A09402:64
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.
Now the effecting of a miracle in this kind, is a work proper to God only; and no creature, man, or Angel, can do any thing either above or contrary to nature, but he alone which is the Creator. For as God in the beginning made all things of nothing, so he hath reserved to himself, as a peculiar work of his almighty power, to change or abolish the substance, property, motion ⟨p. 15⟩and use of any creature. The reason is, because he is the author and creator of nature, and therefore at his pleasure, is perfectly able to command, restrain, enlarge, or extend the power & strength thereof, without the help or assistance of the creature.
Now the effecting of a miracle in this kind, is a work proper to God onely; and no creature, man, or Angel, can doe any thing either aboue or contrarie to nature, but he alone which is the Creator. For as God in the beginning made all things of nothing, so he hath reserued to himselfe, as a peculiar work of his almightie power, to change or abolish the substance, propertie, motion ⟨p. 15⟩and vse of any creature. The reason is, because he is the author and creator of nature, and therefore at his pleasure, is perfectly able to command, restraine, enlarge, or extend the power & strēgth thereof, without the helpe or assistance of the creature.
Again, the working of a miracle is a kind of creation, for therein a thing is made to be, which was not before. And this must needs be proper to God alone, by whose power, things that are, were once produced out of things that did not appear. The conclusion therefore must needs be this, which David confesseth in the Psalm: God only doth wondrous things, Psalm 136. 4. that is, works simply wonderful.
Againe, the working of a miracle is a kind of creation, for therein a thing is made to be, which was not before. And this must needs be proper to God alon, by whose power, things that are, were once produced out of things that did not appeare. The conclusion therefore must needs be this, which Dauid confesseth in the Psalme: God onely doth wondrous things,