prooue a Witch at all but with some limitations and considerations they doe absolutely and infallibly demonstrate a Witch Those limitations are these First that those markes certainely detected to be supernaturall bee by circumstances presumptions on necessary inference of reason prooued to be knowne by the party in whom they are found that they are of the Diuell or by the Diuell there placed Secondly that they are there continued mainteined or preserued with the liking and allowance of that partie The reason of these limitations is manifest for that the Diuell is able to impose diuers diseases as also such like supernaturall markes or excrescencies as are before mentioned vpon men without their liking or consent where God doth so permit him This is euident by the Historie of Iob vpon whom the Diuell brought extraordinary and more then vsuall botches biles and sores beyond the common course and nature of those diseases and this he did full sore against the will and liking of righteous Iob. No man can iustly be accused or suspected in that act wherein hee is no agent but an vnwilling Patient nor can bee accessary vnto concurrence or consent with any author in his act if that author bee not knowne vnto him or not conceiued by him to be author Indeed if any man be found with such markes who may be conuinced to know them to bee of the Deuill and then to like or to be contented with them assuredly by manifest demonstration that man is a Witch if not by an expresse and open yet by an occult allowance of the Diuels possession and power of that part or portion in him Whosoeuer giueth any possession of himselfe vnto the Diuell either in part or in whole doeth thereby renounce his Creator by this combination with the Diuell is a Witch or Sorcerer There remaineth as yet a doubt or question Whether simply the affirmation of a supposed Witch which is vulgarly but not properly called and deemed her confession that the Diuell doth sucke him or her as also whether the affirmation of a supposed Witch affirming her selfe to be a Witch doe infallibly conuince that supposed Witch to be a Witch indeede and whether that affirmation be sufficient as commonly deemed her owne confession to condemne her The answer is negatiue The reason is for that many affirmations in themselues and at first view doe seeme true serious and sufficient which better and more consideratly examined are oft-times euen senselesse and ridiculous and therefore iustly are denied credit And for this cause no accusations whether against any man himselfe or against another wherein is no probabilitie or likelihood no colour or possibilitie of being either are or ought to be admitted or heard in iustice in any Courts of Iustice And for this cause the testimonies accusations or confessions which by fooles or madmen are auouched are by all nations through the world in law not valued and reiected The same regard is had of the affirmations and testimonies of children and of melancholy people and likewise of men with yeeres and age doting or by diseases or cares manifestly decrepite in their wittes and senses That such decrepits there are vsually walking among men not noted nor knowne vnto most or many except sometimes vpon especiall occasion or triall of them made is no wonder I did my selfe know some lately liuing who formerly haue beene very vnderstanding yet diuers yeeres before their end were with age in their inward senses so worne and wasted that although as reasonable creatures vnto the common view they talked conuersed conferred spake many times and in many things with very good reason and sensibly yet oft-times by sodaine enterchanges they neither knew reason nor themselues nor their owne names nor children I now know a man neere an hundreth yeere old who hauing in my late remembrance beene an excellent pen-man doth neither now know a word nor can write nor name so much as one letter among the foure and twentie yet hath he his sight good as by his discerning and vpon his view thereof giuing right name and title vnto other as small formes and characters is apparent His memory sometimes euen of the same things is altogether gone by fits and by fits sometimes returneth in many things but not in all nor in any alway or certainly Other some I haue knowne in their memory and phansie by age so worne that they could not hold or retaine in the one so much as that which very lately was in their eye in the other so much as that which was in the same instant almost conceiued affirming things in this confusion which neuer were nor euer could be and denying their sight of those things which from their sight thereof they had truely before named of their owne accord one while constantly beleeuing and avouching whatsoeuer was said or informed them though neuer so dissonant from sense or reason another while as confidently denying whatsoeuer truth was said or vrged though neuer so manifest vnto their sight or sense This is not strange in age since in diseases it is vsuall for men sometimes for a time to