Drivenfromthehillsandforestsinthewinterbyhunger，theynotonlydevouredtheflocks，butsometimescameintothevillagesandseizedchildren。Fromtimetotimemenandwomenwhosebrainsweredisordereddreamedthattheyhadbeenchangedintovariousanimals，andespeciallyintowolves。Ontheirconfessingthis，andoftenimplicatingothers，manyexecutionsoflunaticsresulted；moreover，countlesssanevictims，suspectedofthesameimpossiblecrime，wereforcedbytorturetoconfessit，andsentunpitiedtothestake。ThebeliefinsuchatransformationpervadedallEurope，andlastedlongeveninProtestantcountries。Probablynoarticleinthewitchcreedhadmoreadherentsinthefifteenth，sixteenth，andseventeenthcenturiesthanthis。NearlyeveryparishinEuropehaditsresultanthorrors。
　　ThereformedChurchinallitsbranchesfullyacceptedthedoctrinesofwitchcraftanddiabolicpossession，anddevelopedthemstillfurther。NooneurgedtheirfundamentalideasmorefullythanLuther。Hedid，indeed，rejectportionsofthewitchcraftfolly；buttotheinfluenceofdevilshenotonlyattributedhismaladies，buthisdreams，andnearlyeverythingthatthwartedordisturbedhim。Theflieswhichlighteduponhisbook，theratswhichkepthimawakeatnight，hebelievedtobedevils；theresistanceoftheArchbishopofMayencetohisideas，heattributedtoSatanliterallyworkinginthatprelate’sheart；tohisdiscipleshetoldstoriesofmenwhohadbeenkilledbyrashlyresistingthedevil。Insanity，hewasquitesure，wascausedbySatan，andheexorcisedsufferers。Againstsomeheappearstohaveadvisedstrongerremedies；andhishorrorofidiocy，asresultingfromSatanicinfluence，wassogreat，thatononeoccasionheappearstohaveadvisedthekillingofanidiotchild，asbeingthedirectoffspringofSatan。YetLutherwasoneofthemosttenderandlovingofmen；inthewholerangeofliteraturethereishardlyanythingmoretouchingthanhiswordsandtributestochildren。Inenforcinghisideasregardinginsanity，helaidstressespeciallyuponthequestionofSt。
　　PaulastothebewitchingoftheGalatians，and，regardingidiocy，ontheaccountinGenesisofthebirthofchildrenwhosefatherswere“sonsofGod“andwhosemotherswere“daughtersofmen。”Oneideaofhiswasespeciallycharacteristic。ThedescentofChristintohellwasafrequenttopicofdiscussionintheReformedChurch。Melanchthon，withhisloveofGreekstudies，heldthatthepurposeoftheSaviourinmakingsuchadescentwastomakehimselfknowntothegreatandnoblemenofantiquity——Plato，Socrates，andtherest；butLutherinsistedthathispurposewastoconquerSataninahand-to-handstruggle。
　　Thisideaofdiabolicinfluencepervadedhisconversation，hispreaching，hiswritings，andspreadthencetotheLutheranChurchingeneral。Calvinalsoheldtothesametheory，and，havingmorepowerwithlesskindnessofheartthanLuther，carrieditoutwithyetgreaterharshness。Bezawasespeciallysevereagainstthosewhobelievedinsanitytobeanaturalmalady，anddeclared，“Suchpersonsarerefutedbothbysacredandprofanehistory。”
