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
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 The Sixth Description THe Sixth description of a Witch in the Text is Incantator 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 without 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 things to pass for it appeareth in the History that when Balak had caused Balaam to try all the ways that could be to curse the people by Charms and
you that are convicted of your Errors and yet do make a light matter of it and lay it not to heart was Cain and Ahab accursed for murthering of each of them one man and do yee make it a light matter to have murthered thousands by your ignorant doctrin VVhat will it avail at the latter day that yee have preached and prayed and spread forth your hands and made great stir in pretence of Religion If Christ shall say Depart from me yee workers of iniquity and shodders of innocent bloud if thousands that are wrongfully slain shall rise up in Judgement against you if it shall be said to many Ministers and Preachers of the VVord in that yee have not taught against these abominations yee are partakers in them Causes of upholding the damnable Doctrin of Witches power IF I did not aime at brevity I might enlarge this Volume upon these particulars following which I will only name and leave them being the causes of upholding the opinion of Witches power 1 Some Ministers for want of due examining of the Scriptures have taught in the Pulpits unwarily and inconsiderately the Doctrin of Witches Power as also some have published their Works in print 2 Many Ministers although they are of the contrary opinion yet have neglected to beat down the common phantastical conceit of people concerning Witches power 3 The common hatred that all men do bear to a Witch so that if any poor Creature hath the report of being a Witch they joyn their hand with the rest in persecuting blindly without due consideration 4 The false reports that are commonly raised in that kinde concerning Witches whereby men lead one another like wandring lost Sheep to beleeve lyes it is certain it was done in such a place I have credibly heard it 5 Vain credulity which all men are naturally prone unto ever since Adams Fall that is a Vice whereby men are subject to beleeve every lying report being the ground of infidelity Credula mens hominis erectae fabulis aures 6 Infidelity or not beleeving the Scriptures to be the only perfect rule of righteousness and touch-stone of truth 7 Ignorance of the Scriptures either by wresting them or by neglecting to search them or want of being able to read them or when they are read want of ability to understand them all such men may be led away with any opinion 8 Generality of opinion maketh weak people and ignorant to argue sure it is safest to say and think as others do 9 Obstinacy in opinion in such as have some weak knowledge let such be beaten from one Argument they will fly to another and beat them from all Arguments yet at last they will still hold their opinion 10 Melancholly which frameth much representation in the minde of any terrible report or doctrin though it bee groundless and false and causeth it to take great impression in the deluded understanding 11 Timerousness whereby men like little Children and Women especially are afraid of every idle fantastical report that they hear of Witches power especially if they be alone in the dark 12 Crackt Phantasie whereby many a man or woman specially in Sickness have strange Apparitions either in bed or abroad which they report to silly people and are beleeved whereas it is nothing but their broken and hurt fancy occasioned in some by sickness or distemper in some by much Drunkenness in some by a blow on the head and in Scholars sometimes by over-much study whereby they presently conceit and are judged by others to be bewitched or at least to be pursued by a Witch or by a Witches Imps and judge so themselves 13 People that are handled by strange Diseases as Children in Convulsion Fits or Women in Fits of the Mother and the like are by ignorant beholders and sometimes by ignorant Physitians said to be bewitched as were Frogmontens Children said to be falsely 14 Old Wives Fables who sit talking and chatting of many false old Stories of Witches and Fairies and Robin Good-fellow and walking Spirits and the Dead walking again all which lying fancies people are more naturally inclined to listen after than to the Scriptures 15 Another abominable cause is the suffering of Impostors to live such as silly people call Cunning men who will undertake to tell them who hath bewitched them who and which of their Neighbours it was by the delusions of such Impostors many poor innocent people are branded with a report of being Witches by reason of which report coming first from a Witch they are in process of time suspected accused arreigned and hanged A Reference to Mr. Scots Treatise of Spirits and also the Opinion of Luther concerning Devils I Might further enlarge this Volume with a Treatise of Spirits or the nature of Devils concerning which people have much abused themselves for want of knowledge in the Scriptures but for brevity I refer the Reader to