Library / Investigations into Magic, Books III–IV

Book III, Part I — On Harmful Magic

Question VII. Why God Permits the Demon to Rage in This Way Through Harmful Magic

[margin: Isaiah 1:13; Isaiah 5:5; Trithemius, Questions, book 5, question 5; Jaquier, Flagellum Fascinariorum, chapter 18 and following; Surius, tome 2, folio 309]

Trithemius may be consulted on this matter, question 5, book 5 of the Questions, and Jaquier, Flagellum Fascinariorum, chapter 18 and following. I think the causes are the same as those for which God is accustomed to allow a person to be attacked and possessed by the demon. Many of these can be gathered from the observation of ancient history, and they can be reduced almost to two heads: the glory of God and the utility of human beings. Therefore it is not surprising if, as St. Cuthbert says in Bede, not only evil people are subjected to such torment, but by God’s hidden judgment, sometimes even innocent people in this world are made captive by the Devil, not only in body, but also in mind.

To cite this page

Martin Delrio, S.J., “Question VII. Why God Permits the Demon to Rage in This Way Through Harmful Magic,” in Investigations into Magic, Books III–IV, English translation, Mind of the Church, https://mindofthechurch.com/works/delrio-magic-3-4/25-question-vii-why-god-permits-the-demon-to-rage-in-this-way/.

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