Notes saith Terrificum animal id est draco Those were all only such Creatures as do commonly inhabit desolate places The Prophet speaking in the former verse of desolation that should come upon the Land and indeed the Devil hath least to do in desolate places and is most busied where people are most but had Zim and Iim been the proper names of Devils it had not made any thing to the purpose to prove that the Devil walketh up and down in corporal appearance for it is said Revel 2.13 that the Devil dwelt at Pergamus and yet it is not meant that he was there seen at all to appear in any shape but was there in the hearts and works of wicked men but such is the manner of all that are tainted with Popish Tenents that they would have people conceive of the Devil that he is some ugly terrible Creature to look upon some black man with a pair of Horns on his head and a Cloven Foot and a long Tayl or some monstrous Beast that inhabiteth in Woods and walketh about in the night to scare people and this doctrin is maintained by Popish Writers least people should discern that the Devil is in all their Popish Doctrins and actions and in the hearts of all Popish seducers and deceivers of the world Further in this his Third Book he talketh of Incubus and Succubus as if it were an undoubted truth that the Devil lyeth commonly with Witches of both Sexes having copulation with them but for this he hath not the least Scripture nor the least seeming Argument but only constrained extorted belyed nullified Confession of poor condemned people which is the only Argument for all the devillish Tenents of all Writers of this sort and yet they begin with Scripture saying Thou shalt not suffer a Witch to live and upon this they raise a long discourse contrary to all Scripture and truth and possibility all which they will father upon the Scriptures and yet when they are pinched by dispute to prove their Tenents by Scripture they fly off to confession this confession I say is in all the discourse of this Author his only Argument which is no Argument and yet he pretendeth his discourse to be grounded on the Scriptures and in that pretence in his last Chapter he concludeth his whole discourse with the Law of God saying Therefore these people ought to be put to death according to the Law of God whereas yet in all his discourse he could not produce the least jot or tittle of the Law against any such kinde of supposed Witches as he talketh of nor the least colour of argument to prove his supposals in all the Law or all the Scriptures without misconstruing the Law of God and the Scriptures So much for this Author Cooper answered THe second English Writer upon this subject is one Thomas Cooper a Minister who himself being infected with the common Popish tenent sent forth by Pope Innocent the Eighth and Pope Julius the Second and affirmed by Bodinus and other bloudy Inquisitors mentioned in my Second Book that Witches are Murtherers and such as can raise Winds and do things impossible by the help of the Devil This Cooper instead of being himself a Minister to instruct and teach the people in Gods Truth grounded in Scriptures he became a bloudy Inquisitor to finde out Witches that is a bloudy Persecutor of the poor and an accuser of them to be Witches who by his blinde zeal in this kinde did cause many to be executed for Witches as he confesseth in his first Book the first Chapter and sixteenth Page and after this he reading Mr. Scots Discovery of Witchcraft which he was no way able to confute by Scripture nor to answer him truly hee being galled in his Conscience and netled in his minde concerning his reputation in the World which he feared he should loose if his wickedness should be convicted and laid open instead of humbling his Soul before God and begging pardon for his sin he wrot a Book in defence of his errours called the mystey of Witchcraft wherein he hath as others have done pretended to confute Scot and to that end hath writ down many Popish inventions adding thereunto many of his own foolish imaginations without one jot of Scripture to prove or ground any of his Tenents and after long discourse of meer lyes and imaginations in a pretence of holy Zeal yet quite contrary to Gods truth yea I may say imaginations resisting Gods holy Spirit of Truth hath thought it a sufficient confutation of Scot to fetch him over with an use of reproof as appeareth in his first Book the eighteenth page just as if a man should preach contrary to the Scriptures that Idols are gods and labour to prove it by experience as this Cooper laboureth to prove his Tenents concerning Witches or to prove it by the example of such as have been slain because they would not fall down before an Idol and worship it as this Cooper laboureth to prove his errours concerning Witches from the example of many that have been executed for Witches and then should fetch them over with an use of reproof that say Idols are