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…

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.

For the persons of men, there is one soueraigne preseruatiue; And that is, to be within the couenant of grace, ⟨p. 220⟩made and confirmed in the Gospel by the blood of Christ, and that not outwardly in profession onely, as all those be which are within the compasse of the Church, but truly and indeede as all the elect are. And a man is then in the couenant, when God of his grace in the vse of the meanes, giues him a true knowledge of the nature of it, and of conditions required in the same on both parts: and withall giues him a true and liuely faith, to apprehend and apply to himselfe the promise of God in Christ, touching remission of sinnes, and life euerlasting; yet further to shew forth his faith by the fruits of true repentance, and new obedience. When a man in this manner comes to be brought within the couenant, and is in Christ, he then receiues assurance of Gods auour, and to him belong the promises depending thereupon, to wit, not onely of the comfortable presence of Gods spirit, but of the presence and speciall protection of his holy Angels, to pitch their tents about him, to keepe him safe in soule and bodie, from the