the Soul is cloathed with a dark heavy earthy sensual vesture which does as it were wholly captivate and chain this incorporeal Essence and as those Communications Revelations Sights or whatever else does happen to the Soul in Dreams and Visions seems as nothing to the Body and Senses after waking which is one main cause so many slight Dreams so what is translated through the Senses or in the outward material World is nothing to the Soul in Dreams but the Beggar has as lofty Representations as the King and the poor Captive as free Enjoyments as his Judge therefore we should consider the vast differance between the internal and external principles and their respective Inhabitants and that the external Eye can see only into its own Birth or Original that is into the Things and Light of this outward material World as receiving its Light from thence for nothing can see further than its own principle whence it proceeded For this cause no mortal man can see and communicate with Angels and Spirits by sight and under the perfect Exercise of their outward Senses therefore when the holy Prophets and Antients received Visions and the good Angâ—ls and Spirits Communicated their Secrets unto them it was alwayes in Dreams Extasies or Raptures not knowing as the Apostle saith 2 Cor. 12. 2. whether they were in the Body or out of the Body and therefore the Prophet Daniel saith that in the greaâ— Vision before mentioned he had not the strength of a man that is his senses and natural understanding was during that time of the Vision weak dead or as it were asleep and did not see nor know any more of the mystery or divine sight than men do of their common Visions of the Night which are as nothing to the Body and Senses for every Eye sees into its own Radix that of the Body into the Principle of this World as being generated from the Light thereof and being it self Corporeal sees apprehends and comprehends all Corporal things but the Eye of the mind and soul is Incorporeal and therefore it can well see apprehend and comprehend things Incorporeal and Spiritual especially when it shakes off and as it were quits it self of the Chains and heavy Fetters of its earthly Tabernacle and the sensual Facultites of the external palpability as comes to pass in Visions and Dreams for the Soul has an eternal and Coelestial original proceeding from the Intelligible World and therefore when it is freed from Darkness it can well see into and communicate with the internal and heavenly Spirits and Angels But the Senses and Body take their original from gross palpable matter and therefore depend upon sublinary nature consequently subject to destruction and coruption The Body is a dull heavy Trunk but the Soul is quick as Thought and nimble as a Beam of Light and therefore when freed from the clog of the Body and sensual Power 't is capable of entertaining and receiving all things be they either material or immaterial But here it must be noted that it is common for Persons in Dreams to be presented with various Figures Forms and Shapes of material things belonging unto the Animal Vegetable and Mineral Kingdoms which do signifie or often times fore shew or denote Prosperity Adversity Health Sickness the Death of themselves or Friends others have vocal Calls Voices or Blows before Death or Sickness Now all this variety of Nightly Representations or Dreams proceed from the variety of each mans Genius or Angel and are true or false according to its Nature and the vertuous or vicious Lives of the Persons But certain it is that many men have certain and assured signs or premonitions given them of the Death or Well-fare of absent Friends and Relations as also of their own of which were it needful numerous Instances might be given and this as it is very strange and wonderful so I see not which way it can come to pass otherwise than by the operation of the internal and supernatural Intelligers or Genji which amongst the wise and sober Antients was more frequent then of late years viz. when men fearing the Lord believed that he governed the world by Angels and when men lived in Sobriety Temperance and Cleanness which doth wonderfully prepare men for and render them capable of receiving true Dreams or Oracles For external as well as internal Purity and to be free from Violence and the defilements of Blood and of unclean Meats and Drinks is most necessary for all who would be worthy of this sublime Knowledge and Gift of true Dreams must keep a pure undisturbed and undisquieted Spirit and Imagination friendly compose the same for an unclouded Spirit is like a clear Glass or calm limpid spring of water wherein you may behold the true Images of things but if the same be troubled stirred or agitated then you perceive nothing but confused Figures so the Spirit being discomposed apprehends nothing as it ought to do but as long as it continues â—erene and tranquil it lets in the true Lights of distinguishing understanding and presents the real Figures and Notions of things to such as are of a sound and healthy Body Mind not dulled with Intemperance nor made sad by Anger nor provoked to Bitterness and Envy by Covetousness but when at peace with God and all its innocent Creation you quietly go to Bed and fall a sleep then the Soul being loosed from hurtful thoughts and freed from the heavy body and sensual Spirits does freely Communicate with divine Angels and Spirits and far more certainly clearly and efficaciously behold and enjoy wonderful things and oftimes is then instructed in and taught many abstruce Secrets and Mystries for the good Spirits being diffusive and communicative do invite the Soul to their Society by the opportunity of the Sleep of the Body Sences and the nocturnal solitariness nor will they be wanting to such when they are awake if they shall square and conduct their Lives and Actions by the measures of wisdom and rules of Piety On the Contrary such whose Fantasies and Spirits are dull and as it were unpolished and who languish under distemperatures of mind and a Body oppressed with excess of wine or other superfluity whence noxious Fumes arises that miserably becloud all the Intellectual Hemispere the access and intercourse of the benigâ—e Spirits or Angels is prevented or frustrated and such peoples Dreams are confused oblivious and tending to Evil and Vanity for the good Intelligâ—nces cannot nor will give true 〈◊〉 or significant Dreams 〈…〉 intemperate and unclean and whose Souls are estranged and degenerated from their principle and precipitated into wrath and Violence But the Inhabitants of the infernal World have the nearest Affinity to such and do by their secret sympathitical Communications suggest and dart into the Soul many Lying Fantasies and Mischevious Dreams and teach them sundry vile pranks and evils For there is as great a variety of Spiritual Creatures and Beeings good
