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
in darkness because they love not the truth but have pleasure in unrighteousness 2 Thes 2.10 11 12. for this man of sin that Whore of Rome being the grand Witch of the Christian world pointed at Revel 18.23 that hee might still have freedom to deceive the Nations hath broached this Doctrin wherewith he hath defiled the world that a Witch is not a false Prophet or a Deceiver but one that can send the Devil to kill men and women and children and to make the ground barren and men and women barren in Generation and kill the children in the Wombe and can with looks kill Lambs and Cattel and can fly in the Air and can do many things by the help of the Devil which things are not possible to be done by any power but by the mighty power of God We may read of the Priests of the Idol Astaroth that were indeed real Witches in the Scripture sense who professed to do such things by the power of their Idol but were discovered by Bartholomaeus the Apostle to be deceivers of the people by the Devils subtil delusions who ruled in their hearts so they with their Idol were destroyed and many people converted to the Christian Faith Hendorfius in the fifth page of his Theater of History his words are these Bartholomaeus Idolum Astaroth evertit fraudes Satanae qui miraculis homines effacinatos morbis jam premebat jam pressos levabat detexit c. And where do we read in Holy Writ or common History that saver of truth that men by Devils could do such things really and to uphold such errours contrary to Scripture what is this but meer prevarication with the truth and resisting Gods holy Spirit of truth Where do we finde any such thing in Scriptures or any such description of a VVitch or that a VVitch was such a one as hath made a League with the Devil and sealed it with his bloud or hath Imps sucking him or Biggs or privie Marks or that lyeth with Incubus or Succubus or any such phrase or expression in all the Scriptures VVhat least inkling have we of these things in all the Scriptures VVhence received the Church of England this Doctrin O foolish England who hath bewitched you that you should not obey the truth Surely it was the Pope This groundless impious and fantastical Doctrin was never taught by Gods Prophets but that VVitch the Pope knowing in his Conscience that he is the very VVitch the Deceiver of the Nations pointed at in the Revelations and that the Scriptures were so plain that by the light thereof his devillish delusions must needs come to light if the VVorld should have true insight into the Scriptures and so that by that means all Nations would rise up on him and destroy him he not only laboured to hide the Scriptures from the common people which he did for a long time but also hath been so bold as to prevaricate with the Scriptures and to publish through the Nations that VVitches were to be understood no Deceivers but such as practised such wonderful things as the Scripture teacheth us that the doing thereof ought to be attributed to no Creature but only to the Creator as Pope Innocent the eighth to the Inquisitors of Almain and Pope Julius the second to the Inquisitors of Bergoman sent those words It is come to our ears that many lewd persons of both kinds as well male as female using the company of the Devils Incubus and Succubus with Incantations and Conjurations do destroy the birth of VVomen with childe the young of all Cattel the Corn of the field the Grapes of the Vine the fruit of the Trees Men and VVomen and all kinde of Cattel and beasts of the field and with their said Inchantments do wholly extinguish suffocate and spoyl all Vine-yards Orchyards Meadows Pastures Grass green Corn ripe Corn and all other provisions men and women are by their imprecations so afflicted with external and inward pains and diseases that men cannot beget nor women bring forth nor accomplish the duty of VVedlock denying the faith which in Baptism they profess to the destruction of their souls Our pleasure therefore is That all inpediments that may hinder the Inquisitors Office be removed from among the people lest this blot of Heresie proceed to defile them that be yet innocent and therefore we do ordain by vertue of the Apostical authority that our Inquisitors of high Almain may execute the Office of Inquisition by all Tortures and Afflictions in all places and upon all persons VVhat Scripture had the Pope for this we read indeed of such Fictions in the Poets as in Ovids Metamorph. 7. Cum volui ripis ipsis mirantibus amnes In fontes redire suos concussaque sisto Stantia concutio cantu freta nubila pello Nubilaque induco ventos abigoque vocoque Vipereas rumpo verbis carmine fauces Vivaque saxa sua convulsaque robora terra Et sylvas moveo iubeoque tremiscere montes Et mugire solum manesque exire Sepulchris Te quoque Luna trahe The Rivers I can make retire into the Fountains whence they flow Whereat the banks themselves admire I can make standing waters go With Charms I drive both Sea and Cloud I make it calm and blow aloud The Vipers jaws the rockie stone with Word and Charm I break in twain The force of earth congeal'd in one I move the Woods th' Hills tremble plain I make the souls of men arise I pluck the Moon out of the skies Also Ovid de Medea Epist 4. Et misorum tenues in jecur urget acus She sticketh also Needles fine In livers whereby men do pine Also Virgil Nescio quis teneros oculus mihi fascinat agnos I know not whence some fierce bewitching eye With looks doth kill my Lambkins as they lye These are the Popes Scriptures whereon he groundeth his groundless inventions to torment the Christian VVorld and upon these grounds being inventions and pastimes of Poets hath he sent out Inquisitors in all places to torment from thence is the Spanish Inquisition which maketh search for Hereticks and VVitches all as one and now lest the world should take notice that his daily practice is to torment and kill Reformists and so his Villany ring the more in the ears of the world he hath joyned as equivocal with the word Heretiques VVitches a more ignominious name thereby to instigate people the more against them and so by this means will not be seen to kill men for matter of Religion for then men would resist and help one another but under the name of VVitches he melteth away every one that hath but a smell of the reformed Religion and the world perceiveth it not this is that Grand Witch the VVhore of Rome the Pope and his train And these Inquisitions before mentioned sent out by the Pope have for the confirmation of their villanous Doctrins Inventions set forth great Volumes of horrible lyes and impossibilities
