Particular Instances of Apostasy

Chapter 3 of Demonology and Theology (1650) by Nathanael Homes (1599–1678), edited and modernized.

A particular parallel of our times with that in 1 Timothy 4:1, that men shall give heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils.

Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils…

1 Timothy 4:1

It should seem that in the last times there shall be seducing spirits and their doctrines, as well as the Spirit of truth and his doctrines. As Satan is called a lying spirit, so he is said to be a lying spirit in the mouth of Ahab's 400 false prophets, for one Micaiah who spoke by the spirit of truth (1Ki. 22:22). The spirits of men are also said to be lying spirits, or spirits of error (1Jn. 4:1-6), who are prompted, no doubt, by Satan.

The parallel of these times to ours in this suits thus: men, yea nominal professors:

1. First, are Levellers, which was the Devil's doctrine to Adam.
2. Secondly, Familists, saying that men are deified, and God is the creature, which also was, in effect, the Devil's doctrine.
3. Thirdly, are those much given to heed and believe, under the notion of lawful mathematics and laudable arts, diabolical magic and divination, to tell and foretell things which God does not and nature cannot declare or predict. I speak not against proper lawful arts, which I am engaged to honor, but against such practices as are above art and belong to diabolical assistance; whereby, many in these days are at last decoyed into the circle of the Devil's power of prevailing suggestions, and bewitched oppression, if not also most probably, by what I could tell you, possession.

Master Perkins shows in his book on Witchcraft that a man who confidently believes, upon various diabolical traditions such as figures and circles, that he shall be told such and such things, not knowing any divine or natural reason why it should be so, may be in an implicit covenant with the Devil. In lawful arts, it is not enough for a proper understanding to know merely that something shall be so, but to know precisely the reasons why, as well. Lawful arts therefore lead to the understanding of why, but the knowledge of only that may be suspected of far worse.

Doubtless some good men in these times—whose return to the truth testifies of their goodness (of which we have but rare examples)—have truly been bewitched, being forced with an irresistible strange power to say and do those absurd and wicked words and things, as I am reluctant to mention, though I am certain of them. By their own confession we may apparently gather that the Devil was in it, because of their blasphemies and strong temptations to uncleanness, though the Lord graciously kept them from yielding to them. These things we have, partly from their books and partly from their confessions.

To confirm the Devil's bewitching, with strange delusions, some good people by parleying with Satan at first (as Eve did) when he begins to present his cozening phantasms, hear a true and strange story of Martin Luther:

…who being at prayer on what the Papists call Good Friday, the Devil causes to appear on the wall, over against the fixing of his eyes in his devotion, a most exact likeness of a crucifix seemingly coming to life, Christ hanging naked on the cross, with his five passion wounds, and drops of blood, pendent and as distilling from their orifices. Luther, at first astonished but quickly recovering his spirits, did not take it for a revelation (as now it would by many, as I perceive by their narrative of what sights they have seen), but zealously, as a prudent sound saint, burst out into words to this effect, "Away with you! I defy you, you cursed Devil; I know no picture of Christ but his Word and Sacraments!"—at which words Satan, having lost his design, withdrew his phantom tapestry.

Upon this, a good woman a while after in Germany, having a strange vision (as she imagined) and therein, as she conceived a revelation, various godly ministers, and among them Luther, were sent for. When they came, the woman endeavored to show them a strange appearance upon the wall, which she (as she said) saw, but they could not. Luther importuned the woman to bid defiance to it, and to spit upon the place in token of her abhorrence; which at last, after much importunity, she did; but upon this she cried out, "O now it is turned into a serpent, or great snake; O now, it creeps up upon my arm to my shoulder; O now, it bites me by the ear and some drops of blood fell"…

Whether Luther saw the blood, this story does not expressly tell me. After this encounter, the woman was quieted. I leave the reader to make application. I could tell other certain relations of apparitions, such as was imagined of fire on the wall, while a most godly minister was praying to comfort another minister, and at that time conceived something did strike down the bedclothes upon him as he was in his bed. The Devil will use all such artifices in these last times to see if he can draw away people from the sure Word of God—which, Peter says, is more sure to us than a voice from heaven (2Pe. 1:18-19; cf. Gal. 1:8)—to other capricious revelations.

The Devil in the last times will use extreme diligence with all his devices (2Co. 2:11), transforming himself into an angel of light, and making his ministers do likewise (2Co. 11:13-15), that both he himself and they may bewitch men from the truth (Gal. 3:1). In Revelation 12:10-12, in the type of the last times before Christ's appearance, it is said, Now is…the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ…and the saints overcome by the blood of the Lamb. But immediately before shall be a woe to the inhabitants of the earth, for the Devil is come down to you. I say "immediately before" because it is said, first, that the Devil and Satan were cast out (Rev. 12:9), and then it follows, now is salvation and the kingdom of our God, and his Christ. Secondly, it is said that the Devil is come down, having great wrath, because he knows he has but a short time.

As there are seducing spirits of demons, so of men (1Jn. 4:1), of which we consider next, that we may take in all that this expression of 1 Timothy 4:1 may comprise. Seducing spirits with respect to men are such as pretend much of the Holy Spirit, either of prophecy or holy illumination in knowledge (both of which are referenced in 1 John 4:1-3), but by their lips and lives it appears that they are carried to their opinions or practices by a lying spirit. And that parallel place of our other apostle under consideration, Jude 1:19, "sensual, having not the Spirit"—that is, they make boasts of having the Spirit but indeed are quite contrary to having the Spirit, for they are sensual, in their notions and actions, and therefore not spiritual, but carnal.

So most sadly in these days:

• The Seekers pretend the Spirit, but lay aside those ordinances appointed by the Spirit, and wherein is heard the voice of the Spirit, both from God to us and in us to God.
• The Shakers pretend the Spirit, but act in a fleshly manner of quivering and interrupting one another while both pretend to be moved by the Spirit.
• The Familists pretend the Spirit, yet deny a Christ come in the flesh, who was most full of the Spirit, and is the communicator of the Spirit.
• The Ranters pretend the Spirit, yet curse and swear and whore around in a most fleshly manner.