We learn in the retreating how vast an one was recently among us. A perished Sun endears in the departure how doubly more than all the golden presence it was before. They say that time assuages—time never did assuage; an actual suffering strengthens, as sinews do, with age. Time is a test of trouble, but not a remedy. If such it proves, it proves too there was no malady. Some philosophers believe that in the afterlife humans by their native powers will be able to intuit any created thing, be it material or spiritual, and to that extent human’s mind is at present limited to human’s lapsed state that their mind is at present limited to knowing the intelligible features of sense data but also because of the natural harmony of body and mind that would obtain even in a purely natural state. Although the mechanics of the process are not fully clear, two mental images or species are involved, one derived from creatures, the other imparted by divine illumination from above. #RandolphHarris 1 of 11

Since both the human mind and the sensible object are subject to change, no species or likeness taken from the sensible object and impressed upon the mind will yield invariant truth. Something must needs be added from above.  God could give matter existence apart from all form, either accidental or substantial. In such a case, matter would exist much like a pure spirit or the human soul. Primary matter of the Sun and planetary spheres is not any different from that form in question may be superior to that of terrestrial elements and compounds. From human’s ability to think or reason, the intellective soul is the substantial form that makes human beings precisely human. However, to the extent that reason can prove the soul to be the form of the body, it becomes correspondingly more difficult to demonstrate that the soul will survive death of the body. While the traditional arguments for immortality have probabilistic value, only faith can make certain this truth. #RandolphHarris 2 of 11

Even sensory perception can be analyzed critically to exclude any reasonable doubt. Conflicting sense reports produce such illusions as the stick immersed in water that feels straight yet appears to be bent. Yet there is always some self-evident principle possessed by our mind that enables us to decide which sense perceptual information is correct. Here it is the proposition any harder object is not broken by something soft that gives way before it. There are many areas of knowledge, then, where human beings are perfectly well equipped to arrive at certitude without any special divine enlightenment. The circles and art of magic, without committing a horrible defection from God, proves these practices, which I call the devil’s rudiments, unknowing them are bait, cast out by him, for trapping such as God will permit to fall in his hands. These kinds of folks, I say, no doubt, are to be judged the best of, in respect they have used no invocation nor help him (by their knowledge at least) in these turns, and so have entered themselves in Satan’s service. #RandolphHarris 3 of 11

Yet, to speak truly for my own part (I speak but for myself) our enemy is extremely crafty, and we are exceptionally weak (except for the greater grace of God) to say such hazards, wherein the devil pleases to trap us. They who commit wicked acts become unto this perfection of evil, in having any knowledge (whether learned or unlearned) of this black art, they then begin to be weary of the raising of their Master, by conjuring circles; being both so difficult and perilous, and so come plainly to a contract with him, wherein is especially contained forms and effects. However, I pray that you go further, discourse with me somewhat of their circles and conjuring; and what should be the cause of their wearing thereof: For it should seem that that form should be the cause of their wearying thereof; For it should seem that that form should be at least fearful yet, then the direct haunting and society, with that foul and unclean spirit. What people are doing by lying, terrorizing, and harassing others is called conjuring the Devil’s school, and the persons of the conjurers; the actions of the conjuration; the word and the rites used to that effect; and the spirits that are conjured are laying the grounds with their power and intent to commit blasphemy of God. #RandolphHarris 4 of 11

The Devil is only the father of all lies and he is making himself to be trusted in these little rituals that the wicked are performing, that he may have the better commodity thereafter, to deceive them in the end with a trickle once for all; I mean the everlasting perdition of their soul and body. These people are attempting to provide the Devil with a living sacrifice and the crafty spirit eludes them with, and once the conjured spirit appears, if they have missed one iota of their rites, he will cause great terror for them. The contract they are making with the Devil is mutual, and when he establishes himself to them, we do not know what shape or form he will present himself in. The quality and shape of that form depends on the skill of their dark arts.  Sometimes he establishes himself to appear at their calling upon him, by such a proper name which he shews unto them, either in the likeness of a dog, cat, an ape, or such like other beast; or else to answer by a voice only. The effects of answering to such demands, as concerns curing of diseases, their own particular imagery: or such other base things as they require of him. #RandolphHarris 5 of 11

However, to the most curious sort, in the form the Devil will establish himself, to enter in a dead body, and there out of to give such answers, of events of battles, of matters concerning the estate of commonwealths, and such like the greater questions. Yes, to some he will be a continual attender, in form of a page: He will permit himself to be conjured, for the space of so many years, either in a tablet or a ring, or such like thing, which they may easily carry about with them. The Devil gives them power to seal such wares to others, whereof some will be dearer, and some better cheap; according to the lying or true speaking of the Spirit that is conjured therein. Not but that in very deed, all Devils must be liars; but so they abuse the simplicity of these wretches, that becomes their scholars, that they make them believe, that at the fall of Lucifer, some Spirits fell in the air, some in the fire, some in the water, some in the land in which they elements they still remain. Whereupon they build, that such as fell in the fire, or in the air, are truer than they, who fell in the water or in the land, which is all mere trifles, and forged by the author if all deceit. #RandolphHarris 6 of 11

