And if they are incorporeal Substances, then it is not possible that Herbs or any sensible objects should have a natural influence upon them, as they have upon Elementary Bodies. This Argument is of such weight, as that Porphyrius, & other heathenish Authors who affirm that Daemons are affected with smells, & with blood,&c. Suppose them to have aerial bodies. So do some Talmudical & Cabalistical Writers; they hold that there are a middle sort of Devils, made of Fire and Air, who live upon ⟨p. 251⟩the Liquidity of the Air, and the smoke of fire, &c. These they call [Greek or Hebrew]. Munster in his Notes on Lev.17. does out of R.Abraham, ate many passages to this purpose. But such Jewish Fables are so foolish, as that they need to confutation. And as the Argument we have mentioned is a sufficient refutation of them that Imagine a natural virtue to be in Herbs, whereby Evil Spirits are driven away; so may it be improved against their Superstition, who suppose that Fumes are of force to expel Daemons. The Author of the Book of Tobit Chap. 6. tells a Tale, that the heart and Liver of a Fish, if a smoke be made therewith, the Devil will smell it, and then be forced to flee away from any one that shall be troubled with an Evil Spirit; and that Tobit following the counsel which Raphael gave him about these matters, the Devil fain to run for it, as far as to the utmost parts of Egypt, Chap.8, ver.2,3. This passage, is so far from being divine, as that indeed it is Profane and Magical. Whereas the Author saith, that whoever is troubled with an Evil Spirit, shall by that means find relief, he does expressly contradict the Son of God, who has taught otherwise, Mat.17.21. Mark 9.28. And his ascribing such virtue to the heart of a Fish, is as true as what Cornelius Agrippa saith, who ⟨p. 252⟩affirms that the Gall of a black Dog will drive away Evil Spirits, and free from Witchcrafts. And there is as much credit to be given to these things as to another Jewish Fable, viz. that the clapping of a Cocks Wings will make the power of Daemons to become ineffectual; yet that this Fable hath obtained too much credit in the World is evident by words of Prudentius, who saith,
And if they are incorporeal Substances, then it is not possible that Herbs or any sensible objects should have a natural influence upon them, as they have upon Elementary Bodies. This Argument is of such weight, as that Porphyrius, & other heathenish Authors who affirm that Daemons are affected with smells, & with blood,&c. Suppose them to have aereal bodies. So do some Talmudical & Cabalistical Writers; they hold that there are a middle sort of Devils, made of Fire and Air, who live upon ⟨p. 251⟩the Liquidity of the Air, and the smoke of fire, &c. These they call 〈non-Latin alphabet〉. Munster in his Notes on Lev.17. does out of R.Abraham, ate many passages to this purpose. But such Jewish Fables are so foolish, as that they need to confutation. And as the Argument we have mentioned is a sufficient refutation of them that Imagine a natural vertue to be in Herbs, whereby Evil Spirits are driven away; so may it be improved against their Superstition, who suppose that Fumes are of force to expel Daemons. The Author of the Book of Tobit Chap. 6. tells a Tale, that the heart and Liver of a Fish, if a smoke be made therewith, the Devil will smell it, and then be forced to flee away from any one that shall be troubled with an Evil Spirit; and that Tobit following the counsel which Raphael gave him about these matters, the Devil fain to run for it, as far as to the utmost parts of AEgypt, Chap.8, ver.2,3. This passage, is so far from being divine, as that indeed it is Prophane and Magical. Whereas the Author saith, that whoever is troubled with an Evil Spirit, shall by that means find relief, he does expresly contradict the Son of God, who has taught otherwise, Mat.17.21. Mark 9.28. And his ascribing such vertue to the heart of a Fish, is as true as what Cornelius Agrippa saith, who ⟨p. 252⟩affirms that the Gall of a black Dog will drive away Evil Spirits, and free from Witchcrafts. And there is as much credit to be given to these things as to another Jewish Fable, viz. that the clapping of a Cocks Wings will make the power of Daemons to become ineffectual; yet that this Fable hath obtained too much credit in the World is evident by words of Prudentius, who saith,
