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Objection 1: It would seem unlawful to adjure the demons. Origen
says (Tract. xxxv, super Matth.): "To adjure the demons is not
accordance with the power given by our Saviour: for this is a Jewish
practice." Now rather than imitate the rites of the Jews, we should
use the power given by Christ. Therefore it is not lawful to adjure
the demons.
Objection 2: Further, many make use of necromantic incantations
when invoking the demons by something Divine: and this is an
adjuration. Therefore, if it be lawful to adjure the demons, it is
lawful to make use of necromantic incantations, which is evidently
false. Therefore the antecedent is false also.
Objection 3: Further, whoever adjures a person, by that very fact
associates himself with him. Now it is not lawful to have fellowship
with the demons, according to 1 Cor. 10:20, "I would not
that you should be made partakers with devils." Therefore it is not
lawful to adjure the demons.
On the contrary, It is written (Mk. 16:17): "In My name
they shall cast out devils." Now to induce anyone to do a certain
thing for the sake of God's name is to adjure. Therefore it is
lawful to adjure the demons.
I answer that, As stated in the preceding article, there are two
ways of adjuring: one by way of prayer or inducement through reverence
of some holy thing: the other by way of compulsion. In the first way
it is not lawful to adjure the demons because such a way seems to savor
of benevolence or friendship, which it is unlawful to bear towards the
demons. As to the second kind of adjuration, which is by compulsion,
we may lawfully use it for some purposes, and not for others. For
during the course of this life the demons are our adversaries: and
their actions are not subject to our disposal but to that of God and
the holy angels, because, as Augustine says (De Trin. iii,
4), "the rebel spirit is ruled by the just spirit." Accordingly
we may repulse the demons, as being our enemies, by adjuring them
through the power of God's name, lest they do us harm of soul or
body, in accord with the Divine power given by Christ, as recorded
by Lk. 10:19: "Behold, I have given you power to tread upon
serpents and scorpions, and upon all the power of the enemy: and
nothing shall hurt you."
It is not, however, lawful to adjure them for the purpose of learning
something from them, or of obtaining something through them, for this
would amount to holding fellowship with them: except perhaps when
certain holy men, by special instinct or Divine revelation, make use
of the demons' actions in order to obtain certain results: thus we
read of the Blessed James [the Greater; Apocrypha, N.T.,
Hist. Certam. Apost. vi, 19] that he caused Hermogenes to be
brought to him, by the instrumentality of the demons.
Reply to Objection 1: Origen is speaking of adjuration made, not
authoritatively by way of compulsion, but rather by way of a friendly
appeal.
Reply to Objection 2: Necromancers adjure and invoke the demons in
order to obtain or learn something from them: and this is unlawful, as
stated above. Wherefore Chrysostom, commenting on our Lord's words
to the unclean spirit (Mk. 1:25), "Speak no more, and go out
of the man," says: "A salutary teaching is given us here, lest we
believe the demons, however much they speak the truth."
Reply to Objection 3: This argument considers the adjuration
whereby the demon's help is besought in doing or learning something:
for this savors of fellowship with them. On the other hand, to
repulse the demons by adjuring them, is to sever oneself from their
fellowship.
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