Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Dedication
- Contents
- Map
- Introduction
- THE HAMMER OF WITCHES
- Structure of the text
- Author's Justification of the “Hammer for Sorceresses”
- Text of the Apostolic Bull
- Approbation and Signatures of the Doctors of the Illustrious University of Cologne
- PART I
- Question 1
- Question 2
- Question 3
- Question 4
- Question 5
- Question 6
- Question 7
- Question 8
- Question 9
- Question 10
- Question 11
- Question 12
- Question 13
- Question 14
- Question 15
- Question 16
- Question 17
- Question 18
- PART II
Question 4
from PART I
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 August 2015
- Frontmatter
- Dedication
- Contents
- Map
- Introduction
- THE HAMMER OF WITCHES
- Structure of the text
- Author's Justification of the “Hammer for Sorceresses”
- Text of the Apostolic Bull
- Approbation and Signatures of the Doctors of the Illustrious University of Cologne
- PART I
- Question 1
- Question 2
- Question 3
- Question 4
- Question 5
- Question 6
- Question 7
- Question 8
- Question 9
- Question 10
- Question 11
- Question 12
- Question 13
- Question 14
- Question 15
- Question 16
- Question 17
- Question 18
- PART II
Summary
[TT] WHETHER it is a Catholic proposition to claim that the acts of incubus and succubus demons are appropriate for all unclean spirits equally and without distinction.
[AG 1] It seems that it is, because to claim the opposite would be to affirm that there is some good order among them. This is proven on the grounds that just as restraint and order are characteristic of what is good (Augustine, Book on the Nature of Good), lack of order is characteristic of the concept of what is bad, and since there is nothing lacking order among the good angels, nothing can be ordered among the bad angels. Hence, they have to engage in such acts without distinction (and hence the statement in Job 10[:22]: “where no order but eternal horror dwells,” that is “the land of misery and darkness”).
[AG3] Also, if they do not all engage in these acts without distinction, this is suitable for them as a result of either their nature or their guilt or penalty. It is not the result of nature, because, as was mentioned in the preceding question, since the introduction of sin all their spirits are without distinction impure, though not dirty, in terms of the lessening of their natural good qualities, since they are “subtle in evil, desirous of | harming, swollen through arrogance” and so on. Therefore this is suitable for them in terms of guilt or penalty.
In that case, the argument is as follows. Where the guilt is greater, the penalty is greater; the upper angels sinned more and therefore as their penalty they have to be more engaged in these filthy acts. If this is not so, another reason will be given for why they do not engage in those acts without distinction.
[AG 4] Also, everyone works without distinction in a situation where there is no subordination and obedience, and among the demons there is no subordination and obedience. This is proven on the grounds that subordination and obedience cannot be maintained without harmony, but among the demons there is no harmony (Proverbs 13[:10]: “Among the arrogant there are always quarrels”).
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- The Hammer of WitchesA Complete Translation of the Malleus Maleficarum, pp. 133 - 139Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2009