A09402:139
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.
I answer, because the flying of birds, and the disposition of the inward parts of creatures, are no true signs either of good or bad success. For that which is a true sign of a future event, must have the virtue and power whereby it signifieth, ⟨p. 69⟩from God himself, either by creation in the beginning, or by his special ordinance and appointment afterward. Now it cannot be showed, that God in the creation infused any such virtue into the natures and motions of these creatures, whereby they might signify such things; neither is there any apparent testimony in the whole book of the Scriptures, whereby it may be proved, that since the creation, they were appointed by God, to serve such uses and ends. And therefore howsoever they were esteemed of the Heathen, yet the word of God hath justly censured them, as no true and proper causes of Divination sanctified by God, but merely diabolical.
I answer, because the flying of birds, and the disposition of the inward parts of creatures, are no true signes either of good or bad successe. For that which is a true signe of a future euent, must haue the vertue and power whereby it signifieth, ⟨p. 69⟩from God himselfe, either by creation in the beginning, or by his speciall ordinance and appointment afterward. Now it cannot be shewed, that God in the creation infused any such vertue into the natures and motions of these creatures, whereby they might signifie such things; neither is there any apparent testimonie in the whole booke of the Scriptures, whereby it may be proued, that since the creation, they were appointed by God, to serue such vses and endes. And therefore howsoeuer they were esteemed of the Heathen, yet the word of God hath iustly censured them, as no true and proper causes of Diuination sanctified by God, but meerely diabolicall.