Mr. Scot who hath excellently written in the latter end of his Discovery of Witchcraft a Discourse called A Treatise of Spirits also I thought good to adde in brief the words of Luther concerning Devils which are these De phreneticis sic sentio omnes moriones qui usu rationis privantur à daemonibus vexari non quod ideo damnati sunt sed quod variis modis Satan homines tentat alios gravius alios lenius alios longius quod medici multa ajusmodi tribuunt naturalibus causit remediis aliquando mitigant fit quod ignorant quanta sit potentia jus daemonum Christus non dubitat curvam illam anum in Evangelio vinctam a Satana dicere Petrus Actorum decimo oppressos a Diabolo dicit quos Christus sanarat ita etiam multos surdos claudos malitia Satana tales esse Deo tamen premittente denique pestes febres atque alios graves morbos opera damoniorum esse qui tempestates incendia frugum calamitates operantur vere affirmamus Summa mali sunt Angeli quid mirum si omnia faeciunt mala humano generi noxia pericula intentent quatinus Deus premittit etiamsi plurima talia herbis aliis remediis naturalibus curari possunt volente Deo miserente nostri exemplum Jobi endicat quae passus sit a Satana quae medicus omnia naturaliter fieri curari assereret sciendum est igitur phreneticos a Satana tentari saltem temporaliter as Satan non faceret phreneticos qui corda replet fornicatione coede rapina omnibus pravis affectibus summa Satan proprior nobis est quam ullus credere possit cum sanctissimis sit propinquissimus adeo ut ipsum Paulum colaphizare Christum vehere possit quor sum libet These are the words of Luther and where he saith at the last that the Devil could carry Christ whither he listed it is his errour for the Devil did not carry him at all but led him by temptation as appeareth Luke 4. and as I have more at large
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
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 Chears 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 a days 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 stafle 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 11. 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 weep and shed tears in abundance and Milk to drop out of the Virgins breasts through her earnest labouring with her Son to hear and grant
for gain maketh the people to miss of the sincerity of Religion although he be no Impostor nor bringeth himself within the compass of the punishment due to a Witch from the Civil Magistrate because he doth not use impostures or any of the Nine Witchcrafts described in the text yet in his intent he maketh gain his end and perverteth souls in a smooth pretence of holiness I know not how his final intention differeth from the final intention of a Witch that is gain by seducing the people nor whether he or a Witch shall have the greatest condemnation at the last day Acts 20.30 for it appeareth in vers 20. following the text that a false Prophet considered distinctly from the foresaid impostors is in the same Condemnation and the same with a Witch and ought to be censured by the Civil Magistrate to dye as a Witch meerly quatenus a false Prophet for although he bee described by his several impostures before in the text yet the bare using of impostures maketh not a Witch unless by them he be a false Prophet as is demonstrated more fully in the Fifth description so then the Formalis ratio of a Witch or that which maketh him to be a Witch is because he is a false Prophet so that it followeth that as every wilful false teacher or wilful upholder of Heresie or any vain unprofitable Doctrin to seduce the people for gain differeth not in his final intention from a false Prophet so by the same reason he differeth not from a Witch and although he cannot always be convicted by the Magistrate yet in Gods sight he is a very Witch Our English Translators not knowing the difference of the terms of description in the text by the several impostures therein implied according to the intent and meaning of the Scriptures have used words promiscuously one for another without expressing the true and full meaning of the Original so well as is exprest by Junius and Tremelius in Latine as in Deut. 18.10 11. they call a Diviner a Witch and a South-sayer a Wizard expressing specifical descriptions by general words that may be as well given to any of the nine and in Exod. 22.18 they call a Jugler a Witch using the same general expression that they used before for one that useth Divination or a Diviner they call a Planetarian an observer of times a phrase more obscure than can imply the original meaning of the Scriptures they call a Conjecturer an Inchanter and they call an Inchanter a Charmer whereas in the Original and Latine Translations an Inchanter and a Charmer is all one term of description they call an Oracler one that hath a familiar Spirit and that may be as well given to any of the Nine terms in the text by the same reason that all Witches have a familiar spirit according to the common tenent though it cannot be proved that any had any otherwise than the spirit of error ruling in their hearts And 2 Chron. 