[FRAUDULENT MEDIUMS]. SPENCER, John (1630-1693). A Discourse Concerning Prodigies: Wherein The Vanity of Presages by them is reprehended, and their true and proper Ends asserted and vindicated… [Bound with:] A Discourse Concerning Vulgar Prophecies… London: J. Field for Will. Graves, 1665. 8vos. 408; 136, [6] pp. Contemporary full brown calf, boards and spine ruled in blind. Binding worn, joints cracking near top, lacking both free endleaves, ffep. and first title-page with ink notations, text toned, occasionally soiled and foxed, hinges cracking. Good. SECOND EDITION, CORRECTED AND ENLARGED. In this work, Spencer argues that omens, such as “monstrous births” are not signs from God, but are natural errors in gestation, and that, since they aren’t signs from God, ordinary people and mediums shouldn’t try to interpret them. He argues that only the church should be able to do such interpretations.