[212]SeeTrollope，HistoryofFlorence，vol。i，p。64。
InthethirteenthcenturytheCistercianmonk，CaesariusofHeisterbach，popularizedthedoctrineincentralEurope。Hisrichcollectionofanecdotesfortheillustrationofreligioustruthswasthefavouriterecreativereadingintheconventsforthreecenturies，andexercisedgreatinfluenceoverthethoughtofthelaterMiddleAges。InthisworkherelatesseveralinstancesoftheDivineuseoflightning，bothforrescueandforpunishment。Thushetellsushowthestewardcellerariusofhisownmonasterywassavedfromtheclutchofarobberbyaclapofthunderwhich，inanswertohisprayer，burstsuddenlyfromtheskyandfrightenedthebanditfromhispurpose：how，inaSaxontheatre，twentymenwerestruckdown，whileapriestescaped，notbecausehewasnotagreatersinnerthantherest，butbecausethethunderbolthadrespectforhisprofession！ItisCesarius，too，whotellsusthestoryofthepriestofTreves，struckbylightninginhisownchurch，whitherhehadgonetoringthebellagainstthestorm，andwhosesinswererevealedbythecourseofthelightning，forittorehisclothesfromhimandconsumedcertainpartsofhisbody，showingthatthesinsforwhichhewaspunishedwerevanityandunchastity。[213]
[213]SeeCaesariusHeisterbacensis，Dialogusmiraculorum，lib。
x，c。28-30。
ThismodeofexplainingtheDivineinterferencemoreminutelyisdevelopedcenturyaftercentury，andwefindbothCatholicsandProtestantsassigningascausesofunpleasantmeteorologicalphenomenawhateverappearstothemwickedorevenunorthodox。
AmongtheEnglishReformers，TyndalequotesinthiskindofargumentthethirteenthchapterofI。Samuel，showingthat，whenGodgaveIsraelaking，itthunderedandrained。ArchbishopWhitgift，BishopBale，andBishopPilkingtoninsistedonthesameview。InProtestantGermany，aboutthesameperiod，PlieningertookadisliketothenewGregoriancalendarandpublishedavolumeofBriefReflections，inwhichheinsistedthattheelementshadgivenutterancetoGod’sangeragainstit，callingattentiontothefactthatviolentstormsragedoveralmostallGermanyduringtheverytendayswhichthePopehadtakenoutforthecorrectionoftheyear，andthatgreatfloodsbeganwiththefirstdaysofthecorrectedyear。[214]
[214]ForTyndale，seehisDoctrinalTreatises，p。194，andforWhitgift，seehisWorks，vol。ii，pp。477-483；Bale，Works，pp。
244，245；andPilkington，Works，pp。177，536allinParkerSocietyPublications。BishopBalecitesespeciallyJobxxxviii，Ecclesiasticusxiii，andRevelationviii，assupportingthetheory。ForPlieninger’swords，seeJanssen，GeschichtedesdeutschenVolkes，vol。v，p。350。
Earlyintheseventeenthcentury，Majoli，BishopofVoltoraria，insouthernItaly，producedhishugeworkDiesCanicularii，orDogDays，whichremainedafavouriteencyclopediainCatholiclandsforoverahundredyears。Treatingofthunderandlightning，hecomparesthemtobombsagainstthewicked，andsaysthatthethunderboltis“anexhalationcondensedandcookedintostone。”andthat“itisnottobedoubtedthat，ofallinstrumentsofGod’svengeance，thethunderboltisthechief“；
thatbymeansofitSennacheribandhisarmywereconsumed；thatLutherwasstruckbylightninginhisyouthasacautionagainstdepartingfromtheCatholicfaith；thatblasphemyandSabbath-breakingarethesinstowhichthispunishmentisespeciallyassigned，andhecitesthecaseofDathanandAbiram。
FiftyyearslatertheJesuitStengeldevelopedthislineofthoughtstillfurtherinfourthickquartovolumesonthejudgmentsofGod，addinganelaborateschedulefortheuseofpreachersinthesermonsofanentireyear。Threechaptersweredevotedtothunder，lightning，andstorms。Thattheauthorteachestheagencyintheseofdiabolicalpowersgoeswithoutsaying；butthiscanonlyact，hedeclares，byDivinepermission，andthethunderboltisalwaysthefingerofGod，whichrarelystrikesamansaveforhissins，andthenatureofthespecialsinthuspunishedmaybeinferredfromthebodilyorganssmitten。Afewyearslater，inProtestantSwabia，PastorGeorgNuberissuedavolumeof“weather-sermons。”inwhichhediscussesnearlyeverysortofelementaldisturbances——storms，floods，droughts，lightning，andhail。These，hesays，comedirectfromGodforhumansins，yetnodoubtwithdiscrimination，fortherearefivesinswhichGodespeciallypunisheswithlightningandhail——namely，impenitence，incredulity，neglectoftherepairofchurches，fraudinthepaymentoftithestotheclergy，andoppressionofsubordinates，eachofwhichpointshesupportswithamassofscripturaltexts。[215]