no gods and after this groundless use of reproof this Cooper goeth on still in a frivolous discourse without any Scripture to prove his Doctrin and at last laboureth to shew that Juglers are Witches which no man yet did ever deny if they were such as wrought false Miracles to seduce the people as Jannes and Jambres and Simon Magus and Elimas the Sorcerer but he laboureth to prove that common Juglers are Witches that do work their Tricks of Activity saith he by a Familiar which yet saith he are no real Miracles but they hurt the Eye and thicken the Air saith he whereby they make things seem to be really done that are not done which thing for a Jugler to do that is to hurt the eye and touch it not and to thicken the Air were a Miracle it self but to clear these vain Fancies who knoweth not that Juglers do play their Tricks only by the slight of hand called Cleanly Conveyance or Legerdemain and what common Jugler that hath gone about to Fairs or Markets to shew his Tricks of Activity to get Mony will not in private for a shilling shew any Trick that he hath acted openly and shew how it is done to the satisfaction of any man that desireth it and that without a Familiar or the least appearance of any such vain Phantsy as fools imagine But yet if I should take it for granted that these common Juglers are Witches and do work their Feats by a Familiar Devil as he affirmeth yet what doth that make towards the proving of these poor and aged and lame people to be Witches that have so commonly been said to be Witches What Tricks of Activity have they shewed either in Fayers or Markets or in publick or in private surely if they had been Condemned for Witches for any such
A Perfect Discovery OF WITCHES SHEWING The Divine Cause of the Distractions of this Kingdome and also of the Christian WORLD Justitia Thronum firmat PROV 29.14 The King that faithfully judgeth the poor his Throne shall bee established Very profitable to bee read by all sorts of People especially JUDGES of Assizes Sheriffes Justices of the Peace and Grand-Jury-men before they passe sentence on those that are condemned for WITCH-CRAFT By THOMAS ADY M.A. London Printed for R. I. to bee sold by H. Brome at the Gun in Ivy-Lane 1661. The Reason of the Book THe Grand Errour of these latter Ages is ascribing power to Witches and by foolish imagination of mens brains without grounds in the Scriptures wrongfull killing of the innocent under the name of Witches unto which Idolatry and bloud-guiltiness being as bad or worse than the Idolatry of the ancient Heathen men are led as violently by fond imagination as were the Ephesians to the worshipping of Diana and of the Image which as they blindly thought fell down from Jupiter Acts 19.35 It is reported by Travellers that some People in America do worship for a day the first living Creature they see in the morning be it but a Bird or a Worm this Idolatry is like the Idolatry of this part of the World who when they are afflicted in Body or Goods by Gods hand they have an eye to some Mouse or Bugg or Frog or other living Creature saying It is some Witches Impe that is sent to afflict them ascribing the Work of God to a Witch or any mean Creature rather than to God Mr. Scot published a Book called his Discovery of Witchcraft in the beginning of the Reign of Queen Elizabeth for the instruction of all Judges and Justices of those times which Book did for a time take great impression in the Magistracy and also in the Clergy but since that time England hath shamefully fallen from the Truth which they began to receive wherefore here is again a necessary and illustrious discourse for the Magistracy and other People of this Age where I intreat all to take notice that many do falsly report of Mr. Scot that he held an Opinion that Witches are not for it was neither his Tenent neither is it mine but that Witches are not such as are commonly executed for Witches A Candle in the Dark The First Book shewing what Witches are in the Scripture-sence throughout the Old and New Testament The Second Book shewing how grosly the Scriptures have been mis-interpreted by Antichrist concerning Witches by which interpretation he hath made the Nations go astray With a confutation of those Errours The Third Book touching some erroneous English Writers who have upheld the same Errours which Antichrist hath broached to the world Also the Works of a Scotch-man called The VVorks of King James With an addition of fifteen Causes also a reference to Scot and also the opinion of Luther concerning Devils Also an instruction to Lawyers Errata PAge 11. line 3. for Magnus read Magus p. 15. l. 21 for 6 Chron. r. 2 Chro. p. 22. l. 1. for Prophets r. Prophetess p. 28. l. 23. for magis r. magi p. 30. l. 11. for inchantation r. incantation p. 38 l. 15. for little r. liche l. 19. for tax r. tap thrice in the same page in p 48. l. 8. for Charms r. Charmer p. 76. l. 33. for equivocately r. equivocally p. 