light by degrees is cleane peruerted and extinguished And the bands of common honestie beeing wholy cast off and violated the bridle is giuen to all desperate and presumptuous sins and that the wicked may more securely reuell therein religion is made a scorne of and God is forgotten and the knowledge of his wayes vtterly reiected whereby the Lord in iustice is prouoked to execute his fierce wrath and to powre out the most bitter viall thereof vpon the soules of the wicked yeelding them vp wholly to the power of Sathan whereby they are left to these desperate extremities as to make reall couenants with him to yeelde him vp their soules and all at his deuotion to consecrate themselues to his seruice and homage and so to become spectacles heerein of the certainetie of damnation for the confusion of the Atheist that thinkes there is no hell and the warning of the Christian to auoyd the danger thereof 3 And seeing it is the Iustice of Almightie God to punish extraordinarie and monstrous sinnes with strange and vnwonted plagues Therefore seeing the wicked caÌ„not content themselues with common and naturall sins but must further deuise sins against nature as being iustly giueÌ„ vp hereto by the diuine Iustice punishing their carnall Wisedome in their strange and monstrous Idolatrie and Will-worship by those monstrous and vnnaturall Impieties Is it not yet further iust with the Lord to leaue them to be tormented by Satan the god of this world whom they haue consecrated themselues vnto and that with strange and fearefull conuulsions and horrible tortures likelie to rend the bodie from the soule but that the mightie hand of GOD ouer-ruleth Sathan and sustaineth Nature to the further aduancing of his diuine Iustice and admirable power And yet all this in shew by the ministerie of a poore weake and miserable woman to the increase of their rage and confusion of carnall wisedome to the nourishment of Infidelitie and so to the sealing vp in these bodily torments of eternal vengeaÌ„ce 1 And therefore as this reproueth such as seeme to elude all with a conceit of melancholy as if these diuellish practises and combinations betwixt the Witch and Satan were but fancies and vaine dreames of a melancholy braine seeing the symptomes of melancholie doe no whit agree with the persons of these Witches 2 As these being â—at mery delighting in coÌ„pany all which are contrary where melancholy raignes so this is also a Plaine condemnation of the Atheist of these Times who doth therefore willingly entertaine this errour That there are no Witches that so he may therehence conclude to his soule That there is no Hell no Diuells c. 3 This reproueth those thaâ— because many things are done by the delusion of Satan as hath bin manifested heeretofore do therefore conclude that al is but Illusion and so would illude the maine ground of Witchcraft namely that reall couenant that is betweene Sathan and the Witch for the effecting of such things as on both sides are couenanted 4 But especially they are heere iustly to be taxed that howsoeuer they will acknowledge the Badde Witch to worke with and by Satan because shee hurteth yet at no hand will yeeld that the Blesser and wise Witch as they doe terme her hath any thing to do with the diuell by vertue of such compact but rather conceiue that it is some extraordinarie gift of God giuen to such speciall persons whereby they haue power to dissolue the Witches of the diuel seeing it is manifest that such extraordinarie gifts now ceasing and this being proper onely to the Word in the mouth of a skilfull and approoued good workeman to that end If any such thing fall out it necessarily proceedeth from Satans power permitted iustly by the Lord to preuaile thus with his dearest seruants to deceiue and ensnare vnstable soules that forsaking the God of their saluation runne to Sathan for helpe for the bodie to the destruction of the soule And therefore howsoeuer Satan could without the ministerie of Witches do happily as great hurt to the bodie and therefore it may seeme that to vse them were needlesse yet seeing it is the soule that he principally hunts after so by hurting the body entendeth also the further 〈◊〉 thereof Hence is it that he employeth these instruments to accomplish his will by not onely ensnaring their soules by satisfying their desires to hurt and helpe whom they list But hereby also endangering the soules of others Both those that are hurt in prouâ—king them hereby both to seeke for reuenge abroade against the Witch whenas they should beginne at hoâ—â— to be auenged of their owne sins as also to seek for remedy of their hurt by diuellish meanes and so they vsually buy this helpe with the hazard of their soules And so also enthralling their soules yet more fearefully vnto Sathan In that receiuing help from such means as are tendered out of his schoole heereby it comes to passe that Satan is adored and aduaunced aboue all that is called God The holie and lawfull meanes