41. [40.] A spirit appeared to me in a state of vision, looking like a wild stag in chains, but which broke its chains and with fury rushed upon any it met in an attempt to tear them and destroy them; at which point, however, a monstrous dog appeared, which rushed upon the stag and tore it to pieces. After that the stag appeared in human form. It was Dippel,* who appeared as he had because he was not permitted to go around and, in accordance with his life's delight, refute all and at the same time stir up commotions. Now Zinzendorf said that he liked him, but noticed that he later withdrew. He further said that Dippel's nature was such that he wished to tear at all with malevolent writings, moreover that he was able to refute ingeniously, as though full of knowledge and wisdom, and that he had a natural gift for this, but that of himself he thought about matters foolishly. * Johann Konrad Dippel, 1673-1732, German Pietist and alchemist. In the controversy between Lutheran orthodoxy and Pietism, he at first upheld the former, but later became himself a Pietist, writing many controversial works in defense of personal piety in contrast to religious formality and orthodoxy. His opposition to Protestant orthodoxy earned the hostility of Lutheran authorities, who forbade him to issue further theological publications, after which he turned to chemistry and alchemy. He went to Berlin in 1704, but was forced to leave again in 1707 because of his continued Pietist activities. Taking refuge in Holland, in 1711 he received a medical degree at Leyden, but was again expelled for his theological views. In 1714 he moved to an area belonging to Denmark, and after inveighing against the clergy there, was condemned by the government to life imprisonment on the island of Bornholm. Freed again in 1726 and expelled from Denmark, he went to Sweden as a practicing physician, where he encouraged a growing Pietist movement, causing the orthodox Lutheran clergy to secure his expulsion from that country. Returning to Germany, he settled at Berleburg, where he died.