A treatise of dreams & visions wherein the causes, natures, and uses, of nocturnal representations, and the communications both of good and evil angels, as also departed souls, to mankind. Are theosophically unfolded; that is according to the Word of God, and the harmony of created beings. To which is added, a discourse of the causes, natures, and cure of phrensie, madness or distraction. By Tho. Tryon, student in physick. Tryon, Thomas, 1634-1703. 1689 Approx. 282 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 160 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. Text Creation Partnership, Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) : 2003-07 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1). A63812 Wing T3197A ESTC R221812 99833069 99833069 37544 This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal . The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A63812) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 37544) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1641-1700 ; 2158:25) A treatise of dreams & visions wherein the causes, natures, and uses, of nocturnal representations, and the communications both of good and evil angels, as also departed souls, to mankind. Are theosophically unfolded; that is according to the Word of God, and the harmony of created beings. To which is added, a discourse of the causes, natures, and cure of phrensie, madness or distraction. By Tho. Tryon, student in physick. Tryon, Thomas, 1634-1703. [14], 299, [5] p. s.n., [London : 1689] Imprint from Wing. With six preliminary contents leaves and two final advertisement leaves.. Some pages stained. Reproduction of the original in the Henry E. 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Understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of TCP data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. Users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a TCP editor. The texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the TEI in Libraries guidelines. Copies of the texts have been issued variously as SGML (TCP schema; ASCII text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable XML (TCP schema; characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless XML (TEI P5, characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or TEI g elements). Keying and markup guidelines are available at the Text Creation Partnership web site . eng Dreams -- Early works to 1800. Dreams -- Religious aspects -- Christianity -- Early works to 1800. Visions -- Early works to 1800. Mental illness -- Early works to 1800. 2003-02 TCP Assigned for keying and markup 2003-03 Aptara Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2003-04 Emma (Leeson) Huber Sampled and proofread 2003-04 Emma (Leeson) Huber Text and markup reviewed and edited 2003-06 pfs Batch review (QC) and XML conversion A TREATISE OF Dreams & Visions , WHEREIN The Causes , Natures , and Vses , of Nocturnal Representations , and the Communications both of Good and Evil Angels , as also departed Souls , to Mankind . Are Theosophically Vnfolded ; that is , according to the Word of God , and the Harmony of Created Beings . Night unto Night sheweth Wisdom , Psal. 19. 2. To which is added , A Discourse of the Causes , Natures and Cure of Phrensie , Madness or Distraction . By Tho. Tryon , Student in Physick . THE CONTENTS , OR CHIEF HEADS of the Two Ensuing Treatises . Of Dreams . Chapter 1. IS by Way of Introduction , shewing the Difficulty of this Werk ; it s Usefulness both in Physick , morral Phylosophy and Divinity . Objections against the Observations of Dreams , Distinguish'd and Answered . Those that have hitherto Treated of this Subject , have done it imperfectly , because they understood not the true Radix of Dreams . The Vain or Superstitious Conceits of many People about their Dreams , no Argument but a Wise and Good man may still regard his , with great profit to himself . from Page 1. to P. 11. Chapter 2. Gives a Definition of Sleep , and shews its Causes , Natures and End. The Mischief when 't is too long . Also a plain Description of the Nature and Vses of the inward Sence's Faculties of man. Viz. the common Sence , Phantasi● , Iudgment , Memory , and where each of them Reside . Why we sometimes remember our Dreams , and sometimes not . Of those that Talk , Rise , Walk , &c in their sleep ; the Causes thereof , and how to prevent it ; as also of those that are troubled with the Night-Mare ; its Causes and Cure. from Pag. 11 , to 26. Chapter 3. Layes open the general Cause or Radix of Dreams , whence they are derived ; viz. from the ever active property of the Soul , that really we never sleep without Dreaming , and the reasons why we do not sometimes perceive it . That there is no standing still in the ways of God or Nature ; whence occasionally is discoursed , why young Converts , very zealous at first , do afterwards decay in Grace and Knowledge : the Advantages of being sober and serious , and pressing on after greater Acquisitions and Attainments . from Pag. 26. to p. 47. Chapter 4. Treats of the Causes of Dreams more particularly ; where seven Causes are assigned : viz. 1st . The Constitution . 2dly , The Profession or Course of Life . 3dly , The influx of the Planets . 4thly , Diet or Medicine . 5thly , Evil Spirits . 6thly , Good Spirits and Angels . 7thly , and lastly , Extraordinery Visions from God ; all which are severally ●andled , and the whole reduced into a threefold Radix ; viz. either 1. from the outward Principle of this World ; or 2. from the dark wrath , or 3. from the friendly Divine Principle of Gods L●ve and Light : and how by your Dreams you may know which of these three Principles do predominate in your Souls ; with a distinction of the several kinds of Dreams , arising from each Compl●xion , Sangnine , Cholerick , Melancholy and Phlegmatick ; as a●so , of those that flow from each of the seven Planets from Pag. 47. to p. 58. Chapter 5. Contains a deep and serious Discourse ; proving that Dreams are a Figure or Resemblance of the Condition of Souls after Death . The representations in Dreams are real to the Soul , whilst we sleep , tho they seem fantasti●k to us after we wake , by reason of the vast difference between the material and immaterial Worlds . from Pag. 58. to p. 68. Chapter 6. Shows how departed Souls Communicate with persons living , in Dreams , and sometimes in Apparitions . What kind of Bodies such Apparitions have , and whence taken . How long such Bodies can endure . Burning of dead Bodies a means to prevent the appearing of their Spirits , and why . An●cessary Note for Midwives . That it is casier for departed Souls to communicate with us in Dreams , then by Apparitions . Here is likewise discoursed of the Commnnications of Angels with men . How Spirits either good or evil are attracted by sympathy or simile , and their effects , whence the vanity of mens imaginations and desires do in a great measure proceed from Pag. 68. to p. 89. Chapter 7. Treats particularly of the Offices rendred to men by good Angels . The Ground of min● Thoughts & Actions . The Shapes wherein good and bad Angels appear , and the Reasons thereof . from Pag 89. to p. 125. Chapter 8. Rehearses in order several Scripture-Examples and Testimonies touching Dreams , and discants thereon ; illust rating thereby many difficult Texts . from Pag. 125. to p. 143. Chapter 9. Discourses of Angels-Guardians of Countries , and particular Persons , and their Offices towards men , mentioned in Scripture ; and how men do conciliate their assistance ( not by invocation or worship , which is not due to them ) but by simile , as they increase in Faith , Holiness and Innocency from Pag. 143. to p. 176. Chapter 10. Why man cannot communicate with Spirits in his outward Sences , but in Dreams and Extasies . It also treats of strange material Figures represented , Calls heard , Blows received , and the like before Death . Of middle Spirits . Against telling of Dreams . Why Dreams are always represented in coopereal Forms , and in what sence mens Works are said to follow them after death . from Pag. 176. to p. 202. Chapter 11. Offers reasons why we are not to think that these Communications from good Ange●s by Dreams , and the like , so frequent in former times , are not now wholly ceased . Together with the Reasons why the same 〈◊〉 are so Rare and Seldom . from Pag. 202. to p. 219. Chapter 12. The causes why Dreams are always represented actually present . As also of the means tending to promote intellectual Communications , the Excellency of Temperance , and a regular Diet , and sober vertuous course of Life ; and that it doth mighly advance true significant and profitable Dreams , and helps to make an honest useful Emprovement thereof . Also a Conclusion of the whole , exhorting to Piety , Holiness and Innocency . from Pag. 219. to p. 249. Of Madness Section 1. DEfines the several sorts of Distraction , that the same ariseth not so much from Excess of any of the Humors , as from irregular Passions of the mind , and poysonous Ferments . Pag. 249 , 250 , 251. Section 2. The particular Passions most apt to cause it Pag. 251 , 252 , 253. Section 3. The maner how they disorder the Soul Pag. 253 , 254 , 255 , 256. Section 4. Pride the general cause of several sorts of Madness . Pag. 256 , 257 , 258. Section 5. Madness is a bringing forth of all conceptions or imaginations , as fast as they arise , without any choice . from Pag. 258. to p. 261. Section 6. They have no Vail to cover or disguise themselves with . Pag. 261 , 262. Section 7. Most of the actions of men are worse , and more mischievous and silly , then those of common Madmen ; proved by particular instances . from Pag. 262 to p. 267. Section 8. The several species of Madness ; and how by their Carriage you may know what Principle is most predominate in each . Pag. 267 , 258 , 269. Section 9. A description of Madness , according to the seven Planets , that the Stars , especially the Moon has great Power over such distemper'd People . from pag. 269. to p. 274. Section 10. The humours of Drunkenness and Phrensie compared . from Pag. 274. to p. 279. Section 11. Why Mad people are stronger , and can endure more Cold and Hunger , then when in their Sences . from Pag. 279. to p. 284. Section 12. Of the Original Seat or Spring of Madness in the Body , that it is the Spleen which first disorders the Brain . Pag. 284 , 245 , 286. Section 13. Of External Causes of Madness , as by the bite of a mad Dog , eating Jarantula , Hanbane , and the like . Pag. 286 , 287 , 288. Section 14. Of the Cure of Madness , why no more succesfuls Humble Advice to the Governors of Bethlem , to restrain their Officers from admitting swarms of people to come in and prate with the poor distracted people ; showing the several mischiefs thence arising , and intimation of the right method of Cure. from P. 288. to p. 296. Section 15. A fine Experiment of Curing such as are bitten by a mad Dog , recommended to Tryal in all other sorts of inveterate Madness : And Concludes , with advice for preventing disorders of mind . Pag. 296 , 297 , 298 , 299. A DISCOURSE OF Dreams AND Uisions , &c. The INTRODUCTION , Shewing the Difficulty , and yet Vsefulness of this Subject ; and how Imperfectly the same has hitherto been Handled by Others . THE matters we propose to handle in this Treatise , are abstruce , various , profound and mysterious , since man has so far Eclipsed those glorious Intell●ctual Beams planted in his nature by the Father of Lights ; since he has interposed such a Chaos of gross Imaginations and Earthly Affections , and Clouds of Bituminous Smoke , fetcht from the Infernal pit , so that he seems altogether inveloped with a pithy Darkness , Dismal as that of Egypt , which might be felt , and is forced ( as the Prophet speaks ) to grope even at noonday , being become almost an utter stranger to himself , and all the marvellous Works of his Creator , insomuch that the most Towering Mortals , that call themselves Philosophers , feed their halffamisht Intellectuals with Airy Notions , instead of Solid Speculations ; blunder on , Hoodwinckt by Tradition , in a constant flesh-pleasing Road of Error , and a Contentious Sophistry of Words , whilst in Truth , they know nothing , as they ought to know of Themselves or their Maker ; of the principals themselves are composed of , or what makes them Men ; much less are they acquainted with the Sympathetical Harmony of the Vniverse , that true Musick of the Sphears , that Golden Chain which unites Heaven and Earth ; nor indeed do they ken the Reason of the most obvious operations of Nature . Now 't is no wonder if a Discourse of such sublime Subjects , as the Entertainments of our Souls ( during the Body's Noctural Repose ) when they having shaken off for a time the Fetters of the Senses , are upon the Wing , in the Suburbs of Eternity ; of the secret Intercourses of Spirits with Humanity , and the wonderful Communications of the divine Goodness to his Servants in Dreams and Uisions 'T is nothing strange , I say , if such discourses seem very uncouth and extravagant to their unprepared Apprehensions ; nor is it unlikely , that ( as pride is always a Companion of Self Conceited Ignorance ) they should scoff at and deride the very mention of such things with the highest Contempt . But as we write not to such Spirits , that like the deaf Adder , will not hear the Voice of the Charmer charm he never so wisely , people full of themselves , that is of Noise and Vanity ; so ●o the meek and modest souls , that in humility daily wait at the Gates of Wisdom's Temple , have some hopes th●● this discourse may be bo●● acceptable , and in some kind useful . I acknowledge , 't is very difficult , and 〈◊〉 to be undertaken by such a ●●ak unlearned 〈◊〉 by Worm ; 't is 〈◊〉 therefore 〈…〉 Confidence of Self-Strength , Wisdom or Knowledge 〈◊〉 by , through and under the Assistance of that illuminating Spirit whic● reveals Secrets to Babes , and giveth both the will and the deed , tha● I with fear and trembling begin th● d●quisition , according to the proportion of Light he hath , or shall be pleased to grant unto me ; and therefore as the wise and holy A●●ients commend every important Enterprize with Humble Pra●ers ( for the fear of the Lord is alwayes the beginning of Wisdom ) so with an in●ire Resignation , on the ben●●● knees of my soul , at his adorable Foo●stool , I beseech His All-suffi●iency to supply my Weakness , His Truth to sustain my Error , His Wisdom to enlighten my Dulness and Ignorance , that I may , in some measure , comprehend and explain those condite Misteries , and the knowledge thereof encreasing , be serviceable to his Glory , and the profit of those that fear his name , and desire to live unto him , and be partakers of his blessed Kingdom of Love and Glory . Yet it is not unlikly that som good and very well-meaning p●rsons being sway'd with popular opinions , and possessed with certain narrow principles , which they have long imb●b'd , without ever throughly examining , or so much as inquiring into ; nay , never in their Lives haying deliberately thought upon the nature of the things here treated of , may think our pains very superfluous , and that the whole subject of Dreams is altogether Vanity , or perhaps , as some may conceive Superstitious , and unlawful to be taken notice of . But if these honest souls will be pleased but to consider , First , That Physitians generally agree , that the natural temperament or complexion , and consequently many times the secret Diseases of persons are as soon , or better found out by their Dreams , than by any outward signs . Secondly , That since the Heart of man is deceitful above all things , therefore for him that would truly know himself , it has by wise Doctors of Morality been always advised to take notice ( amongst other things ) of his usual Dreams , there being scarce any thing that more discovers the secret bent of our minds and inclinations to Vertue or Vice , or this or that particular Evil , as Pride , Covetousness , Sensuality or the like , then these nocturnal sallies and reaches of the Soul , which are more free & undisguis'd , & with less reserve than such as are manifested when we are awake . Thirdly , If they shall call to mind ( which I more especially advise them to do ) that as Dreams are one of the clearest natural Arguments of the Immortality of our Souls , so they were one of the usual wayes , whereby God vouchsafed of old to Reveal his commands and secrets to the Prophets and holy men ; and that it is one of his gracious promises , touching the Glory and fuller manifestations of the Gospel dispensation , that then their young men should See Visions and their old men Dream Dreams . And if withall they shall without prejudice read over what we have candidly written touching all these Considerations , and many other Remarkable matters relating thereunto in the following Treatise . When , I sa● , in a true Light they have seriously laid to heart all this , I am apt to think they may find cause to entertain other Conceptions , and more favourable Sentiments , and judge this hitherto too much neglected study well worthy of their future Regards : I call it neglected study ; for though not few of the Antients , and some of latter times have written concerning Dreams , as Aristole , Themistius , Artimedorus , Carden , &c. yet did they not sufficiently comprehend the true Nature , Sourse , Original or Radix thereof , nor the real Distinctions that are to be made of them , and whence each kind do proceed ; but have treated of the same so Darkly , and at Random , with so little assurance and probability , that amongst a Thousand Significations by them assigned , we shall hardly find two or three true , having no more sollid Root or Experience for what they advance , then Conjectures or Imaginations , whereof they have made large Volumns , which do but r●nder those that mind them , more anxious and perplexed than before . And though abundance of ignorant People ( foolish Women , and Men as weak ) have in all Times , and do frequently at this day make many ridiculous & superstitious Observations from their Dreams , which for the most part arising from the meer sensitive brutish nature , do indeed signifie no more than those of Beasts ( as we shall more fully demonstrate in the following discourse ) yet still the Essential nature and use of Dreams , may justly be said to be neglected , because instead thereof , vain and idle notions are imbraced , just as if a body should go to chop with a Saw , or to saw with an Ax ; he uses indeed those Instruments , but absurdly , and to no purpose but his own Detriment . And yet ought not this common abuse of misconstrued Dreams , at all to derogate from the worth of the thing it self , duly regulated , any more than because some men are drunk , therefore we shuld with Licurgus , cut down all Vines ; or because many greedy people surfeit themselves with Victuals , or rashly prejudice their Health , by Tampering with Medicines they do not understand , therefore we should abandon Food , and all sorts of Physick , 'T is certain every thing has two Handles ; and so much is man degenerated , that he generally lays hold on the worst . Thus he turns Religion into Superstition , and the most useful things into the most destructive . But all this still happens through his own ill conduct & Error . CHAP II. Of Sleep , its Causes and Natures : The internal Senses described : With a digression touching those that walk in their Sleep ; as also of the disease commonly called , The Night-Mare . TO Discourse Effectually of Dreams , it will be requisit to premise some brief Considerations touching Sleep , which is the stage whereon those Phantasms and Representations are acted , and the time in which our souls are taken up with the business of Dreams . Sleep is the natural Rest of a living Creature , or a partial temporary Cessation of animal Astions , and the functions of the external Senses , caused ( immediately ) by the weakness of the Animal Faculty , proceeding from a sweet and stupif●ing Vapour , arising from the Concoction and Digestion of the Alimentary Food Exhaled from the Stomach , and thence ascending to the Brain and matering and bedewing it with un●tious Fumes whereby the operations of the Senses are for a time obstructed , to the end the powers both of the Mind and Body may b● re●ruited , refreshed and strengthened . But besides the Exhalations from the Concoction of the Food received , and the native frigidity ( or coolness ) of the Brain , congealing those exhaled Vapours , there are many accidental Causes , which by consuming the Spirits , occasion Sleep , as overmuch Labor , Weariness , immoderate Heat , intense Cold , overmuch Evacuation ; things which pleasingly amuse or charm the Spirits , as Musick , the murmurs of soft falls of Waters , profound Cogitations , Darkness , or the departure of the Sun from our Horizon ; for all Light is both active and actuating ; so the Sun being the Vehicle or mage of ntellectual Light , and Fountain of Li ht Natural , not only heats and vi●●●ies , and communicateth a certain briskness and cheerfulness to all Creatures by his presence , but also by the consequence of his with-drawing , or absence , strikes a certain occult and dolesom sense of sadness on the spirits of all animated Creatures , by reason of the defect of his exhilirating Beams : Lastly , There are certain stupifying Medicaments drawn from Somniferous Herbs and Plants of the Vegetable Kingdom , as Poppies , Lettice , Opium , and the like , which are easily able by their vapourous Quality to overcom the Brain , and thence occasion Sleep . Whence it appears that the material Cause of Sleep is a vapour exhaling and ascending the Bra●n , which vapour sometimes proceeds from diseased corrupted Humours , and then the Sleep is not natural , but unsound , troublesom , & the symtom of a disease . The natural vapour is that which either ariseth from the Concoction of the aliment in the Stomach , which generally causeth a man's first Sleep , which therefore is more sound , deep and vehement , by reason of the more gross Exhalations , and more turbulent , by reason of the impurity of the vapours , or else 't is the Ebullition , or Boyling up of the more fervid Blood , which commonly causeth morning Sleeps , which are more sweet , light and apt for Dreams , by reason of the more pure vapours , and the more rare and perlucid Exhalations ; but when the same is too long continued , 't is apt to fill the head with vapours , which being so over filled , is disturbed , and Akes , and occasions Rhumes , Catarhs , Consumption of the Lungs , and many other inconveniencies , which all people should take special notice of , and endeavour to prevent , especially the nice and Sloathfull Dames of the Female Sex , who both by their Constitution and want of Exercise , and ill customs in this kind , do more abound with moist Humors , and consequently are more obnoxious to those Mischiefs . The Form of Sleep consists in a free and willing cessation of the external Sences ; for when the first Censorium ( which is called the Organ of the common Sense ) is bound and obstructed with a soporiferous vapour , the external Actions of the animal Functions cease . Here is to be noted , that as the outward Senses are Five in number , viz. Seeing , Hearing , Feeling , Tasting and Smelling , of which , if any one remain free , and not affected , sleep cannot be perfect , as where any one of them , in a person that has the use of them all , happens to be affected , such person cannot be said to be composedly vigilent : So there are also Four other Senses , called Internal , because feared within the Brain-pan , and whose objects are not only the species of things present , but they perceive the sensible species of things absent , past , and to come . 1st , The first , called the common Sense , where all the diverse Objects apprehended , or rather communicated by the outward Senses , are assembled , and gathered together , to the end they may afterwards be compared , distinguished and discerned the one from the other , which the particular Senses could not do , being every one attentive to his proper object , and not able to take cognizance thereof , or of his Companion ; for to speak properly , we know not what we see simply by our Eyes , or hear by our Ears , but by our common Sense , which judgeth rightly thereof , the other being but the Organs to bring the representations of things thither to be censured and judged of , whence properly all their Objects and Offices may be said to be his . 