lose their memory alone sometimes their reason alone sometimes imagination sometimes part of one and part of another sometimes all sometimes perfectly none and yet imperfect in euery one It sometimes also is seene as Galen saith that a man inioying absolutely and accurately all his inward senses of right reason memory and imagination in all other things beside yet in some one particular alone and in no other whatsoeuer is euer constantly and without change void of sense or reason and as a very mad man or foole Thus much is also written by others of many wise and learned men who notwithstanding in some one particular alone haue discouered them selues to be very fooles or mad men constantly affirming themselues to be doggs horses glasses and for that one follie neuer reclaimed in all other things being iudicious learned discreete and solid Neither is every vulgar man nor euery man vulgarly learned not accurately iudging able to discerne these defects at first or alwaies much lesse where they are hardly and difficultly espied or by fits onely doe shew themselues How possible is it for these sorts of people either to be perswaded by others or from their owne guide and vnstable conceite to affirme any thing whatsoeuer concerning themselues or others and for that cause how necessary is it in matter of weight and iudgments especially of life to take heede of their rash admittance vnto accusations or testimonies concerning themselues or any others Vnto a confession so properly and truely called doe necessarily concurre three things First in a confession is properly implied vnderstood the partie confessing to be capable of reason because without reason he can neither know nor iudge of himselfe nor of his guilt Secondly in a confession is requisite and necessary that a partie confessing himself doth truly know what the Law doth take define that offence to be
consider how they may bee both produced vnto the barre of Iustice and bee arraigned and condemned of manifest high Treason against Almighty God and of combination with his open and professed enemy the Diuell Concerning the first since it chiefely consisteth in that which is manifest vnto the outward sense if the witnesses of the manifest magicall and supernaturall act be substantiall sufficient able to iudge free from exception of malice partialitie distraction folly and if by conference counsell with learned men religiously and industriously exercised in iudging in those affaires there bee iustly deemed no deception of sense mistaking of reason or imagination I see no true cause why it should deserue an Ignoramus or not bee reputed a true Bill worthy to bee inquired as a case fit and mature for the same due triall which Iustice Law and equitie haue ordained in common vnto all other rightfull hearings and proceedings by witnesse and testimonie although it is likely to prooue a rare plea or cause because in reason not too frequently to bee found and farre lesse in it selfe common or vsuall then is vulgarly reputed It might notwithstanding haply bee more oft detected if more diligently according to reason inquired The second kinde of Witch by euidence of reason discouered is farre more frequent then the first as appeareth by the varietie and multitude of names which it hath branded vpon it and the diuersitie of kindes and fashions which it hath put on It is likewise more easily detected and prooued A supernaturall reuelation being first made truely manifest lest preposterously wee haply call a surmised or falsely suspected offender into question before any offence be apparent or knowne which is an vniust iniury and worthy of rebuke and shame with God and iust men a supernaturall reuelation I say being manifest any mans guilty contract therein is prooued by his vndertaking to bee enquired at therein That vndertaking likwise is easily knowne discouered by those that haue inquired The foundation of this way of inuestigation of this Witch or Sorcerer is the Word of God it selfe before recited and iust and true reason built thereupon cannot fall or be shaken Thus hauing brought these prisoners to the Barre I there arrest any farther progresse and leaue them to Iustice to the decree and sentence of the reuerend graue and learned Iudge and so proceede the third promised way of inuestigation and inquisition of Witches and Sorcerers according to likely presumption probable and artificiall coniecture But before wee arriue vpon that point it is necessarie that first a materiall obiection bee satisfied That is in the forementioned Iudgement of supernaturall workes of Sorcery manifest to sense how can any true testimony or witnesse be required or expected since doubt is made whether really or truely or delusorily and in seeming onely many or most things of that kinde are seene or heard Hereto is answered As a true substance is seene not of it selfe simply but in and by the outward true signe shape proportion colours and dimension inherent therein and inseparable there-from so the true likenesse resemblance