A discourse of the damned art of witchcraft so far forth as it is…A discourse of the damned art of witchcraft so farre forth as it is…

Concerning the third kind of dreams, which are caused by the devil; It hath been granted in all ages for a truth, that Satan can frame dreams in the brain of man, and by them reveal his divi•ations. And it is plainly manifested by the continual observation of the Gentiles, before the coming of Christ. For when Oracles, (that is, answers from the devil) were in force, men that used to consult with them, and desired to be resolved in matters of doubt, were to lay them down and sleep beside the altar of Apollo, where ⟨p. 98⟩they had offered their gift, and sleeping they received in a dream, the answer for which they came; and this dream was framed in the brain of him that slept, by the devil, and in it the answer was delivered by him speaking at or in the Oracle. So likewise in the Primitive Church, since the coming of Christ, though Oracles then ceased, which were the greatest and strongest delusions that ever Satan had: yet he hath by dreams and visions wrought in the heads of many men most strange and curious conceits for the raising up of heresies, to the great disturbance of the peace of the Church. For we read in Ecclesiastical stories, that the Manichees had their damnable opinions first inspired into them, and then confirmed by dreams. And in this age the first authors of the sect of the Anabaptists, had their curious conceits of revelation, partly in dreams, partly in visions. Likewise the Family of love have their revelations in dreams. For he that desires to become one of that sect, must ascend thereunto by degrees, before he ⟨p. 99⟩can come to perfection to be an elder illuminate, or a man deified; to which estate when he is once come, he hath for his confirmation strong Illusions, both waking and sleeping in visions and dreams. Histories of latter times, and woeful experience showeth this to be true, the devil prevailing so strongly, that many have fallen away by this means, being corrupted by a doctrine merely carnal, howsoever maintained with pretence of great holiness. Again, as the good Angels may cause divine dreams from God, and therein revile unto men his will and pleasure concerning things to come: so no doubt the evil spirits may cause in men diabolical dreams, and therein reveal unto them many strange things, which they by means unknown to men, may foresee and know.

Concerning the thirde kinde of dreames, which are caused by the deuil; It hath beene granted in all ages for a truth, that Satan can frame dreames in the brayne of man, and by them reueale his diuiations. And it is plainly manifested by the continuall obseruation of the Gentiles, before the comming of Christ. For when Oracles, (that is, answers from the deuill) were in force, men that vsed to consult with them, and desired to be resolued in matters of doubt, were to lay them downe and sleepe beside the altar of Apollo, where