Book 16, Chapter 28: A confutation of Johannes Laurentius, and of manie others, mainteining these fained and ridiculous tales and apparitions, and what driveth them awaie: of Moses and Helias appearance in mount Thabor
1 Furthermore, to prosecute this matter in more words; if I saie that these apparitions of soules are but knaveries and cousenages; they object that Moses and Helias appeared in mount Thabor, and talked with Christ, in the presence of the principall apostles: yea, and that God appeared in the bush, &c. As though spirits and soules could doo whatsoever it pleaseth the Lord to doo, or appoint to be doone for his owne glorie, or for the manifestation of his sonne miraculouslie. And therefore I thought good to give you a taste of the witchmongers absurd opinions in this behalfe.
2 And first you shall understand, that they hold, that all the soules in heaven may come downe and appeare to us when they list, and assume anie bodie saving their owne: otherwise (saie they) such soules should not be perfectlie happie. They saie that you may know the good soules from the bad verie easilie. For a damned soule hath a verie heavie and sowre looke; but a saints soule hath a cheerefull and a merrie countenance: these also are white and shining, the other cole blacke. And these damned soules also maie come up out of hell at their pleasure; although Abraham made Dives beleeve the contrarie. They affirme that damned soules walke oftenest: next unto them the soules of purgatorie; and most seldome the soules of saints. Also they saie that in the old lawe soules did appeare seldome; and after doomes daie they shall never be seene more: in the time of grace they shall be most frequent. The walking of these soules (saith Michael Andr.) is a most excellent argument for the proofe of purgatorie: for (saith he) those soules have testified that which the popes have affirmed in that behalfe; to wit, that there is not onelie such a place of punishment, but that they are released from thence by masses, and such other satisfactorie works; whereby the goodnes of the masse is also ratified and confirmed.
3 These heavenlie or purgatorie soules (saie they) appeare most commonlie to them that are borne upon ember daies, and they also walke most usuallie on those ember daies: bicause we are in best state at that time to praie for the one, and to keepe companie with the other. Also they saie, that soules appeare oftenest by night; bicause men may then be at best leasure, and most quiet. Also they never appeare to the whole multitude, seldome to a few, and most commonlie to one alone: for so one may tell a lie without controlment. Also they are oftenest seene by them that are readie to die: as Trasilla sawe pope Fœlix; Ursine, Peter and Paule; Galla Romana, S. Peter; and as Musa the maid sawe our Ladie: which are the most certeine appearances, credited and allowed in the church of Rome: also they may be seene of some, and of some other in that presence not seene at all; as Ursine sawe Peter and Paule, and yet manie at that instant being present could not see anie such sight, but thought it a lie: as I doo. Michael Andræas confesseth, that papists see more visions than protestants: he saith also, that a good soule can take none other shape than of a man; marie a damned soule may and dooth take the shape of a blacke moore, or of a beast, or of a serpent, or speciallie of an heretike.
4 The christian signes that drive awaie these evill soules, are the crosse, the name of Jesus, and the relikes of saints: in the number whereof are holiwater, holie bread, Agnus Dei, &c. For Andrew saith, that notwithstanding Julianus was an Apostata, and a betraier of christian religion: yet at an extremitie, with the onelie signe of the crosse, he drave awaie from him manie such evill spirits; whereby also (he saith) the greatest diseases and sicknesses are cured, and the sorest dangers avoided.
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