the intellectual powers of nature so that the Soul can neither Communicate with good Angels or separated Spirits nor of herself see or penetrate into any Celestial thing But Wisdom which is derived from and joyned to Sobriety Cleanness and Temperance in that which rightly fitteth and disposeth both the Body and Soul and Spirit and advances them to a divine purity for Abstinence and cleanness in Meats Drinks Imployments and Communications have a wonderful power to fortifie all the Observers thereof against all sorts of Vices and Temptations of the Devil who continually goeth about seeking whom he may invegle to Drunkenness Gluttony Lying Coveteousness Pride and the like to all which enormities Excesses opens the Doors and Windows and so it is easie for him to enter finding abundance of prepared matter for his Suggestions and Temptations to work upon whereby many Thousands of Poor Souls are destroyed The contrary is to be Understood of good Angels and Spirit who by Temperance Chastity and Purity are drawn and conciliated to our Assistance therefore let all that would have their Souls and Intellects adopted for such divine converse keep their Bodies and Spirits pure and unincumbered and not overwhelmed in the commerce and affairs of this World and the flesh to which purpose nothing does more contribute then a strict observation of the rules of Temperance both in quality and quantity words and works avoiding all irregular Passions Violence and Oppression both of men and beasts and to bound their desires to the necessities of nature for the things that polute and encumber mens Souls and enslave their Bodies are not needful our ever Blessed Creator having in his infinite mercy given us all needful things in abundance which are also neer us and easily attainable but those that are not needful nor of use to us are hard to come at and mens so eager pursuit after them do but shew and manifest his depravation and fall from his first innocent Estate for the more things man fancies himself to need the more is his Turba that is the more strongly he awakens the wrathful powers of his Soul or first principle and the less he needeth the more like he becomes to his Creator who giveth all things and receiveth nothing 'T is certain mans soul is a Mystery breathed out of the grand Mystery or Abyssal Fountain or Eye outof the All-seeing a Ray of the eternal Sun and therefore when it becomes purified through Cleanness Sobriety Temperance and the Fear of the Lord which includes them all that is when separated from the gross fumes and polutions of the Flesh then is it capable of ascending receiving and communicating with good Angels and Spirits and attaining unto wonderful things in a moment even as David was of a Shepherd made a Prophet and expert in divine things or as Soloman in the dream of one night was filled with the knowledg of all things in the Created World so Isaiah Ezekiel Daniel and other holy Prophets and Apostles were taught and the truth is the Soul when purified and united by Faith and Charity to its divine original can without long tedious studiing or seeking without the toil of Logical demonstration or perplexity of Syllogisms and Problems see into and apprehend as far as is convenient all divine and natural mysteries nor is there any thing that does more contribute to the good Complexion and Tranquility both of body and mind then these abstaining vertues which we have always celebrated but can never two much recommend But besides clean innocent Meats and Drinks such as may extenuate all superfluous matter and prevent Crudities there ought to be observed a due natural Fasting for that not a little conduces to the making of the intellect sound and vigorous and mostly preserves the Spirit from cloudy thickness and suffocation as all the holy Seers and sage Phylosophers of old have observed who keeping an abstemious and sober Table did protract there lives in all sobriety temperance whereby they prevented the Generation of all superfluous matters that might dull the phantasie for none can obtain the high illuminated state nor understand the divine and holy mysteries of God and live in his innocent Law but only such as do by abstinency prudently moderate every extravagant motion of the Mind and Body Hence some of the wise Antients would not admit any into their society but such as were abstinent from strong drink flesh and common Vices saying That none could know themselves or their Creator but such as do fervently and constantly endeavour to imitate him by a divine conversation and that the cleanness and purity of a mind devoted to God does make such a mans Soul a perpetual Temple for the divine Majesty It is also highly requisit for such as would be capable of this excellent Gift of true Dreams to withdraw from the multitude and from the variety of the gross outward Sences Affections Imaginations Opinions and Passions which are the torturing Distempers and Sicknesses of peoples minds for the simple Truth cannot be understood nor witnessed except a man first live in the opperation and practice of the divine power and innocent Spirit of Gods Love and Light principle these sublime Gifts and nocturnal Communications are to joyn unto Abstinency Sobriety and Solitude for by Lonesomeness Retirement and Silence the mind is made fine and as it were loosened from the cords perturbations of worldly affairs and is thereby the better prepared and the more at leisure to receive the spiritual Gifts and free Communications of the good Angels of God. So Moses the Law-Giver and grand Prophet abstracted himself after he was learned in all the knowledge or Phylosophy of the Egyptians from the voluptuous charms of Pharaâ—h's Court and hurry of the World and went into the vast Wilderness of Midian or Ethiopia when keeping of Sheep an emblem both of innocency and of his further conduct of the people of God he applyed himself to the sole contemplation of divine things which pleased the Lord so well that he suffered him to see him as it were Face to Face and endued him with a wonderful power of miracles as the Scriptures of Truth do testifie Many other wise men and Phylosophers have by Solitude and Abstinency obtained many wonderful gifts the true knowledge of divine and natural things We ought also avoid the haunt or scrutiny after all such kind of curious abstruse Arts or Knowledge as is apt any way to distract or deceive us or amuse us more then profit us as credulous Niceness in judicial Astrology Criticisms in Grammar Derivations and vain Genealogies Squaring the Circle contriving a perpetual motion and such kind of impertinent Curiosities or other Phylosophical 〈…〉 super-intellectual and 〈◊〉 Unity cannot be known or understood except a man doth absolutely withdraw himself from the multitude and the noise of the confused World where little but Violence and Wrath is practised Charity is absolutly necessary to a Christian Life for it
Visits and Communications which are alwayes ready to reveal the Secrets of Time and Eternity to such as believe and imitate them For no man can open the Gate of that holy and friendly principle in which they live but those only who have obtained the right Key through obedience to the heavenly voice of Wisdom in themselves for this is the strait Gate and the narrow Way that leadeth into the holy City all things are moved by Concord and Equality which all the Prophets and renowned Law-givers were truly sensible of from the beginning of the world being wonderful for their strict observance of Sobriety and Temperance as Moses Elias c. who were so given to fasting that their Faces are said to have shined that is the divine principle and voice of Wisdom was so resplendent in them that they had and held the measure and reins of Goverment over the Body as if they had been a Spirit indeed all holy men endued with divine understanding and such as obtained of the Lord the great Blessing of Intelligences and the free Communication of good Spirits and Angels have been remarkable for Sobriety Temperance and innocent Living for mens minds cannot be any otherways preserved free and potent The Prophet Daniel was highly sensible of this when he and his Companions were both courted and threatned with the displeasure of the King and his Servants touching eating of the unclean Superfluities both of Flesh and Fâ—sh that came from the Kings luxurious Table which he and his fellows refused to defile themselves with chusing rather to adhere to wisdom's voice than suffer themselves to be seduced out of natures pure simple and innocent way by either the Flatteries or Menaces of the Court and therefore according to the Law of their God and the Dictates of his Hand-maid