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How divers great clerkes and good authors have been abused in the matter of spirits through false reports, and by meanes of their ••••∣dulity have published lies, which are confuted by Aristotle and Scriptures.
PLutarch, Livy, and Valerius Maximus, with many other grave ••••••thors, being abused with false reports, write that in times past be•••• spake, and that images could have spoken and wept, and did let 〈◊〉〈◊〉 drops of blood, yea and could walke from place to place: which th••
say was done by procuration of spirits. But I rather think with Aristole, that it was brought to passe Hominum & sacerdotum deceptionibus, to wit, by the cosening art of crafty knaves and priests. And therefore let us follow Esaies advise, who saith; When they shall say unto you, en∣quire of them that have a spirit of divination, and at the soothsayers, which whisper and m••mble in your eares to deceive you,* 1.1 &c. enquire at your own God, &c. And so let us do. And here you see they are such as runne into corners, and cosen the people with lies, &c. For if they could do as they say, they could not aptly be called liers, neither need they to go into corners to whisper &c.
Esai. 8.19.