Of Occult Philosophy, part 2 of 4

CHAP. IV. Of Spiritual visions, appearing in dreames.

THere is a twofold kinde of visions that do appeare in dreames, that is to say, natural and supernatural; but various kindes of apparitions and visions there are, which do appeare in sleepe and dreames, of which in this place it is unnecessary to make any mention, because they do most usually happen, either by reason of sorrowfulness, or some trouble and perturbation of the minde, uncleanness of the blood, Cogitations that is, operations of the minde and understanding, and occupations thereof about multiplicity of business and dealings that men are imployed and conversant in; as gamesters, of the dice and chards, of great gain or loss; Souldiers do dreame of warlike affaires, as of their gunnes, pieces of Ordnance, Powder, Armes, and all manner of weapons and instruments of war; of victory or overthrowes: the Sons of Bacchus, and great drinkers, of good wine and great cups, which they seeme to swallow; and of such other things filling the belly: Pyrates dream of their spoyles and preyes, and what gain they have met with: Robbers, of Manslaughters; theeves, of theft; and fornicators, of their whores. All these phantasies and visions the Spirit of the night produceth and bringeth unto them, whereby he playeth with them in the night, and deludeth and tempteth them: Such things are kindled in the blood, (alias) the understanding, and begetteth such a fire, which cannot easily be extinguished, which for the most part may be seen in the venereous family.

Many wonderful Arts and Sciences also have seemed to be made appeare to Artists in their dreams; the reason whereof hath been, because they have always had an ardent affection to those Arts: so powerful an imagination thereof, hath for the most part followed the same, that they have supposed in their dreames, that some Philosopher hath taught them these Arts: this oftentimes happeneth, but the greatest part perisheth in oblivion: some rising early in the morning, say, This night a wonderful dreame appeared to me, even as that Mercury, or this or that Philosopher corporally appeared unto me in a dreame, who taught me this or that Art; but it is fallen out of my memory, so that I cannot remember any more thereof. To whom any such thing hath happened, he ought not to go forth out of his chamber, nor speak with any man, but to remain alone and fast, untill he call to remembrance that which he had forgotten. And thus much is sufficient to be spoken concerning natural dreams, and visions appearing in the night in dreames of what belongeth thereunto: But for the conclusion of such kinde of visions, one thing is yet to be declared; that amongst all those dreams that do rejoyce our Spirit, grieve us, or cause sorrow, commonly that which is the contrary cometh to pass: wherefore such like kinde of visions are not alwayes to be credited.

But the other dreames which are supernatural, are most certain Ambassadors, and true Legats & messengers sent unto us from God, which are nothing else but Angels and Good Spirits, who sometimes do appeare to us in our greatest necessities: Even as it happened to the three wise men when they had come a great Journey o seeke the young infant; after they had found him, they would have returned to Herod, to tell him where the child was, and how they found him: but the Angel of the Lord appeared unto them in a dreame, saying, Do not return to him, but return into your own Country another way. For God knew the false heart of Herod, from which he spoke, wherefore he would not suffer his will to be performed. The like dreame happened to Joseph and Jacob, when he would go into Aegypt: the same in like manner happened to Ananias, Cornelius, and many others; all whose dreams are supernatural: such dreams do somtimes also happen to men in our times, but they are nothing esteemed, yet nevertheless they are not fallacious. We are likewise to know that these kinde of visions may be obtained by us by prayer from our Lord God, in our greatest necessities, so that our prayers be made with a sincere heart, and with a true and undoubted faith, then he will at length send his Angel unto us, who will appeare unto us, and spiritually admonish, teach, and promise us.

Balaam was most expert in these kinde of visions: for every night, as often as he would, he could obtain a vision of this kinde: yet the Scripture hath given him an obscure name, to wit, an Inchanter: it is not expedient to make any difference, for the Scripture observeth no difference herein, but calleth all them Inchanters who have experience and knowledge in the vertues of natural things; nevertheless, great discretion is to be used in these things; God would have us to walke in simplicity, as the Apostles did, and not to search too deeply into such high, abstruse, and secret things above nature; that we fall not into the abuse thereof, and therewith hurt our neighbour: and so come into condemnation both of body and soule. They are not therefore all Inchanters which the Scripture calleth so: for then it would follow that those three wise men of the East, should be Arch-Inchanters; when as in all Arts, especially in such as were supernatural, they excelled all others before their time: therefore that the Scriptures do not call them Inchanters, but wise men; what else can be gathered from them, but that they did in no wise abuse their Arts and occult wisdome? For Magicke is such an Art and science which demonstrateth and declareth the power and virture thereof by faith: nevertheless Inchantments may spring from thence, to wit, when it is used abusively; and before, it cannot be called an Inchantment.

