A09402:172
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.
The second thing belonging to Astrology, which ought to be eschewed, is the choice and observation of days. Curious diviners do set apart certain days, whereof some are (as they say) lucky, some unlucky. And these they appoint to be observed for the beginning of ordinary works & businesses; as to take a journey; to begin to lay the ⟨p. 92⟩foundation of a building, to plant a garden, to wean a child, to put on new apparel, to flit into a new house, to traffic into other countries, to go about a suite to a Prince, or some great man, to hunt and use exercises, to pare the nails, to cut the hair; in a word, to attempt any thing in purpose or action, which is not done every day. The effect and force of these days, is not grounded either in art or in nature, but only in superstitious conceit and diabolical confidence, upon a wicked custom, borrowed from the practise of diviners: and the danger of such confident conceits is this; that the Devil by them takes the vantage of fantastical persons, and brings them further into league and acquaintance with himself, unless they leave them. And all such persons as make difference of days for this or that purpose, are in express words plainly condemned, Deut. 18. 10, 11.
The second thing belonging to Astrologie, which ought to be eschewed, is the choice and obseruation of daies. Curious diuiners doe set apart certaine dayes, whereof some are (as they say) luckie, some vnluckie. And these they appoint to be obserued for the beginning of ordinary works & businesses; as to take a iourney; to beginne to lay the ⟨p. 92⟩foundation of a building, to plant a garden, to weane a child, to put on new apparell, to flit into a new house, to trafficke into other countries, to goe about a suite to a Prince, or some great man, to hunt and vse exercises, to pare the nayles, to cut the haire; in a word, to attempt any thing in purpose or action, which is not done euery day. The effect and force of these daies, is not grounded either in arte or in nature, but onely in superstitious conceit and diabolicall confidence, vpon a wicked custome, borrowed from the practise of diuiners: and the daunger of such confident conceits is this; that the Deuill by them takes the vantage of fantasticall persons, and brings them further into league and acquaintance with himselfe, vnlesse they leaue them. And all such persons as make difference of daies for this or that purpose, are in expresse words plainly condemned,