or rather by some Scotish man blinded by some Scotish Mist who desired to set forth his own Tenents for the upholding of Popish errours and Popish Writers sufficiently confuted before by Scot in his Discovery of Witchcraft he not being able any whit to answer Scot in his Discourse laboureth to uphold false Tenents and Doctrins by the authority of a King because he could not finde any thing in the Scriptures to uphold them or to answer Scot as wee may read in the Preface that his whole aime is at Scot whom he falsly chargeth with the Tenent and Affirmation That there is no such thing as Witchcraft whereas Scot in all his whole Book saith no such thing but only that Witchcraft is a craft of deceiving and seducing the people and not of killing and making barren and raising Winds and such like Inventions he that readeth that Preface and seeth how Scot is first and chiefly aimed at in the whole Work might presently expect that in the Work he should finde Scot notably confuted or at the least in some way answered but reading over the VVork he shall finde not one thing or other answered at all but only a bare affirmation of such Tenents without any ground or warrant of the Scripture which Tenents were confuted by Scot by the Scriptures so that for any man to answer that Work of the Author at large were only to do that which Scot hath already done in confuting Bodinus and others and whereas this Author pretendeth a refutation of Scot he hath done nothing else but written again the same Tenents that Bodinus and others had before written and were by Scot confuted like an obstinate Disputant that rather than he will not hold his Argument though never so foolish he will deny the Conclusion One Disputant wisely and plainly proveth that a thing is and the other foolishly saith still it is not or one proveth that a thing is not and the other foolishly still saith it is by which way of arguing a childe may hold an Argument against a learned Doctor though never so false Yet for the answering of the Tenents of this Author in that Work First he saith in his first Book as also in the Preface That Witches can by the help of the Devil cause to be brought unto them all kindes of dainty Dishes for their delicious maintenance and yet say I how many poor lean starved people have been executed in several places for Witches and for the truth of this Doctrin he bringeth no place of Scripture to prove it but only affirmeth it to bee true for these reasons First The Devil is a Thief and delighteth to steal Secondly He is a Spirit and therefore can subtilly and suddenly transport the same from whence and whither hee will by which way of argument rejecting the Scriptures a man may affirm for truth any vain imagination be it as absurd as this former as that the Devil is a Thief and therefore hath a Mountain of Gold which he hath taken out of every mans Purse and heaped up in Hell which he being a Spirit hath easily transported from the earth and therefore are so many men hastening to Hell because there is abundance of Gold But if such foolish Arguments as these were of any force what need then any Scripture to teach us the truth But if we examine the truth of this Doctrin by the Scriptures it will prove for want of ground in Scripture very phantastical and in opposition to the truth of the Scriptures very blasphemous for hereby we should yeeld still that what was done by the Angel of God in miraculous manner bringing food to Elijah 1 King 19.6 may be done by the Devil bringing variety of food to them that serve him and whereas God by a Miraculous hand brought his people through a barren Wilderness and fed them in that Wilderness the same thing might as well have been done by the Devil who saith he can bring his servants all manner of dainty dishes This that is already written were enough to disable and make voyd all the three Books of Daemonologie written by this Author but yet for the satisfaction of such as will expect a Methodical answer I will begin with his Works in order as they stand and in brief shew the vanity of them as for example he saith in his Epistle to the Reader Sorcery and VVitchcraft are different from Magick and Necromancy and yet in the first Chapter of the Second Book he saith the Maid spoken of in the sixteenth of the Acts was a VVitch because she had the spirit of Python and yet we finde in the Scripture that they that had the spirit of Python were also Necromancers how then can this distinction hold that VVitchcraft differeth from Necromancy for by that distinction a Pythonist were a VVitch and a Necromancer not a VVitch yet what was the Pythonist of Endor but a Necromancer pretending to consult with the dead and Necromancy was the pretence of all that were said to have the spirit of Python that was that they consulted with the Souls of the dead as in Plutarch and also in holy VVrit as in Isa 8.19 it is manifest in any Tongue but our English