92 PARACELSUS 



dreams without discrimination, but always use his reason 

 to distinguish the true from the false. " But, on the 

 whole, there may be more reliance put into dreams than 

 in the revelations received by the art of Necromancy; 

 because the latter are usually false and deceptive, and 

 although the Elementals, using the astral bodies of the 

 dead on such occasions as masks, will give correct 

 answers to questions, and often confirm their assertions 

 with oaths, nevertheless no implicit confidence or reliance 

 can be put into what they may say, because they do not 

 wish to speak the truth, nor are they able to speak it." 



" The patriarchs, prophets, and saints preferred, there- 

 fore, visions and dreams to any other mode of divination. 

 Balaam was so well versed in the art of calling forth 

 prophetic dreams that he could have them whenever he 

 wanted. He was therefore falsely accused of being a 

 sorcerer; for the Scriptures do not use any discrimina- 

 tion in such matters, but call every one a sorcerer who 

 has such powers, and uses them to obtain information 

 without being himself a saint. God wills that we shall 

 be like the apostles in purity and simplicity of mind, 

 and that we shall not speculate in hidden and secret 

 things, such as are called supernatural ^ and which may 

 be misused for the purpose of injuring one's neigh- 

 bour in body and soul. The difference between a magus 

 and a sorcerer is, that the former does not misuse his 

 art. If magic (the power of the spiritual will) is mis- 

 used, it is then sorcery " {Philosoyhia Occulta). 



*' There are two kinds of dreams — natural ones and 

 such as come from the spirit. It is unnecessary to say 

 much about the former, because they are known to all. 

 They may be caused by joy or sadness, by impurities of 

 the blood, by external or internal causes. A gambler 



^ Those are in error who claim that there is nothing supernatural ; for 

 although all things exist in Nature, Nature itself is not God. God is not 

 outside, but above and beyond Nature ; not in regard to locality, but in 

 regard to His superiority. 



