Howbeit, of all Enchantments these are the most dishonourable to God, most acceptable to Satan, and most hurtful to the charmer, which are made of the Scriptures. For beside the sin of Witchcraft in the Charming, this inconvenience […], that Satan procureth more credit to one of th•se, then to twenty other, because the words are Scripture; hereby clo•ing his mischievous practises under the colour of holiness, and so confirming the truth of that which the holy Ghost saith, that when he worketh most deceitfully, he transforms himself into an Angel of l•hgt,• Cor. 11. 14. He knoweth well, that ordinary words seem nothing to some men, therefore he teacheth and suggesteth phrases and sentences out of the word, for such ungodly ends, that even the grace of them fetched from the Scriptures, may make them shameful. ⟨p. 148⟩Wherefore let every one that is endued with grace and knowledge, d•ely consider this with himself. Cannot Gods word be effectual, when it is used to edification, unless the work of his own Spirit accompany the same? then surely it is impossible, that the same which is holy, being used to an evil end, should be powerful, except the devil affordeth his help for the effecting thereof. To conclude therefore, let men say what they will, the truth is this, that words of Enchantment, be they never so holy or profane, either by way of cursing or blessing, have no power of themselves to the producing of strange works: but are (as hath been said) only diabolical signs, admonishing the Devil of some wickedness intended and desired, which he through his power must cause to be done.
Howbeit, of all Inchantments these are the most dishonorable to God, most acceptable to Satan, and most hurtfull to the charmer, which are made of the Scriptures. For beside the sinne of Witchcraft in the Charming, this inconuenience 〈…〉, that Satan procureth more credite to one of th•se, then to twentie other, because the words are Scripture; hereby clo•ing his mischie•ous practises vnder the colour of holynes, and so confirming the truth of that which the holy Ghost saith, that when he worketh most deceitfully, he transformes himselfe into an Angell of l•hgt,• Cor. 11. 14. He knoweth well, that ordinarie words seeme nothing to some men, therfore he teacheth and suggesteth phrases and sentences out of the word, for such vngodly ends, that euen the grace of them fet•hed from the Scriptures, may make them s••mefull. ⟨p. 148⟩Wherefore let euery one that is indued with grace and knowledge, d•ely consider this with himselfe. Cannot Gods word be effectuall, when it is vsed to edification, vnlesse the worke of his owne Spirit accompany the same? then surely it is impossible, that the same which is holy, beeing vsed to an euill ende, should be powerfull, except the deuill affordeth his helpe for the effecting thereof. To conclude therefore, let men say what they will, the truth is this, that words of Inchantment, be they neuer so holy or prophane, either by way of cursing or blessing, haue no power of themselues to the producing of strange workes: but are (as hath beene said) onely diabolicall signes, admonishing the Deuill of some wickednes intended and desired, which he through his power must cause to be done.
