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
God exercise mee vsually with continuall buffetings of Satan that so I might be better enabled to discouer his sleights to others Witnesse my diurnall Records to this end which if God continue life and health may serue the common Good Hath not the Lord since wheresoeuer it hath pleased him to pitch my Tent euen there to follow mee with this Tentation to bee assaulted with this pestilent-brood and Deuillish Generation Hath not hee vsed mee as an instrument though most vnworthy to comfort others according to the comforts that haue abounded vnto mee Hath not my gracious God wonderfully deliuered mee from their cursed Traines and made mee able in some poore measure to declare his great mercies to the generations to come And haue I not often Vowed to glorifie God in this behalfe Haue not my meditations and experience beene faithfully stored vp to this end Was I not purposed vpon a speciall occasion of the death of the Ladie HALES procured by Witch-craft to commend such obseruations to Posteritie but that the good knight her husband for reuiuing and continuing of his griefe by that memoriall ouer-ruled that opportunity But is not the Lord mercifull to offer another seasonable and worthie occasion to Pay my Vowes Surely the Lord bee blessed that awakens this secure age daily by renued tokens of his power and displeasure And seeing wee will not obey his Word but reiect the power of it vouchsafeth yet to Preach vnto vs by his wonderfull workes And seeing ordinary iudgements will not awaken vs euen from the belly of Hell hee cries vnto vs and sends forth his euill Angels to vexe and torment vs. Blessed bee his Name that giues vs warning of the great and spirituall plague vpon our soules by these torments vpon our bodies That lets vs see the plague of grosse and palpable darkenesse threatned against vs by these common and fearefull delusions of the Prince of darkenesse Doth not euery Assise almost throughout the Land resound of the arraignement and conuiction of notorious Witches either where grosse ignorance and Popery most aboundeth or where the truth of God is with-held and prophaned by vnrighteousnesse aud hypocrisie Can wee forget the late Assise at Lancaster where no lesse then fifteene were endited and twelue condemned of that horrible crime a Countrie abounding on that part thereof with grosse ignorance and Popery Hath not Couentrie beene vsually haunted by these hellish Sorcerers where it was confessed by one of them that no lesse then three-score were of that confedracie And is not this a place famous for the pride and glorie of the Holy Mountaine And was I not there enioyned by a necessity to the discouerie of this Brood These are the occasions of this ensuing Treatise this is the scope and end thereof And is it not then a word in due season for our present edification Surely seeing the Word and the Sword do verie gratiously sort together the one to authorize and confirme the other Seeing now the sword of the Magistrate is seasonably brandished against these offenders is not the Word encouraged to iustifie that Authoritie which vsually is too fearefull and charitable in rooting out such euils Ought not the Word to encourage the Sword to this glorious worke of detecting and confounding the kingdome of darknesse which especially preuailes by these deuillish charmes And that not onely in the Ignorant multitude and wilfully seduced Papist But euen in the Carnall Protestant and Grosse Hypocrite though they haue receiued the knowledge of the Truth For do wee not generally detaine the truth of God in vnrighteousnesse making a shew of Religion and yet denying the power thereof making our belly our God and the wedge of Gold our hope turning the graces of God vnto wantonnesse and so giuing vp our members as weapons to the seruice of sin do thereby plainely discouer whose seruants wee are euen the bondslaues of Satan who ruleth in the children of disobedience And doth not the Lord very wonderfully discouer our shifts and confound our painted shewes euen by these euill Angels which hee sends amongst vs Doth not our Atheisme on the one side convince our heartlesse and deceitfull worship while wee Plead for Satan and maintaine his Kingdome concluding his preuailings to bee but Counterfaitings his Contracts with Witches to bee but Delusions ascribing his power in afflicing to Naturall Diseases And yet doth not the Lord on the other side reiect our confidence that so our owne tongues and waies may fall vpon vs For doe wee yet feare those Withes whom wee conclude to bee harmelesse hurting rather by our infidelitie then any power of satan or in themselues Do wee not close with them desperately releeuing them with our Almes and so binding them by our charitie and euen Tying them by the Teeth that they may not hurt vs Nay though wee