A09402:336
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.
Ans. We must make a difference of Witches in regard of time. There is a time, when they first begin to make a league with Satan, and a time also after the league is made and confirmed.
Ans. We must make a difference of Witches in regard of time. There is a time, when they first beginne to make a league with Satan, and a time also after the league is made and confirmed.
When they first begin to grow in confederacy with the devil, they are sober, and their understanding sound, they make their match waking, and as they think wisely enough, knowing both what they promise the devil, and upon what conditions, and therefore all this while it is no delusion. But after they be once in the league, and have been entangled in compact with the devil (considerately as they think, for their own good and advantage) the case may be otherwise. For then reason and understanding may be depraved, memory weakened, and all the powers of their soul blemished. Thus becoming his vassals, they are deluded, and so intoxicated by him, that they will run into thousands of fantastical imaginations, holding themselves to be transformed into the shapes of other creatures, ⟨p. 196⟩to be transported in the air into other countries, yea to do many strange things, which in truth they do not.
When they first beginne to grow in confederacie with the deuill, they are sober, and their vnderstanding sound, they make their match waking, and as they thinke wisely enough, knowing both what they promise the deuill, and vpon what conditions, and therefore all this while it is no delusion. But after they be once in the league, and haue beene intangled in compact with the deuill (considerately as they thinke, for their owne good and aduantage) the case may be otherwise. For then reason and vnderstanding may be depraued, memorie weakned, and all the powers of their soule blemished. Thus becomming his vassalls, they are deluded, and so intoxicated by him, that they wil run into thousands of fantasticall imaginations, holding themselues to be transformed into the shapes of other creatures,