But that I may speake more largely of visions in dreams; it is to be known, that some have been so spiritually lifted up to God in a dream, that they have seen his glory and the joy of the elect, and the punishment of the damned; which they could never afterwards forget, but have carryed the same in their hearts and mindes until the end of their life; It is possible, I say, for us to see all these things in a spiritual manner: when we seeke for and implore the mercy of God, with a true faith and prayer, we may behold all the Mysteryes of God very well, as Esaias & John: These kinde of visions are certain and true; to which more faith is to be given, then to all the precepts in Nigromancy by looking-Glasses, Christals, Beryls, nailes of the fingers, stones, waters, and the like; for all these are false and fallacious: and although such Spirits do sometime speake in such appearances, and answer, and do assert the same with an hundred Oaths, with erection of the fingers; yet we are not alway to give faith or credit unto them, unless perchance it be done out of the special command of God: otherwise they cannot possibly speake truth of all visions, which we have spoken of; those Prophesies do come from a true original, which do agree with all the Prophets. From whence had the Prophets their wisdome and knowledge, and from whence were those Mysteries of God revealed unto them, by which they had those Spiritual and supernatural visions in dreams? It is necessary therefore, in the first place, to the finde out the true foundation thereof, and to lay the same upon the right stone, which is the word of God and his promises; and to pray daily unto God; whereby it shall come to pass that he will give us all things which he hath promised in his word.

There is also another vision belonging to dreams, which we may take from them that are dead; and do appear spiritually unto us in dre[…]ms, although they have been dead fifty or […] hundred years: this is very much to be taken […]to consideration, for many have undertaken […] treat thereof, which for their too much pro[…]ity, (which we endeavour to avoid) we will pass them by, reserving them to their place: Nevertheless this I will declare, (viz.) Where it happeneth that one of these Ghosts do appeare, it is most necessary diligently to note and marke what he sheweth unto us, what he speaketh with us about, or doth spiritually Negotiate; and not always to account thereof as fables: For if it were possible for a man to retaine the same reason sleeping, which he hath waking, that he could aske and enquire of such a Spirit, he should know the truth from him, about all his desires whatsoever: But it's not needful to speake any more largely in this place concerning this thing.

Of Persons and Spirits wandring under the Earth.

UNder the Earth do wander half-men, which possess all temporal things, which they want or are delighted with; they are Vulgarly called Gnomi, or Inhabiters of the Mountains: but by their proper name, they are called Sylphes or Pigmies: They are not Spirits, as others are, but are compared unto them, for the Similitude of their Arts and Industry, which are common to them with the Spirits: they have flesh and blood as men, which no real Spirit hath: as Christ spoke unto his Disciples, when he came amongst them, when the doores were shut, and they were affraid, saying, Feele me, and touch me, for a Spirit hath not flesh and blood nor bones, as I have: By this he himself hath taught us, that a Spirit hath no true body that can be touched; nor bones, nor flesh, nor blood, but existeth in its own essence of winde or Aire. But of this we have briefly spoken enough; But to return to the earthly Pigmies or halfe-men, we are to know that these are not to be reputed Spirits, but like to Spirits; but if they are or shall be called Spirits, they ought to be called earthly Spirits, because they have their Chaos and habitation under the earth, and not in the winde and Aire, as the other Spirits have.

Many terrene earthly Spirits are found, seen, and heard to be in such places, wherein great treasures, and mighty store of wealth and Riches are hid; and also under those Mountains, where there is plenty of Gold and Silver; with which things they are delighted, and do take the care and custody thereof, and not willingly do they part from it.

