A new and complete illustration of the occult sciences / [E. Sibly].

  • Ebenezer Sibly
Date:
1807
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A new and complete illustration of the occult sciences / [E. Sibly]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    1173/1190 page 1119
    How far fuch inventions as are called charms, amulets, periapts, and the like, have any foundation in natural magic, may be worth our enquiry ; becaufe if cures are to be effected through their medium, and that without any thing derogatory to the attributes of the Deity, or the principles of religion, I tee no reafon why they fhould be rejected with that inexorable contempt, which levels the works of God with the folly and weaknefs of men. Not that I would encourage fuperdition, or become an advocate for a farrago of abfurdities ; but when the fimpli- city of natural things, and their effeds, are rejected merely to encourage profeffional artifice and emolument, it is prudent for us to didinguifh between the extremes of bigotted fuperdition and total unbelief. It was the opinion of many eminent phyficians, of the fil'd ability and learning, that luch kind of charms or periapts as confided of certain odo- riferous herbs, balfamic roots, mineral concretions, and metallic fub- dances, might have, and mod probably poffeffed, by means of their drong medicinal properties, the virtue of curing or removing fuch com- plaints as external applications might effed, and which are often ufed with fuccefs, though without the lead furprife or admiration ; becaufe the one appears in a great meafure to be the confequence of manual ope- ration, which is perceptible and vljible to the fenfes, whild the other ads by an innate or occult power, which the eye cannot fee, nor the mind lb readily comprehend ; yet, in both cafes, perhaps, the effed is produced by a fimilar caufe ; and confequently all fuch remedies, let them be applied under what form or dyle they may, are worthy of our regard, and ought to excite in us not only a veneration for the fimple pradice of the ancients in their medical experiments, but a due fenfe of gratitude to the wife Author of our being, who enables us, by fuch eafy means, to remove the infirmities incident to mankind. Many reputable authors, particularly A. Ferrarius, Alexander Trallianus, Aetius, Qdavianus, Mar- cellus, Philodotus,Archigines, Philodratus, Pliny.,and Diofcorides, contend that not only fuch phyfical alligations, appenfions, periapts, amulets, charms, &c. which from their materials appear to imbibe and to diffufe the medical properties above defcribed, ought in certain obdinate and equivocal diforders to be applied ; but thofe likewife, which from their external form and compofi.tion have no fuch inherent virtues to recom- mend them ; for harm they can do none, and good they might do ; either by accident, or through the force of imagination. And it is af- ferted, with very great truth, that through the medium of hope and fear, diffidently imprelfed upon the mind or imagination, whether by charms, or any other Homerical contrivance or device, the mod wonder- ful and indantaneous cures are fometimes wrought. They are called No. 60, 12 Z Homerical
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