which in Tremellius translation is to this sense for when they shall say unto you Ask counsel of those that have the spirit of Python or the imposture of Oracling and of South-sayers should not a people ask counsel of their God Shall they ask counsel of the dead for them that are living so then it is plain this distinction is wholly dissonant from Scripture and that this Author wrote not according to Scripture but by phantasy and imagination And now for his First Book and the whole discourse of it he layeth this foundation he produceth these places of Scripture to prove that there is such a thing as Witchcraft and Witches Exod. 22.18 1 Sam. 15.23 Acts 8. Acts 16. and here he never searcheth the sense and meaning of these Scriptures but proveth that Witches are which thing no man denyeth and yet mark but his proofs Exod. 22.18 which is taken for a Jugler or one that worketh false Miracles to deceive and seduce in the same sense is to be understood Acts 8.9 10. concerning Simon Magus who was a Jugler and Magician Jugling being one main part of Magick in the Scripture discourse such were Pharaohs Magicians which Magicians this Author distinguisheth from Witches and yet would prove by these places that there is such a thing as Witchcraft and Witches so likewise 1 Sam. 15.23 Rebellion is as the sin of Divination from hence hee would prove Witchcraft also and yet his distinction denieth that Necromancers whose main drift was to give Divinations by consulting with the dead are Witches and this is the sum of his first Chapter where any wise man may see how he hath lost himself in proving and not able to prove that which is easily proved and that which no man denieth That there is
Notes saith Terrificum animal id est draco Those were all only such Creatures as do commonly inhabit desolate places The Prophet speaking in the former verse of desolation that should come upon the Land and indeed the Devil hath least to do in desolate places and is most busied where people are most but had Zim and Iim been the proper names of Devils it had not made any thing to the purpose to prove that the Devil walketh up and down in corporal appearance for it is said Revel 2.13 that the Devil dwelt at Pergamus and yet it is not meant that he was there seen at all to appear in any shape but was there in the hearts and works of wicked men but such is the manner of all that are tainted with Popish Tenents that they would have people conceive of the Devil that he is some ugly terrible Creature to look upon some black man with a pair of Horns on his head and a Cloven Foot and a long Tayl or some monstrous Beast that inhabiteth in Woods and walketh about in the night to scare people and this doctrin is maintained by Popish Writers least people should discern that the Devil is in all their Popish Doctrins and actions and in the hearts of all Popish seducers and deceivers of the world Further in this his Third Book he talketh of Incubus and Succubus as if it were an undoubted truth that the Devil lyeth commonly with Witches of both Sexes having copulation with them but for this he hath not the least Scripture nor the least seeming Argument but only constrained extorted belyed nullified Confession of poor condemned people which is the only Argument for all the devillish Tenents of all Writers of this sort and yet they begin with Scripture saying Thou shalt not suffer a Witch to live and upon this they raise a long discourse contrary to all Scripture and truth and possibility all which they will father upon the Scriptures and yet when they are pinched by dispute to prove their Tenents by Scripture they fly off to confession this confession I say is in all the discourse of this Author his only Argument which is no Argument and yet he pretendeth his discourse to be grounded on the Scriptures and in that pretence in his last Chapter he concludeth his whole discourse with the Law of God saying Therefore these people ought to be put to death according to the Law of God whereas yet in all his discourse he could not produce the least jot or tittle of the Law against any such kinde of supposed Witches as he talketh of nor the least colour of argument to prove his supposals in all the Law or all the Scriptures without misconstruing the Law of God and the Scriptures So much for this Author Cooper answered THe second English Writer upon this subject is one Thomas Cooper a Minister who himself being infected with the common Popish tenent sent forth by Pope Innocent the Eighth and Pope Julius the Second and affirmed by Bodinus and other bloudy Inquisitors mentioned in my Second Book that Witches are Murtherers and such as can raise Winds and do things impossible by the help of the Devil This Cooper instead of being himself a Minister to instruct and teach the people in Gods Truth grounded in Scriptures he became a bloudy Inquisitor to finde out Witches that is a bloudy Persecutor of the poor and an accuser of them to be Witches who by his blinde zeal in this kinde did cause many to be executed for Witches as he confesseth in his first Book the first Chapter and sixteenth Page and after this he reading Mr. Scots Discovery of Witchcraft which he was no way able to confute by Scripture nor to answer him truly hee being galled in his Conscience and netled in his minde concerning his reputation in the World which he feared he should loose if his wickedness should be convicted and laid open instead of humbling his Soul before God and begging pardon for his sin he wrot a Book in defence of his errours called the mystey of Witchcraft wherein he hath as others have done pretended to confute Scot and to that end hath writ down many Popish inventions adding thereunto many of his own foolish imaginations without one jot of Scripture to prove or