5. Concerning Dreams, we must understand that they are of four sorts; Natural, Moral, Divine, or Diabolical. Natural dreams arise from the constitution of the body, according to the complexion or present estate of the body, either as diseased, or well. Moral dreams arise from the studies and employments that we are extraordinarily affected withal in the day time. Divine dreams arise either from the working of some Angel, or by some other way unknown to us, and are used by God either to show his power, or foretell things to come, or unknown, or as an extraordinary entertainment he would give unto his servants. Diabolical dreams are villainous conceptions ⟨p. 375⟩wrought in the minds of men in their sleeps, either to torment them, or to seduce them, or to tempt them to some monstrous evil. The question is what kind of dream Pilates wives dream was? There is no colour of reason to think it was Natural. Some Divines think that it was Diabolical, and give this reason, that the Devil some way now perceiving that the death of Christ would be the life of the world, he seeks to hinder it by this dream. But if that were so, why had not Pilate the dream? or why did not the Devil use the Jews that were his own instruments? and therefore it is more than likely that the dream was from God. Quest. But may we now give heed to dreams? Answ. By dreams we may guess at the state of our bodies sometimes. And by dreams we may guess at the corruption of our natures, and find what sins we are secretly prone to. Yea no doubt, but we may have Diabolical dreams, which we may discern by the same signs we know the temptations of the Devil from corruption of nature. As when we are tempted to things contrary to our natures, and prodigiously vile; or when we feel that our nature doth abhor the motion, and give no consent to it. Nor do I doubt but God may treat with his people also by dreams: and we should be thankful for holy dreams, wherein God gives us special comforts, or doth in any special manner fire our hearts to the love of goodness. Only we must receive no opinions by dreams which are not agreeable to the word, nor must we trust upon Predictions of things to come, only when they are come to pass, glory should be given to God, with a resolution still to depend upon the Law and the Testimonies only, as the direction of our lives.
5. Concerning Dreames, we must vnderstand that they are of foure sorts; Naturall, Morall, Diuine, or Diabolicall. Naturall dreames arise from the constitution of the body, according to the complexion or present estate of the bodie, either as diseased, or well. Morall dreames arise from the studies and imployments that we are extraordinarily affected withall in the day time. Diuine dreames arise either from the working of some Angell, or by some other way vnknowne to vs, and are vsed by God either to shew his power, or foretell things to come, or vnknowne, or as an extraordinary entertainment he would giue vnto his seruants. Diabolicall dreames are villanous conceptions ⟨p. 375⟩wrought in the mindes of men in their sleeps, either to torment them, or to seduce them, or to tempt them to some monstrous euill. The question is what kinde of dreame Pilates wiues dreame was? There is no colour of reason to thinke it was Naturall. Some Diuines thinke that it was Diabolicall, and giue this reason, that the Deuill some way now perceiuing that the death of Christ would be the life of the world, hee seekes to hinder it by this dreame. But if that were so, why had not Pilate the dreame? or why did not the Deuill vse the Iewes that were his owne instruments? and therefore it is more than likely that the dreame was from God. Quest. But may we now giue heed to dreames? Answ. By dreames we may guesse at the state of our bodies sometimes. And by dreames wee may guesse at the corruption of our natures, and finde what sinnes we are secretly prone to. Yea no doubt, but wee may haue Diabolicall dreames, which we may discerne by the same signes we know the temptations of the Deuill from corruption of nature. As when we are tempted to things contrary to our natures, and prodigiously vile; or when we feele that our nature doth abhorre the motion, and giue no consent to it. Nor doe I doubt but God may treat with his people also by dreames: and we should be thankfull for holy dreames, wherein God giues vs speciall comforts, or doth in any speciall manner fire our hearts to the loue of goodnesse. Only we must receiue no opinions by dreames which are not agreeable to the word, nor must we trust vpon Predictions of things to come, only when they are come to passe, glory should be giuen to God, with a resolution still to depend vpon the Law and the Testimonies only, as the direction of our liues.
