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A85867
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Select cases of conscience touching vvitches and vvitchcrafts. By Iohn Gaule, preacher of the Word at Great Staughton in the county of Huntington.
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Gaule, John, 1604?-1687.
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1646
(1646)
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Wing G379; Thomason E1192_1; ESTC R202117
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42,863
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218
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Matth. 12. 44 45. And it is to be noted how the Devill has always delighted to haunt frequent Monasteries Nunneries and old Abbeys places of so much hypocrisie 5. Superstitious and profane communications especially of Devills Witches and Witch-finders We have some stories of such as by making these their Table-talke have made themselves the more obnoxious to their infestations It is strange to tell what superstitious opinions affections relations are generallyrisen amongst us since the Witch-finders came into the Countrey And I pray God that these things doe not dispose expose us to Witches rather then help to ridde us of them 2. Next to a care against sins is an endeavour after graces And those 1. Faith for that makes every way strong to resist the Devill 1 Pet. 5. 8 9. 2. Purity of heart for the unclean spirit findes no rest in dry places Mat. 12. 43. And to let him find no rest in us is the way not to be molested by him in any kind 3. Prayer and fasting for these are prevalent against the worst kind of them Matth. 17. 21. 4. Confidence in Christs name and power word and promises Mark 16. 17. 5. Frequent reading and meditating upon the holy Scriptures for ther 's the sword of the Spirit to pierce the head of the huge Leviathan There 's the voyce of the wise Charmer to make the deafe Adder and the olde Serpent burst in pieces Search we there apply we the speciall promises consolations for our particular Case Gen. 3. 15. Ps. 91. 11 12 13. Joh. 16. 33. 1 Joh. 3. 8. Mar. 16. 17. Rom. 16. 20. 1 Cor. 10. 13. Jam. 4. 7. 1 Pet. 5. 9. But we must take heede of profaning Scripture names phrases and fragments as Witches themselves do in their most execrable witchcrafts Or of setting apart certaine incompetent and in-concerning verses for Charms as the Papists do and teach 6. The Prayers of the Church or Congregation for they avayle exceedingly in any manner of Infirmity Jam. 5. 14 15. 7. Thanksgiving to God for his speciall providence Blessing and praysing him for his own protection Angells administration 8. A keeping us within our owne Callings so shal the Devil find us neither idle nor ill occupied so shall occasion be avoyded either for him to tempt us or we him 9. A just contempt of the Devill and of all his praestigious Arts and Instruments Jer. 10. 2. as not to bee secure so not to feare for the Devill is a false spirit smiles in fayning a yieldance to a fond presumption But hee 's a proud one too and therefore cannot be more vext and troubled then at a just true Contempt 10 Case Whether it be lawfull to consult with a Witch upon any occasion AL consulting properly implies as if one would now be informed by another of what he would know or Advised what he should doe Either of which are very improperly sought for at a witches hand that indeed knows neither truth nor right and in express opposition to whom God has been pleased to appoint for his a far better Counsellor in that Case Esa. 8. 19. 20. Neneverthelese how madly have superstitious and profane people alwayes runne upon their devices to be here advised Gen. 41. 8. 1 Sam. 28. 7. 2 King 1. 2. Dan. 2. 2. Albeit God hath utterly prohibited and condemned it Levi. 19. 31. and 20. 6. Deu. 18. 14. And that the old Ecclesiasticall Censures have been the same against all such consultation as against witchcraft it selfe And that some Civill or Politique Laws have decreed Death to the Consultor equally as to the Witch And that it hath been the Common observation of all People that none have ever thriven after so tempting an Attempt And that the same Iudgments of God are yet in force against al such as heretofore 2. King 1. 4. 1 Chron. 10. 13. Upon these many Considerations I conclude that althoug one way is more damnable yet there is danger in Consulting every kind of way Whether out of Curiositie or for Exploration sake as wel as out of superstition 1. If out of Curiosity onely to see and here and tel what a witch or wizzard can say or doe This is out of any mans calling or Commission and so fals under a tempting of God 2. If for Exploration sake so as to Examine and discover the Witch Herein though the Authority may be granted for safe and good yet speciall heed is to be had either of adjuring or yet of alluring the Divell or the Witch Forto adjurea Witch if it be done by way of humane obtestation and Intreaty then is it palpable consulting or if it be done by way of divine Attestation charging and challenging in the name of God what else is it then but that we call Exorcizing And likewise to Allure the Witch to do any Act of Witchcraft through disguise dissimulation fayre words promises or any other pretext yea although it be with intent to descry or make discovery yet even this is to do evill that good may come thereof And therefore the Witch of Endor justly exclaimes against the injustice and Treachery of such an Inticement although it might have beene to such an intent 1 Sam. 28. 9. 12. Now then this it is to enquire here over familiarly may bee to allure To charge over highly is to adjure but only to interrogate Rationally and Legally this is safely and sufficiently to explore 3. But the damnable consulting of all is if out of Superstition to be informed of what is Future Absent Lost or to bee holpen against any strange handling whatsoeever For here is the same Faith that is in the Witches operation and confederacie and at least a mediate assenting and joyning society with the Devill And a yeelding or acknowledging the Devill to bee the Author of helpe which standeth in the Name of the Lord our God alone Oh! that people would bee perswaded of it then should we not heare so many fond Objections whereby they seek to justifie themselves and to evade all that can be said against them But marke how little all they can say for themselves availes them we will number their Objections and set our Answer to them not onely to refute but instruct them 1. I went for my owne satisfaction and at my own hazzard and what has any body to do with it Yes the Church has to doe with it and censure it as inconsistent with her communion 2 Cor. 6. 15. The State hath to doe with it and punish it as enemy to the Society thereof For the Diabolicall associating must needes be adversary to the Humane Nay and every private Christian hath to doe with it to complaine of the grievous scandall thereof and require satisfaction 2. It was not a Witch that I went to but a Wizzard a Wise man or a Wise woman as they call them All Witches are not of one kinde and severall kindes are not of seveverall Natures neither doth variety of