ground any of his Tenents and after long discourse of meer lyes and imaginations in a pretence of holy Zeal yet quite contrary to Gods truth yea I may say imaginations resisting Gods holy Spirit of Truth hath thought it a sufficient confutation of Scot to fetch him over with an use of reproof as appeareth in his first Book the eighteenth page just as if a man should preach contrary to the Scriptures that Idols are gods and labour to prove it by experience as this Cooper laboureth to prove his Tenents concerning Witches or to prove it by the example of such as have been slain because they would not fall down before an Idol and worship it as this Cooper laboureth to prove his errours concerning Witches from the example of many that have been executed for Witches and then should fetch them over with an use of reproof that say Idols are no gods and after this groundless use of reproof this Cooper goeth on still in a frivolous discourse without any Scripture to prove his Doctrin and at last laboureth to shew that Juglers are Witches which no man yet did ever deny if they were such as wrought false Miracles to seduce the people as Jannes and Jambres and Simon Magus and Elimas the Sorcerer but he laboureth to prove that common Juglers are Witches that do work their Tricks of Activity saith he by a Familiar which yet saith he are no real Miracles but they hurt the Eye and thicken the Air saith he whereby they make things seem to be really done that are not done which thing for a Jugler to do that is to hurt the eye and touch it not and to thicken the Air were a Miracle it self but to clear these vain Fancies who knoweth not that Juglers do play their Tricks only by the slight of hand called Cleanly Conveyance or Legerdemain and what common Jugler that hath gone about to Fairs or Markets to shew his Tricks of Activity to get Mony will not in private for a shilling shew any Trick that he hath acted openly and shew how it is done to the satisfaction of any man that desireth it and that without a Familiar or the least appearance of any such vain Phantsy as fools imagine But yet if I should take it for granted that these common Juglers are Witches and do work their Feats by a Familiar Devil as he affirmeth yet what doth that make towards the proving of these poor and aged and lame people to be Witches that have so commonly been said to be Witches What Tricks of Activity have they shewed either in Fayers or Markets or in publick or in private surely if they had been Condemned for Witches for any such
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
A Perfect Discovery OF WITCHES SHEWING The Divine Cause of the Distractions of this Kingdome and also of the Christian WORLD Justitia Thronum firmat PROV 29.14 The King that faithfully judgeth the poor his Throne shall bee established Very profitable to bee read by all sorts of People especially JUDGES of Assizes Sheriffes Justices of the Peace and Grand-Jury-men before they passe sentence on those that are condemned for WITCH-CRAFT By THOMAS ADY M.A. London Printed for R. I. to bee sold by H. Brome at the Gun in Ivy-Lane 1661. The Reason of the Book THe Grand Errour of these latter Ages is ascribing power to Witches and by foolish imagination of mens brains without grounds in the Scriptures wrongfull killing of the innocent under the name of Witches unto which Idolatry and bloud-guiltiness being as bad or worse than the Idolatry of the ancient Heathen men are led as violently by fond imagination as were the Ephesians to the worshipping of Diana and of the Image which as they blindly thought fell down from Jupiter Acts 19.35 It is reported by Travellers that some People in America do worship for a day the first living Creature they see in the morning be it but a Bird or a Worm this Idolatry is like the Idolatry of this part of the World who when they are afflicted in Body or Goods by Gods hand they have an eye to some Mouse or Bugg or Frog or other living Creature saying It is some Witches Impe that is sent to afflict them ascribing the Work of God to a Witch or any mean Creature rather than to God Mr. Scot published a Book called his Discovery of Witchcraft in the beginning of the Reign of Queen Elizabeth for the instruction of all Judges and Justices of those times which Book did for a time take great impression in the Magistracy and also in the Clergy but since that time England hath shamefully fallen from the Truth which they began to receive wherefore here is again a necessary and illustrious discourse for the Magistracy and other People of this Age where I intreat all to take notice that many do falsly report of Mr. Scot that he held an Opinion that Witches are not for it was neither his Tenent neither is it mine but that Witches are not such as are commonly executed for Witches A Candle in the Dark The First Book shewing what Witches are in the Scripture-sence throughout the Old and New Testament The Second Book shewing how grosly the Scriptures have been mis-interpreted by Antichrist concerning Witches by which interpretation he hath made the Nations go astray With a confutation of those Errours The Third Book touching some erroneous English Writers who have upheld the same Errours which Antichrist hath broached to the world Also the Works of a Scotch-man called The VVorks of King James With an addition of fifteen Causes also a reference to Scot and also the opinion of Luther concerning Devils Also an instruction to Lawyers Errata PAge 11. line 3. for Magnus read Magus p. 15. l. 21 for 6 Chron. r. 2 Chro. p. 22. l. 1. for Prophets r. Prophetess p. 28. l. 23. for magis r. magi p. 30. l. 11. for inchantation r. incantation p. 38 l. 15. for little r. liche l. 19. for tax r. tap thrice in the same page in p 48. l. 8. for Charms r. Charmer p. 