Angelographia, or A discourse concerning the nature and power of the holy angels, and…

It was in my thoughts to have Written something concerning that Power, which by the Permission, and Righteous Judgment of God, the Evil Angels have over the sinful, miserable Children of men. There are some, who will not Believe, that ever a Wizard or Conjurer should be able to set the Devils upon their Neighbours, or that those Infernal Spirits should have Power to Hurt them. But the Scriptures assures us, that Balak sent for that Infamous Soothsayer Balaam, to Curse his Enemies, which he would never have do•• if it had not been a thing notoriously known, •hat Balaam could by his Charms do such things. And the reason of his being no more affrighted when his Ass spoke to him, was doubtless because he did not at first think that it was a Good Angel that spoke, but rather one of those Evil Spirits with whom he had maintained a familiar Conversation. Nor can it be denied, but that there are cursed Books in the World, which Instruct men what Ceremonies they must use, and what Words they must utter, that so when the Signals which are of the Devils Institution, are observed, he may do what his Worshippers desire of him, so far as the most High shall give him ⟨image ?⟩Leave, without whose Permission he cannot so much as enter into any man's Swine. The Superstitious Gentiles of Old, set a very High Price on such DIABOLICAL-BOOKS. The Converted Ephesians burnt those Books, and they counted the Price of them, and found it to be Fifty thousand Pieces of Silver, which amounts to One Thousand Five Hundred Sixty Two Pounds, Ten Shillings, English Money, Acts 19.19. Because the Ephesians were notorious for doing Mischief by Magical Spells [EPHESIA GRAMMATA] became a Proverb. That such Instruments of Satan cannot always hurt whom they would is most certain. Cyprian (who was afterwards a famous Minister and Martyr) found it to be so, when he made the Attempt. It is Related in the Life of Ambrose, that Magicians did in vain seek to do him Hurt. One that many years since was Executed at Hartford, in Connecticut-Colony, on the Account of Witchcraft, confessed, that she had Employed Evil Spirits to be Revenged on several; but that when she would have had them do the like to Mr. Stone (the Eminent Teacher of the Church there) they told her, they had not leave to do it:

It was in my thoughts to have Written something concerning that Power, which by the Permission, and Righteous Judgment of God, the Evil Angels have over the sinful, miserable Children of men. There are some, who will not Believe, that ever a Wizzard or Cnjurer should be able to set the Devils upon their Neighbours, or that those Infernal Spirits should have Power to Hurt them. But the Scriptures assures us, that Balak sent for that Infamous Southsayer Balaam, to Curse his Enemies, which he would never have do if it had not been a thing notoriously known, hat Balaam could by his Charms do such things. And the reason of his being no more affrighted when his Ass spoke to him, was doubtless because he did not at first think that it was a Good Angel that spoke, but rather one of those Evil Spirits with whom he had maintained a familiar Conversation. Nor can it be denyed, but that there are cursed Books in the World, which Instruct men what Ceremonies they must use, and what Words they must utter, that so when the Signals which are of the Devils Institution, are observed, he may do what his Worshippers desire of him, so far as the most High shall give him