things by setting them forth in publick Our Lord Christ himself whilest he lived in the humane Nature spake after that manner and fashion that only the more intimate Disciples should understand the mysteries of the Word of God but to others he spake onely in Parables he also commands that holy things should not be given to Dogs nor Pearls cast before Swine Therefore saith the Prophet I have hid thy Word in my Heart that I might not sin against Thee And Mary the blessed amongst women when the Angel Saluted her and told her what glorious things should happen unto her it is said that she laid up the sayings in her heart and pondered them in her religious mind which reverence and serious meditation on these wonderful things which the Angel communicated unto her was well pleasing to the blessed Creator whence every good and perfect gift proceeds For all celestical vertues are wonderfully strengthened by secrecy and the holy powers attracted who detest publick and profane things and vain bablings Now Dreams are no other then certain discourses and incorporeal Sights of the Soul being in sleep loosed from the heavy Fetters of the Body and sences whereby it hath an near affinity with the matereal beeings and according to what property of the sevensold Nature she is subjected unto such and such Phansies Representations or Dreams she apprehends which appears as real as if they were corporeal qualities and the Soul is thereby either tormented and full of perplexity or on the other side filled with Joy and Delight apprehended in the Divine Vision somewhat to this purpose is imitated by Iohn the Divine in the Revelations where 't is said Blessed are they that dye in the Lord for their Works do follow them For the Manners Habbits Temperance Sobriety Innocency of Life doing unto all as they would be done unto and the true illuminated understanding of the Mysteries of God and his great Divine Law in nature are works that may be said to follow a pious Soul after death which then calls to mind those things that it did in its life and still more intently meditates and thinks on them and endeavors to do them again for they being the Souls chief delight in the time of its continuation with the Body it still takes Pleasure in them but in a more perfect and exalted degree For after Death the Soul being deprived and wholy destitute of all the Faculties and Functions of humaâ—…e Life as Nourishing Growing Generating and various Occupations of the Senses all the delights of the Body must needs cease and be terminated but their works follow them in the Mystery and become substantial for all things then appear in their real Figures Forms and Shapes as they do in this World but in the greatest Perfection and most Sublime The truth of this St Iohn in the Revelations does demonstrate where the Gate of the Heavenly Paradisical Kingdom of Eternal Happiness being opened and shewed unto him it appeared in most beautiful curious Fâ—…ms Shapes and Figures of the things of this external World but in a far higher degree of perfection for the Furniture of this World viz. the innumerable and vast variety of Creatures in the Animal Vegative and Mineral Kingdoms are gross and as it were half dead in comparison of the Heavenly and Spiritual for all these lower things are but faint dull imperfect corporal Figures and Forms af the Spiritual Kingdom whence they had their original It is therefore to be noted that no man ever dreamed that he saw any Thing Figure or Shape of the Animal Vegative and Mineral Kingdoms which he never saw thought or heard of before at least in the parts if not in the whole for though many times things are magnified or diminished and made better or worse or Heterogeneous things conjoyned in a representation that never were in nature yet still there is nothing that hath not before been seen heard or though of The like is to be understood of the contrary or dark Kingdom of Wrath or Hell such as have by transgression precipitated their souls thereinto their work do also follow them and all Figures Forms Shapes or what ever else is represented unto them is Fearful and Hideous according to what degree they have with their wills entered into the wrathful fierce unclean Principle Their Conditions is like men in terible Dreams who are afraid of Swords killing falling from high places drownings Rocks falling on them or being torn to peices with wild Beasts and the like strange fierce or malancholy imaginations and representations which are all real and most essential and yet no danger of death near them nor any period to their woful condition And therefore the state of the damned is called Eternal death and a worm that never dyeth and therefore no end of their sorrow and misery These strange â—…hansies and yet real apprehensions do follow each Spirit or Soul according to that property which carried the upper dominion in the time of the Body from which predominating property do arise and are generated most frightful hideous representations whiâ—…h put the captivated Soul into unexpressible fears agonies make it desious to die cannot but continuing forevermore in this doleful torture perplexity yea the predominating quality gives the form to the new Body viz. of a Dog Cat Bear Lion Fox Tyger Bull Goat or other savage Beasts according to what degree such persons in their life time entered into any of their respective natures by Cruelty Lust Subtilty or the like for this very cause as was before intimated all the evil Angels Souls that have at any time appeared in Dreams or Visions have been clothed with beastial Shapes Figures Forms but good Angels and blessed Spirits in human Form and cloathed with the product of clean innocent vegetation as fine Linning and the like for which reason some of the Philosophical Ancients would not wear any other cloathing or garment then what had an innocent original as pure Linning and the like of their Foods whereby immitating the good Angels they attracted their benevolent Influences Thus every persons Joys or Sorrows in the Worlds to come are of that nature as where the predominant properties and inclinations the will entered into in the time of its corporeal pilgrimage for from the two internal or immaterial Worlds viz. the Good Heavenly and Paradisical and the Hellish Wrathful does proceed is generated this good evil or material World of which external beeings are but a platform or figure Which may afford a very sublime and Philosophical Speculation and he that would truely know the great adorable and ever blessed Creator must with fear and earnestness pray unto him to teach him the knowledg of himself and of the things that are every one of which does in its respective degree contain the true nature and property of the whole for the wonderful all forming Creator is in the midst of his own works and does sustain and