2dly , The Phantasie doth more fully examine the species perceived by the common Sense , whether of things present or absent , keeping them longer , and thence making new and compounded Images or Conceits of its own . Its Objects are , all the species communicated thereunto by the common Sense , whereby ( especially in the Melancholy People ) ▪ it fancies many other things , as Centaurs , Chimaera's , and a thousand odd Forms which never really had beeing in the Nature of Things ; yet it is to be noted that the parts thereof must alwayes consist of such thing of which we have seen , read , or heard of , it is ( or ought to be ) in men Govern'd or regulated by Reason , but in Beasts ●t seems to be the highest Faculty ●●eir nature is endued with . 3. Iudgment ( or Reason ) is a Superious Faculty in man , appointed to Rule over all the rest , the Guide of Actions , or judge of the little world , to approve of what is good , and reject what is Evil. 4. Memory is a Retentive Faculty of the Soul , whose Office is to Register up all the species which the other senses have introduced , that they may be forth-comming , or ready when occasion shall serve , or they are called for by the Phantacy or Reason ; whence some to illustrate the use of all these powers , have compared them to a Court of Iudicature , the outward Senses being as Solicitors that bring the Causes ; the Common Sense , as the Master of Requests , who receives all their Informations ; the Phantacy like the Lawyers and Advocates , that bandy the business to and fro in sever●l forms , with a deal of noise and b●ffle Reason , as the Iudge , that having calmly heard each parties Pretentions , pronounces , an upright Sentence ; and Memory as the Clark records the whole proceedings . Whether these several Faculties have distinct Seats , or Cells in the Brain , has been much disputed by Anatomists , Physitians and Philosophers : The great Argument of thos● that would have it so , is that 't is certain by Experience ( which they confirm by many Instances ) that sometimes one of these may be hurt , and the other remain found , as that the Phantacy may be impared , yet both Iudgment and Memory remain unhurt : The Iudgment cract , yet Phantacy and Memory active , and the Memory Spoilt , yet Phantacy and Iudgment ( as to things present ) good . But as in the Stomach by several distempers , several Faculties are hurt , as by moist diseases , the Retentive ; by dry , the digestive ; and yet it will not thereupon follow , the digestive and Retentive have distinct Organs or Seats ; So it may possibly happen in these Faculties of fle Brain , without assigning to each a distinct Cell , though the common Opinion ( and for ought I know it may be true ) is , that the Phantasie resides in the formost , the Judgment in the middle , and the Memory in the hindermost Ventricle of the Brain . But to reduce what has been said of these internal Senses to our present Subject ; you are to note , that the Imagination is ever busie , and ( as far as I can perceive ) never Sleeps ; the Iudgment or Reason for the most part , is impedited from acting , especially after its common way or outward Fashion , when a man sleeps . The Memory sometimes is more , and sometimes less clouded and obstructed , according to the nature of the fumes sent up ; and hence it comes to pass , that we have sometimes a clearer , sometimes a more confused , and sometimes scarce any Apprehension or Remembrance of our Dreams when we awake . But of this we shall have occasion to speak further , in the following Discourse● And in the mean time shall conclude this Chapter of Sleep with a brief Account of two strange accidents that are wont to happen to some people therein ; that is to say , of such as walk in their Sleep , and of such as are troubled with that which is commonly called , the Incubus , or Night-Mare . As touching of the first , that some people there are , who whilest they are fast asleep , leap our of their Beds , unlock Doors ▪ go into the Streets , and sometimes on Tops of Houses , or other dangerous places , where they would not go waking , and if not interruped , will again return to their Beds . The matter of Fact , I say , is so notorious , that I need not spend time to prove it by instances , since I think there are few but know , or have been most credibly inform'd thereof , among some of their Acquaintance : But the Cause or Reason of all this is more occult , which I shall endeavour to discover , as it occurs to my present thoughts . 'T is observable , those that have these Vagaries , are generally ( and I think I may say always ) young people , in the flower of their years , and strength , of Sanguine Complections , active , sprightly , and full of Blood ; I am therefore of opinion that this comes to pass by that abundance of Blood swelling , and as it were ●rothing out , boyling and active spirits , which ascending to the Brain , stirs up and stimulates its Faculties , whereby it performs its actions to these strange motions and effects ; so that the Body , by the impulse of the animal spirits , which contains in the Brain , the strength of the Nerves and Muscles , that is , the Instruments of Motion is carried forth , and even in Sleep excited to those actions . For persons of this condition , are of a thin and eurious contexture , small bulk , but of great agility and a fervent mind , whence , if they can but take hold of any thing with their Fingers and Toes , being then void of all fear , because m●ensible of any danger , they sustain themselves thereupon , and accomplish such things , as waking they would dread to attempt . But if in such Bodies the Humors shall be fermented to a lesser degree , and a smaller ardor and agitation of the spirits , then they only talk , cry out , move and fling themselves about , as if they would jump out ; but yet still contain themselves in their Beds , because the spirits are not strong and violent enough to raise the body : and the proper Cure of this I conceive will be to use a spare diet , and perhaps , in some Cases Blood-letting , and especially to endeavour to keep their minds in a cool temper , without inflaming it with passions . As for the other sort , Viz. those that in their sleep are troubled with the In●ubus or Night-Mare , they seem to be of a temper contrary to the former , Melancholy , of few gross spirits , and abounding with Phlegm , and in children and young people through Fear , and sleeping supine , and lying on their backs ▪ And tho the Vulgar , when they are thus affected , conceit it some external thing comes and lies upon them , which they fancy to be some Ghost , or Hob-Goblin , yet the truth is , it proceeds from inward Causes . This Discease being an obstruction on of Motion , or an interception , especially of Breathing and Speech , with a false apprehension of some heavy thing lying upon their Breast , and as it were stiffling them , occasioned , by means the free penetration of the Spirits to the Nerves is hindred , the passages being stopt by a surcharge of the aforesaid Humors . This happens most to such as use to lie upon their Backs ; and whilst it is upon them , they are in great Agony , being unable to speak , but strive to do it with imperfect groans , but if any person speak to hem , and call them by name , the animal spirits being excited , force their way , and the oppression ceases ; or if they can move , or turn the body on one side , and especially if the Brest be rubbed to d●●●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 M●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 W●rld , would immediately ●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 ●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 dai●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 R●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 Nebuch●d●ezer , Dan. 2. 5. It is also to be no●ed , That the Spirit and S●ul of a man by such Intemperances as aforesa●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 ; ●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 reac● 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 hideous●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 commit●●ng Evil , and far more zealous than afterwards . The Reason whereof is clear , viz. so long as they remain'd truly s●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 Abstinen●● , Temperance and Purity in Meats , Drinks , Exercises and Communications , they thereby feel and find a daily Growth and Increase of Vertue and Manfesta●ions of Grace . But if once such shall set up their rest in External F●●ms and Modes of R●●gion , and therein begin as it were to stand still and satisfie themselves with their former Attainments and Separations , which migh● 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 ve●●fied in their souls . That not to go forwards , is to go backwa●ds and lose all their inward sp●●itual strength , which is divinely signified by our Lord in that parable of the Servan●● , and the in●rusted Talent , he that care esly laid it up in a Napkin , set up his Rest with such a portion o● Grace or L●ght , and indeavour'd not to augment it , is cond●●●●d ; and ' as added , that from su●● an one shall be taken , even tha● 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 ; Tabernacles were not here to be built or rested in , though Moses Elias and our Lord Jesus Christ himself , by a wonderful Transfiguration had imparted a peculiar Glimps of Glory , they must still zealously press , or else their estate would become degenerate , and so they have need to enter into , or lay again their first principles , or outward Forms , whence it appears there was still as much need of Self-denial , Seperation and progression , as there was the very first day on which they inclined or hearkned to the Voice of Wisdom ; for want of which , many , after 20 or 30 years Seperation from the world ( as they call it ) con●enting themselves with their first beloved F●rms ( which in their time were g●od● are not half so good Christ●●ns as they were the first mon●●h they entred into such or such a Religious Profession or Society . The Reason whereof is , because as men by Abstin●ncy , S●peration , self-denial , and pressing forwards after Vertue , do by degrees obtain Strength , W●sdom , Vnderstanding and Clearer Sight , as every one is obedient and capable ; so on the other side , such as give way to Evil , are by degrees and the continual workings of the Spirit of Error , made more strong in Evil and Wickedness . And as the former by Vertue and Purity give advantges to the good Angels and Spirits to have communications with them , who are always ready to unfold the Misteries of their Kingdom to the sober and clean of Heart ; so the latter do by their Voices powerfully attract the bad Angels and Spirits , which do ●each and strengthen them in Evil. And therefore those that would have the company of the good Spirits and Angels by day , and their Commumications by night in Dreams and Visions , and desire to retain the Forms and Figures represented , with the Interpretations thereof , and not to be subject to forgetfulness and stupidity , let them observe the Rules of Cleanness , self-denial and Sep●ration , and contially , even as at the first dawning of the day , press on towards perfection , having always a well-prepared Temple to receive the sweet influence of Gods Spirit and company of good Angels , or their Communications after a Spiritual way ; for as those blessed Intelligencers are administrating Spirits to God primarily , so in the second place , their delight is to do good Officers to all the faithful Servants of God , thereby advancing the praise and glory of the great and Alcreating Jehovah Aelohim , Blessed forever This is a Lesson which every one ought to be sensible of , and endeavour to learn , and which , if duly regarded , then most people , whose faces are looking Sion - wards , would have more serious thoughts , and greater esteem for the Visions of the Night , and the most wonderful and hidden Conversations thereof ; for if mankind were sensible of these sublime Truths , and the wonderful power of their own souls in such cases , it would beget an awful Dread , or sober and Tremendous Considerations and Contemplations , which would not only invite the Courteous Communications of Benevolent Spirits , but so still and prepare the inward Man , and all the noble Faculties of Nature , as to render them capable of retaining such abstracted sights and Manifestations , whereby they would take some Root in the understanding , and so make Impressions on the Spirits , and thence blossom forth , and grow up to very happy fruits , both for encreasing good and eschewing Evil. So great is the power of Sobriety , Temperance , Cleanness and Self-denial , as being most sublime and elevating Vertues , and a great help to make men happy , both in this World , and that which is to come . Therefore it is highly convenient for every one that applyes his Thoughts to this Science of Dreames , orindeed to any sort of Knowledge , that is truly Philosophical and Divine , to be serious and sober , and to learn first the mysteries of his own World , before he lets his Eyes and Imaginations ramble into , or gaze after the Wonders or Vanities of the great External World , being certain of this , That if he do not in some competent measure know himself , and continually endeavour the Advancement and Encrease of that Knowledge , he will never come to understand any thing without himself , as he ought to do , much less enjoy the participation of those Misteries of which we treat in this Discourse . CHAP. IV. Of the particular Causes of Dreams , how they proceed from a Threefold Radix : Of the several Kindes of Astral and Complexional Dreams . IN the former Chapter I acquainted you with the General or Universal Reason of Dreams , viz. Because the Soul or Spirit of Man , being the Image of the Immense Creator , and Epitome of the whole created Bulk of Nature , it so far resembles Him that never slumbereth or sleepeth , as to be always active ; for in the adoreable divine Architype though there be no variation , or shadow of change , yet there are perpetual Emanutions of Beneficence , and reflected Ideas of Love and Complacency . But now from this prime procatartick or original first Moving Cause , we must descend to others more particular and Immediate which influence the Soul this or that way in its Formative Activity , and individuate its operations . And these occasional Impressions , as they Cause very different Representations to us in our sleep , so they are in themselves very various , For , 1. Some Dreams proceed from the Constitution or Complection of each particular person , 2. Others from his profession or course of Living ; those things which he is most earnestly intent upon , or concern'd about in the day time . 3. Others are occasion'd by the influx of the Planets predominate in his Nativity , or at such or such times by Direction , Transit , or the like , if we may believe the notions of Astrologers , whose science as far as mode●●●y it contains its self within the Bounds of Nature with a Resignation always to the over-ruling Pleasure of Omnipotency , seems not altogether to be contemned . 4. Other ( Confused ) Dreams may arise from unfit Diet , or Medicines , which sending up abundance of Vapours to the Brain , ( the Throne of the Understanding ) and beclouding the Spirits , ( the proper Vehicles of the Soul ) it follows , that abundance of vain Images must be represented ; but these are alwayes disorderly , and without Connexion , as is experienced by drunken and gluttonous persons , and men in Feavers and the like . 5. Others are injected by Evil Spirits , who as they are malitious and envious to highest degre● , so being Angles of Darkness , where they meet with Darkness , both internal and external , that is , a Body clogg'd with superfluity , and a Soul contaminated with Vices and Enormous Affections , as with Lust , Covetousness , Revenge , &c. they are thereby strengthened to an advantage of in●tilling their suitable Temptations . 6. Some Dreams are by courteous Visits of good A●gels who that way ( most suitable ●o their Sp●●●uous Nature , and agreeable 〈…〉 Neighbours , human Souls , who 〈…〉 differ from them gradually ▪ rather then Specifically ) chuse to Communica●e with us , thereby often forewarning us of impending dangers , or instructing us to some eminent advantage , if we have the discretion to make use of those precautions . 7. It sometimes pleases Almighty God , in a special and extraordinary manner to reveal his secrets to those that fear him , by Representations in Dreams , which then are more usually called Visions , to difference them from the other kinds . Now though we shall occasionally here handle each of these , yet to avoid prolixity , I do conceive we may more briefly ●●duce all Dreams to a Three fold Radix , or Original , according to which the three fold ▪ grand Principles carry the upper dominion in the Centre of Life , or Will-Spirit , in each person , that is to say , they proceed either from the Sidereal or outward Principles of this world . Or secondly , from the dark Wrath or fierce fiery Life . Or Lastly , from the meek friendly divine Principle of Love , which of these th●●e does predominate , of a suitable Nature and property shall your Dreams be . As for Example : 1. If the dark , wrathful ▪ fierce , keen principle bear sway , then the nocturnal Representations are Dark , Melancholy , Fierce , Frightfull , and the like . 2dly If the middle uniting Nature , or Friendly qualifying Fountain of divine Light do hold the chief dominion in the Life's Centre , then the Dreams are more Essentially pleasant and delightful to the Soul , and oft-times many wonderful Secrets are revealed , and impending Dangers foretold in a Figurative way , easily deciphered , or understood by a well prepared mind . But , 3dly , If the principle of this outward world , and the Business or things thereof do bear sway ▪ and carry the supream Government , as it generally happens amongst men , that lead a meer bruitish and sensual Life , and iudulge themselves in Vices , Superfluities , and the Vanities of the world , then the Dreams are full of Idle Phantasies : confused Mixtures of outward , Affairs and things belonging , or relating to what each man is concerned in , or busied about , and these are apt to be forgotten , or so darkly represented , and imperfectly remembred , that they administer very little use or benefit to those that receive them , unless they were before hand made sensible of that ill Conduct of their Lives which occasions them , and thence would be perswaded , by a total change of their Manners and Conversations , to improve and fit their spirits for better and more advantageous Communications . As for Complectional Dreams , they proceed from vapours flying up from that Humour which is most predominant in the Body , unto the Brain , and thence Imagination with Representations sutable to such humour ; As persons of a Sanguine Complection , or in whose ma●s of humours the Blood bears sway , have ●enerally pleasant chearful and del●ghtfull Dreams , Th●● the● are in M●rry Company , Entertain'd 〈…〉 , and the like d●vertive objects . Persons of Ch●lerick Comp●●ctions dream of Anger , Wrath , Brawling ; of Oua●relling or Fighting ; that they use some violent motion or strugling ; that they meet with Bears , Lyons , ●ogs , o● the like , and are in danger to be hurt by them . Such in whom Melancholy abounds , are continually disturbed with frightfull Phan●a●ies and Ideas full of● Horror , of being surrounded 〈◊〉 Da●kne●s , or confined to some close D●ng●on , left alone in a Wilderness , oppressed with Poverty , Want and Dispair , ready to be torn to pieces with evi● 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , The Ph●●●ma●ick person is less apt to remember his Dream , but they are gene●ally about water , fear of falling from on high down into some great River , and being dro●n'd● or the like . As these several Humours are more or less mixed or prevailing in any persons Constitution , so his or her common ord●●ary Dreams will be diversified accordingly . The same in effect is to be observed in Dreams that are the effects of sidereal Influences , they ●arry with them the resemblances of that P●anet from whence they proceed . As , 1. If the Saturnine Propert● carries the upper dominion in 〈◊〉 Signs , then the Dr●●ms are sad , 〈◊〉 , heavy and ●●ightfull fill'd with fear and 〈◊〉 . 2. If the Martial , or fierce Fire have the chief Government , then the Dreams are Fierce , filled with Wrath , Passion , Fear and Trembling , Amazing and Affrighting the outward Body , insomuch , that not unfrequently , such Dreams do , by their Horror , awaken the person from his Sleep , and cause all his Limbs to tremble for fear . 3. If the Iovial nature do predominate in the Centre of Life , then the Dreams are more mild , grave and moderate . 4. If Venus carries the dominion in the Complection , then the Dreams are pleasant , delightful and amarous . 5. If Mercury have rule , then your Dreams are mixt , various , and oft-times confused . 