A discourse of the damned art of witchcraft. So farre forth as it is revealed in the Scriptures and manifested by true experience / framed and delivered by William Perkins in his ordinary course of preaching, and published by Thomas Pickering.

  • William Perkins
Date:
1631
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A discourse of the damned art of witchcraft. So farre forth as it is revealed in the Scriptures and manifested by true experience / framed and delivered by William Perkins in his ordinary course of preaching, and published by Thomas Pickering. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    11/68
    '•H IM n ■ 'kiiL H O N O V % A 8 L E, SIR E d y v a r d C o k e , Rnight, Eor^ Ghiefeluftice ©f His Majcfties Qommon - V Grace and Peace. • * - » ‘ . • , , . . j . -■ . Ight Honourable:. The Word of that onely Oracle of truths hath pointed out the Enemy of mankinde, bv his proper Chara- ferSj ill fiindry places-.. Our Saviour tearmeshim^ the * Prince of this world ^ and a murthererfromthe beginning, Peter compares him to ® a roring Lion^ that rangeth abroad in the earth, feeking whom he may de^jofsre. His a^te^^i^ts in regard of their qualitie, are called'^ ^o»i^'7«sfubtillanddeepeckvices- yea, ® plots exquifitely contrived, and overly irc^ed^^as it were in Method. The meaning of the holy Ghoft in thefe and fuch likeacplbntea; is, to exprefle that meafure of policy and power which Satan hath re,(qti^c.dimtohimfelfe even in the ftate of his Apoftafie, improved by long experience, and inftantly pradifcd’upon the fonnes ofmen, that he might fet up in the world a fpirituall regiment of fmne, as a meaneto encounter the Kingdome of grace, and if itwerepoffible, to bring the fametoruine. To forbeareinftancesofopen force made againlt God and his Church by other courfes, forthecompaflingof hisdefires- how skilfully hew orkes hisowne advantage, by fe- cret oppofition, in the exercife of thatcurfed Art, which is thefubjedof theprefent Dikourfe, is a point not unworthy your honourable confiderarion, ; The Power of this Prince of darkneffe, being above the might of all fcnfible Crea¬ tures, and cvery way feconded by the greatnefTe of his knowledge and experience, manifefteth it ielfe herein, for the moil part, by workes of wonder, tranfeendent in regardof ordinary capacitie, anddiverlly difpenfed by hischofen inftruments of both fexes^ fometimeinmatter of Divination, fometime by Inchantment, fometime by rare fleights and delufior^s • othcrwhiles by hurting, by curing, by raifing of Tempers, byfpeedyconueyance andtraalportation from place to place, &c. and all to purchale unto himfelfe admiration, feare, and faith of the credulous world, which is uliially carried awav with affedation and applaiife of figiies andwoiiders. His Policie ap- pcareth ina wile andexquifite mannerof framing and conceiving born his praclices and grounds, the one to procure credit and entertainment, the other that he may not faile of his purpole, but proceed upon certainties. Touching the manner^of his pradice. Kc Hands refolved, that the world hath ta- , ken notice of him tobe ^ altar ^ and the father thereof-^ and therefore if helhqiiidoffer ^ to fpeake in his owne language, or informe an Art by rules of liis ownc deviling hse ■ might haply inairre fufpicion of falfhood. Hereupon hee compofeth his courfes byway of counrerfait and imitation, not of the adions and dealings oi men, butof the orderof Gods owne proceeding with his Churchy holding it afurc prin¬ ciple in p^iide, Tliat adions will be much more effeduall, when they beframed unto the ^ toil. 144 > loh. b loh. 8.44* < 1 Pes. j, 9> s Cor.avii, ; s 1 /