Cases of Conscience Concerning Evil Spirits

...more than this amounts to. We know by scriptural revelation that the sorcerers of Egypt produced many false and delusive original: "(†) In Mr. Coupers Mystery of Witchcraft. Pag. 174, 175."; Thomas Cooper (1569–1626) was an English clergyman whose 1617 book argued that witchcraft was a real and dangerous "mystery." representations before Pharaoh and his servants (Exodus 7:11, 22 and 8:7). And we read of the working of Satan "with all power, signs, and lying wonders" (2 Thessalonians 2:9). His intellect is beyond what the wisest of men can claim. He has perfect skill in optics original: "Opticks"; the study of light and the way it is perceived by the eye, and can therefore cause something to be visible to one person that is not visible to another, and make things appear far different than they actually are. He also possesses the art of limning original: "Limning"; the art of painting or drawing, particularly the creation of detailed miniatures or illuminating manuscripts in its highest perfection and knows what can be accomplished through the use of colors.

It is a strange story original: "(b) 6. Acta Eruditorum Anno, 1690. Pag. 113."; referring to the Reports of the Learned, the first major scientific and scholarly journal of the German-speaking lands, published in Latin. which I find in the Reports of the Learned printed at Leipzig original: "Lipsick", that about thirty-two years ago, an impoverished merchant in France was instructed by a demon that he could dye taffetas original: "Taffities"; a high-end, crisp, silk fabric with borax water original: "water of Borax" to make them shimmer and look very bright. He investigates the nature, causes, and reasons for things, which allows him to produce wonderful effects. Therefore, if he does not take the form of an innocent person to afflict others, it is not because he lacks either the will or the power to do so.

Those who claim that God never did, nor ever will, permit him to do this argue that it is inconsistent with the righteousness and providence of God in governing human affairs to allow men to be so deceived. It must be acknowledged original: "(c) In Mr. Glanvils Philosophical Considerations."; Joseph Glanvill (1636–1680) was a member of the Royal Society who wrote extensively on the compatibility of science and belief in the supernatural. that the divine providence—