make profession to seeke to GOD alone in our troubles yet when it comes to the Pinch doe wee not runne vnto the Deuill Hath not the Blesser more Proselites and Patients then the Physition yea then the conscionable Preacher The Lord giue vs vnderstanding in these things Where is our Faith in God Is there not a God in Israel that wee must runne to Beelzebub the Prince of darkenesse for helpe Nay where are our Wits and common sence do wee say that Witches haue no power to hurt by Satan And yet doe wee runne to those for helpe Which seeing they haue no calling from God nor vse any such meanes as are Warrantable by the Word it must needs follow that they proceed from the Father of Lies who then hurts most dangerously when hee pretends to helpe And must needes hurt desperately when hee is exalted and adored aboue all that is called God requiring that homage which is onely due vnto God Thus though light bee come into the world though it bee entertained for a season yet men loue darknesse more then the light because their workes are euill and so are iustly giuen vp for their disobedience to this Strong Delusion euen to worship Satan and so to become two-fold more the children of hell then they were before And doth not their example harden the Papist in their Idolatry And yet surely the Iustice of God doth still gloriously appeare in these Children of wilfull ignorance that still stoppe their eaires against the voyce of the charmer charme hee neuer so wiselie That seeing they will not bee conuerted by that milde voyce from Heauen they may bee confounded by this fearefull voyce from hell That they may now discerne their true estate to bee no better then the Deuils slaues led captiue by him at his will by these Good and Bad Witches these hurters and helpers As Trusting to these for helpe for the body and so renouncing the soueraigne and safe remedie of the light of the Gospell for the saluation of soules As fearing the other more then the liuing God and his Vicegerent the Magistrate and so by this slauish feare as with a
destruction and not to edification no better then a doctrine of licentiousnesse or sedition and despaire which eftoones was in esteeme as Angels foode sweeter then honey pretious aboue rubies most orient gems Which seeing it hath beene also the portion of this truth concerning witchcraft is it any maruell if what man opposeth and seeketh to suppresse the Lord himselfe hath powerfully maintaind and iustified as prouing vnto it gainesayers a sauour of death that haue refused to embrace the same as a sauour of life vnto life Surely when I discerne the efficacy of delusion preuailing in these dayes euen vpon such that haue tested of the good word of God and beene pertakens of the enlightning spirit and so haue had some kenning of the power of the life to come and yet are so falue away from conscience yea from science it selfe that they are very strangers from the life of God through their affected ignorance and being willingly ignorant of what they haue formerly beene conuinced of are growne to bee starke-mockers of all powers yet all forme of Religion and so in this their Atheisme sing a Requiem to their soules fearing no other hell then to be mooued in their slippery state and dreaming of no other heauen then to build their foundation in the sands Mee thinkes I see the foolish worldling on the pinnacle of his confidence and so in his greatest security lying open to confusion And do I not see the Iustice of God working wonderfully herein in besotting the foole in his owne wisedome Euen giuing him vp to rest vpon such broken reedes for the securing of his Babel which are the onely meanes to confound the same And hath not the God of the world by diuine permission a speciall stroke in this delusion not only to proue a lying spirit in the mouth of our false Prophets bidding to go THE Particular Contents This Treatise is digested into three Bookes In the Former whereof is contained FIrst the Occasion and scope of this Discourse in Sect. 1. pag. 1. Aud therein prooued that this Doctrine of Witch-craft is necessarie to be prosecuted and ohserued in these dayes Sect. 2. pag. 16. Chap. 1. Secondly it is proued that there haue beene are and shall be Witches to the worlds end both by sound Testimonie 1. from the Word p. 25. 2. from Antiquitie p. 26. 3. from pregnant reasons p. 27. and so snch Obiections answred as seeme to contradict this Truth page 35. Chap. 2. Thtrdly it is declared what Witch-craft properly is where both the Nature Causes and Effectes are briefely opened and applied page 47. Wherein is set downe both that Satan 1. Can worke wonders p. 52. as also 2. The difference betweene true Miracles and Satans wonderfull workes p. 54. 3. And so the diuers kinds of these wonders are discoursed page 55. 