[215]ForMajoli，seeDiesCan。，I，i；forStengel，seetheDejudiciisdivinis，vol。ii，pp。15-61，andespeciallytheexampleoftheimpurusetsaltatorsacerdos，fulminecastratus，pp。26，27。ForNuber，seehisConcionesmeteoricae，Ulm，1661。
ThisdoctrinehavingbecomeespeciallypreciousbothtoCatholicsandtoProtestants，therewereissuedhandbooksofprayersagainstbadweather：amongthesewastheSpiritualThunderandStormBooklet，producedin1731byaProtestantscholar，Stoltzlin，whosethreeorfourhundredpagesofprayerandsong。”sighsforusewhenitlightensfearfully。”and“criesofanguishwhenthehailstormisdrawingon。”showawonderfuladaptabilitytoallpossiblemeteorologicalemergencies。TheprefaceofthisvolumeiscontributedbyProf。Dilherr，pastorofthegreatchurchofSt。SebaldatNuremberg，who，indiscussingtheDivinepurposesofstorms，addstothethreeusuallyassigned——namely，God’swishtomanifesthispower，todisplayhisanger，andtodrivesinnerstorepentance——afourth，which，hesays，isthatGodmayshowus“withwhatsortofastormbellhewillonedayringinthelastjudgment。”
Abouttheendofthefirstquarteroftheeighteenthcenturywefind，inSwitzerland，eventheeminentandrationalProfessorofMathematics，Scheuchzer，publishinghisPhysicaSacra，withtheBibleasabasis，andforcedtoadmitthattheelements，inthemostliteralsense，utterthevoiceofGod。ThesamepressurewasfeltinNewEngland。TypicalarethesermonsofIncreaseMatheronTheVoiceofGodinStormyWinds。HeespeciallylaysstressonthevoiceofGodspeakingtoJoboutofthewhirlwind，anduponthetext，“Stormywindfulfillinghisword。”Hedeclares，“Whentherearegreattempests，theangelsoftentimeshaveahandtherein，……yea，andsometimesevilangels。”Hegivesseveralcasesofblasphemersstruckbylightning，andsays。”Nothingcanbemoredangerousformortalsthantocontemndreadfulprovidences，and，inparticular，dreadfultempests。”
Hisdistinguishedson，CottonMather，disentangledhimselfsomewhatfromtheoldview，ashehaddoneintheinterpretationofcomets。InhisChristianPhilosopher，hisThoughtsfortheDayofRain，andhisSermonpreachedattheTimeoftheLateStormin1723，heisevidentlytendingtowardthemodernview。
Yet，fromtimetotime，theolderviewhasreasserteditself，andinFrance，asrecentlyastheyear1870，wefindtheBishopofVerdunascribingthedroughtafflictinghisdiocesetothesinofSabbath-breaking。[216]
[216]ForStoltzlin，seehisGeistlichesDonner-undWetter-
BuchleinZurich，1731。ForIncreaseMather，seehisTheVoiceofGod，etc。Boston，1704。ThisrarevolumeisintherichcollectionoftheAmericanAntiquarianSocietyatWorcester。ForCottonMather’sview，seethechapterFromSignsandWonderstoLaw，inthiswork。FortheBishopofVerdun，seetheSemainerelig。deLorraine，1879，p。445citedby“PaulParfait。”inhisDossierdesPelerinages，pp。141-143。
Thistheory，whichattributedinjuriousmeteorologicalphenomenamainlytothepurposesofGod，wasanaturaldevelopment，andcomparativelyharmless；butataveryearlyperiodtherewasevolvedanothertheory，which，havingbeenripenedintoadoctrine，costtheearthdearindeed。Never，perhaps，inthemodernworldhastherebeenadogmamoreprolificofphysical，mental，andmoralagonythroughoutwholenationsandduringwholecenturies。Thistheory，itsdevelopmentbytheology，itsfearfulresultstomankind，anditsdestructionbyscientificobservationandthought，willnextbeconsidered。
II。DIABOLICAGENCYINSTORMS。
Whilethefathersandschoolmenwerelabouringtodeduceascienceofmeteorologyfromoursacredbooks，thereoozedupinEuropeansocietyamassoftraditionsandobservanceswhichhadbeenlurkingsincethedaysofpaganism；and，althoughhereandthereappearedachurchmantoopposethem，thetheologiansandecclesiasticserelongbegantoadoptthemandtoclothethemwiththeauthorityofreligion。