76. l. 33. for equivocately r. equivocally p. 77. l. 8. for Scopula r. Scapula over p. 79. for Oracle giver r. South sayer so over p. 87. Necromancer should not be The Second Book Pag. 92. l. 5. for drew r. grew p. 96. l. 10 for inquisitions r. inquisitors p. 106 l. 8. tor superstitions r. suspicions p. 122. l. 35 for quem r. quum p. 124. l. 15. for an r. and p 129 l. 15. or preternatural r preternatural p. 136. l. 28. for any sort r. every other sort p. 145. l. 30 for discovered r. discoursed p. 146. l. 36. for and by them cast on can cure r. and by them can cast on or inflict and cure diseases p. 147. l. 4. for send r. teach p. 170. l 17 for endicat r. indicat Reader take notice that most of these faults are mended with Pen and Inke already TO THE Prince of the Kings of the Earth IT is the manner of men O heavenly King to dedicate their Books to some great men thereby to have their Works protected and countenanced among men but thou only art able by thy holy Spirit of Truth to defend thy Truth and to make it take impression in the heart and understanding of men Unto thee alone do I dedicate this Work intreating thy most High Majesty to grant That whoever shall open this Book thy holy Spirit may so possess their understanding as that the spirit of errour may depart from them and that they may read and try thy Truth by the touchstone of thy Truth the holy Scriptures and finding that Truth may embrace it and forsake these darksome inventions of Antichrist that have deluded and defiled the Nations now and in former Ages Enlighten the World thou that art the Light of the World and let Darkness be no more in the World now or in any future Age but make all people to walk as Children of the Light for ever and destroy Antichrist that hath deceived the Nations and save us the residue by thy self alone and let not Satan any more delude us for the Truth is thine for ever To the Reader SIR IF you be a courteous Reader I intreat you that what weaknesse and imperfections you shall think you espie in this Book from the Author thereof you passe them by for the Truths sake whereupon this Book treateth Secondly if you be so discourteous as to carp and censure then I intreat you to carp only at me and not at the Truth lest you resist the truth Thirdly I intreat you to Read my Book thorow before you cast it by for otherwise Sir it may argue weaknesse in your self to slight the Book before you see the Argument It is one of the vanities of the World to write many Books and when a man hath taken pains to write few men will take the pains to read which Solomon intimateth Eccle. 12.12 but Sir if you find no leasure to read and consider then I pray find no leasure to gainsay or to argue against Fourthly for all places of Scripture alledged in this Book if you shall search our English Translations and not find them to carry the sense which I drive at in my discourse I intreat you either to search the Originall or else to look upon the Latin Translations of Junius and Tremellius which carry the true sense of the Originall as it was written by the Spirit of God Your Friend T. A. Non quis sed quid To the more Judicious and Wise and Discreet part of the Clergie of ENGLAND Joshua 7.11 THese words Israel hath sinned are not so to be understood as if Israel had been free from
he could not because God gave him no warrant and he knew it was in vain to do it without warrant yet Balaam transgressing the word and command of God shewed to Balak the only way to bring a Curse upon Israel indeed and that was by seducing them to Idolatry and causing their God to bee angry with them as appeareth Numb 24.14 where it is to be marked That although in that verse this counsel of Balaam to Balak is not set down at large yet the effect thereof appeareth in the next Chapter and also in Revel 2.14 and Jude vers 11. where we may see that Balaam for reward taught Balak to lay a stumbling-block before the people to cause them to fall that stumbling-block were the Idols of Moab which they being defiled withall brought down the frowns of God upon them Numb 25.3 but to hurt them with Charms or Incantations was a vain and Idolatrous superstition of Balak and if Balaam had answered his expectation he had been indeed a Jugling Witch The manner of Heathen Kings was to strengthen themselves in their Kingdom as they thought in their Idolatrous credulity by these Inchantments supposing that if their inchanting false Prophets which were also Planetarians and South-sayers and Jugling deluders did but utter their Inchantments being pretended Prophecies and cursings artificially composed against their enemies that then their enemies should fall before them and this is manifest in the Scriptures not only of Balak but of the King of Babel and of the Chaldeans Isa 47.12 Stand now with thy Inchantments wherewith thou hast laboured from thy youth if perhaps thou maist profit if perhaps thou shalt shew thy self strong This also was Ahabs Idolatry when he desired Micaiah to Prophesie good unto him against Ramoth Gilead thinking by vertue of ungrounded Prophecie which had been but a meer composed Charm hee should prevail 1 King 22.13 Here may arise a Question Whether every one that curseth his Neighbour be a Witch or not according to this Sixth description in the text To this I answer That all blessing and cursing is not the formal essence of an Inchanter for every one ought to bless Luke 6.28 and he indeed that curseth his Neighbour saying A Plague take him or I would he might break his neck or never come home again is a cursing railer like Shimeâ— and a wicked breaker of Gods Law for we ought to pray for our enemies but all this kinde of passionate cursing doth not make an Inchanter or Witch but that blessing or cursing that maketh an Inchanter or Witch or