Nature contented themselves with clean and harmless Foods and Drinks viz. Herbs Fâ—uits Seeds and Grains for those things had not only a real Affinity with the innocent Principle in man but also they could be procured without Violence Oppression or Dying Groans and likewise without any trouble or hazard to Body or Minde Properties which the Kings royal Delicacies could not boast of Were not the Rachabites ennobled by the Recommendation even of the Blessed Creator Himself to all Posterity for their Abstinence and Temperence The truth is none can preserve their Spirits Clean and Pure but such as Extenuate the Gross Superfluous Humours by Purity and a Spare Frugal Innocent Diet by which the Body becomes more easily Penetrable it being a Maxime that may pass amongst the things undoubtable that if the Body be not fitly preserved and ordered the Spirit whilst it is linkt there-unto and as it acts so it suffers by it too cannot conveniently Exert its Functions for Abstinence and Temperance do dignifie men and render them fit for the Exercise of all Vertue being the Root of Strength and Fortitude For this cause the Mother of Sampson was commanded in Vision on or Dream by the Angel of the Lord to abstain from Wine and Strong Drinks and so was Samson her Son who was endued with wonderfull Strength for wheresoever the Vertues of Temperance and Cleanness are Practised other Holy Vertues may be expected to follow because by its power no superfluous Matter is Generated that may dull or indispose the Phantasie or other intellectual Power of the mind and so the Soul being freed from burthensom Vapours becomes watchful and soberly active both in Words and Works for the Body and inferiour Earthy Spirits being kept under the Soul is thereby adopted to the Superior Powers and their sweet influences Did not our Forefathers live to great Ages in perfect Health and Strength of Body and Mind enjoying many heavenly Priviledges by Vertâ—e of their temperate and innocent Course of Life Now the Reason why Cleanness Temperance and Sobriety have been so much praised by all good men is because they proceed and are streams that â—low from the benigne and everâ— blessed Fountain of true Light and Love and all that espouse them in good earnest are powerfully drawn into the same Principle strengthening and defending the observers thereof against all Kinds of Superfluity and Madness of Riot Hence it was that the Wise Seers of old abstain'd from unclean Foods and the Flesh and Blood especially of such Animals whose predominant Quality and Ascendent chiefly stood in or proceeded from the wrathful and defiled Nature they being throughly sensible what a base depraved thing it was that the noble Faculties of the Soul and Humane Nature should mix joyn and incorporate with the Bruitish Nature and unclean wrathful properties of Beasts especially such as by Natural inclinations desire to eat the Flesh and Blood of others their Fellow Creatures it being concluded on all sides that such Carnivorous Blood-sucking Creatures are Radically unclean and not fit to be eaten which being a known Truth that scarce any will deny I do thence further demand by parity of Reason how then Mankind can be clean either in Soul Body or Spirit that now are so far generally degenerated as greedily to desire and devour the Flesh of all the Inhabitants of the four Worlds or Elements What great Matters or Heroick Acts or spiritual performances can be expected from such as defile themselves both in Quantity and Quality of Foods which renders them uncapable of seeing judging or understanding any thing as they ought to do Therefore whoever would know God and the wonderful Faculties of his own Soul must be conformable to the wholsome Rules of Sobriety Temperance and Cleanness in Meats Drinks and Communications For all the great Seers and holy Prophets every one according to his respective Gift and Manifestation was an immitator of God by living in the practice of those good Vertues which fitted and prepared them for every Good Work. Temperance being the Captain of the Guard and chief watchman that suffereth not the Soul to sleep or be overcome with the sensual pleasures of Gluttony and Uncleanness but frees it from burthensom dulness aâ—d indisposed Dispositions and makes it see things even as they are in their Naked essential Verities and attracting the Coelestial Quires for such Manifestations both sleeping and waking as their Companions that delight to communicate with the undefiled in Mind and Body But on the Contrary Uncleanness and Intemperance defiles both the Body and Soul depraves and stupifies all the intellectual Powers and renders them uncapable of having any Convers with good Spirits or Angels for Disorders do as Naturally drive away and dissipate them as vertue and sobriety do attract their happy Company But Superfluity and Debauchery have a powerful inclination and sympathetical force over evil Doemons and causes a near affinity between the soul and them whence do proceed such a multitude of vain Thoughts Dreams Words and Works And therefore the Scripture saith of the evil Angel That be goes about like a roaring Lyon seeking whom be may devour being a great Prince of
the wrathful evil part of the world but not in the humane friendly or good part for that is separated from his Principle beyond the Sphear of his Activity so that he hath there no power And although nothing can be more prompt and ready than these dark spiritual Beeings to assist and carry on all evil designs in the hearts of men that incline to do the works of their principle yet still they cannot annoy nor injure any but only such as draw near unto or a waken their fierce wrathful Fountain by means of Uncleanness Superfluity and Intemperance which are the grand Inletts of the Devil that give him power over the Soul and Spirit whence arise innumerable vain Thoughts Imaginations corrupt Words and Works and all kind of Violences and Oppression Nay further a secret Compact or Confederacy between the evil Genius and mans Soul in an insensible way so that many are Drown'd and as it were totally captivated into this dead Sea or Fountain of wrathâ—ul Darkness and they knew it notthemselves but others who have adhered unto the voice of Wisdom in themselves and live in the power and Vertue of Temperance do clearly perceive and know it for those that are afflicted and inslaved do make demonstrations of their wretched condition and what Angels or Spirits are their Guardians by their Vile and Blasphemous Words Wicked Works Cruel Violences and Oppressions to those of their own kind and also to all the inferiour Creatures which does sufficiently manifest whose Children they are and what Angel is their Captain and Conductor to wit he who in the Scripture is stiled Abbadon or Apolyon the Serpent the Enemy of all Goodness and Righteousness the False Accuser and the Destroyer And as their daily practises are so also suitable are their nightly Visions that is to say Vain Turbulent Lascivious Hideous or Frightful For the Thoughts Imaginations Ideas Figures Shapes Forms and the like that proceed or are generated from the dark Centre or wrathful Kingdom are Impertinent Lewd or Monstrous For this cause some Saturnine and Martial people are Afflicted with Hideous Frightful Malancholy Dolorous Dreams especially if they do not vigorously Endeavour through the Vertue and Power of Wisdom and Temperance to moderate the Inequality of those Astreal Forms which hath had the chief Government in the Complection The like is to be understood of the Shapes or Forms wherein deceased Souls appear or represent themselves for the same are either hideous and frightful or pleasant and humane according to what Property or Principle they are fallen into or captivated under Therefore