A Guide to Grand-jury Men, Book 2 · Chapter 7
CHAP. VII. That besides the former expresse league, there is a secret league made with Satan by some, and who they be.
IT is a generall tenent of Diuines, which write of this subject, that there is a double league, the one open and expressely made with the Diuell visibly appearing, of which in the former Chapter: the other is close, secret, and implicite, in a mutuall consent, but without any expr…sse termes from either the one or the other, as in the former.
With this league the Diuell contenteth himself sometimes, to wit, there, where hee will perceiueth that the party will not be brought vntounto the other, which is such a one, as he intendeth not to imploy, otherwise then about seeming good things: or such an one, as he is contented to let him or her to make an outward shew of Religion, to goe to the Church, to heare the Word, and to be able to talke thereof, as one that hath written the Mysterie of Witchcraft,M. Cooper, his Mystery of Witchcraft. hath by his experience obserued.
For its very probable, that Satan dealeth not altogether with all his now, as hee did once amongst the Heathen, and yet now doth amongst Pagans; nor as he did with the blind sots vnderunder Popery, or with some of the better learned in that kingdome of darknesse; nor as he doth with some ignorant, sillie, blockish people amongst vsus, vncapable of the knowledge of the Truth and power of Religion: but that now, as hee hath taught his Grandsonnes, the Iesuites, to refine Popery somewhat, and to hide from their Proselites in the entrance, the grossenesse of their Idolatrie, to make them swallow downe Popery at the first the more easily: so hath Satan done in this Arte of Witcherie.
Or, it may be this, as Christ allowed some, which openly as yet did not follow him: to hauehave power to cast out Deuils in his name, Mar. 9.38, 39, 40. who were not, as hee said, against him, nor could lightly speake euill of him; so will Satan hauehave some also, which shall not openly bee his followers, but yet shall worke by his power, and herein also imitate Christ.
If it be asked, Who these be, that thus are by a secret league workers by Satan?
Answ.I answer in some sort, by way of similitude, from the direction of that place in Mat. 9.38 40. for Satan will bee Gods Ape in all things whatsoeuer he can, and therefore will be also imitate, Christ herein.
1. They are such as inuocate the Deuill, by certaine superstitious forms of words and prayers, beleeuing that these meanes can effect what they hauehave offered them for, and doe withall earnestly desire, to hauehave them eff…ctuall. Now the Deuill hereto consenteth, and affordeth his power, at the vtterance of the words, to bring the thing to passe which is desired: Here therefore, is a couenant and mutuall consent on both sides.
Master Perkens his discourse of Witchcraft, chap. 2.For if a man or woman bee content to vse superstitious formes of inuocation for helpe in time of neede, and in vsing them, desireth in heart to hauehave the thing effected, if the Deuill worke the feate, there is a secret compact: for they hauehave desired, and he hath consented.
2. They are such as doe know, that neither by Gods worke in nature, nor by God… ordinances from his Word, the things they doe, are warrantable, (but rather heare such things forbidden,) and that they also are absurd to common reason,Deut. 18. M. Roberts in his treatise of Witchcraft, p. 67. 72. and yet will they doe them, because they find an effect answerable to their expectation; As for example, to vse Spells, and Charmes, which are plainly forbidden by God, and against which many arguments are alleaged by a learned man. Hereto adde that which before I hauehave mentioned: The healing of a wound by anoynting the instrument which gaue the wound, which Ke…kerman, both by reason and diuinity proueth to be Witcherie, and sheweth that one Anselmus the Author thereof, was a very Witch.Anselmus Parmensis. Delr…, …. 1. c. 4. p 24.30. Many other Witchery trickes better to be concealed, the… named, many vse, by which they suppose to find helpe.
For if the remedie be not naturall, then it is supernaturall; if supernaturall, then either from God, and so hath warrant from his Word, and is ordinary, not miraculous; for that worke of God hath ceased long since; or else it is from the Deuill, as the workes wrought by Spels,For vaine & superstitious obseruations, see Debio, l. 3. p. 2. q 4. Sect. 2. p…g. 446. 457. and Charmes, superstitious prayers, and such like, forbidden by God, must needs be.
Therefore such as doe these things, are in a kind of league with the Deuill, though ignorantly they thinke otherwise; because they are pleased to lay aside their reason, as men, to iudge of a naturall working, and their Religion as Christian men, in that they will doe such things, which neither in themselues, nor by Gods ordinance, hauehave any power to effect that which they goe about to worke by them; but only by the diuels power, who therefore is very well contented, to satisfie herein, their desire, and so is there betweene them a secret compact and league.
3. As those which in Christs name cast out Deuils, though they openly followed not Christ, yet finding successe in their attempts, were not against Christ, nor likely could speake ill of his power, by reason of their secret and implicit faith & Couenant with Christ: so these sorts of persons, finding their practices succesfull, are not against Satan, nor can lightly speake ill of his working power, because of the secret and implicite league they hauehave with him, and especially, because of the profit they find come to them thereby.
Quest.Quest. It may be here asked, why Satan will not vrge these, to make a more open league?
Answ.Answ. It may be, besides the former reasons noted before, that he rests satisfied with this thought of them, that they are on his part, because they are not against him; as also he is content to let them please themselues with hope of Gods mercy, for that in thus doing, they suppose they sinne not, nor are in danger of the Deuill, nor vnderunder Gods wrath, as the other are, because they fall not so fouly into the pit of destruction, by an expresse league, as the other sort doe.