or Hob-Goblin yet the truth is it proceeds from inward Causes This Discease being an obstruction of Motion or an interception especially of Breathing and Speech with a false apprehension of some heavy thing lying upon their Breast and as it were stiffling them occasioned by means the free penetration of the Spirits to the Nerves is hindred the passages being stopt by a surcharge of the aforesaid Humors This happens most to such as use to lie upon their Backs and whilst it is upon them they are in great Agony being unable to speak but strive to do it with imperfect groans but if any person speak to hem and call them by name the animal spirits being excited force their way and the oppression ceases or if they can move or turn the body on one side and especially if the Brest be rubbed to dissipate the Humor The Cure is to be effected by a regular diet and such as may generate good spirits and prevent the increase of Melancholy and Phlegm avoid full Suppers and excess in Liquors which oft occaâ—…ion the Disease use convenient purging and sometimes breathing a Vein may be expedient especially in Women in certain obstructions peculiar to that Sex the black Seeds of the Male Piony are much commended in this Distemper Thus much though it be a digression from our main Subject I thought fit having this opportunity to say of these two Nocturnal disturbances conceiving it might be of use and satisfaction to some Readers CHAP. III. Of the General Cause of Dreams or Radix whence they are derived in Nature IT is a Truth generally acknowledged but feldom so well considered as it ought to be that Man is the compleat Image of God and Nature and contains the Principles and Properties of all things Corporial and Incorporeal that he is endued with an Elemental or Palpable body actuated enliven'd or informed by an etherial spirit and so answers to the great Body of the World from whence the same is taken and is an Abridgment or Epitome thereof or if you please its Son or Off-Spring and as it doth contain all the true Properties of the gross Elements viz. Earth Air and Water which are as it were the Mothers of the Body that nourish and sustain it So he has also the Principle of Fire and Light that is Soul and Spirit which gives Life and Motion to the Body of Flesh and answers to the Soul of the great World or that mighty Spirit which is moving vivifying and most wonderfull creative and conservative Power in this vast Systime of things which we call the World and which does preserve and sustain it and every part thereof in Beauty Splendor and Harmony which living and creating power does never stand still or cease from generating and operating for if it should the whole Systime or Body of this World would immediately fall and perish as the Apostle Paul saith without the Spirit the Body is dead and profiteth nothing The like is to be understood in the little World Man all lively Motion strength vigour and beauty resides in the Spirit or Soul in which there is no standing still Idleness or Cessation no more than there is in the great world and as the universal spirit or power of the Lord is always forming shaping and bringing to manifestation the hidden mysteries of Eternity and cloathing the various Spirits with Elemental Bodies the like does the Soul and Spirit in Man it is always in motion and generating and as the Scripture saith of the wonderful and ever-blessed Creator That he slumbereth not nor sleepeth for sleep does truly signifie death and weakness and nothing sleepeth but what is mortal and finite So the soul and spirit in man sleepeth not as being the Breath of God and Eternal for in God there is no Time nor Seasons or divisions of Time as nights days years or the like nor any use as to himself of Sun or Moon but they are Creatures made by him for the Accomodation of this lower World and the Inhabitants thereof as St. Iohn in the Revelations doth declare speaking of the new Ierusalem or Super-Caelestial Paradise There was there neither days nor nights nor Light of the Sun or Moon but the divine Power and Spirit of the Lamb was the Glory and Light thereof And this Glympse of the ineffable Splendor he saw upon the Lords-day when he was in the spirit not in the operations of the senses of the external Nature or Body of this world unto which the properties of the natural sleep do belong but the Soul or Spirit cannot sleep for then it could not be eternal but when the Body and Senses lie lock't up fast in the Arms of Merpheus then is the soul or spirit as it were unchain'd or unbound as being free'd from the continual Interruption of the senses and Earthly dispositions which whilst they are waking and in full strength and vigour do captivate the soul and hinder its generating and progress in that manner as it doth when the body is a sleep or dead for the soul of man hath so great Power when freed form the Earthly Quality and heavy sensual power that it can make something where nothing is and from the Representations of Swords or Guns Fire or Water as real when and where there is indeed no such palpable substance but it is real and substantial in the spirit even as the good and evil words and works of men shall be unto them in Eternity their works do follow them not after the manner of this world but in the Spirit yet real and essential Now it is from the Soul or Spirit in man which is the Image of the divine Eternal Spirit and never standeth still Sleepeth or Slumbereth whence Dreams and all Nocturnal Visions do arise and proceed for whilst the Senses and Powers and Faculties of the outward Nature do sleep rest or cease from their Functions the Soul and Spirit ceaseth not from its operation but goeth on forming figureing and Representing of things as real and substantial for in truth though ofttimes we perceive it not and more often cannot remember particulars yet when ever we sleep we dream for you may as well imagine Fire without heat Sun without Light as to conceit that an Intellectual Immortal Soul can for one moment cease from Actions suitable to its Nature But here some will be apt to object and say This is a strange Paradox for if we always Dream in some kind or other as often as we sleep how is it that we but seldom perceive or are sensible of it Sure if the Soul and Spirit be as you teach evermore busie in framing and representing of things we should remember somewhat of the matter whereas we sleep soundly for several nights together sometimes and cannot remember that we had any Dreams at all To this I answer That the thoughts of worldly Affairs and the intemperances most men commit in Meats Drinks Labours Exercises and Passions do not only becloud
estate whether in the Good or in the Evil. Thus in Dreams the soul enjoys a more compleat and unmixed pleasure and delight than is possible for any person to enjoy when awake and in the use of the perfectest Senses for then in the height of his Complacency fears and apprehensions of losing the pleasing objects or jealousies of others sharing with him therein or one thing or other is apt to crowd in and interrupt his Joy But in many Dreams the Horizon is all Light and clear no Cloud to be seen and the whole seems to be so real that nothing we possess in this world can for the time be more insomuch that these Joys and delightful Transports do oft times awaken the sensitive power of the outward Nature the thoughts and Consideration thereof is very delightful to the mind even after the waking of the Body As on the other side Evil Dreams cause strange Trouble Fear and Horror to the Soul it apprehends it self to be in real danger of drowning falling killing being run through with Knives Swords and the like falling down from precipices being in pain anguish and agony and many other things of that kind which do all arise from the awakening or kindling of the wrath and fierce poisonous Nature or Central Fire which cruel fears and pains are real and essential to the Soul as the Body or Senses are dead or asleep which is as it were all one and yet there is no material thing neer them that can wound or hurt them So great is the power of the Soul when it has either wholly or in part for a small time quitted it self from the operation of the Senses that it can make something where no thing is and create either Grief or Sorrow all according to that Principle or Form that is chief in the