6. If Sol bear sway , then your Dreams are apt to be of great Light , Honours and Dignities , or of Splendid and Magnificent things . Lastly , If the Moon predominate , the Dreams are confused , unconstant , mixt with Truth and Falshood . So that if men would but turn their Eyes inward , and learn to know themselves , and the Principles and degrees of their own nature ▪ every one might in a great degree understand from what Radix , and Property of nature each Dream proceeds , and takes its Birth , and consequently know their own Complection , and likewise what Principle or Quality , Good or Evil does carry the upper dominion in them ; so that there would be much teachablene●s in Dreams , as they are derived from , and demonstrate what property of the seven-fold nature has dominion in the Soul. CHAP. V. That Dreams are a Figure or Rese●blance of the Condition of Souls after Death , &c. BY what has been said it partly appears , That altho by the degeneration of Mankind , instead of observing and noting the nature of those things , Dreams are become a By-Word ; and serve only to be derided and scoft at , yet essentially , and in themselves unto the wise , and well-minded , they may discover great Secrets , both or Time and Eternity ; which will further appear , if we modestly consider , that there is scarce any thing that yields so true and great a figure , or similitude of the condition of the Soul after Death , or in the state of Separation , as Dreams . For as Death is a full Period to all the Senses and outward Faculties of the Humane Life , the very same is Sleep , during the time thereof ; for if a man should sleep seven or eight dayes , nay , if possible seven years , when he awakes , it would be no more to him then one night : By this it doth plainly appear , that Sleep is a Temporary Death to the Senses , where no distinction , length or shortness of Time is measured . Therefore in Sleep all men are , as it were totally dead , as to the sensitive and distinguishing power of Nature and the time passes away as if he were in Eternity , insensibly to all the outward Properties ; for what happens to the Soul in Dreams , is somewhat like , or a notable Resemblance of that which attends it in its separated estate , whether in the Good or in the Evil. Thus in Dreams the soul enjoys a more compleat and unmixed pleasure and delight , than is possible for any person to enjoy when awake , and in the use of the perfec●est Senses ; for then in the height of his Complacency , fears and apprehensions of losing the pleasing objects , or jealousies of others sharing with him therein , or one thing or other is apt to crowd in and interrupt his Joy. But in many Dreams the Horizon is all Light , and clear , no Cloud to be seen , and the whole seems to be so real , that nothing we possess in this world can for the time be more ; insomuch , that these Joys , and delightful Transports do oft times awaken the sensitive power of the outward Nature , the thoughts and Consideration thereof is very delightful to the mind even after the waking of the Body . As on the other side , Evil Dreams cause strange Trouble Fear and Horror to the Soul , it apprehends it self to be in real danger of drowning , falling , killing , being run through with Knives , Swords , and the like ; falling down from precipices , being in pain , anguish and agony , and many other things of that kind , which do all arise from the awakening or kindling of the wrath and fierce poisonous Nature or Central Fire , which cruel fears and pains are real and essential to the Soul , as the Body or Senses are dead or asleep ( which is as it were , all one ) and yet there is no material thing ●eer them , that can wound or hurt them . So great is the power of the Soul when it has either wholly , or in part , for a small time , quitted it self from the operation of the Senses , that it can make something where no thing is , and create either Grief or S●rrow , all according to that Principle or Form that is chief in the Government of the Soul. For as that is quallified , such is the nature of those Ideas that are generated , and the Phantasies arising either of joy or fear , as the Radix stood in Equality or Inequality , for in the sepera●ed state , whether in the Bliss or the Curse , there is no Matereal thing , that can hurt or afflict the Soul , but only its own Imaginations or Turba , and what it forms unto it self in the principle of Evil , in which it self is comprehended , being the Root and Fountain , whence all sorrow and fear takes its Birth . As on the contrary , those that are comprehended in the blessed Fountain or friendly principle of Light & Love , their Joy & Pleasure does arise , and is continually generated from the same principle in the Spirit , and is real and essential , beyond all outward Enjoyments , or what can be apprehended , because none in the Body can have the full enjoyment or true sense of it . For that property or principle man has precipitated himself into , and which has gotten the upper dominion in the Soul , From the very same principle after death does proceed , and is generated either his Joy or Sorrow according to the degree and nature of that Form , and as it is more or less kindled in the good or the Evil , whilst the Soul remain'd in the Body . Which is a great Figure and true signe , that the Souls and Life's-Spirit does burn or quallifie between the wrath , and the noises and b●ssle 〈◊〉 this world , and acts or Suffers as it is ●inctured and impressed ; for every property and principle doth contain the true nature of the whole , and therefore has wonderfull power and efficac●●o generate and form strange unheard-of things to the Imagination . For which cause many persons dream of , and see such strange things in th●ir sleep , as they never beheld nor thought of when awake , for the formings of the predominate principle in mans soul are beyond all humane Number : Now let us suppose a man in a terrible Melancholy frightful Dream , were never to awake , but to continue eternally in this imagined Agony and Dread , what a disconsolated State and Condition would this be to the soul , where all these fears and troubles are apprehended to be Essential , as indeed they are during the Sleep of the Senses . But when the Soul is thus perplexed , and in this terible fear and horror , it violently seizes on the Body , as its Natural House , and with its fierce motion awakes it , and causes the very flesh to tremble , and then the Soul or Spirit is glad and rejoyces that it bath escaped those dangers it apprehended ; whereas if it had not been cloathed with an humane Body , it would have been destitute of any such refuge to case its self , as Soul are after Death . Dreams and Visions are incorporeal , like the Soul or Spirit , and the Joy , Pleasure , Trouble , or Sorrow that is apprehended , is as Essential to the Soul as any sensual pleasure , fear or grief is to the Body : And what we have said of the Kingdom of Darkness , Sorrow and woe , the like is to be understood in the Light and Blessed Kingdom of Heaven , where the Paradisical Ioys are incorporeal , or else the beautified Inhabitants could not have any pleasure in , or Simile with them ; for when the body is dead , and the Soul separated from it , then all incorporeal things became as substantial as material things do to the Body ; and the Seeing , Hearing , Smelling , Tasting and Feeling is as real and essential to the Spirit , as all sorts of gross substances are to the outward senses ; and during sleep , the Soul is as it were seperated , and as if it were in Eternity , does really enjoy pleasure or pain , according to that principle that predominates therein , whilst the Body lies as it were dead , and also all the senses not at all concerned with , or capable of those ●ights , pleasures or sorrows ; but oft-times the Soul or Spirit being affrighted with hideous apprehensions , and dangers , or too highly lifted up with Ioy and Delight , does return and seizes the Body , and awakens the outward senses , which immediately puts a period to the Joy or Sorrow , Grief or Pleasure , and they seem to the outward Sense and Reason , as if there had not been any such thing , but all had been a Romance or Illusion , for so it may well be apprehended by the senses ; for the immatereal world , and the wonders thereof are as nothing to the material , there being such a vast gulf or difference between the internal and external principle of each , and yet they are very near each other ; but one is Corporeal , the other Incorporeal , therefore the latter hath no Simile with the outward Senses ; but on the other side there is a great Analogg and Similitude between the internal World , or Incorporeal ▪ Beeings , and the Soul and Spirit of Man. CHAP. VI. How departed Souls Communicate with Persons living in Dreams , and sometimes in ●pparitions ; The Converse of good and bad Angels with men , how promoted , &c. BY reason of that Affinity or Similitude between incorporal B●eings and the Soul of man , mentioned in the last Chapter , it comes to pass , that Souls dep●●ted or sepera●ed from their Bodies , ( which divorce , we call Death ) do often Communicate their desires , and reveal various Secrets unto their Friends ; for Dreams are Incorporeal , and the Souls deceased have no other way to impart their Secrets that is so a ●il●ar as this , except some few , 〈◊〉 at their Death are greatly affectionated to wife and Children , or the like , and dye with a strong desire of revealing something that lies hid , or to manifest their affections to their surviving F●●end● , and these sometim●s do ●t by assuming an aireal Body , and appe●●ing A●●ections , being the chief general Cause of Apparitions of S●uls departed . But then the will and desire must be very strong and powerful at the departure of the Soul from the Body , or else it cannot cloath it self with a ●idereal or Elemental thin Body , for the External Eye cannot see any thing but what is like is self , or compounded of them same Elements , and there is great difficulty for any Soul to cloath it self with a material Body , neither indeed can it be done , if the Affections and desires be not wonderful strong and powerful . W●ich shadow or thin Body continues no longer than the Radical moisture in the deceased Body does in some degree continue ; for as the moisture and matter of the Body does waste , so the Apparition or Ghost does grow weak , and at last vanish . For the Soul cloathed it self by the help of the matter contained in the Body , which is done by a sympathitical Operation between the External , and Internal , for there is some likeness or Relikes of the Spirit remaining in the deceased Body so long as it continues moist and full of matter , for if it were not so , it were impossible that any Soul should appear in any Body or shape either humane or Beastial . Therefore it was that some of the Philosophical Antients commanded the Bodies of the dead to be burnt , to Ashes , which did totally destroy the Humour Radicalis or Spirit of the external elemental Nature , thereby perventing such Apparitions , as we are speaking of , and hindering Souls from Cloathing , themselves with thin Aireal Bodies , which they can do only by a Sympathetical agreement between themselves and their old Houses , the deceased Bodies . For if the Soul departs from the Body , filld with Affections to external things , be they what they will , then finding it discomposed and disquieted , it longs after its old Body or House , and by Simile , and help of the Fluid Humours and Spirits yet remaining in the Body , it attracts a subtle matter , in which having vested it self , it becomes to outward view Corporeal . But if the Body should be consumed by Fire then the Spirit or Soul would be prevented wholly of matter for this sidereal Cloathing ; And therefore this way of burning the dead ●odies , was practised , as in divers other Nations , so also in England in former Ages ; for then it was more frequent for departed Souls , as also for divers other sorts of Spirits to appear to the living , than of late years ( for some Reasons which I shall not stand to insist upon , or explain in this place ) And therefore they did consume their dead Bodies with Fire , by which there was an immediate and full Separation between the Body and Soul , and no simile remain'd , and consequently no matter could be attracted or coagulated for the formation of such Spectre's or Apparitions . For the like Reason ( we may note by the way ) that the first Midwives , and Directors of Women , after Delivery , ordered the After-Birth , with Consumption by Fire , to put a period to the Atomes or subtle Spirits that can and do powerfully penetrate all Bodies ; for they are so subtle and quick , that nothing can hold or hinder them from returning to their Centers , but only the Annilation of the whole . But it is further to be observed , That all Midwives ought to let the After-Burthen be through cold before they burn it , or else the fierce surprisal which the Fire makes upon the Spirits , will force them back to their Center whence they proceed , with a Rapid motion , and carry with them the hot sulpherous Atomes and Particles of the Fire , which in some Complections will wound the Health , and oft-times cause Fevers , and unnatural Heats and Indispositions , and more heat the Milk by simile ; These things are seldom considered , and therefore the Evils thereof are the ofter felt . But to return from this Digression ( wherein we thought it not unfit to point out briefly the Nature , Causes , and Manner of Souls appearing after Death , which sometimes happens where the affections are exceeding violent , as aforesaid ) it is far easier , and more familiar for the deceased Souls to communicate their secrets to their living Friends in Dreams , then to appear thus in external Forms , by cloathing themselves with thin Elemental Bodies ; for men in Dreams are nearer unto the condition of departed Souls then when awake ; and therefore they can with ease , and great familiarity discourse , and reveal their minds unto them , more especially , if there were a simile between their spirits , or if there was a hearty Love and Affection whilst they lived : For all the time the Body sleepeth , it is as it were dead , and ten hours is but as one minute , but the spirit and soul liveth and acteth , and seeth and apprehendeth things as if it had not any earthly Body , but were already in Eternity ; for near and afar off is all a like unto it , it can as easily visit remote Countries and Regions beyond the Equinoctial or Tropicks , as a mans own House or Garden ; it can sink it self into the deepest of Depths , and also sore aloft and range through all the Coelestial sphears ; the Etherial Spirits of men being thus volatile , and busie when the outward body or senses are dead , or , ( which is all one for the time ) asleep , the Immaterial Beeings , or seperated Souls being of an homogenial Nature , and like state , can easily hold communication therewith by such means as are proper for the intercourse of such spirituous Essences , especially if before the Death of the Body there was something strongly impressed on the Spirit of the deceased , which proves very burthensome until they have by some means revealed it to those to whom they had a desire to impart it before their Death , but by some accident were prevented , or where there is some great sympathy or similitude between the Soul of the deceased , and the Living and for this last reason , the Souls of strangers some●imes do make application to such sympathizing Souls of the Living whilst the Body lies asleep , and reveal great secrets , or ●oretel them of things some●imes good , and sometimes evil , that are likely to be●al them . But there is such a vast disproportion between the Incorporeal Beeings , viz. Souls departed ; Spirits and Angels on the one side , and our outward material Senses and Reason on the other , as makes all these Wonderful mysteries that happen to man of this Nature appear but as meer fantasies , shadows or Vanity , and therefore this secret spiritual converse , and real Communications of Souls are derided in the highest degree , which unbelief and contempt doth drive away and cause a seperation of the Souls of the deceased , as also of all good Spirits and Angels , which otherwise would be more prompt and ready to such Communications , as being forward to serve , help , and enlighten those that are sober , and we●l-minded , and such as believe , and are sensible of those wonderful things , and mysterious Impartments ; for a strong Faith , firm desire and belief , viz. when the Spirit or Soul is delighted in the Consideration of this spiritual discourse and converse , does naturally attract and draw the internal powers , Souls , and good Angels , and causeth them to delight to accompany men , both sleeping and waking , de●ending them from various dangers and troubles , and ready at all times to reveal and foretel them of future things , but on the contrary Incredulity with vain despising Discourses do potently drive them away , and causes , as it were a total separations , so that there seems to the outward senses and Reason of most men that there is no such thing , but all idle vain Conceits ; so greatly is mankind depraved , having by vanity and carnal apprehensions put out the inward Eyes of his intellectuals , so that they are to him but as idle immaginations . But the Records of sacred Truth do assure us , that most of the Sober inlightned men in former Ages , were sensible of this secret converse of Angels and Souls , and had mysteries revealed to them from God , and his ministring Spirits , in Dreams and Visions , as appears in the holy Scriptures , of which we shall take a particular survey in a Chapter by it self . But now mankind's frowardness intemperance and incredulity have so estranged those holy powers , good Angels and Spirits , that they cannot come near man , to reveal unto him the secret mysteries of their Beeings and Conditions , on foretel him either Good or Evil that shall happen unto him ; for a firm Faith in God , and frequent meditation on those sublime things have a wonderful power sympathetical inclination and attraction on good Angels and Spirits of all offices and kinds ; for all things both in the material & immaterial worlds have that secret communication and opperation by likenesses ; for the nearer we resemble , and become like the good Angels , they are the more ready and prone to serve us , this being the simpathetical drawing , which is the way of God in nature , for every thing doth incorporate with its likeness , and by a secret agreeable power , each thing is ready to strengthen its own Property , having the Key in its self , that can open the Gates of its own Principle in all other things , both Heavenly and Earthly ; for they all flow from the two grand principles , viz. Good and Evil , and which soever of these two a man suffers his will to enter into , that property or principle gets the dominion and chief goverment in the Soul ; and if it be in the evil or fierce wrathfull principle , then the Spirit and Soul by way of desires and imaginations penetrates all Elements , and things both extertnal and internal , and wheresoever it finds matter capable , or disposed to receive them , it incorporates , and with highest diligence indeavours to destroy its contrary , viz. all Goodness and Vertue . And thus men are rendred fit and capable to be the companions of , and have society or secret communication with evil Angels and spirits , there being often internal agreement and compacts bewteen the Souls of men and evil Angels by way of Imagination and desires in the very center of their lives ; which very few persons are sensible of , though subject unto , and consequently cannot comprehend from whence those multitudes of evil suggestions , desires and vain imaginations , where-with they find themselves incombred , do proceed ; for whosoever suffers his will and strong desires to enter into the fierce violent envious wrathfull original spirit or property , has unity with , and becomes a Companion of all evil angels and spirits , whence do proceed those wonderfull troops and numberless swarms of vain thoughts , imaginations , desires , words and actions , being the very dictates of Devils . And from the same black Stygian fountain do arise that wonderful subtilty and cunning , and those strange unimaginable inventions of evil words , acts and vain plays , so various , a sober man would think it impossible for men to be so strong , ready and cunning in the doing of evil ; hence the old deceiving Serpent is said to have been more subtil then any beast of the field , Gen. 3. 1. And our Lord Christ tells us , that the Children of this world ( the race of Cain and sons of Belial ) are wiser ( that is , more crafty and full of inventions ) in their Generation then the Children of Light , and so the Apostle Paul calls Elinas the Sorcerer , O thou full of all Subtilty , and all Mischief , thou Son of the Devil , and Enemy of all Righteousness , Acts 13. 10. for as man is various in his central ground as to inclinations , dispositions , love , hate and the like ; so various also are the evil angels and spirits ; whence we read their name is said to be Legion , because they are many ; so that whatsoever a man inclines to , or awakens in his will and desires , whether good or evil , there is presently a spirit or angels of the same property , ready and prompt to execute , and put into practice such his imaginations , and to incline , and urge him forward in the thing . But these sublime Matters are understood or considered but by very few ; and therefore I would intreat my Friends , and all that are of humane Race , seriously to ponder in their Minds , from what Fountain , Principle and Ground that great Variety of Dark Vain and Evil Thoughts , Imaginations , Words and Actions do proceed ; of which , some few I shall set down for an Example , or Looking-glass to the considerate Reader . As first , in Child-hood , for to wish to be Kings and Emperors , to have brave Houses , and costly Furniture ; to have gay Clothes , and think that whoever meets one , does , or at least ought to admire an Ass for his golden trappings ; to desire to live idlely , and spend all ones time in eating , drinking , sleeping and playing : And as people attain to maturer Years , to wish and desire , a great deal of Mony and Liberty , to have Variety of Women ; to exceed all others in Evil Mischievous Arts and Sciences , to Hurt , Kill and Murder all such as shall Offend them . For a Man secretly to wish his Wife dead , that He might have ●nother with more Mony , to contrive how to Circumvent another in a Bargin , or Defraud him of his Inheritance or Right , by colour of law , and then to boast of our Wit and Cunning in doing it , for a man to design himself an Universal Empire , or the Government of the whole world , as some Princes have done , and sacrificed millions of mens lives to that conceit . These and the like strange Evil , and most abominable Thoughts , Imaginations and Desires bubble up in , and have possession of most mens Minds , even to the day of death , which do all arise and proceed from the poysonous Root , by the Promptings Instigations and Ingections of the evil Genij , which are like swarms of Bees in and about man , if he suffer his will and desires to enter into their Principle and Property , which is to do Evil , and only Evil , and that continually : Others there are , whose desires are not so far engaged upon Notorious Wicked Objects , but rather amuse themselves with Vanities , and Things which they conceit to be Innocent and Indiferent , as an over care of being well spoken of in the World ; and therefore studying Complements , and Civilities , to procure Esteem , pleasing themselves with fine Buildings , and dilicate Walks , and Gardens , doting upon a brave Horse , or a Dog , or placing all their Affections , Delight and Joy , in some one particular Child , or the like . Now when any one doth thus inordinately take pleasure in such things , he or she will continually be incouraged , and prompted forward by evil , Angels , and Genij , of a middle Nature , that are indued both with the property of the inward and outward Principles , having as it were an equal mixture , of both which diligently attend the Motions , Actions and Inclinations of each people , incouraging and making them strong , and fixed in their way of Vanity , and when ever they go about to do an Action that in it self is good , they suggest something that may mar and spoil it by circomstances : As when they give an Almes , they tickle them with a conceit of Glory ▪ and so they do it not for Godsake , that hath commanded it , but to be seen , and praised if men ; if they are abstemious , these ill spirits recommend it , not as a necessary Vertue , but as it saves their money , or preserves their credit , and so in all other like cases . Others by Complection , or Education devout , having entertain'd , and suffered their desires to enter in●o Superstitions or limmited sowr harsh forms of Religion , immediately they are attended with an evil Genius , or Angel , that increaseth their peevish mistakes under a notion of Zeal , so that at length , for a Lye and vain superstitious idle Fancy of another mans , they will both suffer death themselves ; and when they most cruelly murder their Brethren that will not , nor cannot believe as they do , they think they do God good service , witness the daily Practises of many Turks , and others . So Great , Strong and Wonderfull are the simpathetical opperations of evil Angels , and Spirits , on the souls of men , that whatsoever any person inclines to , or what Principle or Property soever is awakened , or gets the Government in the center of his Life , or that the same does naturally invite , or attract , a Genius or Angel of a surable property , which does diligently wait upon him , or her , so long as they shall continue in that state ; But if the will ( which indeed is the Primum mobile in man ) turn it self away from that , and enter into another thing , then the Government of that Genius , or Angel , grows weak , and another takes his place , according to the nature of that thing the man is inclined unto ; for no sooner can a man fix his thoughts and desires strongly upon any thing , but a genius is presently at his Elbow , and r●ady to suggest an increase of the same longing , and prompt him to put his Imaginations into Action . CHAP. VII . Treats particularly of the Offices rendred to men by good Angels : the grounds of mixt Thoughts and Actions : the Shapes wherein Good and Evil Angels appear , or represent themselves ; and the Reasons thereof . VVhat we said of the Evil Genij , is likewise to be understood of good Spirits and Angels , in a contrary manner , for they are no less ready and diligent to attend all people that are soberly and innocently inclined , and do dictate to them Vertuous Things and Ways , and do mightily strive for , and defend all the Children of Vertue and Piety , against the assaults and stratagems of evil Angels , not only