The Mystery of Witchcraft Discovering the Truth of Nature, Book 1 · Chapter 10
CHAP. X.
Of the Subiect of Witch-craft.
NOw let vsus come to the maine Subiect and Occasion of this Treatise:
Namely, to consider of the Practiser of this Mystery, to wit, the witch, whether man or woman.
And heere, first consider wee the Generall Notion or Description of a Witch.
Secondly, wee will resolue these points, 1 Whether men as well as women, may not bee Practitioner's in this Art:
And yet, Why more women then … are engaged therein.
Thirdly, we will lay downe the diuers kindes of these Witches: namely, 1 The Bad Witch, which is the H…tter.
2 The Good Witch, as they are termed, because they doe seeme to helpe.
Where it shall bee resolued.
1 Why Satan vseth these seuerall instruments for these contrarie ends.
2 Whether the good Witch cannot hurt, or the bad Witch helpe.
3 What places are especially infested with Witches.
SECTIO. I.
AS touching the Generall Description of a Witch
It may be thus.
A Witch is a Magitian, who, either by open or secret league, wittingly and willingly, consenteth to vse the aide of the deuill in working of Wonders.
A Magit…an, I say, to signifie that that she professeth and practiseth this Art, Actes 8. 9. For that is the generall name to all such as practise these vnlawfull Arts.
2 I adde, that consents to vse the helpe of the deuill, either by or secret league wittingly and willingly, which is the very proper passion, or certaine meanes to make her a Witch.
Excluding heerein,
First, such as be tainted with phr… sie Heere a… excluded, 1 Lunatickes.or weakenesse of braine, and so are thereby deluded by the Deuill:
Because howsoeuer Satan may worke vponupon and by these, yet they neuer giuegive Reall and Willing conse… vntounto him.
2 Such as are Demoniackes, possessed 2 Demoniackes. Two sorts of them. Actes 16.by him, whereof though some are properly Witches, as consenting to him, and so he possessing them out of them speaketh, by them working strange things: yet others though they bee possessed, yet they consent not thereto, they in their spirits striue against him: and so Satan doth in them, and by them, strange things; as speaking strange Languages, doing things of extraordinarie strength, &c. which by the merciemercy of GOD though they afflict the bodie, yet they may tend to the saluation of the soule.
3 By this circumstance are excluded 3 Superstitious persons.those That of blind zeale, and Ignorant superstition vse such charmes to bring things to passe, either thinking they hauehave vertue in them thereto, or else not knowing the deepenesse of Satan heerein: who though they defie the deuill, as they Note.say, and indeed are not yet brought to this league, yet doe they sinne grieuously heerein, and vnlesse they repent, may iustly prouoke the Lord to giuegive them vp to this or the like, desperate and reprobate sense.
A third thing in this description, is the End of this Trade, namely, To worke Wonders.
It being the Pride of Satan to aduance himselfe heereby as God, in the children of disobedience, and by these manifold trickes and glorious shewes, to detaine the miserable people in vile Ignorance and Idolatrie, and to hinder them from embracing the glorious Gospell of Iesus Christ; practising to this end, by his instruments, sometimes true, as by Diuinations and Charmes, and otherwise fayned workes, as by Iugling, to puffe them vp also with a vaine conceipt of Diuine Power, thereby to secure them of their imaginarie happinesse, and so to draw them more securely to eternall vengeance, by enabling them heereby to execute their seuerall lusts with greedinesse, and vsing them as dangerous instruments to deceiue others.
Such were Balaam, the Inchanters of Egypt, the Witch of Endor, Simon Magus, Bariesus, Elimas the Sorcerer, the Pythonysse at Phillipi, &c. Actes the sixteenth, Numb. the twenty two, Actes the eighth.
By which description and examples, the first Question is resolued, namely, that men, as well as women, may be subiect to this Trade; seeing as both are subiect to the State of damnation, so both are liable to Satans snares, who hath seuerall trickes and colours, in this Mysterie of iniquitie, to bait each according to their seuerall abilities and vses in the world, thereby the rather to fetch them ouer to this de…estable Art.
For whereas man by Ordination is How Satan baites men and women diuersly to this Trade.fitter to command, and the woman to obey, therefore hath the God of this world, for ambitions and aspiring men so sutable a point in this Trade, as to lead him thereto, with pretence of Soueraignety, that he shall Note.command the deuill, in a more secure and solemne manner, colouring the same by those manifold delusions, of Circles, Characters, &c. to this end, as are vsually practised in that high skill of coniuration. By the which ceremonies and solemnities as Satan procureth in the minde of ambitious and curious man some higher conceipt of this soueraigne skill; so doth he thereby more deepely cozen him, as fetching him of more roundly heereby to the entended bargaine, euen to subiect his soule in hope of this power.
