Ptōchomuseion [sic]. = The poore mans librarie Rapsodiæ G.A. Bishop of Exceter vpon the first epistle of saint Peter, red publiquely in the cathedrall church of saint Paule, within the citye of London. 1560. Here are adioyned at the end of euery special treatie, certaine fruitful annotacions which may properly be called miscellanea, bicause they do entreate of diuerse and sundry matters, marked with the nombre and figures of Augrime. 2.

Apparitions. 19.

RAbanus Archbishop of Magunce, doth shew out of the testi∣monies of Gregory the first, and of Beda, that the soules of persons deceased, haue often times appeared, and haue decla∣red, that sacrifices & praiers of the liuing, haue much profited them af∣ter their death. But it is to be marueiled, that mē of such good learning would build vpon so weake a foundation.* 1.1 For the Lord doth forbyd in his law, to aske or to seeke any truth of the spirites of the dead. The pro∣phets do send vs from such oracles, vnto the law and testimony of Gods worde.* 1.2 You may heare in the Euangelist Saynt Luke, howe the riche glotton, lying in torments, doth cry and say: O father Abraham, I pray thee, that thou wylt send Lazarus vnto my fathers house, for I haue .v. brethren, that he may testifye vnto them, least they also come into thys place of torment. But Abraham sayd vnto him: they haue Moses and the prophets, let them heare them. And he sayd: nay father Abraham, but if one came vnto them from the dead, they wil amend their liues. Then he sayd vnto him: if they heare not Moses and the prophets, neither wil they be perswaded, though one rise from the dead againe. By this place it is most certaine, and euidently confuted, that the soules haue not, nor can∣not appere after their death, no not the blessed soules, much lesse the soules of the wycked.

Obiectio.

But many partly by arte Magicke, partly by the power of god, haue returned againe into this life, after their departure from hence.

Responsio.

To this obiection Tertullianus maketh answer in these words. Sed & si quasdam reuocauit in corpora dei virtus,* 1.3 in documēta iuris sui, non idcirco communicabitur fidei & audaciae Magorum, & fallaciae somnio∣rum, & licentiae poaetarum, atqui in resurrectionis exemplis, cum dei vir¦tus siue per prophetas, siue per Christum, siue per Apostolos in corpora animas representat solida & contrectabili, & satiata veritate praeiudica∣tum est hanc esse formam veritatis, vt omnem mortuorum exhibitionē incorporalem praestigias iudices.

Although the power of God hath called again certain soules into their bodies, in token of his might and right, it ought not therfore to be ascri∣bed to the trust and boldnes of the Magicians, neyther to the vanities of dreames and the licence of Poetes, but rather in the examples of the re∣surrection, whē the power of god, whether by the Prophets or by Christ, or els by y^e Apostles, doth render soules into their bodies: it is declared by the sensible and sufficient truth, that this is the very forme of thy truth, that thou maist iudge euery incorporall apparition of the dead to be de∣ceytes and delusions.

Chrisostom writing vpon Saynt Mathew, doth demaund this questiō Quid ergo respōdebimus ad illas voces: Anima talis ego sum? (excipit) Non anima defuncti est quae ista dicit, sed demon, qui haec vt audientes decipiat effingit. Et mox: Quare vetularum haec verba, imo desipientium ducenda sunt, & puerorum ludibria. Et iterum, no potest anima a corpo∣re separata in his regionibus errare. Iustorum animae in manu dei sunt, in fantium similiter, non enim peccarunt. Peccatorum vero post hunc exi∣tum continuo abducuntur, quod a Lazaro & diuite planum efficitur.

VVhat shal we say therfore to those voices which say: I am such asoule? He answereth: that voice which speaketh these things, is not the soule of any person departed, but it is the deuil which doth faine these thinges to deceaue the hearers. VVherfore such words are to be counted old wyues tales, & foolish fables of childrē: for the soule separate frō the body, doth not wāder in this world, for the soules of y^e righteous are in the hands of God, likewise y^e soules of infants, for they haue not sinned. The soules of y^e sinners after their departure, ar straightway caried to their place, which plainly appeareth by Lazarus the righteous, and the wicked rich man.

Obiectio.

It is found in the holy scriptures, that Samuel the prophet did appeare after his death, therfore it may be concluded that soules do returne after their departure, and do informe men of certain demaundes.

Responsio.

That thing which appered, semed in shew to be Samuel, & therfore by a Trope is so called, but in dede it was not Samuel, but a phantastical appearance, & an illusion of Satā, which to proue, I vrge this argument. Magick was straitly forbidden in the law of God, therefore the blessed spirits, which liuing yet in their bodies, did abhor & resist all il meanes, did not obey wicked artes forbidden, but the damned spirits do exercise themselues in such vnlawful waies & meanes. It may again be sayd, that Samuel did foreshew that thing which came to pas the next day after. VVhat then? what wil you gather of that? It was no hard matter for Sa∣than so to do, who a litle before had heard Samuel being a liue, to speake many things vnto Saul. Likewise he might know by certain tokēs, as by y^e feare of Saules host, he might know before y^e iudgmēt of god against Saul

Tertullian saith: Absit (inquit) vt animā cuiuslibet sancti ne dum prophaetae a demonio credam a•• extractam, edocti quod ipse Sarhanas transfiguretur in angelum lucis, nedum in hominem lucis, & iam deum se asseneraturus signaque portentosiora editurus ad euertendos, si fieri possit, electos.

That is to say: God forbid (saith he) y^t we should beleue, the soule of a∣ny saint, much les of a prophet, to be brought out by the diuel, forasmuch as we be taught, y^t satan doth chaūge him self into an angel of light, and not onely into the shew of a mā, & wil affirme himself to be god, & will worke marueilous signes, to ouerthrow (if it be possible) the very elect.

Saint Austen doth iudge the like of the apparition of Samuel in his se∣cond booke & .3. question, Ad Simplicianum, & ad Dulcitii quaestiones.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Deut. 18. Esay. 8.
• * 1.2

  Luk. 16.
• * 1.3

  Libr de anima.