Government of the Soul For as that is quallified such is the nature of those Ideas that are generated and the Phantasies arising either of joy or fear as the Radix stood in Equality or Inequality for in the seperated state whether in the Bliss or the Curse there is no Matereal thing that can hurt or afflict the Soul but only its own Imaginations or Turba and what it forms unto it self in the principle of Evil in which it self is comprehended being the Root and Fountain whence all sorrow and fear takes its Birth As on the contrary those that are comprehended in the blessed Fountain or friendly principle of Light Love their Joy Pleasure does arise and is continually generated from the same principle in the Spirit and is real and essential beyond all outward Enjoyments or what can be apprehended because none in the Body can have the full enjoyment or true sense of it For that property or principle man has precipitated himself into and which has gotten the upper dominion in the Soul From the very same principle after death does proceed and is generated either his Joy or Sorrow according to the degree and nature of that Form and as it is more or less kindled in the good or the Evil whilst the Soul remain'd in the Body Which is a great Figure and true signe that the Souls and Life's-Spirit does burn or quallifie between the wrath and the noises and bussle of this world and acts or Suffers as it is tinctured and impressed for every property and principle doth contain the true nature of the whole and therefore has wonderfull power and efficacy to generate and form strange unheard of things to the Imagination For which cause many persons dream of and see such strange things in their sleep as they never beheld nor thought of when awake for the formings of the predominate principle in mans soul are beyond all humane Number Now let us suppose a man in a terrible Melancholy frightful Dream were never to awake but to continue eternally in this imagined Agony and Dread what a disconsolated State and Condition would this be to the soul where all these fears and troubles are apprehended to be Essential as indeed they are during the Sleep of the Senses But when the Soul is thus perplexed and in this terible fear and horror it violently seizes on the Body as its Natural House and with its fierce motion awakes it and causes the very flesh to tremble and then the Soul or Spirit is glad and rejoyces that it hath escaped those dangers it apprehended whereas if it had not been cloathed with an humane Body it would have been destitute of any such refuge to ease its self as Soul are after Death Dreams and Visions are incorporeal like the Soul or Spirit and the Joy Pleasure Trouble or Sorrow that is apprehended is as Essential to the Soul as any sensual pleasure fear or grief is to the Body And what we have said of the Kingdom of Darkness Sorrow and woe the like is to be understood in the Light and Blessed Kingdom of Heaven where the Paradisical Ioys are incorporeal or else the beautified Inhabitants could not have any pleasure in or Simile with them for when the body is dead and the Soul separated from it then all incorporeal things became as substantial as material things do to the Body and the Seeing Hearing Smelling Tasting and Feeling is as real and essential to the Spirit as all sorts of gross substances are to the outward senses and during sleep the Soul is as it were seperated and as if it were in Eternity does really enjoy pleasure or pain according to that principle that predominates therein whilst the Body lies at it were dead and also all the senses not at all concerned with or capable of those sights pleasures or sorrows but oft-times the Soul or Spirit being affrighted with hideous apprehensions and dangers oâ—… too highly lifted up with Ioy and Delight does return and seizes the Body and awakens the outward senses which immediately puts a period to the Joy or Sorrow Griâ—… or Pleasure and they seem to the outward Sense and Reason as iâ—… there had not been any such thing but all had been a Romance or Illusion for so it may well be apprehended by the senses for the immatereal world and the wonders thereof are as nothing to the material there being such a vast gulf or difference between the internal and external principle of each and yet they are very near each other but one is Corporeal the other Incorporeal therefore the latter hath no Simile with the outward Senses but on the other side there is a great Analogg and Similitude between the internal World or Incorporeal Beeings and the Soul and Spirit of Man CHAP. VI. How departed Souls Communicate with Persons living in Dreams and sometimes in Apparitions The Converse of good and bad Angels with men how promoted c. BY reason of that Affinity or Similitude between incorporal Beeings and the Soul of man mentioned in the last Chapter it comes to pass that Souls departed or seperated from their Bodies which divorce we call
Death do often Communicate their desires and reveal various Secrets unto their Friends for Dreams are Incorporeal and the Souls deceased have no other way to impart their Secrets that is so amiliar as this except some few who at their Death are greatly affectionated to Wife and Children or the like and dye with a strong desire of revealing something that lies hid or to manifest their affections to their surviving Friends and these sometimes do it by assuming an aireal Body and appearing Affections being the chief general Cause of Apparitions of Souls departed But then the will and desire must be very strong and powerful at the departure of the Soul from the Body or else it cannot cloath it self with a sidereal or Elemental thin Body for the External Eye cannot see any thing but what is like is self or compounded of them same Elements and there is great difficulty for any Soul to cloath it self with a material Body neither indeed can it be done if the Affections and desires be not wonderful strong and powerful Which shadow or thin Body continues no longer than the Radical moisture in the deceased Body does in some degree continue for as the moisture and matter of the Body does waste so the Apparition or Ghost does grow weak and at last vanish For the Soul cloathed it self by the help of the matter contained in the Body which is done by a sympathitical Operation between the External and Internal for there is some likeness or Relikes of the Spirit remaining in the deceased Body so long as it continues moist and full of matter for if it were not so it were impossible that any Soul should appear in any Body or shape either humane or Beastial Therefore it was that some of the Philosophical Antients commanded the Bodies of the dead to be burni to Ashes which did totally destroy the Humour Radicalis or Spirit of the external elemental Nature thereby perventing such Apparitions as wâ—… are speaking of and hindering Souls from Cloathing themselves with thin Aireal Bodies which they can do only by a Sympathetical agreement between themselves and their old Houses the deceased Bodies For if the Soul departs from the Body filld with Affections to external things be they what they will then finding it discomposed and disquieted it longs after its old Body or House and by Simile and help of the Fluid Humours and Spirits yet remaining in the Body it attracts a subtle matter in which having vested it self it becomes to outward view Corporeal â—…ut if the body should be consumed by Fire then the Spirit or Soul would be prevented wholly of matter for this sidereal Cloathing And therefore this way of burning the dead bodies was practised