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

worship detaine men in wil-worship and all profanenesse to the ruine of soule and body CHAP. II. A second generall vse is for Instruction That first wee would leaue to auoyd the Causes of Witch-craft Which are 1. Ignoraunce 2. Infidelitie 3. Malice 4. Couetousnesse 5. Curiositie c. 6. Pride c. Concerning Ignorance of GOD. THat this is a cause of Witch-craft appeareth Because through the Ignorance that is in vs we are led captiue by Sathan at his pleasure as being subiect iustly to his strong delusions because we haue not receiued the Loue of the Truth because wee know not whom to worship how to worship God a right therefore doth the God of this world blind vsbecause the Gospel is hid from vs. 2. Cor. 4. 5 6. And doth not Witch-craft vsually preuaile when either there is no meanes for knowledge or else the Truth of God is detayned in vnrighteousnesse and so for our disobedience wee are iustly giuen vp to such Delusions remember what hath formerly beene obserued to this end The Remedie thereof is 1. To haue the word of God dwell plentifully among vs both in the Publike ordinances of the Preaching and Expounding thereof as also in the Priuate Reading conferring of the same in our Families 2. To haue the Power thereof to Rule vs in all our wayes To yeelde obedience thereunto to hearken to this voyce alone and to cleaue therevnto constantly Endeuouring so to walke as we haue receiued Christ Iesus Col. 2. 4. And to be daily cast into the mould thereof 2. Cor. 3. CHAP. III. Touching Infidelitie THat this is also a Cause of this fearefull Iudgement appeareth 1. Because by vnbeliefe we lye open to Satans power 1. Pet. 5. 8 9. 2. Through vnbeliefe in God we are brought to beleeue in him to embrace and adore him as the God of this world 2. Cor. 4 5 6. 3. Hereby wee prouoke the Iust Lord to leaue vs to his power to be insnared of him in all deceiueablenes of Error and damnable Impietie 4. This is the speciall bond whereby Satan tyes his Proselites vnto him and they that seeke help from them they must beleeue that they can helpe them c. And therefore the Remedie thereof is 1. As to learne to know God in Iesus Christ. Ioh. 17. 2. 2. To labour aboue all things to be found in Christ Iesus Psal. 3. 10. 1. By seeing our selues in our selues to be vtterly lost by the Law Rom. 7. 2. And feeling our state to be most desperate and irrecouerable 3. Groane we earnestly vnder the burden thereof Matth. 11. 28. 4. And hunger wee after I●sus Christ to be eased thereof Matth. 5. 5. Seeking vnto him in his blessed and precious promises to bee eased of our sinnes 6. Meditating seriously on the power and vertue of his Sacrifice which he hath offered for our sinne 7. And applying the same to our particular soares and diseases 8. Resting in Iesus Christ alone as our onely and sufficient Sauiour 9. And reioycing in him aboue all the treasures in the world as in the most precious Pearle Matth. 13. 10. Labouring to approue our loue vnto Iesus Christ. 1. By forsaking all things for his sake our beloued s●nne yea if it be required euen life and all Matth. 19. 2. Being ready to take vp his Crosse and follow him Matth. 16. 2● 3. Denying still our owne wisedome and righteousnesse that wee may bee found in him 1. Cor. 3. 18. 4. And for thy sake louing the brethren 1. Plucking them out of the fire 2. And exhorting each other daily waiting with great patience their Conuersion and maintaining the Fellowship with all meekenesse of wisedome and holinesse of Conuersation 2. Tim. 2. 2. In all Constancie and Patience working out our saluation Phi. 2. 12. CHAP. 4. As for Malice THat this is an occasion of Witchcraft Apppeareth 1. Because 1. Depriueth vs of the Loue of God and so causing the Lord to hate vs wee are giuen vp to this damnable practise The rather because it is both a present and effectuall meanes as wee thinke to execute the vtmost of our reuenge and it is also a most daungegerous meanes to colour our Malice while it so bringeth it about that partly for Feare wee are forced to relieue such Instruments that they may doe vs no harme and wee are drawne to seeke helpe from them in our extremities whereby their Malice being concealed is more increased and beeing often disappoynted by Satan is more inflamed sealing vp to these cursed Captiues their eternall damnation and hastning hereby the vengeaunce of the LORD vpon them both in the Pining of their bodyes by this their confounded Malice and prouoaking them to maligne GOD the more the more they are disappoynted whereby his wrath is more kindled against them they are hereby more eager vpon Satan to execute their rage more deepely obliged vnto them by new imployments and at length more desperately confounded by him in their detection and punishments Learne wee therefore to remedie this sinne Thus 1. Labour wee to haue the loue of Christ shed abroad in our hearts that so for his sake wee may loue one another 2. And consider we That vengeanee belongeth vnto God hee is able to right our wrongs he is onely for to doe it 3. Consider wee not so much what hurt may arise from the Creature as what good may redound vnto vs thereby and whether wee receiue not daily good from the hands of our God sufficiently to counteruaile the euill of the Creature Whether our GOD ●ee not able to recompence any euill from the Creature whatsoeuer Whither hee cannot turne it to our great good 4. Giue we not way to the least passion of anger or discontent least our yeelding to these passions draw our confirmed malice 5. And be we wise to set bounds to our vnreasonable desires least being not satisfied therein we breake out to enuie and so to malice others 6. Especially labour wee to apprehend the fauour of God in Iesus Christ that so being at peace with his Maiestie and gayning true content 〈◊〉 in our estates we may possesse our s●●les in patience and maintaine the V●… of the Spirit in the bond of peace 7. And Practise wee especially the Loue of our enemies striue we to ouercome euill with good to forgiue our enemies to pray for them c 8. Enuring our selues to beare afflictions 9. And weauing our soules from the loue of the world 10. Still endeauouring to make euen with our God and to be prepared against the comming of Iesus Christ. CHAP. V. A fourth Cause of Witch-craft is Couetousnesse 1 A As excluding through distrustfull and insatiable desires the protection of the Almighty 2. Exposing to desperate contempt of the Word in all fearefull impietie 3. Hereby enraging and prouoking the Conscience to iust reuenge 4. Whereby despayre seasing on the soule is become hereby a praye vnto Satan vpon hope of present release 5. Being forced by

THE MYSTERY OF WITCH-CRAFT Discouering The Truth Nature Occasions Growth and Power therof TOGETHER With the Detection and Punishment of the same AS ALSO The seuerall Stratagems of Sathan ensnaring the poore Soule by this desperate practize of annoying the bodie with the seuerall Vses thereof to the Church of Christ. Very necessary for the redeeming of these Atheisticall and secure times By THOMAS COOPER LONDON Printed by Nicholas Okes. 1617. To the right worshipfull the Maior and Corporation of the Ancient Citie of CHESTER the worthy Iustices of Peace of that Countie Palatine Grace and Peace From GOD the FATHER through our LORD IESVS CHRIST be multiplied DIuerse and verie weighty haue been the motiues right Worshipfull to induce mee to the Dedication of these my Labors in this kinde vnto your Worships The first is because my first calling from the Vniuersitie to employ my Ministerie for the edification of the Saints was by the Gouernors of your famous Citie to succeed that painefull and profitable Teacher Maister Harrison who was thence called by the Kings most Excellent Maiestie to be one of the sixe Teachers to those barren and needefull places of the Country of Lancashire And therefore hauing both kind intertainment among you and by some of you beeing furthered to a more setled Pastorall Charge in that Countie I could not but leaue some memoriall of my thankefulnesse vnto you herein Secondly my free admission to that Pastorall Charge together with the singular prouidence of God in directing my Ministerie for the informing and reforming of that ignorant People who neuer before enioyed any constant Ministerie as also his admirable protection and deliuerance of me from vnreasonable men that vsed all their force and cunning to hinder the proceedings of the Gospel of Christ. As these are specially which I can neuer sufficiently remember and glorifie Almighty God for so haue I thought it good to leaue this Testimonie vnto you of my thankefull remembrance hereof who were many of you acquaynted with the good hand of my God vpon me in this behalfe especially seeing by an especiall occasion at the North-wich by a child afflicted by the power of Sathan and as it was conceiued through the confederacie of some Witches thereabout It pleased the Lord to minister some experience vnto mee both of Sathans methods and stratagems in deceiuing vnstable soules and also of the power of God confounding the wisedome of the world and taking them in their owne craftinesse did I not then vow to communicate my Experience for the good of the Church and hath not the Lord giuen this gracious occasion thereunto And shall not this mercie of my God bee had in euerlasting remembrance That whereas I come from the Vniuersitie although furnished happily with some outward helpes and not without some true desire of sauing soules It pleased God to turne the oppositions of Satan contradictions of men to the bettering of my knowledge and quickening of my zeale for the common good though in great weaknesse and corruption shal not this be a perpetuall memoriall of my thankfulnes