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 Daemontacks 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. No• 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 John 10.20.) If those possessed Persons were not such as we now adays conceive to be no other than Mad men, the World must be supposed to be well rid of Devils, which for my part I believe it is not. There is in special, a sort of Melancholy ⟨p. 173⟩madness, which is called Lycantbropia, or Lupina Insania, h. e. When Men imagine themselves to be turned into Wolves or other Beasts. Hippocrates relates concerning the Daughters of King Praetus, that they thought themselves Kine. Wierus (de praestigiis Daemonum, L.3.C.21.) speaketh of one in Padua, that would not believe to the contrary but that he was a Wolf: and of a Spaniard, who thought himself a Bear. Euwichius (and from him Horestus) writeth of a Man that was found in a Barn under the Hay, howling and saying he was a Wolf.
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 Daemontacks whom we read so frequently of in the New-Testament, were the same with Epilepticks, Lunaticks, 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 Maniacks 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 Lunatick, and did oft fall into the fire, and oft into the water. No• that this Lunatick 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 John 10.20.) If those possessed Persons were not such as we now adayes conceive to be no other than Mad men, the World must be supposed to be well rid of Devils, which for my part I believe it is not. There is in special, a sort of Melancholy ⟨p. 173⟩madness, which is called Lycantbropia, or Lupina Insania, h. e. When Men imagine themselves to be turned into Wolves or other Beasts. Hippocrates relates concerning the Daughters of King Praetus, that they thought themselves Kine. Wierus (de praestigiis Daemonum, L.3.C.21.) speaketh of one in Padua, that would not believe to the contrary but that he was a Wolf: and of a Spaniard, who thought himself a Bear. Euwichius (and from him Horestus) writeth of a Man that was found in a Barn under the Hay, howling and saying he was a Wolf.
