Selected quad for the lemma: opinion_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
opinion_n	great_a	know_v	time_n	2,058	5	3.3701	3	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A04243	Daemonologie in forme of a dialogue, diuided into three bookes.	James I, King of England, 1566-1625.	1597 (1597)	STC 14364; ESTC S107574	43,300	184

DAEMONOLOGIE IN FORME of a Dialogue Diuided into three Bookes IN MY DEFENCE GOD ME DEFEND EDINBVRGH Printed by Robert Walde-graue Printer to the Kings Majestie An. 1597. Cum Privilegio Regio THE PREFACE to the Reader THE fearefull aboundinge at this time in this countrie of these detestable slaues of the Deuill the Witches or enchaunters hath moved me beloued reader to dispatch in post this following treatise of mine not in any wise as I protest to serue for a shew of my learning ingine but onely mooued of conscience to preasse thereby so farre as I can to resolue the doubting harts of many both that such assaultes of Sathan are most certainly practized that the instrumentes thereof merits most severly to be punished against the damnable opinions of two principally in our age wherof the one called SCOT an Englishman is not ashamed in publike print to deny that ther can be such a thing as Witch-craft and so mainteines the old error of the Sadducees in denying of spirits The other called VVIERVS a German Phisition sets out a publick apologie for al these craftes-folkes whereby procuring for their impunitie he plainely bewrayes himselfe to haue bene one of that profession And for to make this treatise the more pleasaunt and facill I haue put it in forme of a Dialogue which I haue diuided into three bookes The first speaking of Magie in general and Necromancie in special The second of Sorcerie and Witch-craft and the thirde conteines a discourse of all these kindes of spirits Spectres that appeares trobles persones together with a conclusion of the wholwork My intention in this labour is only to proue two things as I haue alreadie said the one that such diuelish artes haue bene and are The other what exact trial and seuere punishment they merite therefore reason I what kinde of things are possible to be performed in these arts by what naturall causes they may be not that I touch every particular thing of the Deuils power for that were infinite but onelie to speak scholasticklie since this can not bee spoken in our language I reason vpon genus leauing species and differentia to be comprehended therein As for example speaking of the power of Magiciens in the first book sixt Chapter I say that they can suddenly cause be brought vnto them all kindes of daintie dishes by their familiar spirit Since as a thiefe he delightes to steale and as a spirite he can subtillie suddenlie inough transport the same Now vnder this genus may be comprehended al particulars depending thereupon Such as the bringing Wine out of a Wall as we haue heard oft to haue bene practised and such others which particulars are sufficientlie proved by the reasons of the general And such like in the second booke of Witchcraft in speciall and fift Chap. I say and proue by diuerse arguments that Witches can by the power of their Master cure or cast on disseases Now by these same reasones that proues their power by the Deuil of disseases in generall is aswell proued their power in speciall as of weakening the nature of some men to make them vnable for women and making it to abound in others more then the ordinary course of nature would permit And such like in all other particular sicknesses But one thing I will pray thee to obserue in all these places where I reason vpon the deuils power which is the different ends scopes that God as the first cause and the Devill as his instrument and second cause shootes at in all these actiones of the Deuil as Gods hang-man For where the deuilles intention in them is euer to perish either the soule or the body or both of them that he is so permitted to deale with God by the contrarie drawes euer out of that euill glorie to himselfe either by the wracke of the wicked in his justice or by the tryall of the patient and amendment of the faithfull being wakened vp with that rod of correction Hauing thus declared vnto thee then my full intention in this Treatise thou wilt easelie excuse I doubt not aswel my pretermitting to declare the whole particular rites and secretes of these vnlawfull artes as also their infinite and wounderfull practises as being neither of them pertinent to my purpose the reason whereof is giuen in the hinder ende of the first Chapter of the thirde booke and who likes to be curious in these thinges he may reade if he will here of their practises BODINVS Daemonomanie collected with greater diligence then written with judgement together with their confessions that haue bene at this time apprehened If he would know what hath bene the opinion of the Auncientes concerning their power he shall see it wel descrybed by HYPERIVS HEMMINGIVS two late Germaine writers Besides innumerable other neoterick Theologues that writes largelie vpon that subject And if he woulde knowe what are the particuler rites curiosities of these black arts which is both vnnecessarie and perilous he will finde it in the fourth book of CORNELIVS Agrippa and in VVIERVS whomof I spak And so wishing my pains in this Treatise beloued Reader to be effectual in arming al them that reades the same against these aboue mentioned erroures and recommending my good will to thy friendly acceptation I bid thee hartely fare-well IAMES R x. DAEMONOLOGIE IN FORME of ane Dialogue FIRST BOOKE ARGVMENT The exord of the whole The description of Magie in speciall CHAP. I. ARGVMENT Proven by the Scripture that these vnlawfull artes in genere haue bene and may be put in practise PHILOMATHES and EPISTEMON reason the matter PHILOMATHES I AM surely verie glad to haue mette with you this daye for I am of opinion that ye can better resolue me of some thing wherof I stand in great doubt nor anie other whom-with I could haue mette EPI In what I can that ye like to speir at me I will willinglie and freelie tell my opinion and if I proue it not sufficiently I am heartely content that a better reason carie it away then PHI. What thinke yee of these strange newes which now onelie furnishes purpose to al men at their meeting I meane of these Witches EPI Surelie they are wonderfull And I think so cleare and plaine confessions in that purpose haue neuer fallen out in anie age or cuntrey PHI. No question if they be true but thereof the Doctours doubtes EPI What part of it doubt ye of PHI. Even of all for ought I can yet perceaue and namelie that there is such a thing as Witchcraft or Witches and I would pray you to resolue me thereof if ye may for I haue reasoned with sundrie in that matter and yet could never be satisfied therein EPI I shall with good will doe the best I can But I thinke it the difficiller since ye denie the thing it selfe in generall for as it is said in the logick schools Contra negantem principia non est disputandum