77. l. 8. for Scopula r. Scapula over p. 79. for Oracle giver r. South sayer so over p. 87. Necromancer should not be The Second Book Pag. 92. l. 5. for drew r. grew p. 96. l. 10 for inquisitions r. inquisitors p. 106 l. 8. tor superstitions r. suspicions p. 122. l. 35 for quem r. quum p. 124. l. 15. for an r. and p 129 l. 15. or preternatural r preternatural p. 136. l. 28. for any sort r. every other sort p. 145. l. 30 for discovered r. discoursed p. 146. l. 36. for and by them cast on can cure r. and by them can cast on or inflict and cure diseases p. 147. l. 4. for send r. teach p. 170. l 17 for endicat r. indicat Reader take notice that most of these faults are mended with Pen and Inke already TO THE Prince of the Kings of the Earth IT is the manner of men O heavenly King to dedicate their Books to some great men thereby to have their Works protected and countenanced among men but thou only art able by thy holy Spirit of Truth to defend thy Truth and to make it take impression in the heart and understanding of men Unto thee alone do I dedicate this Work intreating thy most High Majesty to grant That whoever shall open this Book thy holy Spirit may so possess their understanding as that the spirit of errour may depart from them and that they may read and try thy Truth by the touchstone of thy Truth the holy Scriptures and finding that Truth may embrace it and forsake these darksome inventions of Antichrist that have deluded and defiled the Nations now and in former Ages Enlighten the World thou that art the Light of the World and let Darkness be no more in the World now or in any future Age but make all people to walk as Children of the Light for ever and destroy Antichrist that hath deceived the Nations and save us the residue by thy self alone and let not Satan any more delude us for the Truth is thine for ever To the Reader SIR IF you be a courteous Reader I intreat you that what weaknesse and imperfections you shall think you espie in this Book from the Author thereof you passe them by for the Truths sake whereupon this Book treateth Secondly if you be so discourteous as to carp and censure then I intreat you to carp only at me and not at the Truth lest you resist the truth Thirdly I intreat you to Read my Book thorow before you cast it by for otherwise Sir it may argue weaknesse in your self to slight the Book before you see the Argument It is one of the vanities of the World to write many Books and when a man hath taken pains to write few men will take the pains to read which Solomon intimateth Eccle. 12.12 but Sir if you find no leasure to read and consider then I pray find no leasure to gainsay or to argue against Fourthly for all places of Scripture alledged in this Book if you shall search our English Translations and not find them to carry the sense which I drive at in my discourse I intreat you either to search the Originall or else to look upon the Latin Translations of Junius and Tremellius which carry the true sense of the Originall as it was written by the Spirit of God Your Friend T. A. Non quis sed quid To the more Judicious and Wise and Discreet part of the Clergie of ENGLAND Joshua 7.11 THese words Israel hath sinned are not so to be understood as if Israel had been free from
all other sins but only that of Achan and yet that sinne of Achan was the sinne that kindled the anger of God against Israel so likewise 2 Sam. 21.1 David had been an adulterer Joab was a murderer Shimei a rayler Sheba a wicked man of Belial and many sins were in Israel at that time and yet the sinne that kindled Gods wrath and brought the famine was the blood-guiltiness of Saul as appeareth in the Chapter and verse aforesaid so likewise 1 Kings 16.30 Ahab was more wicked than all that were before him yet the sin that cost him his life and his crown was murthering of Naboth Chapter 21.19 so that it is easily gathered that some one abominable sinne doth sometimes more provoke God to anger against any particular man or against a Nation than all other sinnes that are commonly committed Then you that should be as messengers from God in that you cry against sinne in generall yee do well but in that yee seek not out this cursed Achans wedg that hath defiled England and the Christian world look to it betimes lest it be laid to your charge if the Nations perish for lack of knowledg Your Friend T. A. Non quis sed quid A PREFACE SInce the time that I have tryed to bring truth upon the stage of the world to be censured by all men I being acquainted with but few in comparison of all and some of them knowing my intent to put this discourse in Print I have neerly guessed by common discourse amongst them what the censure of this book will be that is it will be the same among many that it is among few for among few I find some so reasonable in their discourse that when they find by argumentation that there is reason and grounds in the Scripture for what I write they