s day in Padua, to
bring diverse madmen and demoniacal persons to be cured: yet we make a
doubt whether such parties be so affected indeed, but prepared by their
priests, by certain ointments and drams, to cozen the commonalty, as [2833]
Hildesheim well saith; the like is commonly practised in Bohemia as
Mathiolus gives us to understand in his preface to his comment upon
Dioscorides. But we need not run so far for examples in this kind, we have
a just volume published at home to this purpose. [2834]"A declaration of
egregious popish impostures, to withdraw the hearts of religious men under
the pretence of casting out of devils, practised by Father Edmunds, alias
Weston, a Jesuit, and divers Romish priests, his wicked associates," with
the several parties' names, confessions, examinations, &c. which were
pretended to be possessed. But these are ordinary tricks only to get
opinion and money, mere impostures. Aesculapius of old, that counterfeit
God, did as many famous cures; his temple (as [2835]Strabo relates) was
daily full of patients, and as many several tables, inscriptions, pendants,
donories, &c. to be seen in his church, as at this day our Lady of
Loretto's in Italy. It was a custom long since,

------"suspendisse potenti
Vestimenta maris deo."[2836] _Hor. Od. 1. lib. 5. Od._

To do the like, in former times they were seduced and deluded as they are
now. 'Tis the same devil still, called heretofore Apollo, Mars, Neptune,
Venus, Aesculapius, &c. as [2837]Lactantius _lib. 2. de orig. erroris, c.
17._ observes. The same Jupiter and those bad angels are now worshipped and
adored by the name of St. Sebastian, Barbara, &c. Christopher and George
are come in their places. Our lady succeeds Venus (as they use her in many
offices), the rest are otherwise supplied, as [2838]Lavater writes, and so
they are deluded. [2839]"And God often winks at these impostures, because
they forsake his word, and betake themselves to the devil, as they do that
seek after holy water, crosses," &c. Wierus, _lib. 4. cap. 3._ What can
these men plead for themselves more than those heathen gods, the same cures
done by both, the same spirit that seduceth; but read more of the Pagan
god's effects in Austin _de Civitate Dei, l. 10. cap. 6._ and of
Aesculapius especially in Cicogna _l. 3. cap. 8._ or put case they could
help, why should we rather seek to them, than to Christ himself, since that
he so kindly invites us unto him, "Come