and pourtraiture of that substance when separated from that substance is as truely and as really seene Therefore experience doeth shew vs that the same eye which saw the shape proportion and figure together with the true substance doeth as perfectly both see and know it when it is separated from the substance by the Art of the Painter As in the true miracles of God wrought by the hand of his seruant Moses the true and vndoubted substance of a truely created Serpent was seene when it was changed from a rodde by the outward proper and inherent shape so as truely was an outward pourtraiture and likenesse of Serpents seene in the false miracle of the seeming transmutation of the Sorcerers roddes For how could religion or reason condemne those miracles of the Diuell for illusions if the liuely resemblance of miracles appearing manifestly vnto the eye had not thereby made them knowne For an example or illustration how is a iuggling deceit knowne but by the eye The sight is said to bee deceiued therein Therefore it doeth see that which doeth deceiue Reason likewise comparing that which was seene with that which is not seene that is the counterfait with the true substance doeth prooue the counterfait the present obiect of the sight The same eyes therefore that saw in the true miracles of Moses the substance of a Serpent by the true inseparable inherent shape saw likewise the true image and picture of a Serpent in the false and seeming miracles of the Enchaunters of Egypt The testimony of the presentation of both vnto the eye is as true as trueth it selfe because the Word of trueth hath said it That the Diuell is as powerfull as the most excellent Painter to represent any the most true and liuely likenesse of any creature is in reason cleare and hath beene also before prooued Therefore a true testimonie may bee truely giuen and iustly accepted or taken of a liuely shape figure likenesse or proportion really presented by the Art of the Diuell vnto the eye All the doubt then remaining is to put a true difference betweene that which our imagination doeth represent vnto vs from within the braine and that which wee see without by the outward sense This difference will best appeare by an example Fernelius in his first booke cap. 11. de Aba rer caus doeth make mention of a man who by the force of charmes would coniure into a looking glasse certaine shapes or visions which there would either by writing or by liuely presentations so perfectly expresse and satisfie whatsoeuer hee did demaund or commaund vnto them that easily and readily it might bee distinguished and knowne by standers by This Fernelius doeth report that hee saw himselfe What shall wee say herein Was this Diuelish practise a thing doubtfull Was it not manifest to many eyes diuersitie of beholders and the iudicious view of a learned and discerning sight The like Franciscus Picus Miraudula reporteth videlicet that a famous Magician of Italy in his time did keepe the skull of a dead man out of which the Diuell did deliuer answeres vnto men enquiring when the Wizard had first vttered certaine words and had turned the skull toward the Sunne These things being palpably seene could not bee meere imagination Those things which are meerely in imagination with those men whom diseases depriue not of their sense or reason are by right reason and true sense after a short time of their preualence easily detected to be imaginary but those things which are truely really and certainely seene remaine the same for euer after in their due reception of sense with vndoubted and vnchanged allowance of reason Hence it is that a man in a sleepe or dreame though for a short space hee doeth oft times verily really and very feelingly as it were thinke himselfe in many actions and employments yet when hee awaked from sleepe his
the maine scope a faithfull and strong memorie quicknesse of apprehension and solide iudgement but in the end vnto such as are industrious and desirous of Trueth will yeeld a delightfull and thanke-worthy compensation thereof I presume not to direct or prescribe nor doe purposely oppose any other different opinion but inoffensiuely tender my owne vnto the publique good and hauing meerely deuoted it vnto truth doe humbly submit it vnto your Lordships the vowed Patrons of right and truth Your Lordships in all humble dutie and desire IOHN COTTA TO THE RIGHT HONOVRABLE Sr. EDVVARD COKE Knight Lord chiefe Iustice of ENGLAND one of the Lords of His Maiesties most Honourable Priuie Councell and to the rest of the Honourable right Reuerend and worthy Iudges RIght Honourable Lords where according vnto the direction of good lawes gracious Soueraignes nobly rule and loyall Subiects freely obey there the Common-weale which is the common good of both produceth the most royall happy and stable Monarchy If euer any Kingdome hath beene fortunate to giue a true mirror and example of this happinesse this famous Island hath beene therein incomparable wherein so many puissant Monarchs successiuely swaying this