sorts of witches are nominated by nine terms of description 10 Where is it written that there are any other sorts of Witches than such 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 Iunius 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 siliam 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 chabher 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 thechajeh 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
cause them to provoke God to anger and to strike them in his displeasure and this is the Doctrin we ought to learn by the History of Balaam yea this is the only Witchcraft that is summarily included in all the Nine tearms of Description Deut. 18.10 11. being the discourse of my first Book and to shew any proof of any sort of Witches in the Scriptures I challengeall Witchmongers yet some will forsake the Scriptures and confute me strongly with a repetition of some of Bodins lyes or the like Stories telling them for truth But for all such as do still labour by Objections Cavils Inventions and Imaginations to uphold the old Traditions and Errours of that grand Witch the Pope and his Train concerning Witches and their Power and not rather to cleanse the world from these Doctrins of Devils let them take heed that the saying belongeth not to them that Stephen spake to the Jews Acts 7.51 Yee stif-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears yee do always resist the Holy Ghost as your fathers did so do yee As it is written 2 Thes. 2.10 11 12. because yee received not the love of the truth that yee might be saved for this cause God hath sent you strong delusiâ—ns that you should beleeve a lye that they all might be damned who beleeved not the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness A Conclusion HE that groundeth his Opinion upon Phansie and Human traditions and reports without light and rule of the Scriptures is like a man groping in the dark who for want of light rusheth his face against the door But if any man will forsake blinde imaginations and be guided by the light and rule of the Scriptures he shall finde by them that Witches are only false Prophets who used several deluding impostures to deceive the people according to the whole Discourse of the first Book of this Treatise and these were not poor men and women such as are commonly executed for that falsly-imputed Crime of Witchcraft but were open practicers of their several Witchcrafts to delude and seduce and those had not their Craft from a Familiar or by making a League with the Devil as hath been commonly imagined but were in a manner learned and used Books written for that purpose to teach them their manifold impostures whereby to gain a maintenance among the people by making them beleeve they were Prophets as wee may read Acts 19.19 many of them being converted by the powerfull preaching of the Gospel brought their Books and burnt them before the people these Books containing such subtile devices as were practised then by the false Prophets or Witches of the time to deceive the people and now adays by the Popish Rout and by our common Wizzards But now for the thousands of people that have been executed for Witches in several parts of the World by the common manner of fond false accusations at whose hands will God require their bloud but at the hands of the Whore of Rome and of those that have joyned with her in her abominations Revel 18.24 In her was found the bloud not only of Saints but of all that were slain upon the earth This doubtless must be understood of those that are unjustly slain and who are they but such as are slain by wrongful accusations which wrongful accusations are occasioned by the devillish Doctrins wherewith she hath defiled the Nations Further I say That this Doctrin of Witches power is the main strength of Antichristian policy for whereas that Romish Whore knoweth that in all Nations the Civil Magistrate will hold his power and not resign it to her to have absolute power to kill for Religion she maintaineth this damnable Doctrin to this end that under the name of Witches she may melt away all whom she feareth or suspecteth will be opposers of her Antichristian pride and herein she ingageth the Civil Magistrate by her subtill Doctrin to cut off whom she pleaseth and how can that be said to be a Government for the defence of peoples Lives and Estates where contrary to all Law these Villains can steal away both life and estate from whom they please except from such as are in places of Dignity or so well esteemed in Common-wealths or have such friendship among the potent of the Land that thereby they are able to withstand their Adversaries and these poor accused people have no redress or help at the hands of the Magistrate but he who ought to be their Defender is bewitched and ingaged against them he is taught indeed not to suffer a Witch to live but never truly taught who and what are Witches and that many times they that ingage him by their lying Doctrin are the very Witches themselves aimed at in the Scriptures that ought not to be suffered to live THE THIRD BOOK SHEWING The vanity of some English VVriters concerning VVitches BOdinus Hyperius Hemingius and other Popish Bloud-suckers mentioned before in the Second Book of this little Treatise having defiled the World with their abominable inventions contrary to the sense and truth of Gods Word their devillish Doctrins being already declared sufficiently to be wholly dissonant to the Word of God yet some of our English Writers who otherwise might seem to have been wise and learned men have defiled their Pens with these groundless Phantastical Doctrins which VVriters are briefly these The first is Iames Bishop of Winton setting forth three Books called Daemonology in the name and title of the Works of King Iames and whether the Bishop or the King were the Composer of that Work I stand not to argue which VVorks are collected out of these Popish Writers before mentioned which the Author acknowledgeth in the Preface to his Book where he alledgeth Bodinus Hyperius and Hemingius for confirmation of the truth of the matter contained in his VVorks but not a jot of Scripture is produced in all the VVork if rightly interpreted to prove it to be truth and yet the Author himself confesseth of Bodinus that his Book of Daemonomanie is collected with greater diligence than composed with judgement and truly I wish every wise man that desireth to be resolved in his judgement concerning these Opinions to observe that passage or if he be such a one as can read and search the severall Writers of this subject of Witchcraft let him observe the variety of their Opinions how few of them do agree in one tenent or in their manner of writing by which it is easily concluded that all their traditions are but Phantsies contrary to the sound of Gods Word even as a wise Judge examining several Witnesses of one thing if he findeth not their testimony to agree he concludeth that they compacted together to witness a thing false and truly although wise and learned men have been deluded by these lying inventions yet compare but their Opinions one with another and also with Holy Writ and you shall finde that all their Opinions are but one monstrous Devil striving