those that have precipitated themselves into the divided Forms into Beastiallity and the savage Nature having cast off and abondon'd the humane Property and grown Hardhearted Cruel and Sordid without Mercy Compassion and Innocency such I say as live and dye in this Savage Brutish State do fall into the dark Fierce Hellish Principle which had already in their Life time captivated the Soul as may be understood by the unclean Words and Works that Proceeded from them Now according to what Property or Form has gotten the chief dominion in the Soul such a Shape and Form is the Soul and Spirit Cloathed with For in the Dark Wrathful or Hellish Fountain there is as great a Variety of Shapes Forms and Figures as there is in the Paradisical or Divine Principle of the Light-Kingdom of Love for every Soul shall be capable to reinvest and attract matter out of all things of the nature of the property that carries the upper dominion in the Spirits for such seed as men do sow such a Body Viz. of that Nature is generated and of a suitable Shape and Form for so the great and illuminated Apostle speaks of the Resurrection God giveth to every Seed it s own Body Wherefore if men sow hellish Seeds in their Lives no wonder if they be cloathed with sutable shapes in the next World But on the contrary those that in earthly Pilgrimage have freed their Souls and Spirits from Oppression Violence Uncleanness and Intemperance and seperated themselves from the giddy Croud and vain Wayes of the Multitude and introduced their Wills and Desires into the Friendly Principle of Gods Eternal Love and Light and have been guided by its Counsel their Souls shall after Death arise and be cloathed with a more Perfect Beautiful and Glorious Humane Shape and Form of whom our Lord Jesus Christ was the first For after He had Vanquisht Death by his Resurrection He Appear'd in the same Shape Form and Body as he had before in his Life Likewise the good Angels and all separated Souls of Saints have in all Ages appeared to the Prophets and holy men in humane Shapes and Forms exceeding beautious For it is not to be doubted but that in the beginning the blessed Creator made Man in this very Form and Shape as to his Body which he does retain though not now altogether so beautifull by reason of his Degeneration and sordid Intemperances which have in some degree defaced the lovely Majesty of his Body and Countenance for though Man through Transgression and giving way to vain Imaginations hath lost the Government of the divine Principle and so is faln from his first illustrious and innocent Estate yet nevertheless he has in some measure preserved still his outward original shape or form of Body for the Lord endued every Body with a Seed in it self to beget and produce its own Species in all particulars and if it had not been for this great and undefeazable Law of the Creator Man by his great Lusts Intemperances Violence Oppression Cruelty Vanities and other evil Courses would long since have destroyed and lost his beautifull humane shape and form as well as that Angelical form of his Soul But it was not in the power of his will to alter Shapes and change one Form into another so long as his Soul is cloathed with Humane Nature for the truth is he hath done what he could to be a Beast outwardly as well as inwardly nay he is become far worse than any of the savages of the Desert internally in the Spirit and therefore the illuminated Prophets called men by the names of the worser sort of Beasts in whom the fierce cruel wrathful nature is most predominant as Generation of Vipers Lions Foxes Wolves c. and also the evil separated Spirits or Souls of Men as well as faln Angels have always been resembled and likened unto savage Beasts and sented accordingly when ever they appeared in brutish or fierce hideous forms Therefore when departed Souls shall appear to their surviving Friends either cloathed with sideral thin Bodies or in Dreams in beastial shapes and hideous frightfull forms it is but a bad sign or token of their Condition and State in the other World and that they have not retained the humane property in the time of the Souls being in the Body for according to what property of the wrathfull Principle man has suffered
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 dâ—â—â—pate the Humor The Cure is to be effected by a regular diet and such as may generate good spirits and prevent the increase of Mâ—lancholy and Phlegm avoid full Suppers and excess in Liquors which oft occasion 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 seldom 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 Wâ—rld would immediately â—ail 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 〈…〉 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 Min 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 â—orm 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 mage 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 the Soul and Intellect and over-whelm their powers and operation so that they cannot see or perceive any Coelestial things with Clearness as Experience daiâ—y proves they do the same things when we are awake
But also they cause Indispositions breed bad Blood impure Spirits and beclouded senses as well internal as external and thereby enfeebles and destroys the brisk lively apprehensions and stupifies all the Faculties of Nature and particularly the properties of the Memory and retaining Power are so dulled and rendred fluid and oblivious so as not to concerve any Impressions made thereon as we see in drunken men the next day remember none of those loud Vociferations and mad pranks they plaid over-night And you may as well argue That such lewd people did not commit any such Extravagancies because very often they are not sensible of them after they came to be sober as to think you do not dream because sometimes you cannot remember it when you wake As the Disorders you commit are greater or lesser in respect of your particular Constitution so is your perception of your dreams more or less whence sometimes you can repeat a whole long story of the Râ—presentations in your sleep with the several senses words and discourses c. all clearly and distinctly other times you have a more imperfect and confused Apprehension of particulars and sometimes there does remain only a bare memory that a dream you had but the particulars are quite lost or forgot which was the case of King Nebuchâ—dâ—ezer Dan. 2. 5. It is also to be noâ—ed That the Spirit and Sâ—ul of a man by such Intemperances as aforesaâ—d is so debilitated and eclipsed that the creative and generating Power thereof does as it were loose its strength and vigour and thereby is made more gross and stupid so as that its sight is not clear to perceive so neither is its generative Faculty strong and powerful enough to make such deep Impressions on it self and on the Memorative properties of Nature as otherwise it would do for the perfect memory of and advantage to be made by Dreams does chiefly consist in the cleanness of the Microcosmical Temple and the brisk livelyness of the Spirits of Nature as well as an unpolluted Soul â—or no man can behold with a clear sight and remember such sublime matters as those of Dreams and Visions but such whose souls are strong and vigorous and do powerfully Tinge or impress the natural Spirits and also they must be such as do abandon Superfluities and Passions which Nebuchadnezer not doing he therefore after he had seen a Dream or Vision could not remember it but said the thing was gone and departed from him Therefore such as would remember and understand the Circumstances of their Dreams and make a due use of them let them depart and separate themselves from Intemperances and Uncleanness and as much as in them lies from