4. Together with the intent how farre and in what Cases Satan can effect them page 55 56. Chap. 3. Fourthly is layde open the policie of Satan in drawing and vniting ignorant and vnstable soules to this Art Where first the Occasions are discouered page 57. 2. Hereupon the manner of Satans working and enueighling to this Trade page 58. 3. And of his seuerall Impostures and treacheries therein against the poore soule p. 61. 4. And so of the entring his Nouices into this Schoole With the Vse thereof page 62. 5. It is further manifested by what meanes Satan now confirmeth and detaineth his Proselites in this mystery where 1. Of the Couenant which passeth betweene the Witch and Satan to this end And here first prooued that there is such a couenant p. 65. 2. Of the nature and bruticall bond of the couenant is set downe 3. The diuers kindes of the Couenants are discryed and so the policie of Satan therein further opened p. 68. 4. The ground of the Couenant is searched and therein Sathans policie also detected p. 69. 70. With the Vses thereof p. 72. 5. The Partes of this couenant distinguished 1. What Satan bindes himselfe to doe for the Witch p. 78. 2. Wherein the Witch is bound to the Diuell p. 86. And the seuerall sleights of Satan in each coniectured p. 87. Chap. 5. Sixtly is declared what Ceremonies Sathan doth accompanie this Couenant withall the better to detaine and hold his vassals to the performance thereof Whereof the secret Marke of the Witch p. 88. 2. Of conuenting them into the Church page 90. and there First To renounce their Baptisme p. 91. 2. To offer vp their blood in sacrifice to the Diuell 3. Of kissing Satans backe parts 4. Of carnall societie by Satan with Witches Together with the speciall sleights of Satan therein p. 92. and the Vse thereof page 94. Chap. 6. Seuenthly diuers other meanes are layd downe whereby Satan confirmes his Proselites as Cap. 7. page 124. Diuers kinds of Witch-craft are opened both 1. That which consists in Diuination wherein first is shawed p. 128. That Satan can foretell in some measure things to come p. 129. 2. How farre he may proceed therein page 131. Wherrin is layd downe the difference betweene Diuine and Satanicall predictions page 132. 3. The diuers meanes are discouered whereby Satan foretells things to come as by true Creatures As 1. Flight of Birds page 136. 2. The Intrals of Beasts ibid. 3. The Obseruation of the Starres and heauenly bodies condemned p. 137. with answere to Obiections to Astrologie page 138. 4. Dreames 5. Lots Wherein is set downe the right vse of these things Namely How the Doctrine of the Starres is to be vsed What Dreames are to bee heeded page 144. and so the differeuce between diuine and other dreames manifested p. 135. as also How Lets are to be vsed and heerein the peruerse abuse of these things discouered and reiected p. 149. Secondly it is declared how Satan deceiues and foretels things to come by forged meanes as answering in the shape of a Dead body p. 151. 2. Where it is prooued particularly That the Resemblance appearing to Saul was not true Samuel but Satan in his likenes p. 152. Thirdly it is prooued that Satan also vseth to foretell things to come without meanes and that either by Reall possessing of the soules bodyes of men p. 155. Or else by Obsession and inspiring them with his euill counsels Where particularly is declared the differences betweene Satanicall Reuelations Exthusiasmes And Those true and Heauenly Reuelations wherewith the true Prophets of God were furnished to declare the will of the Lord in extraordinarie times and oceasions page 156. And so the vse thereof commended to the church of Christ Iesus cha 8. It yeeldeth further to declare another kinde of Witch-craft which consists in operation p. 157. And heere first of working Wonders by Charmes that it is vnlawfull Where are answered diuers Obiections seeming to iustifie them and so all sortes of Charmes condemned page 158. c. Either by Words sacred or prophane page 160. Or by making of Characters p. 167. Images Circles Vsing of Amulets Scratching
as confessing that to bee done by them which is done by Satan immediately telling of many things that are vntrue yet doth this the rather argue that they are led by Satan that hee doth many things by their appointment For seeing Satan is a Lyer from the beginning therefore doth hee both teach them to lie 1 That those which yet will depend on them may bee more inexcusable 2 That hee may also by this meanes make a Trade of lying And hee doth also giue them ocsion to lie vnwittingly in confessing that to be done by them which Satan did of himselfe that so hee may hasten them to their deserued condemnation causing their own tongues iustly to fall vpon them both in punishing their will though they did no hurt in this particular and meeting with former hidden wickednesse by this supposed arrogated crime But heere it is replyed that these poore women vse