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spirit_n	believe_v	ghost_n	holy_a	11,216	5	5.5398	4	true

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A19295	The mystery of witch-craft Discouering, the truth, nature, occasions, growth and power thereof. Together with the detection and punishment of the same. As also, the seuerall stratagems of Sathan, ensnaring the poore soule by this desperate practize of annoying the bodie: with the seuerall vses therof to the Church of Christ. Very necessary for the redeeming of these atheisticall and secure times. By Thomas Cooper.	Cooper, Thomas, fl. 1626.	1617 (1617)	STC 5701; ESTC S108665	124,670	401

enfranchised him withaall Genes 8. 20. of Iacob when hee came to Bethel which he consecrates as an house vnto God though otherwise it was the house of his habitation So did Hezekiah sanctifie the people when they came to receiue the Passeouer fearing lest they had not glorified him in their families and habitations 2. Chron. 31. So did Iacob purge his familie of Idolatrie casting out all the Idolls of his wife Rebecca c. Genesis chap. 35. vers 1. 2. Thus of the remedies preseruatiue SECTIO V. Restoratiue Remedies generall NOw the Restoratiue means follow and these are either 1 Generall concerning whole Countries Or else Speciall respecting particular persons The Generall remedies to dissolue the workes of Sathan are 1 The free libertie of the Gospell Luke 10. v. 18. Sathan like Lightning falles downe thereat So doth Moses to this end commend the reuerend and obedient hearing of the Lords Prophets Deut. 8. 18. 2 Conscionable execution of Iustice against all other offenders but especially against these and among these against the Good Witch she is the meanes of encreasing the other and yet it is lamentable to obserue that the Good Witch is spared and accepted vsually of all because shee helpeth at a pinch holdeth life and present hopes though the Badde Witch now and then because wee would not loose our present happinesse we cannot endure afflictions is haled to iudgement Thus of Generall Restoratiues SECTIO VI. Particular follow for priuate persons THough not absolute and necessarily effectuall as was the gift of casting out of Diuells which ceased with the Apostles and Prime Churches yet profitable and conuenient to be vsed euen vnto the worlds end of all Christians very comfortable in the issue and successe thereof These are 1 To search out the true cause of this affliction namely their sinnes Lam. 3. 39. 40. 1. Sam. 5. 15. 2 To approoue our faith in the free mercie of God by heartie Prayer and Fasting for pardon especially of sinne and remouall of the affliction as may stand with Gods glorie submitting heerein to the will of God 1. Sam. 16. 3 Submitting patiently to the affliction and comforting our selues with the speciall protection of our God and faithfull promise that this shall turne to our good assuring our selues that the Lord wil not suffer vs to bee tempted aboue our strength but wil grant in his good time a ioyfull issue not measuring our estate in Gods fauor simply by the successe heerein much lesse by the affliction it selfe which is common to all but resoluing though hee kill vs yet to trust in him and trying our selues by the different bearing and qualifying of the affliction that it hath 1 More weaned vs from the world 2 More humbled vs in a hatred of sinne 3 More prouoked vs to hunger after heauen 4 More purged and prepared vs thereunto And thus of the true Remedies CHAP. IIII. Of False Remedies SHall wee now take some view of the False and superstitious Remedies vsed by the Gentiles and encreased by the Papists to release and preuent these mischiefes Surely neuer more need to display and confound these practises and yet to name them is sufficient to confute them Which are they Examine we the Foundation First in Imitation of Apostolike callings there is also presumed Apostolike power to worke miracles to cast out diuels and so by a miraculous gift to heale such mischiefes as do proceede from Witches Vnto which we reply that that extraordinarie calling ceasing the effect ceaseth withall As 1 being not necessary for these Times seeing they were ordayned onely for the Confirmation of the Doctrine of the Gospel newly planted and to bee rooted in the hearts of Infidels or to bee iustified thereby against their forged miracles which being now approoued and acknowledged of the Christian Churches and hauing a constant and ordinary Ordinance of the Word to instruct the same sufficiently There is no neede of such extraordinary Signes so witnesseth the Spirit 1. Cor. 14. 22. That change of tongs and some generall Miracles are for a Signe not to them that beleeue but to them which beleeue not as if the holy Ghost should say that the Gospel in the first preaching thereof was accompained with strange and miraculous operations as a Signe to manifest the power thereof to the confusion of all the fayned miracles of the Gentiles wherein they vaunting might bee detained from embracing the glorious Gospel of Iesus Christ as being offered to the world without Efficacie from base and contemptible meanes but that the power of the Lord being manifest in the weakenesse of his seruants by these miraculous operations as it was sufficient to make knowne vnto them that the Gospel was nothing inferiour to the Oracles of the Deuil seeing it was honoured with such excellent and supernaturall workes so by the inward working thereof in their conscience in discouering the secretes of their hearts and meeting with their hidden false and secret corruptions which of all others was the greatest Miracle It might thereby gaine the true Esteeme among them that GOD was in and with the meanes 1. Cor. 14. 