Emperiall Diademe according vnto the ancient Lawes and Customes of this Nation haue so many hundreths of yeares gouerned this mighty people in peace and honour at home and victoriously led them in triumphant warre abroad as by the glorious trumpe of forreine and domesticke fame and Historie is not obscure The splendor of this truth the iniurious aspersion of insufficiencie in our English lawes cannot without shame or blushing guilt behold Notwithstanding since in some few things to bee wanting was neuer as yet wanting in the most exquisite lawes Policie and State that euer hath beene and since the Law of God it selfe though perfect in it selfe through humane imperfection in the true perfection was neuer yet seene giue mee leaue through all lawes and Countries in one particular to wonder at their generall defect What Law or Nation in the detection of Witches and Witchcraft hath as yet euer appeared competent or from iust exception exempt How vncertaine are among all people differing iudgements Some iudge no Witches at all others more then too many others too few by many in so opposite extreames so extreamely opposite I doe not presume to prescribe how a law may become more absolute or perfect I onely labour enquire to learne Among many generall directions by different Authors diuersly published concerning the perfecting of particular lawes as farre as perfection is possible vnto humane frailty Demosthenes in his second Oration against Aristogiton in my thought doth seeme to equall if not exceede the most exquisite Three things saith he as may be plainely out of the forenamed place collected doe concurre vnto the vpright constitution of euery complete law whereby it may be held sacred and inuiolate The first is that it be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is that it be the ordinance and gift of God Secondly that it be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is the sage and iudicious decree and counsell of the most wise and prudent The third is that it be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is the vniuersall consent of the whole state Citie or countrey Certainly the true cause of the forementioned generall lamenesse and confusion of Lawes in the proposed case of Witch-craft consisteth herein First for that men haue not as yet sufficiently searched the holy Scriptures to finde out that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is what is the ordinance of God therein Secondly for that men haue not seriously consulted with that wisedome and prudence which by the light of nature and reason Almightie God hath left discouerable and allowed to be iustly and truly deemed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is the sage counsell determination and decree of the most iudicious prudent and wise men When these two are met and are agreed namely the ordinance of God and the vpright and sincere counsell of the most holy prudent and wise men purposely studied and without superstition exercised therein then will the happy harmony of all mens hearts become easily tunable thereto which is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is the common consent of Prince People and Countrey Vnto this faire worke and building of God let it not seeme presumption that I offer this my Moytie of desire and good will I know that in this subiect many ages of learned Authors haue endlesly varied many famous Writers haue bin branded with infamous errors many excellent wits haue run themselues almost out of their wits those who haue best deserued their trembling pens haue niggardly dropped timorously pointed out any fully or firmely auouched certainty It is notwithstanding no breach of rule of modesty but my bounden duty vnto the accomplishment and honour of truth to adde whatsoeuer in my vtmost endeauour may be conducible Neither would my many conflicts with difficulties in this kinde hold me excused is so oft spurred or rather galled by so frequent exercise practise and conuersation with persons in so diuers extraordinary manners afflicted and supposed bewitched it should awake no answerable dispatch or display therein Let it then seeme no wonder that a man though lesse then the least among men who hath not onely as studiously as others laboured the same particular and as diligently therein obserued but hath farre more happily bin fortuned then others with frequent matter and occurrents worthy obseruation and hath also beene more plentifully gratified with opportunitie to inrich his vnderstanding with variety and worth of obiects instructing his reason and confirming his experience Let it seeme no wonder I say that a meane wit thus beyond others furnished thereto may aduenture amiddest so many doubts and ambiguities wherewith so many worthies haue been formerly intangled and perplexed to auouch and prooue certainty and demonstration In this subiect of Witch-craft by better meanes aduantaged if beyond former times or Writers I haue haply proposed a more direct and certaine Module and Methode of iudging