in the Universe. Peter anfwer'd, Not fo. But Book II. we ought to own One only God, who is truly fuch, and that there are more than one Heaven, which were made by him; as alfo the Law fays: One of which is fuperior to the other: and within that is the visible Firmament contain'd: and that the former of them is perpetual and eternal, together with its Inhabitants; but that the other which is visible, is to be diffolv'd, and to pafs away at the confummation of all Things: that fo the former, which is the antienter, and fuperior Heaven, may, after the Day of Judgment, appear to the Saints, and fuch as are worthy of it. To which Simon faid, All this may appear to Believers to be as you fay; but for him that will expect proofs of this Doctrine, 'twill be impoffible to fetch them out of the Law, especially that concerning the Immenfity of the Light. LXIX. Then faid Peter, Do not you fuppofe that we defire thefe Doctrines fhould be receiv'd by an implicit Faith; for we can prove them by Evidence. For 'tis not fafe that fuch Points fhould depend upon a bare Faith, without Evidence; feeing what is true cannot be deftitute of Evidence and therefore he that receives thefe Doctrines as fupported by Evidence, can never lofe them; while he that receives them without their Proofs, by barely believing what is told him, can neither preferve them fafe, nor is he at all certain that they are true. For he that easily believes does as easily disbelieve; but he that requires Evidence for the, Doctrines he believes, and thereupon receives them, is, as it were, held faft by the Bonds of that Evidence, and can never be drawn away or feparated from what he has believ'd. So that the more ready any one is in requiring Evidence, the firmer will he prove in the retaining his Faith. 12 LXX. Book II. LXX. Then faid Simon, This is a mighty thing you promife, to fhew us, that the Eternity of the immenfe Light can be prov'd out of the Law. And when Peter had faid, I am ready for it when you pleafe; Simon anfwer'd, Since it is now late, if you can prove to me, as I ftand by and oppofe you, to morrow, that this World was made, and that Souls are Immortal, you fhall gain me over, and I will affift you in your preaching. And when he had faid this, he went out with about one Third part of those that came with him, as it were a Thousand in number; while the rest fell down upon their Knees to Peter; over whom he call'd upon the name of God, and heal'd fome that had Demons, and cur'd others that were Infirm; and fo let the People go away with Joy, and order'd them to meet together earlier the next Day. Then did Peter, upon the departure of the Multitude, order a Bed to be made upon the Ground, in the open Air of that Court where they had held the Difputation; and he lay down, together with the Ele ven beforemention'd: while I lay down and fupp'd with fome others, who, as well as my felf, had heard and been partakers of the first parts of the Word of God, and were very dear to me. LXXI. But Peter, as he was of a moft benign Temper, confidering that this fequeftration of us from them might make me forrowful, faid to me, O Clement, 'tis not out of Pride that I do not fup with fuch as are not yet purify'd, but I am afraid left I may do my felf harm, without doing them any good. For this I can certainly affure you of, that every one that has at any time worshipp'd Idols, and has a dor'd those whom the Pagans call Gods, and 1 Cor. x. has tafted of things facrific'd to them, is not free from an unclean Spirit: For he has made him felf felf a Guest of the Damons, and is a partaker of Book II. that Damon whofe Idea he has form'd in his Mind, whether by Fear or Love; and by this means he is not cleans'd from an Unclean Spirit: and therefore does he ftand in need of the Purification of Baptifm, that that Unclean Spirit may go out from him, which has taken poffeffion of the inward Affections of his Soul; and what is worse, there appear no Indications of what is thus within in fecret, left if it were publickly known it should be driven away from him. LXXII. For thofe unclean Spirits delight to ftay in the Bodies of Men, that by their means they may fatisfy their own Lufts; and by bending the affections of the Soul to what they defire, may compel them to be obedient to their Lufts, that fo they may become intirely the Inftruments of the Damons: One of which this Simon is, who is feiz'd with this fort of Disease, and cannot now be cur'd; because his Sickness arifes from his Will, and is become fpontaneous. Nor indeed does the Damon inhabit in him against his Will: fo that if any one would drive him away and expel him out of him, which is now infeparable from him, and is become, as I may fay, his very Soul, he would feem rather to kill him, and to incur the Crime of Murder. Be not therefore any of you fad, while he is feparated from eating with us; for every one ought to obferve a certain time, tho no longer than himself pleases. For he that defires to be baptiz'd quickly is fequefter'd but a little, but he that puts it off longer a greater time. Every one therefore has it in his own power to fhorten or lengthen the time of his Penance; fo that 'tis in your own Bréafts to be admitted to our Table affoon as you please, but 'tis not in our power who are not allow'd to eat with any very dear to me, Set Chere as te was of a most be Starting that this fequeftr FOR BAC Ike me forrow Soment, his act out of Priv Le with tich as are not yet' namid let I may do m' Delf sang them any good. F dire you of than every led my time worthipp'd V da a tank whom the Pay felf a Guest of the Damons, and is a partaker of Book II. that Damon whofe Idea he has form'd in his Mind, whether by Fear or Love; and by this means he is not cleans'd from an Unclean Spirit : and therefore does he ftand in need of the Purification of Baptifm, that that Unclean Spirit may go out from him, which has taken poffeffion of the inward Affections of his Soul; and what is worse, there appear no Indications of what is thus within in fecret, left if it were publickly known it should be driven away from him.· LXXII. For those unclean Spirits delight to ftay in the Bodies of Men, that by their means they may fatisfy their own Lufts; and by bending the affections of the Soul to what they defire, may compel them to be obedient to their Lufts, that fo they may become intirely the Inftruments of the Damons: One of which this Simon is, who is feiz'd with this fort of Disease, and cannot now be cur'd; because his Sickness arifes from his Will, and is become spontaneous. Nor indeed does the Damon inhabit in him against his Will: fo that if any one would drive him away and expel him out of him, which is now infeparable from him, and is become, as 2 may fay, his very Soul, he would feem rather to kill Be no fepar and to incur the Crime of Marter. ve a certain time, tho |