Salues and good prayers to the accomplishment of their cures and therefore neither is it likely that Satan would conioyne with such holy meanes and indeed it is needlesse if these will doe it to admit of Satans assistance thereto To which wee answere that neither are such medicines as are applyed vsually fit for all such cures because commonly they giue but one Salue for all diseases Or if they were why may not Satan vse these to cloke and colour his presence As for prayers neither are they auaileable in regard of the person being vsually prophane popish or ignorant neither indeed allowable to such ends but where other lawfull remedies may not bee had And may not Satan hide heereby his assistance more dangerously May hee not deceiue vnstable soules more desperately Thus it is apparant that there are Witches both by testimonies from the Word and by sound reasons conuincing the same And so Such obiections are answered as seeme to oppugne this sacred truth Now let vs consider further what Witch-craft is CHAP. III. 1 What Witch-craft is 2 Of the causes 3 And effects thereof VVItch-craft is a wicked Art seruing for the working of wonders by the assistance of the deuill so farre forth as God in Iustice shall permit An Art I say it is because it hath it Rules and Obseruations whereon it is grounded especially the Couenant with Satan and the circumstances The Author of these Rules is Satan the Prince of darkenesse raigning in the children of disobedience therfore by his knowledge of diuine duties and malice against God and his children framing these Rules to draw them from the seruice of God to the seruice of the Deuill And conueying these Rules vnto the Witches his chiefe Schollers that they might more easily and familiarly teach the wicked then if Satan himselfe should personally appeare vnto them And therefore it followeth that it is a wicked Art as proceeding from so fearefull a Teacher and tending to so wicked ends As 1 To worke wonders whereby it is proued to bee a Wicked Art as proceeding from that roote of Bitternesse euen a Desire to bee like vnto God to the compassing whereof what more colourable then to work wonders Thus did Satan preuaile with our first Parents and thus hee workes vpon their gracelesse posteritie as being incouraged daily herein by our naturall corruption And that especially discouering it selfe 1 By selfe loue and high conceipt of our owne deseruing which being not answered but rather crossed herein that he that hath most is neuer cōtēted he that hath lesse enuies him that hath more heerevpon Satan laies the foundation of this Art in the heart of man as heereby being perswaded that hee shall worke wonders both to relieue his pouertie and aduance his credit as exceeding all in this though hee come short in other things and hereby compassing the height of his desire Thus did many Popes aduance themselues as Syluester 2. Benedict 8. and Hildebrand This selfe conceit staies not here but as outwardly it affects to bee as a God among men by honour and promotions so doth it also inwardly affect and desire some such meanes whereby it may raigne in the consciences of men And to this end knowing men to affect nouelties doth it therefore in Curiositie search after knowledge and hidden Mysteries which being not supplyed by nature and ordinary meanes are therfore not vnwillingly sought by this forbidden skill And that the rather because hereby being enabled to confirme such new-found knowledge with strange wonderful euents by this meanes doth more strongly bind the conscience detaine in obedience Although all is done by no other meanes but 2 The assistance of the deuill wherby it is further distinguished from all other Arts which produce their effects by vertue of their owne ground not any outward helpe As also especially seuering heereby the wonders that are wrought by this Art those True Miracles that are wrought by Diuine Power These are such as are wrought by the power of God simply either aboue or contrary to nature as Exod. 14. 21. Exod. 6. 7. 8. those miracles done before Pharaoh by Moses and Iosh. 10. 13. The causing of the Sunne to stand in the firmament The preseruation of the Three Children in the fierie furnace Dan. 3. 20. Daniel in the Lyons Den Dan 6. 23. Math. 14. Ioh. 9. these haue God truely to bee their Authour As being the onely Creator of Nature 1 And therefore to God alone belongs to restraine or extend the power thereof 2 Especially seeing this is a kind of creation whereby that is to bee made which was not before Ps. 136. 4. And therefore if the Prophets and Apostles haue done any such wonders It hath beene 1 Not by their owne power or in their owne name but by the Name and power of God 2 Hauing an especiall and extraordinarie calling thereunto Act. 3. 