A37046:570
The law unsealed
The law unsealed: or, A practical exposition of the Ten Commandments With a resolution of several momentous questions and cases of conscience. By the learned, laborious, faithful servant of Jesus Christ, Mr. James Durham, late minister of the Gospel at Glasgow.
Glasgow: printed by Robert Sanders, 1676
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.
2. It is unlawful when it is done by exhorting or obtesting of, or praying unto the Devil himself, & entreating him as we do God, which way implieth, 1. Friendship with him when we entreat him as a Friend. 2. Prayer or worship to him who is not the object of it. 3. An obligation on us to him, when he yieldeth to obey; and he will not fail, if by any means he can, to put that complement or obligation on us, and so Necromancers, Witches, Exorcists, &c. may cast out Devils by collusion (though possibly not in a way so explicit), whereby the Devil gaineth his point upon such as effectually, as if there were a most expressly formed Covenant betwixt him and them, and thus the Pharisees falsely and blasphemously, charged on our blessed Lord, Mat. 12. as if by Beelzebub▪ that is by Collusion with the Prince of Devils, he had cast out Devils. There are no doubt, many Sins committed this way, while some take on them confidently to Command the Devil, as •f with an Avoid Satan, they could put him into Bonds: And others seek Health from Devils or Witches, especially when it is supposed to come from them,) and •atreat them to do such and such things: All which are Breaches of this Part of the Third Commandment.
2. It is unlawful when it is done by exhorting or obtesting of, or praying unto the Devil himself, & intreating him as we do God, which way implyeth, 1. Friendship with him when we intreat him as a Friend. 2. Prayer or worship to him who is not the object of it. 3. An obligation on us to him, when he yieldeth to obey; and he will not fail, if by any means he can, to put that complement or obligation on us, and so Necromancers, Witches, Exorcists, &c. may cast out Devils by collusion (though possibly not in a way so explicit), whereby the Devil gaineth his point upon such as effectually, as if there were a most expresly formed Covenant betwixt him and them, and thus the Pharisees falsly and blasphemously, charged on our blesed Lord, Mat. 12. as if by Belezebub▪ that is by Collusion with the Prince of Devils, he had cast out Devils. There are no doubt, many Sins committed this way, while some take on them confidently to Command the Devil, as •f with an Avoid Satan, they could put him into Bonds: And others seek Health from Devils or Witches, especially when it is supposed to come from them,) and atreat them to do such and such things: All which are Breaches of this Part of the Third Commandment.