33.6 there they call using Divinations observing of times which phrase they used before for a Planetarian and if we compare several English Translations wee may finde them much varying one from another in translating of those terms not but that they were good and able Linguists but not knowing the several impostures implyed in these original terms of description could not express them in such apt words in English as if they had known the mystery of iniquity according to the original sense and meaning Gen. 44.5 they translate it Is not this the cup by which my Master divineth Here they would make Witchcraft lawful for Divination is Witchcraft but the original sense is nothing so as they translate it look Tremellius All this argueth that these our ancient Bishops and great Clerks knew not what Witchcraft was in the Scripture sense THE SECOND BOOK IT is manifest that the Scriptures were given by God for a rule for man in this depraved nature to walk by That whereas all Mankinde since the fall of Adam are naturally darkned in their understandings and averse from the truth of God the Scriptures might be a light unto us to lead us in the righteous way of Gods truth And now Christ Jesus the Light of the World in whom are fulfilled all the Divine Mysteries of the Scriptures is come into the world to enlighten the world and whereas before his coming the world sate in darkness and were wholly given to run after Idols and to be seduced by Idol-Priests who practised the several Witchcrafts described in the text Deut. 18.10 11. to seduce the people to Idolatry yet then at the coming and by the power of the coming of Christ who was manifested by Miracles and taught the people by his Spirit of Truth were all those ways of darkness discovered to the whole Word to be lying delusions tending to destruction as is prophesied by the Prophet Isa Chap. 8. hee speaking of Witches and their delusions and the darksome errours and evils accompanying them from the nineteenth Verse to the end of the Chapter immediately in the two first Verses of the next Chapter he prophesieth of Christ the light of whose coming should destroy the ways of darkness in these words In the way of the Sea beyond Jordan Galile of the Gentiles the people that sate in darkness shall see great light and upon them that dwell in the Land of the shadow of death shall light shine forth and thus it was fulfilled at his coming The Nations that were given to Idolatry and seduced by false Prophets being Idol-Priests and deluding Witches were so enlightned that all Idolatrous delusions were discovered the Oracle of Apollo and of all Idols drew dumb Simon Magus and Elimas the Sorcerer and all bewitching false Prophets were confounded and all these Instruments of darkness grew out of request among the people being clearly discovered that they were all Lyars and used lying delusions to deceive the Nations And notwithstanding this perfect rule of righteousness in the Old and New Testament written by the Prophets before the coming of Christ and at his coming finished by him and his Apostles yet such is the obstinacy of mans darksome nature that men will carry a Candle of their own in their hands even at Noon-day imagining they can by their own wisdom finde out truths that are not written in the Scriptures and that their Candle will enlighten them more than the beams of the Sun when it shineth forth in its full strength Like a silly Labourer that counting the day by a Pocket Watch whose Wheels being out of Kilter went too fast he had such a conceit of his Watch that he affirmed That the Sun in the skie went too slow for his Watch was known to be true Thus do men play with the Scriptures preferring Human traditions beyond the truth of God contained in the Scripture and this is the cause why men a long time have been deceived by the Man of Sin who still prevaileth to lead the World
or rather by some Scotish man blinded by some Scotish Mist who desired to set forth his own Tenents for the upholding of Popish errours and Popish Writers sufficiently confuted before by Scot in his Discovery of Witchcraft he not being able any whit to answer Scot in his Discourse laboureth to uphold false Tenents and Doctrins by the authority of a King because he could not finde any thing in the Scriptures to uphold them or to answer Scot as wee may read in the Preface that his whole aime is at Scot whom he falsly chargeth with the Tenent and Affirmation That there is no such thing as Witchcraft whereas Scot in all his whole Book saith no such thing but only that Witchcraft is a craft of deceiving and seducing the people and not of killing and making barren and raising Winds and such like Inventions he that readeth that Preface and seeth how Scot is first and chiefly aimed at in the whole Work might presently expect that in the Work he should finde Scot notably confuted or at the least in some way answered but reading over the VVork he shall finde not one thing or other answered at all but only a bare affirmation of such Tenents without any ground or warrant of the Scripture which Tenents were confuted by Scot by the Scriptures so that for any man to answer that Work of the Author at large were only to do that which Scot hath already done in confuting Bodinus and others and whereas this