Page:A Collection of Several Philosophical Writings of Dr. Henry More.djvu/170

 Ear was struck, but his left Ear if a good man and to good ends accosted him. If he was about to eat or drink any thing that would hurt him, or intended or purposed with himself to doe any thing that would prove ill, that he was inhibited by a signe; and if he delayed to follow his business, that he was quickned by a signe given him.

When he began to praise God in Psalms and to declare his marvellous Acts, that he was presently raised and strengthened with a spiritual and supernatural power.

4. That he daily begg'd of God that he would teach him his Will, his Law and his Truth; and that he set one day of the week apart for reading the Scripture and Meditation, with singing of Psalms, and that he did not stir out of his house all that day: but that in his ordinary conversation he was sufficiently merry and of a chearful minde, and he cited that saying for it, Vidi facies Sanctorum lætas. But in his conversing with others, if he had talked vainly and indiscreetly, or had some days together neglected his Devotions, that he was forthwith admonished thereof by a Dream. That he was also admonished to rise betimes in the morning, and that about four of the clock a voice would come to him while he was asleep, saying, Who gets up first to pray?

5. He told Bodinus also how he was often admonish'd to give Alms, and that the more Charity he bestow'd the more prosperous he was. And that on a time when his enemies fought after his life, and knew that he was to goe by water, that his Father in a Dream brought two Horses to him, the one white, the other bay; and that therefore he bid his servant hire him two horses, and though he told him nothing of the colours, that yet he brought him a white one and a bay one.

That in all difficulties, journeyings and what other enterprises soever, he used to ask counsel of God; and that one night, when he had begged his blessing, while he slept he saw a Vision wherein his Father seemed to bless him.

At another time, when he was in very great Danger, and was newly gone to bed, he said that the Spirit would not let him alone till he had raised him again; wherefore he watched and pray'd all that night. The day after he escaped the hands of his Persecutors in a wonderful manner; which being done, in his next sleep he heard a voice saying, Now sing, Qui sedet in latibulo Altissimi.

6. A great many other passages this Party told Bodinus, so many, indeed, that he thought it an endless labour to recite them all. But what remains of those he has recited, I will not stick to take the pains of transcribing them.

Bodinus asked him why he would not speak to the Spirit for the gaining of the more plain and familiar converse with it. He answered that he once attempted it, but the Spirit instantly struck the door with that vehemency, as if he had knock'd upon it with a hammer: whereby he gathered his dislike of the matter.

7. But though the Spirit would not talk with him, yet he could make use of his judgement in the reading of books and moderating his studies. For if he took an ill book into his hands and fell a reading,