Albunar one of his Disciples to try the truth of his Doctrins and vaticiniations gave him a cup of deadly poyson which being drunk he swelled and dyed and some hoping to see his Resurrection let him lye twelve days above ground untill he stunk so intollerably that all men left him and upon the twelfth day Albunar coming to view his Corps found his bones almost bare his flesh being eaten with Doggs wherefore he gathered his bones together and buried them in a pot yet for the establishing of the Empire to his Successors they maintain still his Religion and have made him an Iron Sepulchre at Mecha So much for the Fifth description of a Witch in the text Prestigiator a Jugler A Charmer The Sixth Description THe Sixth description of a Witch in the Text is Inâ—antator or Utens incantatione that is an Inchanter or user of Charms or a Charmer A Charm as is said before in the Fifth description is only a strange composure of words to blinde the understandings of people it pretending that by vertue of words great matters were brought to pass and these Charms were used either before a Jugling Trick to busie the mindes of the Spectators to make the Trick pass the more currently without being perceived as Pharaohs Juglers used them who are said to do that which they did with their Inchantments because they seemed to do things by vertue of words spoken which were not done at all but only dissembled by the jugling craft which demonstration of a Charm or Incantation used in that kinde is also set down in the Fifth description or else otherwise these Charms were used or spoken alone without a Jugling slight and thereby was pretended that by vertue of such and such words spoken such things should come to pass as the party desired who inquired after Charmers for matters of concernment sometimes these Charms were given in writing for a man to wear about his neck or to carry in his pocket pretending that by vertue of those words his matters should be brought to pass whereas words of themselves either spoken or written have no force to bring any thing to pass neither was it the word Ephatha Mark 7.34 that opened the ears of the deaf as some inchanting Wizards would make people beleeve it was but the power of him that spake it yet such was the manner of the Idol Priests and false Prophets that whereas Gods Prophets spake words in the name of the Lord and the things they spake came to pass by Gods power those Idol Priests and false Prophets pretended that by vertue of words they could bring to pass the like and so they led the people a whoring after them to regard more their foolish deluding Charms than the power of God that bringeth all things to pass The Roman South-sayers gave their Charms in verse from whence is derived the word Charm from Carmen signifying a Verse or a Charm the manner of Charms sometimes consisted in blessing and cursing the Inchanter pretending That by vertue of a Charm he could bless and that they were blessed that carried such words about them written in a paper or that had such words spoken to them or in their behalf by the Charms and that by vertue of an Incantation pronounced against any man that man was cursed and that he that carried such a Charm with him his enemies were cursed and should fall before him Elisha indeed cursed two and forty Children in the name of the Lord and they were accursed because it was the wrath of God pronounced against them by his Prophet 2 King 2.23 but hee that imputeth it to the vertue of a Curse and useth such words as Elisha spake to bring such a thing to pass against an enemy with out warrant from God hee is an inchanting Witch and he that trusteth to such words meerly for the vertue of words either of blessing or cursing is an Idolater not discerning the power of God the Curse without cause shall not come Prov. 3.33 neither shall blessing or cursing prevail any thing if it be not from the Lord if Micaiah had Prophesied good to the King of Israel as he would have had him it had not availed but it had been a meer Charm that is a meer composure of unwarranted words 1 King 22.13 and yet his false Prophets could please him well making him beleeve that by vertue of their pretended Prophesie which was but a meer Charm all things should go well with him 1 King 22.10 11 12. A more plain demonstration of this Discourse is the History of Balaam Numb 22.6 Balac sent to Balaam to Curse the people of Israel but he concludeth Numb 23.27 there is no inchanting against Israel for had Balaam played the inchanting Witch as Balac would have had him it had availed nothing because Charms are of no force no more than Divinations which are only given by deceiving Witches to cheat Idolatrous fools of their mony And in Chap. 24. vers 1. it is said Balaam went not as formerly to fetch Inchantments or Incantations that is groundless and unwarranted Execrations which are but Charms of no force but only to delude the Hearers for it is understood in the Chapter and Verse aforesaid not that Balaam had formerly gone to fetch Incantations for it is said in Chap. 22. vers 19. and chap. 23.3 4 5. verses he went to inquire of the Lord but here in Chap. 24. 