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
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
and cruel murther which vppon blinde surmises of ignorant persons do giue their vâ—…tduit for they should see what knowledge of God the accusers haue Yea sundry tymes the euidence of children is taken accusing their owne mothers that they did see them giue milke vnto little thinges which they kept in wooll The children comming to yeares of discretion confesse they were entised to accuse What vile and monstruouse impieties are here committed It falleth out sometyme that some visitation lighteth vppon some person man or woman Either the deuill doth torment indeed or els the party faineth to be tormented which hath bene often seeue and then accuseth such a woman to haue sent the deuil It is strange to see the madnes of the people that wil aske the deuill who sent him And then he telleth who is his dame and to how many she hath sent him and how many hee hath kylled If it were the Deuill indeede would they beleeue him Is it not his desire to bring innocent persons into daunger Would not bee very gladly haue a number of men periure and forsweare themselues doth the Lord will men to goe vpon their oth in a matter at the testimony of a deuill Who would thinke that euer such brutish ignorance should be found in men in the tyme of the Gospell This is also a practise which would make a man tremble to thinke vpon it that there should euer such abhominable beastlinesse bee found in a land where Christianitie is professed If they doe suppose that one is bewitched they enquire after a wise man or a wise woman to learne who hath done the déede If it be not meere deceipt but that the partie hath a deuill telleth them indéed the man is bewitched and describeth such or such an olde woman Yet let me aske a fewe questions First I demaund whether it be allowed for any man to deale with the deuill Is not that man by the commaundement of God to be put to death which hath a familiar spirite Are not they then almost as euill as he which seeke vnto him No doubt it is a cléere case and cannot be coloured But I shall after haue occasion to prooue it by the testimonies of the holy Scripture and therefore I doe omit the same now Then further I do demaund whether they will beléeue the deuil Do they thinke he will accuse a giltie person or an innocent soonest Doe they or can they imagine that the deuill will bewray any thing that shal do good Will one deuil doe that which shalbe to the hinderance of another No doubt it is a iust vengaunce vppon men that haue despised the light that they bee thus giuen ouer to forsake God and to followe after deuils I will procéede yet further to lay open the filthie vices which the people are drawne into by witchcraft whiles indéede they bewitch themselues through infidelitie A man is sicke his sicknesse doth linger vpon him Some doe put into his head that he is bewitched He is counselled to send vnto a cunning woman She saith he is forspoken indéede she prescribeth them what to vse there must be some charme and sorcerie vsed The partie findeth ease is a glad man he taketh it that he hath made a good market it was a luckie hower wheÌ„ he sent to that woman For doubtlesse he did thinke that if he had not found so speedie a remedie the Witch would vtterly haue spoyled him Now the deuill is driuen out of him and is gone The wise woman with her Familer was too strong for him O that the hearts of men were not turned into the hearts of beasts but that they would consider Is Satan become a weldoer Is hee so charitable and so pitifull that hee will releeue mens miseries Or doth one deuill cast foorth another Doth the weaker giue place vnto the stronger Is Satan deuided against Satan Some man will replye that this is a commoÌ„ thing and well tried by experience that many in great distresse haue bin reléeued and recouered by sending vnto such wise men or wise women when they could not tel what should els become of them and of all that they had Shall not men take helpe where they can find it Why do men go vnto Phisicions Let it be graunted that men finde helpe by Witches Yet this must néedes be grauÌ„ted that as it is for the most part a plague and token of Gods displeasure where he hath power graunted him to vexe so is it a more heauie iudgement which the wicked world hath deserued that he is suffered to heale For now they cannot say that the Lord is their health and saluation but their Phisicion is the deuill As all the workes of God are good and vnto right good end so of necessitie all Satans workes be euill and to most deuilish purpose If he haue power giuen him to possesse and to plague the bodie he is not driuen out for Satan doth not driue out Satan but healeth the bodie to the end he may the more fully possesse and destroy the soule His charitie and his pitie are no better O miserable health so recouered O wretched men so relieued they do imagine that the deuill is driuen out of them and he hath entred in déeper For can that which is deuilish as a charme driue out the deuil They say it is such as doth coÌ„sist of good words It is so much the more blasphemous and abhominable For the name of God and the sentences of his holy word are most shamefully abused vnto sorceries which is one speciall thing which the deuill doth couet He which seeketh helpe in sicknes at the hands of a Phisicion doth that which is lawfull being ordeyned of God For he hath giuen the nature properties vnto things which shall serue for medicine Shall a man therfore hold it lawfull to seeke helpe at the deuill Well to procéede further A man hath a siluer cup missing all corners are sought but yet it cannot be found straungers there came none vnto his house needes must it be one of his own seruants that hath plaied the théefe Euery man deuyeth the matter sayth he sawe it not Here is dubble griefe not so much for the losse of the cup as that a man should haue a théefe in his house and not know him And which is more it may be that he whom he most suspecteth is least giltie were it not good to haue meanes for to trye out such a matter He could bee content to ride xl miles to haue it tryed He enquireth secretly where there is any cunning man of great fame Thether he hasteth Home he returneth in very déede findeth the cup knoweth y e théefe though he may not bewray him What shal we thinke of this Euen that one deuill hath plaied the whole play euery part thereof therfore it is all alike for good First the deuill tempted the seruant to steale the cup The selfe same deuill put into the mind of the
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