25. 26. and thereby might prooue effectuall to conuert the vnbeleeuing as the Lord had ordained him vnto saluation Actes Chap. 13. Verse 46 47 c. Secondly As it is not necessarie that these giftes should nowe remaine so if they did remaine they might then challendge the effectualnesse of the Apostles preaching as if that the Gospel were not sufficiently confirmed by them seeing still it needs to be confirmed by miracles 3 And seeing the Promise and the Gift goe together therefore in that the Promise was onely made to the Apostles concerning those times to doe those things and not to the generations of the churches succeeding therfore seeing the Promise was only in force vnto them it followeth also necessarily that the gift was limited accordingly And therefore though it be pretended that the Church of the Ie●es had this power and why not then the Church of the Gentils vnder Christ seeing Christ was nothing inferiou● to Moses yet seeing no certainetie can be gathered out of the Word of any such Iewish power but that rather they are condemned heerein as doing it by the helpe of Sathan and so our Sauiour in that reply driues out one naile with another and when they accused him to cast out Diuells by helpe of Beelzebub returnes it vpon them By whom then doe your children cast them out As if he had said Cast the Beame out of your owne eyes It is you that cast out diuells by the help of Beelzebub and would you excuse your selues by condemning of me or do you measure me by them Therefore they shall be your Iudges they shall iustifie mee whom you condemne their maister hath acknowledged me to be the Sonne of God though they worke by Satan and therefore shall rise vp in iudgement against you that condemne me to worke by Sathan who by them

not enough for that man of sinne to strengthen himselfe from the vsurped power of Heauen chalenging the keyes to●pen and shut at his pleasure but he must also wrest into himselfe all power on earth disposing of Kingdomes and deposing the mightiest at his pleasure And that hee might appeare to be the true Antichrist in all things opposing the kingdome of Iesus Christ. Behold as all things vnder earth doe bow vnto the Sonne of God the very diuells tremble and are subiect vnto him Euen so doth this Abaddon assume the power of the Dragon and so by Coniuration and Enchantments attaineth to and confirmeth his supreame authoritie And thus Witch-craft became an especiall proppe of Antichrists kingdome And that in diuers respects accordingly as that man of sinne by diuerse meanes aduaunced and confirmed himselfe And these were 1 Opinion of diuine power 2 Presumption of perfect Holinesse and so of merites 3 Maintenance of Idolatrie and 4 Outward greatnes and soueraigntie To the furthering of al which this diuelish Art stood him in great steed As For the first As Antichrist intruded into the seate of the Lord both fitting in the Temple of the Lord and raigning in the consciences of men and so exalting himselfe in voluntary worship aboue all that is called God So was hee much furthered heereunto by this Art of Negr●mancie As both heereby through fayned myracles and lying wonders 1 Gaining from the conceit of the deceiued people the Reputation of diuine power 2 And by the power of Satan confounding his enemies attaining to a cōceit of supreme immediate iustice As 3 Hereby relieuing extraordinarily his fauourites and so arrogating the conceit of diuine mercie And thus also by this Art gayned he an opinion of perfit Holinesse As not onelie hereby being able to bleare the eyes of the world not to discerne or not to dare to discouer his abhominable wickednesse But especially heereby being furthered to performe many glorious outsides of well-doing that hee might be applauded as the mighty power of God Acts 8. And so Withall by this meanes bewitching the hearts of the ignorant to admire the beauty of the strumpet and so to fall downe and worship her And By this Art furthering also that Deuice of canonizing of Saints for their perfect Holinesse by such forged miracles as hereby were made shew of to that end Which as it was an especiall ground and foundation of that Idolatry which beginning of a reuerend estimation and affection to holie men grew at the length not onelie to a worship of their persons being dead but of their Statues and Images also which at the first being onelie erected in memoriall of their well-doings by a thankefull world grew at length to be adored and exalted also aboue all that was called God and that especially by meanes of this diuellish Art For by this meanes these Stockes and Stones beeing made to speake and doe wonderfull things as it confounded the Image-makers who by this practize condemned their Doctrine of Images Teaching that they were but otdayned as meanes to remember the people of those persons whom