Several Tracts Pertaining to the Archidoxa

us, teaches us, promises us what Balaam well experienced. For every night, as often as he wanted, the Scripture says, he could have and obtain such a vision. Even though the Scripture gives him a rough name and calls him a sorcerer, it does not matter. The Scripture makes no distinction, but calls everyone a sorcerer who is experienced in things beyond the supernatural, and who are not also holy people. But that has its own high consideration. God wants us to walk in simplicity like the Apostles, and not to ponder and search so much in such high, hidden things that occur in a supernatural way, so that we do not fall into misuse to the harm of our neighbor, and thus condemn both body and soul. Therefore, they are not all sorcerers whom the Scripture calls sorcerers, for if that were so, it would follow that the three wise men from the East were arch-sorcerers, since they were highly experienced in the arts and, above all, in supernatural things, for there was no one before them or at that time like them. But since the Scripture does not call them sorcerers but Magos Magi, what is to be understood by that? Nothing else but that they did not misuse their art and great hidden wisdom. For Magia Magic, I say, is such an art that shows its high power and strength through faith. But sorcery may be born out of its source—that is, when it is misused, now it has become a sorcery.

Now, however, to speak further of visions and these appearances in sleep, know that some have been spiritually enraptured to God in sleep, and have seen the glory of God, the joy of the elect, and the pain and torment of the damned, which they thereafter could never forget, but kept in their hearts until their end. For such a thing, I say, is all possible to see in the spirit. If we rightly seek the mercy of God with our prayer in faith, then we may still see all the mysteria Dei mysteries of God, just as well as Esaias and John saw. Those are now the true, genuine visions and appearances that are to be believed and trusted, better than all visions in the entire necromancy, be it in