as in divers other Nations so also in England in former Ages for then it was more frequent for departed Souls as also for divers other sorts of Spirits to appear to the living than of late years for some Reasons which I shall not stand to insist upon or explain in this place And therefore they did consume their dead Bodies with Fire by which there was an immediate and full Separation between the Body and Soul and no simile remain'd and consequently no matter could be attracted or coagulated for the formation of such Spectre's or Apparitions For the like Reason we may note by the way that the first Midwives and Directors of Women after Delivery ordered the After-Birth with Consumption by Fire to put a period to the Atomes or subtle Spirits that can and do powerfully penetrate all Bodies for they are so subtle and quick that nothing can hold or hinder them from returning to their Centers but only the Annilation of the whole But it is further to be observed That all Midwives ought to let the After-Burthen be through cold before they burn it or else the fierce surprisal which the Fire makes upon the Spirits will force them back to their Center whence they proceed with a Rapid motion and carry with them the hot sulpherous Atomes and Particles of the Fire which in some Complections will wound the Health and oft-times cause Fevers and unnatural Heats and Indispositions and more heat the Milk by simile These things are seldom considered and therefore the Evils thereof are the ofter felt But to return from this Digression wherein we thought it not unfit to point out briefly the Nature Causes and Manner of Souls appearing after Death which sometimes happens where the affections are exceeding violent as aforesaid it is far easier and more familiar for the deceased Souls to communicate their secrets to their living Friends in Dreams then to appear thus in external Forms by cloathing themselves with thin Elemental Bodies for men in Dreams are nearer unto the condition of departed Souls then when awake and therefore they can with ease and great familiarity discourse and reveal their minds unto them more especially if there were a simile between their spirits or if there was a hearty Love and Affection whilst they lived For all the time the Body sleepeth it is as it were dead and ten hours is but as one minute but the spirit and soul liveth and acteth and seeth and apprehendeth things as if it had not any earthly Body but were already in Eternity for near and afar off is all a like unto it it can as easily visit remote Countries and Regions beyond the Equinoctial or Tropicks as a mans own House or Garden it can sink it self into the deepest of Depths and also sore aloft and range through all the Coelestial sphears the Etherial Spirits of men being thus volatile and busie when the outward body or senses are dead or which is all one for the time asleep the Immaterial Beeings or seperated Souls being of an homogenial Nature and like state can easily hold communication therewith by such means as are proper for the intercourse of such spirituous Essences especially if before the Death of the Body there was something strongly impressed on the Spirit of the deceased which proves very burthensome until they have by some means revealed it to those to whom they had a desire to impart it before their Death but by some accident were prevented or where there is some great sympathy or similitude between the Soul of the deceased and the Living and for this last reason the Souls of strangers sometimes do make application to such sympathizing Souls of the Living whilst the Body lies asleep and reveal great secrets or foretel them of things sometimes good and sometimes evil that are likely to befal them But there is such a vast disproportion between the Incorporeal Beeings viz. Souls departed Spirits and Angels on the one side and our outward material Senses and Reason on the other as makes all these Wonderful mysteries that happen to man of this Nature appear but as meer fantasies shadows or Vanity and therefore this secret spiritual converse and real Communications of Souls are deâ—…ided in the highest degree which
Root by the Promptings Instigations and Ingections of the evil Genij which are like swarms of Pees in and about man if he suffer his will and desires to enter into their Principle and Property which is to do Evil and only Evil and that continually Others there are whose desires are not so far engaged upon Notorious Wicked Objects but rather amuse themselves with Vanities and Things which they conceit to be Innocent and Indiferent as an over care of being well spoken of in the World and therefore studying Complements and Civilities to procure Esteem pleasing themselves with fine Buildings and dilicate Walks and Gardens doting upon a brave Horse or a Dog or placing all their Affections Delight and Joy in some one particular Child or the like Now when any one doth thus inordinately take pleasure in such things he or she will continually be incouraged and prompted forward by evil Angels and Genij of a middle Nature that are indued both with the property of the inward and outward Principles having as it were an equal mixture of both which diligently attend the Motions Actions and Inclinations of each people incouraging and making them strong and fixed in their way of Vanity and when ever they go about to do an Action that in it self is good they suggest something that may mar and spoil it by circomstances As when they give an Almes they tickle them with a conceit of Glory and so they do it not for Godâ—… sake that hath commanded it but to be seen and praised if men if they are abstemious these ill spirits recommend it not as a necessary Vertue but as it saves their money or preserves their credit and so in all other like cases Others by Complection or Education devout having entertain'd and suffered their desires to enter into Superstitions or limmited sowr harsh forms of Religion immediately they are attended with an evil Genius or Angel that increaseth their peevish mistakes under a notion of Zeal so that at length for a Lye and vain superstitious idle Fancy of another mans they will both suffer death themselves and when they most cruelly murder their Brethren that will not nor cannot believe as they do they think they do God good service witness the daily Practises of many Turks and others So Great Strong and Wonderfull are the simpathetical opperations of evil Angels and Spirits on the souls of men that whatsoever any person inclines to or what Principle or Property soever is awakened or gets the Government in the center of his Life or that the same does naturally invite or attract a Genius or Angel of a sutable property which does diligently wait upon him or her so long as they shall continue in that state But if the will which indeed is the Primum mobile in man turn it self away from that and enter into another thing then the Government of that Genius or Angel grows weak and another takes his place according to the nature of that thing the man is inclined unto for no sooner can a man fix his thoughts and desires strongly upon any thing but a genius is presently at his Elbow and ready to suggest an increase of the same longing and prompt him to put his Imaginations into Action CHAP. VII Treats particularly of the Offices rendred to men by good Angels the grounds of mixt Thoughts and Actions the Shapes wherein Good and Evil Angels appear or represent themselves and the Reasons thereof VVHat we said of the Evil Genij is likewise to be understood of good Spirits and Angels in a