Such as digge Metals have the best knowledge of these Spirits, for they are most troubled with them, and do vexe them, and much persecute them with blowes and stripes: somtimes also they do afford benefits unto them, admonishing them, and warning them of death: as when they are heard once, twice, thrice or oftener to Knock and strike in the same place, it signifies the death of him that diggeth or laboureth in that place; either he is buryed up by the fall of the Mountain, or dyeth by some such occasion: this is certainly experienced by them that do digge in Mines.

These Spirits are worst against those who do not appear to be Devils, and chiefly against those which they hate: but between these Spirits and the Devil, there is a great difference; because he dyeth not, but these perish after they have lived a long life, otherwise they might be called Spirits for this reason: but that which hath flesh and blood, is obnoxious to death, and ought once to die. There is another thing which we shall more largely declare from the common proverb, whereby it is reported that the Devil aboundeth in Riches, and possesseth much wealth, money, gold, and silver; and to have all treasures hidden in the earth under his power, and to give out of them what he will, to them that make any Covenant with him. And from hence that common saying tooke its beginning, that the Devil for this very cause giveth not onely Riches plentifully, and every thing that he desireth, gold or silver to any one that prescribeth himself unto him, & giveth up himself solely to be his, so as to renounce and forget his Creator. But I say that all these things are lyes and fained fables, without any foundation or ground; which ought to be rejected of every discreet and wise man: For the devil is the poorest of all creatures, so that there is no creature so miserable & poore, above or under the earth, or in all the other Elements. Neither hath he any money, nor Riches, nor any power over them; how then can he give to this or that person, that which he possesseth not? But he is infinitely skilful and cunning in Arts; and hath power to give and to teach them to those he favoreth, and that he can wrest away and delude with his deceit: he hath no money, neither gold nor silver can he give to any one; neither doth he ever take or require any bonds or obligations from men sealed with their blood, or any other compact or Covenant. But there are other Spirits which do such things, such as are the Sylphes, or Pygmies, which although they are persons that are little by nature, yet they can appear to men as they will, great, or little; faire, deformed; rich or poore: they are not defective nor wanting of knowledge in all kinde of Arts that are or can be found out in all the light of nature; but they have them, and contain the knowledge of them all within themselves: they have enough of gold and silver, and the mines of all Metals under their power and custody. In old times many of them have been found and heard amongst men, but now they cease; but no man hitherto hath known, or could give a reason of their severing and separation, seeing they have alwayes been esteemed to be Immortal creatures; because no man could certainly be able to know or finde out their death, or could consider any cause of their absence: neither could any man for a long time be able to know what they now are, or whence they proceeded, or whither they wander, or what gift or office they have. Many do suppose that where they bring any benefits or good to men, that they are Angels, or good and familiar Spirits, sent to those men from God, and are afterwards by him taken from them, by reason of the greatness of their sins: for oftentimes they bring to men very many good offices and benefits, and do undertake and sustaine many hard labours for them.

Others believe that they will not be seen by us, because that when a man seeth them, he cryeth out; so that they vanish away, and will not appear any more.

Many that do see or hear these Spirits, suppose that they are the Spirits and soules of men that have come to an evil death, so that they have either desperately drowned or hanged themselves, or killed themselves some other wayes; and departing from God their Saviour, have given themselves to the devil: and for that cause, do wander about, and are reserved by the devil unto the day of the last Judgement.

There have been some who have supposed that they are vaine Phantasies, and that they have fore-shown and presaged much good fortune to those places wherein they have been seen or heard; which many times also hath so happened and come to pass: but for the most part, faith effecteth it; for of their own nature, they do not bring any fortune, unless God compelleth them or our faith. And on the contrary, they are not able to cause any misfortune, unless it be by the permission of God.

And many do thinke that they are the Inchantments of the Magicians.

There are others who having seen and heard them about treasures, have judged that they are the Spirits of men, who have hid treasures in that place, and ought to remain there until the the Last Judgement, or untill their custody thereof is found out; and this opinion they receive from the words of Christ, where he saith, Where your treasure is, there will your hearts be also. But I do not see any reason why they should understand the heart for the Spirit, but that there is much difference between them; wherefore I say that all the Judgements which are spoken of before, are but false opinions, when as these are to be understood to be halfe-men, that bear rule and wander in the four Elements; and in the first and pristine times of nature, they have been taken and worshipped in stead of God: These are they of whom God Almighty admonisheth us in that Commandment of the first Table, saying, that we shall not have any other Gods but him, neither in the waters (where the Nymphs are understood) nor under the Earth, (by which he meaneth Sylphes or Pygmies) For the Lord our God is a jealous God, and for such an offence punisheth the sins of the Fathers upon the Children unto the third and fourth generation.

