A09402:185
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.
Secondly, divine dreams be always either plain and manifest, or if they be obscure, yet they have a most evident interpretation annexed unto them. Of the plainer sort, were the dreams of Joseph the husband of Mary. Matth. 1. Of the other sort were Pharaohs, very dark and hidden, but God raised up Joseph to give them an casie interpretation upon the instant. Gen. 41. ⟨p. 102⟩Nebuchadne•sars dreams were full of obscurity, and many matters were contained in them, so as his spirit was troubled, and he forgot them; but God stirred up Daniel and revealed to him the secret, so as he remembered it to the King, and declared the true meaning thereof, Dan. 2. 1. 28. 36. Lastly, Daniels dreams of the four beasts, &c. were of like difficulty, but the Angel Gabriel was presently sent to make him understand them, Dan. 8. 16. Now those that are caused by the Devil, as they be obscure and intricate, so the interpretation of them is ambiguous and uncertain, because he himself cannot infallibly determine how things shall come to pass, and thereupon is constrained to give doubtful answers by dreams. And such were not only the ancient Oracles among the heathen, where he gave the resolution, but the modern Prophecies given by him to some of his instruments in later time.
Secondly, diuine dreames be alwaies either plaine and manifest, or if they be obscure, yet they haue a most euident interpretation annexed vnto them. Of the plainer sort, were the dreames of Ioseph the husband of Marie. Matth. 1. Of the other sort were Pharaohs, very darke and hidden, but God raised vp Ioseph to giue them an casie interpretation vpon the instant. Gen. 41. ⟨p. 102⟩Nebuchadne•sars dreames were full of obscuritie, and many matters were contained in thē, so as his spirit was troubled, and he forgat them; but God stirred vp Daniel and reuealed to him the secret, so as he remembred it to the King, and declared the true meaning thereof,