in an incorporeal way , but also outwardly , as to the Body , preserving them from being Drounded , falling from High Places , being Killed , Robbed , Beaten , Mislead , and an hundred such like Mischances . Also it is to be noted , that there do arise great Tempest and Troubles , in mens Souls and Minds , through the Strife and Contending of the good and evil Genij , and Angels , for Superiority or Government ; whence do proceed that strange and otherwise unaccountable Variety of mixed thoughts and imaginations of both good and evil , so that sometimes , when a man has as it were just concluded to do an evil action , the good Genius , or Angle , comes in with a powerful admonishment , but with a gentle soft , and as it were still voice , saying , Do not this evil thing , and this doth prevent many great outrages and cruel mischiefs amongst men , for all men that are not as it were ●eared up , and as it were captivated in the fierce Wrath , & poysonous Principle , when they incline or attempt to commit evil , do find some checks , or reluctances , and experience the effects of a struggling , or counter ballancing in their Souls , between the good or evil Genij , or Angels , and which soever of the two the will gives up its a●sent and consent unto , that carries the day , and proceeds as in tryumph to the Action , whether good or evil . Thus sometimes a man going about his occasions , shall have strange , and most wicked thoughts and imaginations injected , or darted as it were into his mind , without any premeditation , consideration or sensible occasion , and then presently he shall have an opposite thought beam'd in from the good genius , which does Moderate , Allay , and put a stop to the evil Ones ; and thus a multitude of surprising imaginations , both in good and evil , attend mankind , by the dictates , Gleams , Rayes and Influences of Genij or Spirits which are of very wonderful consideration and moment . But although those restless Spirits always busie , yet the most dangerous time of all , and that wherein evil Angels most certainly accomplish their mischievous designs , to the destruction of men , is , when men give themselves up to any Intemperance , or Disorder , as Passion , Drankenness , Gluttonny , Swearing , Lying , Cheating , Envy , Debauchery , Violence , Oppression , and the like , for by these Evils men do secretly awaken their own Fountain or Principle , and give the evil Spirits great Power and Authority over their Souls , so that they are led into Captivity and Bondage , and ensnared in a Thousand Evils and Miseries , and from this impure Fountain , which men awaken , by their Intemperance and Uncleanness , proceed the multitude of vain Dreams , and lying Visions ; for according as the more central parts are awakened , and sutable to that Principle that governs in the life's-Spirit , such are the Dreams , Yet it must be understood that no man's dream is wholely , and altogether evil and vain , for that cannot be , except men were meer Devils , which also cannot be , so long as we live in the humane Nature , for mans fall was not like the fall of the evil Angels , for these latter fell into the dark Abiss , or original Wrathful Principle , without , or beyond Nature and Creature , and therefore there was for them no help , nor recovery ; but on the contrary , men fell into the knowledge of Good and Evil , that is into Nature and Creature , which is his inexpressible happiness , as being not left destitute , or uncapable of the Blessing , or Regenerating Seed of the woman ; for there does centrally dwell in the humane Nature that which the wise man calls , The Voice of Wisdom , that continually calls man to Repentance , and Reproves him for his evil Wayes . This is the Genius Optimus , the Soul of the Soul , and the Eye of the Mind , that has power , and is alwayes willing to defend man from all the Assaults of evil Angels , and unto this holy Principle , and friendly Fountain , the Dictates and Voices of all good Angels and Spirits do concur , it being a great part of their work and business to assist man , and preserve him from the inward incursions of the multitude of malignant Spirits . And as mens Thoughts Imaginations Words and Works are mixed , viz. Good and Evil , but generally the evil does much over-ballance the good ; the very same is to be understood of their Dreams , and night Visions ; whence it comes to pass that the far greater part of mens Dreams proving , so false frivilous vain and impertinent they are become infamous , and a Reproach is unjustly brought upon Dreams in general ; whereas indeed the fault is in themselves that their Dreams are no more certain ; for the streams cannot aford good pure water , if the Fountain be defiled ; neither can any expect true delightful and pleasurable Dreams and night Visions , when the unequal Forms and Properties of nature have gotten the upper dominion in the heart and soul ? Or who can hope for the friendly Visits and Communications of good Angels , when both Soul and Spirit are captivated in evil , and lives as it were in another Country or Region , which is as opposite to that wherein they delight , as Light is to Darkness , or the Zenith to the Nadar ? And therefore they cannot come there ; for Angels and Genij have power only in their own respective principles , and mankind cannot draw neer , nor have any Communication with them , nor they with him , except he immerseth his will and desires into their principle . This is clearly manifested by all things in this external world , which is a real and true Figure of the internal , from whence it proceeded ; for here we see how every thing desires to accompany its own kind , as proceeding from the same Matter and Element , and when the same properties have the chief dominion in the Centre of Life : And therefore those men whose predomnant Qualities are alike , have a great affinity with each other in their Dispositions and Inclinations , and and do often heartily love and desire each others company ; and the same is to be understood in many other things where they agree in number , weight and measure , there they powerfully incorporate and rejoyce together , and with united Forces endeavour to cast out their Contraries . A pregnant Example of this we have in sounds , If two Instruments of Musick of one sort be Tun'd to an equal pitch , strike one of the strings , and the same string on the other Instrument will Shake or Tremble , as I my self have experienced . The very same attractive and sympathetical Inclinations have all other things , though in some it be more occult : what man in the world would believe the Attractive Vertue and Power which the Lodstone has upon Iron , if it did not appear to his Eye ? For the wise and wonderfull Creator has endued all things with an influential vertue and attractive Inclination , and Certainly , if Nature hath such Great Power , and Secret Energy in inanimate Things , much more there is in the Living Power , or Highest Graduated Spiritual and Immortal Beeings , of which these Outward Things are but Figures ; if man did but know , or were but sensible how Wonderfully he is Made , and Excellency of his own Composition , and that in him is Contained the True and Real Principle both of Time and Eternity , then would he be ashamed of his condition , and ever Praise and Admire and Serve his Blessed Creator in Fear , and endeavour to immitate Him and all Good Angels , in Innocency and Well-doing , which would more powerfully attract the Sweet and Blessed Influences of all Good Spirits , and the Intrinsick Vertue of every other Thing , whereas Discord and Evil do as Powerfully drive away all Good Intelligences , and make men altogether incapable of Divine Visions , so that he being Defiled and Polluted with Violence , cannot foresee any Celestial Thing ; but becomes as it were wholy Blinde as to those Sublime Misteries , and Holy Vertues , which is a Wofull Condition , and very Deplorable , for then , they call Evil Good , and Good Evil , not being Capable to make any Distinction of their Properties , or the Principles of their own Nature . On the other side , a firm Faith , and a continued Contemplation or Meditation on the wonderfull variety of Seperated Beeings , and the Immortal World ( whence all material things take their Birth ; the inward Beeing the Life , and the outward , but as the Body ) for men , I say , to be sensible of these Sublime Opperations does Facilitate forward , and promote true Visions ; more especially if Temperence , Cleanness & Innocency be observed in Meats , Drinks , Exercise , Words , Works , and Communications , for these Vertues are Divine Gifts ; he that obtaineth the Knowledg and Government of himself is endued with a Glimps or Ray of Divine and Universal Understanding , both of the Material and Immaterial Creatures , together with the Fear of the Lord , and the inward Workings of his Holy Spirit , and Divine Power ; therefore it is said , That the Spiritual man discerneth all things , even the deep things of God ; that is , both things Internal , as well as External , wherewith agreeth the Apostle , teaching , That what ever may be known of God is manifest in man ; who is the only Creature in this Visible Material World , that is capable of all Spiritual and Natural Learning , and as he shall give way and be obedient to the inward voice of Wisdom that continually cries in the Gates of his Microcosmical City , so shall he be endued by degrees with a True Sight , and Spiritual Apprehension according to the use he makes of , and the Advantages he puts his intrusted Talents unto . For the Foundation of all Wisdom , and Right Knowing is within , in our own Apartments ; therefore there is a Necessity for every Man first to know himself in some Measure , before he Think or Presume , to know or Understand any other Thing Truly , be it either Natural or Spiritual ; and those that with an Holy Humility do Aspire to this Sublime Knowledge , Viz. of God , Nature , and Themselves , ought by all means to be in good earnest , and Zealous for Cleanness and Innocent Living ; for Abstinence , Sobriety and Temperence do wonderfully fortifie the Observers thereof , against the Assaults and Temptations of Evil Spirits and Angels , and make the Body Lightsom , Pleasant and Healthy , thereby enlarging all its Functions , and also Prepares the Soul for Celestial Irradiations , rendring it more fit to become the Temple of God , and Associate of Holy Powers ; those Pure Abstemious Vertues do in a wonderful , but secret manner attract the good Angels and Spirits , more especially to such Persons as by an insight into these Mysteries , shall be satisfied of the possibility of such Spiritual 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 F●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 , F●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 Vert●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 ●low from the benigne and ever● 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 a●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 wrath●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 his Will and Desires to enter into , that same Quality or Property gets the Dominion and chief Government in the Centre of the Soul ; and if men live and dye in the power and strength of that predominating wrathful Nature , and do not weaken or change it by Repentance and Regeneration , then from that very property is generated a new Body , and sealed with its proper Signiture ; for every Spirit has , and is end●ed with an innate power , by which it can attract suitable matter out of all things for a Covering ; or Body , suitable ; or of a proportionable form and nature to its self ; for , as at the beginning , when the eternal sole Self-Existent Essence moved Himself to the Creation , or Manifestation of all external Beeings and Creatures , then according to the qualification of the seven Fountain-Spirits , and what property , degree and nature of the Spirit such matter was capable to attract out of all things , for a Covering or Body , such was the external nature , form or shape proportionable to the inward Life or Spirit . Therefore the outward Signatures or Forms , Shapes and Complections of each Creature , both in the Animal , Vegetable and Mineral Kingdoms , doth clearly manifest what form or property in the seven , fold nature carries the uppermost Goverment therein : But none can rightly distingush this but only the unvailed Eye , though every one may more or less perceive it , since in Animates 'tis most clearly manifested by the eyes of each Creature . For the Eyes are the open Gates and Light of all the natural Faculties , through which continually pass the most subtle spirits of life , and have there their free egress and regress . For which Reason the disorders of nature , and the strength , weakness , liveliness , and dull , heavy , indispositions both of Man and Beast may easiest be perceived by the eyes and face . And hence also it comes to pass , that the wishful looks of some saturnine people , whose souls are captivated in the astringent bitter , wrathful nature , do sometimes wound the pure spirits and health , of those they wish evil unto , which the Ancient called Fassination , and our Vulger say of such as they conceive to be injured , that they are bespoke . Yet it is to be noted that the wishes of those bad people , without their fight or looking upon one , hath not that power to hurt the health , or any thing of that nature , as seeing and wishing both together ; nor yet can either of them , or both con●oyn'd , hurt or wound the health o● any , but only such as are under the dominion of their Spirits , and live under the government of the same evil Properties , though in a lower degree ; for those that are higher exalted then themselves in the Wrathful Bitter Saturnine Nature , they cannot injure , much less can they touch or hurt others , who live in any degree of Regeneration , and acknowledge the holy Fountain , and eternal Light and Love of Jesus Christ to be Guide and Governour of their Souls , there being a wonderful difference , and vast Gulf between the Principles they live in , the one being Light , and the other Vtter Darkness . Now as the extern Signature of all material Bodies is an intelligible Character , or Index of the internal Spirit or Vertue , so separated Souls , when they assume aierial Bodies , or represent themselves in Dreams , do it in Shapes and Figures Analogous to the state they are in , and that Principle which bears sway over them . I shall conclude this Chapter , with two observations delivered by two learned men . The first Trythemius , who asserts , that never any good Angel appeared in the shape of a woman . The other Van Helmon , who in his ninty third Chapter has these words ; If an Angel appear Bearded , let him be accounted an evil one , for a good Angel hath never appeared with a Beard . The truth is a woman is the weaker vessel , and was first in the Transgression , so that Sex is an emblem of weakness ; and therefore there is no reason , why the good Angels , amongst whom there is no difference of Sex , should chuse to appear as a female , but rather being of a species above humane kind , assumes the shape of the most excellent of that kind , and for the same reason they may appear without beards , both because hair is an excrement , and verges somewhat in resemblance to the brutish Nature , as also more especially , thereby to denote their perpetual Youth , Beauty and Vigour , wherein those intellectual beeings , which keep their First , Glorious , and Happy estate , do alwayes remain . And the contrary , in all those particulars is to be understood of the evil Genij , who by their fall rendred themselves lyable to weakness , imperfection , and continual Transgression , and consequently allyed to the savage nature , which they often resemble , in being all over hairy , as is storied of the Satires and Fawns , a sort of corporial Demons , mentioned by the Ancients , and one of which , the great Augustine testified that himself saw . CHAP. VIII . Scripture Examples and Testimonies , touching Dreams , HOw highly Dreams were esteemed by the holy Ancients and Prophets , appears by many Testimonies of Sacred Writ ; The ever blessed Creator , frequently sending his Angels and good Spirits , to tell and reveal unto his People , and Sons of Wisdom , his Divine Pleasure , sometimes to admonish them of future things , and sometimes of their own evils , and at other times , to avoid and prevent the evils that evil men threatned them with , as Genesis 20. 3. God came to Abimeleck in a dream by night , and said unto him , Behold , thou art but a dead man , for the woman which thou hast taken , for she is a mans wise , This Angelical admonishion and reproof , proved very profitable to Abimelech ; for hereby he repented of his evil , which otherwise he would ignorantly have committed , and saved himself and his people unviolated , and safe from the severe Judgments , so near impending and threatned , so Gen. 31. 10 , 11. The Angel of the Lord appeared to Iacob in a dream , and bad him return into his own Land ; and when in obedience to that Vision , he had stolen away unawares from Laban , and Laban with his Brethren , persued him seven days Journey , designing as it seems , to fall upon him with Violence , 't is said in the 24th verse , that the Lord came to Laban the Assyrian , in a Dream by Night , and said unto him , Take heed that thou speak not to Iacob either good or bad ; that is , offer not any Violence to him , as appears verse 29. By which means the rage of Laban was restrained , and Iacob preserved from danger . Did not Ioseph , whilst yet but a Child , receive intimation of his future advancement , in a Dream , Gensis 37. 9. Which Dream was repeated , or doubled unto him , for the greater assurance of the truth and ce●ainty of the thing . Of Pharoh's chief Butler and Baker it is said , Gen. 40. 5. That whilst they were in Prison , they dreamed a Dream , both of them , each man his Dream in one Night , each man according to the Interpretation of his Dream : And when Ioseph their Fellow-Prisoner came unto them , in the morning , and found them sad , and enquired the reason , they told him , we have dreamed a Dream , and there is no Interpreter thereof : To which he did not reply as many of the People that would be counted wise men in our Day would probably have done in such a Case , viz. All Dreams are Vanities and Fancies , you should never regard them , they signifie nothing , and therefore never trouble your heads about the Interpretation , &c. But on the contrary , he tells them ; Do not Interpretations belong to God ? Tell me your Dreams , I pray you , verse 8. And having heard them , proceeds to give a true Interpretation thereof , That the Butler should be Restored , and the Baker Hanged in three dayes space , which was exactly accomplished . In the next place , Gen. 14. 1. We read of a Dream that Pharaoh King of Egypt had , first , of seven fat Kine , devoured by seven lean ones . And afterwards of seven full ears of Corn , devoured by seven thin , and blasted ones , which the aforesaid illuminated , young servant of God , Ioseph interpreted to be a Vision from God ; for , saith he , verse 25. God hath shewed Pharaoh what he is about to do ; there shall be seven Years of Plenty , and afterwards seven Years of Famine ; Therefore he advised to lay up the fifth part of all the increase , during the seven fruitfull Years ; by which secret admonition of the good Angels of the Lord , King Pharaoh was put into a way to preserve himself and his people , and particularly to be a shelter , and maintianer of the Patriarks of Iacob , and all his off-spring . And as well , this Dream of Pharaohs , as the o●●er of Iosehps was doubled , or set forth 〈◊〉 under several representations , but still to one and the same purpose ; for which Ioseph gives the reason , vers . 32. For that the Dream was doubled unto Pharaoh twice , it is because the thing is established by God , and God will shortly bring it to pass ; whence we may learn , that when Dreams are represented to us under several Forms , we ought to take more especial notice of them , and may be assured both of a certain and speedy coming to pass of the things thereby signified . Dreams and Vision , were the usual Wayes , whereby the Lord revealed his Councels to his Servants and Prophets , to be communicated to his people , for which there is a plain express word of promise , Numb : 12. 6. If there be a prophet among you , I the Lord will make my self known unto him in a Vision , and will speak to him in a Dream . So Saul , Sam. 28. 15. complains to the deceased spirit , or soul of Samuel , ( whom he had caused to be raised up ) when he asked him , why he had disturbed him from his stilness , and quiet rest , Saul answered him , saying , I am in great distress , for the Philistines make war against me , and God is departed from me , and answered me no more by prophets , nor by Dreams ; which shews that Dreams were one of the most usual ways , whereby God was wont to signifie his pleasure , to the Sons of men . When Gideon warred with the Amalekites , and was somewhat dismayed at their vast multitudes he was incouraged by over hearing one of them relate his Dream , and ano●ther giving the interpretation ; as you may read in Iudges 7. in these words ; And it came to pass the same Night , that the Lord said unto Gideon , Arise get the down unto the host of the Amalekites , for I have deliverd 〈◊〉 into thine hands ; and thou shalt hear hear what they say , and afterwards shall thy hands be strengthened . Then he went down with Phurah his servant , unto the outside of the Armed men , that were in the Host ; and the Midianites , and Amalekites , and all the Children of the East lay along in the Valey like Grass-hoppers for multitude , and their Camels were without number , as the sand by the Sea side : And when Gideon was come , behold there was a man that told a dream unto his Fellow , and said ▪ Behold , I dreamed a dream , and loa Cake of Barly bread tumbled into the Host of Midian , and came into a Tent , and smote it , that it fell , and overturned it , that the Tent lay along ; And his Fellow answered and said ; This is nothing else save the Sword of Gideon the son of Joash , a man of Israel ; for into his hand hath God delivered Middian , and all the Host : And it was so , when Gideon heard the telling of the Dream , and the Interpretation thereof , that he worshipped , and returned into the host of Israel , and said ; Arise , for the Lord hath delivered into your hand the Host of Midian . It was in a Dream that God was pleased to Grant Solomon a promise of Wisdom and Understanding ▪ ● King. 3. 5. In Gideon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a Dream by Night , and god said ; Ask what I shall give thee : And Solomon said , Now , O Lord my God , thou hast made thy servant King instead of David my Father , and I am but a young child ; I know not how to go out , or come in ; and thy servant is in the midst of thy people , which thou hast chosen , a great people , that cannot be numbred , or counted for multitude , Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart , to Iudge thy people , that I may discern between Good and B●d ; for who is able to judge this thy so great people ? And the speech pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this thing ; and God said unto him , Because thou hast asked this thing , and hast not asked for thy self long Life , nor Riches , nor the life of thy Enemies , but has asked for thy self understanding to discern judgement of things ; Behold I have done according to thy word ; loe , I have given thee a wise and understanding Heart , so that there was none like thee before thee , neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee ; and I have also given unto thee that which thou hast not asked , both Riches and Honour ; so that there shall not be any amongst the Kings like unto thee in all thy dayes ; And if thou wilt walk in my wayes to keep my Statutes , and my Commandements , as thy Father David did walk , then I will lengthen thy days ; and Solomon awoke , and behold it was a Dream . Hear we see what a large communication , or converse the Lord is pleased to hold with the Spirit of Soloman in a Dream ; and as the request was nevertheless real on Solomans part ; nor less acceptable to God , then if it had been made waking ; nay , probable , was more acceptable , because the more pure , free and undisturbed desire of his Soul , not then seduced by the senses , or beclouded with corporeal objects ; so what the Lord promised him in this vision , was punctually made good and performed . But though God speaketh frequently in Dreams , yet many times man by his Dulness , Corruptions and Depravedness renders himself insensible of those illuminations ; whence holy Iob affirms , God speaketh once , yea , twice , yet man perceiveth it not ; in a Dream , in a Vision of the night , when deep sleep falleth upon men , in slumberings upon the bed , then he openeth the ears of men , and sealeth their instruction , Job 33. 