman-Witch that liv'd in Endor, that rais'd the Soul of Samuel: though most Interpreters agree, that it was not the soul of Samuel, but an Evil spirit that took upon him the shape of the Prophet. Yet some of the Hebrew Doctors aver, neither doth St. Austin to Simplician deny the possibility thereof, that it was the true Soul of Samuel, which before a compleat Year after its departure from the Body, might be easily call'd up, according to the rule of Necromancy. The Necromantick Magicians believe, that the same may be performed by certain Natural tyes and Obligations; which was the reason that the Ancient Fathers well-read in Spirituals, not without good cause, ordain'd, that the Bodies of the Dead might be buried in Holy-ground; should be assisted with Lights, and sprinkled with Holy-water, be perfumed with Incense, and pray'd for by the Li∣ving, so long as they were above Ground. For say the Hebrew Doctors, All our Carnal Body remains as Food for the Serpent which they call Arazel, which is Lord of the Flesh and the Blood, and Prince of this World: in Leviticus nam'd the Prince of the Deserts: to whom it was said in Genesis, Thou shalt eat the dust all the days of thy life. And in Isaiah, The Dust is thy bread, that is, our Corporeal Body Created out
Page 119
of the dust of the Earth, so long as it remains unsan∣ctifi'd, and not chang'd for the better, to be no longer then at the disposal of the Serpent, but of God, ac∣cording to the word of St. Paul: It is sow'd corporal, but shall rise spiritual: And in another place, All shall rise, but all shall not be chang'd; for that many shall re∣main perpetual food for the Serpent. This foul and detestable matter of the Flesh, the food of the Ser∣pent, lies in the Grave, in hopes of a better Lot, and spiritual Transmutation; which is already come to pass in those that have already tasted the first-Fruits of Redemption; and some have attain'd it by vertue of the Deifick Spirit, as Elias and Enoch, and as some are of opinion, Moses; whose bodies being chang'd into the nature of Spirits, never saw corruption, nor, as other Carcasses, were left to the power of the Serpent. And something to this purpose, it was thought, was the great dispute of Michael with the Devil about the body of Moses, which St. Jude mentions in his Epistle. Thus much concerning Conjuring and Necromancy.