Author pretendeth a refutation of Scot he hath done nothing else but written again the same Tenents that Bodinus and others had before written and were by Scot confuted like an obstinate Disputant that rather than he will not hold his Argument though never so foolish he will deny the Conclusion One Disputant wisely and plainly proveth that a thing is and the other foolishly saith still it is not or one proveth that a thing is not and the other foolishly still saith it is by which way of arguing a childe may hold an Argument against a learned Doctor though never so false Yet for the answering of the Tenents of this Author in that Work First he saith in his first Book as also in the Preface That Witches can by the help of the Devil cause to be brought unto them all kindes of dainty Dishes for their delicious maintenance and yet say I how many poor lean starved people have been executed in several places for Witches and for the truth of this Doctrin he bringeth no place of Scripture to prove it but only affirmeth it to bee true for these reasons First The Devil is a Thief and delighteth to steal Secondly He is a Spirit and therefore can subtilly and suddenly transport the same from whence and whither hee will by which way of argument rejecting the Scriptures a man may affirm for truth any vain imagination be it as absurd as this former as that the Devil is a Thief and therefore hath a Mountain of Gold which he hath taken out of every mans Purse and heaped up in Hell which he being a Spirit hath easily transported from the earth and therefore are so many men hastening to Hell because there is abundance of Gold But if such foolish Arguments as these were of any force what need then any Scripture to teach us the truth But if we examine the truth of this Doctrin by the Scriptures it will prove for want of ground in Scripture very phantastical and in opposition to the truth of the Scriptures very blasphemous for hereby we should yeeld still that what was done by the Angel of God in miraculous manner bringing food to Elijah 1 King 19.6 may be done by the Devil bringing variety of food to them that serve him and whereas God by a Miraculous hand brought his people through a barren Wilderness and fed them in that Wilderness the same thing might as well have been done by the Devil who saith he can bring his servants all manner of dainty dishes This that is already written were enough to disable and make voyd all the three Books of Daemonologie written by this Author but yet for the satisfaction of such as will expect a Methodical answer I will begin with his Works in order as they stand and in brief shew the vanity of them as for example he saith in his Epistle to the Reader Sorcery and VVitchcraft are different from Magick and Necromancy and yet in the first Chapter of the Second Book he saith the Maid spoken of in the sixteenth of the Acts was a VVitch because she had the spirit of Python and yet we finde in the Scripture that they that had the spirit of Python were also Necromancers how then can this distinction hold that VVitchcraft differeth from Necromancy for by that distinction a Pythonist were a VVitch and a Necromancer not a VVitch yet what was the Pythonist of Endor but a Necromancer pretending to consult with the dead and Necromancy was the pretence of all that were said to have the spirit of Python that was that they consulted with the Souls of the dead as in Plutarch and also in holy VVrit as in Isa 8.19 it is manifest in any Tongue but our English which in Tremellius translation is to this sense for when they shall say unto you Ask counsel of those that have the spirit of Python or the imposture of Oracling and of South-sayers should not a people ask counsel of their God Shall they ask counsel of the dead for them that are living so then it is plain this distinction is wholly dissonant from Scripture and that this Author wrote not according to Scripture but by phantasy and imagination And now for his First Book and the whole discourse of it he layeth this foundation he produceth these places of Scripture to prove that there is such a thing as Witchcraft and Witches Exod. 22.18 1 Sam. 15.23 Acts 8. Acts 16. and here he never searcheth the sense and meaning of these Scriptures but proveth that Witches are which thing no man denyeth and yet mark but his proofs Exod. 22.18 which is taken for a Jugler or one that worketh false Miracles to deceive and seduce in the same sense is to be understood Acts 8.9 10. concerning Simon Magus who was a Jugler and Magician Jugling being one main part of Magick in the Scripture discourse such were Pharaohs Magicians which Magicians this Author distinguisheth from Witches and yet would prove by these places that there is such a thing as Witchcraft and Witches so likewise 1 Sam. 15.23 Rebellion is as the sin of Divination from hence hee would prove Witchcraft also and yet his distinction denieth that Necromancers whose main drift was to give Divinations by consulting with the dead are Witches and this is the sum of his first Chapter where any wise man may see how he hath lost himself in proving and not able to prove that which is easily proved and that which no man denieth That there is