headlong into y â— pits of filthy sins which doo drowne men in destruction Wee sée that it is a most clere case that God ordreth all by his good prouidence The witch can doo nothing for the deuill which is farre greater then she can doo nothing But the wicked world full of all contempt of God doth deserue that the deuill should haue power to worke many feates to the end they may haue strang delusion and the efficacie of error come vpon them This doth S. Paul set foorth 2. Thess. 2. For there wee may sée that Satan hath libertie giuen him to shewe his efficacie with the power of lying Signes and woonders If Satan coulde make no shew or appearance of woonders by doing things which are beyond the reach of man to counterfait why should it bee called a power and efficacie and why should they be called signes and lying woonders Our Sauiour him selfe Math. 24. vers 24. doth shew that there should arise false Christs and false Prophets and should giue great signes and woonders I conclude therefore that as the righteous God doth permit suffer the deuill for the wickednes of the world to shew foorth an efficacie and power By giuing signes and woonders y â— is such things as men are not able to doo therefore doo account them woonders though they be no true woonders in déed nor wrought vnto a good end but to establish false religion so doth he let loose the same deuill or suffer him to doo many things by Witches and Coniurers that the despisers of the holy religion may bee seduced There hath bene meere cosinage in most of the popish miracies For if they had bene done as they report they should haue bene miracles in deede and the deuill is able to doo no miracle but to make a shew by illusion yet were they belieued by occasion of those shewes which hee made at some times In like maner there are straunge woonders reported of Witches and Coniurers they haue bene belieued as also many counterfaite things because he hath power at many times giuen vnto him to torment men because he doth make his vaine apparitions The sharp punishment appointed in the word of God for such as worke with the deuill and the true cause of the same and that it is no godly zeale but furious rage wherewith the common sort are caried against witches Chapt. 10. THe Lord God did by Moses appoint and prescribe penalties for the offences and transgressions of his holy lawes These were not all of one kind but according to the degrée of the trespasse was the punishmeÌ„t lesse or greater Some sinnes are more horrible then others and doo more prouoke the displeasure of God vnto such he appointed the sharpest penalty that is to say death without mercy Among these were such as fell into Apostasie from the law of Moses as wee may see Hebrue 10. vers 28. Or such as did persuade others vnto Apostasie Deut. 23. vers 5. The murtheâ—…er might not be redeemed Numb 35. vers 31. The selfe same seuerity is required against such as worke by the deuill or that dealt with familiare spirites for it is sayd thou shalt not suffer a Witch to liue Exod. 22. Mechashshepha by the tropesinecdoâ—…he is in this place being but one kinde put for al that practise deuilishe arte For it is very vaine and friuolouse to take it that death should bee appointed as to a murtherer with poyson For in another place namely Leuit. 20. vers 27. The Lord doth take two other kindes where he appoynteth the penaltie of death These be his words the man or the woman in whom there shall be Ob or Iiddegnoni shall dye the death Out of which places we may collect the true cause of this seueritie to bée in very déede the familiaritie with deuils The deuils be the vtter enemies of GOD which seeke by all meanes to dishonor him and to deface his glorie How can any then vse familiaritie with them vse their helpe or seeke vnto them but he committeth a monstrous enormitie and such as deserueth a thousand deathes Moreouer the Witch the Coniurer the Enchaunter the Sorcerer and the rest are the cause of foule errors and much wickednesse much horrible abusing Gods holy and sacred name and therefore are woorthie to dye This being the true cause why God doth abhorre such as it is manifest we may easily sée the grosse error of the blind multitude in this behalfe For they hold that witches should bee put to death and not onely that but are inflamed with a wonderfull rage and fury to haue it accomplished I call it rage not zeale because it is not to a right end For if they were so zealous of it for Gods honor it were a merueilous good thing but in déed it is not for any zeale of God y â— they be so forward but for an other consideration Thieues and murtherers say they be put to common deaths how much more sharp death tormeÌ„ts are witches worthy to haue laid vpon them But aske them why Oh say they the witches send their spirits and kill and lame men they kill young infantes they kill cattle they â—…aise winds tempests they be the very plagues of men Here is a false cause for where doo we euer finde in the holy scriptures that Witches or Coniurers haue such things layd vnto their charge I haue shewed the priuy packing which Satan vseth in this behalfe When men are once so be witched as to thinke who can liue in safety