A09402:14
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.
If it were true, then miracles were not yet ceased, but should still be as ordinary in the Church, as are the Sacraments. A point not only confuted in the latter part of this Treatise,1 but also by the testimony of purer Antiquity. Augustine saith, That miracles were once necessary to make the world believe the Gospel; but he that now seeks a sign that he may believe, is a wonder, yea • monster in nature. Chrysostom conclude• […] on the same grounds,2 that there is now in the Church, no necessity of working Miracles; and calls him a false Prophet that now takes in hand to work them. Again, if there be a miracle in the Sacrament, it is contrary to the nature of all those that were wrought, either by Moses and the Prophets, or by Christ, and his Apostles. For they were apparent to the eye, but this is insensible; and therefore neither of •orce to move admiration, nor to convince the mind of man, and make him to believe. As for those, which are pretended to be wrought by Saints in that church; if we make recourse to the Primitive times, wherein God gave the gift, to breed faith in the Gentiles; we shall find that the power of producing such works, was never actually inherent in the Apostles,3 but dispensed by their▪ in the Name of Christ: Neither was it in their liberty, to work miracles, when they would, but when it pleased God, upon special cause▪ ⟨image 7⟩to ca•l them thereunto. And i• neither the power nor the will was in them, much less is it likely to be sound in any of the Saints. And for their Relics, of what name soever, so greatly magnified and resorted unto; we deny there is any such virtue in them. For they may not be thought to be more effectual then the hem of Christs garment, from which the power of healing the woman did not proceed, but from himself: