A Guide to Grand-jury Men, Book 2 · Chapter 6
CHAP. VI. De…in. l. 5. Sect. 16. p. 650.That such an expresse league is made with the Diuell: why hee inticeth his vntounto it, and how it is possible, that any Christian should so bee ouertaken, to yeeld thereunto.
THough some may question the truth of this compact, as if such a thing could bee gained at any mans hands that knoweth what a Diuell is, euen mans mortall and irreconcileable enemy, yet is this a certaine truth.
1. From varietie of Scripture, in Psal. 58.5. the words are to be read thus; The mutterer ioyning societies cunningly: that is, the Witch with spirits.
2. From the Hebrew word, Chabor, an Inchanter, Deut.foreign 18.11. Isal. 47.9, 12. which signifieth one ioyned to another in league and societie.
Now what other can that be, with whom the Inchanter is in league, but the Diuell?
3. From the confession of Witches generally.… Martyri…. Cyprian (whether the ancient Father or no, I am not certaine; for some affirme, some question it) confidently from his owne knowledge auerreth is, that all make the league, as he once did, when he practised art Magicke. The story of Faustus confirmeth it, and all the relations of Witches with vsus, as before is noted in the other Chapter.
4. And lastly, the markes found vponupon Witches, and also the bloudy bonds sometime, doe strengthen the truth-hereof. For the young mans bond, of whom Master Fox speaketh, was thrown into the Assembly, gathered together in prayer for his deliuerie from Satan.
Quest.If any arke why Satan so laboureth for this Couenant?
Answ. See for Satans imitation of God, the last Chapter in this Booke.I answer, It may be, I. To anger the Lord in imitating him, (as h…e labours to doe in all things) but yet therein to oppose him: for as God maketh a Couenant with his, so will the diuell with his: as God hath his sea…e of his Couenant, so will the diuell hauehave his markes as God confirmeth his by bloud, so will the Diuell hauehave bloud to ratifie the Couenant, which he and his make.
2. To increase the sinne of the Witches, to make them desperately wicked without hope of mercy, when they shall remember how they hauehave renounced God, and … themselues to the diuell, and thereby hauehave prouoked the iust wra…h of God to their vtter dam…tion, which is that which Satan herein labours for.
3. To make them hereby surely his owne, without starting backe, if possibly it may be.
4. To beguile them the more cunningly, when hereby hee maketh them beleeue, that as they are his, so now hee is theirs, at eueryevery call to be commanded, and to doe what they would hauehave him to doe, according to their lusts.
This conceit pleaseth them greatly, by this they grow proud in heart, that they hauehave spirits at command to tell them things, to teach them cures, to reuenge their wrong, to worke feare of themselues in others, to hauehave in many things their wils and desires; by these are they so fast tyed, as they alwayes hold on this hellish trade, euen to death, except the Lord preuent some with his more speciall grace.
If any wonder how it may be possible, that any reasonable soule, endued with any knowledge of God, and of the nature of a Diuell, should thus be enthralled, let him weigh these things:
1. That man hath lost the image of God, in which he was created, and is wholly polluted with sinne and corruption.
1. Iob. 3.10.2. That hereby he is become of very neere kinne vntounto the Diuell, euen his owne babe.
Ioh. 8.44.3. That being his child, he will doe his fathers lusts, and that, no doubt, in one thing as well as in another; for men louelove darknesse more then the light;Iohn 3.19. Ephes. 4.19. yea and naturally are giuen to worke all vncleannesse, euen with greedinesse, so captiuated are they to their lusts.
4. That man giuen ouer to his vnruly passions, is violent, inconsiderate, and vehemently greedy to hauehave his desired ends, by what meanes soeuer he can attaine them; which maketh him seeke means of the Diuel, to become inioyer of his inordinate desires, regarding more the hauing of his present will, then respecting his future state after death: and is more taken vp to obtaine what hee liketh for the body and outward estate in the world, then with care of his spirituall condition and estate before God, which the naturall man very little, or nothing at all regardeth.
5. That Satan hath his wyles, Ephes. 11. his de…ices. 2. Cor. 2. 11. his depth and policies, Reu. 2.24. his snares to catch people at vnawares, 1. Tim. 3.7. 2. Tim. 2.26.
6. That hereupon hee being thus furnished, he dare set vponupon any; yea, euen vponupon Christ himselfe, to follicite him, yea, and that to a most execrable implety, euen to hauehave Christ to fall down and to worship him a Diuell;Matth. 4. for hee watcheth opportunities, hee seeketh occasions, and the least offered, hee espyeth, and quickely taketh the same, and so preuaileth often, not onelyonly with the rude and so…tish, but with the greatest spirits, and sharpest wits sometimes.
7. That he hath ouer meere naturall men a ruling power, Ephes. 2.2. who are already in his snare, and at his owne will are taken captiue, 2. Tim. 2.26.
8. And lastly, that being giuen ouer of God vntounto Satans temptation in this kinde, how can they resist? Man is weake, Satan is strong, and withall subtill to beguile, they may easily therefore yeeld. All these things now considered, it is no wonder to know man to bee thus seduced, and thus by this league to apostate so from God.