A09402:144
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.
Whence it appeareth, what judgement may be given of those common signs of Divination, which are observed in the world, specially of the more ignorant sort. For example: A man finds a piece of iron, he presently conceiveth a prediction of some good luck unto himself that day. If he light on a piece of silver, then he stands contrarily affected, imagining some evil will befall him. Again, when a man is taking his journey, if a hare cross him in the way, all is not well, his journey shall not be prosperous, it presageth some mischief towards him. Let his cares tingle or burn, he is persuaded he hath enemies abroad, and that some man either then doth, or presently will speak ill of him. If the salt fall towards a man at the table, it portendeth (in common conceit) some ill news. When a raven stands upon some high place, look what way he turns himself and cries, thence, as some think, shall shortly come a dead corps; albeit this sometime may be true by reason of the sharp sense of smelling ⟨p. 73⟩in the raven. These and sundry other of the like sort, are merely superstitious. For the truth is, they have no virtue in themselves to foreshow any thing that is to come, either in nature, or by Gods ordinance. Therefore whatsoever divination is made by them, must needs be fetched from Satanical illusion. And though we cannot say they be soothsayings, or term the users and favourers of them soothsayers, yet we may safely refer them to this kind of divining, being such as no Christian may warrantably use, though some of them be not so gross and palpable, as those that are condemned in the Scriptures.
Whence it appeareth, what iudgement may be giuen of those common signes of Diuination, which are obserued in the world, specially of the more ignorant sort. For example: A man finds a piece of yron, he presently conceiueth a prediction of some good lucke vnto himselfe that day. If he light on a peice of siluer, then he stands contrarily affected, imagining some euill will befall him. Againe, when a man is taking his iourney, if a hare crosse him in the way, all is not well, his iourney shall not be prosperous, it presageth some mischiefe towards him. Let his cares tingle or burne, he is perswaded he hath enemies abroad, and that some man either then doth, or presently will speake ill of him. If the salt fall towards a man at the table, it portendeth (in common conceit) some ill newes. When a rauen stands vpon some high place, looke what way he turnes himselfe and cries, thence, as some thinke, shall shortly come a dead corps; albeit this sometime may be true by reason of the sharpe sense of smelling