A09402:405
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.
Reasons of this opinion may be these.
Reasons of this opiniō may be these.
First, casting out of devils, and curing such annoyances, are extraordinary and miraculous works. For Christ accounteth handling of serpents without hurt, speaking with new tongues, curing of diseases by imposition of hands, (all which are things of less moment) to be miracles, Mark. 16. 18, 19. but all these lesser works, yea the ordinary power of working them is ceased: for it was only given to the Apostles in the Primitive Church, as a means ⟨p. 233⟩to confirm the doctrine of the Gospel to unbelievers, that never heard of Christ before. So Paul saith; Strange tongues (that is, the gift of speaking strange languages, without ordinary teaching) are for assign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not, 1. Cor. 14. •2. And for the same end were all extraordinary gifts then given. Seeing therefore the doctrine of the Gospel hath been already established, and the truth thereof sufficiently confirmed by miracles in the Primitive Church, the same gift must needs cease unto us. For if it should still continue, it would call into question the effect of the Apostolical preaching, and imply thus much, that the Gospel was not well established, nor sufficiently confirmed by their extraordinary Ministry, and miracles accompanying the same. Again, if the gift of working miracles should remain, then the promise of God for his special and extraordinary assistance therein should yet continue: for the gift and promise go together, so long as the promise is in force, so long is the ⟨p. 234⟩gift also: but the promise made by Christ, In my name shall they cast out devils, and speak with new tongues,