therein I doe not thereby arrogate vnto my selfe but attribute vnto the meanes nor derogate from others whom if the like contingence of the same helpes had as freely and friendly affronted and the like facilitie had opened as ready accesse I acknowledge in the guilty sense of my owne exiguitie whether in the outward beauty of words or inward substance of vnderstanding it had beene easie for any man to exceed with so good meanes this so euill meanenesse of my performance Since then Right Honourable Lords the subiect it selfe and a pertinent and peculiar vse therein doe point vnto your Honours the propertie of this Dedication vnto whose tribunall the Lawes of God and men appeale against that foule abominable sinne let it not be censured pride or presumption humbly to present vnto your Lordship that consideration and resolution which beyond my merit or desert Occurrents haue freely administred vnto long-distracted meditation If there may appeare therein
which he doth assume vnto himselfe For by ignorance of the law sometimes silly men suppose themselues and others to haue incurred the danger of the Law where he that truly vnderstandeth the Law is able to informe him the contrary and for this cause the law it selfe doth giue leaue to consult with the Lawyer and with such as professe and are skilfull in the Law Diuines likewise generally acknowledge and grant that there is a mistaking an ignorantly and a falsely accusing conscience or guilt as well as a conscience iustly iudging and accusing And for this cause many a man may take himselfe to be a Theefe a Witch or other offender who doth not truly or rightly konw what Theft in his owne case or some other points is or what Witch-craft or some other offences either truly in themselues are or by the Law are vnderstood bâ—ing in some cases not knowen or agreed among Lawyers themselues It is therefore senselesse that a man can accuse himselfe iustly of an offence which he doth not know and therefore also is it as vniust to admit such an accusation against himselfe Thirdly in a confession is implyed and presupposed a precedent manifest offence or guilt either by faire euidence likely to be prooued or at least by due circumstances and presumptions iustly suspected or questioned I doe hence conclude demonstratiuely that if a supposed Witch be not first found capable of reason and free from dotage with age or yeeres or sicknesse and doe not also know what Witch-craft or a Witch is and thirdly if the Witch-craft or sinne it selfe bee not vpon sufficient grounds either prooued or at lest questioned the meere accusation of such a supposed Witch against her selfe without the former considerations is not simply or alone sufficient to conuince or condemne her neither is such an accusation truly or properly to be tearmed a confession And thus we haue made euident by this instance of the supposed Witches markes how the learned Physition possessing true Art and learning is not so commonly as the vulgar sort transported into the maze of vaine wonder and ignorant admiration but duely and truly weighing reason doth apart distinguish and put true difference betweene the wonders in nature and the wonders aboue nature The wonders in nature are such diseases as in their strange shape and likenesse doe counterfeit such maladies as are induced by the Diuell or by Witch-craft Wonders aboue nature are such diseases wherein the finger of the Diuell is indeede and really discouered Concerning the first kinde as here so formerly in a former Manuell I haue briefely deliuered both some of their generall descriptions denyed by no man that in ancient time was or at this time is a iudicious and learned Physician as also diuers of their particular Histories in the persons of some sicke men knowne vnto my selfe Of the second it is here needlesse to propound any more particulars then those aboue mentioned which I esteeme for the generall illustration sufficient In true and right decision and distinction of the one from the other multiplicitie of consideration and circumspection ought diligently attend the intricate maze and labyrinth of error and illusion in their deceiueable likenesses whereby the Diuell for his owne aduantage and the perdition of seduced and beguiled men doth sometimes cunningly hide his owne workes and the diuellish practises of Witches and Sorcerers from their due detection and punishment sometimes to insnare the guiltlesse and innocent doth iugglingly seeme to doe those things which Nature doth iustly challenge not as his but as her owne in iust ballance weighed It is most certaine that the Diuell cannot possibly mixe himselfe or his power with any inferiour nature substance or body but the alteration by the coniunction of so farre discrepant natures in the vnchangeable decree of the vniuersall nature of all things necessarily and vnauoidably produced must needs witnesse and manifestly detect it in the great and mighty oddes This is very euident and apparent in all the supernaturall workes of the Diuell