A09402:196
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 kind of Divination, is by counterfeit, and forged means, which are ⟨p. 208⟩none of the creatures of God: whereof one kind only is mentioned in Scripture, viz. when Satan is consulted with in the shape of a dead man. This is commonly called Necromancy, or the black art, because the Devil being sought unto by Witches, appears unto them in the likeness of a dead body. And it is expressly forbidden, Deuter. 18. 11. yea condemned by the Prophet Isaiah, 8. 19, 20. who saith in plain terms, that Gods people ought not to go from the living to the dead, but to the Law and to the testimony. A memorable example hereof is recorded in 1. Sam. 28. the observation whereof, will discover unto us the chief: points of Necromancy. There Saul about to encounter the Philisti•s, being forsaken of God, who refused to answer him, either by dreams, or by Urim; or by the Prophets, inquired for one that had a familiar spirit: and hearing of the Pythoness at Endor, went unto her by night, and caused her to raise up Samuel, to tell him of the issue of the war. Now the Witch at his request raised up the Devil, with whom ⟨p. 109⟩she was confederate, in Samuel's likeness; who gave him answer concerning his own overthrow, and the death of his sons. Which example declareth plainly, that there is a kind of divination, whereby Witches and Sorcerers reveal strange things, by means of the devil appearing unto them in the shapes or shadows of the dead.
The second kind of Diuination, is by counterfeit, and forged meanes, which are ⟨p. 208⟩none of the creatures of God: whereof one kind onely is mentioned in Scripture, viz. when Satan is consulted with in the shape of a dead man. This is commonly called Neeromaneie, or the blacke arte, because the Deuill being sought vnto by Witches, appeares vnto them in the likenes of a dead bodie. And it is expressely forbidden, Deuter. 18. 11