ANTHROPOLOGY 93 



may dream of cards, a soldier of battles, a drunkard of 

 wine, a robber of theft. All such dreams are caused by the 

 lower principles of such persons, which play with their 

 imagination, heat their blood, and stimulate their phantasy." 



* But there are supernatural dreams, and they are 

 the messengers from God, that are sent to us at the 

 approach of some great danger. Ananias, Cornelius, 

 and many others had similar visions, and such super- 

 natural dreams take place sometimes even among the 

 present generation ; but only the wise pay attention to 

 them. Others treat them with contempt, although such 

 dreams are true, and do not deceive." 



" The dream in the Gahal plays with that which is 

 in man, and that which the dream shows is the shadow 

 of such wisdom as exists in the man, even if during 

 his waking state he may know nothing about it; for 

 we ought to know that God has given us all wisdom and 

 knowledge, reason, and the power to perceive the past 

 and the future ; but we do not know it, because we 

 are fooling away our time with outward and perishing 

 things, and are asleep in regard to that which is real 

 within ourself . If one appears to have more talent than 

 another man, it is not because he has been especially 

 favoured by God, but because he has more than the 

 other sought of that which God has given to each " 

 (Fragmenta Medico). 



" There are some persons whose nature is so spiritual, 

 and their souls so exalted, that they can approach the 

 highest spiritual sphere at a time when their bodies are 

 asleep. Such persons have seen the glory of God, the 

 happiness of the redeemed, and the torture of the wicked ; 

 and they did not forget their dreams on awakening, but 

 remembered what they had seen unto the end of their 

 days. Such things are possible, and the greatest mys- 

 teries are thus laid open to the perception of the spirit ; 

 and if we earnestly desire such gifts, and pray with an 

 unrelenting faith to the power of the Supreme, that rests 



