A09402:365
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.
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 whi•h is vsed ⟨p. 208⟩in the very act of Baptisme, and not before nor after. The element out of the vse of the Sacrament, is no Sacrament, but returnes againe to his common vse.
To go yet further, an other insufficient proof, is the testimony of some wizard. It hath been the ordinary custom of some men, when they have had any thing ill at ease, presently to go or send to some wise man, or wise woman, by whom they have been informed, that the thing is bewitched; and to win credit to their answer, some of them have offered to show the Witches face in a glass: whereof the party having taken notice, returns home, and detecteth the man of woman of witchcraft. This I grant may be a good presumption to cause strait examination: but a sufficient proof of conviction it can not be. For put the case the grand-Jury at the Assizes goeth on a party suspected, and in their consultation the Devil, comes in the likeness of some known man, and tells them the person in question is indeed a Witch, and offers withal to confirm the same by