Cases of Conscience Concerning Evil Spirits

(z) Part 1, Chapter 19, Page 86.

[...he] was well acquainted with that minister, who related the whole story to him with all its circumstances. For Mr. Cotton likely John Cotton (1585–1652), a famous Puritan leader was so affected by the report that he took a journey specifically to the town where this happened so that he might obtain a satisfactory account of it, which he did.

Some authors say that a demon appeared in the form of Sylvanus (a friend of Jerome Saint Jerome (c. 347–420), a prominent early Christian scholar), attempting a dishonest act; the Devil intended by this to ruin the reputation of a famous bishop.

In another book, I have mentioned the celebrated instance concerning an honest citizen in Zurich (the capital of Switzerland original: "Helvetia"). The Devil appeared in this man’s shape and committed an abominable crime original: "Fact"; in this context, it refers to a wicked deed or criminal act (not fit to be named) very early in the morning. This was seen by the Prefect of the city and his servant. They were amazed to behold a man who was held in high esteem for his conduct original: "conversation"; meaning his social behavior and lifestyle performing a thing so vile and abominable. But upon going from the specter in the field to the citizen's house in the town, they found him at home and in his bed; he had not been out at all that morning. This convinced them that what they saw was an illusion of the Devil.

This passage is mentioned as a known and certain fact by Lavater in his Treatise on Specters original: "De Spectris"; Ludwig Lavater (1527–1586) was a Swiss Reformed theologian whose work on ghosts and spirits was highly influential., (z) who was a most learned and wise preacher in that city. Our own Jewel John Jewel (1522–1571), the Bishop of Salisbury and a major defender of the Church of England says of him that he must honestly confess he never understood Solomon's Proverbs until Lavater explained them to him. That book of his, On Specters...