MIDDLE-AGE SPIRITUALISM. 359 



faith ; iorfe means "faith," and minus "less." Since she was formed 

 of a crooked rib, her entire spiritual nature has been distorted and 

 inclined more toward sin than virtue. If we here compare the words 

 of Seneca, " Woman either loves or hates ; there is no third possibility," 

 it is easy to see that when she does not love God she must resort to 

 the opposite extreme and hate him. It is thus clear why women "es- 

 pecially are addicted to the practice of sorcery. 



The crime of the witches exceeds all others. They are worse than 

 the devil, for he has fallen once for all, and Christ has not suffered for- 

 him. The devil sins, therefore, only against the Creator, but the witch 

 both against the Creator and Redeemer. The theology of the case is 

 perfectly clear. 



These and similar questions the first part of " The "Witch-hammer " 

 attempts to settle. The second part describes the various kinds and 

 effects of witchcraft. It claims that they produce hail, thunder, and 

 storms ; they fly through the air from one place to another ; they can 

 make themselves insensible on the rack ; they often subdue the judge's 

 mind by charms and confuse 1dm through com2Kission ; they change 

 themselves and others into cats and were-wolves ; nay, they are able to 

 enchant and kill men and beasts by their very looks. Their strongest 

 passion is to eat the flesh of children ; still they eat only unchristened 

 children : if at any time a baptized child is taken by them, it happens 

 by special divine concession. 



Their compact with the devil may be of a private nature, or a 

 solemn one entered into with due formalities. When the latter, it is 

 concluded in the following manner : The witches assemble upon a day 

 set apart by the devil. He appears in the assembly, exhorts them to 

 faithfulness, and promises them glory, happiness, and long life. The 

 older witches then introduce the novices, who are put to the test and 

 take the oath of allegiance. The devil then instructs them how to pre- 

 pare from the limbs of new-born babes witch-potions and witch-salves, 

 and presents them with a powder, instructing them how to use it to 

 the injury of men and beasts. 



The witch accomplishes her voyages in the air by smearing a vessel, 

 a broom, and a rake, a broomstick and a piece of linen, with the witch- 

 salve ; then rising she moves forth throiigh the air, visible or invisible. 

 " The Witch-hammer" reminds those who doubt these air- voyages that 

 the devil carried Jesus up through the air to the pinnacle of the temple 

 (Matthew iv, 5). 



The third part of this remarkable book gives the criminal law of 

 the witch-courts, with instructions how " sorcerers, witches, and here- 

 tics, are to be tried before spiritual as well as civil tribunals." " The 

 Witch-hammer " states " that the trial may commence without any pre- 

 vious accusation." When an inquisitor comes to a place he must 

 exhort everybody by means of proclamations nailed to the doors of 

 churches and town-halls, and by threats of excommunication and 