while witches remaine they run with madnesse to séeke all meanes to put them to death not onely them but all such as are suspected They run to Coniurers to know if they be not witches who they suspect They examine witches to know whether their spirites haue not told them how many witches be within certaine miles of them who they be The Lord doth not alow one witnesse being a man in a cause of death to be sufficient but these would alow the accusation of one deuill if he accuse xl persons they thinke it a merueilouse charitable deede where there is one that hath bene suspected for witchery to hiâ—… or entice children to accusâ—… them to practise with some subtill maide which faineth her self to be bewitched to get some matter of accusation Many Iurers neuer weigh the force of the euidence which is brought but as if they had their oth for coniectures or likelihoodes they are oftentimes very forward to finde guilty being sicke of the same disease that the accusers be But some man will reply demaund why the people should not be so earnest to séeke their death rooting out why should it be reputed as a fault they doo it of a good minde to the glory of God In déed if it could be shewed that they doo it in regard of Gods glorie it were of a good minde much to be commeÌ„ded but it is manifestly to be prooued that Gods
glory is not regarded For if the people did regard Gods glory they would hate witchchraft shew their vehemency against it because his dishonor is much procured thereby as when men go for help vnto his enimy but we sée they hate not that But if a man or child be sick they run vnto a witch they hate not y â— ioyning in compact with deuils when as they runne for help vnto them they haue somewhat lost or stole they doo by by fly vnto deuils they make account that those be good witches do no harme But in very déed they be as euill as other witches for they haue felowship with deuills which is the chiefe fault for those daÌ„mages which they ascribe vnto witches are not in their hand to giue power to the deuill for to doo Then if they did it for loue of God they would hate these also but we sée they doo not only alow them but make of them God coÌ„mandeth in his law that all that haue familier spirits should be put to death yet I say the faithles people doo make much of them alow of them Moreouer there be none more extreme haters of witches then such as be infected with a kinde of witchcraft them selues for what are they but witches if a man looke well into y â— matter which haue their night spell and so many charmes deuises to auoide the daungers of witchcraft or to vnwitch none are more furious agaynst witches then these such as of all others are y â— readiest to run for help vnto the deuill therefore I may boldly affirme that it is of a mad rage and not of a good zeale that the most are carried withall against witches which ought to teach men wisedome discreation warines when they be for to deale in such matters especially when as it doth concerne life or death What manner of persons are fittest for the deuill to make his instruments in witchcraft sorceries and who are subiect vnto his harmes Chapt. 11. WHen Satan at the first enterprised the ruine and destruction of man he did not vnaduisedly set vp on the worke but in great subtilty chose him a fit instrument for the purpose euen the serpent who was more subtill then any beast of the field He is now an old serpent long practised and hath increased his subtilty by much approoued experience He doth not nowe attempt his wicked worke but 〈◊〉 all y â— fittest waies meanes that hée can hée doth obserue time place with all other circumstances and looke of what sort soeuer his worke shalbe he séeketh coÌ„uenient persons as matter to work vpon he chuseth out fit instruments to worke withall when he raiseth vp some heresie to destroy y â— true faith which is with subtill shew to be defended he suggesteth not the same into the minde of a blunt vnlearned foole which is able to say litle but if it be possible he espieth out a subtil minde which is also proud vaine glorious stiffe to maintain any purpose Likewise when he will séeme by witchcraft he doth not hope to draw a godly man well instructed in Gods word into his net to make him a witch for he is not subiect vnto his illusions there is light in him which the darknes can not smother What then he séeketh for vngodly persons which are blind full of infidelity ouerwhelmed drowned in dark ignorance If there be aboue all these a melancholike constitution of body his impressions print the déeper in the minde If they be fell and giuen to anger ready to reuenge they be so much the fitter pouerty also will help in some respect When such a person is mooued with furie shee curseth biddeth a vengeance light vpon him with whom she is displeased she biddeth the deuill all the deuills in hell take him the wicked spirit who inflamed her heart is ready at hand and if he haue power to hurt y â— party giuen him of God or sée any probability that he shal haue or know any disease ready to breake forth in some likenes or w t some voice doth demauÌ„d what he shall doo it may the woman doth think it very strange at the first is a fraid