all the Furies and Passions of Revenge Hate Sorrow Love c. which are apt to debauch and pollute the Intellect that it cannot foresee any Coelestial thing for none but such as have experienced it can know the wonderful power and vertue of Seperation and Self-denial from Evil not only in its gross Acts but also in its Protiatartick Causes or first springs and occasions and how by degrees it opens a door or gives advantage if I may so speak after the manner of men in so sublime a matter to the Spirit of God to open shew and manifest the hidden Mysteries of his Kingdom which does always reacâ— every one according to their respective capacities and as each man does continue in Separation from the Impurities of the Flesh the World and the Devil and is found proceeding in and pressing on by self-denial towards the price of our high-calling as it is in our ever-blessed Iesus This is most apparent in the first work or beginning of each Christtians Regeneration or new birth whereby he Infrancheses himself from the world and all its ways works words and desires and begins to aspire towards a City made without hands and to be Endenizond or made a proprietary in the new Ierusalem as every one upon a Conviction in his Conscience of Evil does actually close with that Conviction and Seperate himself from his former ways and practiles so his Eyes become open'd more and more to see the hideousâ—ess of that evil or as the Apostle spakes The sinfulness of Sin whereas before he was not able to apprehend it to be so gross an Evil. Hence it is that most men in the beginning of the work of Gods Spirit on their souls are much more humble more fearful and thoughful of commitâ—â—ng Evil and far more zealous than afterwards The Reason whereof is clear viz. so long as they remain'd truly sâ—nsible of their former Evil state and keep continually pressing on towards Virtue daily denying themselves of their former Superfluity and subduing their sensual Appetites and Affections keeping both Body and Spirit cool and clean by Abstinenâ—â— Temperance and Purity in Meats Drinks Exercises and Communications they thereby feel and find a daily Growth and Increase of Vertue and Manfestaâ—ions of Grace But if once such shall set up their rest in External Fâ—â—ms and Modes of Râ—â—gion and therein begin as it were to stand still and satisfie themselves with their former Attainments and Separations which mighâ— be excellent in their day and time and the only means the Lord then used to 〈◊〉 the soul to vertue I say when any shall fall into such a slothful state they will in a little time find that saying veâ—â—fied in their souls That not to go forwards is to go backwaâ—ds and lose all their inward spâ—â—itual strength which is divinely signified by our Lord in that parable of the Servanâ—â— and the inâ—rusted Talent he that care esly laid it up in a Napkin set up his Rest with such a portion oâ— Grace or Lâ—ght and indeavour'd not to augment it is condâ—â—â—â—d and ' as added that from suâ—â— an one shall be taken even thaâ— which he seem'd to have and so Christians came to wither and languish like a Tree that is sapped at the Root and then they sensibly decline and Apostatize or at best do only retain the Complemental outside of Religion and do indeed keep in memory their first good state which can no more nourish their Souls to a Spiritual Life and Growth then a mans bare thinking upon or boasting of a good wholesom meal he made a week or fortnight agon can support his outward Body in strength and vigour Whereby 't is evident there is no such thing in God nor his wonderful workmanship Nature as standing still or Cessation from working and therefore the illuminated Apostle admonishes the Ancient Christians and in them all others in succeding Times to press 〈◊〉 towards the mark of their high Calling and greater discoveries of the divine Vision And this was after they had seperated themselves from gross Evils and several Vanities of the world and observed many of the Commands of God and lived in the Forms and Rites or Ordinances prescribed unto them by the most holy Spirit of God yet all this was not Sufficient
further exciting of the hellish poysonous properties whence are generated Filthy Swearings Lying obscene words and Actions and all kind of abominable Discourses and Actions with a thousand horrid thoughts and vile immaginations frequent amongst the multitude so that if a mans inward Eyes of his Soul were but opened he might easily see Legions of those accursed Demons fluttering in and about such People egging them on to all evil Communication and practices it being a certain and undoubtable truth that all filthy vain thoughts words and works do arise and proceed from the Hellish center and do all carry the power of their own principle with them and so incorporate with their Similes whereever they are received and thence pass back again into their own dark original Source and totally captivate the soul therein where they are recorded and shall stand forever as Witnesses of Condemnation against them if men Live and Dye in that deplorable state and do not Repent and turn from them by Regeneration and Newness of Life Now from those infernal Legions which beset us on all sides both inwardly and outwardly no man is safe any longer then he fears the Lord and has his mind fixed on Sobriety and Temperance in Meats and Drinks Exercises and Communications for nothing as we have already said and cannot say too often does so much disarm weaken prevent and frustrate all evil suggestions and ingections of the evil Angels both within and without as those sublime vertues with convenient Fasting and continual servent Prayers For as our Lord and Saviour Christ saith some sorts of evil Spirits are not cast out or chased away but with Fasting and Prayer and therefore the Kingly Prophet saith wherewith shall a young man cleanse and defend himself from evil Angels and other Enormities but only by keeping thy Word and being obedient to thy Commandements alwayes having a regard to that most excellent saying of Christ First seek the Kingdom of God and the Righteousness thereof and all other good things shall be added or given unto you in due season For as every man does govern himself and into what property he suffers his soul to enter such an Angel or Spirit he allureth be it either good or evil there being Spirits of all Orders Complexions and Natures for which should we think the Intellectual world less peopled then the Material which always are ready and officious to exert their power as we read in the Scriptures of Truth The Lord said who will be a Lying Spirit in the mouths of Ababs prophets and presently steps forth one and said I will and far be it but we should believe that the benign Spirits are as ready to secure and defend mankind from evil when they incline to well-doing and Innocency as the malignant Ones are to precipitate them into Error Guilt and Misery If men did but believe those things and diligently observe and weigh them they would certainly be much more careful in moderating their thoughts and affections neither would many so much dote upon or be perpetually vexed with for or about the Spirits of golden mountains of Ethiopia the Dust of Guinea the Rubish of Peru which do give great advantage to and powerfully attract the evil Demons who by many of the Antients are thought to have some kind of rule over or affinity with those hidden Mines and Treasures in the bowels and dark Cavetns of the Earth which are the Idols whom most people now adore and over whom the evil spirit Mammon is said to be Lord president For whatsoever man does violently taste and set his mind and affections upon presently the evil Spirits that are of that quality do present themselves and are busie to allure the