of helpe are reiected and despised Ignorance and Atheisme is nourished in the world Infidelitie and all excesse of sinne maintained and increased and so iniquitie ripened vnto the day of vengeance And yet If here the cunning of Sathan be to keepe these Witches poore and therefore it may seeme that they should haue but a little list to follow this miserable trade Obserue we wisely the admirable Iustice and Wisedome of Almightie God herein both in ouer-ruling Satan that hee shall not minister to the Witch according to her desire that so she may be confounded in her dâ—sperate bargaine that hath parted with her soule for enioying of that whereof she is disappoynted As also Heereby the desires of the Witch being disappoynted are more enflamed and so eternall damnation hereby sealed vp vnto her And withall shee more abiected to the lust of Sathan renewing her couenant and multiplying her sacrifices that shee may compasse her desires That so beeing still 〈◊〉 short and confounded in her expâ—…ctation shee may breake out 〈◊〉 more desperate attempts to the ripâ—ning of sinne and hastening of veâ—geance Which shall with greater confusion light vpon her in that being once arrested and conuicted by Authoâ—… tie she shall find her maister whom she hath serued not onely to be the meanes of her discouerie and haling to Iudgement as heereafter shall be manifest but now he hath discouered her to forsake her vtterly in regard of helping out of this brake that so shee may be yet further confounded in her desperate choice that hath forsaken a faithfull GOD to serue such a maister as will forsake her in her neede and that to such a fearefull end as heereby to sincke her in horrible despaire and so to exclude her al hope of mercy and compassion from the Lord and thereby to expose her vnauoydably to his mercilesse tyranny And â—o thiâ—â—nd serueth further thâ—â— the
farre vnto others as that so many as are ordained to saluation shall giue credit and obedience therevnto And the rather Because these Diuine Dreames are not onely agreeable vnto the blessed Word and so safely to bee beleeued whereas Satanicall Dreames as they are diuerse or contrary to the Word so they labour especially to withdraw from obedience therevnto 4 But especially whereas the end of Satans Enthusiasmes is to set vp Idolatry and nourish all Atheisme and securitie Deu. 13. On the contrarie Diuine Dreames aime onely at the True worship of God and further the doctrine and obedience of the Gospell 5 And heere wee are wisely also to distinguish of the Times For seeing now we haue the Gospell sufficient to reueale the will of God therefore we are not in these daies to build vpon Dreames so that howsoeuer they were ordinary before and vnder the Law yet now if any shall rest herein and expect resolution heereby wee are to conclude that it is rather a Satanicall illusion then any warning from the Lord and therefore at no hand to be heeded of vs. As touching Diuination by Lots heerein also wee had need to bee informed the rather because this Delusion is common and preuailing with the ignorant sort to abuse the same to wicked ends and so therein to offer sacrifice to the deuill And therefore Though there may bee some lawfull vse heereof as in Ciuill Occasions to Diuide Lands discide controuersies in a case of importance and necssity Iosh. 14. 2. Acts 1. 26. c. so the Name of God bee called vpon and his prouidence attended and obeyed in the successe thereof Yet neither are wee allowed to vse Lots in iest in triuiall and vnnecessarie meanes as to set vp Banqrouts to further Plantations c. by raysing summes of money thereby seeing this may bee obtained by other meanes Much lesse in Gaming to sport our selues hereby Especially wee are heere to beware of such Lottery as tends to resolue doubtfull things or fore-know things to come either by opening a Booke casting a Die to declare good or bad successe seeing this both implies a secret beleefe that such a fear can do it and so is a worshipping of the deuill c. seeing by no secret propertie to that meanes such things are effected it must needes follow that it is but Satans colour to hide his familiarity with the wicked Hitherto of Diuination by true creatures And doth not Satan also deceiue by forged meanes Yea certainely as first by answering in the shape of a dead man Example hereof wee haue in that answere vnto Saul where Satan deludes the King with the appearance of Samuels person when indeed it was onely the cunning of Satan resembling and counterfeiting the same As is manifest First Because the Lord had denyed to answere Saul by ordinarie lawfull meanes and therefore would not endure to haue Samuel raysed vp to answere him extraordinarily Luke 16. 