same thing over again before the said Magistrates and many other Gentlemen and Gentlewomen to the shame of those Ministers who had taken the testimony of the Devil 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 accusâ—tion 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 their speaking in the Belly in the manâ—â—r 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 fame 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 Iews were the â—osterity of Shepherds and the Heathen had feigned Pan to be the god of Shephâ—â—ds 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 lest 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 Iames 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 Iohn Sir Iohn come away Sir Iohn 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 Iohn Sir Iohn come away and drink off your Sack at that Sir Iohn 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 〈◊〉 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 Iohn come away your Sack stayeth for you at that Sir Iohn 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
and Flouds acting as a man and so in Mat. 4. Luke 4. the Devil tempting of Christ is introduced in the story as speaking like a man this is used sometimes in Parables as in Iob from the seventh verse of the first Chapter to the twelfth also Chap. 2. the six first verses and in Gen. 3.1 1 King 22.21 in these and many places by this Figure speaking and discoursing verbally and Human action is ascribed to such as it doth not properly belong so that it appeareth to those that rightly understand that this objection also is of no force but yet still for those that are obstinate I say let them prove a League or Covenant by the Scriptures between the Devil and a Witch or that the Devil hath power or permission to perform such a Covenant if made Eighthly Some again will object and say If Witches cannot kill and do many strange things by Witchcraft why have many confessed that they have done sucâ— Murthâ—rs and other strange matters whereof they have been accused To this I answer If Adam and Eve in their innocency were so easily overcome and tempted to sin how much more may poor Creatures now after the Fail by perswasions promises and threatnings by keeping from sleep and continual torture be brought to confess that which is false and impossible and contrary to the faith of a Christian to beleeve Some indeed have in a melancholly distraction of minde confessed voluntarily yea and accused themselves to bee Witches that could do and had done such strange things and wonders by the help of the Devil but mark well their distemper and you shall finde that they are deeply gone by infirmity of body affecting the minde whereby they conceit such things as never were or can be as is often proved by experience among Physicians many of those dying in a very short time although they be not put to death except they be cured by the Physician and truly if such Doctrins had not been taught to such people formerly their melancholly distempers had not had any such objects to work upon but who shall at last answer for their confession but they that have infected the mindes of common people with such devillish doctrins whereby some are instigated to accuse their poor Neighbours of impossibilities contrary to the Scriptures and some drawn to confess lyes and impossibilities contrary to Christian light And indeed vain and fickle are the mindes of such disputants who do first of all father their vain opinions upon the Scriptures pretending that they are undoubted truths grounded upon the Scriptures saying Thou shalt not suffer a Witch to live but being shewed their errours how they wrest the Scriptures will rather forsake the Scriptures which are the rule of righteousness then forsake their Opinions and will beleeve confession against the Scriptures Some men will yet yeeld thus farre that these Confessions of poor accused people do many times extend to impossibilities and that they verily beleeve that the Devil deludeth these people making them beleeve that he bringeth to pass such things as they require him to do which yet would come to pass by Divine providence Some again do so Idolize the Devil as that they affirm that these things are real and do withall cry out Great is the power of the Devil and yet for any of these Opinions can produce no Scriptures to prove them but only Confessions and although those Confessions are sometimes â—xtorted sometimes voluntary in poor melancholy or distracted people sometimes in wicked people who delight to make the world wonder at lyes or impossibilities though it be to their own confusion they being given over by God and so the Devil seeing his opportunity instigateth them to be his Instruments to uphold all lying Diabolical Doctrins so that no true beleeving Christian but may discern that all theâ—e Confessions are from the Devil the Father of lyes yet I say Suppose with these Confession-mongers that these Confessors are deluded by Satan to think they do such things by the help of the Devil yet where do we read in Scripture that such are Witches who are deluded by Satan or that such should be slain or put to death we read indeed that Witches were all sorts of deluding false Prophets but not such as were deluded by Satan Secondly If you will still affirm that their Confessions are real truths and not delusions but that they do indeed bid the Devil do such things which as yee say he doth yet how can yee prove it by Scripture where is any such description of a Witch in the Scripture but surely it is most horrible devillish forsaking of the Scriptures to beleeve that there is any truth at all in these Confessions and such people as are thus seduced by Satan to lying Confession ought rather to be taught better knowledge than to be slain in their ignorance and perish altogether for lack of knowledge but it is and hath been the manner of these latter Ages for a Minister to go to such and instead of instructing them whereby they might become instruments of saving their souls they urge them to lying Confessions and so do as much as they can to send the spirit of errour into them to their confusion yea and for the most part these men who uphold their errours by the Confessions of these poor accused people do altogether mis-interpret their Confessions for the upholding of such lyes for the broaching whereof they have formerly mis-interpreted and belyed the Scriptures for let but any man that is wise and free from prejudice go and hear but the Confessions which are so commonly alleged and he may see with what catching and cavelling what thwarting and lying what flat and plain Knavery these Confessions are wrung from poor innocent people and what monstrous additions and multiplications are afterward invented to make the matter seem true which yet is most damnably false and flat against Christian light and human reason to beleeve And for such as can hardly beleeve that Melancholy or distemper of body and troubled phantasie can cause people to imagine things so really as to confess them to their own destruction though most false and impossible set them but consider the late example of a grave Minister about the Isle of Ely who by a troubled phantasie was so deluded or rather did so delude himself by weakness of Phantasie and imagination as he reported that an Angel told him that the Judgement Day should be upon the next Friday by which report many of the Inhabitants were much troubled till the day was over if then a grave Minister may be mis-led by Phantasie and distempered minde how much more plain common people who have such Accusations brought against them as are sufficient to break their brains Further I say that if the man of sin spoken of in the second to the Thessalonians chap. 2. had not broached these errours to the world these Confessors had had no such lying imaginations to confess for
