SATHAN TRANSFORMED into an Angell of Light expressing his dangerous Impostures vnder glorious shewes Emplified Specially in the Doctrine of Witch-craft and such sleights of Satan as are incident thereunto Very necessary to discerne the speci-Plague raging in these dayes and so to hide our selues from the snare thereof LONDON Printed by Barnard Alsop 1622. To the right worshipfull Alderman Holiday the worthy Gouernour of the East Indian Merchants together with the prouident Treasures and graue Committees and the rest of the aduenturers in that famous trade All things pertaining to life and godlinesse RIght worthy and beloued in our Lord Iesus Christ It is the wonderfull mercy and exceeding patience of our gratious God towards vs of this sinfull Nation that in the middest of such fearfull stormes and bloody garboyles deuouring our neighbors round about vs wee of this Iland though as it were enuironed round about with such tempestuous seas do yet notwithstanding enioy such temperate seasons as not onely to eate the fruite of our owne labours but to be enabled moreouer out of our aboundance to entertaine and releeue our distressed neighbours And is not the wisedome of God admirable herein to warne vs to looke home when our neighbours house is on fire and to make it our owne case what is common to vs with others Is not his mercy vnspeakeable that seeing charitie couereth a multitude of sinnes and much is forgiuen to those that loue much therefore wee may haue hope of Gods longer forbearance indulgence towards vs so long as we regard the afflictions of Ioseph by our brotherly affections beare one anothers burthen Surely though the sickle must be put in when the haruest is ripe and there are too many signes among vs that the regions are white vnto the haruest yea that the Deere is gone out to go through the land yet euen here I haue obserued these meanes to stay the execution First when there are some remaining to stand in the gap to turne away the wrath Secondly when the Lord is iustified and approued by his word And thirdly when by our compassion and prudence wee doe communicate with the afflictions of our brethren and so voluntarily suffer with them in their distresses Wherein as we haue speciall cause to blesse our gratious God for his good hand with our worthy Nehemiah in this holy worke so are wee wisely to secure our selues in succouring others and doing good while wee haue time to the houshold of faith Shall not Sathan and his instruments herein otherwise condemne vs who if euer heretore do speedily combine them selues against the Lord and his annoynted whose maine policy it is in these latter dayes to disunite the hearts of Christians and to weaken their hands that they may more speedily and easily make prey of them Doe not his croaking frogges those infernall Iebusites compasse land and sea to this end creeping into the chambers yea into the harts of Princes both to exasperate such as are auerse against the poore mēbers of Christ and also alienate euen the well affected from the maintenance of the common faith And doe wee thinke that they haue left any stone vnrowled to compasse the same can we imagine but that these spirits of diuels haue waded into the depth of their fathers methods and as she in the Poet When heauen will affoord no helpe shee 'le moue the infernall powers so in despite of heauen these limbs of Sathan haue now failed to employ the powers of darkenesse for the more effectuall deluding of the children of disobedience And are not these the times wherein if it were possible the very elect may bee seduced and ensnared hereby Is not the wisdome and iustice of God admirable herein that when the Foole saith in his heart there is no God the Atheist dreams of no other hell but to bee in debt and affliction and so plots by all meanes to build his heauen on earth by wallowing in all excesse of riot and vanitie as hereby he reapes such wages of his error as is meet euen to be giuen vp to a reprobate sense and so not onely to all monstrous and desperate wickednesse but euen to maintaine and secure the same against all future reckonings as if he had made a couenent with hell and were at an agreement with death so is he iustly taken in his owne craftinesse and most wonderfully arrested by the power of hell to the apparant confusion of his imagined happinesse and while hee dreames of no other heauen but to doe what hee list in earth hee is not onely therein restrained by the power of heauen to the confusiō of his present hopes for the good of the Saints but also iustly caught in the snares of his owne wickednesse by the power of hell as to beginne and seale hereby vnto him eternall vengeance and to hasten him thereto so that the righteous may more wonderfully escape of our trouble when the wicked are falne into the pit they digged for them Surely as it is a righteous thing with God that they that doe not receiue the loue of the truth shall be giuen vp to strong delusions to beleeue lies so if euer satan were transformed into an Angell of light and so more