A09402:242
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.
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.
II. Againe, euery thing which hurteth or affecteth another, must necessarily touch the thing which it hurteth or affecteth. For it is a graunted rule in nature, that euery agent worketh vpon the patient by touching:1 But words vttered in Charmes are commonly made of things absent, and therefore though it should be graunted, that they had the power of touching a substance (which they cannot haue) yet of thēselues they are not auaileable to bring vpon things absent either good or euill.
- 1Omneagen• per con•aet•••:
III. Moreover, if words conceived in charms and spells have any such power as is pretended, why should not every word that any man speaketh have the same power, inasmuch as all words are of the same nature, being only sounds framed in the breast, and uttered by the tongue in letters and syllables? But experience teacheth, that the same word spoken by another, hath not the same virtue; For the charm uttered by the Charmer himself, will take effect; but being spoken in the same manner by another man, that is no Enchanter, maketh to no purpose, for nothing is effected by it.
III. Moreouer, if words conceiued in charmes and spells haue any such power as is pretended, why should not euery word that any man speaketh haue the same power, inasmuch as all words are of the same nature, beeing onely sounds framed in the breast, and vttered by the tongue in letters and syllables? But experience teacheth, that the same word spoken by another, hath not the same vertue; For the charme vttered by the Charmer himselfe, will take effect; but beeing spoken in the same manner by another man, that is no Inchanter, maketh to no purpose, for nothing is effected by it.