before mentioned in the generall discourse of this small Treatise or worke whether such as were declared manifest to sense or such as were euident to reason whether such as were effected by the Diuell himselfe with the consent or contract of a Sorcerer or Witch or such as were without their knowledge societie or contract performed by himselfe All those supernaturall workes of both these kinds were therefore knowne to be supernaturall because they were aboue and beyond any cause in sublunary nature The like the learned Physician may certainly conclude concerning diseases inflicted or mooued by the Diuell For it is impossible that the finger or power of the Diuell should be in any maladie but such a cause must needs produce some effect like it selfe where true and iudicious discerning is able to finde the infallible certaine and vndeceiued stampe of difference Thus farre hath bin briefely declared how the Physician properly and by himselfe doth alone enter into the due consideration and examination of diseases where is iust occasion of question whether naturally or supernaturally inferred How vnfit it is here to admit euery idiot for a Physician or Counsellor as is too common both in these and all other affaires of health let wise men iudge Certainely from hence it commeth to passe that most men for euer liue in perpetuall confusion of their thoughts in these cases and as a iust iudgement of God against their carelesse search and neglect of learned and warranted true counsel all certainety and truth herein doth still fly farre from them For as in these ambiguities is requisite and necessary a learned iudicious and prudent Physician so is it as necessary that he finde those that neede herein aduice truely and constantly obedient vnto good reason temperate and discreete not mutable vpon euery vaine and idle proiect to start away and to bee transported from a reasonable iust discreete proceeding vnto vncertaine vaine and Empiricall tryals since wisdome knowledge and truth are neuer truely found but onely of those that with diligence patience and perseuerance search and seeke them out It remaineth now to come vnto the second way of detection of the bewitched sicke which was before said to consist in such things as were subiect and manifest vnto a vulgar viewe as the first vnto the learned Physician alone As of the first some few examples haue been propounded so of the latter let vs also viewe other some In the time of their puroxismes or fits some diseased persons haue beene seene to vomit crooked iron coales brimstone nailes needles pinnes lumps of lead waxe hayre strawe and the like in such quantity figure fashion and proportion as could neuer possibly passe downe or arise vp thorow the naturall narrownesse of the throat or be contained in the vnproportionable small capacity naturall susceptibility and position of the stomake These things at any time happening are palpable and not obscure to any eye without difficulty
mentioned in the Gospell Thirdly let vs not here forget specially that hee is able to transmit and send vnto or into men vnrequired and without their desire or assent secret powers force knowledge illuminations and supernaturall reuelations This was prooued by the possessed in the Gospell who from a secret and hidden reuelation and power aboue and beyond themselues were able to vtter that high mistery as yet hidden from the world that Iesus was the Sonne of the liuing God This could not be knowne vnto them by their owne reason or nature being aboue and beyond all reason or nature and by grace onely then begun to be reuealed vnto the blessed Disciples themselues To thinke that the possessed could haue that knowledge equally with the Disciples by the same grace were impious derogation from their Apostolicall priuiledge and prerogatiue therein vnto whom did properly belong the first fruits thereof alone This supernaturall reuelation therefore was transfused into the possessed by the Diuell who could not be ignorant of the Lyon of Juda the mighty destroyer of his spirituall kingdome long before the disciples were borne or capable of knowledge And thus hauing recalled these obseruations from them doe issue these necessary inferences First that all supernaturall acts or works in men are not to bee imputed vnto those men Secondly that for this cause those supernaturall workes are onely to be imputed vnto men which the Diuell according vnto contract or Couenant which those men doth practise and produce And for this cause in the inquisition of Witch-craft when we haue truely first detected an act done by a spirituall and supernaturall force because it is in all lawes iniurious to accuse of any act before it be certainely knowne the act hath beene committed then and not before wee ought indeuour directly and necessarily to prooue the contract consent and affection of the person suspected vnto or in that supernaturall act that being no lesse essentiall to detect and discouer the true and vndoubted Witch then the supernaturall act being