Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 50.djvu/240

226 replyed. That he saw it was a Spirit of delusion, which he would not obey. Upon which the Spirit denounced a Curse against him in these words, Go ye cursed into everlasting Fire! and so left him with a very great heat in his body. After this, he was in his own apprehension in a very comfortable condition, and while he was considering what had happened a Voice within him spake to him saying, That the Spirit which was before upon him was a Spirit of delusion, but now the true Spirit of God was come into him." It then gave him instruction in religious matters, contradicting what the former voice had said. Several times it came, and as Robert Churchman still doubted whether it were a good spirit or no it promised him what sign he would. Upon that he desired it to turn into brass a certain candlestick. "Presently there was a very unsavoury smell in the Room, like that of the Snuff of a Candle newly put out; but nothing else was done towards the fulfilling of the Promise. Upon the Lord's day following, he, being at Church, it came upon him. When the Chapters were named he turned to them in his Bible, but was not able to read. When the Psalm was sung, he could not pronounce a syllable. Upon Monday morning his Speech was wholly taken from him. When I came to him, and asked him how it was with him, he moved his head towards me but was not able to speak; I waited an Hour or two in the Room, hoping that his Speech might have returned unto him, and that I might have gained from him some account of his condition. But finding no alteration, I desired those who were present to joyn with me in Prayer. As we were Praying, his Body with much violence was thrown out of Bed, and then with great vehemence he called to me to hold my Tongue. When Prayer was done, his Tongue was bound as before, till at last he broke out into these words, Thine is the Kingdom, Thine is the Kingdom; which he repeated, I believe, above an hundred times. Sometimes he was forced into extream laughter, sometimes into singing; his hands were usually imployed in beating his Breast. All of us who stood by could discern unusual heavings in his body. This distemper did continue towards the morning of the next day, and then the voice within him signified to him that it would leave him, bidding him to get upon his knees in order to that end, which he did, and then presently he had a perfect command of himself. When I came to him he gave me a sober account of all the passages of the day before, having a distinct remembrance of what the Spirit forced him to do, and what was spoken to him by those who stood by. In particular he told me, he was compelled to give me that disturbance in prayer, which I before mentioned, the Spirit using his Limbs and Tongue as it pleased, contrary to the inclination of his own mind." Finally, Robert Churchman was "released from