A09402:137
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.
§ 2. The second kind of creatures used for divination, are the entrails of beasts, of which mention is made Ezek. 21. 21. where Nebuchadnezzar being to make war both with the Jews and the Ammonites, and doubting in the way which enterprise to undertake first, he offers a sacrifice to the Idol gods, and opening the belly of the sacrifice, looks upon the liver, and by the signs therein found, he judgeth what should be the issue of the war. Which thing Nebuchadnezzar did according to the usual practise of the Heathen, who when they were to make war, or to attempt any ⟨p. 68⟩business of importance, were wont to offer sacrifice to their gods, and to pry into the entrails of the beast sacrificed: for example, the heart, stomach, spleen, kidneys, but specially the liver, and by certain signs appearing in those parts, the devil was wont to reveal unto them what should be the success of their affairs they had in hand. It were easy to exemplify both these sorts of Divination by sundry particulars out of Heathen writers, but seeing the Scripture hath manifested that there are such, and experience shows the same, I will forbear that labour, and proceed.
§ 2. The second kind of creatures vsed for diuinatiō, are the intralls of beasts, of which mention is made Ezek. 21. 21. where Nabuchadnezzar being to make warre both with the Iewes and the Ammonites, and doubting in the way which enterprise to vndertake first, he offers a sacrifice to the Idol gods, and opening the bellie of the sacrifice, looks vpon the liuer, and by the signes therein found, he iudgeth what should be the issue of the warre. Which thing Nabuchadnezzar did according to the vsuall practise of the Heathen, who when they were to make warre, or to attempt any ⟨p. 68⟩businesse of importance, were wont to offer sacrifice to their gods, and to prie into the intralls of the beast sacrificed: for example, the heart, stomake, splene, kidneies, but specially the liuer, and by certaine signes appearing in those parts, the deuill was wont to reueale vnthem what should be the successe of their affaires they had in hand. It were easie to exemplifie both these sorts of Diuination by sundrie particulars out of Heathen writers, but seeing the Scripture hath manifested that there are such, and experience shewes the same, I will forbeare that labour, and proceede.