2 The Bodies and soules of the Saints departed are in the hands of God resting from their labours and therefore Satan could not haue power to fetch the soule from heauen though he might preuaile to raise the bodie froÌ„ the earth which yet I see no reason for seeing the body also must rest at least froÌ„ Satans power And would Samuel think you suffer Saul to adore him Surely it is the deuill that seekes honour and homage from men as for the Saints they striue to giue all power and honor vnto God Act. 10. Reu. 22. 8. 9. Adde heerevnto that true Samuel would haue reproued Saul for running to Witches hee would haue exhorted him to repentance 1 And therefore though the Word call him Samuel yet this was according to that which seemed to delude Saul 2 And though Saul might bee told by the Appearance what should befall him yet might this bee done by Satan as being either acquainted by the Lord with his purpose heerein or coniecturing by Sauls case what was like to come to him for his disobedience to God As for that which the Church of Rome doates concerning the walking of dead men howsoeuer the Lord gaue power vnto his Prophets to raise the dead yet neither had this Witch any such power neither was the case necessarie why it should be at this time neither needed Satan to vse this meanes seeing he might doe the feat as well by himselfe counterfeting the shape and person of Samuel Neither may extraordinarie and miraculous working vpon speciall occasion bee traduced to warrant the ordinarie walking of persons after their deaths whose soules the Holy Ghost witnesseth to bee at rest and can their bodies walke without their soules Indeed when the Lord was either to plant or restore a Church out of it ruine and desolation wee finde in the Word this power of raysing from the dead to haue bene exercised profitably and therefore seeing now there was no such cause for this miraculous worke it followeth to bee the delusion of Satan and not the finger of God But here me thinkes I heere some reply that if this were but a collusion of Satan blinding and deceiuing Saul why might he not also deeceiue the Witch as pretending to bee raysed vp by her that she had power of him when it might bee but some iugling trick to bleare her eyes she raised vp no deuill in Samuels likenesse but rather was meerely deluded with a conceit heereof Surely howsoeuer the Patrones of Witch-craft would gladly thus coÌ„clude to condemnethe truth of the Word that there are Witches which worke by Familiar spirits yet doth the circumstance of the Historie plainely confound them Howsoeuer they also imply further that the Witch might suborne some man or woâ—… in the likenesse of Samuel to gâ—… this answere seeing no meere humane vnderstanding â—onld attaine 〈◊〉 that knowledge And therefore it necessarily followeth that the Witch by vertue of the couenant with Satâ—… raised him vp He by his power and skill counterfeited Samuel at an ynch by his experience and office waâ— able to acquaint him with Gods wil and so as an instrument of Diuine vengeance to hasten him to his destruction And as Satan thus foretells things by meanes eyther true or counterfeit so doth hee also Diuine without meanes either possessing those that are his oracles Acts the sixteene chapter and sixteene verse or inspiring them by outward obsession with his will and councells whereby they become counterfeit prophets and reuealers of things to come such as were the Sybills c. Of all which wee are to make this vse 1 As to iudge wisely of the power and manifold cunning of Sathan 2 So to consider of the preciousnesse of the soule for which Satan takes such paines becomes such a drudge c. and to preuent the Diuell by our care and diligence not so much for the bodie and the meate that perisheth but for the poore soule that it may be saued
the childe of the faithfull father and preuaile there as if the Faith of the Parents did not hold Gods protection ouer their tender Infants aswell as ouer themselues or the Childe because he hath power ouer him is excluded Gods protection hath not Faith is not of the faithfull seed And if now at the length it shall appeare that Sathan though hee haue returned as disappoynted by the Faith of the Saints yet shall preuaile ouer anie to afflict and torment them Beholde then the dangerous delusions Eyther this matter of Faith is but a mockerie seeing it cannot resist Sathan why should it not repell him on the one side as well as on the other If there were any such thing or it had anie such power Or else the Saints may loose their Faith and so if Sathan preuayle against life he must then also preuaile against Faith for the vtter abolishing of the power thereof And what difference then between the wicked and godlie Thus may the Saints be subiect to this affliction and thus may the world stumble thereat SECTIO V. And yet in all these afflictions much differ from the wicked 1 AS both in the cause of the affliction 2 In the measure of it 3 In the issue thereof For the cause If the Lord afflict his children with this scourge neither is it in anger or simply as a punishment of sin though the Lord may intend the chasticement of the sinner heereby But especially 1. To Try their faith 2. To prouoke to