An essay for the recording of illustrious providences

These are thought to be certain Arguments of an Energumenical person. Some other signs are mentioned by Thyraeus (de obsessis Part 2. Cap. 25, 26.)

There are who conceive (and that as they suppose upon Scripture grounds:) that Men may possibly be Daemoniacal, when none of those mentioned particulars can be affirmed of them. The Excellently learned and judicious Mr. Mede, is of Opinion, that the Demoniacs whom we read so frequently of in the New-Testament, were the same with Epileptics, Lunatics, and Mad Men. The Turks at this day have their Mad men in great veneration, ⟨p. 172⟩supposing them to be acted by a spirit, but they (in that being themselves mad) take it to be a good when as 'tis an evil spirit that does operate in such persons. And that the Jews of old did look upon Maniacs to be possessed with an evil Spirit, is evident from that expression of theirs, Joh. 10. 20. He hath a Devil and is Mad. Moreover, we read of one, Mat. 17. 15. that was Lunatic, and did oft fall into the fire, and oft into the water. Now that this Lunatic person was a Daemoniack is clear from ver. 18. where tis said, that Jesus rebuked the Devil and he departed out of him. And of the same person tis said, in Luk. 9. 39 A Spirit taketh him and teareth him. So Beza and Heinsius, in Mat. 8. 16. & 17. 15. It has been commonly said that in Christs time more persons were possessed with evil Spirits than ever was known before or since; but if that were so, the Jews, and probably some Historians would have noted it as a thing strange and extraordinary; whenas we read of no such observation to be made on those times. And saith Mr. Mede, (in his Discourse on