14 15 , 16. And as those Dreams and Visions are sometimes matter of joy and comfort , so at other times , they are terrible and frightful ; and therefore the same pious Author complains , Iob. 7. 14. When I say , my bed shall comfort me , my couch shall ease me ; then thou scarest me with Dr●ams and terrifiest me through Visions . 'T is the duty of the Prophets and Servants of God to have a due regard to their Dreams ; and though some pretended Dreams , when they had none , or made use of them to seduce the People to Idolatry , yet still the true Prophets were not to slight Visions and Dreams , because of Idolatrous Impostures ; and such as were guilty of the latter were by Mose's Law to be put to death Deut. 8. 1. If there arise amongst you a Prophet , or a Dreamer of Dreams , and giveth thee a sign or a wonder and the sign or the wonder came to pass , whereof he speakes unto thee , saying , Let us go after other Gods , and let us serve them ; thou shall not hearken unto the voice of that Prophet or that Dreamer of Dreams ; for the Lord your God proveth you , to know whether you Love the Lord your God with all your Heart and with all your Soul — And that Prophet or that Dreamer of Dreams shall be put to Death . So the Prophet Zachariah chap. 10. 2. complains ; The Idols have spoken Vanity , and the Diviners , have spoken a Lye , and have told false Dreams , they comfort in vain . And so Ieremiah , chap. 23. 25. I have heard what the Prophet said , that Prophecy lyes in my Name ; saying , I have Dreamed , I have Dreamed . How long shall this be in the Heart of the Pr●phets that Prophecy Lyes ? Yea , they are Prophets of the deceit of their own hearts ; which think to cause my People to forget my Name , by their Dreams , which they tell every man to his Neighbour , as their Fathers have forgot my Name for Baal . All these Texts against the Abuse of Dreams , when they are forged , & wickedly made use of to promote Idolatry , but make nothing against the lawful , humble , pious and most profitable use of Dreams , as appears by what follows in the 28 th verse of the same chapter , viz. The Prophet thou hath a 〈◊〉 , let him tell the Dream , and 〈…〉 hath my Word , let 〈…〉 faithfully ; what is 〈…〉 Wheat , saith the Lord ? The knowledge 〈…〉 and Dreams is reckon● 〈…〉 principal Gifts and Graces 〈◊〉 bestowed by the Lord on them that fear him : So 't is said of Daniel and his three Companions , That God gave them knowledge and skill in all Learning and Wisdom , and Daniel had understanding in all Visions and Dreams . Dan. 1. 1● . And therefore when King Nebuchadnezzar had Dreamed Dreams , and his spirit was troubled because the thing was gone from him ; that is , he had forgot what he had seen , but only retain'd a general remembrance that he had a strange and wonderful Dream ; when all the Magicians , and Astrologers , and Sorcerers , and Chaldeans were so far from being able to recall his Dream , that they told him , There was not a man upon the Earth could do it ; This holy Prophet Daniel , not only shewed the King the Dream , but also the Interpretation thereof ; ( the same being revealed unto him in a Night Vision , Dan. 2. 19. ) whereupon he acquaints the King , that there is a God in Heaven that revealeth secrets , and maketh known to the King Nebuchadnezzar , what shall be in the Latter dayes ; As for thee , O King , thy thoughts came into thy mind upon thy Bed , what should came to pass hereafter , and he that revealeth secrets maketh known unto thee what shall come to pass ; and so proceeds to tell him the particulars of his Dream , and the meaning thereof , being a Declaration of the most eminent Empires , and Monarchies , that should succeed in the Earth , and their Qualities , Splendor and Conditions . The same King Nebuchadnezzar , was premonished in a Dream , of the Judgement that was coming upon him , for his presumption and forgetfulness of God ; he was driven out of his Kingdom , and from amongst men , and did eat Grass with Oxen , &c. Also in the 7th . of Daniel we read , how the Lord by his Angel shewed that holy Prophet the things that should come to pass in the world in the Latter days . Nor was this Method of God's , ( whereby he revealed his secrets by Dreams ) peculiar to the legal Dispensation , but seems more especially to be extended unto , and enlarged under the Gospel , according to that prophesie of Ioel , chap. 2. 28. And afterwards ( saith the Lord ) I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh , and my Sons and my Daughters shall Prophecy , your young men shall see Visions , and your old men shall dream Dreams ; which is repeated and applied to the Illumination of the holy spirit , by the Apostle Peter , Acts 2. 17. So in the new Testament we read , That when Ioseph thought to put away the Virgin Mary , whom he had espoused , because he perceived her to be with Child ; The Angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a Dream ; saying , Joseph , thou son of David , fear not to take Mary to thy Wife ; for that which is conceived in her , is of the holy Ghost , and she shall bring forth a son , and thou shalt ●all his Name Iesus ; for he shall save his people from their Sins , Mat. 1. 20. And in the second Chapter , when the wise men came out of the East to visit him that was born King of the Iews , and were sent by Herod to Bethlem , bidding them , when they had found him , to bring him word , that he also might worship him ; they were warned of God in a Dream , that they should not go again to him ; and therefore returned into their own Country another way : After whose departure , vers . 13. Behold , the Angel of the Lord appeared again unto Joseph in a Dream , saying , Arise and take the Babe and his Mother , and flee into Egypt , and be thou there till I bring thee word ; for Herod will seek the Babe to destroy him . And in the same Chapter vers . 19. When Herod was dead , behold an Angel of the Lord ( once more ) appeared to Joseph in Egypt , saying , Arise , and take the Babe and his Mother , and go into the Land of ●srael , for they are dead that sought the Child's Life . CHAP. IX . Of Angels Guardian of Countries , and particular Persons , and their Offices towards men , mentioned in Scripture . BY the numerous Examples mentioned in the foregoing Chapter , we see how common and frequent it was in former Ages , for the Lord to appear unto his people in nightly Visions and by Dreams ; and in that secret way of Comunication to reveal unto them many wonderful things ; insomuch that they did account themselves as it were abandoned , or separated from the presence of the Lord , and his holy Spirits and Angels , when the Lord did with● draw or supercede this method of Nocturnal Illuminations , as is evident by the forementioned Complaint of King Saul . But in this our Rude and Blind Age , instead of complaining for want of the presence of the Lord and his holy powers , most people make a Laughing-stock , and Derision of Dreams , and all things of that nature ; so great is the Degeneration of Mankind from all sublime Truths and heavenly Converse of good Spirits just as though there were no Angels or Genij , or that the blessed God of Truth had not granted any of them to be our Guardians and Assistants in our Necessities , and under his supream providence , to protect and desend mankind , from the many shares and inventions of evil Spirits , which continually seek how they may devour and destroy man , and lead him captive into perdition : But the Word of Truth assures us , That the God of all Power and Glory has made his Angels great and powerful ministring Spirits , to aid and assist those that fear his Name , and advance the Kingdom of Innocency . So in former Ages we read , That he sent his good Angels , as Messengers of his favour , and to defend his people from incursions of the evil ones ; for they do continually fight against the Malicious degraded Legions . Thence Abraham , when he sent forth his Servant to Mesopotamia , to fetch a wife for his Son Isaac , did by Faith assure him , The Lord should send his Angel before him , and prosper what he went about , Gen. 24. 7. and 14. So the Lord promises the Children of Israel , Exod. 23. 20. Behold , I send an Angel before thee , to keep thee in the way , and to bring thee into the place which I have prepared . Beware of him , and obey his Voice , provoke him not , for he will not pardon your Transgressions , for my Name is in him . But if thou shalt indeed obey his Voice , and do all that I shall speak , then I will be an Enemy to thine Enemies , and an Adversary to thine Adversaries ; for mine Angel shall go before thee in unto the Amorites , &c. Chapter 23. 24. Therefore now go , lead the people unto the place of which I have spoken unto thee : Behold , mine Angel shall go before thee ; which is repeated again , Chap. 33. 2. I will send an Angel before thee , and I will drive out the Canaanite , the Amorite , &c. When Balaam went with the Princes of Moab , to Curse the Israel of God , 't is said , The Angel of the Lord stood in the way for an Adversary against him ; and the Ass saw him , and turned away several times ; but the Prophet could not see him , till his Eyes were opened , and then he reverenced him , and received his message Numb . 22. 23. and 31. An Angel of the Lord came up from Gilgal to Bochim to accuse the Israelites of their disobedience and trangression , whereupon they repented and humbled themselves Iudges 2. 1. Another Angel appeared to Gideon , and encouraged him to deliver the people of Israel out of the hands of the Midianites , Chap. 6. 11. So likewise to Manoah , the Mother of Samson , promising her a Child , and directing her how he should be Educated in Abstemiousness , and Temperance , that he night be fit for those mighty A●chiefments of delivering his people , which the Lord had designed him for , Iudges 13. 3. As Elijah was in the wilderness , and ready to starve , an Angel of the Lord brought him provisions , and said to him , once and again , Arise , and eat ; in the strength of which he travelled forty days , and forty nights , 1 Kings 19. 5. David also teacheth us , That the Angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him , and delivereth them , Psalm 34. 7. And again , Psalm 91. 9 , 10 , 11. Because thou hast made the Lord my Refuge , even the most high thy Habitation , there shall no evil befall thee ; neither shall any Plague come nigh thy dwelling ; for he shall give his Angels charge over thee , to keep thee in all thy wayes : they shall bear thee up in their hands , lest thou daish thy Foot against a Stone . When the Prophet Zachariah had a vision by night from God , there was an Angel that talked with him , and declared to him the things which he saw . The Angel Gabriel was sent to the Virgin Mary , to acquaint her with the joyful Tydings of her being overshadowed with the holy Ghost , and bringing forth a Saviour , Luke 1. 26. The pool of Bethesda had its Senative Vertue communicated to it by the ministry or an Angel for so the Text expressly tell● us , J●hn 5. 4. An Angel went down at a certain ●eason , and troubled the water , whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever Disease he had . When the ●postles were committed to Prison for preaching the Gosple , Acts 5. 1● . The Angel of the Lord by Night opened the Prison Door ; and brought them forth ; So an Angel of God appeared in a Vision to Cornelius , the devout Centurion , requiring him to send to Ioppa for Peter , who should teach him what he should do , Acts 10. 3. And when afterwards t●e same Peter was imprisoned by Herod the King , behold the Angel of the Lord came upon him , and a Light shined in the Prison , and he smote Peter on his side , and raised him up , saying . Arise quickly ; and his Chains fell off from his hands , and the Angel said unto him , Gird thy self , and bind on thy Sandals ; and so he did : And he said unto him , Cast thy Garment about thee , and follow me ; and he went out and followed him , and wist not that it was true , that was done by the Angel , but thought he saw a Vision . When they were past the first and second ward , they came unto the Iron Gate that leadeth unto the City , which opened unto them of its own accord ; and forthwith the Angel departed from him ; And when Peter was come to himself , he said ; Now I know of a surety , That the Lord hath sent his Angel and delivered me , Acts 12. 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11. And when Paul , in his Voyage to Italy , was in danger of shipwrack , and Angel visited him , and assured him , That none belonging to the Ship should be drowned ; for , said he , There stood by me this Night the Angel of God , whose I am , and whom I serve ; saying , Fear not Paul , Thou must be brought before Caesar ; And lo God hath given thee all them that sail with thee , Acts 27. 23. Thus manifest it is , that good Angels , both by the appointment of the Soveraign Creator , and the excellency of their own Natures ; are alwayes Sedulous , ready and diligent to serve , assist , succour , and illuminate good and vertuous men ; especially in their distresses , or when they are in danger by the malice and subtilty of wicked men ; And it is the Doctrine of the wise Antients , that not only every person , man or woman , from his or her first coming into this world , hath in an especial manner , a particular good Angel deputed ; which therefore is called his or her Guardian Angel , or good Genius , and that another evil Angel also of a direct contrary nature and property is always attending us , thence called Catademon , or a mans evil Genius , hut also that Communities , Nations and Countries have also particular Angels assigned to their government , or super●intendency : And therefore in some Translations that eighth verse of the thirty second chapter of Deuteronomy is thus read , — when the most high divid●● to the Nations their Inheritance ▪ when he separated the Sons of Adam , when he set the Bounds of the People according to the number of the Sons of God ; that is allotted to all the several Nations , distinct Rulers , and Supervisors , amongst the Holy Angels , here called the Sons of God. Thus as all Contention Hate , Malice , Strife , Oppression , Violence , Fighting , Killing , Murders and Wars , both Private and Publick ; are first conceived in the Spirit , and have their Foundation from the Wrathful , Poysonous Principle , so when men by their sinful vanity have awaked or kindled this direful Principle , which threatens destruction and Ruin to both private Families and publick Societies , States or Governments , then there begins a great Combat , and as it were open Wars between the Guardian Angels of each person or Country ; and which soever of them gets the Victory , that King , Country or People succeedeth in its Wars here below , and subdueth the other . This I conceive is plain , and undeniably evident from the 10th chapter of the Prophet Daniel , where an Angel comes to Daniel ( who had spent three weeks in mourning , fasting & praying ) & said unto him , O Daniel ! greatly beloved , understand the words I speak unto thee ; for unto thee am I now sent , for from the first day that thou didst set thy heart to understand and to chasten thy self before thy God , thy words were heard , and I am come for thy word sake ; but the Prince of the Kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty dayes ; but lo , Michael , one of the chief Princes came to help me , and I remained there with the Kings of Persia , now I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy People in the latter days ; for the Vision is for many days — And having strengthened the Prophet , proceeded thus ; knowst thou wherefore I come unto thee , I will return to fight with the Prince of Persia ; and when I am gone forth , lo , the Prince of Grecia shall come ; but I will shew thee that which is noted in the Scripture of Truth , of Michael your Prince ; thereby to understand the several respective Angel Guardians or Titular Intelligences of those Nations , and that every particular person ( as well as Nation or Country ) hath a peculiar Angel Guardian , seems to me very plain from the Scripture , especially those two undeniable Texts , Mat. 18. 10. Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones ; for I say unto you , that in Heaven their Angels alwayes behold the Face of my Father . And Acts 12. 15. when the Maid came and told the Brethren that Peter ( whom they supposed to be in Prison ) was at the Door , they not believing her , said , It is his Angel ; which plainly argues what a firm opinion and belief the faithful Christians of old had in this matter . The like stirvings and oppositions are to be apprehended of the Guardian Angels , and chief Princes of other Countries , Places and People ; there is frequent struggling between the Internal Princes , but still the prime occasions , or first motives , are generally given to them by mens sinful vanities , which do move the inward wrathful Principle of nature ; whence all those judgments and cruel Miseries do proceed , and which do give oppertunity and advantage to the evil Angels to insnare man in a thousand Mischiefs , unheard of Debaucheries , Idle Dreams and Lying Visions . For the Lord , who is a God of Holiness and Purity , and loveth Truth in the inward parts , doth not visit any with heavenly Dreams or Visions , but such as call u●on , fear and believe in his sacred Name ; such whose Temples are undefiled with Blood and Uncleanness , and their Hands unstained with Oppression or Violence ; such in all Ages he hath admitted into his holy presence , and granted unto them his good Angels to Teach , Guard and Defend them from Sin and Evil ; but we do not read that in former times the Lord did ever so visit the froward and perverse of heart , or granted them the help of these noble illuminated Companions , viz. the blessed Angels and good Genij , for alas● tho these blessed and good-natured Intelligencers were ready to attend them , they instead of accepting and attracting such their assistance , do by wicked practises and intemperate lewd habit of Life , and continual Violence , drive the good Spirit away ; and on the contrary , conciliate to themselves evil Genij , whose work it is to suggest and dictate Lyes , in a spiritual way both night and day ; and such persons Dreams and Visions are generally Lying Phantasies , according to the nature of their attendance . For every man in the world hath either a good or evil Internal Companion , or Genius , that he adheres unto , of the nature of that property that he has the chief Government in the Life ; and this Genius does mightily prompt & froward all such things as his principle , quality or Complexion inclines him unto ; and as men alter in inclination , either to good or evil , so their Genius grows either stronger or weaker , according as they shall enter with their wills into good or evil , and became strong therein , it may also be noted , that what Imployment , Art or Science soever a man strongly inclines unto if he continues therein , and becomes fixed , he shall obtain a proper Genius , which will mightily assist him in that Art ; and the very same is to be understood in both vertue and vice , for as any one becomes wedded unto , or practises either with strong inclinations ; so his Genius , or good or evil Attendant becomes strong and powerful , and if it be vertue , than such a person becomes great in the mysteries of Goodness , Vertue , Wisdom , and the secret knowledge both of God , and of himself , and of universal nature , according as his Temper and Complexion is capable ; For constancy giveth strength , and great power , both to the Genius , and all the faculties of the Soul ; And the like is to be said of vice , as is most apparant in such as continue long in the practice of Evil , they every day grow much worse , the Custom takes away the Conscience of sinning , and they become Seared as with an hot Iron , as the Apostle fitly phraiseth it , that is , lockt up as it were , or wholly captivated in sordid Vanities and Impieties , whereby they become cruel and violent in all things , and work wickedness with Greediness , and draw Iniquity as with Cart-ropes , for they have opened the gate of original Poysons , the Bitter , Wrathful , Astringent Spirits , which compose the inwardmost Kingdom of fierceness , wherein Devils dwell , being destitute both of divine and eternal Light ; this evil center many men have so terribly awakned , as shortly they have by way of simile attracted the evil Spirit , and Angels for their Companions , who do diligently wait upon , and continually prompt them to wickedness , and 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 Resembla●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 th●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 , ●mitated and lived in the innocent nature of Christs Spirit , and good ●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. 1● . 