A09402:161
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.
Ans. We grant that the S•arres, and especially the Sun and Moon, have great virtue and force upon the creatures that are below; partly by their light, and partly by their heat; but hence it will not follow, that they are, or may ⟨p. 84⟩be lawfully used for Divination: for whereas it hath been showed, that the grounds of all good arts are gathered by observation and experience, it is not possible for any man, truly and certainly, to observe all particular events brought forth by the stars, whereupon he might ground his rules. And for proof hereof; Suppose there were a heap of all kinds of herbs growing upon the earth gathered together, which should be all strained into one vessel, and the liquor brought to the most skilful Physician that is, or ever was; can we think him able by tasting or smelling thereof, to distinguish the virtues of the herbs, and to say which is which? To do this when all were severed each from other, is a hard matter, yet possible, considering they have their several natures and operations: but in this confused mixture to discern the severals, is a thing passing the skill of man.
Ans. We graunt that the S•arres, and especially the Sunne and Moone, haue great vertue and force vpon the creatures that are below; partly by their light, and partly by their heat; but hence it will not follow, that they are, or may ⟨p. 84⟩be lawfully vsed for Diuination: for whereas it hath beene shewed, that the grounds of all good arts are gathered by obseruation and experience, it is not possible for any man, truly and certenly, to obserue all particular euents brought forth by the starres, whereupon hee might ground his rules. And for proofe hereof; Suppose there were a heape of all kinds of hearbs growing vpon the earth gathered together, which should be all strained into one vessell, and the liquour brought to the most skilfull Physitian that is, or euer was; can we thinke him able by tasting or smelling thereof, to distinguish the vertues of the hearbs, and to say which is which? To doe this when all were seuered each from other, is a hard matter, yet possible, considering they haue their seuerall natures and operations: but in this confused mixture to discerne the seueralls, is a thing passing the skill of man.