SELECT Cases of Conscience TOUCHING VVitches and VVitchcrafts By IOHN GAVLE Preacher of the Word at Great Staughton in the County of Huntington Deur 18. 10 11 12. There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his Son or his Daughter to passe through the fire or that useth Divination or an observer of Times or an Enchanter or a Witch Or a Charmer or a Consulter with familiar Spirits or a Wizard or a Nocromancer For all that do these things are an Abomination unto the Lord and because of these Abominations the Lord thy God doth drive them out from before thee London Printed by W. Wilson for Richard Clutterbuck and are to be sold at his House in Noblestreet 1646. May 29. 1646. I Have with much satisfaction and content perused this learned judicious discourse intituled Select Cases of Conscience concerning Witches and Witchcrafts And finding it to bee very solide and seasonable I allow it to bee Printed and published JOHN DOWNAME To his ever honoured Valentine VVauton Esquire Colonell and one of the Honorable House of Commons As also to the other worthy Gentlemen together with all the good people of the Parish of Great Staughton in the County of Huntington SIR YOU heresee what the the rest of the Parish heard under one moneths occasionall paines in my place I am forced to make it publique partly because I suffered some opposition affront in my preaching from one I never saw before and partly because some opinions of it are spread since by and among those that know me not But chiefely to answer the expectation of those amongst whom I am knowne I hope what I here tender you will speake the Trueth of an honest Conscience to the World the Affection of a carefull Pastor to the rest and to you Sir the gratefull because much ingaged mind of Your humble Servant JOHN GAULE To the Iudicious Reader Reader I present thee here with a Letter on occasion of this publishing It were but lost labour to glosse upon it Thou mayest easily reade him in his Letter and mee in my Booke M. N. MY service to your Worship presented I have this day received a Letter c. to come to a Towne called Great Staughton to search for evill disposed persons called Witches though I heare your Minister is farre against us through ignorance I intend to come God willing the sooner to heare his singular Judgment on the behalfe of such parties I have known a Minister in Suffolke preach as much against their discovery in a Pulpit and forc'd to recant it by the Committee in the fame place I much marvaile such evill Members should have any much more any of the Clergy who should daily preach Terrour to convince such Offenders stand up to take their parts against such as are Complainants for the King and sufferers themselves with their Families and Estates I intend to give your Towne a Visite suddenly I am to come to Kimbolton this weeke and it shall bee tenne to one but I will come to your Town first but I would certainely know afore whether your Town affords many Sticklers for such Cattell or willing to give and afford us good welcome and entertainement as other where I have beene else I shall wave your Shire not as yet beginning in any part of it my selfe And betake me to such places where I doe and may persist without controle but with thankes and recompence So I humbly take my leave and rest Your Servant to be commanded Matthew Hopkins The Contents 1 Case WHether it ought to bee beleeved that there are any Witches 2. How many kinds of Witches may there be conceived 3. Whether there bee not sundry degrees of Witches and Witchcrafts to be considered 4. What it is that makes a Witch to be a Witch and one that may justly bee so called and accounted 5. What are the signes and marks of a Witch whereby such an one may bee rightly discerned and so Censured 6. Whether Witch-seeking or witch-finding be an Art Vocation Profession Office Occupation or Trade of Life allowable in a Christian Church or State 7. Whether all such Feats trickeâ— prankes and Exploits as Witches arâ— said to play be credible to prudent Christians 8. Whether the power of a Witch be such as is ordinarily supposed 9. How the power and malice of Witches may be prevented or redressed witâ— a good Conscience 10. Whether it be lawfull to consulâ— with a Witch upon any occasion 11. What punishment are Witcheâ— worthy of or may justly be inflicted on them 12. VVhether a VVitch may repent and so be saved SELECT Cases of Conscience touching Witches and Witchcrafts 1. Case Whether it ought to be beleeved that there are any Witches HEe that will needs perswade himself that there are no Witches would as faine be perswaded that there is no Devill and hee that can already beleeve that there is no Devill will ere long beleeve that there is no God For there are much what the same grounds or motives both for the Atheist and the Adiabolist Both are errours and evills issuing not only from a fond presuming folly but also from a carnall dispensing security Psal. 14. 1. And therefore when I consider that opinion of the Sadduces Acts 23. 8. I cannot but wonder at the received ground for it Who are said to deny all there citâ—â— onely for this end that so they might serve God more sincerely and for himselfes sake blessing him even for a present beeing and not doing his wil out of any expepectation of a future reward Whereas our late leaners and lingerers after such a kinde of sect could be content to deny all these meerly for this intent that so they might serve themselves wholly sin more greedily live now more securely and feare no future penalty But as doating sleepes or dreams awaken to greater distractions so doe false opinions to the more fearfull Convictions Especially all fond perswasions touching God or the Divel if not otherwise recanted are confuted by their own sad experience at the last And as to the point in hand I could instance from Story but that I resolve against all such dilatations in this Epitome how many have had no faith of witches being til they have had a sense of them and then their bewitched body or goods has served to unbewitch them of their opinion Conceit But there are also a sect or sort that on the other hand are as superstitious in this point as these can be infidelious They conclude peremptorily not from reason but indiscretion that witches not only are but are in every place and Parish with them every old woman with a wrinkled face a furr'd brow a hairy lip a gobber tooth a squint eye a squeaking voyce or a scolding tongue having a rugged coate on her back a skullcap on her head a spindle in her hand and a Dog or Cat by her side is not only suspected but pronounced for a witch Every new disease