An essay for the recording of illustrious providences

Austin saith, they are impudent who deny this. But to imagine that Spirits shall really generate Bodies, is irrational. I am not ignorant, th•• that there have been Men in the World (more than one or two) pretended to be thus begotten and born. Thus doth Niderius affirm concerning all the old Inhabitants of the Isle of Cyprus. The like has been reported concerning Arcturus, and concerning our British Merlin. Yea, the Gentiles believed that Homer, Aeneas, Hercules, and others were begotten by Daemons; whom thereupon they esteemed as Semidei. And Olympias the Mother of Alexander the Great, supposed her self to be with Child by Jupiter Hammon. When her Husband King Philip of Macedon was absent from her, Nectanebus (an Egyptian Prince and a great Magician) sent her word that Jupiter would embrace her, and that he would come to her such a night in the form of a Dragon; at the time appointed Nectanebus himself by his Magical impostures made Olympias believe that a Dragon ⟨p. 177⟩was in the room, and so did himself do that which the deluded Queen thought Jupiter had done. I doubt not but that Merlin and others imagined to come into the World not in the usual way, were the Sons of Daemons just as Alexander was. It has been a received maxim, that though the Devil may by his Art produce Insects and Vermin (to the generation whereof a seminal virtue is not always necessary) yet he cannot bring forth a perfect animal. How then is it consistent with reason, that he should produce a real Man, who is of all Animals the most perfect, and noble? It is also extremely Fabulous, that Witches can transform themselves or others into another sort of Creatures, e. g. into Horses, Wolves, Cats, Mice, &c. Carminibus Circe jocios mutavit Ulyssis. A blind Heathenish fancy: And yet Stories of this nature have been generally believed; and I have not without wonderment seen grave Authors relating them, as if the things had been really so. But it is beyond the power of all the Devils in He•l to cause such a transformation; they can no more do it than they can be the Authors of a true Miracle (see Horstius Inst.Med.Disp.3.Exere•t.9.Quest.9.) Though I deny not but that the Devil may so impose upon the imagination of Witches ⟨p. 178⟩as to make them believe that they are transmuted into Beasts. Sennertus (in Pract. Med.L.6. Part 9. Cap. 5.)