repentanceâ— 3. And so to take them heereby out of this miserable world But in the wicked it is otherwise The Lord is angry when hee leaues them to Satan hee entends the discouerie of their Infidelitie and vnmasking of their hypocrisie By this sharpe affliction hee awakens heereby their drowsie conscience and so in the horror thereof seales vp vnto them eternall vengeance and leauing them to be releiued by carnall meanes subiects them thereby more surely to the power of Satan by whom making vp in this renuing of their daies the measure of their sin they are ripened and hastened to the day of vengeance Thus they differ in the cause 2 As for the measure the affliction either reacheth onely to touch the bodie or else if the soule beare a part still the hand of the Lord is put vnder Psal. 37. 24. comforts are supplyed according to the affliction or the sharper affliction prepares to more sound and heauenly consolation But for the wicked it is not so with them The soule is especially aimed at by the malice of Satan and therefore either the body is so smitten to driue the soule to despaire or else by sending it to vnlawfull meanes the soule is more fearefully ensnared by confidence in Satan and so hastened to it iust vnauoidable confusion And thus they differ in regard of the measure 3 For the Issue The Saints If they escape out this affliction 1 are more experienced in Satans subtiltie 2 more enabled to comfort and relieue others 3 more purged of carnall confidence 4 more humbled and cast vpon the mightie power of God 5 more quickned in Faith 6 more weaned from the loue of the world 7 more warie to keepe themselues within Gods protection more patient vnder the crosse 8 more prepared to death 9 more readie for the Lord. And therefore If they are translated heereby they make an happie exchange of sinne for perfect holinesse of miserie for eternitie of transitorie for eternall happinesse of deceitfull friends for the fellowship and eternall communion of the thrice blessed God that innumerable company of heauenly spirites and soules of the righteous the vnseparable vnion with Iesus Christ their Sauiour But for the wicked if they escape that which they seemed to haue is taken away they grow worse and worse filled with all vnrighteousnesse seuen worse spirits seising vpon them And if they are taken away then is the end of all their vaine happinesse and a full powring out of Gods wrath vpon them SECTIO VI. THus we haue heard wherein and by what meanes the Witches power is restrained Now let vs consider on the other side wherein it appeareth This may be discerned 1. If we consider the Actions proper to their owne persons 2. As also in their Actions towards others Concerning their owne persons First it cannot be denied but that more speedily then may stand with the ordinarie course of nature they may assemble themselues to their meetings or trudge to do any mischiefe as being carried by Satans power aboue the earth or sea speedily for some short space not being seene of any which is not hard for Sathan to do by thickning the Ayre vnder and about them As for any further means whereby they may transport themselues in the likenes of an Hare c. this we haue shewed before to be but a meere delusion notwithstanding any tokens they bring for the proofe thereof But that they may abuse the bodies of such whom they malice to ride vpon them in the night this howsoeuer it bee not impossible yet I take it it may rather prooue a delusion of the parties sence that is thus pretended to be abused then any such reall taking vp of his body out of bed and laying him there againe because this may bee doone with lesse adoe and yet deceiue more effectually Thus of the actions of the Witches towards themselues Touching his Actions towards others Heere consider we these things 1 Their maner of consulting thereon which is vsually in the Church where they meet to worship their maister Heere 1 the Diuell enquireth what each would haue done 2 They returne their particular occasions and businesses 3 Their demaund by Sathan is graunted and meanes propounded and tendred to the execution therof As giuing them powders and poysons coÌ„posed by his skill in the secrets of Nature to take away life to inflict diseases cure the same and especially to cloake his demnable conueiance heerewith Teaching them to make Pictures in Wax or Clay that by the rosting therof the persons wherof they beare the name may continually melt dry away by sickenes And this in a blasphemous imitation of the diuine power who vsed such means to accomplish his miracles the better to colour his diuelish coueiances which vsually are these 1 To make men and women loue and hate one another a matter possible for him to doe by perswading the corrupt affections 2 To lay the sickenesse of one vpon an tâ—er as vpon Iob yea to take away life c. by such Pictures though they are no cause thereof It being easie for Satan being a spirit to weaken and scatter the spirits of life whereby through faintnesse the party shall sweate out naturall moisture And so also by weakening the spirits the stomacke shal be weakened whereby not being able to breed new nourishment the old must needs in short time be spent 3 He can
