A09402:435
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.
The third reason. Every seducer in the Church, whose practise was to draw men from the true God, to the worship of Idols, though it were a mans own son or daughter, wife or friend, by the peremptory degree and commandment of God, was at no hand to be spared or pitied, but the hand of the witness first, and then the hands of all the people must be upon him, to kill him, Deut. 13. 6. 9. If this be so, no Witches convicted ought to escape the sword of the Magistrate: for they are the most notorious seducers of all other. When they be once entangled in the Devils league, they labour to inure their dearest f•iends and posterity, in their cursed and abominable practi•es; that they may be the more easily drawn into the same confederacy, wherewith they them selves are united to Satan. I might here allege that they deserve death, because many of them be murderers, but I stand not upon that instance, because I hold in the general that Witches are ⟨p. 251⟩not to be suffered to live, though they do no hurt either to man or other creatures, and that by virtue of Moses Law, only for their leagues sake, whereby they become rebels to God, Idolaters, and seducers, as now hath been showed. Notwithstanding all that hath been said, many things are brought in defence of them, by such as be their friends and wel•illers.
The third reason. Euery seducer in the Church, whose practise was to draw men from the true God, to the worship of Idols, though it were a mans owne sonne or daughter, wife or friend, by the peremptorie degree and commandement of God, was at no hand to be spared or pitied, but the hand of the witnesse first, and then the hands of all the people must be vpon him, to kill him, Deut. 13. 6. 9. If this be so, no Witches connicted ought to escape the sword of the Magistrate: for they are the most notorious seducers of all other. When they be once intangled in the Deuills league, they labour to invre their dearest f•iends and posteritie, in their cursed and abominable practi•es; that they may be the more easily drawne into the same consederacy, wherewith they thē selues are vnited to Satan. I might here alleadge that they deserue death, because many of them be murtherers, but I stand not vpon that instance, because I hold in the generall that Witches are