An essay for the recording of illustrious providences

And that the Jews received these curious or rather cursed Arts from Ethnics, is manifest, inasmuch as Pliny taught that the Herb called Aglaophotis had power to raise the Gods, (so did they call the Devils whom they served.) Now that was the same Herb with Baaras; For as D•lacampius, Rainold, and others have observed, both names have the same signification. So then the making use of Herbs to fright away Devils, or to preserve from the power of Witches, is originally an Heathenish custom, and therefore that which ought to be avoided and abhorred by those that call themselves Christians.

And that the Jews received these curious or rather cursed Arts from Ethnicks, is manifest, inasmuch as Pliny taught that the Herb called Aglaophotis had power to raise the Gods, (so did they call the Devils whom they served.) Now that was the same Herb with Baaras; For as D•lacampius, Rainold, and others have observed, both names have the same signification. So then the making use of Herbs to fright away Devils, or to preserve from the power of Witches, is originally an Heathenish custome, and therefore that which ought to be avoided and abhorred by those that call themselves Christians.

It is no less Superstitious, when Men Endeavour by Characters, Words or Spells, to charm any Witches, Devils or Diseases. Such ⟨p. 255⟩Persons do (as Fuller speaks) fence them selves with the devils Shield against the devils Sword, Agrippa in his Books De occulta Philosophia has many of these impious curiosities. But in his Book of the vanity of Sciences, Chap.48. he acknowledgeth that he wrote his other Book of Occult Philosophy, when he was a young Man, and bewails his iniquity therein, confessing that he had sinfully misspent precious time in those unprofitable Studies. There is also an horrid Book full of Conjurations and Magical Incantations, which the profane Author hath ventured to publish under the name of King Solomon: There cannot be a greater vanity than to imagine that devils are really frighted with Words and Syllables: such practices are likewise of diabolical and heathenish original. They that have read Subjects of this nature, are not ignorant of what is related concerning the strange things done by the Incantations of that famous Wizard Apollonius. The like has been also noted of the Brackmanes of old, who were much given to such unlawful Arts. It is still customary amongst the Heathenish Africans, by Incantations to charm Serpents; Which when they are in that way brought to them by the devil, they use with the blood of such Serpents to anoint their Weapons, that so