　　Undertheinfluence，then，ofsuchinfallibleteachings，intheolderChurchandinthenew，thissuperstitionwasdevelopedmoreandmoreintocruelty；andasthebiblicaltexts，popularizedinthesculpturesandwindowsandmuraldecorationsofthegreatmedievalcathedrals，haddonemuchtodevelopitamongthepeople，soLuther’stranslationoftheBible，especiallyinthenumerouseditionsofitillustratedwithengravings，wroughtwithenormouspowertospreadanddeepenit。Ineverypeasant’scottagesomeonecouldspelloutthestoryofthedevilbearingChristthroughtheairandplacinghimuponthepinnacleoftheTemple——ofthewomanwithsevendevils——ofthedevilscastintotheswine。Everypeasant’schildcouldbemadetounderstandthequaintpicturesinthefamilyBibleorthecatechismwhichillustratedvividlyallthosetexts。Intheideasthusdeeplyimplanted，themenwhointheseventeenthandeighteenthcenturiesstruggledagainstthismassoffollyandcrueltyfoundtheworstbarriertorightreason。[362]
　　[362]ForLuther，see，amongthevastnumberofsimilarpassagesinhisworks，theTableTalk，Hazlitt’stranslation，pp。251，252。Astothegrotesquesinmediaevalchurches，thewriterofthisarticle，invisitingthetownchurchofWittenberg，noticed，justoppositethepulpitwhereLuthersooftenpreached，averyspiritedfigureofanimppeeringoutuponthecongregation。OnecanbutsuspectthatthismediaevalsurvivalfrequentlysuggestedLuther’sfavouritetopicduringhissermons。ForBeza，seehisNotesontheNewTestament，Matthewiv，24。
　　Suchwasthetreatmentofdemoniacsdevelopedbytheology，andsuchthepracticeenforcedbyecclesiasticismformorethanathousandyears。
　　Howanatmospherewasspreadinwhichthisbeliefbegantodissolveaway，howitsmainfoundationswereunderminedbyscience，andhowtherecameingraduallyareignofhumanity，willnowberelated。
　　II。BEGINNINGSOFAHEALTHFULSCEPTICISM。
　　Wehavenowseentheculminationoftheoldprocedureregardinginsanity，asitwasdevelopedundertheologyandenforcedbyecclesiasticism；andwehavenotedhow，undertheinfluenceofLutherandCalvin，theReformationratherdeepenedthanweakenedthefaithinthemaliceandpowerofapersonaldevil。Norwasthis，intheReformedchurchesanymorethanintheold，merematteroftheory。AsintheearlyagesofChristianity，itspriestsespeciallyappealed，inproofofthedivinemission，totheirpowerovertheenemyofmankindinthebodiesofmen，sonowtheclergyoftherivalcreedseagerlysoughtopportunitiestoestablishthetruthoftheirownandthefalsehoodoftheiropponents’doctrinesbythevisiblecastingoutofdevils。True，theirmethodsdifferedsomewhat：wheretheCatholicusedholywaterandconsecratedwax，theProtestantwascontentwithtextsofScriptureandimportunateprayer；butthesupplementaryphysicalannoyanceoftheindwellingdemondidnotgreatlyvary。
　　Sharpwasthecompetitionfortheunhappyobjectsoftreatment。
　　Eachside，ofcourse，stoutlydeniedallefficacytoitsadversaries’efforts，urgingthatanyseemingvictoryoverSatanwasduenottothedefeatbuttothecollusionofthefiend。As，accordingtotheMasterhimself，“nomancanbyBeelzebubcastoutdevils。”thepatientwasnowingreaterneedofreliefthanbefore；andmorethanonepoorvictimhadtobearalternatelyLutheran，Roman，andperhapsCalvinisticexorcism。[363]
　　[363]Forinstancesofthiscompetition，seeFreytag，AusdemJahrh。d。Reformation，pp。359-375。TheJesuitStengel，inhisDejudiciisdivinisIngolstadt，1651，devotesawholechaptertoanexorcism，bythegreatCanisius，ofaspiritthathadbaffledProtestantconjuration。AmongthemostjubilantCatholicsatiresofthetimearethoseexultinginLuther’sallegedfailureasanexorcist。
