Chapter 11.—Miracles Which
are Done by Demons are to Be Spurned.
14. For it is easy for the most
worthless spirits to do many things by means of aerial bodies, such
as to cause wonder to souls which are weighed down by earthly
bodies, even though they be of the better inclined. For if earthly
bodies themselves, when trained by a certain skill and practice,
exhibit to men so great marvels in theatrical spectacles, that they
who never saw such things scarcely believe them when told; why
should it be hard for the devil and his angels to make out of
corporeal elements, through their own aerial bodies, things at
which the flesh marvels; or even by hidden inspirations to contrive
fantastic appearances to the deluding of men’s senses, whereby to
deceive them, whether awake or asleep, or to drive them into
frenzy? But just as it may happen that one who is better than they
in life and character may gaze at the most worthless of men, either
walking on a rope, or doing by various motions of the body many
things difficult of belief, and yet he may not at all desire to do
such things, nor think those men on that account to be preferred to
himself; so the faithful and pious soul, not only if it sees, but
even if on account of the frailty of the flesh it shudders at, the
miracles of demons; yet will not for that either deplore its own
want of power to do such things, or judge
them on this account to
be better than itself; especially since it is in the company of the
holy, who, whether they are men or good angels, accomplish, through
the power of God, to whom all things are subject, wonders which are
far greater and the very reverse of deceptive.