Soul and captivate it with more passionate desires after it For this cause it proves hard and very difficult for men too be temperate to moderate their affections in any thing wherein they have once run out into or contracted an habit of Excess so many Enemies there are to circomvent and inveigle them on every side whose power is great but 't is by reason of the greatness of mans sins which give them the Advantages whereby they lead multitudes into perdition On the other side the good Angels and Spirits are as easily attracted by vertue as the Evil are by vice that is so say they are delighted and conciliated by their own fair Resemblaâ—ces Purity Love Truth Temperance Order firm Belief cleanness in Meats Drinks Innocency and Silence these are powerful Loadstones or Magneticks that will attract good Spirits and Angels even from the furthest parts of the World. It is also further to be considered that true Dreams and Nocturnal Converse with good Angels and Spirits does afford great delight and true pleasure to the mind and soul the very thoughts of those secret visits chears and irradiates the intellectual Faculties even in the day and causeth a desire and longing for the night and the more fixed any man is and the more he lays them up in a Reserved and Religious Breast with serious Thoughts and Meditations on such sublime Mysteries the nearer he approaches unto their Beeings and powerfully invites those holy and material Essences and so by degrees even whilst he is in the Body becomes as it were incorporated with or endenizon'd amongst those Coelestial Quires of blessed Angels and Spirits of the Just made perfect and to have their Names Registred in the Book of Life as in the Revelations in promised For nothing comes so near those glorious Beeings or so effectually engages them as a constant thoughtfulness temperance and sobriety but more especially Innocency and the Child like nature which does in the highest degree imitate the nature Angelical whence our Saviour Christ Mat. 10. 10. admonishes his Disciples to take heed not to despise Innocency and the simple harmless nature which he calls one of thâ—se little Ones such as have through the vertue and power of the divine friendly innocent Principle disarmed the fierce wrathful properties and as it were cut off the members of evil that is their thoughts words and works and have as much as in them lies â—mitated and lived in the innocent nature of Christs Spirit and good â—ngels for of such he saith Their Angels do always behold the Face of my Father which is in Heaven But such as live in Uncleanness and Riot in Chambering and Wantonness in Oppression and Cruelty are subect to the Tyranny and Punishment of evil Angels as executioners of the divine Vengeance which hence are called destroying Angels Thus two Angels came to Soym and having secured Lot and his too Daughters consumed those wicked Cities whose Inhabitants burning with unnatural Lusts were justly destroyed with a shower of Fire and Brinstone the Lord by the Angels of his vengeance raigning down as it were Hell out of Heaven upon them such was his Abhorance of their Abominations When David had provoked the Lord by numbering the People and thereby shewing his Inclinations
to boast of the Arm of Flesh rather than trust in the Lord his God It is said 1 Chro. 21. 1â— God sent an Angel to Ierusalem to destroy it and herepented him of the evil and said to the Angel that destroyed It is enough stay now thy hand And the Angel of the Lord stood by the threshing Floor of Ornan the Ieâ—usite and David lift up his Eyes and saw the Angel of the Lord stand between the Earth and the Heaven having a drawn Sword in his Hand stretched out over Ierusalem then David and the Elders of Israel who were cloathed in Sackcloath fell upon their Faces When Senacherib King of Assyria prefuming upon the strength and number of his Army had proudly Blesphemed the God of Israel the Lord sent an Angel which cut off all the mighty men of valour and the Leaders and Captains in his Camp so that he returned with shame into his own Land 2 Chron. 32. 21. which is also Recorded more particularly Isaiah 37. 36. The Angel of the Lord went forth and smote in the Camp of the Assyrians an hundred and fourscore and five thousand and when they arose early in the morning behold they were all dead Corps In like manner when Herod had accepted the blasphemous Flatteries of the people Acts 12. 23. immediately the Angel of the Lord smote him because he gave not God the glory and he was eaten of Worms and gave up the Ghost So the Angel that slew the first-born of the Egyptiâ—ns is called the Destroyer Exod 12. 23. As also the Angel that smote the rebellious Israelites in the Wilderness Neither murmur ye as some of them murmured and were destroyed by the Destroyer 1 Cor. 10. 10. For when men by imitation do come near and sympathize with the principle of the evil Angels they become incorporated with or swallowed up by their wrathful dark Nature as the Kingly Prophet David saith Pfal 78. 49. The Lord casts upon them the fierceness of his Anger Indination and Wrath that is by the sending out or granting Commissions unto evil Angels to vex and plague them for man by his Out-rages Gluttony Drunkenness and Oppressions both to Man and Beast and killing of those of his own kind has opened the Gate of Gods fierce warthful anger which does powerfully attract the evil Angels and give them oppertunities to commit Evils without Remorse having a free access both by Dreams and Visions and other Spiritual Communications which do exert and inwardly stir up man ever even in the very center of his Life to Evils whence those numberless strong lewd Immaginations wicked Words ungodly Works do proceed so that a rational man would think that no thing or Creature that is cloathed with the humane nature could be so much depraved and precipitated into Error and all kind of Ungodliness Therefore well may the Angel of the Lord in the Revelations cry woe unto mankind or the Inhabitants of the Earth for the Devil is cast out of Heaven and is come down on the Earth in great Wrath and Indignation that is into the wrathful or evil part of the Adamical Earth and not into the good part for this world and all things therein do consist both of Good and Evil Light and Darkness Love and Hate but into the good the Devil that is evil Angels or Spirits cannot enter as being contrary to their Vbi or Beeing the Light being set in an eternal opposition to Darkness and Satan and all his associate Angels being fallen from the Light are entered into the dark original wrath whence the evil part of this world proceeds and therefore he and his Legions are only capable of the poysonous fâ—erce wrathful Vbi or Station and consequently where persons give themselves up unto Oppression Violence Envy Back-biting Gluttony Drunkenness Swearing Lying Lustful Frothy Romancing Discourses and vain foolish Jestings all which do arise and are generated from the fierce poysonous wrath both inward and outward wherein Belzebub has his Throne to and with the souls and spirits of such men the evil Angels have free access and a ready Intercourse because they are nearly allyed in their original principle Ahabs Prophets were before false and lying Prophets and had made a Trade of soothing up that wicked King in his Idolatry with counterfeit Visions and Flatteries and therefore it was that an evil Angel was so ready to offer himself to be a lying Spirit in their mouthes It was the Sin of David that drew down the before-mentioned destroying Angel with his Sword in his hand against Ierusalem and when David and his people repented of their misdeeds then presently the Lord commanded the Angel to put up the Sword of wrath for by such their Repentance the principle of Indignation was weakned and on the contrary the principle of Light and Love was thereby strengthened and corroborated which did discuse the wrathful particles or cause the destroying Angel to disappear attracted the presence and assistance of the good Angels who have their Vbi or are conversant in the good part of this world as the evil Angels are in the dark maligne part thereof and as men enter either into Good or Evil so do they contract a familiarity with the one or the other and acquire good or bad Guardians which do powerfuly stir them up either to vertue or vice Hence we read Gen. 48. 