A09402:200
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.
I. Before this time, God had withdrawn his spirit from Saul, as himself confesseth, and denied to answer him any ⟨p. 110⟩more by ordinary means, in such sort as before he had done. Hereupon I gather, that it is was not probable, that God would now vouchsafe him the favour to suffer Samuel to come unto him extraordinarily, and tell him what should be the end of his war with the Philistines: and to this purpose it is affirmed twice in that chapter, that God had taken his good spirit from Saul.
I. Before this time, God had withdrawne his spirit from Saul, as himselfe confesseth, and denied to answer him any ⟨p. 110⟩more by ordinarie meanes, in such sort as before he had done. Hereupon I gather, that it is was not probable, that God would now vouchsafe him the fauour to suffer Samuel to come vnto him extraordinarily, and tell him what should be the end of his warre with the Philistins: and to this purpose it is affirmed twise in that chapter, that God had taken his good spirit from Saul.
II. The souls of the faithful departed, are in the hands of God, and do rest in glory with himself, and their bodies are in the earth, and there rest in peace. So saith the voice from heaven, Revel. 14. 13. Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord: for they rest from their labours, and their works, that is the reward of their works, follow them immediately, or at the heels, as the word signifieth. Now suppose the devil had power over Samuel's body, yet to make true Samuel, he must have his soul also. But it is not in the power of the devil, to bring again the souls that are in heaven unto their bodies, and so to cause them to appear unto men upon earth, and to ⟨p. 111⟩speak unto them. The Devils kingdom is in hell, and in the hearts of wicked men on earth; yea whiles the children of God are in this world, he usurpeth some authority over them, by means of their own corruption: But heaven is the kingdom of God and his Saints, where Satan hath nothing to do, considering that there is no flesh or corruption, to make him entrance or yield him entertainment. Neither can it be proved by Scripture, that the devil can disturb either the bodies or souls of them that die in the Lord: and therefore the Witch with all her power and skill, could not bring Samuel's rotten body (for so no doubt it was now) and soul together.