certainely apparent doth vndoubtedly prooue the Diuell and his power therein This equall regard in case of Witch-craft ought to bee carefully ballanced without which vaine and vnstable men shall euer at their lust and pleasure vpon affections and passions be priuiledged with impunity to lay vniust imputations and to vse wrongfull violence and oppression beyond all equitie or reason When therefore men that are prudent iudicious and able to discerne doe first aduisedly vpon good ground and reason adiudge a supernaturall act euidently done or at least worthy to be suspected secondly shall by iust and reasonable proofe or at least liuely and faire presumption detect the contract affection or consent of any man in that act then and not before is the accusation inquisition and inditement of Witch-craft against any man equall and iust For since a supernaturall worke can be truely and simply no act of a naturall man and is the immediate hand and power of a Diuell as is formerly prooued it is the mans consent contract and couenant alone in the act with the Diuell that being detected and discouered doth infallibly and essentially prooue him a Witch and not the act itselfe These obseruations and considerations first necessarily prefixed let vs now proceed vnto the two former propounded experiments of the miraculous detection of Witches It is necessarily true that it can solely proceed from a supernaturall power that the bewitched are inabled in their traunces to fore-tell the sequell of the supposed Witches touch likewise that the nominated Witch shall accordingly by her touch immediately free and dispossesse the Sicke or the bewitched of their agonies It is as necessarily true also that it can solely proceed from a supernaturall power that the bewitched are able in their traunces to nominate the most secret and hidden marks in the bodies of the suspected Witch her present speech and actions in farre distant places and the like but whether these miraculous Reuelations with their answerable euents ought to bee esteemed iust conuictions of the persons thus by a supernaturall finger pointed out and noted as also whether they proceede of God or of the Diuell is very materiall to examine and consider If they proceede from God their end their extraordinary necessitie and vse bent solely vnto the immediate speciall glory or extraordinary glorification of God therein will euidently declare What more extraordinary glorification of God can be pretended in the needfulnesse of a miraculous detection of Witch-craft then of any other sinne committed as immediately against God and with as high an hand Witch-craft is indeed one kinde of horrid renunciation and forsaking of God but there are many more kinds much more hellish then this secret and concealed defection as the open cursings wilfull blasphemings and spitefull railings vpon God euen vnto his face professed hatred and contempt of God Among many Offendors in these kindes after their owne long prouoking continuance therein and Almighty God his vnspeakeable long suffering and patience some few sometimes haue been made hideous spectacles and examples vnto the rest of the infinite powder and iustice of God his vnsufferable displeasure indignation and direfull reuenging wrath In this number was for some time Nebuchadneser and Pharaoh King of Egypt and in later times Iulian the Apostata and others the like Many other as high Blasphemers and despisers of God notwithstanding haue been permitted to escape any such miraculous punishments or fearefull notorious exposings vnto the worlds view Rabshakeh railing on the liuing God in the open view and hearing of the men of Israel and Olofernes denying the God of heauen were not miraculously or by any immediate hand of God smitten but were suffered to grow on vntill their haruest of confusion was ripe That high degree of blasphemie against the Sonne of the liuing God hanging vpon the Crosse for the sinnes of mankinde committed by the cruell and hard-hearted Iewes in scorning scoffing and spitefull derision both of God in heauen Math. 27 verse 43. and also of the eternall Sauiour of the world descended from heauen was not by God then extraordinarily reuenged as the incomparable greatnesse of the sinne might seeme to require but was in Almighty God his iust iudgement suffered vntill in the due time their owne execrations and cursings of themselues and their posterity thereby to hasten and purchase the effusion of that holy innocent bloud did fall vpon them so heauily that their whole Nation People and Kingdome became extirpate vile and vagabond for euer vpon the face of the earth It is recorded in the Reuelation chap. 13. verse 5 6 7. concerning the Beast that he opened his mouth vnto blasphemy against God his Tabernacle and the Saints that he spake great mighty blasphemies yet power was giuen vnto him to continue and preuaile therein many yeares and a large space of time By these few examples it is euident that neither the height the nature the quantitie not the qualitie of