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…

First, this must be taken for a main ground; That as there is nothing in the world, that hath being but from God, so nothing hath in it any efficacy, but by his ordinance. Now whatsoever efficacy is in any creature from God, it received the same into it self, either by creation, or since the creation by some new and special institution, appointment, and gift of God. For example. The bread in the Sacrament, by a natural power given unto it in the creation, serveth to nourish the body, and the same bread, by Gods special appointment in his word, feeds the soul, in that by his ordinance it is made to us a sign and seal of the body of Christ broken for us: And so it is in every creature; ⟨p. 134⟩if the effect be ordinary and natural, it hath it by creation; if extraordinary and supernatural, it hath that by divine ordination: So that whatsoever comes to pass by any other means, is by Satanical operation. Now charms and spells, standing of set words and syllables, have no power in them to work wonders, either by the gift of nature in the creation, or by Gods appointment since the creation: and therefore they have in them no power at all for any such purpose. This latter part of the reason, being the assumption or application of the ground to the present instance, consisteth of two parts, which I will prove in order. First then I affirm, that by the gift of nature, no words of charms have power in them to work wonders; & I prove it in this manner.

First, this must be taken for a maine ground; That as there is nothing in the world, that hath beeing but from God, so nothing hath in it any efficacie, but by his ordinance. Now whatsoeuer efficacie is in any creature from God, it receiued the same into it selfe, either by creation, or since the creation by some newe and speciall institution, appointmēt, and gift of God. For example. The bread in the Saerament, by a naturall power giuen vnto it in the creation, serueth to nourish the bodie, and the same bread, by Gods speciall appointment in his word, feedes the soule, in that by his ordinance it is made to vs a signe and seale of the bodie of Christ broken for vs: And so it is in euerie creature; ⟨p. 134⟩if the effect be ordinarie and naturall, it hath it by creation; if extraordinarie and supernaturall, it hath that by diuine ordination: So that whatsoeuer comes to passe by any other meanes, is by Satanicall operation. Now charmes and spells, standing of set words and sillables, haue no power in them to worke wonders, either by the gift of nature in the creation, or by Gods appointment since the creation: and therfore they haue in them no power at all for any such purpose. This latter part of the reason, beeing the assumption or application of the ground to the present instance, consisteth of two parts, which I will prooue in order. First then I affirme, that by the gift of nature, no words of charmes haue power in thē to worke wonders; & I prooue it in this manner.