[245]ForElectorofSaxony，seePeuchen，Disp。circatempestates，Jena，1697。FortheProtestanttheoryofbells，see，e。g。，theCicionesSelectaeofSuperintendentConradDieterichcitedbyPeuchen，Disp。circatempestates。ForProtestantringingofbellstodispeltempests，seeSchwimmer，PhysicalischeLuftfragen，1692citedbyPeuchen，asabove。HepicturesthewholepopulationofaThuringiniandistrictflockingtothechurchesontheapproachofastorm。
[246]ForOlausMagnus，seetheDegentibusseptentrionalibusRome，1555，lib。i，c。12，13。ForDescartes，seehisDemeteor。，cent。2，127。InhisHistoriaVentorumheagainalludestothebelief，andwithoutcomment。
Butnosuchmoderatedoctrinesufficed，andtherenownedBishopBinsfeld，ofTreves，inhisnotedtreatiseonthecredibilityoftheconfessionsofwitches，gaveanentirechaptertotheeffectofbellsincalmingatmosphericdisturbances。BasinghisgeneraldoctrineuponthefirstchapterofJobandthesecondchapterofEphesians，heinsistedontherealityofdiabolicagencyinstorms；andthen，bytheologicalreasoning，corroboratedbythestatementsextortedinthetorturechamber，heshowedtheefficacyofbellsinputtingthehellishlegionstoflight。[247]
Thiscontinued，therefore，anacceptedtenet，developedineverynation，andcomingtoitsclimaxneartheendoftheseventeenthcentury。Atthatperiod——theperiodofIsaacNewton——FatherAugustinedeAngelis，rectoroftheClementineCollegeatRome，publishedunderthehighestChurchauthorityhislecturesuponmeteorology。ComingfromthecentreofCatholicChristendom，atsolateaperiod，theyareveryimportantasindicatingwhathadbeendevelopedundertheinfluenceoftheologyduringnearlyseventeenhundredyears。ThislearnedheadofagreatcollegeattheheartofChristendomtaughtthat“thesurestremedyagainstthunderisthatwhichourHolyMothertheChurchpractises，namely，theringingofbellswhenathunderboltimpends：thencefollowsatwofoldeffect，physicalandmoral——aphysical，becausethesoundvariouslydisturbsandagitatestheair，andbyagitationdispersesthehotexhalationsanddispelsthethunder；
butthemoraleffectisthemorecertain，becausebythesoundthefaithfularestirredtopourforththeirprayers，bywhichtheywinfromGodtheturningawayofthethunderbolt。”Hereweseeinthisbranchofthought，asinsomanyothers，atthecloseoftheseventeenthcentury，thedawnofrationalism。FatherDeAngelisnowkeepsdemoniacalinfluenceinthebackground。