12. Nay though the Son of God in his Man-hood did many miracles yet this was not by the Manhood wholy though thereby the worke being wrought was dispensed acted in such such a visible manner yet the work it selfe being cōtrary to nature was effected only by the power of the God-head as in the raysing vp of the dead the man-hood vttered the voyce but the God-head fetched the soule from heauen and put it in againe vnto the body yea giues life and power to heare the voyce vttered to rise come forth Ioh. 11. Math. 10. And therefore seeing Christ as man onely could not work these miracles It followeth that whatsoeuer are wrought by men are deceitfull and counterfait And being wonders and strange effects are therefore effected by the subtiltie of Satan as being able to doe strange things aboue the ordinarie course of nature though not simply contrarie thereto which ordinarily the wit of man cannot possibly produce And that 1 Because he being a spirit is of extraordinarie knowledge and capacitie to search into the secrets of nature and there to frame strange and wonderfull things And that
appearing ordinarily in vgly shapes being worshipped in most horrible formes presented with most cruell and bloudie sacrifices and honored with all grosse and shamelesse open filthinesse So did the Heathen in their first rude and barbarous estate worship the deuill then needed they no couenant to bind them from God to Satan when they acknowledged no other God but him him they serued that he might doe them good him they worshipped for feare least he should hurt them As Barbarousnesse decayed and Ciuilitie by setled Gouernement beganne to take place c. so knowledge and skill was aduanced among men whereby grosse wickednesse was somewhat brideled and morall honestie for the common and priuate good sake was now outwardly embraced Herevpon Satan spinnes a finer thrid of more colourable idolatrie and that by these meanes Benefactors of Common-wealthes and Deliuerers of their Countries from Tyrants not knowing God were apt to robbe him of his glory seeking their owne glorie and eternizing by their Renowmed Actes This Satan discerning doth easilie insinuate into them and procuring some secret assent from them by his skill and power enables them to doe Wonders Heerevpon the people cry The Voyce of God and not of man Act. 12. And this falleth out the rather because the ignorant and godlesse people receiuing good from them cannot bee contained in any sober measure of respect towards them but thinke euen all Diuine Honour too little for them So wee finde that Heathen Princes were many of them great Magitians and Coniurers as gaining hereby an Opinion of Dietie And so did the people worship them with Diuine Honour yea ascribed them being translated among the number of the Gods Thus became this Art of Sorcerie a Companion of great Princes and mightie Conquerours by this they attained many great enterprises in the world and gained an opinion of Omnipotencie and Eternitie And was there not another means heerein to set vp this Art in that age of Knowledge and greater Ciuility Yea certainly As conquest brought forth Peace so Peace yeelded libertie for knowledge and liberall studies And Knowledge brought forth Pride to bee excellent therein and Pride begetteth curiositie to search into hidden mysteries and curiositie breedeth discontent and restlesse disquiet heereupon Sathan worketh ministreth content to the minde by yeelding it that which Art could not reach vnto so curiositie is satisfied and pride nourished and the soule through Pride enthralled to Sathan and yet deluded iustly with the same colour of Art vnder which Sathan hiding his secret compacts doeth eyther perswade them that it is done by art which is done indeede by his assistance or satisfies them that it is done by some Power ouer Satan and therefore they neede not feare subiection to Satan Hitherto serued those Charmes Circles Characters c. by which Satan seeming to be bound deluded them with a vaine conceit of his subiection to them And so as men were either more ambitious after honour or curious after knowledge so did Sathan bait his diuellish Art with more abundance of pompous and curious ceremonies the rather to fetch ouer these glorious fooles thereto and so he easily preuailed ouer the profoundest scholers the Gymnosophists of Egypt Magi of Chaldea Sages of Greece c. most whereof gained their chiefest credite by this that they were most skilfull in this diuellish Trade And so because men were fittest for these ends either to conquer Kingdomes or seeke after knowledge so in these respects vsually the Male sex haue beene trained to this Art By this they haue attained the reputation of Wisedome and Impery Succeeding Ages gaue occasion to Satan to work more closely yet to weaue his Idolatry with a finer threed For together with the knowledge of humane Arts and Sciences which resembled some sparks of diuine light brake out also