to heare a thing like a cat speak but this feare in time is remooued The coÌ„iurer is one that hath a mind addicted vnto curiosity vaine estimation he taketh him selfe by déep skill power to rule ouer deuils therfore though he appeare fierce terrible before him it is not amisse nay it confirmeth him y â— more Now for conuenient matter to work vpon I coÌ„fesse y â— the deuils are instrumeÌ„ts which God vseth not only to be executioners of vengeance vpon the reprobate to plague y â— wicked but also to assault to teÌ„pt to vex to chastise his déere children and therefore they haue sometimes leaue to afflict some of these in body or substance but y â— is rare when it is so Gods holy seruaunts doo looke vp vnto him confesse their sinnes with humble hearts séeking fauour and release at his hands as Iob did they turne not their eyes vnto witches they cry not out vpon them as if they were the cause you heare not these wish they were rooted out because they feare hurt by theÌ„ but they abhor the sin and in zeale of Gods glory desire that due execution may be done vpon them The deuil then by his witches coniurers preuaileth not amonge these hee doth preuaile among an other sort of men greatly he hath power giuen him to plague to vex many of them they haue no power of true liuely faith to withstand him they bee full of all darknes ignorance the heauenly light power of Gods holy word is not abiding in them marke it who will he shall finde this most true that y â— greatest part of those which cry out y t they are bewitched that run vnto witches for help that vse their charmes séeke so many waies to vnwitch are euen as ignorant as far from zeale loue of y â— gospel as full of vices as the very witches them selues so that y â— deuil doth euen with as much ease seduce lead these men into errors by witches coniurers finding them in y â— dark as he doth allure the poore siley old woman to be a witch and the Idolatroâ—…s adulterous masse-priest to be a coniurer Thus much may suffice to shew what persons y â— deuil doth make choise of to be his instruments and what maner of persons he deceiueth hurteth by them The true remedy whereby men are deliuered from all feare and daunger of witchcraft Chapt. 12. MEn are glad to finde a medicine that will driue away rid them off an ague how much gladder would they bee to finde a present remedy to preserue them safe frée from the feare off all imagined hurt and danger which cometh
God laieth to their charge that they woorshipped diuels What victories the diuell hath gotten at other times in the world doth sufficiently appeare by this that he is described with seuen crownes He hath raised vp all kinds of heretikes he hath stirred vp sore persecutions against the Church and caused the seruants of God to be cruelâ—…ie murthered Thus much touching Diuels Deuils haue no power to hurt mens bodies or goods but vpon speciall leaue giuen vnto them The 5. Chapter THe reprobat angels are mightie fierce and subtill as we haue brieflie noted They be instrumentes of Gods vengance and executioners of his wrath they doe not exercise power and authoritie which is absolute and at their owne will and appointment but so farre as God letteth foorth the chaine to giue them scope Touching the reprobat which despise the waies of God and are disobedient we are taught that God in righteous vengeance giueth theÌ„ ouer into their hands for they would not loue his lawes nor honour him as their God therfore they come vnder the tirannie of wicked diuels which worke in them with power their harts do they harden their eies euen the eies of their minds do they blind they kindle and stir vp in them all filthie lusts and carrie them headlong into foule and abhominable sinnes Here is their throne and kingdome not that they be able to carrie these so far as they would but as euery one doth more grieuously prouoke God so are they plunged y â— deeper either into monstrous heresies or abhominable wickednesse for God giueth them ouer into a reprobat mind some indeed are caried further thaÌ„ other into the depth of impietie because God letteth him more stronglie inuade them and taketh away his graces and gifts but yet he raigneth in them all in as much as they be void of the power of grace to resist him and are caried captiues by him vnto eternall damnation These wicked fiends doe also set vpon the faithfull and elect people of God for God vseth them also as instruments for their triall they tempt and trie them they doe wrestle and fight against them they buffet them euery way seeking to annoy and molest them both in bodie and soule God indeed turneth all vnto the good of these Hee letteth him haue power and scope no further vpon them than he giueth strength and power of grace to resist at the least so farre that the wicked one can not cause them to sinne vnto death This then being out of al controuersie that his power euen in that wherein it is greatest and where he seemeth to haue his chiefe right is limited how shall it be deemed but that touching the bodies of both men and beasts or of anie other creature he can doe nothing but vpon speciall leaue and commission graunted vnto him He can not doe violence to the bodie of a