A09402:388
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.
Lawful Remedies of Witchcraft, be of two sorts; Preservative, and Restorative. Preservative are those, which keep a man from the hurt of Witchcraft. And these be of two sorts; either such as keep safe the persons of men, or such as preserve the places of mens abode.
Lawfull Remedies of Witchcraft, be of two sorts; Preseruatiue, and Restoratiue. Preseruatiue are those, which keep a man from the hurt of Witchcraft. And these be of two sorts; either such as keepe safe the persons of men, or such as preserue the places of mens aboad.
For the persons of men, there is one sovereign preservative; And that is, to be within the covenant of grace, ⟨p. 220⟩made and confirmed in the Gospel by the blood of Christ, and that not outwardly in profession only, as all those be which are within the compass of the Church, but truly and indeed as all the elect are. And a man is then in the covenant, when God of his grace in the use of the means, gives him a true knowledge of the nature of it, and of conditions required in the same on both parts: and withal gives him a true and lively faith, to apprehend and apply to himself the promise of God in Christ, touching remission of sins, and life everlasting; yet further to show forth his faith by the fruits of true repentance, and new obedience. When a man in this manner comes to be brought within the covenant, and is in Christ, he then receives assurance of Gods •avour, and to him belong the promises depending thereupon, to wit, not only of the comfortable presence of Gods spirit, but of the presence and special protection of his holy Angels, to pitch their tents about him, to keep him safe in soul and body, from the ⟨p. 221⟩power and malicious practises of Satan, and his members. The ground of this assistance is laid down in the word, Psalm. 92. 10. He shall give his Angels charge over thee, &c. And the speech of Balaam confirmeth the same, who when he was hired of Balac to curse Gods people, and had oftentimes assayed to do it, but could not, at last he brake out into this confession, There is no witchcraft against Jacob, nor sorcery against Israel (for so the words are to be read, according to the true meaning, and circumstances of the text.) As if he should have said, I was of thine opinion (O Balac) that Israel might be cursed, but after trial made, I found by good experience, that I could do that people of God no hurt by mine Enchantments.