high mysterie of carnall wisedome chalenging Preheminence ouer the word of God in determining Lawes besides or contrary to it confining suiting it to it crooked Rules binding and loosing it for the satisfying of it lusts Is not this a plaine badge of of that man of sinne that sonne of perdition Is not this an apparant euidence of it subiection to Satan And if wee shall scanne the mystery of that sublimated policie that nowadayes he is not a wise man who is not a seruant vnto men submitting himselfe to be new moulded fashioned according to the lust of his Patron This blasphemously chaleÌ„ging him as his proper creature the creature reioicing as in his soueraigne creator conforming heart and hand simply to his deuotions May we not see Satan here aduaÌ„ced as god of this world in the children of disobedience May wee not conclude that such absolute subiection as is giuen vnto man is wholy taken from God and giuen to the Diuell And what may wee deeme of the common Idolatrie of all sorts One makes the wedge of golde his hope An other makes his mistris the soueraigne of his heart this makes his belly his god the other sacrifices to his net c. Are not all these in effect sacrificers vnto the Diuell Is not subiection and homage performed vnto him euen in them all What shall we thinke of the generall and ordinarie seruice of God in these dayes the most feare him with their Lippes but their hearts are far from him the best vsually serue him but by halfes they cannot be Saints God must beare with theÌ„ in some sin they must liue therefore they must strain a litle they are but flesh and blood they do what they can God must be mercifull to them in this c. Do they not in all these shew themselues seruants to him whom yet they obey euen the prince of darkenes the great deceiuer of their soules Is not Satan the lord of their harts while they serue God but with their lips doth he not hereby hold their hearts faster bound vnto him in that hee giueth way to their bodily seruice nay will he not haue their tongues also at his deuotion at a pinch to câ—rse the same God whom they seeme to blesse or to slaunder their brethren and condemne theÌ„ of hypocrisie because they labor to serue God in spirit truth And is not Sathans cunning the more dangerous in that he is content to hold the wicked but by one string Is not their state more daÌ„gerous that while they seem to haue escaped the pollutions of the world to make a faire shew in the flesh as if they were good Christians glorious sepulchres yet eyther inwardly they are full of rotten bones or else one dead flie will be sufficient to corrupt all the ointment of the Apothecarie easily may Satan recouer his full possession againe euen by reason of that one traitor which they shall nourish in their bosomes Shall he not reenter with seuen worse spirits and so the later end of that man shall be worse then the beginning The dog shall returne to his vomite and the swine vnto the mire of which he was cleansed and so become twice dead and pluckt vp by the roots euen two-fold more the child of perdition then euer he was before O that wee were wise to discerne our selues whose we are and whom we serue how long shall we halt betweene two opinions If God be Lord deseruing all seruice at our hands inabling vs by his spirit to offer vp our bodies and soules as a reasonable seruice vnto him what more reasonable then to giue him his owne that hath bought it so dearely If his yoake be easie to those that will take it vp and his commaundements not grieuous to those that will endeuour the performance thereof If hee bee contented to accept according to that which wee haue not requiring what he giue vs not If he vouchsafe the Will insteed of the Deed If hee that giues Will will giue the Deed also that wee may serue him in Truth though wee cannot bee perfect That the sense of our imperfection may still send vs vnto the Fountaine Christ Iesus that so from him wee may still draw forth waters to eternall life being daily found in him not hauing our owne righteousnesse that so through him wee may daily make our requests Manifest at the throne of Grace That we may bee carefull in nothing nor fearefull of any thing Casting our care vpon God because hee careth for vs and committing our selues in well-doing into the hands of our faithfull Creator still forgetting that which is behind that wee may hasten to that which is before for the price of our high calling in Iesus Who may not trie himselfe hereby whether he be in the faith or not Who will not daily striue and endeuour to make himselfe thus manifest vnto God and to his owne conscience If hee that is in Christ must bee a new creature so new that all old things must bee abolished because hee that abids in