poore swine naie he can not at his pleasure kill so much as a seelie flie When God will haue him to touch anie creature either man beast fish foule tree corne or whatsoeuer he flieth vpon it and maketh the greatest shew that he can These things are we plainlie taught in the holie scriptures not onelie by those which were possessed with diuels and were greeuouslie tormented in bodie but also by destroying both men and cattell In the booke of Iob the first chapter we are plainely taught first that the diuell could not touch Iob nor any thing that was his then that hauing leaue he slew his children destroied his seruants and cattell and plagued him in his bodie with sores the holie ghost doth so manifestlie teach that the diuell did this that to denie it is flat impietie and the vaine and friuolous cautls to prooue the contrarie not woorth the answering The holie ghost doth applie himselfe in that place to our rude capacitie It is very true and so doth he in manie places of the holy scriptures doth it follow therefore that the things were not We are not capable of things spirituall and therefore they be set forth vnder the forme of things corporall and visible We may not imagine that deuils thrust in themselues amongst the holie angels into the glorious presence of God in heauen Neither must we suppose that GOD talketh with the diuell and he with him but these and such like things are borrowed to set before vs things inuisible God vseth the diuels by his prouidence to accomplish the woorke which he determineth eyther in wrath vpon the wicked or for chastisement and tryall of his Children What could more fitly expresse the same then to liken him to a king which hath seruants officers for euery purpose who came before him to giue an account what they haue done and to receiue commaundement what they shall doe God limitteth their boundes he restraineth he enlargeth them at his good pleasure But how Satan doth knowe where leaue is giuen him we cannot conceiue For as it is sayd God tolde him all that he hath is in thy hand for vs hee is brought in speaking in this wise thou hast hedged about him and about all that he hath Yea but Iob saith God did all And Iob saith very true but Iob did knowe God did it by appointing the Diuell to doe it He knew that the theeues and murtherers which slewe his seruaunts and draue away his cattell were stirred vp by the Deuill he stayeth not aboute them nor yet about the Deuill but looketh and addresseth himselfe vnto him which hath rule ouer men and Deuils shall we say then God did it therefore the Deuill did it not It may be obiected that if the Deuill did those thinges then is hee able to raise vp mighty windes tempestes lightning and thunders If hee sent that mighty winde which did throwe downe the house vpon Iobs Children if he cast downe that fire vppon the Cattell and Seruauntes Why may not men thinke that vpon leaue he can do the other I answere that the scripture ascribeth the Windes the Tempests the Haile and the mighty Thunders and Lightnings vnto God euen as works peculier to his Maiestie by which he doth set forth his magnificence and glory Because he alone hath created them the deuils are not able to create any thing though neuer so smal much lesse those greate thinges He seeth right well the matter whereof they consiste and how they are by the naturall course which God hath set brought foorth vpon leaue graunted vnto him he is able in some sorte to collect the matter of them or being prepared by the Lorde to make them more violent he doth couet also in the darkest tempestes in the moste raging windes and terrible crackes of thunder to conuey himselfe into the storme to come with it and to shew some terrour of his presence 〈◊〉 if 〈◊〉 graunted he appeareth vnto some in an vglye shape or renteth vp trees And this he doth to bring men in beliefe that all those terrible thinges wherein there is so
shee gaue them What likenes they had What were their names Whether they were hees or shees and how many men they had killed Some haue bene hanged and haue at the gallowes confessed the whole matter Who is able to declare the brutish errors and foule sinnes which multitudes are led into by this craftye dealing of the dealing of the Deuil For my selfe I do not thinke that I can shew the tenth part But yet I see so much as may make any Christian hart bleede to beholde I will endeuor to open the collusion of Satan and his purpose in this thing so far as I can with the follies which the blinde multitude fall into and do not espie the same First then for the maner The poore old witch pined with hunger goeth abroad vnto some of her neighbours and there begge a little milke which is denied Shee threatneth that she will be euen with them Home shee returneth in great fury cursing and raging Forth shee calleth her spirite and willeth him to plague such a man Away goeth hee Within few howres after the man is in such torment that he can not tell what hee may doe Hee doth thinke himselfe vnhappy that he was so foolish to displease her What shal wee say vnto these things Is here no packing Is not here first of all a way taken by the wiely and wicked serpent to bring men in beliefe that hee is