upon second cogitations and deliberate musings have yeelded to this truth and some of them very learned Some again after some serious argumentation being fully convinced that this is the very truth yet doe still suspend their censure till they see how it will be approved of by others by which they shew they are ready at all times to beleeve as the Church beleeves and to pin their opinion upon the sleeve of other mens judgements A third sort there are who at the first on-set of discourse do think themselves so surely grounded and this truth so groundlesse and vain an opinion as that they cannot speak without disdain as great Goliah spake to little David and thus they beginne in fury O grosse what madnesse is this what will you deny the Scriptures what answer you to this Thou shalt not suffer a Witch to live but when they are so suddenly answered and suddenly convinced that this place of Scripture maketh nothing for them and that this their great Champion-argument hath so soon received a stone in the forehead they either let their discourse fall to the ground like Goliah and slight this as a new opinion or else they runne away cowardly like the host of the Philistines and forsake the Scriptures which they first pretended should be their only weapon to fight withall and betake themselves to their leggs runing into some vain story taken out of Bodinus or Bat. Spineus or some such popish vain writer and report that it was done in Lancashier or in Westmerland or in some remote place farre off and that they heard it credibly reported from men of worth and quality and so they ingage me to answer to a story which they would compell me to beleeve or else to goe see where it was done but if it happeneth as often it doth that I make it appear by Scripture that it is absurd or impossible not to be reported by a Christian or that I shew them the story in any of the aforesaid Authors who have been the Authors of many vain fables then they presently fly to another story as vain and absurd as the former and that being answered they fly to another saying Sir what do you answer to this in which manner of disputes I have heard sometimes such monstrous impossibilities reported and affirmed to be true for they had it by credible report as would make the Angells in Heaven blush to hear them Therefore setting aside all such unscholar-like way of arguing I desire all to argue by the Scriptures and I will answer or to answer by the Scriptures and I will argue by the Scriptures as followeth in this Dilemma A DILEMMA THAT Cannot bee answered by VVITCH-MONGERS Luke 4.4 8 12. CHrist who is our forerunner Heb. 6.20 by whose holy Spirit the holy Scriptures were written whose words were of equall truth and authority with the Scriptures Yet when he was to conquer the father of lies the Prince of darknesse not for his own sake but for our example although hee was able to have argued by common reason beyond the wisedome of Solomon yet being tempted would not answer any one temptation without Scriptum est it is written because the Scriptures are the only rule of righteousnesse whosoever then will take example by him to try the Truth by Scriptures and to argue by them as he did in this place of Luke and not by strange reports which are the objects of vain credulity let them answer me by Scriptum est 1 Where is it written in all the old and new Testament that a Witch is a murtherer or hath power to kill by Witchcraft or to afflict with any disease or infirmity 2 Where is it written that Witches have Imps sucking of their bodies 3 Where is it written that Witches have biggs for Imps to suck on 4 Where is it written that the Devill setteth privy marks upon Witches whereby they should be known or searched out or that any man or woman hath any mark upon their body any more than natural or by some disease or hurt which is preternatural 5 Where is it written that the tryall of a Witch should be by sinking or swimming in the water or by biggs or privy marks or suspition of people to be signes of a Witch 6 Where is it written that Witches can hurt corn or cattell or transport corn by Witchcraft or can fly in the aire and do many such strange wonders 7 Where is it written that a Witch is such a man or woman that maketh a league with the Devill written with his or her blood and by vertue of that covenant to have the Devill at command 8 Where is it written that any man or woman was called in the Scripture strix or lamia or where is any word of such signification or importance either in the Hebrew text or in the Latin translation where is a Witch said in the Scriptures to be any such kind of person 9 What is a witch in the scripture sense according to Deu. 18.10 11 where all sorts of witches are nominated by nine terms of description 10 Where is it written that there are any other sorts of Witches than such
