Demonologia; or, natural knowledge revealed; being an exposé of ancient and modern superstitions. Credulity, fanaticism, enthusiasm, & imposture, as connected with the doctrine, caballa, and jargon, of amulets, apparitions, astrology, charms, demonology ... witchcraft, &c / By J.S. F[orsyth].

  • Forsyth, J. S.
Date:
1831
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Demonologia; or, natural knowledge revealed; being an exposé of ancient and modern superstitions. Credulity, fanaticism, enthusiasm, & imposture, as connected with the doctrine, caballa, and jargon, of amulets, apparitions, astrology, charms, demonology ... witchcraft, &c / By J.S. F[orsyth]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    456/466 (page 434)
    with the prayers of their votaries, they flogged their relics with rods, in a spirit of impatience, which they conceived necessary to enforce obe- dience. . To raise our admiration, Theofroy, abbot of Epternac, relates the daily miracles performed by the relics of saints—their ashes, their clothes, or other mortal spoils, and even by the instruments of their martyrdom. He inveighs against that luxury of ornaments which was indulged in under a religious pretext. ‘ It is not to be supposed that the saints are desirous of such a profusion of gold and silver. ‘They wish not that we should raise to them magnificent churches, to exhibit that ingenious order of pillars, which shine with gold ; nor those rich ceilings, nor those altars sparkling with jewels. ‘They desire not the purple parchment for their writings, the liquid gold to decorate the letters, nor the precious stones to embellish their covers, while you have such little care for the ministers.” The pious writer has not forgotten himself, in his partnership-account with the saints. Bayle observes, the Roman church not being able to deny that there have been false relics which have wrought miracles, they reply that the good intentions of those believers who have recourse to them, obtained from God the reward for their good faith! In the same spirit, when it was shown that three bodies of the same saint are said to exist in several places, and that therefore they could not all be authentic, it was answered, that they were all genuine! for God had multiplied and miracu-