to those worthie Magistrates M. Warbarton of Arly M. Marburie of the Meare others of that parish to quicken and incourage them in their zeale and loue vnto the Gospel And seeing it pleased God lately to call mee againe into those parts to employ me by means of some other Worthies in that shire in this special argument of the discouery of this Mysterie of Witch-craft could I doe lesse then satisfie their iust desires heerein and are not they fittest to haue some of the fruite whatsoeuer it is of my Labors and obseruations heerein who were speciall occasions and furtherers thereof These are some of the motiues Right worshipfull which haue preuailed with mee at this time hauing now leasure and opportunitie by Gods mercie to publish my poore endeuours in this kinde and so to dedicate the same vnto your Worships For other speciall reasons indearing me hereunto I referre your Worshippes vnto the first chapter of the Treatise ensuing Beseeching you not to stay in the Porch and Entrance but to take the pains to view the whole inward buildings and furniture of the house And if you finde any thing therein to informe your consciences in the truth of this Doctrine Let it be a preseruatiue against the secret Atheisme that fretteth like a Gangrene and threatneth to care out the life and power of Religion and to direct your iudgements in the sifting and punishment of this mischiefe If you finde the subtilties of Sathan any whit herein discouered who in the afflictions of the bodie hunts after the destruction of the soule and by this tampering with Witches to afflict the outward man seekes to enthrone himselfe in the heart and conscience aboue all that is called God let this also be a means for the better securitie of your Soules in the discouerie of the good Witches and renouncing their dangerous helpes Let it prouoke you in generall as you are taught heereafter to labour by all meanes the planting and the countenancing of a setled and powerful Ministery among you that thereby Satan may fall like Lightning his power and policies may be discouered and confounded For the effecting whereof as my heartie Prayers vnto the Almightie shal be daily made manifest at the Throne of Grace for you and yours so I doe most heartily commend you all vnto his gracious protection in his sonne Christ Iesu. In whom I rest Your Worships euer bounden THO. COOPER 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. And therein prooued that this Doctrine of Witch-craft is necessarie to be prosecuted and obserued 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 such Obiections answred as seeme to contradict this Truth page 35. Chap. 2. Thirdly it is declared what Witchcraft properly is where both the Nature Causes and Effectes are briefely opened and applied page 47. Wherein is set downe both that Sat●… 1. Can worke wonders p. 52. at 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 enueigling 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

themselues to doe good namely the Beleefe of men whether they can benefite any that doe not beleeue in them and why they are beneficiall to such And so consequently of the danger of these Good Witches and that they are farre more dangerous then the Bad. AS Satan binds his seruants vnto his obeysance by a speciall contract and couenant as hath beene shewed throughly before so the good Witch being lessoned by her accursed Maister doth hereby endeuor to performe truest seruice vnto him euen by hunting after and ensnaring the precious soules of men And to this purpose she hath no more dangerous snare then this condition of Faith that those who will haue helpe or succour at her hands must beleeue shee can doe them good For whereas Faith is the onely Bond whereby God is knit vnto man and man vnto God If therefore Satan can but once breake this bond as he doth heereby First exclude vs the especiall prouidence of the Almighty Secondly so doth he make way hereby for the full possessing and preuailing ouer vs. Thirdly and hence it is that there must bee no helpe without this Beleefe in the Witches abilitie heerevnto That so the Blesser also being puffed vp with a conceipt of some Diuine Power might so therein not onely Intrude into the Office of the Messiah and thereby to depriue her selfe vtterly of the benefite of his sacrifice but also euen make a mocke of the Sonne of God by translating that precious gift of Faith which onely entends saluation to the attaining of euery base and vnfit trifle and horrible wickednesse yea offering vp heereby the deceiued soule as a Sacrifice vnto Satan which cost the precious bloud of the Sonne of God Fourthly especially heerein doth appeare the desperate pride and malice of Satan against Iesus Christ and his members 1 As aduancing himselfe heereby in Christs steed in the deceiued hearts of the vnbeleeuers 2 And robbing him not onely of that proper homage