The secret miracles of nature: in four books. Learnedly and moderately treating of generation, and the parts thereof; the soul, and its immortality; of plants and living creatures; of diseases, their symptoms and cures, and many other rarities not treated of by any author extant ... Whereunto is added one book containing philosophical and prudential rules how man shall become excellent in all conditions, whether high or low, and lead his life with health of body and mind / [Levinus Lemnius].

  • Lemnius, Levinus, 1505-1568
Date:
1658
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The secret miracles of nature: in four books. Learnedly and moderately treating of generation, and the parts thereof; the soul, and its immortality; of plants and living creatures; of diseases, their symptoms and cures, and many other rarities not treated of by any author extant ... Whereunto is added one book containing philosophical and prudential rules how man shall become excellent in all conditions, whether high or low, and lead his life with health of body and mind / [Levinus Lemnius]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    411/428 (page 385)
    CHAP. JLVII. , i , W Concerning the amplitude, Afajcfty, and porter of the name lejus, which onely we mayrejijl all Alagtcal Charms, and all deceits of the Divelsare to he conquered, 4// mfchiefs or dangers that may happen to the Soul or body, I Said before that Inchantments and Magical Arcs were to be rooted out, and chat no man ought to cxercife what may do mifehief: It remains to fhew by the way, by what force and citicacy, by what words and prayers the minds of men podcfled and affli&ed may be relieved;, and fuch as are entangled by the TbcDevilsm. fnares of thedivels; alfo by whatmeans witchcrafts may be re- ^mics to men, moved, which arc brought upon miferablc men by the waked In- flruments of the divels, whereby their bodies and Souls are tor¬ tured. Thefe indouace themfeives clofely into mens bodies, and offer violence to mans nature, and fpoil it of its faculties, or at lead make a change in them. The evii fpirics mingle themfeives -r y with our food, humours, fpirits, with the ayre and breathy that we ^iwiTwth draw in and breathe out * and they pollute many other things that the humours, as ferve for our ufe, and whereby our health is preferved. Where- contagious di- fore I think I (Tall do fomething worth my pains, if I can fhew by ^bribes’* what means miferable people may be happily freed from thole chains, wherewith they find themfeives entangled and hindred. For the inconveniences and hurts they fuftain cannot be referred to any natural caufes, nor be cured by the fame remedies that com¬ mon difeafes are. Ifanydifeafe proceed from Gluttony, Venery, wearinefle,cold,heat, iatiety,hunger; eachofchefe is cured by its proper remedies. But fuch difeafes as the diveils bring upon Tkemfchiefs . us, do not in any fort require natural remedies, but fuch as aredi- lhcdtvllsbnn& tine, and fuperceleftial. Some wonder that lo great power is gi- ye referred ven to thedivell and his inflruments to vex and torment men. to natural But God doth partly wink at thofe hurts witches bring upon finfull c£$*prth ye men, and he fuffers them to be affli&ed, and in fo doing ne hath a malice of the fufficientreafonofhisown counfell and providence, and he pare- ly inftigates the t>ivells and their inflruments to rage againft ma- rfh} yfdfitf- ny that have deferved to be fo punifhed, and he ufeth to another fmmto be end their malice to chaftife wicked men. So a lying fpirit was t^te!f-eldbythe fent into the mouths of all the Prophets; whereby the King Ahab, 3 Kjugs 31. being deceived might go to the battel, wherein prefent deliru6ti' Ahabdeceit on was made ready for him. Sometimes God fuffers fome to be vedm hurt to try their patience. So he fuffered lob not onely to lofe all Job his goods, and to be fpoiled ofall his eflate, but to be tormented in his body alfo. And this God fuffered to be done, partly to try the conflancy of the man, and that he might Air up other mortal men roendiire evills, leall when trouble comes upon them they fliould revolt from God : and partly to declare his power whereby [b^Devrl/ he comforts and Hayes thofe that tru'd in him, and raifeth fuch as F f f * are