they did represent and yet by this practize making the people beleeue that they were the Saints themselues so were the ignorant and heartlesse people hereby grossely deceiued and detained in this idolatrie euen by those lying wonders and signes that were wrought at these Images And thus as that man of sin attained to exceeding credit and riches in the world So that he might further exalt himselfe aboue all that is called God behold he aduanceth himselfe aboue the great Kings and Potentates of the earth and is furthered heereto especially by this Art of Coniuration For hereby being acquainted with the secrets of all estates gayned he oportunitie to preuent or confound their determinations By this meanes hee many times casts bones among them that tearing deuouring each other they might both in the end become his prey By this was hee able secretly to remoue the greatest opposite and yet by the secret conueyance thereof to keep the credit of his Holinesse yea to gaine the opinion of diuine power and assistance By this meanes whosoeuer banded openly against him was like to take the foyle And thus heereby nouzeling the world in ignorance and infidelity excluded them by this meanes the protection of the Lord and so they became a prey vnto Antichrist The bondage of Egypt must lie vpon their necks these cruell taske-maisters must encrease their burdens withdraw their means that so at length the oppressed world might grone to the Lord who in his mercy hath in some measure released the yoake of the oppressor in restoring light vnto the world and authoritie to the magistrate And so now it is come to passe that thogh in places of ignorance witchcraft aboundeth because as yet the strong man keepes possession yet where the light of the Gospell hath once taken footing as at the comming of Christ the Oracles ceased so Satan falls downe like lightning at the preaching of the Gospel and the grosenesse of Witchcraft is well cleared and banished only bicause though the Gospel be offred vnto al yet seeing al receiue not the knowlege of the truth Therefore it is iust with God to giue vp men to strong delusions to beleeue lies and so Satan becomes not only a lying spirit in the mouth of the Prophets to deceiue vnstable soules but taking euen seuen spirits worse as the doctrine of the Gospell decayes in it purity and so becomes a Broker to profanenesse so together with corruption of Doctrine Popish delusions crept in againe to beguile and enthrall vnstable soules And among these Delusions Witch-craft not the least hath againe got some life and power where the Gospel hath beene reuealed And that 1 By being defended and iustified by godlesse men as if there were no such thing that it is but a conceit 2 Being detected yet is it not punished thorowly The Blesser escapes and the silly people that run to this white Diuell are let alone Which as it may teach the wise to see the plague and hide himselfe so it may resolue vs concerning the places where Witches haunt vsually either in places of ignorance and there in more grosse and sensible manner or else in Places of knowledge abused where Hypocri●ie and carnall wisedome hath thrust out the power of synceritie There Satan returnes with seuen worse spirits Witch-craft is embraced and countenanced of men So much the more dangerously by how much now Witches are become great Professors and followers of the Word haue attained some knowledge and pretend great holinesse and honestie whereby as it appeareth that Satan is now transformed into an Angell of light so are wee informed heereby the rather to arme our selues against such cunning and desperate policies which now especially are plotted to the ensnaring of our soules CHAP. XI Of the diuers kinds of Witches and their effects

Witches power Doth not this exalt her in the place of God prouoke the people to feare and loue her c 2 And seeing the hurt appeareth onely by his cunning to be done to the bodie doth not this nourish the people in this Atheisme that either their soules are in no danger all is well with them or they neede not trouble themselues thereabout seeing the diuel doth not trouble them nay doth not this nourish this conceit in their mindes that they haue no soules or else that they are mortall they end with this life and therefore vse all meanes for the maintenance hereof and then care is taken sufficiently 3 Doth not this conuince the Atheist that dreames of Generall Grace All shall be saued seeing by this Doctrine and Practise of Witch-craft It is now apparant That not onely naturally we are the bondsta●es of Satan but that many purposely yeelde vp themselues to his cursed will renounce their saluation to become his slaues binde themselues to eternall damnation and so are made oft-times fearefull spectacles of the Diuine vengeance being carried away by the diuell and haled violently to destruction 4 Doth not this iustly confound that common delusion That there is no hell but to be in debt in prison c. Doth not this conuince such as liue in that profane and fearefull manner as if there were no God to Iudge them no diuell to torment them Do not their desperate courses plainely discouer to whom they doe belong Are they not of their father the Diuell because his workes they doe are they not running headlong to Hell by their desperate impenitencie doth their damnation sleepe that so turne the grace of God into wantonnesse Hath not the god of this world blinded them that they cannot obey the truth Are they not appoynted to perdition that th●s crucifie the Lord of 〈◊〉 Is there any more sacrifice left for sinne for such but euen violent 〈◊〉 to consume the aduersaries He●… cha 10. 