the flesh cannot please God Rom. 8. And if wee nourish but one knowne sinne wee are guiltie of all If wee must haue respect vnto all Gods commandements desirous in all things to please our blessed God Not caring for the flesh to satisfie the lusts thereof Wil it any thing auaile vs to plead Flesh and Bloud If there be but one thing wanting will all the rest any whit auaile vs If Christ Iesus bee not thus vs in That the bodie is dead to sinne but the Spirit is life for righteousnesse sake Are we any better for all our formall righteousnesse then very Reprobates the very slaues of Satan to whom yet wee do obey to whom we there performe most acceptable seruice when wee doe thinke it sufficient toserue God according to the flesh either by halfes for a seasoÌ„ c. Let this serue for our Triall heerein and let vs giue our hearts to obserue heere further matter Doe wee thinke that Sathan in tampering thus with Witches entendeth onely eyther their owne bane or else by them to hurt onely the bodies of others No surely as his principall end is by all meanes to dishonour God and discouer his malice and rage against the Almightie so doth hee expresse his hatred against God in destroying the Creature and in the Creature that which most resembleth God And therefore he not onely aimeth at the Diuine soule but by all meanes laboreth the generall confusion of mankinde that so if it were possible he might robbe God of his glory in sauing any you see how hee spared not our very Sauiour himselfe the head of his Church and will he not attempt if it may be the destruction of all the members And doth he not prosecute this his designe in the other Ceremonies whereby he obligeth
God were opened and so gaue place to the bodie The bodie was not contracted and exininated to pierce the same neyther could the qualitie of the bodie endure the paine neyther the quantitie be dispoyled of it dimensions As for that Dreame of the spirites transporting the bodie lying dead in the bed and returning to it againe afterward This being contrary to the diuine decree That the soule being separated from the bodie should returne to it againe till the Resurrection it must needes be a delusion and forgerie of Sathan Thirdly the Witches power is restrained by Composition and Couenant with the Diuell as the Good Witch must onely helpe and the Bad Witch she must onely hurt the one must be accounted the binding Witch that other the vnbinding The Policie of Sathan heerein hath beene partly discouered before As also the iustice of God in confounding this couenant and enlarging this power is layd downe hereafter Fourthly the power at least of the good Witch is restrained to the faith of the party whom she intends to help Either hee must beleeue shee can help him or else he shall receiue no good from her Of the reason and vse heereof elsewhere Fiftly the power of all Witches is restrained by the authoritie of the Magistrate For though if a priuate person detain them they may either hurt or escape yet if once the magistrate hath arrested them Satans power ceaseth in being not now able to hinder and defraud the Iustice of the Almightie And lastly it is also restrained to the good of the Church To this end examine we SECTIO III. Whether seeing Sathan hath power from God to afflict mā that he doth the rather more hurt by the means of witches NO question seeing wee are apt to distrust God and depend vpon those and to forsake Gods word therefore it is iust with God to giue vs vp to be deceiued by them so that it is not for the Witches sake but for the wickednes of man that Satans power is enlarged both for the Witches further condemnation whose sinne is hereby increased And also for the punishment of mans horrible and strange sinnes by those strange and fearefull plagues especially to condemne the infidelitie of men in fearing or seeking to these Onely herein obserue the policie of Sathan who though hee haue power from God yet he will not execute it but as sent from the Witch or at least seeming so that so he may both diuert the mind of man from God and so nourish him in ignorance and Atheisme as fearing and respecting the Witch more then God As also that hee may carrie the mind from home from the consideration of our owne vilenes and wickednesse to looke abroad to the Witch to obserue her malice and so to encrease our rage against her and thereby encrease our sinne and yeeld her more power ouer vs and thereby still to send the minde from God and his true meanes of helpe to the cunning woman c. SECTIO IIII. Whether Witches may haue power ouer Gods children NO doubt they may haue it so farre as to afflict the body because these outward crosses are common to all Eccles. 9. 