effectually by his lies and subtilties did deceiue vnstable soules If euer the sure word and wonderfull workes of God were outfaced and suppressed by the sleights and forgeries of the God of this world the experience here of is most notorious in our times to instance in this particular being the subiect of our experience how mightily the Lord hath iustified his word both auouching in these dayes the truth of this doctrine of Witchcraft as also euidencing the power thereof in dissoluing the workes of Satan as experience hath made it manifest so we haue had not onely the great Patrones and friends of the Church confirming the same but euen the Churches verie enemies haue beene enforced to acknowledge no lesse And yet such hath been the efficacy of delusion that this very same most glorious truth vpon other respects as it hath found hard measure among fained friends so it hath also thereby beene traduced and peruerted by it enemies And surely we may the lesse wonder hereat if we consider wisely that as commodities are in request with many according to their diuers humours and different seasons so doth it befall the sacred truth which though it be sometimes in request when it may serue to aduance the pride of the flesh and infancie of religion yet doth it easily grow out of date when either it tends to humble the flesh or iustly challengeth lukewarmnesse and hypocrisie Which as it was the portion of the Lord and master of the Church sometimes to bee cryed vp with Hosanna eftsoones to bee cryed downe with crucifige so hath it beene the lot of the scepter of this kingdome the budding rod of Aaron sometimes to be turned into a serpent in the opinion of man as if it onely entended to
A second generall vse is for Instruction and that First Teaching how to auoyde and remedie the causes of Witch-craft Which are First That grosse and wilfull Ignorance that swarmes in the Land Where is prooued first That this is a maine cause of Witch-craft page 329. 2 How this is to be remedied page 330. chap. 2. A second cause of Witch-craft is Infidelitie 1 This is prooued by many Circumstances page 331. 2 The meanes laid downe how to remedie this euill page 332 chap. 3. A third cause of Witch-craft is Malice declared by many pregnant Reasons page 334. 2 And the particular meanes layd downe to preuent and remedie this mischiefe page 335. chap. 4. A fourth cause of Witch-craft is Couetousnesse as appeareth 1 By many liuely Euidences p. 337 And so we are directed how to remedy this great sinne page 338. A fift cause of Witch-craft is Curiositie heere 1 The Reasons hereof are discouered page 339. 2 And the way declared how to meet with this sinne page 341. chap. 6. The sixt and principall cause of this iudgement of Witch-craft is Pride As appeareth 1 By diuerse pregnant Euidences heereof page 342 and so 2 We are informed how to encounter this mischiefe p. 344. cha 7. A second generall Instruction is to teach vs heereby the truth of our naturall condition that we are the very slaues of Sathan and vessels of wrath page 346 chap. 8. A third generall Instruction heere is to teach vs how wee may be freed from this naturall bondage what is the principall meanes heereunto page 347. chap. 9. A fifth generall Instruction is to teach vs a conscionable and sincere vse of all other meanes of our saluation as of Prayer Sacraments and both concerning Preachers and People page 351. chap. 11. A sixt generall Instruction is to prouoke vs to sinceritie and power of Religion in all our wayes page 352. chap. 12. page 352. A seuenth generall Instruction is to informe vs in the sleights and cunning of Sathan that so we may not be ignorant of his dangerous snares chap. 13. page 353. Eightly heere is matter of Instruction both for the particular triall of our owne estates page 354. As also for the discerning of the true Church of God militant heere on earth chap. 14. page 357. Ninthly wee are heere instructed Both how to behaue our selues in generall vnder the Crosse especially how to carrie our selues in this affliction of Witc-craft chap. 15. page 356. As also how to preuent such snares as are in this Practise of Witch-craft most cunningly layd to intangle and drawe vs to the liking and entertainement thereof page 357. chap. 16. A third generall Vse is for consalation and that many wayes And that generally 1 To comfort the Church of God in regard of the grieuous iudgement of witch craft 360. chap. 17. 