An essay for the recording of illustrious providences

Viperiasrumpi verbis & carmina fauces.

Yea, the Holy Scriptures intimate, that such diabolical practices were used by some in the days of old, Those words of David, Psal.58.4,5. imply no less, as our Excellent Rainold has with great Learning and Judgement evinced. It must be acknowledged that the notion which many have from Austin taken up, as if Serpents to avoid the power of Charms, would lay one Ear to the ground, and with their tails stop the other ear, is to be reckoned amongst vulgar errors; nevertheless, that there were then Charmers in the World, the mentioned (as well as other) Scriptures notify. Moreover, those Enchanters had their formulae, whereby they did imprecate the persons whom they designed hurt unto; and the Devil (when the Great and Holy God saw meet to permit him) ⟨p. 257⟩would upon the using of those words go to work, and do strange things. Hence Livy speaks of the Devotaria Carmina used by Wizards. The truth of this is also manifest from some passages in Aeschines his Oration against Ctesiphon. And of this nature were Balaam's Curses, desired by Baalak, as Enchantments against Jacob, Numb. 22.6. & 23.23. If it had not been a thing famously known, that Balaam (a black Wizard) did mischief others by his Incantations, the King of Moab would never have sent to him for that end. And as Witchcrafts of this kind were frequent among the Gentiles who know not God; so in a more especial manner amongst the Ephesians before they were enlightened by the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Upon their Conversion to the Christian Faith, as many as had used curious (i. e. as the Syriac Translation rightly Interprets Magical) Arts, brought their Books together and burned them before all men, Acts 19.19. Which showeth that Ephesus did once abound with these Heathenish Superstitions. They pretended that they could by certain Words cure Diseases, eject Devils, &c. Hence it became a Proverbial Phrase, to say, [Greek or Hebrew], when Magical Spells and Incantations were intended. Hesychius mentions