men and the impetuousnesse of the times and the authority of such Writers as hee calleth the learned as that although hee hath writen some Truths in preaching 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 â— a Witch upon vain Phantasie and carnal reason â—â—perstitious imaginations and foolish traditions withâ—riptures which by the Scriptures we are taught to 〈◊〉 only to God yes men dare do so and Ministers dare 〈◊〉 so And this is the condemnation that light is come into â—â—rld and men love darkness rather than light But now to 〈◊〉 to the man himself of whom I have written sparingly 〈◊〉 Gaule if this work of mine shall come to your hand as 〈◊〉 hath come to mine be not angry with me for writing 〈◊〉 Truth I am sure you shall get more estimation among 〈◊〉 Beleevers more favour with God and do more good in â—rists Vine-yard by acknowledging your error and by emâ—cing Gods Truth than by being carried away with the â—ams of these fâ—ouds of iniquity that have over-flowed the â—istian world You say in your second case pag. 24. It is 〈◊〉 to observe any specifique difference of Witches in 〈◊〉 you acknowledge the subject to be difficult to write 〈◊〉 Sir I have given you full specifical descriptions of â—em according to the Scriptures then although Sir you be â—arned in other things disdain not to learn of me the truth 〈◊〉 this subject I doubt not but if you had first read my Book â—ur own Book had been more perfect Suffer not a Witch to 〈◊〉 Prestigiatricem a Jugling person that worketh false Miracles to seduce the people to Idolatry Exod. 22.18 Ioâ—is destroying of Witches 2 King 23 24. what was it but â—â—lling down the Idols with their Adjuncts Oraclers and â—uth-sayers that were the Idol Priests that seduced the peoâ—â—e Examine the places which are your own quotations 〈◊〉 Sir I intreat you in Christs name that as you have â—â—en fervent for Gods Cause with Apollos Act. 18.25 so learn 〈◊〉 me the way of God more perfectly as he did of the Diâ—iples vers 26. fare-well Sir the Spirit of God be your faâ—â—iliar Spirit to guide you in the truth Non quiâ— Sed quid Master Ciffard 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 susficiently 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 distemâ—ered 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
of the Clergie of ENGLAND Ioshua 7.11 THese words Israel hath sinned are not so to be understood as if Israel had been free from all other sins but only that of Achan and yet that sinne of Achan was the sinne that kindled the anger of God against Israel so likewise 2 Sam. 21.1 David had been an adulterer Ioab was a murderer Shimei a rayler Sheba a wicked man of Belial and many sins were in Israel at that time and yet the sinne that kindled Gods wrath and brought the famine was the blood-guiltiness of Saul as appeareth in the Chapter and verse aforesaid so likewise 1 Kings 16.30 Ahab was more wicked than all that were before him yet the sin that cost him his life and his crown was murthering of Naboth Chapter 21.19 so that it is easily gathered that some one abominable sinne doth sometimes more provoke God to anger against any particular man or against a Nation than all other sinnes that are commonly committed Then you that should be as messengers from God in that you cry against sinne in generall yee do well but in that yee seek not out this cursed Achans wedg that hath defiled England and the Christian world look to it betimes lest it be laid to your charge if the Nations perish for lack of knowledg Your Friend T. A. Non quis sed quid A PREFACE SInce the time that I have tryed to bring truth upon the stage of the world to be censured by all men I being acquainted with but few in comparison of all and some of them knowing my intent to put this discourse in Print I have neerly guessed by common discourse amongst them what the censure of this book will be that is it will be the same among many that it is among few for among few I find some so reasonable in their discourse that when they find by argumentation that there is reason and grounds in the Scripture for what I write they upon second cogitations and deliberate musings have yeelded to this truth and some of them very learned Some again after some serious argumentation being fully convinced that this is the very truth yet doe still suspend their censure till they see how it will be approved of by others by which they shew they are ready at all times to beleeve as the Church beleeves and to pin their opinion upon the sleeve of other mens judgements A third sort there are who at the first onset of discourse do think themselves so surely grounded and this truth so groundlesse and vain an opinion as that they cannot speak without disdain as great Goliah spake to little David and thus they beginne in fury O grosse what madnesse is this what will you deny the Scriptures what answer you to this Thou shalt not suffer a Witch to live but when they are so suddenly answered and suddenly convinced that this place of Scripture maketh nothing for them and that this their great Champion-argument hath so soon received a stone in the forehead they either let their discourse fall to the ground like Goliah and slight this as a new opinion or else they runne away cowardly like the host of the Philistines and forsake the Scriptures which they first pretended should be their only weapon to fight withall and betake themselves to their leggs runing into some vain story taken out of Bodinus or Bat. Spineus or some such popish vain writer and report that it was done in Lancashier or in Westmerland or in some remote place farre off and that they heard it credibly reported from men of worth and quality and so they ingage me to answer to a story which they would compell me to beleeve or else to goe see where it was done but if it happeneth as often it doth that I make it appear by Scripture that it is absurd or impossible not to be reported by a Christian or that I shew them the story in any of the aforesaid Authors who have been the Authors of many vain fables then they presently fly to another story as vain and absurd as the former and that being answered they fly to another saying Sir what do you answer to this in which manner of