A09402:372
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 the patrons and advocates of Witches, except against it, and object in this manner: That a man or woman may confess against themselves an untruth, being urged thereto either by fear or threatening, or by a desire, upon some grief conceived, to be out of the world; or at least, being in trouble, and persuaded it is the best course to save their lives, and obtain liberty, they may upon simplicity be induced to confess that, which they never did, even against themselves. Ans. I say not, that a bare confession is sufficient, but a ⟨p. 212⟩confession after due examination taken upon pregnant presumptions. For if a man examined, without any ground or presumptions, should openly acknowledge the crime, his act may be justly suspected, as grounded upon by-respects; but when proceeding is made against him at the first, upon good probabilities, and hereupon he be drawn to a free confession, that which he hath manifested thereby, cannot but be a truth. Other points of exception urged by them, are of small moment, and may easily be answered out of the grounds before delivered, and therefore I omit them.
And yet the patrons and aduocates of Witches, except against it, and obiect in this manner: That a man or woman may confesse against themselues an vntruth, beeing vrged thereto either by feare or threatning, or by a desire, vpon some griefe conceiued, to be out of the world; or at least, beeing in trouble, and perswaded it is the best course to saue their liues, and obtaine libertie, they may vpon simplicitie be induced to confesse that, which they neuer did, euen against themselues. Ans. I say not, that a bare confession is sufficient, but a ⟨p. 212⟩confession after due examination taken vpon pregnant presumptions. For if a man examined, without any ground or presumptions, should openly acknowledge the crime, his act may be iustly suspected, as groūded vpon by-respects; but when proceeding is made against him at the first, vpon good probabilities, and hereupon he be drawn to a free confession, that which he hath manifested therby, cannot but be a truth. Other points of exception vrged by them, are of small moment, and may easily be answered out of the grounds before deliuered, and therefore I omit them.