1. And we are subiect to Infidelitie and so to Sathans power Yea wee are ignorant who are Witches and so many times are chastized for our foolish charity in relieuing them 3 Yea wee may rashly condemne and censure them and therefore bee liable to the hand of Almighty God by them 1 And so by sympathy with the bodie the soule may be afflicted yea Sathan 2 may further afflict the soule by reason that it cannot brooke so well the bodily misery by working vpon the impatiencie thereof and so forcing it to murmuring yea to a kinde of despaire the rather because the children of God through ignorance or extremitie of paines may by themselues or others vse such vnlawfull meanes or though they vse Phisicke and some such subordinate lawfull helpes yet the principall is neglected Repentance for sinne and Prayer vnto God And seeing all things are alike to all men may not Sathan worke so vpon the minde as by such or the like disposition to bring it to many and such like raging fittes eyther tampering with the complexion as melancholie c. or furthering those passions of discontent and despaire by leading them heereto And the Prouidence of God in vsing Sathan as an instrument to inflict by Witch-craft these chast cements vpon his children is manifold As first to humble his children that they shall not escape this scourge as well as others so I remember the Lady Hales complained What could I haue no other affliction but this I could haue endured any so it had not beene by this c. 2 To comfort his seruants that seeing they shall in this greatest affliction haue a comfortable issue to conquer Satan therefore heerevpon they may build the certainety of their saluation As also 3 To instruct them that seeing Satan may haue power to take away life and yet not to hurt the soule finally therefore heere is the triall of their Faith though the Lord should kill them yet to trust in him heere the triall of their obedience to yeeld vp life into Gods hands heere also their Wisedome tried not to measure Gods fauour by outward things not to set by this life which Satan may preuaile against And hath not the Lord in this affliction of his Saints some further vse for the stumbling blocke of an vnbeleeuing Generation Yea surely and that many waies 1 Both to flatter them that their estate is good seeing the godly fare as bad as they do 2 And also to stagger them that their estate is euill seeing if Gods children are thus afflicted for al their knowledge and holinesse in this life what shall become of them that haue no knowledge hate holinesse c. 3 And heerein yet most dangerously to stumble them that seeing the knowledge and holinesse of the Saints cannot free them from the power of Satan therefore away with knowledge wel-fare ignorance what boots it to bee precise Let vs liue as wee list Nay seeing these meanes cannot preserue Why may we not seeke to other and so a gap is open to all vnlawfull meanes Especially if wee obserue Satans policie heerein who vsually being sent to afflict some holy one returnes as confounded he cannot doe it because they haue Faith thereby intending that none that haue Faith are subiect to his power and so puffing vp euen the best with securitie and thereby preparing them through vaine confidence to his malice So perswading the world that he can touch any that hath not faith and so still robbing God of his glorie as if the let were not in his free prouidence but in the goodnesse of man As if the Lord did not freely execute his prouidence but was bounded therein by somewhat in man And then he must be sent to
into their hands for the punishment of our infidelitie so if our bodyes escape yet a worse thing may certainely follow Namely the stealing away of your heartes from God by this meanes and so the enthralling of our soules vnder the power of Satan And being wise also in the manner of our reliefe whereby we may happily try them 1. Namely to giue them onely for necessitie of the meanest seeing these being puffed vp with their conâ—orted powers thinke nothing to good for them As I haue obserued they must fare of the best c 2. And to keepe our selues within the bounds of mans authoritie to see them releiued at their houses and that by setting them a worke and so paying them an ouer-plus for it that they may prouide for themselues For hereby happily you may also discerne theÌ„ As being an idle vagrant generatioÌ„ alwaies gadding their own house is a Wild-cat they must needs be stirring whom the Diuel driues 3. And lastly to relieue their bodyes as vpon any iust occasion not to conceale their wretchednesse but to accuse and draw them to the Iudgement Seates for the saluation if it may bee of their poore soules And though Iudgement may sease vpon them yet so long as they liue they may be relieued onely with the coursest and that for necessitie especially heere an Interpreter one of a thousand prooue their best Purueyoâ— to minister a word in due season for the comfort of the soule CHAP. V. Of a Principall Remedie against Witchcraft Namely the due Execution of Iustice vpon the Offenders THus haue we shewed both what deceitfull and daungerous Remedies haue and may be vsed to case this affliction As also what Lawfull Remedies are to be applyed hereto It now remaineth that wee adioyne A speciall publicke Remedie for the preuenting and rooting out of this mischiefe Namely Execution of Iustice. And here first Let vs determine what measure of punishment is due to this Sinne. Secondly we wil adde some Motiues to encourage the godly Magistrate to the Execution of the Punishment SECT I. Of the punishment of Witches with death What Punishment is due to Witchcraft The Word of GOD doth clearely prooue That thou shalt not suffer a Witch to liue Exod. 21. 