The Mystery of Witchcraft Discovering the Truth of Nature, Title page – Dedication
THE MYSTERY OF WITCH-CRAFT. Discouering, The Truth, Nature, Occasions, Growth and Power therof. TOGETHER With the Detection and Punishment of the same. AS ALSO, The seuerall Stratagems of Sathan, ensnaring the poore Soule by this desperate practize of annoying the bodie: with the seuerall Vses thereof to the Church of Christ. Very necessary for the redeeming of these Atheisticall and secure times.
By THOMAS COOPER.
LONDON, Printed by Nicholas Okes. 1617.
To the right worshipfull, the Maior and Corporation of the Ancient Citie of CHESTER; the worthy Iustices of Peace, of that Countie Palatine; Grace and Peace From GOD the FATHER through our LORD IESVS CHRIST be multiplied.
DIuerse, and verie weighty hauehave been the motiues (right Worshipfull) to induce mee to the Dedication of these my Labors in this kinde vntounto your Worships.
The first is, because my first calling from the Vniuersitie, to employ my Ministerie for the edification of the Saints, was by the Gouernors of your famous Citie, to succeed that painefull and profitable Teacher Maister Harrison, who was thence called by the Kings most Excellent Maiestie, to be one of the sixe Teachers to those barren and needefull places of the Country of Lancashire. And therefore, hauing both kind intertainment among you; and by some of you beeing furthered to a more setled Pastorall Charge in that Countie, I could not but leaue some memoriall of my thankefulnesse vntounto you herein.
Secondly, my free admission to that Pastorall Charge, together with the singular prouidence of God, in directing my Ministerie for the informing and reforming of that ignorant People, who neuer before enioyed any constant Ministerie, as also his admirable protection and deliuerance of me from vnreasonable men, that vsed all their force and cunning to hinder the proceedings of the Gospel of Christ.
As these are specially, which I can neuer sufficiently remember and glorifie Almighty God for, so hauehave I thought it good to leaue this Testimonie vntounto you of my thankefull remembrance hereof; who were, many of you, acquaynted with the good hand of my God vponupon me in this behalfe; especially seeing by an especiall occasion at the North-wich, by a child afflicted by the power of Sathan, and (as it was conceiued) through the confederacie of some Witches thereabout. It pleased the Lord to minister some experience vntounto mee, both of Sathans methods and stratagems in deceiuing vnstable soules, and also of the power of God confounding the wisedome of the world, and taking them in their owne craftinesse, did I not then vow to communicate my Experience for the good of the Church? and hath not the Lord giuen this gracious occasion thereunto?
And shall not this merciemercy of my God bee had in euerlasting remembrance, That whereas I come from the Vniuersitie, although furnished happily with some outward helpes, and not without some true desire of sauing soules. It pleased God to turne the oppositions of Satan, & contradictions of men to the bettering of my knowledge, and quickening of my zeale for the common good, though in great weaknesse and corruption: shal not this be a perpetuall memoriall of my thankfulnes to those worthie Magistrates, M. Warbarton of Arly, M. Marburie of the Meare, & others of that parish, to quicken and incourage them in their zeale and louelove vntounto the Gospel?
And seeing it pleased God lately to call mee againe into those parts, & to employ me by means of some other Worthies in that shire in this special argument of the discouery of this Mysterie of Witch-craft; could I doe lesse then satisfie their iust desires heerein? and are not they fittest to hauehave some of the fruite (whatsoeuer it is) of my Labors and obseruations heerein, who were speciall occasions and furtherers thereof.
These are some of the motiues (Right worshipfull) which hauehave preuailed with mee at this time, hauing now leasure and opportunitie (by Gods merciemercy) to publish my poore endeuours in this kinde, and so to dedicate the same vntounto your Worships. For other speciall reasons indearing me hereunto, I referre your Worshippes vntounto the first chapter of the Treatise ensuing.
Beseeching you not to stay in the Porch and Entrance, but to take the pains to view the whole inward buildings, and furniture of the house. And if you finde any thing therein to informe your consciences in the truth of this Doctrine. Let it be a preseruatiue against the secret Atheisme that fretteth like a Gangrene, and threatneth to care out the life and power of Religion, and to direct your iudgements in the sifting and punishment of this mischiefe.
If you finde the subtilties of Sathan any whit herein discouered, who in the afflictions of the bodie hunts after the destruction of the soule, and by this tampering with Witches, to afflict the outward man seekes to enthrone himselfe in the heart and conscience aboue all that is called God: let this also be a means for the better securitie of your Soules, in the discouerie of the good Witches, and renouncing their dangerous helpes: Let it prouoke you in generall, as you 2 Booke.are taught heereafter to labour by all meanes the planting and the countenancing of a setled and powerful Ministery among you, that thereby Satan may fall like Lightning, his power and policies may be discouered and confounded. For the effecting whereof as my heartie Prayers vntounto the Almightie shalbe daily made manifest at the Throne of Grace for you and yours: so I doe most heartily commend you all vntounto his gracious protection in his sonne Christ Iesu. In whom I rest
Your Worships euer bounden, THO. COOPER.