A09402:241
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. All words made and uttered by men, are in their own nature but sounds framed by the tongue, of the breath that cometh from the lungs. And that which is only a bare sound, in all reason can have no virtue in it to cause a real work, much less to produce a ⟨p. 135⟩wonder. The sounds of bells and of many musical instruments, and the voices of many brute creatures, are fartr more strong and powerful, then the voice of a man: yet who knoweth not, that none of all these is available to such purposes. Indeed they have power to affect the mind, by their sweetness or otherwise, but they are not able to bring to pass a real work, either by the inflicting of hurts and harms, or by the procuring of good. I conclude therefore, that the voice of man by nature, hath no power to work any wonders.
I. All words made and vttered by men, are in their own nature but sounds framed by the tongue, of the breath that commeth from the lungs. And that which is onely a bare sound, in all reason can haue no vertue in it to cause a reall worke, much lesse to produce a ⟨p. 135⟩wonder. The sounds of bells and of many musicall instruments, and the voices of many bruit creatures, are fartr more strong and powerfull, then the voice of a man: yet who knoweth not, that none of all these is auaileable to such purposes. Indeede they haue power to affect the minde, by their sweetnes or otherwise, but they are not able to bring to passe a reall worke, either by the inflicting of hurts and harmes, or by the procuring of good. I conclude therefore, that the voice of man by nature, hath no power to worke any wonders.
II. Again, every thing which hurteth or affecteth another, must necessarily touch the thing which it hurteth or affecteth. For it is a granted rule in nature, that every agent worketh upon the patient by touching:1 But words uttered in Charms are commonly made of things absent, and therefore though it should be granted, that they had the power of touching a substance (which they cannot have) yet of themselves they are not available to bring upon things absent either good or evil.