For the fall not be weight as a solid substance, to stick in any one part, but the principal part of their fall, consisting in quality, by the falling from the grace of God wherein they were created, they continued still thereafter, and shall do while the latter die, in wandering through the World, as God’s hang men, to execute such turns as he employs in them. And when any of them are not occupied in that, return they must to their prison in Hell (as it is plainly in the miracle of Christ) therein at the later day to be all enclosed forever and as they deceive their scholars in this, so do they imprint in them the opinion that there so many princes, dukes, and kings among them, everyone commanding fewer or more legions, and implying in diverse arts, and quarters of the Earth. For thought that I will not deny that there be a a form of order among the Angels in Heaven, consequently, was among them before their fall; yet, either that he broke the same sense; or that God will permit us to know by damned Devils, such as Heavenly mysteries of his, which he would not reveal to us neither by Scriptures no Prophets, I think no Christian will once think it. #RandolphHarris 7 of 11

However, by the contrary of all such mysteries contended with a humble ignorance, they being thins not necessary for our salvation. Yet, to return to the purpose, as these forms, wherein Satan establishes himself to the greatest of the Magicians, are wonderful curious, so are the effects correspondent unto the same. For he will establish himself to teach them arts and sciences, which he may easily do, being so learned a knave as he is to carry them news from any part of the World, which the agility of a Spirit may easily perform to reveal to them the secrets of any persons, so being they be once spoken, for the thought none knows but GOD; except as far as you may guess by their countenance, as one who is doubtless learned enough in the physiognomy; yes, he will make his scholars to creep in credit with princes, by fore-telling them many great things, part false and part true, for if it were all false, he would try and credit at all hand; but always doubt some, as his Oracles were. And he will also make them please princes, by fair banquets and dainty dishes, carried in short space from the farthest part of the World. For no one doubts but he is a thief, and his agility (as I spoke before) makes him come to such speed. #RandolphHarris 8 of 11

Such like, Satan will guard his scholars with fare armies of horse-men and foot-men in appearance, castles, mansions, houses, and apartments, which all are but impressions in the air, easily gathered by a spirit, drawing so near to that substance himself, as in like manner he will learn many juggleries tricks at cards, dice, and such like, to deceive people of their sense thereby and such innumerable false practices, which are proven by over many in this age. And yet are all these things, but deluding of the senses, and ways true in substance, as were the false miracles wrought by criminals for counterfeiting. For that is the difference betwixt God’s miracles and the Devil’s, God is a creator, what he makes appears in miracles, it is so effect. However, the Devil lies and hunts to destroy all people who partake in his ways. And when making a contract with the Devil, concerning the form of making this contract, which is either written with the Magicians own blood, or else being agreed upon (in terms one’s school master) touches one in some part, thought peradventure no mark remain, as it does will all Witches.  The art of the Devil is monstrous and detestable. However, what I pray you shall recognize how evil the Devil’s art is. #RandolphHarris 9 of 11

The will is not simply an intellective appetite, motor power or drive guided by intelligence rather than mere sense perception. Freedom of will, in other words, is not a simple logical consequence of intelligence, but is unique among the agencies found in nature. All other active powers or potentializes are determined by their nature not only to act but to act in a specific way unless impeded by internal or external causes. However, even when all the intrinsic or extrinsic conditions necessary for its operation are present, the free will need not act. Not only may it refrain from acting at all, but it may act now one way, now another. The will has a twofold positive response toward a concrete thing or situation. It can love or seek what is good, or it can hate or shun what is evil. Moreover, it has an inborn inclination to do so. However, unlike the sense appetites, the will need not follow its inclination. Human beings are free only if one sees some measure of imperfection or evil in a good object and that the will is necessitated by its end (the good as such), though it is free to choose between several means of attaining it. #RandolphHarris 10 of 11

All striving, all activity stems from an imperfection in the agent, whose actions all tend to perfect or complete its nature. Physis or nature means literally what a thing is born to be or become. Since what perfects a thing is good, and since striving for what is good is a form of love, we could say that all activity is sparked by love. The peculiarity of such love, however, is that it can never be truly altruistic or even objective. It is radically self-centered in the sense that nature seeks primarily and above all else its own welfare. If at times we find what appears to be altruistic behavior, it is always a case where the nature or species is favored at the cost of the individual. However, nature, either in its individual concretization or as self-perpetuating species, must necessity and in all it does seek its own perfection. This is its supreme values, and the ultimate goal of its loves. Such a theory presents a dual difficulty for a Christian. How can one maintain that God is love (1 John 4.16) and how can humans love God above all things if self-perfection is one’s supreme values? God is the perfection of human beings. In loving God as one’s supreme value, humans are really loving themselves. Love of friendship becomes possible to the extent that one loves another as an other self.  #RandolphHarris 11 of 11