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themfelves at their prayers, which ignorant deluded people think to be an argument of the Spirit: It is certain, and is a myftery of nature that hath (may I fpeak it without bragging) been brought to light (of late years at leaft) by my felf and fully difcovered, "That not only the inward heat of "mental conception (where there is any vigor) but alfo the mufick of out"ward words, is able to occafion it. Indeed it is a point that doth deferve to be well confidered of in thefe times efpecially. For when young boyes and illiterate men (and the number is likely to increafe now that Catechizing is fo much neglected) are turned loofe to exercife themfelves in this gift (as they call it) and when by long practice they have attained to fome readiness and volubility, which doth occafion fome inward lightfomeneſs and excitations, or perchance fomewhat that may have fome refemblance to fpiritual forrow and compunction, they prefently think themfelves infpired, and fo they become Saints before they know what it is to be Chriftians. And if they can Pray by infpiration, why not Preach alfo? So comes in Anabaptifm by degrees, which will be the ruine of all Religion and civil Government where ever it prevails. And I believe that this fond fooliſh conceit of Infpiration, as it hath been the occafiou of much other mifchief, fo of that horrid facriledge, fhall I call it, or profanation (I hope I may do either without offence, for it is not done by any publick Authority that I know of) the cafting and banishing of THE LORDS PRAYER out of many private houfes and Churches; then which, I think, Chrift never received a greater affi ont from any that called themfelves Chriftians. I am not fo ung aritable as to believe that it is done in direct oppofition to Chrift by any real Chriftians, but in a furious zeale by many, I believe, againſt fet prayers. But this is not a place to difpute it: Certainly, as the Lords Prayer is a Prayer of moft incredible comfort to them that ufe it devoutly and upon good grounds (a good foundation of Religion and found Faith, I mean) fo I believe that fet Prayers in general are of more concernment to the ferling of Peace in the Commonwealth then many men are aware of. But let this pafs for my opinion; there be worfe I am fure that pass currently.
Again, A man may wonder (I cannot tell whether an objection may be made of it) that Dr. Dee, though he were at the firft deluded (to which his own pride and prefumption did expofe him) as many have been yet afterwards in procefs of time when he found himſelf fo deluded and Thuffled with; when Edward Kelley did ufe fuch pregnant arguments to him (as he did more then once) to perfwade him that they were evil Spirits that appeared unto them; nay, when he had found by certain experience, that his Spirits had told him many lies, foretold many things concerning Princes and Kingdoms, very particularly limited with circumftances of time, which when the time was expired did not at all come to pass; yet for all this he durft pawn his Soul for them that they were good Spirits, and continued in his confidence (fo farre as our Relation goes) to the laft. I anfwer, Such is the power of this kind of Spiritual delufion, it doth fo poffefs them whom it hath once taken hold of, that they feldom, any of them, recover themselves. In the dayes of Martin Luther (a great and zealous refor-mer-