A09402:121
A discourse of the damned art of witchcraft so far forth as it is…A discourse of the damned art of witchcraft so farre forth as it is…
A discourse of the damned art of witchcraft so far forth as it is revealed in the Scriptures, and manifest by true experience. Framed and delivered by M. William Perkins, in his ordinary course of preaching, and now published by Tho. Pickering Bachelor of Divinity, and minister of Finchingfield in Essex. Whereunto is adjoined a twofold table; one of the order and heads of the treatise; another of the texts of Scripture explained, or vindicated from the corrupt interpretation of the adversary.A discourse of the damned art of witchcraft so farre forth as it is reuealed in the Scriptures, and manifest by true experience. Framed and deliuered by M. William Perkins, in his ordinarie course of preaching, and now published by Tho. Pickering Batchelour of Diuinitie, and minister of Finchingfield in Essex. Whereunto is adioyned a twofold table; one of the order and heades of the treatise; another of the texts of Scripture explaned, or vindicated from the corrupt interpretation of the aduersarie.
Cambridge: printed by Cantrell Legge, 1610Cambridge: printed by Cantrel Legge, 1610
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Sect. I.
Divination is a part of Witchcraft, whereby men reveal strange things, either past, prese••, or to come, by the assistance of the devil.
Diuination is a part of Witchcraft, whereby men reueale strange things, either past, prese••, or to come, by the assistance of the deuill.
If it be here demanded, how the devil being a creature, should be able to manifest and bring to light things past, or to foretell things to come; I answer, first generally, that Satan in this particular work, transforms himself into •n Angel of light, & takes upon him the exercise of these things in an ambitious (though false) imitation of divine revelations and predictions, made and used by God in the times of the Prophets & Apostles. And this he doth (as much is in him lieth) to obscure the glory of God, and to make himself great in the opinion of ignorant and unbelieving ⟨p. 57⟩persons. Again, though Satan be but a creature, yet there be sundry ways whereby he is able to divine.
If it be here demanded, how the deuill beeing a creature, should be able to manifest and bring to light things past, or to foretell things to come; I answer, first generally, that Satan in this particular worke, transformes himselfe into •n Angel of light, & takes vpon him the exercise of these things in an ambitious (though false) imitation of diuine reuelations and predictions, made and vsed by God in the times of the Prophets & Apostles. And this he doth (as much is in him lieth) to obscure the glorie of God, and to make himselfe great in the opinion of ignorant and vnbeleeuing