is of the essence of an Inchanter is the professed craft of composing blessings and cursings whereby they drew the people a whoring after them making them beleeve that by vertue of Charms whomsoever they blessed were blessed and whom they cursed were accursed as Balak and his Princes being trained up in that kinde of Idolatry thought and said of Balaam and had Balaam answered them according to their expectations he had been an Inchanter or Witch or false Prophet this description of a Charmer as also all the nine terms of description of a Witch in the text being only descriptions of false Prophets that seduced the people and whereas Gods Prophets blessed in the name of the Lord as Isaac blessed Jacob or cursed or pronounced a Curse as Elisha against the forty and two Children 2 King 2.24 and in all this and in all other Prophesyings they did nothing of themselves nor could any whit transgress the Word of the Lord so on the contrary false Prophets would give Divinations for rewards without any warrant or command from God as Balak supposing Balaam would doe sent the reward of Divinations Numb 22.7 that is there to be taken he sent the reward of Inchantments or Incantations for Divinations against any man that is unwarranted Prophesying against any man is Inchantments Divinations properly pretending Predictions and manifestation of things hidden being the Second description but to use any composure of Divining words thereby to cause any thing to come to pass as Balak thought Balaam could do and as Ahab thought Micaiah could doe is Incantation or Inchanting here Here may arise another Question Whether was Balaam a Witch or not as some have supposed Answ If he was a Witch it must be according to some one term of description in Deut. 18.10 11. but which of these can we call him Inchanter he was none for he refused to do it although he was offered a reward Surely Balaam was a Prophet of God whom Balak thought could bring things to pass by his own power he not discerning the power of God All that we read of him in uttering of his Parables was to this end That Israel was blessed and Incantations or Cursing could not hurt them 2 The History is a real Prophecie acted by Balaam by Gods appointment concluding all in this one Doctrin That the only way to bewitch Israel was to lay stumbling-blocks before them to insnare them with sins and to bring down Gods Judgements upon them Numb 24.14 Revel 2.14 yet the calling of this a Prophecie seemeth to be contradictory to the Scriptures for how could he be said to be a Prophet of God that taught Balak how to bring a curse upon Israel but if we mark well the History it may seem to some to be ful of contradictions as in Numb 22.12 God said to Balaam Go not and vers 20. Rise up and go with them and vers 22. The wrath of God was kindled because he went and vers 34. Balaam said If it displease thee I will return home again and vers 35. The Angel said Go with the men what is the meaning of this go not and yet go so often repeated That is go not according to the hire and request of Balak to play the Inchanter but go to do the work of a Prophet to shew the vanity of Balak his thoughts who thinketh that words can prevail either to Bless or to Curse without warrant from God and so Balaam as a Prophet obeyed the Lord and did as the Lord commanded him as appeareth in all the History but yet it appeareth Revel 2.14 hee taught Balak to lay a stumbling-block before the people was that the part of a Prophet yea according to the fore-named seeming contradictions it was and it was not for in the truth of the Doctrin that he delivered to Balak that that was the only way to bring a Curse upon the people to cause them to commit Idolatry it was the part of a Prophet but in that it became a snare to Israel it was the part of a Witch or a false Prophet yet God would have such a thing come to pass by his Prophet for the full illustration of this Doctrin in the Scriptures for our sakes that no Inchantment can hurt us but the only thing that can hurt any man is sinning against God as God hath taught us elsewhere Deut. 28. the fourteen first verses the only way to be
blest is to keep the Commandements of God and from vers 15. to the end of the Chapter the only way to be accurst is to disobey God and break his Commandements And whereas Balaam was blamed and afterward slain for teaching this Doctrin so plain to Balak who abused it to insnare Israel yet God hath taught us the same Doctrin that we might know with Israel and by Israels example that nothing can hurt us but sin So we may conclude of Balaam that he was a Prophet and yet acted the part of a Prophet and a Witch both at once at least a Prophet in that his Doctrine was true a Witch in that hee taught Balak to play the Witch that is to draw the people to Idolatry according to the First description which is the very essence of Witchcraft and although God would have this thing come to pass for our instruction yet this was the errour of Balaam That hee had laid open to Balak the way to bewitch he people and in this only he transgressed he did that which God had not commanded him as some other Prophets did besides him 1 King 13.18 19 22. To this Sixth description of a Witch in the text is referred that place in Jerem. 