A09402:170
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.
Again, the very order of the government of these signs in mans body, is fond and without show of reason. For according to this platform, when the Moon cometh into the first sign, Aries, she ruleth in the head; & when she cometh into the second sign, Taurus, in the neck; and so descends down from part to part, in some part ruling two, in some three days, &c. Where observe, that the Moon is made then to rule in the cold and moist parts, when she is in hot and dry signs: when as in reason, a more consonant order were this; that when the Moon were in hot and dry signs, as Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius, she should rule in hot and dry parts of the body; and when she is in cold and moist signs, she should rule in the cold and moist parts of the bodies; and so still govern those parts, which in temperature come nearest to the nature of the signs wherein the Moon is.
Again, the very order of the gouernment of these signes in mans bodie, is fond and without shew of reason. For according to this platforme, when the Moone commeth into the first signe, Aries, shee ruleth in the head; & when shee commeth into the second signe, Taurus, in the necke; and so descends downe from part to part, in some part ruling two, in some three daies, &c. Where obserue, that the Moone is made then to rule in the cold and moist parts, when shee is in hoate and drie signes: when as in reason, a more consonant order were this; that when the Moone were in hoate and drie signes, as Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius, shee should rule in hoat and drie parts of the bodie; and when shee is in colde and moist signes, shee should rule in the colde and moist parts of the bodies; and so still gouerne those parts, which in temperature come nearest to the nature of the signes wherein the Moone is.
Besides this, some learned Physicians have upon experience confessed, that ⟨p. 91⟩the observation of the sign, is nothing material, and that there is no danger in it, for gelding of cattle, or letting of blood. Indeed it prevails oftentimes by an old conceit and strong imagination, of some unlettered persons, who think it to be of force and efficacy for restoring and curing: and yet the vanity of this conceit, appears in the common practise of men, who commonly upon S. Stevens day use to let blood, be the sign where it will; though it be in the place where the vein is opened. But the truth is, the sign in it own nature, is neither way available, being but a fancy, grounded upon supposed premisses, and therefore ought to be rejected, as a mere vanity.