A09402:283
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.
First, they that can not do a lesser thing, can not possibly do a greater. Now Moses shows that the Egyptian Enchanters could not do a lesser thing then the turning of rods into true serpents, or waters into blood. For they could not by all their power & skill, preserve themselves from the plagues of Egypt, as the botch & other judgements, Exod. 9. 11. which was a more easy thing, then to make or change a creature. Nay, they were not able to bring forth lice by their enchantment, which seemed to be the least miracle, but acknowledged that to be the •inger of God, Ex. 8. 18, 19.
First, they that cā not do a lesser thing, can not possibly do a greater. Now Moses shewes that the Egyptian Inchāters could not do a lesser thing then the turning of rodds into true serpents, or waters into blood. For they could not by all their power & skill, preserue themselues from the plagues of Egypt, as the botch & other iudgements, Exod. 9. 11. which was a more easie thing, then to make or change a creature. Nay, they were not able to bring forth lice by their inchantment, which seemed to be the least miracle, but acknowledged that to be the •inger of God, Ex. 8. 18, 19.
Secondly, the text saith, that Aaron's serpent devoured their serpents, Exod. 7. v. 12. hence it followeth, that theirs could not be true creatures. For in all likelihood they were all of the same kind, and of like quantity, at least in show. And it was never seen, that one creature should receive into it self an other creature of equal bigness, with preservation of it self. Neither hath it been observed ordinarily, that one creature should devour another of the same kind. It was therefore a work of Gods secret power in the true serpent, whereby he would show that the other were not true and real, but formal & imaginary.