A09402:249
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.
Secondly, they allege that Witches by malicious and wry looks in anger and displeasure; may and do hurt those upon whom they look, whether they be men or other creatures. And it is an old received opinion, that in malicious and ill disposed persons, there proceed out of the eye with the beams, noisome and malignant spirits, which infect the air, and do poison or kill, not only them with whom they are daily conversant, but others also whose company they frequent, of what age, strength, and complexion so ever they be. Ans. But the opinion is as fond, as it is old: for it is as much against nature that such virtue should proceed ⟨p. 141⟩out of the eye, or such spirits break out of the nerves to the party hated, as it is for the blood of the body, of it self, to gush out of the veins.
Secondly, they alleage that Witches by malitious and wrie lookes in anger and displeasure; may and do hurt those vpon whom they looke, whether they be men or other creatures. And it is an old receiued opinion, that in malitious and ill disposed persons, there proceed out of the eye with the beams, noysome and malignant spirits, which infect the ayre, and doe poison or kill, not onely them with whome they are daily conuersant, but others also whose companie they frequent, of what age, strength, and complexion so euer they be. Ans. But the opinion is as fond, as it is old: for it is as much against nature that such vertue should proceede ⟨p. 141⟩out of the eye, or such spirits breake out of the nerves to the partie hated, as it is for the blood of the bodie, of it selfe, to gush out of the veines.
Yet for the ratifying of this opinion they allege that which is written in Gen. 30. 37. where Jacob laid speckled •oddes before the sheep in their watering troughs, & that by Gods appointment, for this end, that they might bring forth party coloured lambs. I answer, that was not a work of sight, but a special and extraordinary work of Gods providence upon Jacob in his necessity, as we may plainly see in the chapter next following v. 9. &. 11. yea it was taught Jacob by God himself: and f it had been an ordinary work, doubtless the gaes thereof being so good, Jacob would have done it again afterward: but we never read that he did it again. And be it granted it were a natural work, yet it cannot prove witching by sight, because the sheep received into their eyes the species and resemblance of the rods, which is according to nature: whereas in fascination