at length the day Star of Righteousnesse Iesus Christ bringing with him sauing knowledge and dispelling the more grosser mystes of Heathenish Idolatrie as being no way sit to encounter therewith or at least in Policie not thinking it meete openly to oppose the same but rather by a more secret and colourable meanes by closing therewith to obscure and so by degrees to banish the same Thus became Sathan transformed into an Angell of Light and taking aduantage of the pride of Nature and vnthankefulnesse of men that would not obey the Gospel but rather peruert it to iustifie the flesh As they were therefore giuen vp iustly by the Lord to strong delusions so is Sathan still ready at a pinch to beguile vnstable soules and insteade of the puritie and simplicitie of the Gospell to draw them by degrees into a Mysterie of Iniquitie and so in the end to most grosse and palpable Idolatrie iustifying and exceeding the most barbarous Heathens therein To this end euen so soone as the good Housholder had sowen his Seede the enuious man was readie to sowe his Tares raysing vp false apostles to withdraw the people from the Simplicitie of the Gospell and so to prepare them by giuing libertie to the flesh to that corruption of doctrine which afterwards ouer-spread the face of the Churches And at the first assault Sathan so preuayled as that howsoeuer as yet the light of Iudgement remayned with the Church as being able to discerne of Spirites euen to discouer such as said they were Apostles yet in truth were no better then Sathans Ministers yet by reason that the flesh was willing to cast off the yoake and apt to turne the graces of God into wantonnesse heereupon zeale beganne to decay euen with the best first loue was left the bond of Perfection and so way hereby made to carnall liberty and for the maintenance thereof Corrupt doctrine by degrees was hatched and embraced whereof as the Purest times were not altogether free as may appeare by the Nicolaitans and others that went out euen from amongst the Apostles both to grosse prophanenesse and also to Doctrines of diuels for the iustifying therof So appeared heereupon the great mercie of God in casting this Iezabel into a bed of affliction and encreasing his Church graciously with those ten bloudie and desperate persecutions for the purging out of her drosse and renuing of her first loue Whereby as she wanne vnto her the hearts of her enemies so by this means she gained great friends euen the kings of the earth beganne to worship the Lord and the mightiest became nursing Fathers and foster Mothers Esay chapter 49. chapter to the distressed Church of God And now behold the great haruest of the Gentiles being wel-neare in so the man-childe beeing borne vnto God the time was come for the further reuelation of Gods iustice for the former affliction of his Church And also to manifest yet further his great mercies vnto his Church in exercising the same with new afflictions for the preuenting of that securitie and purging out the carnallnesse which by the fauour and arme of flesh had
a seducer of others to Idolatrie as appeareth by their common practise both vpon their friends to whom they vsually bequeath their spirits and vppon all whom they instruct to rest in charmes c. And therefore to be put to death Deuter. 13. 6. 9. 5 Nay shee is a murtherer both of soules and bodies and therefore in this respect doth also deserue death SECTIO II. Answer to Obiections against this Execution 1 ANd therefore though the diuell doe the mischiefe yet is the Witch confederate and accessarie thereto nay in her owne conceit Principall and Mistris and therefore by the Lawe of Accessories is to die the death 2 Therefore though they should repent yet die they must to iustifie God and preuent further ensnaring that though their body perish yet the soule may be saued 1. Cor. 5. 3 Though she repent not yet seeing shee must haue some time of repentance though she do not yet is Iustice to proceede without respect of persons In zeale to Gods glory and loue of sinceritie so Moses Exo. 32. 28. and Phinehas c. Num. 25. 8. And this sincerity of Iustice doth require That though death and such hurts ensue not yet for the offence done to God in combining with Sathan c. the parties are to be executed accordingly For so the word doth plainely imply and heretofore the Law hath been defectiue in this case yet blessed be God for a further perfection heerein and will not the Lord daily perfect his worke If wee beleeue shall wee not see greater things then these Well 1 Let this instruct the godly magistrate to haue an eie especially to the Blesser that raigneth among vs And to draw the people to the true and lawfull meanes of helping soule and bodie by rooting out of these Good Witches which are rife almost in euerie parish and placing in stead thereof a conscionable Minister as that the