A09402:164
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.
A fourth reason. All stars have their work in the qualities of heat, light, cold, moisture, and dryness, as for the secret influences which men dream of, coming from them besides the said qualities, they are but forged fancies. The Scripture never mentioneth any such, neither can it be proved, that the Sun hath any efficacy upon inferior bodies, but by light and heat; which because they are mixed with other qualities, they afford no matter of prediction touching particular events. For •hat though the celestial bodies do ••use in the terrestrial, heat and cold, drought and moisture? doth it therefore follow, that these effects do declare before hand the constitution of mans body? ⟨p. 87⟩the disposition of mens minds? the affections of mens hearts? or finally▪ what success they shall have in their affairs, touching wealth, honour, and religion? Hence I conclude, that divining by them in this sort, is mere superstition, and a kind of sorcery: for which cause in Scripture Astrologians are justly numbered among Sorcerers.
A fourth reason. All starres haue their worke in the qualities of heate, light, cold, moisture, and drinesse, as for the secret influences which men dreame of, comming from them besides the saide qualities, they are but forged fancies. The Scripture neuer mentioneth any such, neither can it be prooued, that the Sunne hath any efficacie vpon inferiour bodies, but by light and heate; which because they are mixt with other qualiti•s, they affo•rd no matter of prediction touching particular euents. For •hat though the celestiall bodies doe ••use in the terrestriall, heate and cold, drought and moisture? doth it therfore follow, that these effects doe declare before hand the constitution of mans bodie? ⟨p. 87⟩the disposition of mens minds? the affections of mens hearts? or finally▪ what successe they shall haue in their affaires, touching wealth, honour, and religion? Hence I conclude, that diuining by them in this sort, is meere superstition, and a kinde of sorcerie: for which cause in Scripture Astrologians are iustly numbred among Sorcerers.