not nigh them nor medleth not vnlesse his dame send him Hee goeth about like a roaring Lyon seeking whom he may deuour as Saint Peter sayth Shall wee bee so sottish to beleeue that hee lyeth at the witches house hee is a mighty tyrant if God do suffer him that hee beyng a spirite do take vpon him the shape of some little vermin as cat or weasill it is but to deceiue He lyeth and sleepeth in warme wool the witch doth giue him milke or a chicken and hee doth eate these are vain illusions what needeth hee such thinges he resteth not hee eateth not he slepeth not How much greater folly is it to enquire of his sexe as though there were hee deuils and shee deuils But to come nigher vnto this tragedie Doth not shee send him yes shee doth send him which did send her first Who put into her heart to begge of that man had hee no stroke in the matter that hee would denie her request are they not for the most part in as great blindnes and infidelity almost as the witch is which are bewitched hee knoweth well ynough where hee maketh his match Shee doth furiously rage and curse doth not the deuil worke it in her heart wel the man is tormented indeede who doth that here is great cunning Sometime he doth it some tyme he maketh a shew that he doth it when it is not so when hee doth it who geueth him the power did the witch they bee voide of reason which thinke so Had hee power and lay still while shee sent him not minding to do any thing vnlesse hee were requested what foole can imagine that How is this thing then doubtles this wicked deuill either did know that God had geuen him power and so did stirre vp and set on the witch or else he did see great likelihood that God would giue him leaue to torment the man in his body or his goods because of his wicked life and infidelity For hee is neuer wearie but secketh all occasions And we haue so flat testimonies of Gods word that where God gaue him leaue hee tormented the bodies of men that such as affirme hee can not plague that way shew themselues ouer bold agaynst the truth Wee see then it must needes bee one of these 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 hee tormenteth 〈◊〉 man For God did geue him power but hee would for many causes be set on by the witch where shee could not increase his power or else he doth coniecture that the Lord will giue him leaue when he is sent because the people are worthy to bee seduced and lead into vile errors sometyme he seemeth to do that which hee doth not and that is with much subtilty For hee seeth the humours in the bodies of men and beasts Hee seeth the rootes and causes of diseases and when they wil come foorth Hee stirreth his dame or rather his poore vassâ—…l and setteth her in quarell with that man Shee sendeth him the man falleth lame or into some languishing sicknes his hogges or his kyne do die Ther was natural cause of lamenes of sicknes and death which the Lord sent and Satan would haue it layd vpon him The witch seeth such effectes follow and gathereth for certaynty that shee did it The man calleth to mynd how hee displeased her and how shee did threaten him and now is sure shee did it These are part of his wayes let vs looke further He is a bloody murtherer and delighteth to draw men into periury and cruelty Hee seeketh therefore to bring many such vnto their death for witchcraft as are no witches Some woman doth fal out bitterly with her neighbour there followeth some great hurt either that God hath permitted the deuil to vex him or otherwise There is a suspicion conceiued Within fewe yeares after shee is in some iarre with an other Hee is also plagued This is noted of all Great fame is spread of the matter Mother W. is a witch She hath bewitched goodman B. Two hogges which died strangely or else hee is taken lame Wel mother W doth begin to bee very odious terrible vnto many her neighbours dare say nothing but yet in their heartes they wish shee were hanged Shortly after an other falleth sicke and doth pine hee can haue no stomacke vnto his meaâ—…e nor hee can not sleepe The neighbours come to visit him Well neighbour sayth one do ye not suspect some naughty dealing did yee neuer anger mother W truly neighbour sayth he I haue not liked the woman a long tyme. I can not tell how I should displease her vnlesse it were this other day my wife prayed her and so did I that shee would keepe her hennes out of my garden Wee spake her as fayre as wee could for our liues I thinke verely shee hath bewitched me Euery body sayth now that mother W is a witch in deede and hath bewitched the good man B. Hee can not eate his meate It is out of all doubt for there were which saw a weasil runne from her housward into his yard euen a little before hee fell sicke The sicke man dieth and taketh it vpon his death that he is bewitched then is mother W apprehended and sent to prison shee is arrayned and condemned and being at the gallows taketh it vppon her death that shee is not gylty and doubtles some are put to death not beyng gylty Now let vs see what the deuil hath gayned by this practise For though at sometymes the coniectures fall out right yet many times there is innoceÌ„t blood shed which is a greuous sin The iury commit periury