disputes I have heard sometimes such monstrous impossibilities reported and affirmed to be true for they had it by credible report as would make the Angells in Heaven blush to hear them Therefore setting aside all such unscholar-like way of arguing I desire all to argue by the Scriptures and I will answer or to answer by the Scriptures and I will argue by the Scriptures as followeth in this Dilemma A DILEMMA THAT Cannot bee answered by VVITCH-MONGERS Luke 4.4 8 12. CHrist who is our forerunner Heb. 6.20 by whose holy Spirit the holy Scriptures were written whose words were of equall truth and authority with the Scriptures Yet when he was to conquer the father of lies the Prince of darknesse not for his own sake but for our example although hee was able to have argued by common reason beyond the wisedome of Solomon yet being tempted would not answer any one temptation without Scriptum est it is written because the Scriptures are the only rule of righteousnesse whosoever then will take example by him to try the Truth by Scriptures and to argue by them as he did in this place of Luke and not by strange reports which are the objects of vain credulity let them answer me by Scriptum est 1 Where is it written in all the old and new Testament that a Witch is a murtherer or hath power to kill by Witchcraft or to afflict with any disease or infirmity 2 Where is it written that Witches have Imps sucking of their bodies 3 Where is it written that Witches have biggs for Imps to suck on 4 Where is it written that the Devill setteth privy marks upon Witches whereby they should be known or searched out or that any man or woman hath any mark upon their body any more than natural or by some disease or hurt which is preternatural 5 Where is it written that the tryall of a Witch should be by sinking or swimming in the water or by biggs or privy marks or suspition of people to be signes of a Witch 6 Where is it written that Witches can hurt corn or cattell or transport corn by Witchcraft or can fly in the aire and do many such strange wonders 7 Where is it written that a Witch is such a man or woman that maketh a league with the Devill written with his or her blood and by vertue of that covenant to have the Devill at command 8 Where is it written that any man or woman was called in the Scripture strix or lamia or where is any word of such signification or importance either in the Hebrew text or in the Latin translation where is a Witch said in the Scriptures to be any such kind of person 9 What is a witch in the scripture sense according to Deu. 18.10 11 where all
that should presumptuously take upon them to speak any thing in Gods name which God had not commanded or to speak in the name of other Gods that such should be slain and these nine appellations in the tenth and eleventh verses are not tearms of distinction but several terms of description whereby to discern false Prophets or Witches whom the Lord would have cut off from among his people and therefore the Lord describeth them in the tenth and eleventh verses sheweth the destruction of the Nations that hearkened to them in the 12 13 14. verses where also he commandeth his people to be holy and not like those Nations promiseth that his people should always have a true Prophet amongst them to hearken unto in the 15 16 17 18. verses which although it was fulfilled in Christ chiefly Acts 3.23 yet it is meant and also verified of all the rest of the Prophets that were successively Messengers of Christ from Moses till the coming of Christ in the Flesh commandeth them to hearken to such a Prophet in the nineteenth verse but for all false Prophets the Lord will have them cut off in the twentieth verse and setteth down a trial and a discerning rule between a true Prophet and a false Prophet that speaketh in Gods Name in the one and twentieth and two and twentieth verses as appeareth orderly in the chapter who so pleaseth to read it And now to come to the Exposition or Interpretation of these two verses Deut. 18.10 11. and of the nine appellations or descriptions therein contained And first for the first Let there not be found among you any that maketh his Son or his Daughter to pass through the fire this is the first description whereby God describeth a Witch or a false Prophet and in what manner this should be a description of a Witch or false Prophet that we may the better understand I must first define what a Witch is and then come to the matter The Definition of a Witch or a certain Demonstration what a Witch is for the vulgar capacity A Witch is a Man or Woman that practiseth Devillish crafts of seducing the people for gain from the knowledge and worship of God and from the truth to vain credulity or beleeving of lyes or to the Worshipping of Idols So likewise for the definition of Witchcraft WItchcraft is a Devillish craft of seducing the people for gain from the knowledge and worship of God and from his Truth to vain credulity or beleeving of lyes or to the worshipping of Idols That it is a Craft truly so called and likewise that it is for gain is proved Acts 16.16 19. the Maid that followed Paul crying brought in her Master much gain and that it is a craft of perverting the people or seducing them from God and his Truth is proved Acts 13.6 7 8. â—limas the Sorcerer laboured to pervert the Deputy from the Faith So likewise Acts 8.9 10 11. verses it doth more plainly prove all in these words And there was a man before in the City called Simon which used Witchcraft and bewitched the people of Samaria saying that he himself was some great man to whom they gave heed from the least to the greatest saying This man is the great power of God and gave heed unto him because that of long time he had bewitched them with Sorceries How bewitched them with Sorceries That is seduced them with Devillish crafts as the Greek and also Tremelius Latine Translation do more plainly illustrate in this sense speaketh Paul to the Galathians 3.1 O foolish Galathians who hath bewitched you that you should not obey the truth and that a Witch or Witchcraft is taken in no other sense in all the Scripture it appeareth by the whole current of the Scriptures as you may see in this Book But now to return to the Text. Deâ—â— 18.10 11. THe first description of a Witch in the Text is Let there not bee found among you any that maketh his Son or his Daughter to pass through the fire Here we must uote that there was in those days a great Idol of great request among the Heathen the name of which Idol was Molech and was first set up by the Ammonites 1 King 11.5 and by them called Milcom and from thence grew in request and defiled a great part of the world who were generally led after it to Idolatry insomuch that the Kings and Nobles of the earth did sometimes make their Sons and their Daughters pass through the fire in honour to that Idol as Manasses did 2 Chron. 