16. Iacob acknowledging Gods divine hand of providence saith to his Son Ioseph The Angel which hath delivered me from all evil bless the Children as also the same sacred Scripture Gen. 32. 24. declares that the Lord wrastled with Iacob all Night in a Vision or Dream by his good Angel and Iacob's Spirit or Soul was in good earnest and strove so with the divine power or good Angel that he would not let him depart untill he had blessed him which did manifest Iacob's firm Faith and inward acquaintance with and understanding of Gods goverment by Angels which of late Years has hardly any being in the Heads or the Hearts in the Understandings or Desires of men CHAP. X. Man cannot Communicate with Spirits in his outward Senses but in Dreams and Extasies Strange material Figures Calls Blows c. before Death Of middle Spirits Against telling of Dreams and how Dreams are always represented in Corporeal Forms and in what sence mens works are said to follow them after Death VVE have before demonstrated that during the sleep of the Body the Soul is as it were already Seperated and in Eternity so that both Joy and Sorrow is essential unto it and the Soul does really enjoy either pleasure or pain For this cause both good and evil Angels and Spirits can most easily and familiarly communicate with the Souls of men in sleep for then the Soul is near unto their Vbi or Beeing and there is a great affinity between them but when the Body is awake and all its â—ally-ports of the Senses wide open to let in outward material Objects
and evil clean and unclean Spirits viz. respectively in the two grand Fountains or Principles of good and evil as there are material Inhabitants in this internal or visible principle or Elementary Quaternion of Earth Air Water and Fire and of as various and different shapes formes and natures and complexions if we may in an Analogous way apply those words to Spiritual which commonly are only predicated of gross Palpable Creatures and thâ—ngs for all this wonderful variety of the Animal Vegetative and Mineral Kingdoms are but a Figure and Similitude of what is in the internal Spiritual World whence all those proceeded and the internal Spirit and Power is still the true cause of all motion growth and increase and Life in all Creatures and things contained in the said three Kingdoms and no internal Intelligence Power Spirit Angel or Genius whatever can affect us otherwise than as we draw near them in Spirit and so by degrees awaken their predominant property or principle by which they have power to influence us either in good or evil But for the most part it happens in the Evil because most men live under the dominion of the evil principle and properties of Nature For a man hath both inward oâ—tward helps in whatsoever he inclines to more especially if his propensions desires be fixed and strong his inward helps towards vertue are the good Angels and Spirits who readily meet embrace and rejoyce at the drawing near of men to their principle whence it is said that there is Joy in Heaven at the Conversion of a Sinner and to encourage them in well-doing they by almost imperceptible wayes afford them assistances and reveal many wonderful secrets to them both by day and nightly Visions and his outward Helps are innocent Living Temperance and Cleanness in Meats Drinks Exercises and Communications with good sober men and those latter helps being practised to conciliate and promote the former On the contrary men evilly enclined have also two Spurs to wickedness viz. inwardly by the suggestions of bad Doemons whose work it is to prompt men to viciousness and outwardly by Covetousness Pride Drunkneness Vain-Glory Uncleanness Intemperance evil Words Works and Communications with evil men Likewise as every man is endued Radically with the two grand Fountains or Principles of good and evil which every one in the World is more or less sensible of by their inward operations and that continual Strife and as it were open wars there is between them in the Centre of his Soul so every man thence comes to have two Genij or Spirits that alwayes wait upon and attend him viz. one good which answers to the good friendly principle of Light and Love The oâ—her evil refering to the fierce wrathful Principle which two do continually and fiercely contend for Victory and oft-times cause great trouble perplexity in the Soul but when 〈◊〉 good overcomes then there is Joy Concord and Pleasure or an intire Satisfaction of Mind It is further to be noted that there are great numbers of Elemental Spirits which are of a middle nature some of which do dart and gleam into some persons whose understandings are not exalted above their Principles or Elements These only busie themselves in foolish unluckey ridiculous prankes and doing of pretty mischiefs whereby they often promote idle jesting vain laughter wanton love stories and the like but they generally attend those people that have poor low beggerly genius whose understandings are very little elevated above Bruits for this Infantry of Spirits or lower graduated Spectrums have no communication either with men of vertue or prudence nor yet with those that are Exalted in the highest degrees of evil for these Lemures or Terrestrial or Watery Spirits are as they chiefly inhabit woods Mountains or unfrequented Valleys Rivers and Lakes so they come nearer to the nature of some sorts of Beasts then of man unless of such men only who have base low beastial complexions for with such they have a simile of this sort The Prophet Isaiah seems to speak Chap. 13. 21. where he mentions Ziim and Ob and 〈◊〉 and the Satyrs which should dance in the ruins of Babilon they are unclean sorts of inferiour Spirits and their conversation does ill become the Noble Race of Mankind But for the good Superiour Angels their converse is very advantageous and therefore ought by all lawful means to be courted and conciliated and the discoveries made by them to be highly regarded and concealed for its a great and mischievous error for People to tell abroad their Dream and the secret communication of their Souls with Angels and good Genij and so highly to prostitute them to every lewd and vain Companion as though they were of no worth or value this is very common amongst most people but it is a greater evil then most do imagine for some who have had good Angels granted to them for day and night Companions that taught and revealed unto them many excellent things both present and to coâ—â— have by their divulging and foolish talking of them lost such their Guardians and all the conversation of their good genij which too laâ—e they have been sensible of but found them as hard to be regained as Esan's Birth-right was when by evil courses and sin he had fooled it away and then sought it in vain with tears for there is nothing more offends the good Angels then mens light behaviour and vain talking of them as on the other side nothing doth more please and allure them then for men to look up their secrets in religious and thoughtful Brests and to abscond them from the vulger and profain as we read in Ezra Thou shalt deliver these books that contain the secret Law of the Hebrews unto the wise men of thy people whose hearts thou knowest can comprehend them and keep these secrets Therefore it was usual amongst the Philosophical Ancients to hide their great secrets and vail holy mysteries in abscure Characters and Hieroglyphicks because they should not be known to and profaned by the wicked So we read of Theodorus the Tragick Poet when he would have referred something of the mysteries of Jewish Scriptures to a certain fable he was depraved of his sight T is also reported of Theopompus when he began to translate something of the divine Law into the Greek tongue he was smitten with a kind of Phrensie or extraordinary trouble of mind and desired of God to make him sensible wherefore that calamity was fallen upon him received answer in a Dream that it was because he had basely polluted Divine 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