23.10 so commonly falsly interpreted as falsly translated Because of Oathes the Land mourneth as if it were meant of common Swearing which although Swearing be a wicked thing yet what room is there in that place for Swearing unless yee will bring it in abruptly by head and shoulders what coherence is there Tremelius ttanslateth it thus The Land is full of Adulterers and because of Execrations the Land mourneth Execrations is there taken for Incantations being by a Synechdoche put for all kind of Witchcraft being an inseparable companion of Idolatry Adulterers are taken for Idolaters in a Spiritual sense and the false Prophets that used these Incantations to seduce the people are spoken of vers 1 11 13. who being false Prophets or Witches had defiled the Land with their several seducing Witchcrafts leading the people to Idolatry and in this practice of Charming Execrations they were seducers of the people to repose confidence in ungrounded and unwarranted composures of words to bring things to pass which words so composed are meer Incantations or Charms In this Sixth description of a Witch in the text or under the term of a Charmer is contained Conjurers who are Witches only in this sense That they pretend that by vertue of words they can do many things and amongst the rest that they can by vertue of words command the Devil which yet is but a meer cheating delusion to deceive poor Idolatrous people who do more credit the vertue of words than they credit the truth of Gods Word which foolish practice is sufficiently confuted Acts 19.13 certain Exorcists or Conjurers did take upon them to name over them that had evil Spirits the name of the Lord Jesus saying I adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth and the Evil Spirits answered and said Jesus I acknowledge and Paul I know but who are yee Paul and the rest of the Apostles did indeed cast out Devils in the Name of Jesus but not by the bare naming of Jesus but by the spirit and power of Jesus but if words could have done it then those Conjurers might as well have done it and then every one that could but imitate the Apostles and the Prophets and speak the same words or the like might work Miracles but God will have it known otherwise as appeareth in this place of the Acts aforesaid That no words spoken but the power of God bringeth things to pass This was the manner of Idolatrous Heathen to repose great confidence in Charms and they that studied this practice of making and composing of Charms to seduce the people to this kinde of Idolatry were Witches according to this Sixth description in the text Utens incantatione If we do but read of the Heathen we may see in many places how they Idolized Charms or Incantations Plutarch saith That Aganice the Daughter of Hegetoris Thesali being skilful in the course of the Planets fore-told to certain credulous people an Eclipse of the Moon and they had such confidence in Charms that when they saw it came to pass they beleeved that Aganice had with Charms plucked the Moon from heaven Like to that in Virgil Eclog. 8. Carmina vel Coelo possunt deducere Lunam Carminibus Circe socios mutavit Ulyssis Frigidus in pratis cantando rumpitur anguis Inchantments pluck out of the Skie The Moon though she be placed high Dame Circes with her Charms so fine Ulysses Mates did turn to Swine The Snake with Charms is burst in twain In meadows where she doth remain Notwithstanding the Prophet David telleth us That the deaf Adder heareth not or regardeth not the voyce of the most skilful user of Charms Psal 58.5 where he alludeth with deriding to the vain conceit of the Heathen who reposed such confidence in Charms and imputed such power to words This Heathenish Witchcraft to cause people thus to Idolize Charms is still practised by the Pope and his Train their whole form of Religion both in publike worship and common practice consisting of Charms of all sorts and of that very specifical difference of Incantation or Charming which is called Conjuring and if we look in the Masse-book and if you search Durandus you may finde Charms abundance and he that is loath to take so much paines let him but look Mr. Scots discovery of Witchcraft the twelfth Book the ninth Chapter and so forwards where he hath neatly set forth the Witchcraft of the Pope and his Train in the manner of their several Charms though not exemplifying the tenth part of them I will also shew you three or four of them which Master Scot hath also rehearsed with many more The first shall be the Amulet that Pope Leo said he had from an Angel who did bid him take it to a certain King going to Battel and the Angel said that whosoever carried that Writing about him and said every day three Pater nosters three Avies and one Creed shall not that day bee conquered of his enemies nor be in any other danger ghostly or bodily but shall be protected by vertue of these holy Names of Jesus Christ written with the four Evangelists and the Crosses between them ✚ Jesus ✚ Christus ✚ Messias ✚ Soter ✚ Emanuel ✚ Sabbaoth ✚ Adonai ✚ Unigenitus ✚ Majestas ✚ Paracletus ✚ Salvator noster ✚ Agiros Iskiros ✚ Agios ✚ Athanatos ✚ Gasper ✚ Melchior ✚ Balthasar ✚ Matthaeus ✚ Marcus ✚ Lucas ✚ Johannes Another Charm of Pope Leo sent to a King having the like vertues in it being read or carried about a man being in an Epistle written by St. Saviour in these words The Cross of Christ is a wonderful defence ✚ The Cross of Christ be always with me ✚ The Cross is it which I do always worship ✚ The Cross of Christ