1. it is spoken according to the intention of Balak and his Princes for they desired that Balaam would but curse Israel whether he had warrant or not supposing the words being but spoken by him were sufficient as is said in Chap. 22. vers 6. and Chap 23. vers 11. which intention of theirs is here in Chap. 24. vers 1. called fetching of Incantations for it implyeth the foolish supposition of Balak and his Princes which they expressed in chap. 22. vers 6. That whomsoever Balaam cursed were accursed and whom he blessed were blessed for if a very Prophet should so farre transgress and go without warrant from God in blessing and cursing or Prophecying that Prophet were no more a Prophet but an inchanting deluding Witch and his words would not be worth regarding and this is a sufficient demonstration of a Charmer or Inchanter or user of Incantations being the Sixth term of description in the text that is that maketh any composure of words to delude the people pretending to the people any vertue in words to bring things to pass and so causeth people not to discern the power of God that bringeth all things to pass but to impute things to the power of words being but Charms or Incantations And indeed the fore-named History of Balaam if it be rightly observed is a large and a plain demonstration of the vanity of this sort of Witchcraft whereby people were commonly seduced by false Prophets or Witches by listening only to the sound of words and not to God the only disposer and bringer of all
A Candle in the Dark SHEWING The Divine Cause of the distractions of the whole Nation of ENGLAND and of the Christian WORLD That is the Lord doth Avenge the blood of the Innocent upon the Inhabitants of the Earth Iustitia Thronam firmat The King that faithfully judgeth the poor his Throne shall be established Prov. 29.14 This Book is profitable to bee read by all Iudges of Assizes before they passe the sentence of Condemnation against poor People who are accused for Witchcraft It is also profitable for all sorts of people to read who desire Knowledge By THOMAS ADY M. A. LONDON Printed for Robert Ibb'tson dwelling in Smithfield neer Hosier Lane End 1655. 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 Iudges and Iustices 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 broaâ—hed to the world Also the Works of a Scotch-man called The VVorks of King Iames. 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. 1. 2â— for 6 Chron. r. 2 Chro. p 22. 1. 1. for Prophâ—ts r. Prophetâ—ss p 28. 1. 23 for magis r. magi p. 30. 1. 11. for inchâ—ntation r. incantation p. 38 1. 15. for little r. liâ—he 1. 19. for tax r. tap thrice in the same page in p 48. 1. 8. for Charms â— Charmer p. 76. 1. 33. for equivocâ—ely r equivocally p. 77. 1. 8. for Scopula r. Scapula over p 79. for Oracle giver r. â—outh sayer so over p. 87. Necromancer should not be The Second Book Pag. 92. 1. 5. for drew r. grew p. 96. 1. 10 for inquisitions r. inquisitors p. 106. 1. 8. tor superstitions r. suspicions p. 122. 1. 35 for quem r. quum p. 124. 1. 15. for an r. and p 129 1. 15. or preteâ—natual r preternatural p. 136. 1. 28. for any sort r. every other sort p. 145 1. 30 for discovered r. discoursed p. 146. 1. 36. for and by them cast on câ—n cure r. and by them can cast on or inflict and cure diseases p. 147. 1. 4. for send r. teach p. 170. 1 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 Iunius 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 Iudicious and Wise and Discreet part
writing upon that subject hath pretended to shew himself Theological but betrayeth himself to be very silly blinde and ignorant It being fully demonstrated what a Jugler is in the Scripture sence let every one consider seriously who be the Juglers of this and former Ages that ought to be put to death by the Law of Moses we might think that no man were so silly and foolish to think that it is meant common Juglers who play their Tricks in Fayers and Markets nor Gentlemen who sometimes in imitation of them do in sport play Tricks of slight of hand or legerdemain with confederates or without for it is most certain and true that if it bee rightly understood that these do a great deal of good that recreation tending rightly to the illumination of people of all sorts to shew them the vanity and ridiculousness of those delusions and lying Wonders by which men were so easily deluded in old times by Pharaohs Magicians by Simon Magus and Elimas the Sorcerer and now adays by our professed Wizzards or Witches commonly called Cunning Men or good Witches who will undertake to shew the face of the Thief in the Glass or of any other that hath done his Neighbour wrong privily when as they do all by Jugling delusions and are themselves right Witches that cause men to seek to the Devil for help that will undertake and promise to unwitch people that are as fools commonly say bewitched these common sporting Juglers also may illuminate people to see the Jugling Witchcraft of Popish Priests in causing Rhoods to move their eyes and hands in