A09402:65
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.
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, Psalme 136. 4. that is, works simply wonderfull.
But it is alleged to the contrary, that the Prophets in the old Testament, and the Apostles in the new, did work miracles. I answer, they did so, but how? not by their own power, but by the power of God, being only his instruments, whom he used for some special purpose in those works: and such as did not themselves cause the miracle, but ⟨p. 16⟩God in and by them. The same doth Peter and John acknowledge, when they had restored the lame man to the perfect use of his limbs, that by their power and godliness, they had not made the man to go, Act. 3. 13.
But it is alleadged to the contrarie, that the Prophets in the old Testament, and the Apostles in the new, did worke miracles. I answer, they did so, but how? not by their owne power, but by the power of God, beeing onely his instruments, whom he vsed for some speciall purpose in those works: and such as did not themselues cause the miracle, but ⟨p. 16⟩