also whereof hee hath done much good in Gods Vineyard in labouring to stay that bloody persecution on foot against the poor and Innocent yet he hath much swerved from the Truth of this subject of Witches and Witchcraft in that hee yeildeth at all to the common contagion of Error that hath defiled the World not that Witches are for that were my Error to deny seeing the Scriptures do manifestly condemn them but that Witches in the Scripture sence are such as have made a familier compact with the Devill and receive power from him to kill and the like I wonder but that the hour of darknesse is not yet fully past that so many Ministers should still wander in this darksome imagination what least intimation or description of such a kind of Witch hath God given us in the Scriptures or of Devills in the corporall shape of Imps making a familier compact with any of mankind or any ground for such imaginary whimses of mans brain what consequence is there in Logicall dispute or in Theologicall Principles that hee that denieth these phantasies denieth that there is a Devill and so finally that there is a God the Scripture teacheth us that there is a God and likewise a Devill or Devills but what Scripture speaketh of a familiar Devill or Jmp or that a Witch can kill by Witchcraft or hurt either body or goods by Witchcraft by the Devills help either by Gods permission or without I rather think that this forsaking of the Scriptures and delivering for Doctrin the traditions of Antichristian Popish Writers is a forsaking of God and consequently a denying of God hee saith hee could instance from story how many have had no Faith of Witches being till their bewitched body or goods hath served to unwitch them of their opinions and conceit is this a Theologicall way of Argument to ground a Doctrin upon vain reports and phantasmes without Scriptures yea flat contrary to the Scriptures Deut. 32.39 1 Sam. 2.6 7. dare any man contrary to those and many places of Scripture when hee is afflicted in body or goods ascribe that to a Witch upon vain Phantasie and carnal reason and superstitious imaginations and foolish traditions without Scriptures which by the Scriptures we are taught to ascribe only to God yes men dare do so and Ministers dare teach so And this is the condemnation that light is come into the world and men love darkness rather than light But now to speak to the man himself of whom I have written sparingly Mr. Gaule if this work of mine shall come to your hand as yours hath come to mine be not angry with me for writing Gods Truth I am sure you shall get more estimation among true Beleevers more favour with God and do more good in Christs Vine-yard by acknowledging your error and by embracing Gods Truth than by being carried away with the streams of these flouds of iniquity that have over-flowed the Christian world You say in your second case pag. 24. It is hard to observe any specifique difference of Witches in which you acknowledge the subject to be difficult to write of Sir I have given you full specifical descriptions of them according to the Scriptures then although Sir you be learned in other things disdain not to learn of me the truth of this subject I doubt not but if you had first read my Book your own Book had been more perfect Suffer not a Witch to live Prestigiatricem a Jugling person that worketh false Miracles to seduce the people to Idolatry Exod. 22.18 Jofias destroying of Witches 2 King 23 24. what was it but pulling down the Idols with their Adjuncts Oraclers and South-sayers that were the Idol Priests that seduced the people Examine the places which are your own quotations then Sir I intreat you in Christs name that as you have been fervent for Gods Cause with Apollos Act. 18.25 so learn of me the way of God more perfectly as he did of the Disciples vers 26. fare-well Sir the Spirit of God be your familiar Spirit to guide you in the truth Non quis Sed quid Master Giffard answered THere is yet another Book come to my hand written by Mr. George Giffard an able Minister of Gods Word in Maldon which because the common way of some mans arguing is by questioning what say you to this and what say you to that Author therefore I will give a brief description of his Tenents which are chiefly three the first is That a VVitch can not by a Familiar or by any craft any way hurt or weaken the life health or estate of any man by bewitching with disease or infirmity either Man or Beast or hurting his Goods and this he proveth plainly by Scripture and Reason as I have also done in my Second Book of this Discourse The second Tenent is That VVitches have Imps and Familiars The third Tenent is That these Familiars do nothing really but only do deceive the VVitch by making her beleeve they do that which cometh to pass upon Man or Beast by Divine providence but for these two last Tenents he doth not prove by Scripture as he did the first nor yet affirm for truth but only being overcome by the strength of common report grounded upon the Confession of such as have been executed he only yeeldeth to those strong delusions which have deceived many Hypothetically arguing if Witches have such Imps or Familiars they are only deceived by them but herein is he not confident and therefore these two last Tenents being not confirmed by him do confirm nothing and for the first of the two That VVitches have Imps is sufficiently disproved in my Second Book and that all their Confessions are no argument then for the last Tenent having reference to the first it is in like manner nullified for if they have no Imps nor no Familiar then they are not deceived by them nor do beleeve or confess any such thing wherein they seem to him to be deceived any further than Confession is wrung from them by them who are the deceivers of themselves and others by the Deceiver of the VVorld that dwelleth in them except sometimes by the depth of Melancholly or distempered brain as I have formerly demonstrated in my Second Book and therefore need no further answer So much for this Author who I beleeve had more of the Spirit of truth in him than many of his profession Now for all that have written in that kinde I summon all VVitch-mongers to shew me in the Old or New Testament which are given as a rule of truth the least inference of any such Doctrin as is delivered by them Also I desire any man of right understanding to compare them with the Scriptures and so compare also this my Book with the Scriptures and to see which of them is most consonant with the Scriptures and which is most dissonant from the Scriptures and so to try them by Gods touch-stone of truth The Conclusion TO conclude