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 Ie●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 Egypti●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 f●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 ●ally-ports of the Senses wide open , to let in outward material ▪ Objects , 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 Ang●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 grea● 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 ●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 benig●e Spirits or Angels is prevented or frustrated , and such peoples Dreams are confused , oblivious , and tending to Evil and Vanity ; for the good Intellig●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 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 th●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 & o●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 o●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 co●● have by their divulging , and foolish talking of them , lost such their Guardians , and all the conversation of their good genij , which too la●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 Prophet , I have hid thy Word , in my Heart , that I might not sin against Thee . And Mary , the blessed amongst women , when the Angel Saluted her , and told her what glorious things should happen unto her , it is said , that she laid up the sayings in her heart , and pondered them in her religious mind ; which reverence , and serious meditation on these wonderful things , which the Angel communicated unto her , was well pleasing to the blessed Creator , whence every good and perfect gift proceeds . For all celestical vertues are wonderfully strengthened by secrecy , and the holy powers attracted , who de●est publick and profane things , and vain bablings Now Dreams are no other then certain discourses and incorporeal Sights of the Soul , being in sleep , loosed from the heavy Fetters of the Body and sences , whereby it hath 〈◊〉 near affinity , with the matereal beeings , and according to what 〈◊〉 of the sevenfold Nature , she is 〈◊〉 unto , such and such 〈◊〉 ▪ Representations or Dreams , 〈◊〉 appre●ends which appears as ●eal as if they were corporeal qualities , and the Soul is thereby either tormented , and full of perplexity , or on the other side filled with Joy and Delight apprehended in the Divine Vision ; somewhat to this purpose is imitated by Iohn the Divine in the Revelations , where 't is said , Blessed are they that dye in the Lord , for their Works do follow them . For the Manners , Habbits , Temperance , Sobriety , Innocency of Life , doing unto all as they would be done unto , and the true illuminated understanding of the Mysteries of God , and his great Divine Law in nature , are works that may be said to follow a pious Soul after death , which then calls to mind those things that it did in its life , and still more intently meditates and thinks on them , and endeavors to do them again , for they being the Souls chief delight in the time of its continuation with the Body , it still takes ▪ Pleasure in them , but in a more perfect and exalted degree . For after Death the Soul being deprived , and wholy destitute of all the Faculties and Functions of humane Life , as Nourishing , Growing , Generating and various Occupations of the Senses , all the delights of the Body must needs cease , and be terminated ; but their works follow them in the Mystery , and become substantial ; for all things then appear in their real Figures , Forms and Shapes as they do in this World , but in the greatest Perfection and most Sublime . The truth of this St Iohn in the Revelations does demonstrate where the Gate of the Heavenly Paradisical Kingdom of Eternal Happiness being opened and shewed unto him , it appeared in most beautiful curious Forms , Shapes and Figures of the things of this external World ; but in a far higher degree of perfection , for the Furniture of this World , viz. the innumerable and 〈◊〉 variety of Creatures in the Animal , Vegative , and Mineral Kingdoms , ar● gross , and as it were half dead in comparison of the Heavenly and Spiritual ; for all these lower things are but faint , dull , imperfect corporal Figures and Forms as the Spiritual Kingdom whence they had their original . It is therefore to be noted that no man ever dreamed , that he saw any Thing , Figure , or Shape of the Animal , Vegative and Mineral Kingdome , which he never saw , thought or heard of before at least in the parts , if not in the whole ▪ for though many times things are magnif●ed or diminished and made 〈◊〉 or worse , or Heterogeneous 〈◊〉 conjoyned in a representation 〈◊〉 never were in nature , yet still 〈◊〉 is nothing that hath not 〈…〉 seen , heard or though 〈◊〉 ▪ 〈…〉 Wrath or Hell ; such as have by transgression precipitated their souls thereinto , their work do also follow them , and all Figures , Forms , Shapes , or what ever else is represented unto them , is Fearful and Hideous , according to what degree they have with their wills entered into the wrathful fierce unclean Principle . Their Conditions is like men in terible Dreams , who are afraid of Swords , killing , falling from high places , drownings , Rocks falling on them , or being torn to peices with wild Beasts , and the like strange fierce or malancholy imaginations and representations , which are all real and most essential , and yet no danger of death near them , nor any period to their woful condition . And therefore the state of the damned is called Eternal death , and a worm that never dyeth , and therefore no end of their sorrow and misery . These strange phansies , and yet real apprehensions do follow each Spirit , or Soul , according to that property which carried the upper dominion in the time of the Body , from which predominating property do arise , and are generated , most frightful & hideous representations , whi●h put the captivated Soul into unexpressible fears & agonies , & make it desious to die , & cannot , but continuing forevermore in this doleful torture & perplexity , yea the predominating quality gives the form to the new Body , viz. of a Dog , Cat , Bear , Lion , Fox , Tyger , Bull , Goat , or other savage Beasts , according to what degree such persons in their life time entered into any of their respective natures by Cruelty , Lust , Subtilty , or the like , for this very cause ( as was before intimated ) all the evil Angels & Souls that have at any time appeared in Dreams or Visions , have been clothed with beastial Shapes , Figures , Forms ▪ but good Angels , and blessed Spirit● in human Form , and cloathed with the product of clean innocent vegetation , as fine Linning and the like , for which reason some of the Philosophical Ancients would not wear any other● cloathing or garment then what had an innocent original , as pure Linning , and the like of their Foods ; whereby , immitating the good Angels , they attracted their benevolent Influences . Thus every persons Joys or Sorrows in the Worlds to come are of that nature , as where the predominant properties , and inclinations the will entered into , in the time of its corporeal pilgrimage ; for from the two internal or immaterial Worlds , viz. the Good Heavenly and Paradisical , and the Hellish Wrathful , does proceed & is generated , this good & evil , or material World , of which external beeings are but a platform or figure . Which may afford a very sublime and Philosophical Speculation , and he that would truely know the great adorable and ever blessed Creator , must with fear and earnestness pray unto him to teach him the knowledg of himself , and of the things that are ; every one of which does in its respective degree contain the true nature and property of the whole ; for the wonderful all forming Creator is in the midst of his own works , and does sustain and uphold and continually generate them , and leads the wise Seeker into the knowledg of the two grand Fountains of Good and Evil , and whence they proceed , whilst the profane tread them under their feet . CHAP. XI . That these Communications from good Angels by Dreams , &c. are not wholely ceased ; the Reasons why the same are now so rare and seldom . BUT notwithstanding all those numerous instances we have produced from sacred Scripture , of the frequent Apparitions and Communications of good Spirits & Angels in Dreams and Visions , to pious and holy men in times past , instructing and admonishing them , and revealing divine mysteries unto them ; the same will be of little advantage or incouragement to us , if that vulgar opinion be true , that although they were so usual and frequent in former Ages , yet now they are wholely ceased , and no such spiritual assistances or converse to be expected ; but as this opinion is not founded on holy Scripture , so there are divers reasons which sway with me not to imbrace the same ; its true , the Text saith , That if an Angel from Heaven shall preach any other Doctrine , that is contrary , or derogatory unto the Gospel of Jesus Christ , he ought to be rejected and accursed ; for thereby it would plainly appear , that he was an evil Angel , since God in any of his manifestations is never contrary unto himself ; yet this hinders not but good Spirits may afford us good Offices , and give us notice of impending Dangers , and defend us from the assaults and incurrances of evil Doemons , and be the Ministers of God , whereby he may be pleased to make more clearer revelations of his Secrets to those that fear him ; for the blessed Creator is the same as ever he was , and as near unto mankind as he was in former Ages , whence the Apostle Paul saith , the divine Word , or holy Principle of Gods eternal Light and Love is near thee , in thy Mouth , and in the Center of thy Heart ; and therefore whatsoever was by divine appointment or permission of this nature , common to the Prophets and holy men in former Ages , its reasonable to believe that the same should not only be continued in these later times , but increased , and far more illustrated since the great work of redemption and divine manifestation in the flesh , who was welcomed unto the humane nature by the holy Quires of Angles . It s under this Gospel dispensation that the holy Prophets have foretold should be far more glorious irradications and discoveries of divine knowledge ; that all should be taught of God. That their Sons and their Daughters should Prophecy , their young Men see Visions , and their old Men dream Dreams . The current of the Scripture bears Testimony to a greater Light to break forth in the latter dayes , wherein the knowledge of the Lord shall cover the Earth , as the Water cover the Sea ; and why then should we abridg or reject any of those ways wherein God hath formerly vouchsafed most usually to discover his will in the mysteries of his Kingdom to the Sons of men . The good Spirits are inflamed with the same Zeal for spreading the Glory of their Creator now , as in former times ; they have still the same ardent Charity and Good-will towards men that persue and seek after Vertue and Piety , as heretofore ; and we have as much need of their aid and assistance , as any of the Ancients ; why then should we think all entercourse out off between us and those blessed Spirits ? why should we with a stupid neglect lose the benefit of such powerful Auxiliaries ? That evil Angels are dayly contriving our temporal and eternal ruin , that they do by various ways and means cast stumbling blocks before us in the Paths of 〈◊〉 , and endeavour to seduce us by multitudes of temptations , is generally agreed by all professors of the Christian Religion ; and if so , I desire to know why we should not believe the good Angels to be as diligent to protect or instruct us , as ready to encounrage us in well doing , as the other are busie to circumvent and debauch us , and prompt us on to sin , and mischiefs and misery . It s evident the ever blessed Creator has since the woful fall and degeneration of mankind , readily heard the prayers of those that in sincerity have called upon his Name , and live in obedience to his holy Law , and that he hath in various manners appeared to them in Visions Calls , Voyces , Dreams , and the like ; which was continued and encreased in an extraordinary manner after the great Light appeared , viz. Christ Jesus cloathed with the humane nature , as appears by the authority of the Scriptures before mentioned , and if the same be now discontinued ( as some people would have us believe ) of which , as there is no mention in Scripture , so 't is against the Principles of God in nature , to suppose any such Chasm or interruption of communication between superiours and inferiours , in the state of created beeings ; and beside what a miserable and deplorable state must man then now be in ; for amongst the Ancients , if the Spirits of the Lord did withdraw , and cease from communicating , and manifesting the secrets of the great Creator , by some of the forementioned wayes , they looked on themselves in a sad and deplorable condition , as we may see in the case of Saul and others ? Whereas now according to these opinions we are not only debarred of all those celestial interviens and communications , but also exposed to all the rage and subtilty of evil Spirits , without any assistance from the good Angels , which our Fore-fathers so plentifully enjoyed . But the Truth is , if we by vertuous lives prepare and fit our selves for the converse of holy Angels , we have no more reason to dispair of their aid , for the Lord doth never with-draw his holy Spirit from man , except man do first by sin and disobedience separate himself from his Maker ; but on the contrary the divine Principle of love doth continually strive with man against the evil , as our Saviour said , I would have gathered you , even as a Hen gathereth her Chickins under her Wings ; and in another place ; I came to seek 〈…〉 save that which was lost . And elsewhere the Scripture saith , As many as received the glorious Light of his Gospel , became the sons of God , or of Light ; and the great Apostle Paul , who was illuminated by divine Vision saith , Whatsoever may , or can , be known of God , is implanted and manifested in man. For God made him in his own Image , that is , containing a breviate of the nature of all things divine and humane ▪ which is since his fall enlightened , or again re-invested with the divine Seed of the woman , and holy Principle of Light , even to the Center of his Soul , which the wise Man calls , the voice of Wisdom , always crying in the Gate of the microcosmical City , calling man out of Sin , and the Babyloni●al confusion , into the glorious Light and Liberty of the Sons of God , in which state the inward eye of divine sight is opened , which sees into the secret mysteries of Gods ●●ture . But some will say , that these divine sights and visions , like miracles , were only to ●llustrate and confirm the Gospel , or glorious manifestation of Christ in the human nature , and to convince and call the Heathen to repentance , and to the knowledge and saith of the universal Salvation . But to this I answer ; First , The Objection is not true , for as these secret Communications were before under the Mosaical Dispensation , so in fact they have been continued unto , and enjoyned by multitudes of holy pious and reserved Souls in all Age● since , of which various Examples might be given from 〈◊〉 Histories , I shall only cite one remarkable one out of the Book of M●rtyrs : In Queen Maries days , when the Prosecution was hot against the Pro●estants , there was but one Congregation in all the City of London that kept it self int●●e , and privately held Assemblies , to which one Mr. Rough belonged , as a Dea●on or Officer , to eare for the poor , and to that purpose had in his Custody a Roll , wherein all the names belonging to the Congregation were entered , it happened one night , that Cuthbert ▪ Simpson , Dreamed that Mr. Rough was taken , and the Roll in his Pocket , and then awaked , and falling asleep again , had the same Dream r●peated , with which being much affected , he gets up , intending to go to Mr. Rough , but before he got ready Mr. Rough ▪ came unto his Chamber , to whom he told his Dream , and desired him , that he would some way dispose of that Catalogue , that it might not be taken , with him ; Rough reproved him for such a conceit , telling him Dreams were but silly fancies , and Christians ought not to regard them ; but Sympson , upon whose Spirit it had made a greater impression , adjured him , in the Name of the Lord , as he would answer the mischief which might befal the innocent People of God , to mind what he said , and convey away the Book ; so he consented and secured it ; and within two or three days was himself taken , and had the book been found with him , all the whole Congregation had been discovered , and ruined , if not lost their lives , which by this providence was prevented . Secondly . Is there not as great need and occasion still for such spiritual 〈…〉 of mankind still continue in blindness , and unbelief ? The 〈◊〉 and number of Profest 〈◊〉 is inconsiderable in respect of the vast numberless number of 〈◊〉 and Heathens ; besides most called Christians have more of the name then of the nature of that holy Religion . The adorable Jehovah sent his well beloved and eternal Son our Saviour into the World to appease his wrath , and to break down that irefull Partition Wall which separated man from the Peace of God and the God of Peace , and to enlighten the Heathens , and those that sat in darkness and the shadow of death , and to reconcile man to his maker , against whom he had rebelled , and was become an Enemy , not only to him , but consequently to all goodness and vertue . Now since divine Visions and Revelations by Dreams were so frequent before our Saviours incarnation , why should we imagine that this most illustrious Light should put a total stop to all those holy celestial Communications ? As though the ever Blessed God that made all things in Heaven and Earth in concord and sympathy , were not the same , nor so kind to man as in former days , who is certainly unalterably , and always ready to draw near unto , and hear all those that fear his Name . But the true original reason or occasion why Visions , useful Dreams , and the Communications of good Angels are ceased to many nominal Christians , is their infidelity and disobedience , and not living in the Power of that pure Spirit of Light , Love and Wisdom that they profess in name : For , alas ! What do names ▪ or formal empty professions and talk signifie in this particular ? the Lord accepts of no Worship , but that only which is hearty , viz. in Spirit and in Truth , as the great Light of the World does testifie . To shew that I assert no new or singular opinion in this poin● , I shall here add the words of a most Learned and Reverend Author the famous Dr. Vsher , Archbishop of Armaugh , who in his Body of Divinity fol. 150 saith thus . Doth man commit Sin in the Night when he Dreameth ? [ that is , sometimes when he hath evil Dreams , for of those the Author is speaking ] Yes surely [ saith this Learned and Holy man ] the Soul is never idle , bu● when it thinketh not of Good , it thinketh of Evil. And the Godly may mark , that after they have had many Dreams of things 〈◊〉 , their heart is in a measure wounded , till they obtain Peace and Pardon from God. What use are we to make thereof ? to pray 〈◊〉 that God would sanctifie our corrupt Heart , that it may be a Fountain of Holy , and not Sinful thoughts , and in the Night to commit our selves specially to God , that because we having our Senses and Iudgment bound and silent are less able to resist and judge our sinful thoughts , God would preserve us from them by his Grace . And 2dly that we avoid all occasions thereof in the Day ▪ Thus far that Judicious Author . If mankind suffer the fierce , wild , savage , Spirit of Wrath , Violence , Oppression , Intemperance , and Uncleanness to reign in their Hearts and Souls , then there is no doubt but all Illuminations , true Dreams and divine Visions will cease in them ; and the Spirit of Error and Cruelty grow Strong and Powerfull . These are things all sober , serious , well-minded Christians ought to consider , and not to be lead away , with Tradition , Noises and Clamours ; for all such as shall adhere unto , and regard the Voice of Wisdom , that continually cries in the Gates of mans Microcosmical City , and hereby have clensed themselves from Uncleanness , both of Flesh and Spirit , shall find the Inward and Spiritual Eye of their Understanding opened ; and having by obedience , separated themselves from the giddy Croud of the Multitude , and their pernitious Wayes , they become Subjects of the coelestial Country , and belong to the New-Ierusalem , whose Gates stand open to them , so that they are Fellow-Citizens with Saint Iohn in the Revelation ; where he saith , The Gate of the Heavenly City was opened unto him on the Lords-Day , that is , the Divine Principle of Gods eternal Light and amiable Love disclosed its self in the Center of his Heart : Now this was by a Divine Vision , and the Eye of the mind , that he saw the Heavenly Mysteries , through the Outward Nature , which is a true figure of the Inward , because from thence it proceeds ; nor can any know this holy Sabbath , or Lords Day , out those that have retained the Counsel of the Voice of Wisdom , and been true to he heavenly Power ; for unto them alone is granted the Key that opens the Gate of the Heavenly Ierusalem . CHAP. XII . The Causes why Dreams are always Represented us actually present : As also some means tending to promote intellectual Communications : The Excellency of Temperance and a Regular Diet , and Sober Vertuous Life , to conciliate and advance true significant and profitable Dreams , and to make an honest useful improv●ment thereof . THE Soul of man having a divine original , being an Eye or Ray , of the Eternal power and Heavenly Fire , when loosened from the outward gross senses of the Elimental nature , as in Dreams , ●ees into the great Mystery of Eternity , as into its Mother , where there is neither Place nor Time , but near and afar off is all one and the same . For the Soul in Dreams , when the Body and sensual Powers of the outward elemental grosness are asleep , or dead ( which is all one during the sleep of the Body ) is as it were already in Eternity , and swims in the great Depth , or Abysses , and sees with an eternal Eye or Sight in the same measure like its Creator , whence it had its birth , and whose Image it beareth . For this cause the Soul is busied in Dreams and Visions , that are represented not only really actuated , but present , as if they were already done , or at the same time accomplished , for all things , whether past , present or to come , appear present to the Great Eye of the Eternal beeing , and the same ( in proportion ) is to be understood of the Soul in its separate state ; that is to say , dead , asleep , or loosed from the chains and dark clouds of the body and sences , of outward composition , for the Lord , sees and knows all things ; for unto him , there is neither time nor place , night nor day , but all is essencially present ; for things in Eternity goes not on bydegrees , or by progressions , as they do in time ; the like is in its kind to be understood of the Soul in Dreams when it swims out of the grosse sleepy Body , more especially after Death , in which state all the mystries of that Principle into which the Soul had entered and immorsed its self in the time of its Cohabitation with the Body , whether Good or Evil , and also all its works do follow , attend and are present , naked and bare unto each Soul ; hence the Scripture saith , Blessed are those that dye , & are Comprehended in Gods Love , for their works follow them , that is , are Essensually present with them , as their Figures and Representations are in Dreams , so the same divine Scripture saith of Christ , that he was a Lamb slain from the Foundation of the World ; nevertheless the same was not accomplished according to time in some thousands of years after . And as in Eternity all things and time are present , so it thence follows that it comprehends all times , and is not capable of being measured or divided , much less comprehended ; so the Soul of man being inspirited by the eternal divine Principle of Love and Light , and thereby capable of having its Conversation in Heaven , and taking its Flight into Eternity , for every thing is capable to reascend as high as its first Fountain whence it first descended ; in which state it is capacitated , according to its Gifts to see things either actually past and Transacted , or as yet to come , and to be Transacted in time , both as still or already actually present , for so they all stand in Eternity , there being no ▪ Yesterday , nor to Morrow , but t is always the same Yesterday , to Day , and for Ever , there being in him no Turning , Variation nor Shadow of Change. Thus Moses saw the Transactions of the Creation , the Fall of man , the Flood , and all those several Actions done in the World to his own time , as we may find it Recorded to us in his Five Books . 2 Esdras Chap. 14. 21 , to the end ; Esdras , Likewise by the Spirit of the most high , dictated to his Scribs the lost Bible , for it is said in the 4● verse , They wrote the wonderful Visions of the Night ; as for me ( saith Esdras ) I spake in the Day , and in the Night I held not my Tongue v. 43. The Prophet Isaiah , having a grevious Vision declared to him , was ordered to set up a watchman , and he to declare what he saw , Chap. 21. and amongst other things he saw a Chariot , with a couple of Horsmen , and he answered and said , Babylon is Fallen is Fallen . Thus the prophet Ieremiah , Chap. 51. 8. declares the Word of the Lord against Babylon , and saith , Babylon is suddenly Fallen ; as if her Destruction were Actually present , or rather past , and yet , as to time , the City Babylon Flourished many years after those Visions of Ieremiah ▪ And Isaiah , after the same manner spake of Cyrus in the present Tense , Chap , 44. v. 29. Cyrus he is my Shepherd , and shall perform all my pleasure , and Chap. 45. v. 1. Thus saith the Lord to his Anointed , to Cyrus , whose Right hand I have holden , as if Cyrus had then been in being , when as to time it is recorded that this Vision was more then an hundred Years before Cyrus was born . The Angel that appeared unto St Iohn , Rev. 14. 8. saith , Babylon is faln , is faln ; and another Angel also appeared unto him , and cryed , mightily with a strong Voice , Babylon the Great , is Fallen , is Fallen , Rom. 18. 