A09402:294
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, to take away all exception of punishment from any party that shall practise this trade, and to show that weakness cannot exempt the Witch from death. For in all reason, if any might allege infirmity, and plead for favour, it were the woman, who is weaker then the man. But the Lord saith, if any person of either sex among his people, be found to have entered covenant with Satan, and become a practiser of Sorcery, though it be a woman and the weaker vessel, she shall not escape, she shall not be suffered to live, she must die the death. And though weakness in other cases, may lessen both the crime and the punishment, yet in this it shall take no place.
Secondly, to take away all exception of punishment from any partie that shall practise this trade, and to shewe that weaknes cānot exempt the Witch from death. For in all reason, if any might alledge insirmitie, and plead for fauour, it were the woman, who is weaker then the man. But the Lord saith, if any person of either sexe among his people, be found to haue entred couenant with Satan, and become a practiser of Sorcerie, though it be a woman and the weaker vessell, shee shall not escape, she shall not be suffred to liue, she must die the death. And though weakenes in other cases, may lessen both the crime and the punishment, yet in this it shall take no place.
The second point in the description, is consenting to use the help of the devil, either by open or secret league, wittingly and willingly: wherein standeth the very thing, that maketh a Witch to be a Witch: The yielding of consent upon covenant. By which clause, two sorts of people are expressly excluded from being Witches. First, such as be tainted with frenzy or madness, or are through weakness of the brain deluded by the devil. For these, though they may be said after a sort to have society with Satan, or rather he with them, yet they cannot give their consent to use his aide truly, but only in imagination; with the true Witch it is far otherwise. Secondly, all such superstitious persons, men or women, as use Charms and Enchantment for the effecting of any thing upon a superstitious and erroneous persuasion, that the Charms have virtue in them to do such things, not knowing that it is the action of the devil by those means; but thinking that God hath put virtue into them, as he hath done into herbs for Physic. Of