Several Tracts Pertaining to the Archidoxa

mirrors, crystals, spectacles, nails, the finger, stones, water, etc., and many more of the like. For all of these are false and deceitful, and even if the spirits that appear therein often talk and give answers, and swear a thousand oaths with raised fingers, they are not always to be believed, unless it happens by the command or behest of God. Otherwise, they cannot and may not speak any true truth. But from such visions, of which we have spoken before, the right and true prophecy begins, which accords and agrees with all the prophets. For whence did the prophets have their great knowledge, and how were the mysteria Dei mysteries of God revealed to them, but out of such supernatural spiritual visions in sleep?

Therefore, it is necessary in this that one first seeks the origin and lays the foundation upon the right rock, that is, upon God's word and promise, and seeks God with our prayer rightly in firm faith. Then He is willing to keep for us everything that He has promised and assured us in His word.

Now there is one more thing to be mentioned here. It concerns the spirits and Evester astral doubles of deceased people who come before us and appear in sleep, who have often died fifty or a hundred years ago. That also has its own high consideration. It would also be well to deal with the same, but it is omitted here at length, and will be written about further in its place, etc. But one thing is to be noted here: where such a thing occurs and an Evestrum astral double appears to us, it is highly necessary that we pay great attention to what such an Evestrum indicates to us, talks to us about, or has to deal with spiritually. That should not always be held as a fable. For if it were possible that a human in sleep were as rational as when awake, and such an Evestrum appeared to him and asked him from whom he wanted to hear, the truth would be indicated to him about every matter, of which it does not behoove to speak further.

On the earthly spirits, Schrötlein little gnomes/earth-spirits

under the earth

These are the people who dwell among us, in and under the caves of the earth,