2. yet whether this mystical Babylon , or that Confusion and Oppression to the meek humble divine Kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ , be yet fallen , we are all witnesses ; altho the fall thereof was seen and represented as already done in Eternity at that time of St. Iohn's Vision , which is about sixteen hundred years ago . Thus much I thought fit to observe , from that which every man , from his own experience may find True , that Representations of things in Dreams are alwayes actually present , not past , or future , whereof the judicious Reader may from these hints I have given , deduce several notable Remarkes . But here 't is probable , some may be apt to inquire , If there be so much in Dreams as you seem to teach , and that some Dreams , are so useful and instuctive above others : Can you show us 〈◊〉 method box we should procure such significant Dreams and retain them , and come to understand their true significations ? I answer , those Inquirers do it out of pride , vanity or curiosity , desireing Dreams , and the understanding thereof , that they may vapour therewith , and seem some-body in the World , or to get money thereby , and the like devilish intentions ; then neither I , nor any man else can possibly contribute any thing to the satisfaction of their desires , because they act in a contrary Principle , and these mysteries are Sealed up from them , and all that are of their Spirit ; but to the Meek and the Humble , who drives on no foolish design , but the glory of God in the first place , their own and Neighbours Happiness , so far only as it may be subservent to that , I will propose a few considerations , which may somewhat tend to their Satisfaction . Since True or Prophetical Dreams are a kind of Revelation of a divine power , unto the Soul , and that this sublime state of the minde , is much advanced or depressed , by Temperance or Intemperance , Vertue or Vice , it follows that the first step to all true wisdom is the fear of the Lord , which teaches all men Sobriety , Temperance and Cleanness ; therefore all such as are desirous to arrive at that supream state of the Soul , and to be rendered capable of the Communications of Good Angels and Spirits , and to receive true and profitable Dreams , ought to be Chastly and Devoutly disposed , and in an especial manner to observe Cleanness in Meats and Drinks , and not to over-charge Nature with to great a quantity ; for such surplussage does strangely dull and becloud all 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 Phara●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 includes our Love to God ( the supream Good ) for his own sake ; and to all the rest of the Creation in obedience to his Commands ; but particularly , giving of Almes ( which is but one , and one of the lowest Branches of the sublime ( tho most lowly ) Vertues ) which , as it does wonderfully abate Pride , Covetousness , and such swelling Vices , so it does advance the Soul in all kind of Vertue , & causes it to draw near the supream Good , who in his boundless mercy giveth all things freely , & receiveth naught from any but his own ; the Truth tells us , Give Almes , and all things shall be clean unto you ; and the wise man saith , As Water exting●ishes Fire , so Almes doth Sin : and Daniel taught the King of Babylon , that he should Redeem his Sin by Almes ; and the Angel Raphael testifieth to Tobias , that Almes freeth from Death ; so our Lord Christ commands us , to pray to the Father , Forgive us , as we forgive ; and by analogy , Give us , as we give to others ; but for our further encouragment to Charity , and Almes-Giving , he adds not only that you shall receive an hundred fold , but possess eternal Life ; and the Scriptures declare , that when he comes to judge the Quick and the Dead , he shall upbraid the wicked above all things , for their neglect of Almes and works of Mercy . Furthermore , all that have obtained the knoweldge of themselves , and the gifts of the mind , and the communicati●ns of good Spirits and Angels by dreams , or any other ways , ought above all things to keep silent , and constantly conceal and lock up such sublime secrets in their religious Breasts ; for nothing drives away , and offend the divine Powers & good Angel Guardians more then to publish mysteries to the profane multitude ; for this cause our Saviour Christ , when he lived on Earth , spoke after such a manner and fashion , that only the more intimate Disciples should understand the Word of God ; but the multitude should only perceive the parable ; he likewise , on the same ground , commanded that holy things should not be given to Dogs , nor Pearls be cast before Swine ; therefore well saith the Prophet , I have hid thy Word in my heart that I might not sin against thee , and it is said of Mary , the Mother of Christ , that after the Angel had informed her that she had found favour in the sight of the Lord , and should bring forth the Saviour of the World , she laid all these things up in her heart , and she did not divulge what was discovered to her by the Angel. The thrice Great Hermise , or Mercury of Egypt avers , that to publish , to the knowledge of the Rabble , a Speech , filled with the Mysteries and Majesty of the Deity , is a sign of a irriligious Spirit ; and Plato Commandeth , that holy Secrets , and Religious things should not be divulged to the Common People . Pythagorus injoyned his Followers to a Religious silence , for so many years . Orpheus also did , with a certain Authority of Religion , exact an Oath of silence from those whom he innitiated in holy Rites ; and in Esdras we read this precept concerning the Cabalistical Secrets of the Hebrews , Thou shalt deliver these Books to the wise Men of the People , whose hearts thou 〈◊〉 can comprehend them ▪ the Antient Egyptiaens had certain Characters for their secrets and mysteries , which might not be easily known to the vulger , and these are therefore called Hieroglyphicks ; and Tertullian saith , that the promise of silence is due to Religion , so we Read of a certain Greek Tragedian , that when he would have Transfered somewhat out of the Jews Laws , to supply one of his Fables with ; was struck Blind . And Theopompus , who beginning to Translate somewhat out of the divine Law , into the Greek , Tongue , was presently troubled in mind , and afterwards earnestly desiring God to let him know the occasion of that Judgment , received answer in a Dream , that it was because he had poluted divine things by Setting them forth in publick . Thus the Indian Brachmans , the Persians Magi ; the British Druids , the Greek Phylosophers , Pythagoras , Socrates , Plato , &c , always were nice and diligent in keeping secrets to themselves and their qualified Sectatores , and never to discover Mysteries without a vail . Certain it is that as in Heaven there is an everlasting Stilness , and sweet Harmony , so all heavenly wisdom is strengthened by Silence and Concord ; but publication and discord , distroys good Effects , and drives away holy powers from us . Therefore such as would reap Fruit , by what we have before taught ; must hide , and lay up those secrets in their religious breasts ; for the prating of Fools , and incredulity , are the two grand hinderances , that disturb and obstruct the good effects in every thing , that tends towards the Illumination of mans Soul ; for those sublime vertues require in a man a wonderful dignification , self-denial , and that we should leave ●arnal Affections , frail Sences , and mater●l Passions , for mens souls when freed from the gross Fumes of the body , and evil dispositions ; have wonderful power , being not distempered , but i●●luenced by divine Li●ht , whereby they are rendered compleat in Intrinsecal and Extrinsecal Perfection . Let us therefore remove all Impediments possible , and wholy apply our selves to Contemplation , and innocency of Life ; that is , doing unto the whole Creation , as we would be done unto , and turn our Eyes inwards , for there is , even in our own selves the apprehension of all things , but most men are prohibited by Self-conceit , prejudices of Education , Custom , vain Conversation , and the like , from enjoying the benefit of this in-born Light , so as few enjoy those Heavenly Gifts ; for Opinions , Customs and Passions do continually oppose us , even from our birth ; but if those vain Imaginations , immoderate Affections , violent Desires after what is not needful be once Expelled , the divine Knowledge and power presently takes place , and obtains the Government over the Soul. But for the further accomplishment , furnishing and fitting a mans Soul for the fore-mentioned subline converse , and also for the abtaining the Knowledge and Conversation of the Good Genius , before treated of , let these following Rules be observed . 1st , Let your Meats and Drinks be Clean , and of a simple Nature and Operation . 2d , Have a care the quantity be not too great . 3d , Remember to let your quality be sutable , and agreable to your Nature and Constitution . 4th , Let none of your food be attended with the dying Groans of of the innocent Creatures 5th , Consider the first state of man , and what Foods were ordained for him , viz , none but innocent Herbs , Seeds , Fruits and Grains . 6th , B●think your self and understanding , from what Principle Killing and Eating of Flesh did first arise , and do proceed . 7th , Consider also the Nature , Shapes and Forms , of these Creatures , that by Nature incline to eat Flesh. 8th , Note that all the Wilde Savages of the Desart , in whom the Principle of the fierce Wrath does predominant , are formed , by the same Principle which the fierce Spi●its are f●●med , and look also with Teeth and Claws , like so many terrible Weapons of War , to Prey upon , and ●ear their Fellow Creatures to pieces , and all their Actions and Inclinations do ●●ficiently declare what property has the dominion in the Center of their Lives . 9th , Consider further , Man the finest and most innocent and noble of all others , and Governor of the whole Terrestial Orb ; view and mark well his Form , Shape and intire Symmetry , how Curiously , and yet withal how innocently he is made , and particularly , that his all wise Creator has not furnished him with any Weapons of Violence ; so that he is thereby rendered almost uncapable of tearing Flesh off his Fellow Creatures ; and if he were not , by the seeking out of many Inventions , faln from his original State ▪ and Furnisht by the Pe●il with the Weapons of Mars , he would scarce be able to kill , and feed upon the inferiour Graduates of the Creation , who are his equals in all 〈◊〉 outward Elements , for would it not be hard for a man of kill a Cow , an Hog , or a Sheep and Tear it to pieces , and eat it as Dogs and Wolves do , but what the fierce savage Creatures can do with the Wrathful Weapon of nature , that most men do by invention , and the helps of the dark fiery Art , whereby almost as many humane lives have been destroyed , as by the common course of nature , or diseases . Therefore , upon the whole matter , such as would have the free undisturbed converse of Good Angels and Spirits , and the advantage of real Dreams , let them endeavour , and with equal constancy and earnestness pursue after purity , both of mind and body , to avoid all excess of food or drinks , either in quantity or quality , to eschew things derived from violence , and therefore to be considerate in eating of Flesh or Fish , or any thing , not procurable but by the death of some of our fellow Creatures ; rather let them content themselves with the Delicacies of the Vegetables , which are full as nourishing , much more wholsome , and indisputablely innocent ; particularly avoiding all Gluttony and intoxicating Liquors , as strong Drink , Brandy-wine , and the like ; and fumes , as those of Tobacca , Opium , and the like Poysons ; let them make little or light Suppers ; viz. of Bread and Water , Bread and Raisins , or the like ; for the fewer the Body is from supperfluities , and the Head from vapours , and the mind from perturbations ; the brisker are the natural Spirits , and the finer , and consequently , the Soul has a clearer Light , and is more near the divine Power by Affinity , and more susceptible of their influences , and communications ; but above all , let them at their going to Bed , divest themselves of all worldly Cares , as well as of their Cloathes , and with an ardent Faith , and intire Charity , commend themselves to God the Giver of every Good and Perfect Gift , and the Revealer as well as Auther of all divine Secrets ; and then , if it be convenient for thee , doubt not but thou shalt have such Discoveries as thou art capable of . AN APPENDIX Shewing The Cause of Madness ; AND Several Observables relating thereunto . § . 1. THere being an Affinity or Analogy between Dreams and Madness , so that the understanding of one will somewhat illustrate the other ; for Madness seems to be a Watching or Waking Dream ; I have therefore thought it might not be unfit to subjoyn here certain Considerations touching Phrensie and Distraction , its Causes , Nature and Effects ; the rather because the same has very barrenly been handled , as far as I can learn , by those that have undertaken to treat thereof . I shall not insist upon the several sorts reckoned up by Authors , as Phrensie which they define to be An Inflamation of the Brain , and its members , with a continual raving , and sharp constant Feaver , caused by cholerick Blood , to which is joyned also excrementious Choler : Mania , or Madness , which is a loss of the wits , with raging and fury , but without a Feaver , being a cold and dry Distemper , which they say , arises from adust , or burnt-black Choler ; And Melancholy , which is a doting , or Delirium , without a Feaver ( and so different from a Phrensie ) but with fear and sadness ( whereby it differs from madness which is accompanied with boldness and Fury . ) As all those , and others , varying in Symptoms , are but several Species of Di●●raction , so though Galen having constituted four Humors in the Body , & laid it down for a Principle , that from the excess of some , or one of them , all Diseases do proceed , and consequently , was bound to assign these as causes for such Distempers ; yet more narrow Searchers into the Mysteries of Nature , have long since discarded that Doctrine , which seems to consist meerly in Forms and Words , rather then Reallities , and do conclude that most Diseases arise , either from Irregular passions of the mind , or poysonous ferments , occasioned by ill Dyet , or inproper Physick in the Body . § . 2. The truth is , Madness and Phrensie do generally , and for the most part ( for some other few particular causes we shall give an account of by and by ) arise and proceed from various Passions and extream Inclinations , as Love , Hate , Grief , Covetousness , Dispair , and the like , which do too violently awaken , or stir up the Central Fires , or four first Forms of the original of Nature , which thereupon do break , forth , violate and destroy the five inward Senses of the Soul , whence the outward Senses do arise ; So that the Soul loseth its distinguishing property , and then the Imaginative property and Soul's Power becomes rampant , unbounded , or as it were without a Guide , and consequently such a Soul is unchain'd , or set at liberty from the dark Confinements of the grosser Senses and Reason , even as men in Dreams ; for whatsoever in this state , is represented unto the Soul by the uncontrolable and unbounded Imagination , is essential unto them , whether it be good or evil . For it is evident that in Madness persons are not deprived of their grosser Senses of the outward Nature , As Seeing , Hearing , Tasting , Smelling and Feeling , for those they retain as well as before , but they are bereft of the inward Senses , or distinguishments ; and whensoever this happeneth to any , then the Soul is unclothed , and all its Fantasies and Imaginations become as it were substantial unto them , as material things are to those that are in their prefect Senses , and under the Goverment , of Reason . § . 3. For when any shall forsake , and slight the counsel of the voice of Wisdom , and suffer their wills and desires too violently to entertain , and enter into any of the fore-mentioned passions , then presently the Saturnine and Martial Poysonous Fires are awakened , whence does arise such an Hurley-burley , Confusion , Strife and In-equality between the properties in the Seven-fold W●eel of Nature , as will in a moments time subvert the government of the inward Senses and Spirit of Wisdom , and puts Reason under Hatches , and all its Faculties into a Tempest and Confusion ; so that the Soul is left either without Pilot or Rudder in this outward sensible World. And being thus deprived of its true Senses , and friendly Guide , or Moderator , viz. The divine implanted Light , then the first Forms of the Original nature mutiny , and make War one upon the other , a sullen wrathful property being exasperated , powerfully attracts and endeavours to compass all with a certain in-drawing Power , and this is called the first Form , or Saturnine Property , which gives a Body , or Covering to all Spirits , according to the nature of each Thing or Creature . The second Form is called Mars , viz. The high lofty out-going , bitter , fierce fiery Property , which cannot endure to be much holden , or captivated by the attractions and in-drawing Property of Saturn , whence does arise in the Soul a most terrible Contest , and annoying Heat ; for the Saturnine Property does most powerfully draw inward , and endeavour to encompass and captivate all ; but this the fierce high lofty property and martial bitter Fire cannot endure , it being contrary to its Nature ; so that in this intestine Civil War or Agonous , State , there is a terrible dark brimstony or sulpherous fire generated , which does so disturb all the inward parts , as if Nature were all on Fire , even in the Center . The Heart akes , the inward Body seems to swell , and becomes too little for the Soul , which in this Combustion is so terribly afflicted , that it will no longer be confined to the Body and outward Senses , but ei●her withdraws it self , and flings up the Reins of Government , and lets Reason , like a wilde Horse that hath cast off Bit and Bridle , and thrown his Rider , ramble confusedly whithersoever the Imagination shall hurry it ; or else sometimes breaks off wholly all Commerce with the Body , and separates its self in Indignation , and so the Life its self is destroyed ; this being the great and immediate cause both of Distraction , and of Hanging , Drowning , and various other sorts of Self-Murder , which are too frequently commited in the World. § . 4. The truth is , Pride may justly be said to be the chief Procatarick , or remote original cause of Madness ; for an abusive Self-flattering Perswasion , Credulity , or Esteem of Falshood , do at first Seduce a person into Presumption , and a despising of others , or into an Indignation of Self-Love , Anger , Hatred , or Wrathfulness , towards his Neighbour ; from whence proceeds Irreligion , Vnbelief , Superstition , impenitent Arroganc● , drunken Disparation , and sottish Carelesness . For as Faith is the Gate unto Humility , which is the Truth of the Intelector Understanding , so a credulous esteem or judgment of Falshood is the entrance of Presumption and Arrogancy , and the first madness of the Soul. But other Disturbances , as Love , Desire , Sorrow , Fear , Terror , &c. are especially stirred up by extrinsical occasion , and therefore they do produce their effects , not only in the Soul , but in the Body : For all passions do in their beginning take away sleep , weaken the Appetite and Digestive Faculties , and impress dark Idaea's upon the Spirits , and at length through a long immoderate , strong , or sudden inordinacy , those Idaea's do infatuate the Archeus , subvert the Iudgment , and the Soul is , as it were , shaken out of its place . § . 5. Now when the five inward senses of the Soul are weakened or destroyed , then they can no longer present before the Judge the Thoughts , Imaginations or Conceptions , but they are all formed into words as fast as they are generated , there being no controul or room for Judgment to censure what are fit , and what are unfit to be coyn'd into Expressions : For this cause Mad People , and innocent Children , do speak , forth whatever ariseth in their Phantasies ; but on the contrary , all those that attain to Maturity of Years , and the knowledge of good and evil , their inward Senses of the Soul being unviolated , especially such as adhere to the coun●el of the Voice of Wisdom , they let no Conception or Imagination be formed into words before it be presented by the five Counsel●●rs of the Soul , before the Judge , which keeps its Court , and Seat of Justice , in the Center of Life ; for if this were not more or less observed , would not every man in the world seem to be Mad , or Distracted ? For what wild , incoherent , absurd , ridiculous notions should we hear from the most serious people , if they should continually Speak , and form into words the various Imaginations , and Conceptions that do continually arise from the Magie or Generating Wheel of the seven Forms of Nature , which never standeth still , or ceaseth from working and generating ; the Soul of man , and all the Faculties thereof , being a compleat Image of its Creator , who slumbereth not , nor sleepth , but his generative , and wonderful creating power is always active ; for never hath any man ceased from Imaginations one quarter an hour in his whole Life , or indeed one moment , no , not even when the Body & Sen●●s are asleep . For though man can cease from speaking , and may attain the Gift of Silence , as any shall give their wills thereunto , yet they cannot cease from thoughts and Conceptions , either good or evil , according to what property or principle has obtained the government in the Soul ; for if a man could or should cease from Imagination ▪ then also he must of necessity cease from all Motion and Action , and become an eternal Stilness , or N●●●lation ; in which state nothing 〈◊〉 ●e b●ought into Manifestation , 〈◊〉 it must be done through Motion , St●ife and Contention of the Properties ; for all Material and Immaterial were and are brought into Manifestation first by Imagination , Desire and Motion ; For the Imagination and the Desire have a most wonderful deep and hidden Original ; and if its mighty property were not captivated , darkned , and as it ere chained in the Clouds of gross flesh , and dark Powers of the outward and corporeal Nature , it would do wonders . § . 6. Therefore it is not perhaps alwayes so very deplorable an estate , as some suppose , to be deprived of common Sense and Reason ( as they call it ) especially , to be a mad innocent , that is , if the property of Friendliness have dominion in the Soul ; For when men are so divested of their Rational Faculties , then they appear naked , having no Covering , Vail , or Figg-leaves before them , to hide themselves in , and therefore they no longer remain under a Mask or Disguise , but appear even as they are , which is very rare to be known in any that retain their Senses and Reason ; for those two serve to cover and hide the Conceptions , Thoughts and Imaginations , which continually are generated from the various Properties and Centers in man , which in innocent Children , as soon as they have the use of their Tongues , and in mad people , is not done , but all Conceptions are promiscuously formed into words , as they are generated , there being no Judge nor Councellors to advise or determine whether they are fit to be divulged , and Coin'd into Language , or to be stiffled and suppressed . § . 