as are there described Deut. 18.10 11. 11 Where do we read of a he devill or a she devill called incubus or succubus that useth generation or copulation with Witches or VVitches with them 12 It is written Woe unto such as devour widdows houses and in a pretence make long prayers Matth. 23.14 13 It is written the Lord hateth the hand that sheddeth innocent blood and the fals witness that speaketh lies and the feet that are swift to do mischeif and a heart that deviseth wicked imaginations Pro. 6. 17 18 19. 14 It is written shall there be evill in a City and the Lord hath not done it Amos. 3.6 15 It is written there is no God with me I kill and I make alive I wound and heal Deut. 32.39 and again the Lord killeth and maketh alive hee bringeth down to the grave and bringeth up the Lord maketh poore and maketh rich 1 Sam. 2.6 7. 16 It is written If ye were blind yee had had no sinne but now ye say ye see therefore your sinne remaineth Iohn 9.41 17 It is written Because they received not the love of the Truth that they might be saved therefore God shall send them strong delusions that they should beleeve lies that they might be damned that beleeved not the Truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness 2 Thes 2. 10 11 12. 18 It is written Thou shalt not raise a false report put not thy hand with the wicked to be an unrighteous witnesse Exodus 23.1 19 It is written If ye any way afflict the widdow or the fatherlesse and they cry at all unto me I will surely hear their cry and my wrath shal wax hot and I will kill you with the sword and your wives shall be widdows and your children fatherlesse Exodus 22.23 24. 20 It is written God saw that the imaginations of the thoughts of mens hearts were only evill continually it repented the Lord that he had made man therefore he destroyed the old world Gen. 6.5 6 7 Therefore you that are of the sacred order of the ministry that do use to cry to the people give ear with fear and reverence to the word of God as it is written in the text how dare ye teach for doctrin the traditions of Antichrist that are not written in the Book of God Whether do not some preferre the mad imaginations of Cornelius Agrippa and others before the Scriptures for the defending their opinions So much for my Dilemma now for the Text. A Candle in the Dark SHEVVING The Divine Cause of the distractions of the whole Nation of ENGLAND and of the Christian World Deuteronomy 18.10 11. LEt the Reader take notice that in all the Scriptures there is not any kind of Witch spoken of but such as are mentioned in these two verses which that every one may understand I will expound punctually not according to our English obscure translations but according to the true meaning and signification of the originall text as it was written by Moses in the Hebrew tongue and as it is truely translated for the better and easier satisfaction of many that have not knowledge in the Hebrew tongue by Junius and Tremellius in their Latin Bible whether also I referre the Reader for all places of Scripture alledged in this Book and here I do in Gods name and in Zeal for his truth desire and intreat him that thinketh himself the learnedst Clerk to shew mee in all the Scriptures such a word as Striges or lamiae or any word of that signification importing such doctrins as have a long time defiled the Nations Deut. 18.10 11. Let there not be found among you any that maketh his sonne or his daughter to passe thorow the fire a user of divinations a planetarian or a Conjecturer or a Jugler Also a user of charmes or one that seeketh an Oracle or a South-sayer or one that asketh counsell of the dead The Latin translation is this Ne invenitor in te qui traducat filium suum aut filiam suam per ignem utens divinationibus planetarius aut conjector aut praestigiator Item utens incantatione aut requirens pythonem aut ariolus aut necromantis The Hebrew Text. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And here is the Hebrew Text written in the Roman character with the construction of every word Lo jimatzae ne invenitor beca in te magnabir qui traducat beno filium suum uubitto aut filiam suam baese per ignem kosem kesamim divinans divinationes megnonen planetarius uumenachese aut conjector umechascscph aut praestigiator vechobhir chabber incantans incantatione vessoel ob requirens pythonem vejiddegnoni aut ariolus vedhorese el hamethim aut consulens mortuos so much for the Text. Exodus 22.18 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Mechascscepha lo thechajek praestigiatricem non sines vivere There is also another word Hartumim in Exodus 4.17 Gen. 41 8. and in other places which is taken in the generall sense for Magnus a Magician that hath one or all these crafts or impostures yet by many it is restrained to the particular and often translated Ariolus being the most allowed signification for Arioli were called Magi being counted wise men and therefore the word is used for all sorts of Magicians these and all other words in the Scriptures concerning