A09402:393
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.
Howbeit in this case there is great difference between the servant of God, and an unrepentant sinner. Though the godly man be not exempted from Witchcraft, yet he is a thousand fold more free from the power thereof, then other men are. For there is only one case, and no more, wherein the Devil hath any way power to hurt him, and that is, when it pleaseth God by that kind of cross, to make trial of his faith and patience, and out of this case, he is always free from the annoyance of the vilest Witches in the world.
Howbeit in this case there is great difference between the seruant of God, and an vnrepentant sinner. Though the godly man be not exempted from Witchcraft, yet he is a thousand folde more free from the power thereof, then other men are. For there is onely one case, and no more, wherein the Deuill hath any way power to hurt him, and that is, whē it pleaseth God by that kind of crosse, to make triall of his faith and patience, and out of this case, he is alwaies free from the annoyance of the vilest Witches in the world.
If then this be the only sovereign ⟨p. 224⟩preservative to keep a man safe and sure from the power of Witches, and of the Devil, to have part in the covenant of grace, to be made partaker of Christ, by a true faith, testified by dying unto all sin, and living unto God in •ewnes of life: we must not content our selves with a formal confession, as many in the visible Church do, which wanting the life of faith, do not live in Christ; but strive to go further, and to adorn our profession, by framing our lives according to the word, that we may have our portion in this excellent privilege of preservation, from the power and malice of the enemies of God, and all ungodly persons.
If then this be the onely soueraigne ⟨p. 224⟩preseruatiue to keepe a man safe and sure from the power of Witches, and of the Deuill, to haue part in the couenant of grace, to be made partaker of Christ, by a true faith, testified by dying vnto all sinne, and liuing vnto God in ewnes of life: we must not content our selues with a formall confession, as many in the visible Church doe, which wanting the life of faith, doe not liue in Christ; but striue to goe further, and to adorne our profession, by framing our liues according to the word, that we may haue our portion in this excellent priuiledge of preseruation, from the power and malice of the enemies of God, and all vngodly persons.