BothamongthepagansoftheRomanEmpireandamongthebarbariansoftheNorththeChristianmissionarieshadfounditeasiertoprovethenewGodsupremethantoprovetheoldgodspowerless。Faithinthemiraclesofthenewreligionseemedtoincreaseratherthantodiminishfaithinthemiraclesoftheold；andtheChurchatlastbeganadmittingthelatterasfacts，butascribingthemtothedevil。JupiterandOdinsankintothecategoryofministersofSatan，andtransferredtothatmasteralltheirformerpowers。ArenewedstudyofScripturebytheologianselicitedoverwhelmingproofsofthetruthofthisdoctrine。StresswasespeciallylaidonthedeclarationofScripture，“Thegodsoftheheathenaredevils。”[217]Supportedbythisandothertexts，itsoonbecameadogma。Sostrongwastheholdittook，undertheinfluenceoftheChurch，thatnotuntillateintheseventeenthcenturydiditssubstantialtruthbegintobequestioned。
[217]ForsotheVulgateandalltheearlyversionsrenderedPs。
xcvi，5。
Withnofieldofactionhadtheswayoftheancientdeitiesbeenmoreidentifiedthanwiththatofatmosphericphenomena。TheRomanheardJupiter，andtheTeutonheardThor，inthethunder。
Coulditbedoubtedthatthesepowerfulbeingswouldnowtakeoccasion，unlesshinderedbythecommandoftheAlmighty，toventtheirspiteagainstthosewhohaddesertedtheiraltars？MightnottheAlmightyhimselfbewillingtoemploythemaliceofthesepowersoftheairagainstthosewhohadoffendedhim？
Itwas，indeed，nogreatstep，forthosewhosesimplefaithacceptedrainorsunshineasananswertotheirprayers，tosuspectthattheuntimelystormsordroughts，whichbaffledtheirmostearnestpetitions，weretheworkofthearchenemy，“theprinceofthepoweroftheair。”
ThegreatfathersoftheChurchhadeasilyfoundwarrantforthisdoctrineinScripture。St。Jeromedeclaredtheairtobefullofdevils，basingthisbeliefuponvariousstatementsinthepropheciesofIsaiahandintheEpistletotheEphesians。St。
Augustineheldthesameviewasbeyondcontroversy。[218]
[218]ForSt。Jerome，seehisCom。inEp。adEphesioslib。iii，cap。6：commentingonthetext，“Ourbattleisnotwithfleshandblood。”heexplainsthisasmeaningthedevilsintheair，andadds，“Nametinaliolocodedaemonibusquodinaereistovagentur，Apostolusait：InquibusambulastisaliquandojuxtaSaeculummundiistius，secundumprincipempotestatisaerisspiritus，quinuncoperaturinfilosdiffidentiaeEph，ii，2。
Haecautemomniumdoctorumopinioest，quodaeristequicoelumetterrammediusdividens，inaneappellatur，plenussitcontrariisfortitudinibus。”SeealsohisCom。inIsaiam，lib。
xiii，cap。50Migne，Patr。Lat。，vol。xxiv，p。477。ForAugustine，seetheDeCivitateDei，passim。
DuringtheMiddleAgesthisdoctrineofthediabolicaloriginofstormswentongatheringstrength。Bedehadfullfaithinit，andnarratesvariousanecdotesinsupportofit。St。ThomasAquinasgaveithissanction，sayinginhisallauthoritativeSumma，“Rainsandwinds，andwhatsoeveroccursbylocalimpulsealone，canbecausedbydemons。”“Itis。”hesays，“adogmaoffaiththatthedemonscanproducewind，storms，andrainoffirefromheaven。”
AlberttheGreattaughtthesamedoctrine，andshowedhowacertainsalvethrownintoaspringproducedwhirlwinds。ThegreatFranciscan——the“seraphicdoctor“——St。Bonaventura，whoseservicestotheologyearnedhimoneofthehighestplacesintheChurch，andtowhomDantegavespecialhonourinparadise，setuponthisbeliefhishighauthority。Thelivesofthesaints，andthechroniclesoftheMiddleAges，werefilledwithit。
Poetryandpaintingacceptedtheideaanddevelopedit。Danteweddedittoverse，andatVenicethisthoughtmaystillbeseenembodiedinoneofthegrandpicturesofBordone：ashiploadofdemonsisseenapproachingVeniceinastorm，threateningdestructiontothecity，butSt。Mark，St。George，andSt。
Nicholasattackthevessel，anddispersethehellishcrew。[219]
[219]ForBede，seetheHist。Eccles。，vol。i，p。17；VitaCuthberti，c。17Migne，tomexliv。ForThomasAquinas，seetheSumma，parsI，qu。lxxx，art。2。ThesecondcitationIowetoRydberg，MagicoftheMiddleAges，p。73，wherethewholeinterestingpassageisgivenatlength。ForAlbertusMagnus，seetheDePotentiaDaemonumcitedbyMaury，LegendesPieuses。ForBonaventura，seetheComp。Theol。Veritat。，ii，26。ForDante，seePurgatorio，c。5。OnBordone’spicture，seeMaury，LegendesPieuses，p。18，note。
Thepopesagainandagainsanctionedthisdoctrine，anditwasamalgamatedwithvariouslocalsuperstitions，piousimaginations，andinterestingarguments，tostrikethefancyofthepeopleatlarge。Astrongargumentinfavourofadiabolicaloriginofthethunderboltwasaffordedbytheeccentricitiesofitsoperation。