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
likeness by any but by the Creator himself is assuredly an Infidel and worse than a Pagan So much for the words of the Council Yet here is to be noted that this great general Council that thought these people beleeved and confessed such things to be true in their apprehension did not then know the inhuman cruelty that was used upon those people by the cruel Inquisitors to compel and extort confession for their own gain they being maintained by the spoyl of such people being condemned Now for the Scriptures do but mark how those that maintain and report the power of VVitches have equalled their supernatural power with the Miracles of the Prophets of Christ and his Apostles it was the Miracle of Miracles that the Virgin Mary conceived with childe without a man they say a VVitch may do the same by Incubus as Bodin and other Popish VVriters affirm and that such a childe will naturally become a VVitch such a one they say Merlin was no but you say these were Atheists we beleeve not so But some will say the Devil can condense a body and lye carnally with a woman in the shape of a man but not beget yet it was a Miracle that Angels appeared to Abraham in the shape of men Gen. 18.2 yet they will say no but we beleeve the Devil may assume and raise a dead body for a time and so appear to a woman and lye with her and yet it was a Miracle at the suffering of Christ upon the Cross that dead bodies were raised for a time and appeared to many Matth. 27.52 yet a poor VVench was executed at the Assizes at Chelmsford who was compelled by the Inquisitor by keeping her from sleep and with promises and threatnings to confess that she was married to the Devil and that he lay with her six times in a mans shape no but yet some will say the Devil can take upon him an apparent Body and so may talk with a woman and seem to lye with her in shape of a man and so she shall be hanged for things seeming so yet it was a Miracle that Moses and Elias appeared to the Apostles in a Vision Matth. 17.3 Further Christ saith A Spirit hath not flesh and bones Luke 24.39 and yet some say the Devil can condense a body some say he can assume a body some say he can have an apparent body thus do they make the Word of God of no validity by their groundless traditions for if the Devil can have so much as an apparent body what validity was in the words of Christ to take away the doubt of the Disciples when they supposed they saw a Spirit Where also is that foolish Doctrin of Imps sucking of men and women Witches become Are those Imps bodies or spirits if bodies then who made them Without God was nothing made Joh. 1.3 if spirits then spirits can have bodily shape and flesh and bones and thus you make the words of Christ of none effect by your traditions Christ dispensed Devils to enter into the Herd of Swine and they went Mark 5.12 they say a Witch can do more she can send the Devil into men and women and children and cattel to kill them and to witch them to death God said to Satan All that Job hath is in thine hand Job 1.12 and Job himself all but his life Job 2.6 they say God permitteth a Witch to do more to send Satan to destroy a mans goods and cattel and children and life and all thus they deliver for Doctrin the traditions of men Job said The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away blessed be the name of the Lord and acknowledged Gods hand in all things neither tempted he God foolishly But if one should be so afflicted now adays instead of acknowledging Gods sovereign hand all the poor Wives and Widows in a Country must be called Coram nobis as being accused to have done it Christ saith Revel 1.18 I have the keys of Hell and Death but they say God giveth the keys of Death likewise sometimes to an old Witch man or woman and permits them to witch men to death Christ saith A Sparrow falleth not to the ground without Gods providence Matth. 10 29. but they say God layeth his providence sometimes at the feet of an old Witch and permitteth her to send the Devil to destroy men and cattel some will say A VVitch cannot hurt a godly man but only a wicked man and yet God saith he is the Author of all affliction that cometh to the wicked Levit. 26. from the fourteenth verse to the thirty fourth Also the Scripture saith The Lord killeth and maketh alive 1 Sam. 2.6 maketh poor and maketh rich and in Deut. 32.39 There is no God with me I kill and give life I wound and make whole but they say God permitteth an old VVitch to send the Devil to kill and make poor and wound and a good VVitch can heal again by unwitching God did shut up every wombe of the House of Abimelech that they bare no children Gen. 20.18 they say a VVitch can do the same God permits it and make men and women barren Christ gave his Disciples power over Devils to cast them out Luke 9.1 they say a VVitch can send a Devil into men and cattel to afflict them and a good VVitch can cast them out by unwitching notwithstanding Christ saith Matth. 12.25 Every kingdom divided against it self is brought to desolation yet they say that is done by consent of the Devil when a good VVitch unwitcheth a man thus do they make the words of Christ of none effect by their traditions Christ came and appeared unto his Disciples and vanished away again invisible Luke 24.31 they say a VVitch can go invisible by the help of the Devil especially if one of the Ladies of the Fairie will but lend her Giges invisible ring Christ was lifted up into the Air and taken up out of their sight Acts 1.9 and Bodinus and other Popish VVriters affirm that a VVitch can be lifted away in the Air by drinking the broth of a sodden Infant but poor Germany that beleeved these Doctrins and in that confidence executed many people for VVitches was compelled afterward to boyl their children to quell their hunger and found by sad experience that there was no such vertue in that woful Liquor God said to Moses Go up into the mountain and dye Deut. 32.49 50. and he did so Chap. 34. vers 5. they say a VVitch can do so at the word of the Devil and dye when she list to escape hanging and what is a more common report when a poor woman is laid in prison and there dyeth by grief and hard usage than to report the Devil promised her she should not be hanged and was as good as his word for she dyed in prison before the day of Execution came thus do they make the Devil able to determine and limit the life of Man as God did the life of Moses It