A09402:278
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.
They were not done by the Devil; because the devil cannot make a true creature, either serpent or frog.
They were not done by the Deuill; because the deuill cannot make a true creature, either serpent or frogge.
How doth that appear? Ans. To make a true creature of any sort, by producing the same out of the causes, is a work serving to continue the creation, and is indeed a kind of creation. Now the devil as he cannot create a thing at the first, so he is not able to continue the same by a new creation: that being a property belonging to God only. For better conceiving hereof, we must know, that God crea•eth two ways: either primarily in the beginning, when he made all things of nothing, Gen. 1. 1. or secondarily, in the government of the world, when he produceth a true creature in a true miracle: yet not making it of nothing (as he did in the beginning) but producing it by ministering and in forming the matter immediately by himself, without the aide of ordinary ⟨p. 162⟩means and instruments appointed after the creation. The former is creation properly called; the latter a continuance thereof. Both these God hath reserved to himself, as incommunicable to any creature. As for the succession and propagation of creatures in their kinds, as of men, beasts, birds, fishes, &c. it is only a continuation of the creatures in their kinds, and is wrought by ordinary means of generation; but is no continuance of the work of creation. And the devil by his power may make counterfeits of the true creatures of God, but neither by creating them, nor by continuing their creation; these two being works peculiar and proper to the Deity alone.
Hovv doth that appeare? Ans. To make a true creature of any sort, by producing the same out of the causes, is a vvork seruing to continue the creation, and is indeede a kinde of creation. Now the deuill as he cannot create a thing at the first, so he is not able to continue the same by a new creation: that beeing a propertie belonging to God onely. For better conceiuing hereof, we must know, that God creaeth two waies: either primarily in the beginning, whē he made all things of nothing,