contrary manner for they are no less ready and diligent to attend all people that are soberly and innocently inclined and do dictate to them Vertuous Things and Ways and do mightily strive for and defend all the Children of Vertue and Piety against the assaults and stratagems of evil Angels not only in an incorporeal way but also outwardly as to the Body preserving them from being Drounded falling from High Places being Killed Robbed Beaten Mislead and an hundred such like Mischances Also it is to be noted that there do arise great Tempest and Troubles in mens Souls and Minds through the strife and Contending of the good and evil Genij and Angels for Superiority or Government whence do proceed that strange and otherwise unaccountable Variety of mixed thoughts and imaginations of both good and evil so that sometimes when a man has as it were just concluded to do an evil action the good Genius or Angle comes in with a powerful admonishment but with a gentle soft and as it were still voice saying Do not this evil thing and this doth prevent many great outrages and cruel mischiefs amongst men for all men that are not as it were seared up and as it were captivated in the fierce Wrath poysonous Principle when they incline or attempt to commit evil do find some checks or reluctances and experience the effects of a struggling or counter ballancâ—… in their Souls between the good or evil Genij or Angels and which soever of the two the will gives up its assent and consent unto that carries the day and proceeds as in tryumph to the Action whether good or evil Thus sometimes a man going about his occasions shall have strange and most wicked thoughts and imaginations injected or darted as it were into his mind without any premeditation consideration or sensible occasion and then presently he shall have an opposite thought beam'd in from the good genius which does Moderate Allay and put a stop to the evil Ones and thus a multitude of surprising imaginations both in good and evil attend mankind by the dictates Gleams Rayes and Influences of Genij or Spirits which are of very wonderful consideration and moment But although those restless Spirits always busie yet the most dangerous time of all and that wherein evil Angels most certainly accomplish their mischievous designs to the destruction of men is when men give themselves up to any Intemperance or Disorder as Passion Drunkenness Gluttonny Swearing Lying Cheating Envy Debauchery Violence Oppression and the like for by these Evils men do secretly awaken their own Fountain or Principle and give the evil Spirits great Power and Authority over their Souls so that they are led into Captivity and Bondage and ensnared in a Thousand Evils and Miseries and from this impure Fountain which men awaken by their Intemperance and Uncleanness proceed the multitude of vain Dreams and lying Visions for according as the more central parts are awakened and sutable to that Principle that governs in the life's-Spirit such are the Dreams Yet it must be understood that no man's dream is wholely and altogether evil and vain for that cannot be except men were meer Devils which also cannot be so long as we live in the humane Nuture for mans fall was not like the fall of the evil Angels for these latter fell into the dark Abiss or original Wrathful Principle without or beyond Nature and Creature and
been true to the heavenly Power for unto them alone is granted the Key that opens the Gate of the Heavenly Ierusalem CHAP. XII The Causes why Dreams are always Represented us actually present As also some means tending to promote intellectual Communications The Excellency of Temperance and a Regular Diet and Sober Vertuous Life to conciliate and advance true significant and profitable Dreams and to make an honest useful improvement thereof THE Soul of man having a divine original being an Eye or Ray of the Eternal power and Heavenly Fire when looseried from the outward gross senses of the Elimental nature as in Dreams sees into the great Mystery of Eternity as into its Motheâ—… where there is neither Place nor Time but near and afar off is all one and the same For the Soul in Dreams when the Body and sensual Powers of the outward elemental grosness are asleep or dead which is all one during the sleep of the Body is as it were already in Eternity and swims in the great Depth or Abysses and sees with an eternal Eye or Sight in the same measure like its Creator whence it had its birth and whose Image it beareth For this cause the Soul is busied in Dreams and Visions that are represented not only really actuated but present as if they were already done or at the same time accomplished for all things whether past present or to come appear present to the Great Eye of the Eternal beeing and the same in proportion is to be understood of the Soul in its separate state that is to say dead asleep or loosed from the chains and dark clouds of the body and sences of outward composition for the Lord sees and knows all things for unto him there is neither time nor place night nor day but all is essencially present for things in Eternity goes not on by degrees or by progressions as they do in time the like is in its kind to be understood of the Soul in Dreams when it swims out of the grosse sleepy Body more especially after Death in which state all the mystries of that Principle into which the Soul had entered and immorsed its self in the time of its Cohabitation with the Body whether Good or Evil and also all its works do follow attend and are present naked and bare unto each Soul hence the Scripture saith Blessed are those that dye are Comprehended in Gods Love for their works follow them that is are Essensually present with them as their Figures and Representations are in Dreams so the same divine Scripture saith of Christ that he was a Lamb slain from the Foundation of the World nevertheless the same was not accomplished according to time in some thousands of years after And as in Eternity all things and time are present so it thence follows that it comprehends all times and is not capable of being measured or divided much less comprehended so the Soul of man being inspirited by the eternal divine Principle of Love and Light and thereby capable of having its Conversation in Heaven and taking its Flight into Eternity for every thing is capable to reascend as high as its first Fountain whence it first descended in which state it is capacitated according to its Gifts to see things either actually past and Transacted or as yet to come and to be Transacted in time both as still or already actually present for so they all stand in Eternity there being no Yesterday nor to Morrow but t is always the same Yesterday to Day and for Ever there being in him no Turning Variation nor Shadow of Change Thus Moses saw the Transactions of the Creation the Fall of man the Flood and all those several Actions done in the World to his own time as we may find it Recorded to us in his Five Books 2 Esdras Chap. 14. 21 to the end Esdras Likewise by the Spirit of the most high dictated to his Scribs the lost Bible for it is said in the 42 verse They wrote the wonderful Visions of the Night as for me saith Esdras I spake in the Day and in the Night I held not my Tongue v. 43. The Prophet Isaiah having a grevious Vision declared to him was orderd to set up a watchman and he to declare what he saw Chap. 21. and amongst other things he saw a Chariot with a couple of Horsmen and he answered and said Babylon is Fallen is Fallen Thus the prophet Ieremiah Chap. 51. 