33.6 and how that passing through the fire was or in what manner is questionable Some think they burnt them in the fire as Burnt-offerings to that Idol because it is said Deut. 12.31 they burnt their Sons and their Daughters in the fire to their gods and also in Psal. 106.38 But although that was one Grand Abomination amongst the Heathen sometimes to burn their Children in Sacrifice to their Idols upon some extraordinary request or Petition made to their Idols for the obtaining of some great matter which was also forbidden the people of Israel in that place of Deuteronomy 12.31 yet that is not the meaning of this place in Deut. 18.10 but only that they made them pass through the fire as an Idolatrous Ceremony whereby they dedicated them to their Idol Molech And this is the most allowable Exposition for otherwise they must have bereaved themselves of Children but we read that Manasses was not left childless for Ammon his Son reigned in his stead 2 Chron. 33.20 but yet in what manner soever it was that they made their Children to pass through the fire the scope and meaning of the text Deut. 18.10 is That they should not be Ring-leaders to Idolatry as in Levit. 20.5 whosoever did give his Children to Molech was to be slain with all that followed him in his Idolatry they that followed him to Idolatry were to be slain as Idolaters but he that gave his Children to Molech to make them pass through the fire is chiefly named here to be slain as a Ring-leader of other men to Idolatry and is in Deut. 18.10 reckoned amongst Witches according to the definition of a Witch afore-shewed Witches being in all the Scripture-sence only Seducers or inticers of the people to Spiritual Whoredom and here in the Text Moses speaketh Per Synecdocen of one Idol for all all one as if he had said Let none be found among you that is an inticer or ring-leader of the people to Idolatry in which sence all Idol Priests are Witches and are stiled so in common Scripture phrase 1 Sam. 6.2 the Philistims called their Priests and South-sayers together for the setting up or upholding of any Idol is the Grand Witch-craft of all and the very Mother of all other Witch-craft and it is most probable the Priests of Molech were first devoted to that service by using that Ceremony of passing through the fire and all that did in like
heat of your body and it will make any mad Bull or other Cattel of that kinde to fly from you and to run very farre away from their pasture to the admiration of the beholders Take a peece of paper and rub one part of it with fresh Lemmon peele and dry it again a little and then dip your Pen in Inke that is made of stone blew steeped two or three days in cold water and write upon the place that had the tincture of the Lemmon peele and it will write a pure bright red and then with the same Pen and Inke write upon another place of the paper and it writeth blew whereby there is caused great admiration in the beholders to see a man with one Pen and one and the same Inke write red and blew Albartius Magnus and also Misaldus do write of many wonderful things that may be done by the knowledge of Natural causes or the secrets of Nature which although many of them be false yet for such as are true they may bee lawfully done and therein we may glorifie God in beholding the wonderful Works of his hands in the secret causes of things But now for the abuse of these things as namely by the doing of these things to seduce the people by making silly people beleeve we do them by a miraculous power thereby pretending our selves to be Prophets as did Simon Magus in the Acts this is right Jugling Witchcraft or to make the people beleeve that they are done by the power of some Idol thereby to seduce the people or any way to affront the Prophets by comparing them with true Miracles to withstand the truth as Pharaohs Magicians did were right Witchcraft So likewise for the Oyntment called Unguentum armarium or Weapon salve that is an Oyntment made of such ingredients as by anointing the Weapon wherewith a man or beast is wounded it healeth the Wound if it be true by certain experience as many Phisitians and Chyrurgions do affirm it may lawfully be used and we may glorifie God in the use of it who hath given such excellent secret qualities to the Creatures which are made for the use of man Also Iacob used the peeled rods which by their secret operation being set before the sheep in the heat of their Generation caused them by beholding them in their conceiving to conceive and bring forth party coloured Lambs but if any man shall use these secrets to this end to make the people beleeve they are Prophets and do them by a miraculous power that so they may seduce the people to errour under a. colour of working Miracles such men are seducing Witches Thus a Planetarian abusing the lawful Science of Astrologie may become a Witch not only under the notion of a Planetarian but of a Jugler as for instance Pedro Mexia a Spanish Historian writeth of one Columbus who coming to an Island in the new-found World called Hispaniola desired Traffick with the Natives for Victuals which they denying he told them they should all dye of the Plague and for a sign hereof they should see the Moon as red as bloud at such a time and contrary to her former condition afterward they beholding the Moon eclipsed at the same time fore-told by Columbus and knowing no rules of Astrologie they beleeved his words and craved pardon and brought him supply of Victuals This was but a remiss degree of deceiving Witch-craft or rather a Cheat because it tended not to Idolatry but yet in the act it self pretending falsly a miraculous power it was Jugling Witch-craft It is now fully demonstrated what a Jugler is in the Scripture sence but yet Moses mentioneth both Sexes in the Scriptures 〈◊〉 it is written Exod. 22.18 Praestigiatricem◠ne sinito vivere suffer not a Jugling Woman to live This is not any thing different in Nature from Praestigiator a Jugling man but only in Sex as if he had said As you ought not to suffer Jugling seducing men to live so likewise if there be a Woman found among you that useth this craft of working false Miracles to delude and seduce the people to Idolatry although she be the weaker Sex to whom mercy might seem to be due yet suffer her not to live all one in sence with that Levit. 