A09402:223
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.
Answ. In this point Satan is, (as it were) Gods ape. For as he in old time ⟨p. 124⟩raised up holy Prophets to speak unto the fathers for the building up of his Church: so hath Satan inspired his ministers, and furnished his instruments with prophetical inspirations from time to time, for the building up of his own kingdom: and hereupon he hath notably counterfeited the true gift of prophecy received first from God himself. And yet, though in many things they be like, there is great difference between them.
Answ. In this point Satan is, (as it were) Gods ape. For as he in old time ⟨p. 124⟩raised vp holy Prophets to speake vnto the fathers for the building vp of his Church: so hath Satan inspired his ministers, and furnished his instruments with propheticall inspirations from time to time, for the building vp of his owne kingdome: and hereupon he hath notably counterfeited the true gift of prophecie receiued first from God himselfe. And yet, though in many things they be like, there is great difference betweene them.
First, divine trances may come upon Gods children, either when the soul remaineth united with the body, or else when it is severed for a time. So much Paul insinuateth, when he faith of himself, 2. Cor. 12. •. that he was rapt up (as it were in a heavenly trance) into the third heaven, but whether in the body, or out of the body, he knew not. But in all diabolical ecstasies, though the body and senses of the Witch be (as it were) bound or benumbed for the time; yet their souls still ren•aine united to their bodies, and not severed from them. For though the devil by Gods permission ⟨p. 125⟩may kill the body, and so take the soul out of it for ever; yet to take it from the body for a time, and to reunite them again, is miraculous, and therefore beyond the compass of his power.