8. declares the Word of the Lord against Babylon and saith Babylon is suddenly Fallen as if her â—…estruction were Actually present or rather past and yet as to time the City Babylon Flourished many years after those Visions of Ieremiah And Isaiah after the same manner spake of Cyrus in the present Tense Chap 44. v. 29. Cyrus he is my Shepherd and shall perform all my pleasure and Chap. 45. v. 1. Thus saith the Lord to his Anointed to Cyrus whose Right hand I have holden as if Cyrus had then been in being when as to time it is recorded that this Vision was more then an hundred Years before Cyrus was born The Angel that appeared unto St Iohn Rev. 14. 8. saith Babylon is faln is faln and another Angel also appeared unto him and cryed mightily with a strong Voice Babylon the Great is Fallen is Fallen Rom. 18. 2. yet whether this mystical Babylon or that Confusion and Oppression to the meek humble divine Kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ be yet fallen we are all witnesses altho the fall thereof was seen and represented as already done in Eternity at that time of St. Iohn's Vision which is about sixteen hundred years ago Thus much I'thought fit to observe from that which every man from his own experience may find True that Representations of things in Dreams are alwayes actually present not past or future whereof the judicious Reader may from these hints I have given deduâ—…e several notable Remarkes But here 't is probable some may be apt to inquire If there be so much in Dreams as you seem to teach and that some Dreams are so useful and instructive above others Can you show us a method how we should procure such signifiant Dreams and retain them and come to understand their true significations I answer those Inquirers do it out of pride vanity or curiosity desireing Dreams and the understanding thereof that they may vapour therewith and seem some-body in the World or to get money thereby and the like devilish intentions then neither I nor any man else can possibly contribute any thing to the satisfaction of their desires because they act in a contrary Principle and these mysteries are Sealed up from them and all that are of their Spirit but to the Meek and the Humble who drives on no foolish design but the glory of God in the first place their own and Neighbours Happiness so far only as it may be subservent to that I will propose a few considerations which may somewhat
PYTHAGORAS HIS Mystick Philosophy REVIV'D OR THE Mystery of DREAMS UNFOLDED Wherein the Causes Natures and Uses of Nocturnal Representations and the Communications both of Good and Evil Angels and also departed Souls to Mankind are Theosophically Unfolded that is According to the Word of GOD and the Harmony of Created Beings Night unto Night sheweth Wisdom Psal. 19. 2. To which is added A Discourse of the Causes Natures and Cure of Phrensie Madness or Distraction By THO. TRYON Student in Physick and Author of The Way to long Life Health and Happiness London Printed for Tho. Salusbury at the Sign of the Temple near Temple-Bar in Fleet-street 1691. THE CONTENTS OR CHIEF HEADS of the Two Ensuing Treatises Of Dreams Chapter 1. IS by Way of Introduction shewing the Difficulty of this Work it s Usefulness both in Physick morral Phylosophy and Divinity Objections against the Observations of Dreams Distinguish'd and Answered Those that have hitherto Treated of this Subject have done it imperfectly because they understood not the true Radix of Dreams The Vain or Superstitious Conceits of many People about their Dreams no Argument but a Wise and Good man may still regard his with great profit to himself from Page 1. to p. 11. Chapter 2. Gives a Definition of Sleep and shews its Causes Natures and End The Mischief when 't is too long Also a plain Description of the Nature and Uses of the inward Sence's Faculties of man Viz. the common Sence Phantasie Iudgment Memory and where each of them Reside Why we sometimes remember our Dreams and sometimes not Of those that Talk Rise Walk c. iâ—… their sleep the Causes thereof and hoâ—… to prevent it as also of those that arâ—… troubled with the Night-Mare itâ—… Causes and Cure from Pag. 11. to 26â—… Chapter 3. Layes open the general Cause or Radix of Dreams whence they are derived viz. from the ever active proerty of the Soul that really we never sleep without Dreaming and the reasons why we do not sometimes perceive it That there is no standing still in the ways of God or Nature whence occasionally is discoursed why young Converts very zealous at first do afterwards decay in Grace and Knowledge the Advantages of being sober and serious and pressing on after greater Acquisitions and Attainments from Pag. 26. to p. 47. Chapter 4. Treats of the Causes of Dreams more particularly where seven Causes are assigned viz. 1st The Constitution 2dly The Profession or Course of Life 3dly The influx of the Planets 4thly Diet or Medicine 5thly Evil Spirits 6thly Good Spirits and Angels 7thly and lastly Extraordinary Visions from God all which are severally handled and the whole reduced into a threefold Radix viz. either 1. from the outward Principle of this World or 2. from the dark wrath or 3. from the friendly Divine Principle of Gods Love and Light and how by your Dreams you may know which of these three Principles do predominate in your Souls with a distinction of the several kinds of Dreams arising from each Complexion Sanguine Cholerick Melancholy and Phlegmatick as also of those that flow from each of the seven Planets from Pag. 47. to p. 58. Chapter 5. Contains a deep and serious Discourse proving that Dreams are a Figure or Resem blance of the Condition of Souls after Death The representations in Dreams are real to the Soul whilst we sleep tho they seem fantastick to us after we wake by reason of the vast difference between the material and immaterial Worlds from Pag. 58. to p. 68. Chapter 6. Shows how departed Souls Communicate with persons living in Dreams and sometimes in Apparitions What kind of Bodies such Apparitions have and whence taken How long such Bodies can endure Burning of dead Bodies a means to prevent the appearing of their Spirits and why A necessary Note for Midwives That it is easier for departed Souls to communicate with us in Dreams then by Apparitions Here is likewise discoursed of the Communications of Angels with men How Spirits either good or evil are attracted by sympathy or simile and their effects whence the vanity of mens imaginations and desires do in a great measure proceed from Pag. 68. to p. 89. Chapter 7. Treats particularly of the Offices rendred to men by good Angels The Ground of mixt Thoughts Actions The Shapes wherein good and bad Angels appear and the Reasons thereof from Pag 89. to p. 125. Chapter 8. Rehearses in order several Scripture-Examples and Testimonies touching Dreams and discants thereon illustrating thereby many difficult Texts from Pag. 125. to p. 143. Chapter 9. Discourses of Angels-Guardians of Countries and particular Persons and their Offices towards men mentioned in Scripture and how men do conciliate their assistance not by invocation or worship which is not due to them but by simile as they increase in Faith Holiness and Innocency from Pag. 143. to p. 176. Chapter 10. Why man cannot communicate with Spirits in his outward Sences but in Dreams and Extasies It also treats of strange material Figures represented Calls heard Blows received and the like before Death Of middle Spirits Against telling of Dreams Why Dreams are always represented in coopereal Forms and in what sence mens Works are said to follow them after death from Pag. 176. to p. 