The Mountain of Venus in Italy, was much possessed with these Spirits for Venus her self was a Nymph, and that Mountain was by a comparison as her Kingdome and Paradice: But she is dead, whereby her Kingdome ceaseth to be: but where or in what place is there any mention heard to be made of them, as in former time, when Danhanserus, and many others entred in unto them? Neither did they Invent these fables: they were of such a nature and condition, that they loved all men that loved them; and hated them that hated them: wherefore they gave Arts and Riches in abundance, to them who prescribed and bound themselves to them; and they know both our minds and thoughts, whereby it comes to pass, that they are easily moved by us to come to us. I do not say this, that I would give this Counsel to any one, but that the true ground and foundation thereof might be known, and the true difference which is between the devil and these Semi-homines. The devil hath not any body, unless he take any thing to himself from the four Elements; for he hath neither flesh nor blood: he remaineth perpetual, not subject to any infirmities or a finite death; wherefore he dieth nor, but the Pygmies do: nevertheless they are both subject to a natural and everlasting death, and are both deprived of everlasting life: wherefore whosoever giveth or subscribeth himself unto them, the same event happeneth unto him as to them: Let every one therefore have a special care unto himself, and consider well what he doth, before he subscribeth himself; for he suddenly doth that whereby he shall alwayes be compelled to be obedient unto them, and to fulfill all their commands; And if he shall chance to be disobedient unto them, or anger them, they very much impaire, or totally destroy and take away his life: there have been found many examples of this kinde, to wit, sometimes men have been found dead, their neckes turned about, or otherwise miserably handled: where any such thing hath happened, it hath hitherto commonly been said, that the Devil hath done this for this cause, either that the man hath not kept his promise and compact with him, or that the time which he covenanted and subscribed himself unto him for, is expired; and that now he receiveth his last reward. But these opinions do not proceed from the fountaine of truth: for the office of the Devil containeth no such thing in his power, but rather he suggesteth unto men, evil thoughts and Cogitations, whereby he draweth them away from obeying the will and commandments of God; by which means he maketh them to be the greatest sinners, and to forget and deny God their Creator: and afterwards draweth them into despaire, so that they cannot any more be able to pray unto God: wherefore the Elementary Spirits are most like unto the devil, and oftentimes they are executioners of the wrath and vengeance of God; nevertheless they do oftentimes also admonish and warne us, and do watch over us and defend us from many dangers, and sometimes do deliver some from prison, and afford to men many other helps.

Wherefore such men as are burdened and overwhelmed with grief and sorrowful Imaginations, are not to be left alone, but ought to be entertained with various and pleasant discourse, which may delight their mindes, and expel their sorrow: The Devils likewise are in these cases not idle; but as busie as those terrene Spirits, & do easily tempt such kinde of men. From hence it comes to pass, that some people, especially women in child-bed, have been so oppressed in the night in their sleepe, that they have thought themselves to be as it were strangled, neither could they possibly cry out, or call any helpe, but in the Morning have reported that they were Ridden by a hag: And they are still accounted to be witches, or Inchanters that do this; whereas their bodies cannot possibly enter into the chambers, where the doores and Windowes are shut; but the Sylphes and Nymphes easily can.

O thou of little faith! as doubtful as Peter, who sufferest thy self to be tossed with every winde, and art easily drowned: thou thy self art the cause hereof, by reason of thy little, dubious, and weake faith; also thy evil thoughts do draw thee unto this: Thou hast also in thy self a secret Magnes that attracteth every like. This is the Celestial Load-stone above all others, which attracteth Iron and steel, above the Quintessence and starry Magnes, which maketh the dejected and hidden Iron to appear: for the Celestial Magnes is of such power and virtue, that from the distance of a hundred thousand miles, even from any place whatsoever, from the four Elements, he attracteth the Iron to himself, when he passeth into his own exaltation. But this we shall make more largely to appear, in two excellent examples following.