On Witches and Female Soothsayers

he gazed upon him: he thought he saw Simon Magus. Behold, therefore, how through wicked arts a holy man was transformed.
☞ Sigismundus Perhaps at that time Faustinianus was a catechumen A person receiving basic instruction in Christianity before baptism. and not yet baptized by Peter; or perhaps God permitted this so that the deceit of Simon Magus might result in the glory of Peter, as indeed happened.
☞ Lunradus In whatever way it was permitted, it is nevertheless clear from the history that his face was changed by the sorcerer. Likewise, in the history of the Blessed Peter, it is recounted that when Simon Magus stood before the face of the Emperor Nero, his likeness was suddenly changed so that at one moment he appeared as an old man, and at another as a youth. In the same history, it is also read that Simon Magus changed a goat into the appearance of a man—namely, of Simon himself. For it is said that Simon told Nero: "So that you may know, best of Emperors, that I am the son of God, command me to be beheaded, and on the third day I shall rise again." Nero therefore commanded the executioner to behead him; but while the executioner thought he was beheading Simon, he beheaded a ram. Simon, however, gathering the limbs of the ram, hid them for three days. On the third day, he showed himself to Nero, saying: "Command my blood which was shed to be wiped away, for behold, I who had been beheaded have risen on the third day just as I promised." Nero, seeing these things, was struck with amazement and believed him to be the son of God.
☞ Sigismundus Good teacher, what do you bring into the midst of this?
☞ Ulricus The testimonies of the greater doctors Referring to the "Doctors of the Church," authoritative theologians like Augustine. leading into this matter. For the Blessed Augustine says in the book On the Spirit and the Soul original: "de spiritu et anima" that human opinion holds that by a certain art and power of demons, men can be converted into wolves and beasts of burden, and carry whatever is necessary, and after the works are finished, return to themselves again; and that a beastly mind is not created in them, but they preserve a rational and human one.
This is to be understood as meaning that demons indeed do not create nature, but are only able to do something of such a kind that things appear to be what they are not. This section was struck through in the original manuscript. This is from Augustine. Behold, therefore, that Augustine concedes that they are able to do such a thing.
☞ Sigismundus But he adds: "so that they appear to be what they are not."
☞ Ulricus