A09402:70
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.
If any man in reason think it not likely, that a creature should be able to work extraordinarily by natural means, he must remember, that though God hath reserved to himself alone the power of abolishing and changing nature, the order whereof he set and established in the creation, yet the alteration of the ordinary course of nature, he hath put in the power of his strongest creatures, Angels and devils. That the Angels have received this power, and do execute the same upon his command or permission, it is manifest by ⟨p. 19⟩Scripture, and the proof of it is not so necessary in this place. But that Satan is able to do extraordinary works by the help of nature (which is the question in hand) it shall appear, if we consider in him these things.
If any man in reason thinke it not likely, that a creature should be able to worke extraordinarily by naturall means, he must remember, that though God hath reserued to himselfe alone the power of abolishing and changing nature, the order whereof he set and established in the creation, yet the alteration of the ordinarie course of nature, he hath put in the power of his strongest creatures, Angels and deuills. That the Angels haue receiued this power, and doe execute the same vpon his command or permission, it is manifest by ⟨p. 19⟩Scripture, and the proofe of it is not so necessarie in this place. But that Satan is able to doe extraordinarie workes by the helpe of nature (which is the question in hand) it shall appeare, if we consider in him these things.
First, the Devil is by nature a spirit, & therefore of great understanding, knowledge, & capacity in all natural things, of what sort, quality, & condition soever, whether they be causes or effects, whether of a simple or mixed nature. By reason whereof he can search more deeply & narrowly into the grounds of things, then all corporal creatures that are clothed with flesh and blood.
First, the Deuil is by nature a spirit, & therfore of great vnderstanding, knowledge, & capacitie in all naturall things, of what sort, qualitie, & cōdition soeuer, whether they be causes or effects, whether of a simple or mixt nature. By reason whereof he can search more deeply & narrowly into the grounds of things, then all corporall creatures that are clothed with flesh and blood.