and also for the hiding of their unparalleled cruelty from the ears of the world of which sort are James Sprenger Henry Institor in malleo maleficarum also Nider and Cumanus Daneus Hyperius Hemingius but most of all Bodinus and Bartholomaeus Spineus I do not say that all these dyed Papists and lest their authority should fail in deceiving the world in this Doctrin of Devils some great Scholars of the Popish rout have approved and affirmed the matter to be true in some causes writing of fascination and of that sort are Thomas Aquinas and Suares In which Authors although they were learned men whosoever readeth their discourse of this subject shall finde nothing at all proved either by Scripture or Philosophical argument but they take it for granted and undoubted truth confirmed by tradition that Fascination or Witchcraft is an Art of killing and afflicting Men and Cattel and upon this Hypothesis they take in hand to dispute upon it not whether it be true or not but how it may be done as they conceive for say they Et si agens non potest diffundere actionem suam usque ad rem distantem fit tamen ut aer proximus inficiatur usque ad certam distantiam perveniat sic noceat alteri if this subject the force of fascination had been first proved by them then this their reason had had some seeming force in it but because it can no way be proved by firm Argument they quote History for it and so pass on to their hypothetical disputes about the reason of it and that they may make the matter seem true one quotes anothers authority for it and Suarez quoteth Thomas Aquinas and Pliny and Pliny citeth Hogonus and Niphodorus and Apollonides for his Authors that among the Triballians and Illyrians and Scythians there be certain Women that can kill with their eye-sight whom they look wishfully upon mark but how first things are reported by Travellers who may lye by authority then Pliny gathereth their several reports into the Volume of his Natural History whom all men may see was abused by being too credulous of other mens reports and yet Suarez is forced to use Plinies Pen to prove that which cannot be proved or defended by reason and having no better Argument he saith further Sunt qui negant illam vim fascinationis sed non est cur experientiam à Philosophis medicis comprobatam ferè communi sensu receptam negemus by which Argument a man may as well prove that Idols were gods because they were approved in their time by men of all Arts and Sciences Et ferè communi sensu recepta and further according to Plinies report he saith that these women do kill but by some poysonous quality of their Natural complexion and inward humours of their bodies communicated to the vital spirits and by the action of the minde brought to the eye-sight and from thence infecting the party whom they look upon and this he saith expresly cometh naturally to pass and of inbred natural causes in the Witches bodies but mark how this fellow although notable for learning hath wildered himself in searching out the reason of a meer vain supposition and erroneous tradition that Witches can kill by looks for whereas he giveth this reason that Witches have inward natural poyson whereby they naturally kill others what an absurdity is this to say that any Creature can by its natural quality be contrary or destructive to its own species for a Viper cannot poyson a Viper nor a Toad cannot poyson a Toad for their nature is one and not contrary to its own species Secondly whereas he reasoneth that this poyson is communicated from the humours to the vital spirits and by the action of the minde brought to the eye-sight It is most absurd in Philosophy for what Physician or Philosopher doth not acknowledge that the vital spirits once poysoned do suffocate the Heart the fountain of Life as is often seen in the Pestilence whereby the Witch her self must needs perish and is also often seen in those who having but the Natural humours of their own bodies corrupt the vital spirits are debilitated and cannot operate but the party decayeth and soon perisheth because the heart cannot abide any corrupt poyson or contrary temperature to its own nature Thirdly whereas he saith this poyson is sent from the Witch by the force of seeing this also is an absurdity in Philosophy for all sound Philosophers do acknowledge that Oculus non vidit emittendo vim suam videndi ad objectum visibile sed recipiendo species visibiles ab objecto how then can the sight if it were poyson hurt any way the party upon whom it only looketh Fourthly whereas he saith that Witches do kill by their natural complexion and inward humour being naturally poyson what an absurdity ariseth from hence in Divinity To conceive that God should make men and women naturally poyson and destructive to others and yet should make a Law that such should be put to death yea cruel death for being such as God made them in their nature and complexion Surely if man had stood in the manner in which he was made God had not punished him with death Now after he hath thus intrapped himself in his Discourse by seeking out a reason of that which is not but only conceived to be by credulous people he falleth off from his own weak reasons to the reason that Thomas Aquinas giveth and that is That sometimes this Fascination is wrought by a secret compact with the Devil but how can these Reasons accord one with the other for if it be natural to the Witch to bewitch others what needeth she then to seek help of the Devil to do that which she can do by nature For Deus est author Naturae and sure the Devil cannot make more perfect or forceable that which God hath made but such is the nature of all these Popish Writers that when they cannot strongly enough maintain a Lye they father their Lyes upon their Master the Father of Lyes and are forced after all their vain argumentation to use his name to uphold a Lye and although they were great Scholars have rather intangled themselves with folly in reasoning and with so manifest errour whereby they have exposed themselves to the lash of common Censure than to forsake their Popish darkness which they are ingaged to defend What shall not be done to bring the Popes ends to pass what Lyes what foolish Fictions what impossibilities can the Heart of man devise that these together have not affirmed for truth unto the World to infect the Nations with Heresie or Atheism whereby to destroy the Christian Church And for further confirmation of the matter they have devised among other Tortures to make people confess that they can do such impossibilities one of the most devillish cruelties that hath been devised among men and that is to keep the poor accused party from sleep many nights