compassion to peoples prayers of which you may read more fully afterward Yet in Queen Elizabeths time as appeareth in Mr. Scots Discovery of Witchcraft in the fifteenth Book Chap. 42. there was a Master of Arts condemned only for using himself to the study and practise of the Jugling craft how justly I will not controvert but this I say That if a man may not study and practise the discovery of Cheats without being a Cheater nor the discovery of Witchcraft without being accounted a Witch it is the way for Witches and Cheaters to play their pranks and no man able to tax them or accuse them or to say who they are that are Witches and this foolish nice censuring and ignorant condemning hath bred great and general ignorance of this subject of Witchcraft which God himself describeth so often in the Scriptures for people to know and avoyd the practise of seducing or being seduced by it but for that Master of Arts before named the Lord of Leicester having more wisdom in some things than some had did protect him for a time after he was condemned but what became of him is not mentioned but yet if he had been a Jugler or practiser of that Craft to this end to withstand the Prophets when they wrought true Miracles as Pharaohs Juglers withstood Moses or if he were one that practised it to seduce the people after lying delusions to magnifie himself as a false Prophet like Simon Magus in the Acts or to cause people to ascribe miraculous power to him or to seek to the Devil as our common Deceivers called good Witches do he was deservedly condemned but to study Witchcraft and actually to demonstrate it by practise to shew how easily people were and may be deluded by it seeing God hath commanded Witches to be put to death and what they were or are is not now adays fully understood no not by the Learned is no more deserving death than for Master Scot to write a book in the discovery of it or for a Minister to discover to the people the danger of an Idol to which Witchcraft is necessarily joyned as an upholder and companion or for a Minister to shew the secret and dangerous nature and several windings of Sin and Satan for the essence of a Witch is not in doing false Miracles or any other Witchcraft by demonstration or discovery but in seducing people from God and his Truth As for example Pharaohs Magicians in that they did throw down their staffe and made it seeme to be turned into a Serpent to the end to withstand Moses and to seduce the Aegyptians they were absolute Witches but if any man now do the very same or had then done it to discover the Jugling deceit of it hee is no Witch but a teacher and instructer of the people So again for another example he that goeth behinde a Rhood or other Popish Image and draweth the secret Wiers that causeth the eyes and hands of the Image to move to the end to delude and seduce the people to Idolatry by admiration of it as Popish Priests do he is an absolute Witch but he that goes behind it and acteth the same part and then cometh out and sheweth people the Imposture and sheweth them the Wyers and secret delusions is not a Witch but a discoverer of a Witch that did it to the end to seduce and a Teacher and illuminator of the people See more in the Sixth description But we must know that in Queen Elizabeths time the Protestant Religion being then in its minority when as Popery was but only suppressed and not worn out of the memory nor out of the hearts and affections of men that yet in outward shew were Protestants it was a brief tenent in the Universities that he that did but study and contemplate upon this subject of Witchcraft was a dealer with unlawful and vain Science and ought to be censured for a Witch and by this subtill tradition they feared all Students that no man dared to search into the bowels and secrets of that Craft least as they knew full well thereby he should discover to the World the secret Impostures of the Popish Religion which is altogether upheld by Witchcraft of which Religion many stood daily in expectation to have it set on foot as brief as ever when as they hoped the times would change Hath God given nine several descriptions of Witchcraft at once Deut. 18.10 1â— and reiterated them in many places of Scripture that we might take notice who and what they are with the Mystery of iniquity and delusions that they practised and shall not we study and contemplate upon it by this vain tradition were many of their devillish Witchcrafts concealed and came not to light for many years to the view of the world example of that Popish Idol Cheapside Crosse which stood for many years like the Golden Image of Nebuchadnezzar few men knowing the jugling Witchcraft that was therein untill at the command of the Parliament it being pulled down there were found therein the severall slights to move the Arms Eyes and Heads of the Images and the Pipes to convey the water to make the Images shed tears in compassion to the peoples prayers and to convey Milk into the breasts of the Image of the Virgin Mary that the poor deluded people seeing such lying Wonders as Images of Gold to move to