Page:A Collection of Several Philosophical Writings of Dr. Henry More.djvu/171

Rh the Spirit would strike it, that he might lay it down; and would also sundry times, be the books what they would, hinder him from reading and writing overmuch, that his mind might rest, and silently meditate with it self. He added also, that very often while he was awake, a small, subtile, inarticulate sound would come unto his Ears.

8. Bodinus further enquiring whether he ever did see the Shape and Form of the Spirit, he told him that while he was awake he never saw any thing but a certain light very bright and clear and of a round Compass and Figure; but that once being in great jeopardy of his life, and having heartily pray'd to God that he would be pleased to provide for his safety, about break of day, amidst his slumberings and wakings, he espy'd on his bed where he lay a young Boy clad in a white Garment, tinctured somewhat with a touch of purple, and of a visage admirably lovely and beautiful to behold. This he confidently affirmed to Bodinus for a certain truth.





1. Certain Enquiries upon the preceding Narration; as, what these Guardian Genii may be. 2. Whether one or more of them be allotted to every man, or to some none. 3. What may be the reason of Spirits so seldome appearing; 4. And whether they have any settled shape or no. 5. What their manner is of assisting men in either Devotion or Prophecy. 6. Whether every mans complexion is capable of the Society of a good Genius. 7. And lastly, whether it be lawful to pray to God to send such a Genius or Angel to one, or no. 8. What the most effectual and divinest Magick

T is beside my present scope, as I have already professed, to enter into any more particular and more curious Disquisitions concerning the nature of Spirits, my aime being now onely to demonstrate their Existence by those strange Effects recorded every where in History. But this last Narration is so extraordinarily remarkable, that it were a piece of disrespect done to it, to dismiss it without some Enquiries at least into such Problems as it naturally affords to our consideration; though it may well seem plainly beyond the power of humane Wit or laws of Modesty to determine any thing therein.

In the first place therefore, it cannot but amuse a mans mind to think what these officious Spirits should be that so willingly sometimes offer themselves to consociate with a man: Whether they may be Angels uncapable of incorporation into humane Bodies, which vulgarly is conceived: Or whether the Souls of the deceased, they having more affinity with mortality and humane frailty then the other, and so more sensible of our necessities and infirmities, having once felt them themselves; a reason alledged for the Incarnation of Christ by the Author to the   Rh