26. 27. Iude verse 4. Iohn chap. 8. 44. SECTIO VIII It is a plaine conuiction of the contempt of the Word FOr as the Lord when Pharaoh would not beleeue his seruant Moses did therefore giue him vp to be deluded by his Sorcerers and Enchanters who dooing such wonders in shew as Moses did in trueth did thereby harden Pharaohs heart and so ripened his sinne and iniquity euen so it is iust with God because we despise his Word and contemne his true Prophets therefore to leaue the common people generally to bee hardned by such fained wonders as the prophets of Sathan make shew of in the world that they might bee effectuall to encrease transgressions against the Lord and so to ripen them to the day of vengeance Thus did the Lord giue vp Saul for his disobedience and contempt of the Word to seeke vnto Witchcraft 1. Sam. 28. Whereby hee ripened his sinne and drew on speedy vengeance vpon himselfe and Gods People for his sake 2. Sam. 29. Thus was Ahaziah left to seeke helpe of the god of Ekron that so he might receiue of the Lord the Sentence of his destruction 〈◊〉 Reg. 2. SECTIO III. Of Reproofe IT reprooueth the Idolatrie and false worship of the Times conuincing the falshoode and abomination of Poper●● and iustifying the truth and vertue of the Gospel of Iesus Christ. As that first where superstit●… raignes and is not yet weeded out there wee see Witch-craft to be magnified and so to abound as in the Orcades among the Heathen But where the Gospel hath got fo●ting there all vncleane spirites depart grosse Witch-craft is banished Authoritie preuaileth to the rooting out thereof the Word preuaileth to heale our infidelitie and so secure vs from their dangerous snares And yet which is to be lamented wee see the Good Witch still to get ground euen because she helpes and satisfies the flesh doth not this argue plainely what God we worship principally euen our pleasure our riches our health Is not the Good Witch respected because she supplies these And is not our belly then our god the wedge of golde our hope Doe wee not for our owne sakes respect the Blesser Is it not a plaine worship yea Idolatrie which we commit with her SECTIO IIII. It condemneth the grosse profanenesse and disobedience of the Ages present 1 IN that the Infernall spirites are more obseruant and diligent for the hurt of the soule then we are for the saluation thereof they are compassing continually omitting no base offices to serue their Mistresse turnes 2 The aboundance of Witches the horrible sottishnesse and wilfulnesse of the people which runne to these Blessers that are giuen vp by God the Lord to forsake the true meanes of their saluation and fly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 helpes doth not this plainely arg●e the general disobedience of the people and therefore because they 〈◊〉 ceiue not the loue of the truth therefore God hath left them to these strong delusions to beleeue lies as in the second epistle of Saint Paul to the Thessalonians in the second chapter and eleuen verse Surely as the Lord gaue vp Saul to a spirite of Errour to bee tormented and mis-guyded thereby because hee forsooke the euerliuing Lord and disobeyed his Prophets So is it iust with Almightie GOD to giue vp the people to be besotted with this iudgement euen because they haue detayned the trueth of God in vnrighteousnesse and reproached the same by their profane and most abhominable conuersation SECTIO V. Reproofe of Hypocrisie IT reprooueth the Hypocrisie and fearefull Diss●…ulation that raignes euen among professors And that first as Sathan pretends subiection to the Coniurer and Sorcerer when indeede his purpose is to bee Maisten of all Euen so the Hypocrite howsoeuer he pretend subiection to the Lord yet his purpose is to serue his owne lusts to aduaunce himselfe aboue all that is called God to bring men into bondage to smite them 〈◊〉 the face 〈◊〉 Cor. 11. 2. Thess. 〈◊〉 12. 2 As Satan pretends many things to be done by the Witch which indeede are done by himselfe that he may bring the Witch into danger abuse others by her and conceale his wickednesse more cunningly euen so doth the Hypocrite father much vpon God which is but the deuice of his owne braine And doth not this plainely conuince the hypocrisie of the T●●es that whereas the Good Witch is farre more dangerous then the Bad yet because the Blesser helpes and serues turne to maintayne life c. therefore shee must escape whereas the Bad Witch because she is hurtfull therefore she must bee punished Doth not this argue that not for conscience sake but for our owne respects Iustice is executed Sathans power is oppugned And doth not Sathan when hee pretends to doe most good then doe most hurt surely so doth the hypocrite vnder colour of long prayers denoure widowes houses Euen as the Blesser vnder pretence of Good prayers enthralleth the soule so doth the hypocrite by pretence of formall prayers and bodily