A09402:432
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.
I. Those Judicial Laws, whose penalty is death, because they have in them a perpetual equity, and do serve to maintain some moral precept, are perpetual. The Jews indeed had some Laws of this kind, whose punishments were temporal, and they lasted only for a certain time: but the penalty of Witchcraft, being Death by Gods appointment, and the inflicting of that punishment, serving to maintain the equity of the three first moral precepts of the first Table, which cannot be kept, unless this Law be put in execution: it ⟨p. 248⟩must necessarily follow, that it is in that regard moral, and binds us, and shall in like sort bind all men in all ages, as well as the Jews themselves, to whom it was at that time personally directed.
I. Those Iudiciall Lawes, whose penaltie is death, because they haue in thē a perpetuall equitie, and doe serue to maintaine some morall precept, are perpetuall. The Iewes indeede had some Lawes of this kind, whose punishments were temporall, and they lasted onely for a certaine time: but the penaltie of Witchcraft, beeing Death by Gods appointment, and the in•licting of that punishment, seruing to maintaine the equitie of the three first morall precepts of the first Table, which cannot be kept, vnlesse this Lawe be put in execution: it ⟨p. 248⟩must necessarily follow, that it is in that regard morall, and binds vs, and shall in like sort bind all men in all ages, as well as the Iewes themselues, to whome it was at that time personally directed.
II. Every Judicial law, that hath in it the equity of the law of nature, is perpetual; but the Law of punishing the Witch by death, is such. For it is a principle of the law of nature, holden for a grounded truth in all countries & kingdoms, among all people in every age; that the traitor, who is an enemy to the State, and rebelleth against his lawful Prince, should be put to death: now the most notorious traitor and rebel that can be, is the Witch. For she renounceth God himself, the King of kings, she leaves the society of his Church and people, she bindeth her self in league with the Devil: and therefore if any offender among men, ought to suffer death for his fact, much more ought she, and that of due desert.