20.27 where Witches of both Sexes are mentioned in one verse If a man or woman be a giver of Oracles or Divinations or a South-sayer they shall be put to death yet whereas Moses in all the Law speaketh more fully of Witches in the Masculine than in the female Sex it confuteth that common tradition of people that Witches are most of the female Sex Here I am compelled for the satisfaction of some that are so weak in capacity that they will rather stand to cavil in a disputative way than to understand things that are not in themselves disputative but demonstrative to demonstrate some few of the most admired Tricks of common Jugling First A Jugler knowing the common tradition and foolish opinion that a familiar Spirit in some bodily shape must be had for the doing of strange things beyond the Vulgar capacity he therefore carrieth about him the skin of a Mouse stopped with feathers or some like Artificial thing and in the hinder part thereof sticketh a small springing Wire of about a foot long or longer and when he begins to act his part in a Fayr or a Market before Vulgar people he bringeth forth his Impe and maketh it spring from him once or twice upon the Table and then catcheth it up saying would you be gone I will make you stay and play some Tricks for me before you go and then he nimbly sticketh one end of the Wire upon his waste and maketh his Impe spring up three or four times to his shoulder and nimbly catcheth it and pulleth it down again every time saying Would you be gone in troth if you be gone I can play no Tricks or Feats of Activity to day and then holdeth it fast in one hand and beateth it with the other and slily maketh a squeeking noyse with his lips as if his Impe cried and then putteth his Impe in his breeches or in his pocket saying I will make you stay would you be gone Then begin the silly people to wonder and whisper then he sheweth many slights of activity as if he did them by the help of his Familiar which the silliest sort of beholders do verily beleeve amongst which he espyeth one or other young Boy or Wench and layeth a tester or shilling in his hand wetted and biddeth him hold it fast but whilst the said Boy or silly Wench thinketh to enclose the peece of silver fast in the hand he nimbly taketh it away with his finger and hasteneth the holder of it to close his hand saying Hold fast or it will be gone and then mumbleth certain words and crieth by the vertue of Hocus Pocus hay passe prestor be gone now open your hand and the silly Boy or Wench and the
yet not a Witch but he that is a wilful upholder of Horesies or any vain unprofitable Doctrin only to draw people to a head to uphold his own gain and so for gain maketh the people to miss of the sincerity of Religion although he be no Impostor nor bringeth himself within the compass of the punishment due to a Witch from the Civil Magistrate because he doth not use impostures or any of the Nine Witchcrafts described in the text yet in his intent he maketh gain his end and perverteth souls in a smooth pretence of holiness I know not how his final intention differeth from the final intention of a Witch that is gain by seducingâ—the people nor whether he or a Witch shall have the greatest condemnation at the last day Acts 20.30 for it appeareth in vers 20. following the text that a false Prophet considered distinctly from the foresaid impostors is in the same Condemnation and the same with a Witch and ought to be censured by the Civil Magistrate to dye as a Witch meerly quatenus a false Prophet for although he bee described by his several impostures before in the text yet the bare using of impostures maketh not a Witch unless by them he be a false Prophet as is demonstrated more fully in the Fifth description so then the Formalis ratio of a Witch or that which maketh him to be a Witch is because he is a false Prophet so that it followeth that as every wilful false teacher or wilful upholder of Heresie or any vain unprofitable Doctrin to seduce the people for gain differeth not in his final intention from a false Prophet so by the same reason he differeth not from a Witch and although he cannot always be convicted by the Magistrate yet in Gods sight he is a very Witch Our English Translators not knowing the difference of the terms of description in the text by the several impostures therein implied according to the intent and meaning of the Scriptures have used words promiscuously one for another without expressing the true and full meaning of the Original so well as is exprest by Iunius and Tremelius in Latine as in Deut. 18.10 11. they call a Diviner a Witch and a South-sayer a Wizard expressing specifical descriptions by general words that may be as well given to any of the nine and in Exod. 22.18 they call a Jugler a Witch using the same general expression that they used before for one that useth Divination or a Diviner they call a Planetarian an observer of times a phrase more obscure than can imply the original meaning of the Scriptures they call a Conjecturer an Inchanter and they call an Inchanter a Charmer whereas in the Original and Latine Translations an Inchanter and a Charmer is all one term of description they call an Oracler one that hath a familiar Spirit and that may be as well given to any of the Nine terms in the text by the same reason that all Witches have a familiar spirit according to the common tenent though it cannot be proved that any had any otherwise than the spirit of error ruling in their hearts And 2 Chron. 33.6 there they call using Divinations observing of times which phrase they used before for a Planetarian and if we compare several English Translations wee may finde them much varying one from another in translating of those terms not but that they were good and able Linguists but not knowing the several impostures implyed in these original terms of description could not express them in such apt words in English as if they had known the mystery of iniquity according to the original sense and meaning Gen. 44.5 they translate it Is not this â—he cup by which my Master divineth Here they would make Witchcraft lawful for Divination is Witchcraft but the original sense is nothing so as they translate it look Tremeilius All this argueth that these our ancient Bishops and great Clerks knew not what Witchcraft was in the Scripture sense THE SECOND BOOK IT is manifest that the Scriptures were given by God for a rule for man in this depraved nature to walk by That whereas all Mankinde since the fall of Adam are naturally darkned in their understandings and averse from the truth of God the Scriptures might be a light unto us to lead us in the righteous way of Gods truth And now Christ Jesus the Light of the World in whom are fulfilled all the Divine Mysteries of the Scriptures is come into the world to enlighten the world and whereas before his coming the world sate in darkness and were wholly given to run after Idols and to be seduced by Idol-Priests who practised the several Witchcrafts described in the text Deut. 18.10 11. to seduce the people to Idolatry yet then at the coming and by the power of the coming of Christ who was manifested by Miracles and taught the people by his Spirit of Truth were all those ways of darkness discovered to the whole Word to be lying delusions tending to destruction as is prophesied by the Prophet Isa. Chap. 8. hee speaking of Witches and their delusions and the darksome errours and evils accompanying them from the nineteenth Verse to the end of the Chapter immediately in the two first Verses of the next Chapter he prophesieth of Christ the light of whose coming should destroy the ways of darkness in these words In the way of the Sea beyond Jordan Galile of the Gentiles the people that sate in darkness shall see great light and upon them that dwell in the Land of the shadow of death shall light shine forth and thus it was fulfilled at his coming The Nations that were given to Idolatry and seduced by false Prophets being Idol-Priests and deluding Witches were so enlightned that all Idolatrous delusions were discovered the Oracle of Apollo and of all Idols drew dumb Simon Magus and