2 To comfort in particular such as are afflicted with this Iudgement page 361. chap. 18. The conclusion of the whole Errata Pa. 25. l. 17. for bad reade good 26. li. 2. for preached practised 27. lin 17. for hurt helpe 37. li. 6. for Witches workes 57. lin 8. for imitate initiate 69. lin 4. for promise procure 100. l. 26. for match marke 125. li. 13. mischiefe mistresse 164. li. 21. sometimes societies 160. li. 18 for serue some 292. li. 18. for runne a Rule 302. li. 8. Primitiues Prime Times 339. li. 13. deliuered diuerted 341. lin 14. for with within 344. lin 27. for end euill THE MYSTERIE OF WITCH-craft discouered THE FIRST BOOKE CHAP. I. Of the Occasions and Scope of this Treatise wherein is especially proued that this doctrine of Witch-craft is very necessary to bee handled and prosecuted in these daies DIVERSE haue beene the motiues and occasions which haue lead mee to treatise of this Subiect at this time Some more Generall concerning the diseases of the Time Others Speciall concerning my Selfe The Generall are Because the wise and glorious God by his speciall prouidence in these daies requireth an especiall account of our Faith in this Truth And that in these respects First That we should in thankefulnesse acknowledge his great power and mercy That hath so honoured and iustified the Reuelation of the glorious Gospell of his Sonne Iesus by which this Mysterie of Satan which in former ages hath beene either smothered or peruerted to the further erecting and maintaining of the Kingdome of darknesse is now gratiously and cleerely not onely discouered but further also reformed to the true vse thereof and so wee rightly enformed how to deale therein And so by the power of God the Magistrate enabled to take such course therein as may best serue to the demolishing of the Kingdome of Anti-christ Secondly seeing the Power of the Gospell is thus able to discouer and confound the kingdom of Satan may not this condemne our vnprofitable receiuing thereof who still maske it in our sinnes and will not come out of them whereas the very deuils giue testimony thereunto If they beleeue and tremble if they cannot endure the glorious light of the Gospell if they forsake their holds and confound their Proselites being forced to discouer them by the power of the Word and so to be the executioners of Gods righteous iudgements against them Shall not this bee our condemnation that though light bee come into the world yet still wee loue the darkenesse more then the light wee lesse obey the Gospell then the deuils do wee Angels in name are lesse affected then these infernall spirits wee spurne against Authoritie when these are controuled by it wee continue in our sinnes when these are cut off by the Magistrate wee iustifie sinne when these discouer and vnfold it Surely seeing God is glorifyed in confessing of our sinnes shall not the deuils rise vp in iudgement against vs may not they teach vs to yeeld more obedience to the Gospell And seeing for our disobedience to the Truth it hath pleased the Lord to giue vs vp in his iustice to strong delusions either to rest in the forme of religion denying the power thereof or else to runne backe to Aegypt againe euen to loath this heauenly Manna and so to doate vpon the fitches and onions yea the garbidge and very deepenesse of Antichrist exalting him aboue all that is called God In seeking for helpe vnto Blessers and good Witches as wee call them who being commonly ignorant prophane and superstitious proue verie dangerous instruments for the restoring and encrease of the kingdome of Antichrist As both colouring their Diabolicall practise vnder pretence of holy prayers and naturall meanes and thereby aduancing that lip-labour and formall deuotion the very life of Popery As also by their pretence of great charitie in relieuing so many infirmities iustifying that false Fire of Popish Loue and fained Miracles But especially nuzeling the people in ignorance by their example and corrupt practise and seducing them from the light of the Gospell and such holy meanes as therein are offered
friends for the fellowship and eternall communion of the thrice blessed God that innumerable company of heauenly spirites and soules of the righteous the vnseparable vnion with Iesus Christ their Sauiour But for the wicked if they escape that which they seemed to haue is taken away they grow worse and worse filled with all vnrighteousnesse seuen worse spirits seising vpon them And if they are taken away then is the end of all their vaine happinesse and a full powring out of Gods wrath vpon them SECTIO VI. THus we haue heard wherein and by what meanes the Witches power is restrained Now let vs consider on the other side wherein it appeareth This may be discerned 1. If we consider the Actions proper to their owne persons 2. As also in their Actions towards others Concerning their owne persons First it cannot be denied but that more speedily then may stand with the ordinarie course of nature they may assemble themselues to their meetings or trudge to do any mischiefe as being carried by Satans power aboue the earth or sea speedily for some short space not being seene of any which is not hard for Sathan to do by thickning the Ayre vnder and about them As for any further means whereby they may transport themselues in the likenes of an Hare c. this we haue shewed before to be but a meere delusion notwithstanding any tokens they bring for the proofe thereof But that they may abuse the bodies of such whom they malice to ride vpon them in the night this howsoeuer it bee not impossible yet I take it it may rather prooue a delusion of the parties sence that is thus pretended to be