[41] "_Creberrima fama est multique se expertos vel ab eis qui experti essent, de quorum fide dubitandum non est, audisse confirmant, silvanos et faunos, quos incubos vocant, improbos sæpe exstitisse mulieribus et earum appetisse ac peregisse concubitum, et quosdam dæmones, quos Dusios Galli nuncupant, hanc assidue immunditiam et tentare et efficere plures talesque asseverant, ut hoc negare impudentiæ videatur._" (De civitate Dei. lib. 15, cap. 23).
[42] "Recognitiones divi Clementis ad Jacob," lib. II.
[43] This view is expressed already in Henoch's book and in the writings of the Rabbi. Like them even the fathers interpreted the "Sons of God" mentioned in Genesis who "were fascinated by the daughters of men" as fallen angels. Thus Cyrillus, Anthenagoras, Irenæus, Lactantius, Turtullianus, and others. We have just instanced above a quotation from Augustine. The Greek mythology with its amours between gods and men was destined to give support to this superstition.--Luther, who could not free himself from the superstition of his time, tells us often in his "Tischreden" that the devil can beget children by connection with human beings. "Es ist wahrlich ein graülich, schrecklich Exempel," he says in one place, "dass der Teufel kann die Leute plagen, dass er auch kinder zeuget."
[44] Reginonis libri duo de synodalibus causis et disciplinis ecclesiasticis. The work was republished in Leipzig in the year 1840.
[46] It is found complete in its original form in Horst's "Demonomagie," II.
[47] Many etymologies as profound occur in the "Witch-hammer." The word _diabolus_ (devil) is derived from _duo_, "two," and _bolus_, "morsel," which is thus explained, that the devil fishes at the same time after two morsels, the soul and the body.
[48] This deduction, replete with indecencies which can not be handled, occupies thirty-three pages of the "Witch-hammer." It pretends to be very convincing. It has also sent women by hundreds of thousands to death.
[49] To give the reader a clearer idea of the really diabolical blindness and brutality which characterizes the terrible book we are giving an account of, we quote the following statement from the "Witch-hammer," p. 223: "We (the inquisitors Sprenger and his colleagues) find that of all women that we have condemned to the flames very few have voluntarily done harm by sorcery. They have generally been forced by the devil to do it. After having confessed every thing (on the rack) they generally attempt suicide before being taken to the stake. It is the devil who tempts them thus, for he is afraid that by repentance and confession they will receive the pardon of God. If this wily trick is not successful, and if they are prevented from destroying themselves, he knows how to rob them of the chance of grace by other means, namely, by smiting them with fury, madness or sudden death!"--Behold a sample of how theological arguments founded on superior natural influences can be used!