202. Chapter 11. Offers reasons why we are not to think that these Communications from good Angels by Dreams and the like so frequent in former times are not now wholly ceased Together with the Reasons why the same are so Rare and Seldom from Pag. 202. to p. 219. Chapter 12. The causes why Dreams are always represented actually present As also of the means tending to promote intellectual Communications the Excellency of Temperance and a regular Diet and sober vertuous course of Life and that it doth mightly advance true significant and profitable Dreams and helps to make an honest useful Emprovement thereof Also a Conclusion of the whole exhorting to Piety Holiness and Innocency from Pag. 219. to p. 249. Of Madness Section 1. DEfines the several sorts of Distraction that the same ariseth not so much from Excess of any of the Humors as from irregular Passions of the mind and poysonous Ferments Pag. 249 250 251. Section 2. The particular Passions most apt to cause it Pag. 251 252 253. Section 3. The maner how they disorder the Soul Pag. 253 254 255 256. Section 4. Pride the general cause of several sorts of Madness Pag. 256 257 258. Section 5. Madness is a bringing forth of all conceptions or imaginations as fast as they arise without any choice from Pag. 258. to p. 261. Section 6. They have no Vail to cover or disguise themselves with Pag. 261 262. Section 7. Most of the actions of men are worse and more mischievous and silly then those of common Madmen proved by particular instances from Pag. 262 to p. 267. Section 8. The several species of Madness and hoâ—… by their Carriage you may know whaâ—… Principle is most
great 3d Remember to let your quality be sutable and agreable to your Nature and Constitution 4th Let none of your food be attended with the dying Groans of of the innocent Creatures 5th Consider the first state of man and what Foods were ordained for him viz. none but innocent Herbs Seeds Fruits and Grains 6th Bethink your self and understanding from what Principle Killing and Eating of Flesh did first arise and do proceed 7th Consider also the Nature Shapes and Forms of these Creatures that by Nature incline to eat Flesh. 8th Note that all the Wilde Savages of the Desart in whom the Principle of the fierce Wrath does predominant are formed by the same Principle which the fierce Spirits are formed and look also with Teeth and Claws like so many terrible Weapons of War to Prev upon and Tear their Fellow Creatures to pieces and all their Actions and Inclinations do â—…fficiently declare what property has the dominion in the Center of their Lives 9th Consider further Man the finest and most innocent and noble of all others and Governor of the whole Terrestial Orb view and mark well his Form Shape and intire Symmetry how Curiously and yet withal how innocently he is made and particularly that his all wise Creator has not furnished him with any Weapons of Violence so that he is thereby rendered almost uncapable of tearing Flesh off his Fellow Creatures and if he were not by the seeking out of many Inventions faln from his original State and Furnisht by the â—…evil with the Weapons of Mars he would scarce be able to kill and feed upon the inferiour Graduates of the Creation who are his equals in all the outward Elements for would it not be hard for a man to kill a Cow an Hog or a Sheep and Tear it to pieces and eat it as Dogs and Wolves do but what the fierce savage Creatures can do with the Wrathful Weapons of nature that most men do by invention and the helps of the dark fiery Art whereby almost as many humane lives have been destroyed as by the common course of nature or diseases Therefore upon the whole matter such as would have the free undisturbed converse of Good Angels and Spirits and the advantage of real Dreams let them endeavour and with equal constancy and earnestness pursue after purity both of mind and body to avoid all excess of foods or drinks either in quantity or quality to eschew things derived from violence and therefore to be considerate in eating of Flesh or Fish or any thing not procurable but by the death of some of our fellow Creatures rather let them content themselves with the Delicacies of the Vegetables which are full as nourishing much more wholsome and indisputablely innocent particularly avoiding all Gluttony and intoxicating Liquors as strong Drink Brandy-wine and the like and fumes as those of Tobacca Opium and the like Poysons let them make little or light Suppers viz. of Bread and Water Bread and Raisins or the like for the fewer the Body is from supperfluities and the Head from vapours and the mind from perturbations the brisker are the natural Spirits and the finer and consequently the Soul has a clearer Light and is more near the divine Power by Affinity and more susceptible of their influences and communications but above all let them at their going to Bed divest themselves of all worldly Cares as well as of their Cloathes and with an ardent Faith and intire Charity commend themselves to God the Giver of every Good and Perfect Gift and the Revealer as well as Auther of all divine Secrets and then if it be convenient for thee doubt not but thou shalt have such Discoveries as thou art capable of AN APPENDIX Shewing The Cause of Madness AND Several Observables relating thereunto § 1. THere being an Affinity or Analogy between Dreams and Madness so that the understanding of one will somewhat illustrate the other for Madness seems to be a Watching or Waking Dream I have therefore thought it might not be unfit to subjoyn here certain Considerations touching Phrensie and Distraction its Causes Nature and Effects the rather because the same has very barrenly been handled as far as I can learn by those that have undertaken to treat thereof I shall not insist upon the several sorts reckoned up by Authors as Phrensie which they define to be An Inflamation of the Brain and its members with a continual raving and sharp constant Feaver caused by cholerick Blood to which is joyned also excrementious Choler Mania or Madness which is a loss of the wits with raging and fury but without a Feaver being a cold and dry Distemper which they say arises from adust or burnt-black Choler And Melancholy which is a doting or Delirium without a Feaver and so different from a Phrensie but with fear and sadness whereby it differs from madness which is accompanied with boldness and Fury As all those and others varying in Symptoms are but several Species of Distraction so though Galen having constituted four Humors in the Body laid it down for a Principle that from the excess of some or one of them all Diseases do proceed and consequently was bound to assign these as causes for such Distempers yet more narrow Searchers into the Mysteries of Nature have long since discarded that Doctrine which seems to consist meerly in Forms and Words rather then Reallities and do conclude that most Diseases arise either from Irregular passions of the mind or poysonous ferments occasioned by ill Dyet or inproper Physick in the Body § 2. The truth is Madness and Phrensie do generally and for the most part for some other few particular causes we shall give an account of by and by arise and proceed from various Passions and extream Inclinations as Love Hate Grief Covetousness Dispair and the like which do too violently awaken or stir up the Central Fires or four first Forms of the original of Nature which thereupon do break forth violate and destroy the five inward Senses of the Soul whence the outward Senses do arise So that the Soul loseth its distinguishing property and then the Imaginative property and Soul's Power becomes rampant unbounded or as it were without a Guide and consequently such a Soul is unchain'd or let at liberty from the dark Confinements of the grosser Senses and Reason even as men in Dreams for whatsoever in this state is represented unto the Soul by the uncontrolable and unbounded Imagination is essential unto them whether it be good or evil For it is evident that in Madness persons are not deprived of their grosser Senses of the outward Nature As Seeing Hearing Tasting Smelling and Feeling for those they retain as well as before but they are bereft of the inward Senses or distinguishments and whensoever this happeneth to any then the Soul is unclothed and all its Fantasies and Imaginations become as it were substantial unto them as material things are to those that are in
