this forme of journeing, they
affirme to vse most, when they are transported from one Countrie to
another.

PHI. Surelie I long to heare your owne opinion of this: For they are like
old wiues trattles about the fire. The reasons that moues me to thinke
that these are meere illusiones, ar these. First for them that are
transformed in likenes of beastes or foules, can enter through so narrow
passages, although I may easelie beleeue that the Deuill coulde by his
woorkemanshippe vpon the aire, make them appeare to be in such formes,
either to themselues or to others: Yet how he can contract a solide bodie
within so little roome, I thinke it is directlie contrarie to it selfe,
for to be made so little, and yet not diminished: To be so straitlie
drawen together, and yet feele no paine; I thinke it is so contrarie to
the qualitie of a naturall bodie, and so like to the little
transubstantiat god in the _Papistes Masse_, that I can neuer beleeue it.
So to haue a quantitie, is so proper to a solide bodie, that as all
Philosophers conclude, it cannot be any more without one, then a spirite
can haue one. For when PETER _came out of the prison, _(_M19_)_ and the
doores all locked_: It was not by any contracting of his bodie in so
little roome: but by the giuing place of the dore, though vn-espyed by the
Gaylors. And yet is there no comparison, when this is done, betuixt the
power of God, and of the Deuill. As to their forme of extasie and
spirituall transporting, it is certaine the soules going out of the bodie,
is the onely difinition of naturall death: and who are once dead, God
forbid wee should thinke that it should lie in the power of all the Deuils
in Hell, to restore them to their life againe: Although he can put his
owne spirite in a dead bodie, which the _Necromancers_ commonlie practise,
as yee haue harde. For that is the office properly belonging to God; and
besides that, the soule once parting from the bodie, cannot wander anie
longer in the worlde, but to the owne resting place must it goe
immediatlie, abiding the conjunction of the bodie againe, at the latter
daie. And what CHRIST or the Prophets did miraculouslie in this case, it
cannot in no Christian mans opinion be maid common with the Deuill. As for
anie tokens that they giue for proouing of this, it is verie possible to
the Deuils craft, to perswade them to these meanes. For he being a
spirite, may hee not so rauishe their thoughtes, and dull their sences,
that