Gleanings of antiquities / By John Beaumont, Gent.

  • Beaumont, John, -1731.
Date:
1724
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Gleanings of antiquities / By John Beaumont, Gent. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    179/226 (page 165)
    leftial Signs proceed, he cannot fay, but by referring them to Spirits: for after he had profefs’d himfelt ignorant of the Caufe, he fubjoins what follows; Unr lefs haply we think fit to fay with fome Philofophers, that the Air is full of Spirits and Intelligences; who^ forefceing future things, and condoling human Cala¬ mities, forewarn Men of them, by thefe Signs, that they may be able feafonably to prepare and fortify themfelves again# them. Which things fufficiently teach, that fince he would not have recourfe to the fupream Caufe, he found none more proper, or meets than Aerial Spirits. I fhall add one Paffage here from the fame Author, relating to the fame Subject* It is in his Epiflle to Johan, Beverovicius, concerning the Pythoniffa of Saul% where he writes thus: As for thofe who are of a contrary Opinion, they cannot perfuade themfelves that Spirits have any Commerce with Men; and I have often talked with fuch Perfons, and have found them to have read the Scriptures very negligently, or however they might diffemble, that they little fet by the Authority of the Scripture. So far Voffius. And this is confirmed by Mr. Bayle, who, in his DiBionary, tinder the word Rugger iy fays, there are Chriftians Orthodox in all things elfe, but cannot perfuade themfelves that evil Angels are concerned in any thing, and reject, without exception, all that is faid of Magick and Witchcraft 1 if they contented them¬ felves to fay, there is nothing but the Scripture can prove the Exigence and Operation of evil Spirits, we fhould not wonder at their Opinion ; for it3s certain, that Reafon furnifhes flrong Difficulties again# the Empire of the Devil, founded on the Notion we have of God's Wifdom and Goodnefs: but it's a very rafh Undertaking, not to fay fomewhat worfe, to go about to reconcile a Rejection of all the Power of the Devil with the Scripture. Thus