Witches are consonant to the words in the Text. The Text opened THe Text is verbatim according to the Originall as it was written by Moses in the Hebrew tongue which I will expound orderly and here is to be noted that in these two verses are nine sorts of Witches nominated by God unto Moses and the people to this end and purpose that whereas God hath chosen the people of Israel to be a peculiar church and people to himself he would be their only Counsellor to keep them in the way of wisdome and holinesse and therefore commandeth them in no wise to aske counsell of any but the true prophets and messengers of God as appeareth in the 14. and 15. verses of this chapter and because there were so many sorts of people in the world that did commonly abuse and usurp the office of Gods Prophets God describeth them in the 10. and 11. verses of this chapter by nine severall nominations or descriptions commanding them to shun and avoyd them as false Prophets and deceivers of the people for it was the manner of the heathen to seek unto such for counsell the Lord having cast out those heathen people for such abominable ways giveth his own people warning of all such ways to avoid them not to hearken to them namely to those nine sorts of witches or deceivers or false prophets or seducers of the people from God and his prophets to lying Idolatrous waies giveth them warning in the three last verses of the same chapter of all false Prophets whatsoever that should presumptuously take upon them to speak any thing in Gods name which God had not commanded or to speak in the name
thing doing they should not need to be found out by an Inquisitor to be tried by Biggs or privie Marks or by sinking or swimming in the water for their actions would declare them openly Also if common Juglers were Witches as he saith yet how doth this prove that a Witch is a Murtherer which is the main drift of his Book and to that end he bringeth many places of Scripture to prove that there are VVitches which thing no man doth deny Afterward he affirmeth that Witches do make a real League with the Devil which hath been a common foolish tradition and for that he alledgeth Psal 58.5 where saith he the Original yeeldeth thus Which heareth not the Charmer or mutterer joyning societies together where saith he the Holy Ghost setteth down the effect of a Charm namely that it is able to stay the Adder from stinging those that shall touch him but mark how this fellow belyeth the Scriptures for which because many understand not the Hebrew I referre them to the Translation of Iunius and Tremellius which is this Quae non auscultat voci mussitantium utentis incantationibus peritissimi which hearkeneth not to the voyce of mutterers or of the most skilful user of Charms so that there is not a word of joyning Societies together not a word of the Devil nor of any league with the Devil yet if it had been so and that he could have proved such a League or Covenant it had made nothing to prove that a Witch is a Murtherer which is his drift for a League might be made for a Deceiver as well as for a Murtherer And whereas he saith the place aforesaid proveth the effect of a Charm that it can stay the Adder from stinging it proveth the clean contrary for if the Prophet had said the Adder hearkneth to or regardeth the voyce of a Charmer it had proved that a Charm is effectual but in that he saith the Adder regardeth not or hearkneth not to the voyce of the Charmer be he never so skilful it proveth that a Charm is of no force and indeed the Prophet doth there allude deridingly to the vanity of that Idolatrous conceit of the Heathen who thought that charms had vertue in them and so were seduced by charms to put confidence in charms and conjurations according to the Sixth term of description in the First Book of this Treatise shewing the common conceit of the Heathen concerning charms appearing in their Poets Frigidus in pratis cantando rumpitur anguis This fellow doth further contradict himself sundry ways one of his most manifest absurd contradictions is in page 85. where he confesseth that God only hath power to send Satan to torment the wicked and afflict the godly and yet he affirmeth in pag. 261. that Witches also can send Satan to possess men and torment them Who so pleaseth to read over this Author shal find that he is bold to affirm not only that the Devil doth at the command of a Witch raise storms poyson the Air blast Corn kill Cattel torment the bodies of men but also cast out Devils as in page 158. also that he sometimes enliveneth a dead childe and bringeth it to a Witch in her travelling to bring forth childe and telleth her that it is the childe born of her body begotten by himself and so saith he she is deceived with her new darling as in pag. 122. so that according to the Devilish doctrin of this Author the Devil can raise the dead as Christ raised Lazarus and Dorcas and cast out Devils as Christ did but to conclude they that shall read his blasphemous and vain imaginations and yet shall see therewithall the pretence of holy zeal in all his Discourse may plainly behold in him the Devil turning himself into an Angel of Light to deceive the World And so I leave this Cooper where I found him namely in a Stationers shop dear of taking up Master Perkins answered THere is yet another Author writing upon this subject of Witchcraft wel known to all and that is M. Perkins who because he was such a chosen instrument of preaching Gods Word in his life I blush to name him least some should think I go about to defame him so long after his death whom I honour in his Grave but yet to take away all suspicions in that kinde let every one know that the Volume of Mr. Perkins his Works in which is contained that Treatise of Witchcraft was not put in print by himself but were certain Writings found in his Study after his death most of which were taught by him in the Pulpit in his Life-time but not all and were put in presse for the benefit of his Wife who had but small means for her maintenance in her widdowhood which thing being well considered it may well bee questioned whether that treatise of Witchcraft was of his own writing or not and it it was yet it may well bee questioned whether hee wrote it with an intent to teach it for Truth openly or only with an intent to confute such Heresies as had formerly been delivered by Bodinus Hiperius and other popish writers if hee had lived for if it be well considered and compared with those Authors it is only a collection of mingled notions out of them put into another Method also it might bee foisted in among his writings by some Ignorant or Popish Heretique who desired to bolster his Errors under the name of so famous an Instrument in the Church as Mr. Perkins was also it might bee added to his works by those that were appointed by his Wife to put his works in print either for the bolstring of their own Errors or for the inlarging of the Volume to make the Book sell the better yea many wayes Mr. Perkins may bee clear from being the Author of that Treatise But yet if some will still beleeve that it is his work let them but compare it with the Scriptures and see how little consonant it is with the Scriptures hee delivereth the common Error that Witches can kill by Witchcraft have made a league with the Devill have the Devill at their call that the Devill is ready at a watch-word given him by the Witch to do mischief and many such strange inventions whereof there is not the least inckling in the Scriptures and therefore need no farther confutation Mr. Gaule answered SInce the finishing of my Book there is come to my hand the works of a fourth English Writer Mr. John Gaule a Minister of Staughton in Huntington shire whom I find in his zeal for God in his Religious hatred to the barbarous cruelty of this age in persecuting the poor and innocent much inclining to the Truth and I cannot say of him but his intentions were godly but yet hath been so swayed by the common tradition of men and the impetuousnesse of the times and the authority of such Writers as hee calleth the learned as that although hee hath writen some Truths in preaching
also whereof hee hath done much good in Gods Vineyard in labouring to stay that bloody persecution on foot against the poor and Innocent yet he hath much swerved from the Truth of this subject of Witches and Witchcraft in that hee yeildeth at all to the common contagion of Error that hath defiled the World not that Witches are for that were my Error to deny seeing the Scriptures do manifestly condemn them but that Witches in the Scripture sence are such as have made a familier compact with the Devill and receive power from him to kill and the like I wonder but that the hour of darknesse is not yet fully past that so many Ministers should still wander in this darksome imagination what least intimation or description of such a kind of Witch hath God given us in the Scriptures or of Devills in the corporall shape of Imps making a familier compact with any of mankind or any ground for such imaginary whimses of mans brain what consequence is there in Logicall dispute or in Theologicall Principles that hee that denieth these phantasies denieth that there is a Devill and so finally that there is a God the Scripture teacheth us that there is a God and likewise a Devill or Devills but what Scripture speaketh of a familiar Devill or Jmp or that a Witch can kill by Witchcraft or hurt either body or goods by Witchcraft by the Devills help either by Gods permission or without I rather think that this forsaking of the Scriptures and delivering for Doctrin the traditions of Antichristian Popish Writers is a forsaking of God and consequently a denying of God hee saith hee could instance from story how many have had no Faith of Witches being till their bewitched body or goods hath served to unwitch them