Elimas the Sorcerer and all bewitching false Prophets were confounded and all these Instruments of darkness grew out of request among the people being clearly discovereâ— that they were all Lyars and used lying delusions to deceive the Nations And notwithstanding this perfect rule of righteousness in the Old and New Testament written by the Prophets before the coming of Christ and at his coming finished by him and his Apostles yet such is the obstinacy of mans darksome nature that men will carry a Candle of their own in their hands even at Noon-day imagining they can by their own wisdom finde out truths that are not written in the Scriptures and that their Candle will enlighten them more than the beams of the Sun when it shineth forth in its full strength Like a silly Labourer that counting the day by a Pocket Watch whose Wheels being out of Kilter went too fast he had such a conceit of his Watch that he affirmed That the Sun in the skie went too slow for his Watch was known to be true Thus do men play with the Scriptures preferring Human traditions beyond
their Confessions are not from themselves but from the Devil that so he might delude them that love not the truth but do urge and seek such Confessions against the truth as it is said in the eleventh verse For this cause God shall send them strong delusions that they should beleeve a lye c. Ninthly Some will object and say They have helped search and have found Biggs and privie Marks upon such as have been accused to be Witches but I demand of them Where doth the Scriptures teach us that a Witch is known by Biggs or privie Marks I also answer That very few people in the World are without privie Marks upon their bodies as Moles or stains even such as Witchmongers call The Devils privie Marks which Marks Astrologians do affirm to be the characters of the Stars variously fixed upon men according to their Nativity and many an honest man or woman have such excrescences growing upon their bodies as these Witchmongers do call the Devils Biggs as for example There is a Disease often found in men or women in the seat of people called Hemorroids or Piles or the swelling of the Hemorroids veins a Disease well known to Physicians many times swelling forth in the seat of people that are ful of Melancholy bloud and are often found in fashion like Biggs and sometimes issuing forth bloud and for this Disease many have been accused by ignorant people and put to death for Witches this was part of the Evidence that was brought against Master Lewis a Minister executed at Berry in the year 1645. There are also found often times Excrescences upon the Bodies of men and women called Verrucae pensiles by the Physicians as we may read in Leonartus Fuchsius in the third Book of his Institutions of Physick chap. 26. where he reckoneth up the several preter-natural tumors of mens Bodies these are a certain kind of long fleshie Warts in fashion of Biggs or Teats and do grow commonly on honest people or any sort of people and upon Beasts and yet for these Excrescences being but outward tumors of the Body many innocent people have been condemned and executed Another Tumor is found by the Physicians called Thymion both in Greek and Latine rising on several parts of the body like Biggs or Teats these and other kindes of preternatural Tumors of which we may read in Physick Authors which sometimes being fell and full of pain by reason of the rankness of bloud that feedeth them and therefore issuing forth bloud are called of ignorant Witchmongers Devils Biggs There be also some Natural parts of the Body called by a general name Glandulae and by a particular name Tonsillae in the jaws of people and in some people do plainly appear under the Tongue like little Biggs which some ignorant Witchmongers having found in people have taken them as a great evidence against poor innocent people and for these have many been executed but let any wise man consider what body of whatsoever constitution especially of poor people that commonly want food can spare a daily exhausting of bloud to nourish Imps sucking them without an exhausting and over-throwing of their own Natural lives whâ—reas few poor or old people but through want of nourishment and weakness of nature have rather want of bloud than an overpluss of bloud There be also often found in Women with Childe and in Women that do Nurse children with their Breasts and in Women that by any accidental cause do want their menstruous courses certain spots black and blew as if they were pinched or beaten which some common ignorant people call Fairy-nips which notwithstanding do come from the causes aforesaid and yet for these have many ignorant Searchers given Evidence against poor innocent people But if any man will yet further cavil against Philosophy and Physick Rules then let him shew me any such description of a Witch in all the Scriptures as Biggs or Teats or privie Marks or Imps sucking them or kept by them and further I say that for any kinde of Biggs or any things like Biggs more than hath been found by Physicians to be preternatural Tumors or Diseases of the Body or else Natural parts to beleeve is folly and madness and to affirm is a phantastick Lye invented by the Devil and the Pope Tenthly Some men will Object and say If Witches have not power to afflict and torment and kill People and Cattel how cometh it to pass that after the angring of such an old man or woman or such a lamâ— man or woman that came to my House and desired relief and I rated her away and gave her no relief or did not give her that which she desired such and such crosses and losses came upon me or such a Childe was taken in such a manner with such a Sickness presently after or within few days after his or her coming to my door To this I answer They that make this Objection must dwell very remote from Neighbours or else must be known to give very little or no relief to the poor if it can be said at any time when a cross cometh upon them that one poor body or other hath not been at their door that day or not many days before let it happen at any time whatsoever shall this then be laid to the charge of him or her that came last begging to their door then by that reason no man in England can at any time be afflicted but he must accuse some poor body or other to have bewitched him for Christ saith The poor ye shall have always and I think no man of ability is long free from poor coming to his door Secondly I answer God hath given it as a strict Command to all men to relieve the poor Levit. 25.35 and in the next Chapter it followeth vers 14 15. Whosoever hearkneth not to all the Commandements of the Lord to do them whereof relieving the poor is one the Lord will send several crosses and afflictions and diseases upon them as followeth in the Chapter and therefore men should look into the Scriptures and search what sins bring afflictions from Gods hand and not say presently what old man or woman was last at my door that I may hang him or her for a Witch yea we should rather say Because I did not relieve such a poor body that was lately at my door but gave him harsh and bitter words therefore God hath laid this affliction upon me for God saith Exod. 22.23.24 If thou any way afflict widdows and fatherless and they at all cry unto me I will surely hear their cry and my wrath shall wax hot against thee Thirdly I answer as Aesop saith in a Fable Volunt homines ut plurimum quando suâ culpâ aliquid sibi acciderit adversi infortunam vel daemonem culpam conferre ut se crimine exuant and in his Moral he saith Homâ—nes minâ—me veniâ dâ—gni sunt qui cum liberè peâ—cent fortunam vel dâ—emonem accusant
and which is most dissonant from the Scriptures and so to try them by Gods touch-stone of truth The Conclusion TO conclude you that are convicted of your Errors and yet do make a light matter of it and lay it not to heart was Cain and Ahab accursed for murthering of each of them one man and do yee make it a light matter to have murthered thousands by your ignorant doctrin VVhat will it avail at the latter day that yee have preached and prayed and spread forth your hands and made great stir in pretence of Religion If Christ shall say Depart from me yee workers of iniquity and shâ—dders of innocent bloud if thousands that are wrongfully slain shall rise up in Judgement against you if it shall be said to many Ministers and Preachers of the VVord in that yee have not taught against these abominations yee are partakers in them Causes of upholding the damnable Doctrin of Witches power IF I did not aime at brevity I might enlarge this Volume upon these particulars following which I will only name and leave them being the causes of upholding the opinion of Witches power 1 Some Ministers for want of due examining of the Scriptures have taught in the Pulpits unwarily and inconsiderately the Doctrin of Witches Power as also some have published their Works in print 2 Many Ministers although they are of the contrary opinion yet have neglected to beat down the common phantastical conceit of people concerning Witches power 3 The common hatred that all men do bear to a Witch so that if any poor Creature hath the report of being a Witch they joyn their hand with the rest in persecuting blindly without due consideration 4 The false reports that are commonly raised in that kinde concerning Witches whereby men lead one another like wandring lost Sheep to beleeve lyes it is certain it was done in such a place I have credibly heard it 5 Vain credulity which all men are naturally prone unto ever since Adams Fall that is a Vice whereby men are subject to beleeve every lying report being the ground of infidelity Credula mens hominis erectae fabulis aures 6 Infidelity or not beleeving the Scriptures to be the only perfect rule of righteousness and touch-stone of truth 7 Ignorance of the Scriptures either by wresting them or by neglecting to search them or want of being able to read them or whâ—n they are read want of ability to understand them all such men may be led away with any opinion 8 Generality of opinion maketh weak people and ignorant to argue sure it is safest to say and think as others do 9 Obstinacy in opinion in such as have some weak knowledge let such be beaten from one Argument they will fly to another and beat them from all Arguments yet at last thâ—y will still hold their opinion 10 Melancholly which frameth much representation in the minde of any terrible report or doctrin though it bee groundless and false and causeth it to take great impression in the deluded understanding 11 Timerousness whereby men like little Children and Women especially are afraid of every idle fantastical report that they hear of Witches power especially if they be alone in the dark 12 Crackt Phantasie whereby many a man or woman specially in Sickness have strange Apparitions either in bed or abroad which they report to silly people and are beleeved whereas it is nothing but their broken and hurt fancy occasioned in some by sickness or distemper in some by much Drunkenness in some by a blow on the head and in Scholars sometimes by over-much study whereby they presently conceit and are judged by others to be bewitched or at least to be pursued by a Witch or by a Witches Imps and judge so themselves 13 People that are handled by strange Diseases as Children in Convulsion Fits or Women in Fits of the Mother and the like are by ignorant beholders and sometimes by ignorant Physitians said to be bewitched as were Frogmortens Children said to be falsely 14 Old Wives Fables who sit talking and chatting of many false old Stories of Witches and Fairies and Robin Good-fellow and walking Spirits and the Dead walking again all which lying fancies people are more naturally inclined to listen after than to the Scriptures 15 Another abominable cause is the suffering of Impostors to live such as silly people call Cunning men who will undertake to tell them who hath bewitched them who and which of their Neighbours it was by the delusions of such Impostors many poor innocent people are branded with a report of being Witches by reason of which report coming first from a Witch they are in process of time suspected accused arreigned and hanged A Reference to Mr. Scots Treatise of Spirits and also the Opinion of Luther concerning Devils I Might further enlarge this Volume with a Treatise of Spirits or the nature of Devils concerning which people have much abused themselves for want of knowledge in the Scriptures but for brevity I refer the Reader to Mr. Scot who hath excellently written in the latter end of his Discovery of Witchcraft a Discourse called A Treatise of Spirits also I thought good to adde in brief the words of Luther concerning Devils which are these De phreneticis sic sentio omnes moriones qui usu ratâ—onâ—s privantur à daemonibus vexari non quod ideo damnati sunt sed quod variis modis Satan homines tentat alios gravius alios lenius alios longius quod medici multa ajusmodi tribuunt naturalibus causis remediis aliquando mitigant fit quod ignorant quanta sit potentia jus daemonum Christ us non dubitat curvam illam anum in Evangelio vinctam a Satana dicere Petrus Actorum decimo oppressos a Diabolo dicit quos Christ us sanarat ita etiam multos surdos claudos malitia Satanae tales esse Deo tamen premittente denique pestes febres atque alios graves morbos opera daemoniorum esse qui tempestates incendia frugum calamitates operantur vere affirmamus Summa mali sunt Angeli quid miâ—um si omnia faciunt mala humano generi noxia pericula intentent quatinus Deus premittit etiamsi plurima talia herbis aliis remediis naturalibus curari possunt volente Deo miserente nostri exemplum Iobi endicat quae passus sit a Satana quae medicus omnia naturaliter fieri curari assereret sciendum est igitur phreneticos a Satana tentari saltem temporaliter an Satan non faceret phreneticos qui corda replet fornicatione coede rapinae omnibus pravis affectibus summa Satan proprior nobis est quam ullus credere possit cum sanctissimis sit propinquissimus adeo ut ipsum Paulum colaphizare Christum vehere possit quorsum libet These are the words of Luther and where he saith at the last that the Devil could carry Christ whither he listed it is his errour for