7. The truth is , as the knowledge of evil is mans fall , so if this sort of Madness were practised amongst all men that have the use of Reason , and their Senses , it would be more like Innocency and Christia●ity , then most mens general practises are now-a-days ; I mean , if every man , laying aside all subtilty and hypo●risie , would speak his mind freely to his Neighbour , without Cover or mental Reservations , and leave off speaking of one thing to their neighbour , or Friends faces , and quite other and contrary things behind their backs ; To complement persons , present , with a thousand Flatteries and Lyes , and revile the same persons , as soon as they are absent , with as many Calumnies , Slanders and unjust Reproaches , which is one of the worst kinds of Madness , and indeed a Devilish one , because they know they do not as they ought , being at that very time accused and condemned by the Voice of Wisdom , or divine Principle ; nor is there scarce one thing in Ten that men in the World do act , but is far greater Madness and Evil , than those things which persons do that are deprived of their Sences . For Example ; Is it not a greater Extravagance for an Ambitious man to fell his Liberty , and became a slave to the Lusts and Capricio's o● Grandees , to spend whole years in supple Attendan●●s , ●●ouching , Cringing Fawning or Dissembling , only in hopes of being one day made a great man , or having an airey Title added ( like a Rattle ) to his name , and seeing people stand Cap in hand to him , whom he imagines to admire him , though in truth as many of them as are wise , deride and pitty his egregious Folly ? For a Lascivious man to was●e his Wealth , his Strength , and expose both Body and Soul , for the filthy imbraces of a loathsom Strumpet ? And hazard his Life and honour in attempting the Chastity of some virtuous Woman , and be ready to dye for the Love of her , whom as soon as he has debaucht , he will ●corn and hate ? For men to swallow down vast Estates at their T●●oats , and 〈◊〉 away the Labours of their 〈…〉 their Table with variety of Dishes , and be at any charge for ●●inant Saw●es , to provoke the Appetite beyond the power , as well as n●cessities of Nature , that their Bodies may be filled with Diseases ? That they may roar under the Stone , and the Illia●c Passion , and live Tormented Lives , and dye an Immature Death ? For Parents to cark , and care , and vex , and torment themselves with unreasonable Toils , and many times hazard their Souls , for unjust Gain , meerly , to heap up Estates for their Children , who all ready wish them dead ; or to leave Riches amongst strangers , who in their frolicks laugh at the memory of the old Miser , and make themselves and their Companions merry with telling ridiculous Stories of him , who for their sakes , and for the getting those very Houses , and those Bowls they 〈◊〉 in , lies perhaps broyling in the 〈◊〉 Caverns of the Everlasting Tophet ? These , and an hundred the like things , which are the main business , and the daily imployment of many , that would be counted the shrewdest and most notable part of Mankind : Are not , I say , all these far greater , and more mischievous Phrensies , than for a man to pull of his Garments , and sit naked , and spend time in weaving of Sraws or Building with Chalk upon the Walls innumerable Cities , whereof he fancies himself to be Emperor ? To speak Truth , the World is but a great Bedlam , where those that are more mad , lock up those that are loss ; the first presumptuously , and knowingly , committing Evils both against God their Neighbours and themselves ; but the last , not knowing what they do , are as it were next door to innocency , especially when the Evil Properties were not awakened , nor predominant in the Complexion in the time of their Senses : Tell me I pray ? Are not all these Intemperances , Violence , Oppression , Murder and savage Evils , and Superfluities deservedly to be accounted the worst Effects of Madness ? As also , Lying , Swearing , vain Imaginations , and living in and under the power of evil Spirits , more to be dreaded than the condition of those that want the use of Senses and Reason ; and therefore are esteemed Mad ? § . 8. As for the Species of Madness they are as various as men are in their Complexions ; for according to what Principle and property , whether good or evil , does govern the Life , in the time of their retaining their Reason and Senses , such a property does more clearly manifest it self when the Reason and Senses are broken to pieces ; for this cause , some who have seemed very Religious , and soberly inclined , as long as they retain'd their Senses and outward Reason , as soon as they become deprived thereof , the bitter envious fierce wrathful proud Spirit appears in its own form , and has its operation without let or hindrance , which was before by the cunning Reason and sensual subtilty kept in , that it could not manifest it self ; for some men have obtain'd so much outward government over this bitter Spirit , that they can at one and the same time cry Hosanna , and Crucifie ; say , God bless you , and in their hearts wish your destruction : But when such people , who hide their Woolvish and Bearish Natures , in the external sheeps cloathing of a dissembled Innocency , happen to be Mad or deprived of outward Sense and natural Reason , then they discover the Savage Nature that ruled before in the Center of their Souls . But others , who in the time of their sound Senses , were accounted harsh and moross , or severe , their Tongues not so smoothly plain'd , or Tipt with Complements , but yet their words and works more agreeable to their insides ; that is , they speak as they think , and do not play the Hypocrites , by retaining subtil Reservations , or saying one thing , and at the same time resolving on another ; such , I say , though many of them did not seem to be so fair and good men as the former , yet they are really more innocent , and have far better Principles within , than the others , who made use of their Natural Faculties , to hide and cover the subtil bitter Spirit ; and therefore when these latter plain sort of people happen to be distracted , they appear more calm and friendly than the former , because the good property had a greater dominion in the Soul. § . 9. Every person when disturbed in his Senses and Reason , then the distinguishing Faculties of Nature does variously appear in properties and Qualities , differing according to which of the seven Forms Nature did carry the upper dominion in the Complexion . Therefore Mad People vary as much in their inclinations and passions of Love and Hate as they did in when in their Senses . For Example ; If the first , or Saturnine Property did preside in the Soul , and be not corrected , moderated , allayed , and made friendly by Wisdoms Voice , whilst they remained in their Senses , then such will manifest themselves when Mad , in sullen , dogged , mischievous Melancholy dispositions and Inclinations , with blasphemous words , apt to hurt , and be injurious , with Sour evil Complexion and Looks . But if the lovial Properties had the uppermost Governments in the time of their Reason , then such , when out of their wits , are for the most part affable and friendly , using no ●ruel words , nor so apt to do hurt , or be churlish , or dogged . But if the Martial Property be superior in the Complexion , such when deprived of Sense and Reason , become furious , blasphemo●s , apt to all mischief and violence , great Swea●ers , and very unruly , fierce , turbulent , and raging . But if the Solar Property do bare Rule , such have great and high thoughts , and lofty Imaginations , fancying themselves to be Kings and Princes , and that all are in subjection to them ; and between while , they are very unruly fierce and boisterous , when they think th●y are not respected or humoured according to that Quality they have assumed to themselves . So where the Venereal Property swayes in the Complexion such are between whiles friendly , apt to laugh , and be merry , often discoursing of Love affairs , and will sing and dance , but sometimes are little out-ragious , though not like the former ; for these people 〈◊〉 do any hurt , nor are they subject to Cursing Swearing , or such like evil Speaking . Where the Property of Mercury does bear sway in the constitution , there is a strange mixture of Imaginations , they are apt to think themselves very cunning , extraordinary free and frolicksom , with their Tongues running out of one thing into another , prone always to talk too much , and very furious bold and raging , but calm at certain Intervals . Lastly , where the Lunar property predominates , such people are extreamly unconstant , fierce , and raving , never at any certainty , but roaming out of one thing into another : And not only this last sort , but all other Mad people are better or worse , according to the Motions , Influences , Configuration And Aspects of the Coelestials , and thier benevolent or malevolent Rayes , towards the Ruling Constellation of each mans Complexion , because all people that are deprived of the use of their Reason , Sense and distinguishing Faculties , are more immediately subjected to the outwardmost Government and Influences of the Stars and Elements . And you may perceive a sensible alteration in their Humours , Dispositions and Inclinations , as the Coelestials alter ; which as they have Influence upon , and do vary and change all things , so more especially do they opperate upon those that have lost the guidance of the Will , which is the Primum Mobile of mans Life : Therefore it is observed , that distracted people are more subject to be altered by the Influences Coelestial , especially by the progress and Configurations , that the Moon has with the other Erraticks and Constellations , she being the Mansion-house or Magazine , which receives all the Influences of the greater and higher Bodies , or Stars : And therefore persons bereaved of their Wits , are in our English Laws called Lunaticks , from the great power she hath upon such people . § . 10. By Custom , Sense and Reason , most men do hide their inward Inclinations , Dispositions Complexions , and what property carries the upper dominion in their Hearts and Souls , so that the same may by several means be discovered and ●●id open , is manifest in 〈◊〉 , which is a kind of short Phrensie , or Temporary Madness , which make people appears in various Moods and Dispositions ; for those that seemed of a Malancholy Complexion , seem Sanguine ; and the Sanguine , Malancholy ; for it renders men to be that outwardly which they are inwardly ; for this cause , some that are counted , and seem to most men to be Severe and Austere ; when drink has opened the Sanguine Gate of Nature , are found to be very familiar , friendly and kind in their words and works : But on others , it hath a quite contrary operation , viz. such who carried themselves very affable and friendly , when overcome with Liquor , grow Cruel , Quarrelsom , Devilish and Uncivil , which does clearly intimate , that the Saturnine and Martial Principles did predominate in the Soul ; for drink makes people appear in various Forms , because during the operation thereof , they are really deprived of the Exercise of their Right R●ason and Sences of true distinguishments of things , whereby they are uncovered , and as it were left naked ( as Noah was , after he had drank too liberally of the fruit of his new planted Vines ) And so the inside appears as it is , in its own Form and Nature , which does most truly discover the Complexion and natural Inclinations ; and what property does govern essentially in a man ; for then all glosses and cunning are removed ; whereas whilst a man is himself ( as they use to call it ) Shame , Reason and good Breeding put a Restraint upon those vitious Inclinations , lurking within and suffer them not to appear ; but when they are deprived of their Senses and Reason , then they have no power to use those subtil Arts of Hypocrisie , but what form soever has the predominancy does display and manifest it felt in its own Colours . And therefore as soon as they recover their Reason , and come to their Senses , they are ashamed of what they did , and by Reason , and Breding , endeavour to hide these Defects and Ill Qualities , which rule over them . And thus not a few through Wit and Subtilty appear as if they were Saints , but in truth they remain but little better than Devils ; so great is the power of mans Wit and contrived Understanding that he can appear with two faces to deceive others first , and himself at last : It is therefore a very difficult matter for any to judge of mens Complexions , or real Inclinations , except God have endued him with somewhat of the universal understanding of the nature of things , and of the signatures of nature ; for the form or figure of each thing , does to the enlightened Eye discover the inward Properties thereof . But this is more evidently discovered in Phrensy or Midness , the same being a real turning of the inside of all the natural Properties and Faculties of the Soul outward ; so that whatever mad people do externally in words or actions , the very same other Folk do inwardly in thoughts and Imaginations ; and the difference is only this ; The one speaks and forms every thought into words : having not the Bridle of sense nor Reason to restrain him ; the other often times cuts off such and such thoughts and Imaginations in the Budd , or at least shuts the grand Gate , the Mouth , and keeps those shameful unruly Stragglers in , not suffer●ing the Organs and Properties of Nature to form them into Articular Expressions . § . 11. It is also further to be noted that all , or most Mad People , are far stronger , and more able to endure Ha●dship , Hunger , Cold , and the like inconveniences , although many of them are naturally of weak tender natures , and during the continuances of their Senses , and Reasoning Vigour , did indulge and enure themselves to tenderness ; yet when once they become Mad , they are so strong and powerful , that some of them must have two , three or four men to hold and rule them ; and as to their enduring of Cold , it is wonderful , for even nice , tender Gentlewomen , who Screen themselves all the Winter by lusty Fires , in warm Beds , and close Chambers , and the like ▪ with choice Foods , and cordial Drink , are no sooner deprived of their Reason and Senses , but they leap over all these things , and endure hardship , to admiration , without prejudice to their 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 Spi●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 pr●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 Parts● 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 C●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 more mischievous is too much Company , and prating , and especially , the Teazing of such distempered People with unnecessary Questions ; on which score , as I must acknowledge that Gallant Structure of New Bethlam to be one of the Prime Ornaments of the City of London , and a Noble Monument of Charity , so I would with all Humility beg the Honorable and worthy Governours thereof , that they would be pleaed to use some Effectual means , for restraining their inferior Officers , from admiting such Swarms of People , of all Ages and Degrees , for only a little paltry Profit to come in there , and with their noise , and vain questions to disturb the poor Souls ; as especially such , as do Resort thither on Holy-dayes , and such spare time , when for several hours ( almost all day long ) they can never be at any quiet , for those inportunate Visitants , whence manifold great inconveniences do arise . For , First , T is a very Undecent , Inhumane thing to make , as it were , a Show of those Unhappy Objects of Charity committed to their Care , ( by exposing them , and making too perhapes of either Sexs ) to the Idle Curiosity of every 〈◊〉 Boy , petulant Wench , or Drunken Companion , going along from one Apartment to the other , and Crying out ; This Woman is in for Love ; That Man for Jealousie ; He has Over-studied himself , and the Like . Secondly , This staring Rabble seldom fail of asking more then an hundred impertinent Questions . — As , what are you here for ? How Long have you been here , &c. which most times enrages the Distracted person , tho calme and quiet before , and then the poor Creature falls a Raving , and too probably , a Cursing and Swearing , and so the holy , and tremendous name of God is dishonored , whilest the wicked people , who think it a rare Diversion , instead of Trembling , themselves really Guilty , as the Occasion of all these Blasphemies , fall a Laughing and Hooting , and so the poor distracted Creatures become twice more fierce and violent then ever . Thirdly , As long as such Disturbances are suffered , there is little Hope that any Cure or Medicine should do them good to reduce them to their Senses or right Minds , as we call it , and so the very Principle end of the House is defeated . Certainly the most hopeful means towards their Recovery would be to keep them with a Clean Spare Diet , and as quiet as may be , and to let none come at them but their particular Friends , Grave sober People and such as they have a kindness for , and those to , not alwayes , but only at proper times , whereby discoursing with them in their Lused Intervals Gravely , Soberly , and Discreetly , and humouring them in little things , shall do much more , I am Confident , toward their Cure , then most of the Medicines that are commonly Administred ; But to come home to the Cure we must Consider that a mad Idea , imprinted on the principles of Life , cannot be taken away , but together with the Subject that hath closed it ; therefore a Remedy is to be found out , which may Slay , take away , or obliterate that Image of madness , or the Blot so characterized ; just , as 't is said , a Blemish imprinted by the longing Mother , doth by the moving of the hand of a dead Carcase ( that was killed by a lingering Consumption ) on it , until the cold thereof shall pierce the Blemished part , vanish away for the future of its own accord . After the same manner the Idea of madness ought to be put to flight , whether it be done by the death of the said Idea , or by in generating an Idea of equal prevailency , or one that over-powereth the foolish Idea ; for from hence it comes to pass , that a remedy for Madness hath hitherto been dispaired of , because the nature and properties of the Distemper hath not been searched for beyond the excesses of first Qualities . Nor can it be but the scope of cureing must be difficult , because not only the Idea of a corrupted imagination , and a sealy-mark and blemish is introduced into the innermost point of the understanding , but also , because the restoring of the inbred Spirit is hardly to be effected , since the sweet Government of the divine Principle is cast of , and the Creature is now no longer able to turn his Will thereunto , or to hearken unto the Voice of Wisdom for help ; but Infinite Goodness is never wanting to those that truly seek him in Humility , that with Bowels of Charity towards their Neighbour ; to such God , the Giver of every good and perfect Gift , will in his own due time reveal and communicate a proper Remedy ; for Medicines have with a success been administred wherein a Symbole , or Mark of Resemblance doth inhabite ; that is the firmental imaginations of a founder judgment . For truly as there are Poysons of the Mind , causing the allienations thereof , for sometimes , or for the whole space of Life ; to wit , such as do introduce a proper Phantasie into us , as a Mad Dog , the Tarantula &c. So also there are in simples their own Fruits , of the knowledge of Good and Evil , in their first 〈◊〉 indeed poysonous , under which 〈◊〉 notwithstanding the more rich Treasures , and renewings of the mind are kept . The Antients Celebrated even to a proverb , the vertues of black H●llebore in such cases ; For although manifold Vomitive Medicines are not wanting , yet a peculier vertue is attributed to Hellibore , for a Mad brain ; not that the poysonous and hurtful qualities doth reach unto the Head , but because it unloads the Midriff and the Spleen , the original Seats of this distemper , and so by consequence relieves the Brain , which was affected by a secondary Passion . § . 15. For such as have been Bitten with a Mad Dog , the Dutch ( as I have heard ) do prevent the Mischief , by applying to the place a raw Herring salted , for three dayes space , every day renewed ; but if that had been neglected , and the party begins to dote , and fear the water , ( which is one of the first symtoms of that kind of Distraction ) then they get him on ship-board , strip him , and tye him to the end of the Sail-yard , and lifting him first on high , plung him down headlong into the Sea , and let him remain a little while under water , and so a second , and third time and then take him down , place him on a smooth place with his back upwards , and his head declining , or as it were hanging over something , and so will cast up all the water received into his stomach , and thence forward be perfectly cured . And Vanhelmont witnesses , that such plunging over head and ears is a Cure , not only in that case , but in other inveterate Mania's or Madnesses , and in fresh water as well in the Sea ; He sayes , he hath often tryed it , and was never deceived in the event , but when through fear of drowning them , he drew the Mad persons too soon from under the water . For preventi●● of these distracted Calamities , since generally , and most commonly they proceed from excess of Passion , and irregular Desire ; Therefore let all Persons Study by Temperance , and Moderating their Affections , to eschew those baneful Evils , and by hearkening to the Voyce of Wisdom , they shall assuredly avoid then ; and many other Distempers and Mischiefs : Therefore , O Man ; consider what is before mentio●ed , keep thy Self to thy Self , turn thy Eye of thy Understanding inward ; observe thy own Center , and learn to understand with David , That thou art Fearfully and Wonderfully made , and so by the Conduct and Guidance of the Divine Light and Love thou shalt come to know the wonderfull Power of God in thy own Soul , which will open unto thee both the Mysteries of Nature , and the Treasures of Eternity FINIS ADVERTISEMENT . Publisht by the Author of the Treatise of Dreams and Visions , &c. Four very useful Books , viz. I. THe Country-Man's Companion , or a New Method of ordering Horses and Sheep . 1 st . How to preserve Horses from Surfeits , and other Diseases whereunto they are subject ; and also to render them much more useful and serviceable than is usual , and yet with less trouble and charge to their Owners . 2 dly . How to preserve Sheep found , healthy and free from the Diseases whereunto they are subject ; and particularly concerning the Rot in Sheep , how it is contracted , the times when , and the only sure and certain means to prevent it , and secure 〈◊〉 sound in the most fatal times of a 〈◊〉 Rot , II THe Good Housewife made a Doctor , or Healths choise and sure Friend . Being a plain way of Natures own prescribing , to Prevent and Cure most Diseases incident to Men , Women and Children , by Diet and Kitchin-Physick only . Wherein is laid down the most proper and natural ways of preparing many excellent sorts of Food ; both for healthy and sick People . Also , the nature , use and excellency of forreign Fruits , Spices , Sugers , &c. Together with the Nature of most sorts of Wine , and other Drinks commonly drunk , each being spoken to in distinct chapters by themselves . With many other useful Observations , too large here to Recite . III The Way to make all people Rich , or Wisdoms Call to Temperance and ●●●●ality , In a Diologue between Sophro●●● Gulos● , One a Lover of Sobriety , 〈◊〉 ●●ther addicted to Gluttony and Ex●● IIII FRiendly Advice to the Gentlemen-Planters of the East and West-Indies , in three parts . I. A brief Treatise of the most principal Fruits and Herbs that grow in the East and West-Indies ; giving an Account of their respective Vertue● , both for Food and Physick , and what Planet and Sign they are under . Together with some Directions for the Preservation of Health and Life in those hot Climates . II. The Complaints of the Negro-Slaves against the hard Usages and barbarous Cruelties inflicted upon them . III. A Discourse in way of Dialogue , betwen an Ethiopean or Negro-Siave , and a Christian that was his Master in America . A Dialogue between an East-Indian Brackmanny , or Heathen-Philosopher , and a French-Gentleman concerning the Present Affairs of Europe . All Printed and Sold by Andrew 〈◊〉 at the Crooked-Billet in Holloway - 〈◊〉 , in Shoreditch , London .