A09402:156
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.
For first, it is said that the Sun, Moon, and Stars were created for signs, Gen. 1. 14. and therefore that it is lawful to divine by them, seeing that in so doing, we do but use them to the end for which God made them.
For first, it is saide that the Sunne, Moone, and Starres were created for signes, Gen. 1. 14. and therefore that it is lawfull to diuine by them, seeing that in so doing, we doe but vse them to the ende for which God made them.
Ans. The reason is of no force. The stars indeed by this ordinance do serve for signs, but of what? not of all things, but (as the text plainly showeth) of days, weeks, months, and years; yea, of the seasons of the year; as of ⟨p. 82⟩Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter; yea further, of the alterations of the weather in general; but all this maketh nothing to ratify Divination of particular events in things contingent, which are to fall out in the state of kingdoms, families, and persons: for they are not causes, but Signs, and that of some general things only, not of particular.
Ans. The reason is of no force. The starres indeede by this ordinance doe serue for signes, but of what? not of all things, but (as the text plainly sheweth) of daies, weekes, months, and yeare•; yea, of the seasons of the yeare; as of ⟨p. 82⟩Spring, Summer, Autumne, and Winter; yea further, of the alterations of the weather in generall; but all this maketh nothing to ratifie Diuination of particular euents in things cōtingent, which are to fal out in the state of kingdomes, families, and persons: for they are not causes, but Signes, and that of some generall things onely, not of particular.