of their opinions and conceit is this a Theologicall way of Argument to ground a Doctrin upon vain reports and phantasmes without Scriptures yea flat contrary to the Scriptures Deut. 32.39 1 Sam. 2.6 7. dare any man contrary to those and many places of Scripture when hee is afflicted in body or goods ascribe that to a Witch upon vain Phantasie and carnal reason and superstitious imaginations and foolish traditions without Scriptures which by the Scriptures we are taught to ascribe only to God yes men dare do so and Ministers dare teach so And this is the condemnation that light is come into the world and men love darkness rather than light But now to speak to the man himself of whom I have written sparingly Mr. Gaule if this work of mine shall come to your hand as yours hath come to mine be not angry with me for writing Gods Truth I am sure you shall get more estimation among true Beleevers more favour with God and do more good in Christs Vine-yard by acknowledging your error and by embracing Gods Truth than by being carried away with the streams of these flouds of iniquity that have over-flowed the Christian world You say in your second case pag. 24. It is hard to observe any specifique difference of Witches in which you acknowledge the subject to be difficult to write of Sir I have given you full specifical descriptions of them according to the Scriptures then although Sir you be learned in other things disdain not to learn of me the truth of this subject I doubt not but if you had first read my Book your own Book had been more perfect Suffer not a Witch to live Prestigiatricem a Jugling person that worketh false Miracles to seduce the people to Idolatry Exod. 22.18 Jofias destroying of Witches 2 King 23 24. what was it but pulling down the Idols with their Adjuncts Oraclers and South-sayers that were the Idol Priests that seduced the people Examine the places which are your own quotations then Sir I intreat you in Christs name that as you have been fervent for Gods Cause with Apollos Act. 18.25 so learn of me the way of God more perfectly as he did of the Disciples vers 26. fare-well Sir the Spirit of God be your familiar Spirit to guide you in the truth Non quis Sed quid Master Giffard answered THere is yet another Book come to my hand written by Mr. George Giffard an able Minister of Gods Word in Maldon which because the common way of some mans arguing is by questioning what say you to this and what say you to that Author therefore I will give a brief description of his Tenents which are chiefly three the first is That a VVitch can not by a Familiar or by any craft any way hurt or weaken the life health or estate of any man by bewitching with disease or infirmity either Man or Beast or hurting his Goods and this he proveth plainly by Scripture and Reason as I have also done in my Second Book of this Discourse The second Tenent is That VVitches have Imps and Familiars The third Tenent is That these Familiars do nothing really but only do deceive the VVitch by making her beleeve they do that which cometh to pass upon Man or Beast by Divine providence but for these two last Tenents he doth not prove by Scripture as he did the first nor yet affirm for truth but only being overcome by the strength of common report grounded upon the Confession of such as have been executed he only yeeldeth to those strong delusions which have deceived many Hypothetically arguing if Witches have such Imps or Familiars they are only deceived by them but herein is he not confident and therefore these two last Tenents being not confirmed by him do confirm nothing and for the first of the two That VVitches have Imps is sufficiently disproved in my Second Book and that all their Confessions are no argument then for the last Tenent having reference to the first it is in like manner nullified for if they have no Imps nor no Familiar then they are not deceived by them nor do beleeve or confess any such thing wherein they seem to him to be deceived any further than Confession is wrung from them by them who are the deceivers of themselves and others by the Deceiver of the VVorld that dwelleth in them except sometimes by the depth of Melancholly or distempered brain as I have formerly demonstrated in my Second Book and therefore need no further answer So much for this Author who I beleeve had more of the Spirit of truth in him than many of his profession Now for all that have written in that kinde I summon all VVitch-mongers to shew me in the Old or New Testament which are given as a rule of truth the least inference of any such Doctrin as is delivered by them Also I desire any man of right understanding to compare them with the Scriptures and so compare also this my Book with the Scriptures and to see which of them is most consonant with the Scriptures and which is most dissonant from the Scriptures and so to try them by Gods touch-stone of truth The Conclusion TO conclude