against poor people in writing and were credulous therein beleeving and teaching such Doctrins that a Witch can send a Devil to possesse and torment people and another Witch can cast him out but if they and all Ministers were led by the Spirit of truth they should know that this deluding Hagge was the Witch and not they whom she accused for what difference was there between her imposture and a spirit of Divination like the Maid in Acts 16.16 formerly mentioned whose spirit of Divination or Oracling was only a Devillish cousening imposture saith Beza and such ought to be put to death by the Law of Moses because they use Divinations pretending the discovery of Witches it being manifest therein that they are the Witches and because they by false accusation murther others such a Maid was lately at Brantree in Essex who practised the same imposture to the astonishment of many and gained mony from the deceived beholders until the report thereof grew stale and fools had done wondering and the concourse of people ceased and her gains came not in and then the Devil did easily leave her and the business almost forgotten and yet no men so ready to put in execution the Law of God against her or any such as against poor people that are accused by such and by fools and hanged up without ground or warrant or possibility of truth This imposture hath wrought strange delusions among the ancient Heathen and the actors thereof did by this imposture delude the people one way very notable was by them speaking in the Belly in the manner aforesaid they would make it seem to the standers by that a voyce came from afar off or from some secret place that that voyce was the voyce of some of the gods and then they would report abroad that in such a place a voyce was heard declaring or commanding such and such matters and the poor deluded standers by would witness and report the same to be true whereas the voyce came only from the deluding Witch that was among them when they heard the voyce as we may read in Plutarch de defec Orac. A certain ship sayling by the Island of Paxis in which ship were some Aegyptians the manner of which Nation was to practise the several impostures of Witchcraft for their advantage and fame among the people there was heard from the shore of Paxis a voyce calling thrice to Thamus by name he being an Aegyptian in the ship Thamus when thou comest to Palos report that great Pan is dead which thing he did When he came near Palos he looked toward the shore and cryed aloud Great Pan is dead then there was heard a terrible sighing and groaning which much affrighted the people in the ship the report of this was speedily testified at Rome in so much that this Thamus was sent for by Tyberius Caesar and so was much taken notice of in the Emperours Court and although many were deluded by that voyce which was so heard by the men in the ship and did much dispute about it what it should signifie yet they that do rightly understand the imposture of Hariolating or speaking in the belly may easily conceive that Thamus himself was the man or some confederate with him that spake the voyce and made that mighty groaning at the last thereby to delude the people and to make himself famous as some great Man to whom some of the gods had spoken and whereas it was about the time that Christ was Crucified And some would have it that that voyce was really spoken by some strange Spirit and might signifie Christ I yeeld thus farre that Thamus himself might have heard the same of the passages of the Life and Death and Resurrection of Christ and might speak of and concerning Christ not that he beleeved in Christ but would tell some notable thing in his own deluding way for the magnifying of himself among the people implying that he was the man to whom such a voyce should come from the gods and whereas he said Great Pan is dead it was because the Jews were the posterity of Shepherds and the Heathen had feigned Pan to be the god of Shepherds thus might he mean Christ as the Maid in the Acts ch 16.16 acknowledged Paul and his Doctrin not by belief but thereby to uphold and countenance her imposture among the people for her own fame and gain so might this Impostor mean Christ although nor he nor any other did ever conclude any thing fully concerning the meaning of that voyce but left it doubtful as all Oracles of the Heathen were insomuch that some told Tiberius that it was spoken from the gods of one that was risen up between Mercury and Penelopa Thus did Thamus by his imposture get himself fame at the Emperours Court which was the thing he aimed at and left superstitious fools disputing of an ambiguous Oracle It hath been credibly reported that there was a man in the Court in King James his days that could act this imposture so lively that he could call the King by name and cause the King to look round about him wondring who it was that called him whereas he that called him stood before him in his presence with his face toward him but after this imposture was known the King in his merriment would sometimes take occasion by this Impostor to make sport upon some of his Courtiers as for instance There was a Knight belonging to the Court whom the King caused to come before him in his private room where no man was but the King and this Knight and the Impostor and feigned some occasion of serious discourse with the Knight but when the King began to speak and the Knight bending his attention to the King suddenly there came a voyce as out of another room calling the Knight by name Sir John Sir John come away Sir John at which the Knight began to frown that any man should be so unmannerly as to molest the King and him and still listning to the Kings discourse the voyce came again Sir John Sir John come away and drink off your Sack at that Sir John began to swell with anger and looked into the next rooms to see who it was that dared to call him so importunately and could not finde out who it was and having chid with whomsoever he found he returned again to the King the King again had no sooner began to speak as formerly but the voyce came again Sir John come away your Sack stayeth for you at that Sir John begun to stamp with madness and looked out and returned several times to the King but could not be quiet in his discourse with the King because of the voyce that so often troubled him till the King had sported enough So much for this Eighth term of description of a Witch in the text Ariolus a South-sayer The Ninth term of Description THe Ninth term of Description is Necromantis a Necromancer that is in the sense