A09402:85
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 it be here alleged, that the devils works are not real and true actions, because the holy Ghost calleth them Lying wonders, 2. Thes. 2. 9. I answer, that they are called Lying wonders, not in respect of the works themselves, for they were works truly done and effected; but in regard of the devils end and purpose in working them, which is to lie unto men, and by them to deceive. The truth of which point will appear in the view of some particular examples.
If it be here alleadged, that the deuils workes are not reall and true actions, because the holy Ghost calleth them Lying wonders, 2. Thes. 2. 9. I answer, that they are called Lying wonders, not in respect of the workes themselues, for they were workes truely done and effected; but in regard of the deuills end and purpose in working thē, which is to lie vnto men, and by them to deceiue. The truth of which point will appeare in the viewe of some particular examples.
First▪ we read in the history of Job,1 that Satan brought down fire from heaven, which burnt up Jobs sheep and servants; and caused a mighty wind to blow down the house upon his children,2 as they were feasting, to destroy them. Again, he smote the body of Job with botches and boils. All these were true & real works, very strange & admirable, and yet no miracles, because they exceeded not the compass of nature. ⟨p. 29⟩For first, when he cast down the fire from heaven, he did not create the fire of nothing, for that is a work proper to God alone, but applied creature to creature, and therefore produced such a matter as was fit to make fire of. If it be demanded, how he is able to do this? we must remember, that his knowledge in natural causes is great, and therefore he was not ignorant of the material cause of fire, which being throughly known and found out, Satan brought fire unto it, and so putting fire to the matter of fire, he brought it down by his power and agility from heaven, upon the cattle and servants of Job. Again, the wind which blew down the house, where his sons and daughters were eating and drinking, was not created by the devil, but he knowing well the matter whereof winds are generated naturally, added matter to matter, and thence came the wind; whereunto he joins himself, being a spirit of a swift and speedy nature, and so makes it, for his own purpose, the more violent and forcible.