A09402:422
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.
III. The third Remedy, is the sign of the Cross, made upon the body of the party tormented. Behold to what an height of impiety they are grown, ascribing that to the creature, which is proper to the Creator, For the power of working miracles, is proper only to the Godhead. The Prophets and Apostles in their times did not work them of themselves, but were only Gods passive ⟨p. 244⟩instruments, in this manner: When the Lord •••ended by them to work any miracle, they received from him at the same time an extraordinary & special instinct, whereby they were moved to attempt the work. They therefore yielded themselves to the present motion of Gods spirit, to be his instruments only in the dispensation of the work▪ but the sole author and producer of the miracle, was God himself. And in this case the very manhood of our Saviour Christ, considered apart from his Godhead, had no power of it self, but was only the instrument of his Godhead, whensoever it pleased him in that kind to manifest the same. Wherefore to ascribe this virtue to the Cross, being a creature, or the work of a creature, is to communicate the incommunicable power of the Creator to it, which is plain blasphemy.
III. The third Remedie, is the signe of the Crosse, made vpon the bodie of the partie tormented. Behold to what an height of impietie they are growne, ascribing that to the creature, which is proper to the Creartor, For the power of working miracles, is proper onely to the Godhead. The Prophets and Apostles in their times did not worke them of themselues, but were onely Gods passiue ⟨p. 244⟩instruments, in this manner: When the Lord •••ended by them to worke any miracle, they receiued from him at the same time an extraordinarie & speciall instinct, whereby they were mooued to attempt the worke. They therefore yeelded themselues to the present motion of Gods spirit, to be his instruments onely in the dispensation of the worke▪ but the sole author and producer of the miracle, was God himselfe. And in this case the very manhood of our Sauiour Christ, considered apart from his Godhead, had no power of it selfe, but was onely the instrument of his Godhead, whensoeuer it pleased him in that kinde to manifest the same. Wherefore to ascribe this vertue to the Crosse, beeing a creature, or the worke of a creature, is to communicate the incommunicable power of the Creator to it, which is plaine blasphemie.