On Popular IllufiGns. 43 



time, that there was an exacft conformity be- 

 tween the vifible and invifible worlds, confe- 

 quently a pofTibiiity of affedling what is unfeen, 

 by its fympathy with the natural fubjedt, on 

 which the magician operates (c). He alfo be- 

 lieved it poffible to eflablifb a commerce with 

 with angels. But the fourth book of the occult 

 philofophy, which contains the forms for invo- 

 cating. demons, and defcriptions of their differ- 

 ent appearances, according to the method of 

 invocation employed, is declared by Naude and 

 Wierus to be fpurious, as well as the ridiculous 

 treatife imputed to Trithemius. Upon the 

 whole, Agrippa appears in the three firft books, 

 where he is mod myftical, to confide in natural 

 means, or angelic influence. His book, how- 

 ever, procured him the charafter of a forcerer, 

 which was confirmed by his keeping a pug-dog 

 with a collar, fuppofed to be an imp, and was 

 put beyond all doubt by his exerting his influ- 

 ence to fave a poor woman, accufed of witch- 

 craft, from the flames, at Cologne. Wierus, 

 who had ferved Agrippa, gave rife to the firfl 

 great controverfy on this fubjedl*. His mafter 

 had taught him humanity, and he endeavoured, 

 but with too feeble a hand, to flop the bloody 

 proceedings of the judges. Wierus appears to 



*■ "Bodinus fays that fome perfons, before Wierus, attempted 

 to fhew the innocence of witches. 



have 