Star that shewed the birth of Christ Mat. 2.2 was Miraculous and not any Natural Star how then could the Wise men or Astrologians see the signification of that Star by their Science of Astrologie whereas if it reacheth not to the knowledge of future contingensies then much less to the knowledge of things supernatural or miraculous and yet they saw that the Stars appearance did signifie the birth of that great King although I deny not that the motion of the star in the ninth verse might bee miraculous And to come farther Judg. 5.20 the Stars in their Rampires fought against Sisera it is not spoken of any thing beyond nature but the Prophets did observe that the stars in their natural places fought against Sisera also Gen. 1.14 God made the Lights of Heaven to be signs for seasons and for days and for years it seemeth then that judicial Astrology is not condemned in the Scripture if it be not abused what then was a Planetarian in the sence of the text and why were they forbidden by God and set in the Catalogue of Witches To this it is answered That under the colour of Astrologie these Planetarians that are here forbidden did harbour themselves that because there was somewhat in that Science for the knowledge of some future things therefore in the pretence of their knowledge in that Science they did take upon them to compare themselves with the Prophets and to draw the people after their uncertain Predictions as if they had been equal with the Prophets and many of them having no knowledge at all in that Science yet did under the colour thereof harbour their deceitful Oracles or Divinations ascribing a Deity to the Planets calling them gods as Mars the god of Warre Venus the goddess of Beauty c. and did also ascribe so much to their influence as they beleeved no power above them and so drew the people a whoring after them to make them forget God the Author of all things and to Deifie the Creature and these Planetarians being meer Naturalists and beleeving no power above the Planets would bear a breast against the Prophets and undertake to do those things that were only proper to the Prophets to do and could be done by no other power but by the Spirit of God Dan. 2.2 3 4. they would undertake the interpretation of Dreams if the dreams were related to them nevertheless the expounding of dreams is of God only vers 27 28. and Gen. 41.16 and 40.8 And whereas God did put into the heart of Nebuchadnezzar to put them to difficult task they said no man upon earth was able to do it Dan. 2.10 inferring that the Prophets themselves could do no more than they yea so did they deifie the Planets that they ascribed to them to be the gods of the seven Days of the Week and caused the people to worship them and bring their daily oblations to them and to keep Holy days to them from the names of which Planets the days do take their nominations as Sunday from the Sun Monday from the Moon c. and in other Tongues is more manifest for every day which if it be true that the Planets have their several influences upon the several days of the Week yet their wickedness was in denying God that made the Heavens and their Host and in deifying the Creature and for this they are described among Witches or seducers of the people to Idolatry and this Idolatry God warneth his people to avoyd Deut. 4.19 Take heed when thou liftest up thine eyes to Heaven and seest the Sun and the Moon and Stars with all the Host of Heaven shouldest be driven to worship them and serve them which the Lord thy God hath distributed to all people under heaven Although God had given and distributed their influence to all people under Heaven yet men may not worship them but worship God that made them So likewise Deut. 17.3 also this Idolatry part of the Israelites were defiled with Jer. 44 17. they burnt Incense and poured Drink-offerings to the Queen of Heaven or as it is in the Original to the works of Heaven that is to the Planets of this Idolatry Job cleareth himself Job 31.26 If I did behold the Sun when it shined or the Moon walking in her brightness that is if I did behold them with adoration this had been iniquity for I had denied the God above as followeth vers 28. also 2 Chron. 33.5 This was part of Manasses Witchcraft he built Altars to all the Host of Heaven and made the people go astray vers 9. And so for this Third description of a Witch in the text a Planetarian that is that under the colour of Astrologie seduced the people to lying vanities or Divinations and causeth them to deifie and Idolize the Planets or that boasteth himself in his Predictions against the Prophets crying peace when the Prophets Prophesie destruction Isa 47.13 Let thy Astrologians stand up that do view the Stars and do make known their monthly Predictions and save thee from the things that shall come upon thee I might quote also some prophane Writers of this sort who are seducing Witches because under pretence of Astrologie they teach things beyond the intent and scope of that or any lawful Science As Julius Maternus hath devillishly written That he that is born when Saturn is in Leone shall live long and go to Heaven when he dyeth and so Albumazar saith Who so prayeth to God when the Moon is in Capite draconis shall obtain his prayer These Planetarians for these and the like impious devices in pretence of a lawful Science are described in the text among Witches Astrologians have also annexed to their Science of Astrologie Palmistrie and Physiognomie the Caelestial Bodies as they say having fixed their Characters upon the inferiour Bodies of men as he that readeth their Books may see with the reason thereof and therefore these Arts together with Astrologie do serve them to make their Prognosticks concerning the strength health disposition and several events of any mans life which Prognosticks do often happen true because Natures course may be probably conjectured by the course and character of the Planets although these Arts are much abused by wandring Gypsies who under colour of such knowledge do commonly cheat silly people and also rob their pockets when they are viewing their hands and face to tell them their Fortunes now herein was one difference between Planetarians or Astrologians lawful or unlawful in the Scripture sence the lawful Astrologian foretelling probable events fore-seen by Natural causes upon any person or Nation as Deborah observed the Stars concerning Sicera and his Army although she knew what should come to pass more certainly by the Spirit of Prophesie than by the Stars The unlawful Astrologian or Planetarian foretelling things not only probably but certain and necessarily to come to pass as if there were such strong inclination influence and co-action in those Coelestial Bodies as that
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