abused then any such reall taking vp of his body out of bed and laying him there againe because this may bee doone with lesse adoe and yet deceiue more effectually Thus of the actions of the Witches towards themselues Touching his Actions towards others Heere consider we these things 1 Their maner of consulting thereon which is vsually in the Church where they meet to worship their maister Heere 1 the Diuell enquireth what each would haue done 2 They returne their particular occasions and businesses 3 Their demaund by Sathan is graunted and meanes propounded and tendred to the execution therof As giuing them powders and poysons cōposed by his skill in the secrets of Nature to take away life to inflict diseases cure the same and especially to cloake his damnable conueiance heerewith Teaching them to make Pictures in Wax or Clay that by the rosting therof the persons wherof they beare the name may continually melt dry away by sickenes And this in a blasphemous imitation of the diuine power who vsed such means to accomplish his miracles the better to colour his diuelish cōueiances which vsually are these 1 To make men and women loue and hate one another a matter possible for him to doe by perswading the corrupt affections 2 To lay the sickenesse of one vpon another as vpon Iob yea to take away life c. by such Pictures though they are no cause thereof It being easie for Satan being a spirit to weaken and scatter the spirits of life whereby through faintnesse the party shall sweate out naturall moisture And so also by weakening the spirits the stomacke shal be weakened whereby not being able to breed new nourishment the old must needs in short time be spent 3 He can raise tempests as hath beene proued before and 4 So to breed madnesse and 5 To haunt men and places with spirits and so by a kinde of obsession to vexe and torment them 6 Yea he can hinder the operations of nature and so may be a means to hinder copulation and so procreation and that not onely in general 1 As corrupting naturall heate that the generating member may not execute accordingly 2 That though it should pierce into the wombe yet the seede being colde may take no effect Or else he may steale away the seed that it shal not passe into the womb But particularly also though the party may haue ability to others yet to serue one for the like reasons he may be impotent not able to performe the worke of Generation and so deny that duety of marriage and so happily produce a nullity thereof vnlesse by Phisicke or some spirituall means his power may be ouerruled for which some time is to be graunted and meanes vsed 7 Lastly it cannot be denyed howsoeuer the world wold obscure the worke of God herein that euen by the meanes of witch-craft Sathan may be sent euen into bodies of men really to possesse them As of olde it was vsuall in the Primitiue Church and the like punishment continuing for sinne the like meanes remayning to remoue the scourge I see not but now it is vsuall in these later times as hath appeared euidently by many instances the Papists themselues acknowledging as much and the Gospel herein powerful to confound Poperie and to iustifie the truth hereof SECTIO VII Of Sathans Policies in the execution of this Power ANd first that he vseth Naturall medicines both for helping and hurting giuing the Badde Witches secret powders and poysons to doe mischiefe withall and directing his White Diuells I meane the Blessers to salues and such like medicines to helpe their Patients withall This he doth Partly to make the Blesser beleeue that it is not Sathans power but rather some vertue in these things that accomplish such rare euents and that so they may be more secure and forget the couenant and thereby accomplish their mischiefes with more delight and greedinesse Partly also to deceiue such as seeke vnto the Witches And that by securing them in the lawfulnesse of this businesse seeing they receiue nothing but lawfull meanes 2 By causing them to put confidence in the meanes seeing through their infidelitie they proue vsually effectuall 3 Thereby to deiect them from lawfull meanes as Phisicke c. 4 And so to nourish them in blasphemie contempt of God and all diuine assistance to abolish all trust in GOD and dependancie vppon him SECTIO VIII He vseth also Prayers for the helping of diseases ANd this as to colour the secret compact more dangerously So To countenance the vaine bablings and repetitions of profane and ignorant persons As also to shew his high malice and derision of these diuine ordinances and so also To mocke and confound the lip-labor and bodily seruice of the carnal christian And so to inferre that all second meanes as Phisicke c. are needlesse and vnprofitable seeing it may bee done by good prayers and this is a maine Ground in the ignorant people to reiect all lawfull helps hence that speech of theirs God hath sent it and he can take it away Wherein Satans meaning is to aduaunce himselfe in their hearts to draw them to his deuotiō by the vse of such praiers c. as being pretended to be from God