　　Butfarmoreseriousinitsconsequenceswasanotherrivalrytowhichinthesixteenthcenturytheclergyofallcreedsfoundthemselvessubject。Therevivalofthescienceofmedicine，undertheimpulseofthenewstudyofantiquity，suddenlybadefairtotakeoutofthehandsoftheChurchtheprofessionofwhichshehadenjoyedsolongandsoprofitableamonopoly。Onlyoneclassofdiseasesremainedunquestionablyhers——thosewhichwerestilladmittedtobeduetothedirectpersonalinterferenceofSatan——andforemostamongthesewasinsanity。[364]]Itwassurelynowonderthatanageofreligiouscontroversyandexcitementshouldbeexceptionallyprolificinailmentsofthemind；and，tomenwhomutuallytaughttheutterfutilityofthatbaptismalexorcismbywhichthebabesoftheirmisguidedneighboursweremadetorenouncethedevilandhisworks，itoughtnottohaveseemedstrangethathisvictimsnowbecamemorenumerous。[365]Butsosimpleanexplanationdidnotsatisfythesephysiciansofsouls；theythereforedevisedasimplerone：
　　theirpatients，theyalleged，werebewitched，andtheirincreasewasduetothegrowingnumbersofthosehumanalliesofSatanknownaswitches。
　　[364]FortheattitudeoftheCatholicclergy，thebestsourcesaretheconfidentialJesuitLitteraeAnnuae。Tothisdaythenumeroustreatiseson“pastoralmedicine“inuseintheolderChurchdevotethemselvesmainlytothissortofwarfarewiththedevil。
　　[365]BaptismalexorcismcontinuedinuseamongtheLutheranstilltheeighteenthcentury，thoughthestruggleoveritsabandonmenthadbeenlongandsharp。SeeKrafft，HistoriesvomExorcismo，Hamburg，1750。
　　Already，beforethecloseofthefifteenthcentury，PopeInnocentVIIIhadissuedthestartlingbullbywhichhecalledonthearchbishops，bishops，andotherclergyofGermanytojoinhandswithhisinquisitorsinrootingoutthesewillingbond-servantsofSatan，whoweresaidtoswarmthroughoutallthatcountryandtorevelintheblackestcrimes。Otherpopeshadsincereiteratedtheappeal；and，thoughnoneofthesedocumentstouchedontheblameofwitchcraftfordiabolicpossession，theinquisitorschargedwiththeirexecutionpointeditoutmostclearlyintheirfearfulhandbook，theWitch-Hammer，andprescribedthespecialmeansbywhichpossessionthuscausedshouldbemet。Theseteachingstookfirmrootinreligiousmindseverywhere；andduringthegreatageofwitch-burningthatfollowedtheReformationitmaywellbedoubtedwhetheranysinglecausesooftengaverisetoanoutbreakofthepersecutionastheallegedbewitchmentofsomepoormadorfoolishorhystericalcreature。Thepersecution，thusonceunderway，feditself；for，undertheterribledoctrineof“exceptedcases。”bywhichinthereligiouscrimesofheresyandwitchcrafttherewasnolimittotheuseoftorture，thewitchwasforcedtoconfesstoaccomplices，whointurnaccusedothers，andsoontotheendofthechapter。[366]
　　[366]TheJesuitStengel，professoratIngolstadt，whoinhisgreatwork，Dejudiciisdivinisurges，asreasonswhyamercifulGodpermitsillness，hiswishtoglorifyhimselfthroughthemiracleswroughtbyhisChurch，andhisdesiretotestthefaithofmenbylettingthemchoosebetweentheholyaidoftheChurchandtheillicitresorttomedicine，declaresthatthereisadifferencebetweensimplepossessionandthatbroughtbybewitchment，andinsiststhatthelatteristhemoredifficulttotreat。
