A09402:364
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.
But how then comes it to pass, that help is often procured by these & such like means? Ans. It is the sleight and subtlety of the Devil upon scratching the Witch, to remove such hurts, as himself hath inflicted, that thereby he may inure men to the practise of wicked and superstitious means. And what I say of scratching, the same may be enlarged to all other proofs of this kind before named. God hath imprinted no such virtue in their natures to these purposes, or added the same unto them by special and extraordinary assignment. That therefore which is brought to pass by them when they are used, cometh from the Devil.
But how then comes it to passe, that helpe is often procured by these & such like meanes? Ans. It is the sleight and subtiltie of the Deuill vpon scratching the Witch, to remooue such hurts, as himselfe hath inflicted, that thereby he may invre men to the practise of wicked and superstitious meanes. And what I say of scratching, the same may be enlarged to all other proofes of this kind before named. God hath imprinted no such vertue in their natures to these purposes, or added the same vnto them by speciall and extraordinarie assignment. That therefore which is brought to passe by them when they are vsed, commeth from the Deuill.
And yet to justify the casting of a Witch into the water, it is alleged, that having made a covenant with the Devil, she hath renounced her Baptism, and hereupon there grows an Antipathy between her, and water. Ans. This allegation serves to no purpose: for all water is not the water of Baptism, but that only whi•h is used ⟨p. 208⟩in the very act of Baptism, and not before nor after. The element out of the use of the Sacrament, is no Sacrament, but returns again to his common use.
And yet to iustifie the casting of a Witch into the water, it is alleadged, that hauing made a couenant with the Deuill, shee hath renounced her Baptisme, and hereupon there growes an Antipathie betweene her, and water. Ans. This allegation serues to no purpose: for all water is not the water of Baptisme, but that onely whih is vsed