A09402:408
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.
First, they say, the Church of the New Testament is nothing inferior to that of the Old. The Jewish Church before the coming of Christ, was the Church of the Old Testament, and had the power and gift of casting our Devils. So saith our Saviour himself, Matth. 12. 27. If I through Beelzebub cast out Devils, then by whom do your children cast them out? In which words he ascribeth this gift unto the Jews, therefore ⟨p. 235⟩it should seem, the same remaineth still in the Church.
First, they say, the Church of the New Testament is nothing inferiour to that of the Old. The Iewish Church before the comming of Christ, was the Church of the Old Testament, and had the power and gift of casting our Deuills. So saith our Sauiour himselfe, Matth. 12. 27. If I through Beelzebub cast out Deuills, then by whome doe your children cast them out? In which words he ascribeth this gift vnto the Iewes, therefore ⟨p. 235⟩it should seeme, the same remaineth still in the Church.
Ans. That place of Scripture is diversly expounded. Some by children there mentioned, understand the Apostles, who were Jews borne, and had received from Christ this gift & power to cast out devils. Which if it be so, it maketh not for them, because they had it extraordinarily. But I rather think, that by children, are meant the Exorcising Jews, before Christs time, who did cast out devils among them, pretending an ability to do this work in the name of God; whereas in truth, they were all flat Sorcerers, and did it by virtue of a league & compact made with the Devil. Which practise hath been of long continuance, and is at this day common and usual among the Popish sort. And that there were such Exorcists among the Jews, it is evident. For such were those Vagabonds which came to Ephesus, and took upon them to cast out devils by the name of Jesus, and Paul,