　　Thehorrorsofsuchapersecution，withtheconsciousnessofanever-presentdevilitbreathedandthepanicterrorofhimitinspired，couldnotbutaggravatetheinsanityitclaimedtocure。Well-authenticated，thoughrarerthanisoftenbelieved，werethecaseswherecrazedwomenvoluntarilyaccusedthemselvesofthisimpossiblecrime。Oneofthemosteminentauthoritiesondiseasesoftheminddeclaresthatamongtheunfortunatebeingswhowereputtodeathforwitchcraftherecogniseswell-markedvictimsofcerebraldisorders；whileanequallyeminentauthorityinGermanytellsusthat，inamostcarefulstudyoftheoriginalrecordsoftheirtrialsbytorture，hehasoftenfoundtheiranswersandrecordedconversationsexactlylikethosefamiliartohiminourmodernlunaticasylums，andnamessomeformsofinsanitywhichconstantlyandunmistakablyappearamongthosewhosufferedforcriminaldealingswiththedevil。[367]
　　Theresultofthiswidespreadterrorwasnaturally，therefore，asteadyincreaseinmentaldisorders。Agreatmodernauthoritytellsusthat，althoughmoderncivilizationtendstoincreaseinsanity，thenumberoflunaticsatpresentisfarlessthanintheagesoffaithandintheReformationperiod。Thetreatmentofthe“possessed。”aswefinditlaiddowninstandardtreatises，sanctionedbyorthodoxchurchmenandjurists，accountsforthisabundantly。Onesortoftreatmentusedforthoseaccusedofwitchcraftwillalsoservetoshowthis——the“torturainsomniae。”Ofallthingsinbrain-disease，calmandregularsleepismostcertainlybeneficial；yet，underthispractice，thesehalf-crazedcreatureswereprevented，nightafternightanddayafterday，fromsleepingorevenresting。Inthiswaytemporarydelusionbecamechronicinsanity，mildcasesbecameviolent，tortureanddeathensued，andthe“waysofGodtoman“
　　werejustified。[368]Butthemostcontemptiblecreaturesinallthosecenturieswerethephysicianswhotooksideswithreligiousorthodoxy。Whilewehave，onthesideoftruth，Fladesacrificinghislife，CorneliusAgrippahisliberty，WierandLoostheirhopesofpreferment，Bekkerhisposition，andThomasiushisease，reputation，andfriends，wefind，asalliesoftheotherside，atroopofeminentlyrespectabledoctorsmixingScripture，metaphysics，andpretendedobservationstosupportthe“safeside“andtodeprecateinterferencewiththeexistingsuperstition，whichseemedtothem“averysafebelieftobeheldbythecommonpeople。”[369]
　　[367]SeeD。H。Tuke，ChaptersintheHistoryoftheInsaneintheBritishIsles，London，1822，p。36；alsoKirchhoff，p。340。
　　Theformsofinsanityespeciallymentionedare“dementiasenilis“
　　andepilepsy。AstrikingcaseofvoluntaryconfessionofwitchcraftbyawomanwholivedtorecoverfromthedelusionisnarratedingreatdetailbyReginaldScot，inhisDiscoveryofWitchcraft，London，1584。Itis，alas，onlytoolikelythatthe“strangeness“causedbyslightandunrecognisedmanialedoftentotheaccusationofwitchcraftinsteadoftothesuspicionofpossession。
　　[368]SeeKirchhoff，asabove。
　　[369]Fortheargumentsusedbycreaturesofthissort，seeDiefenbach，DerHexenwahnvorundnachderGlaubensspaltunginDeutschland，pp。342-346。Alonglistoftheirinfamousnamesisgivenonp。345。
　　AgainstoneformofinsanitybothCatholicsandProtestantswereespeciallycruel。Nothingismorecommoninalltimesofreligiousexcitementthanstrangepersonalhallucinations，involvingthebelief，bytheinsanepatient，thatheisadivineperson。Inthemoststrikingrepresentationofinsanitythathaseverbeenmade，Kaulbachshows，atthecentreofhiswonderfulgroup，apatientdrawingattentiontohimselfastheSaviouroftheworld。
　　Sometimes，whenthisformofdiseasetookamilderhystericalcharacter，thesubjectofitwastreatedwithreverence，andevenelevatedtosainthood：suchexamplesasSt。FrancisofAssisiandSt。CatherineofSienainItaly，St。BridgetinSweden，St。