people may require the Lawe at his mouth that he may pray to the Lord for them that they may bee healed 2 Let this teach him to punish sinne of conscience not for by respects meeting with the Witch as an Idolator offending against God not so much as a murtherer sinning against man 3 Let his owne safetie mooue him heereunto who as hee hath beene euen so still by the execution of Iustice may be free from these Monsters 4 And lastly Let the glorie of God in aduauncing the Gospel especially heere preuayle which is by no kind of thing more vndermined then by Witches Is glorious in nothing more then in rooting out Antichrist the great Coniurer and deceiuer of Gods people and banishing superstition the very bedde and nursery of witch-craft The end of the second Booke THE MYSTERIE OF WITCH-CRAFT The third Booke Discouering The seuerall Vses of this Doctrine of WITCH-CRAFT LONDON Printed by Nicholas Okes. 1617. OF THE DIVERS VSES OF THIS DOCTRINE OF WITCH-CRAFT The third Booke CHAP. I. First it serueth for reproofe and that many wayes SECTIO I. As first of the Atheisme and Irreligion that ouerflowes in the Land DOth not Satans Policy in this trade of Witch-craft pretending to afflict and hurt but when he is seene by the Witch and then to hurt only the bodie or goods Plainely obscure and abolish out of the minds of men the Prouidence of the Almightie as if Satan were not subiect to God and sent by his prouidence that he were not countermaunded by the power of God but onely subiect to the Witches power Doth not this exalt her in the place of God prouoke the people to feare and loue her c 2 And seeing the hurt appeareth onely by his cunning to be done to the bodie doth not this nourish the people in this Atheisme that either their soules are in no danger all is well with them or they neede not trouble themselues thereabout seeing the diuel doth not trouble them nay doth not this nourish this conceit in their mindes that they haue no soules or else that they are mortall they end with this life and therefore vse all meanes for the maintenance hereof and then care is taken sufficiently 3 Doth not this conuince the Atheist that dreames of Generall Grace All shall be saued seeing by this Doctrine and Practise of Witch-craft It is now apparant That not onely naturally we are the bondslaues of Satan but that many purposely yeelde vp themselues to his cursed will renounce their saluation to become his slaues binde themselues to eternall damnation and so are made oft-times fearefull spectacles of the Diuine vengeance being carried away by the diuell and haled violently to destruction 4 Doth not this iustly confound that common delusion That there is no hell but to be in debt in prison c. Doth not this conuince such as liue in that profane and fearefull manner as if there were no God to Iudge them no diuell to torment them Do not their desperate courses plainely discouer to whom they doe belong Are they not of their father the Diuell because his workes they doe are they not running headlong to Hell by their desperate impenitencie doth their damnation sleepe that so turne the grace of God into wantonnesse Hath not the god of this world blinded them that they cannot obey the truth Are they not appoynted to perdition that thus crucifie the Lord of life Is there any more sacrifice left for sinne for such but euen violent fire to consume the aduersaries Herbrews cha 10. 26. 27. Iude verse 4. Iohn chap. 8. 44. SECTIO VIII It is a plaine conuiction of the contempt of the Word FOr as the Lord when Pharaoh would not beleeue his seruant Moses did therefore giue him vp to be deluded by his Sorcerers and Enchanters who dooing such wonders in shew as Moses did in trueth did thereby harden Pharaohs heart and so ripened his sinne and iniquity euen so it is iust with God because we despise his Word and contemne his true Prophets therefore to leaue the common people generally to bee hardned by such fained wonders as the prophets of Sathan make shew of in the world that they might bee effectuall to encrease transgressions against the Lord and so to ripen them to the day of vengeance Thus did the Lord giue vp Saul for his disobedience and contempt of the Word to seeke vnto Witchcraft 1. Sam. 28. Whereby hee ripened his sinne and drew on speedy vengeance vpon himselfe and Gods People for his sake 2. Sam. 29. Thus was Ahaziah left to seeke helpe of the god of Ekron that so he might receiue of the Lord the Sentence of his destruction 2. Reg. 2. SECTIO III. Of Reproofe IT reprooueth the Idolatrie and false worship of the Times conuincing the falshoode and abomination of Poperie and iustifying the truth and vertue of the Gospel of Iesus Christ. As that first where superstition raignes and is not yet weeded out there wee see Witch-craft to be magnified and so to abound as in the Orcades among the Heathen But where