18. And so the practise of Holy men hath been agreeable thereunto in the due Execution of this sentence against them in all ages As appeareth Not onely among the Heathen who euen by the Light of Nature were endued for the very safety of Life to punish this Sinne with Death But especially among Christions where generally such Malefactors are condignely punished And that this practice ought to stand in force appeareth 1. Because this being a Iudiciall Law whose penaltie is death seeing they haue in them a perpetuall equitic and doe seeme to maintaine some morall precept is Perpetuall As seruing to maintaine the Equitie of the three first Morall Precepts of the first Table which cannot be kept vnlesse this Law be put in execution 2. This Iudiciall Lawe hath in it the Equitie of the Lawe of Nature and therefore is perpetuall It beeing naturall that an Enemie to the State a Traitour c. Should die the death And such is a Witch vnto God the King of Kings 3. The Witch is an Idolater wilfully and in a most presumptuous maner as renouncing God willingly and chosing Satan to bee her Soueraigne Lord therefore according to that Lawe shee is to be stoned to death Deut. 17. 3. 4. 5. 4 The Witch is a seducer of others to Idolatrie as appeareth by their common practise both vpon their friends to whom they vsually bequeath their spirits and vppon all whom they instruct to rest in charmes c. And therefore to be put to death Deuter. 13. 6. 9. 5 Nay shee is a murtherer both of soules and bodies and therefore in this respect doth also deserue death SECTIO II. Answer to Obiections against this Execution 1 ANd therefore though the diuell doe the mischiefe yet is the Witch confederate and accessarie thereto nay in her owne conceit Principall and Mistris and therefore by the Lawe of Accessories is to die the death 2 Therefore though they should repent yet die they must to iustifie God and preuent further ensnaring that though their body perish yet the soule may be saued 1. Cor. 5. 3 Though she repent not yet seeing shee must haue some time of repentance though she do not yet is Iustice to proceede without respect of persons In zeale to Gods glory and loue of sinceritie so Moses Exo. 32. 28. and Phinehas c. Num. 25. 8. And this sincerity of Iustice doth require That though death and such hurts ensue not yet for the offence done to God in combining with Sathan c. the parties are to be executed accordingly For so the word doth plainely imply and heretofore the Law hath been defectiue in this case yet blessed be God for a further perfection heerein and will not the Lord daily perfect his worke If wee beleeue shall wee not see greater things then these Well 1 Let this instruct the godly magistrate to haue an eie especially to the Blesser that raigneth among vs And to draw the people to the true and lawfull meanes of helping soule and bodie by rooting out of these Good Witches which are riâ—e almost in euerie parish and placing in stead thereof a conscionable Minister as that the people may require the Lawe at his mouth that he may pray to the Lord for them that they may bee healed 2 Let this teach him to punish sinne of conscience not for by respects meeting with the Witch as an Idolator offending against God not so much as a murtherer sinning against man 3 Let his owne safetie mooue him heereunto who as hee hath beene euen so still by the execution of Iustice may be free from these Monsters 4 And lastly Let the glorie of God in aduauncing the Gospel especially heere preuayle which is by no kind of thing more vndermined then by Witches Is glorious in nothing more then in rooting out Antichrist the great Coniurer and deceiuer of Gods people and banishing superstition the very bedde and nursery of witchcraft The end of the second Booke THE MYSTERIE OF WITCH-CRAFT The third Booke Discouering The seuerall Vses of this Doctrine of WITCH-CRAFT LONDON Printed by Nicholas Okes. 1617. OF THE DIVERS VSES OF THIS DOCTRINE OF WITCH-CRAFT The third Booke CHAP. I. First it serueth for reproofe and that many wayes SECTIO I. As first of the Atheisme and Irreligion that ouerflowes in the Land DOth not Satans Policy in this trade of Witchcraft pretending to afflict and hurt but when he is seene by the Witch and then to hurt only the bodie or goods Plainely obscure and abolish out of the minds of men the Prouidence of the Almightie as if Satan were not subiect to God and sent by his prouidence that he were not countermaunded by the power of God but onely subiect to the