fall out, as these _boni_ and _mali genii_ favour or dislike us: _Saturni
non conveniunt Jovialibus_, &c. He that is Saturninus shall never likely be
preferred. [1233]That base fellows are often advanced, undeserving
Gnathoes, and vicious parasites, whereas discreet, wise, virtuous and
worthy men are neglected and unrewarded; they refer to those domineering
spirits, or subordinate Genii; as they are inclined, or favour men, so they
thrive, are ruled and overcome; for as [1234]Libanius supposeth in our
ordinary conflicts and contentions, _Genius Genio cedit et obtemperat_, one
genius yields and is overcome by another. All particular events almost they
refer to these private spirits; and (as Paracelsus adds) they direct,
teach, inspire, and instruct men. Never was any man extraordinary famous in
any art, action, or great commander, that had not _familiarem daemonem_ to
inform him, as Numa, Socrates, and many such, as Cardan illustrates, _cap.
128_, _Arcanis prudentiae civilis_, [1235] _Speciali siquidem gratia, se a
Deo donari asserunt magi, a Geniis caelestibus instrui, ab iis doceri_. But
these are most erroneous paradoxes, _ineptae et fabulosae nugae_, rejected
by our divines and Christian churches. 'Tis true they have, by God's
permission, power over us, and we find by experience, that they can
[1236]hurt not our fields only, cattle, goods, but our bodies and minds. At
Hammel in Saxony, _An._ 1484. 20 _Junii_, the devil, in likeness of a pied
piper, carried away 130 children that were never after seen. Many times men
are [1237]affrighted out of their wits, carried away quite, as Scheretzius
illustrates, _lib. 1, c. iv._, and severally molested by his means,
Plotinus the Platonist, _lib. 14, advers. Gnos._ laughs them to scorn, that
hold the devil or spirits can cause any such diseases. Many think he can
work upon the body, but not upon the mind. But experience pronounceth
otherwise, that he can work both upon body and mind. Tertullian is of this
opinion, _c. 22._ [1238]"That he can cause both sickness and health," and
that secretly. [1239]Taurellus adds "by clancular poisons he can infect the
bodies, and hinder the operations of the bowels, though we perceive it not,