retain their Senses and Reason for those two serve to cover and hide the Conceptions Thoughts and Imaginations which continually are generated from the various Properties and Centers in man which in innocent Children as soon as they have the use of their Tongues and in mad people is not done but all Conceptions are promiscuously formed into words as they are generated there being no Judge nor Councellors to advise or determine whether they are fit to be divulged and Coin'd into Language or to be stiffled and suppressed § 7. The truth is as the knowledge of evil is mans fall so if this sort of Madness were practised amongst all men that have the use of Reason and their Senses it would be more like Innocency and Christianity then most mens general practises are now-a-days I mean if every man laying aside all subtilty and hypocrisie would speak his mind freely to his Neighbour without Cover or mental Reservations and leave off speaking of one thing to their neighbour or Friends faces and quite other and contrary things behind their backs To complement persons present with a thousand Flatteries and Lyes and revile the same persons as soon as they are absent with as many Calumnies Slanders and unjust Reproaches which is one of the worst kinds of Madness and indeed a Devilish one because they know they do not as they ought being at that very time accused and condemned by the Voice of Wisdom or divine Principle nor is there scarce one thing in Ten that men in the World do act but is far greater Madness and Evil than those things which persons do that are deprived of their Sences For Example Is it not a greater Extravagance for an Ambitious man to sell his Liberty and became a slave to the Lusts and Capricio's of Grandees to spend whole years in supple Attendances Crouching Cringing Fawning or Dissembling only in hopes of being one day made a great man or having an airey Title added like a Rattle to his name and seeing people stand Cap in hand to him whom he imagines to admire him though in truth as many of them as are wise deride and pitty his egregious Folly For a Lascivious man to waste his Wealth his Strength and expose both Body and Soul for the filthy imbraces of a loathsom Strumpet And hazard his Life and honour in attempting the Chastity of some virtuous Woman and be ready to dye for the Love of her whom as soon as he has debaucht he will scorn and hate For men to swallow down vast Estates at their Throats and Piss away the Labours of their Ancestors against the Wall To load their Table with variety of Dishes and be at any charge for poinant Sawces to provoke the Appetite beyond the power as well as necessities of Nature that their Bodies may be filled with Diseases That they may roar under the Stone and the Illiaac Passion and live Tormented Lives and dye an Immature Death For Parents to cark and care and vex and torment themselves with unreasonable Toils and many times hazard their Souls for unjust Gain meerly to heap up Estates for their Children who all ready wish them dead or to leave Riches amongst strangers who in their frolicks laugh at the memory of the old Miser and make themselves and their Companions merry with telling ridiculous Stories of him who for their sakes and for the getting those very Houses and those Bowls they carouze in lies perhaps broyling in the hottest Caverns of the Everlasting Tophet These and an hundred the like things which are the main business and the daily imployment of many that would be counted the shrewdest and most notable part of Mankind Are not I say all these far greater and more mischievous Phrensies than for a man to pull of his Garments and sit naked and spend time in weaving of Sraws or Building with Chalk upon the Walls innumerable Cities whereof he fancies himself to be Emperor To speak Truth the World is but a great Bedlam where those that are more mad lock up those that are loss the first presumptuously and knowingly committing Evils both against God their Neighbours and themselves but the last not knowing what they do are as it were next door to innocency especially when the Evil Properties were not awakened nor predominant in the Complexion in the time of their Senses Tell me I pray Are not all these Intemperances Violence Oppression Murder and savage Evils and Superfluities deservedly to be accounted the worst Effects of Madness As also Lying Swearing vain Imaginations and living in and under the power of evil Spirits more to be dreaded than the condition of those that want the use of Senses and Reason and therefore are esteemed Mad § 8. As for the Species of Madness they are as various as men are in their Complexions for according to what Principle and property whether good or evil does govern the Life in the time of their retaining their Reason and Senses such a property does more clearly manifest it self when the Reason and Senses are broken to pieces for this cause some who have seemed very Religious and soberly inclined as long as they retain'd their Senses and outward Reason as soon as they become deprived thereof the bitter envious fierce wrathful proud Spirit appears in its own form and has its operation without let or hindrance which was before by the cunning Reason and sensual subtilty kept in that it could not manifest it self for some men have obtain'd so much outward government over this bitter Spirit that they can at one and the same time cry Hosanna and Crucifie say God bless you and in their hearts wish your destruction But when such people who hide their Woolvish and Bearish Natures in the external sheeps cloathing of a dissembled Innocency happen to be Mad or deprived of outward Sense and natural Reason then they discover the Savage Nature that ruled before in the Center of their Souls But others who in the time of their sound Senses were accounted harsh and moross or severe their Tongues not so smoothly plain'd or Tipt with Complements but yet their words and works more agreeable to their insides that is they speak as they think and do not play the Hypocrites by retaining subtil Reservations or saying one thing and at the same time resolving on another such I say though many of them did not seem to be so fair and good men as the former yet they are really more innocent and have far better Principles within than the others who made use of their Natural Faculties to hide and cover the subtil bitter Spirit and therefore when these latter plain sort of people happen to be distracted they appear more calm and friendly than the former because the good property had a greater dominion in the Soul § 9. Every person when disturbed in his Senses and Reason then the distinguishing Faculties of Nature does variously appear in properties and Qualities differing according to which of the