health even beyond the sturdiest constitution the reason whereof is because when people by any of the fore-mentioned Accidents and Passions fall into Distraction the whole Systime of Nature being put into a tumultuous unequal Motion the same does in a moment of time rouse up or awaken the deep or great Original Fierce Poysonous Fire or the four first Forms of Nature Now when these turbulent Fires of Saturn and Mars have obtained the dominion and sole Government in the Soul they with a rapid motion destroy the Government of the Divine Light and also of the humane Nature which are and ought to be the Moderator and Allayers of the aforesaid original poysonous Fire and the true Distinguishers between what is good and the contrary and thus the Spiâ—it being alwayes as upon a ferment and uncontrolable motion it warms strengthens and oftentimes does as it were put a new life into the very Element of the Body whence a strong vigerous strength and agility of body and a Defence of Cold Hunger and the like inconveniences does proceed This is further demonstrated by all sorts of people in Passion of either Love or Hate or when surprised or in Sudden Frights are they not Generally under such Circumstances of far greater Spirit stronger and more active Bodies and rendered more able to Lift Run Carry Fight or any other thing Good or Evil then at other times and have aboundantly more courage and they can attempt and perform many wonderful things without the least suspition of Danger which at other times they tremble to think of and would not for the greatest rewards be preswaded to undertake Nay when the Soul-Fires are kindled in the poysonous Root a man can whithout Dread and Fear lay violent hands on himself so wonderfully great is its power for this is a madness of the highest degree since no man as the Apostle said hates his own Flesh but loveth and cherishes it which ought well to be considered by all Jurors concerned in such cases So likewise when men are overcome with Drink the spirituous Properties of the strong Liquor received in too great a quantity do by Simily incorporate with the Spirits of Nature in the Elements of the Body so that it inkindles the Original fierce Fires and puts the whole Frame of Nature into a tumultuous state of Inequality and during its operation Reason it captivated and men in this condition may truly be said to be in the worst kind of Madness as clearly is manifested by their idle leud Discourses and mischievious Actions Likewise Malancholy people when grievously oppressed with its taciturne Properties are in a degree deprived of their natural Sences and Reason and the Soul becomes as it were Spiritual so that it Imagines Sees Hears and Apprehends wonderful things which though to others appear as meer fansies yet to them are real and essential § 12. As for the Original Seed or Spring of Phrensies or Madness in the Body it must be noted besides what hath been already said that there is in the Pipe of the Artery of the Stomach a vital Faculty of the Soul for the in-beaming of Rayes of Light into the Heart so long as it is in a good state but when through Passions and Disorders it behaveth it self rashly or amiss then presently Heart-burning Fainting Giddiness of the Head Appoplexes Epilexsies Drousie-Evils Watchings Madnesses Head-akes Convultions c. by the means we have herein before described are sturred up And since the stomach is the Seat of the Concupiscible Faculty and from whose fumes both sleep and watchings are occationed and since that Alienation of mind chiefly prâ—ceeds from irreguler desire it may rationally be concluded that the Prime local Spring or Seed of Madness is in or near the stomach or its neighbouring parts the Midriff and the Spleen though afterwards it displays its male-influences upon the Brain for a man forms his Images in the Midriff as well those of the Concupiscible or Desiring as those of the Irascible or Wrathful Faculty so that Madness is therefore not undeservedly called Hipocondriacal for the prime Efficacy of disturbances consisteth in the Spleen and therefore perhaps Antiquity hath counted Saturn the principle of the Starry power and highest of the wandering Stars to wit that which should cast his influence downwards on the rest but that the rest should in no wise reflect upwards because they are believed to conspire for the Commodities of sublunary things but not on the contrary upwards and therefore though they called the same Saturn the Original of Life and beginning of Conceptions or Generations yet they also named him The Devourer of his own young Children as thereby intimating that as the Images or Ideas framed by the desirable Faculty do make Seed fruitfull so also the Inns of Digestion in us when they are exorbitant consume the new and tender Blood and bring many Diseases upon us § 13. But besides the before-mentioned most usual Causes of Maedness from the Passions we deny not but sometimes other things received in from without may occasion alienation of Mind Thus the Biting of a Mad-Dog conveys a Venom impregnated with its own raging Idea which is soon communicated to the Spirit of man and produces in him that wilde foolish conceit called by Physitians Hydrophobia or a fear of Water in which the Person affected by an error of his imaginations seems to see the Image of a Dog and in time if no Remedy be found grows raving Mad and dies so also those that are Bit with the Tarantule a venomous Beast or Infect seen sometimes in Italy and other forraign Partsâ— are particularly disposed to a certain kind of skipping or Dancing Phrensie which at last proves Mortal So some by ignorance of Apothecaries who have taken Henbane-Seed insteed of Dill have immediately become Mad Stupid and Foolish so that they could not utter an intelligible word for all which there are distinct Reasons in Nature but too tedious here to be related and somewhat unnecessary because these Cases very rarely occur amongst us § 14. As to the Cure of Madness in general the Schools commonly prescribe Blood-letting and Sleep procuring Medicines but with how much success daily experience witnesseth they mistake the Câ—use and therefore blindly combat with the Effect and for the latter let such as intend to cure Distractions by sleepyfying things take notice that stupifactive Medicines do scarce procure sleep unto mad persons by a four-fold Dose and when all is done they increase the Madness for Madness is nothing but an Erring Sleepifying Power because every Madman dreameth waking and therefore Stupefactive Dreams are thereby added unto doting Dreams in waking and so the mind more disturbed then before Therefore undoubtedly the sealing Character in a Madman presupposes a restoring of the hurt reason and a correction of the Poyson by its Antidote but not another stupefactive Poyson to be added unto it And as Supifying Medicines are of little value but rather prejudicial so much