A09402:330
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.
III. Whatsoever the devil doth in this compact, he doth it in fraud and deceit, never meaning in his promises, as man doth, and when both parties mean not one & the same thing, how can they grow to agreement in any kind? Ans. Suppose this be true, yet it only proveth, that the covenant made between them, was deceitful and unlawful. But what of that? still it remaineth a bargain howsoever: for it faileth only in the circumstance, the substance, which is the consent of the parties, was not wanting.
III. Whatsoeuer the deuill doth in this compact, he doth it in fraud and deceit, neuer meaning in his promises, as man doth, and when both parties meane not one & the same thing, how can they growe to agreement in any kind? Ans. Suppose this be true, yet it onely prooueth, that the couenant made betweene them, was deceitfull and vnlawfull. But what of that? stil it remaineth a bargaine howsoeuer: for it faileth onely in the circumstance, the substance, which is the consent of the parties, was not wanting.
IV. Witches of our times (say they) are aged persons, of weak brains, and troubled with abundance of melancholy, and the devil taketh advantage of the humour, and so deludes them, persuading that they have made a league ⟨p. 191⟩with him, when they have not, and consequently moving them to imagine, that they do, and may do strange things, which indeed are done by himself, and not by them.
IV. VVitches of our times (say they) are aged persons, of weake braines, and troubled with abundance of melancholie, and the deuill taketh aduantage of the humor, and so deludes them, perswading that they haue made a league ⟨p. 191⟩with him, when they haue not, and consequently moouing them to imagine, that they doe, and may doe strange things, which indeed are done by himselfe, and not by them.