A09402:87
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.
Another example of Satan's real works is this. By reason of his great power and skill, he is able to appear in the form and shape of a man, and resemble any person or creature, and that not by deluding the senses, but by assuming to himself a true body. His power ⟨p. 31⟩is not so large, as to create a body, or bring again a •oule into a body, yet by his dexterity and skill in natural causes he can work wonderfully. For he is able, having gathered together fit matter, to join member to member, and to make a true body, either after the likeness of man, or some other creature; and having so done, to enter into it, to move and stir it up and down, and therein visibly and sensibly to appear unto man; which though it be a strange work, and besides the ordinary course of nature, yet it is not simply above the power thereof.
Another example of Satans reall workes is this. By reason of his great power and skill, he is able to appeare in the forme and shape of a man, and resemble any person or creature, and that not by deluding the senses, but by assuming to himselfe a true body. His power ⟨p. 31⟩is not so large, as to create a bodie, or bring againe a •oule into a bodie, yet by his dexteritie and skill in naturall causes he can worke wonderfully. For he is able, hauing gathered together fit matter, to ioyne member to member, and to make a true bodie, either after the likenes of man, or some other creature; and hauing so done, to enter into it, to mooue and stirre it vp and downe, and therein visibly and sensibly to appeare vnto man; which though it be a strange worke, and besides the ordinarie course of nature, yet it is not simply aboue the power thereof.
For a third instance. The devil is able to utter a voice in plain words and speech, answerable to mans understanding in any language. Not that he can take unto himself being a spirit, an immediate power to speak or frame a voice of nothing without means, but knowing the natural and proper causes and means by which men do speak, by them he frames in himself the voice of a man, and plainly utters the same in a known language. In this manner