A09402:263
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.
Fourthly, In this number we reckon the using of the name Jesus, to d•ive away the devil, or to prevent Witchcraft; a common practise among the ignorant. Wherein the wonderful malice of Satan bewrays it self, in making the ignorant people think that Christ is a conjurer, and that there is virtue in the naming o• his name, to do some ⟨p. 151⟩strange thing. Whereas the truth is, he careth neither for this name, nor for all the names of God, if a man goes no further than the bare repeating of them; but rather delighteth to see them so abused and disgraced. And hereupon it is, that in all conjurations, when he is raised by the Sorcerer, he is willing to be added red by all the holy names of God that are in the Scripture, to the end, that he may the more deeply seduce his own instruments, and make them to think that these holy names will bind him, & force him to yield unto their desires in the particular, when indeed there is no such matter. Which point throughly considered, may admonish us to take special heed of these cunning glozes and devilish insinuations, whereby he intendeth to delude us; alway remembering, that the Apostles themselves, to whom the power of working miracles was given, did never acknowledge the work to be done by the name of Jesus, but as S. Peter affirmeth, through faith in his name, Act. 3. 6. 16.
Fourthly, In this number we reckon the vsing of the name Iesus, to d•iue away the deuill, or to p•euent Witchcraft; a common practise among the ignorant. Wherein the wonderfull malice of Satan bew•aies it selfe, in making the ignorant people thinke that Christ is a coniurer, and that there is vertue in the naming o• his name, to doe some ⟨p. 151⟩strange thing. Whereas the truth is, he careth neither for this name, nor for all the names of God, if a man goes no further thē the bare repeating of them; but rather delighteth to see them so abused and disgraced. And hereupon it is, that in all coniurations, when he is raised by the Sorcerer, he is willing to be adi red by all the holy names of God that are in the Scripture, to the ende, that he may the more deepely seduce his owne instruments, and make them to thinke that these holy names will bind him, & force him to yeeld vnto their desires in the particular, when indeede there is no such matter. Which point throughly considered, may admonish vs to take speciall heede of these cunning glozes and deuillish insinuations, whereby he intendeth to delude vs; alway remembring, that the Apostles themselues, to whom the power of working miracles was giuen, did neuer acknowledge the worke to be done by the name of Iesus, but as S. Peter affirmeth, through faith in his name,