Selected quad for the lemma: knowledge_n
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A07215
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The anatomie of sorcerie VVherein the wicked impietie of charmers, inchanters, and such like, is discouered and confuted. By Iames Mason, Master of Artes.
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Mason, James, M.A.
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1612
(1612)
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STC 17615; ESTC S112409
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64,423
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108
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with sickenes The which thing was very well vnderstood by Alurede king of the most part of this Realme of England who beeing a faire comely and a goodly personage was therewithall giuen to the vice of the flesh wherefore hee desired God to chastise him with some continuall sickenes whereby he might serue God the better and yet not be made vnapt to worldly busines wherefore by the ordinance of God he was taken with the disease called Ficus and was thereof sicke a long time And the good king Ezechias so long as the Lord exercised him vnder the crosse of troubles and sicknes walked before him in all dutifull humilitie but after that he was deliuered from them and restored to health againe he beganne as it were to be lifted vp in the pride of heart in the vanitie of his minde he shewed the Embassadours of the king of Babylon all his treasure and prouision as it is in the second booke of the Kings chap. 20. and the 32. chap. of the second booke of the Chronicles And what was it that made Dauid so grieuously to offend God in numbering of the children of Israell as it is in the second booke of Samuel cap 24. but onely prosperity health ease The which when he had more deepely considered and had seene that the Lord had alwaies called him home againe into the right way by aduersity and troubles he saith in the 119. psalme vers 71. that It was good for him that he was in trouble And againe in the 67. verse of the same psalme he saith that before he was troubled he went wrong but then did he keepe Gods words or commaundements So that oftentimes nay for the most part affliction whether it be in body or minde or goods is more expedient and profitable for the children of God then worldly pleasure health or prosperity For God is said to chasten his deerest children in the 12. chapter to the Hebrewes vers 6 7 8. in these words Whome the Lord loueth he chasteneth and he scourgeth euery sonne that he receiueth If ye endure chastening God offereth himselfe vnto you as vnto sonnes for what sonne is it that the father chasteneth not If therefore ye be without correction whereof all are partakers then are ye bastards and no sonnes And Saint Paul saith in the 9. chapter of the 1. Epist. Cor. vers 27. that he beate downe his body and brought it into subiection lest by any meanes after he had preached vnto other himselfe should be reprooued The which if it be so then no maruaile though the ministers of the diuell the sorcerers are willing to procure somtimes temporall benefits of health and riches vnto men seeing as I haue said before that oftentimes they are more hurtfull then profitable vnto them And it is the soule altogither that Satan hunteth for the which that he may obtaine he careth not so much if they enioy wordly prosperity felicity for a time For as for worldly and temporal commodities they are as well common to the wicked as to the godly nay the vngodly doe most flourish in this life as wee see it daily by experience before our eyes And it is plainely prooued by diuers places of the scripture as in the 73. psalme their prosperity is described whereat the Psalmist fretted himselfe as hee saith when hee did see the prosperity of the wicked for there are no bandes in their death but they are lustie and strong they are not in trouble like other men And againe their eyes stand out with fatnes they haue more then heart can wish Here we see that they haue not riches alone but also they are lusty and strong without diseases of the body neither are they grieued in minde as other men but all things whatsoeuer yea more then heart can wish they haue and enioy as well for their pleasure as for their profit as Iob saith in the 21. cap. Wherefore doe the wicked liue and waxe olde and growe in wealth their seede is established in their sight with them and their generation before their eyes Their houses are peaceable without feare and the rodde of God is not vpon them Their bullocke gendreth and faileth not their cowe calueth and casteth not her calfe They send forth their children like sheepe and their sonnes daunce They take the tabret and harpe and reioyce in the sound of the organes They spend their daies in wealth and sodainely they goe downe to the graue As it were without any long or languishing sicknes And this happeneth not onely to themselues but euen vnto their children to whome they leaue plenty also of goods as it is in the 17. psalme where the Prophet saith that God filled their bellies with his hidde treasure and their children had enough and left the rest of their substance for their children The which prosperity of the wicked when he had set downe hee concludeth the said 17. psalme with these words saying But I will beholde thy face in righteousnes and when I awake I shall be satisfied with thine image As though he should haue said Let the wicked triumph as much as they will for they haue their portion in this life but as for me howsoeuer I be troubled and afflicted I will as neere as I can with Gods assistance so liue in godlines and holines of life now in this world as I may attaine vnto eternall ioy and felicity in the world to come For truly all earthly things are but meere vanities as the spirit of God saith by Salomon in the booke of the preacher but godlines is profitable to all things as that which hath the promise of this life and of the life to come 1. Tim. cap. 4. vers 8. Wherefore we neede not to doubt but that this will be good and profitable vnto all them which haue it rightly and soundly wrought in their heart by the spirit of God whereby they are renewed and regenerated vnto newnes of life by putting off the olde man with the deedes thereof and putting on the new man which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that made him But Satan beeing an aduersarie both to God and to all the children of men hath neuer any intent or meaning except it be in hypocrisie that either himselfe or any of his instruments the sorcerers should mooue perswade or minister any occasion vnto godlines of life whereby the soules of men might be saued in the day of the Lord but only that they should feede ford them on with temporary benefits the which by God his permission both the diuell and his seruants the sorcerers by his helpe both can and sometime will doe As the Damsell in the 16. chap. Act. vers 16. is said to bring her master great gaines by meanes of the diuellish spirit of diuination wherwith shee was possessed And Simon the sorcerer in the 8. cap. Act. is reported to haue purchased such honour by his witcherwft and magicke that the people of