which is due from the creature namely to depend on it Sauiour 3 But also of the soules of those that are thus ensnared 4 As detaining them thereby in Atheisme and contempt of Gods Ordinances for saluation 5 And emboldening them to all desperate and outragious courses vpon presumption of helpe from these incarnate deuils 6 And so ripening thereby vnto eternall vengeance And this the rather because by this condition of Faith thus required for helpe 7 It is thereby the rather warranted to come from God 8 And so both the Witches authority and power iustified to this end as Diuine euen a speciall Gift of God to such purposes 9 As also the peoples seeking to such meanes is coloured 10 And so in that helpe heereby is procured for many wicked ends therefore fearefull and blaspemous conceipts are heereby nourished in the mindes of vnbeleeuers concerning the Diuine Nature As if the Lord should approue of sinne that hee furthers and giues successe thereto And when this gappe is once opened how is sinne committed with greedinesse How is the deceiued soule drunkē in security How by this security prepared to suddaine destructiō And therefore though it were enough for Satan to doe good at the command of the Blesser to hold her surer vnto him by these deuotions Yet seeing he is a roaring Lyon going about seeking whom he may deuoure doth he also yet both further heereby the damnation of the Sorceresse in making her an instrument by this condition of Faith to ensnare the soules of men and so by the same meanes encreaseth his prey in deceiuing such vnstable soules who depend vpon such dangerous helpe And therefore though no doubt by Diuine permission he could helpe one with the Good Witches warrant this being but his colour to deceiuè her and others and so much more if she imployed him without the Faith of the parties and happily doth tender some trifling helpe without this Couenant to beleeue to tolle the simple on to seeke further to him Yet seeing he specially in all these aimes at the soules destruction and as the Diuine executioner to preuaile in the children of disobedience Therefore seeing the World generally will not receiue the knowledge of the truth shall it not bee giuen vp to beleeue lies 2. Thessalonians 2. 11. 12. Euen to seeke vnto Satan forsaking God c. so to buy his helpe with the danger of their soules In hunting after which this aduersarie is now growne so cunning as that howsoeuer heeretofore in Times of Ignorance he vsed more carnall and palpable meanes for the ensnaring of them Yet since the Gospell of Iesus Christ hath beene aduanced and the knowledge thereof hath in some good measure banished grosse ignorance in many places therefore doth Satan suite himselfe accordingly And so though he require reall couenants of some in some cases yet is he contented also with Mentall Couenants as being able to gesse at the minde by some outward inclinations and distempers and so doth more cunningly and dangerously deceiue euen the Professors of this Age whom seeing they professe to beleeue in Christ therefore will he not require an open couenant to beleeue in him As contenting himselfe 1 That they allow helpe to bee sought from such meanes 2 That in case of necessitie they will not stick to seeke themselues 3 That they do not aswell further the Blesser as the Bad Witch to punishment c. All which and such like he takes as arguments of their secret confidence in him as approuing his power and iustifying the lawfulnesse of such meanes SECTIO VII Whether the good Witch can hurt and the hurting Witch helpe BY that which hath beene said before concerning the limitation of the power of these Witches it may seeme to be concluded that the Good Witch can onely help and the Bad Witch onely can hurt But yet Experience seemes to proue the contrarie not onely in Hartley that famous Coniurer of Lancashire which bewitched M r. Starkie of Clee-worthes Children who was also a great Blesser c. And so in diuers others But especially in the Witch that was the principall occasion of this Treatise For it appeareth by her examinations that shee both vsed to forespeake as they call it that is to hurt and wearie things as also to blesse the same againe and so to helpe as well as to hurt As appeareth by the Charme heereafter set downe to this end To which wee answere That though happily by Couenant Satan binds himselfe no further but to the Blesser to helpe and to the Bad Witch to hurt because Either they desire no further or else this limitation may serue for such end as heeretofore Yet heerein also doth Satans cunning appeare notably that if vpon such composition onely to hurt or helpe he yet proue better then his bargaine as to assist such to helpe who haue done hurt c By this meanes he binds his seruants more obsequiously vnto him and yet deceiues them more grossely As giuing

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