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146 OF THE ADVANCEMENT OF LEARNING, [X1.2 
and elevation (which the ancients noted by fury), and not 
with a repose and quiet, as it is in the other. 
3. Fascination is the power and act of imagination 
intensive upon other bodies than the body of the imagin- 
ant, for of that we spake in the proper place. Wherein 
the school of Paracelsus, and the disciples of pretended 
natural magic have been so intemperate, as they have 
exalted the power of the imagination to be much one 
with the power of miracle-working faith. Others, that 
draw nearer to probability, calling to their view the secret 
passages of things, and specially of the contagion that 
passeth from body to body, do conceive it should like- 
wise be agreeable to nature, that there should be some 
transmissions and operations from spirit to spirit without 
the mediation of the senses; whence the conceits have 
grown (now almost made civil) of the mastering spirit, 
and the force of confidence and the like. Incident unto 
this is the inquiry how to raise and fortify the imagin- 
ation: for if the imagination fortified have power, then 
it is material to know how to fortify and exalt it. And 
herein comes in crookedly and dangerously a palliation 
of a great part of ceremonial magic. For it may be 
pretended that ceremonies, characters, and charms do 
work, not by any tacit or sacramental contract with evil 
spirits, but serve only to strengthen the imagination of him 
that useth it; as images are said by the Roman church 
to fix the cogitations and raise the devotions of them that 
pray before them. But for mine own judgement, if it 
be admitted that imagination hath power, and that cere- 
monies fortify imagination, and that they be used sin- 
cerely and intentionally for that purpose; yet I should 
hold them unlawful, as opposing to that first edict which 
God gave unto man, Jn sudore vullus comedes panem tuum. 