To this end we may obserue, that though the maine end bee one, in these Diabolicall Arts, euen to enthrall the soule in perpetuall bondage, yet hath Satan diuers meanes to attaine these ends, both answerable to the seuerall conditions of the world, and particular estates and qualities of men: According to which diuersitie, this Art, though it bee one in effect, yet hath it obtained diuers names, and fundry respects.
Concerning the Times, as they hauehave obtained more or lesse light of the knowledge of God, so hath Satan fitted himselfe in his policies accordingly. When, and where, there hath beene none, or lesse reuelation of the Gospell, there hath Satans Note Satans Policie in suiting variety of times with seuerall baites.appearances and workings beene more carnall and preceptible to common sense, his suggestions and deuices more grosse and palpable, his attempts more open and naturall, his worship more terrible to the flesh; as appearing ordinarily in vgly shapes, being worshipped in most horrible formes, presented with most cruell and bloudie sacrifices, and honored with all grosse and shamelesse open filthinesse. So did the Heathen, in their first rude and barbarous estate, worship the deuill; then needed they no couenant to bind them from God to Satan, when they acknowledged no other God but him: him they serued that he might doe them good; him they worshipped for feare, least he should hurt them.
As Barbarousnesse decayed, and Ciuilitie, by setled Gouernement, beganne to take place, &c. so knowledge and skill was aduanced among men, whereby grosse wickednesse was somewhat brideled, and morall honestie, for the common and priuate good sake, was now outwardly embraced; Herevpon Satan spinnes a finer thrid of more colourable idolatrie, and that by these meanes. Benefactors of Common-wealthes, and Deliuerers of their Countries from Tyrants, not knowing God, were apt to robbe him of his glory, seeking their owne glorie and eternizing, by their Renow…ed Actes.
This Satan discerning, doth easilie insinuate into them, and procuring some secret assent from them, by his skill and power enables them to doe Wonders; Heerevpon the people cry, The Voyce of God and not of man, Act. 12. And this falleth out the rather, because the ignorant and godlesse people, receiuing good from them, cannot bee contained in any sober measure of respect towards them, but thinke euen all Diuine Honour too little for them. So wee finde that Heathen Princes were many of them great Magitians and Coniurers, as gaining hereby an Opinion of Dietie: And so did the people worship them with Diuine Honour, yea ascribed them, being translated among the number of the Gods.
Thus became this Art of Sorceri… … Companion of great Princes and mightie Conquerours: by this they attained many great enterprises in the world, and gained an opinion of Omnipotencie and Eternitie.
And was there not another means heerein to set vp this Art, in that age of Knowledge, and greater Ciuility? Yea certainly.
As conquest brought forth Peace, so Peace yeelded libertie for knowledge and liberall studies: And Knowledge brought forth Pride to bee excellent therein, and Pride begetteth curiositie to search into hidden mysteries, and curiositie breedeth discontent, and restlesse disquiet: heereupon Sathan worketh: ministreth content to the minde by yeelding it that which Art could not reach vntounto; so curiositie is satisfied, and pride nourished, and the soule through Pride enthralled to Sathan, and yet deluded iustly with the same colour of Art: vnderunder which Sathan hiding his secret compacts doeth eyther perswade them, that it is done by art, which is done indeede by his assistance, or satisfies them, that it is done by some Power ouer Satan, and therefore they neede not feare subiection to Satan. Hitherto serued those Charmes, Circles, Characters, &c. by which Satan seeming to be bound, deluded them with a vaine conceit of his subiection to them. And so as men were either more ambitious after honour, or curious after knowledge, so did Sathan bait his diuellish Art with more abundance of pompous and curious ceremonies, the rather to fetch ouer these glorious fooles thereto: and so he easily preuailed ouer the profoundest scholers; the Gymnosophists of Egypt, Magi of Chaldea, Sages of Greece &c. most whereof gained their chiefest credite by this, that they were most skilfull in this diuellish Trade.
And so, because men were fittest for these ends, either to conquer Kingdomes, or seeke after knowledge, so in these respects vsually the Male sex hauehave beene trained to this Art. By this they hauehave attained the reputation of Wisedome and Impery.
Succeeding Ages gaue occasion to Satan to work more closely, & yet to weaue his Idolatry with a finer threed.
For, together with the knowledge of humane Arts, and Sciences which resembled some sparks of diuine light, brake out also at length the day Star of Righteousnesse Iesus Christ, bringing with him sauing knowledge, and dispelling the more grosser mystes of Heathenish Oracles ceased.Idolatrie; as being no way sit to encounter therewith: or at least in Policie, not thinking it meete openly to oppose the same; but rather by a more secret and colourable meanes, by closing therewith, to obscure, and so by degrees to banish the same.
Thus became Sathan transformed 2. Cor. 11.into an Angell of Light; and taking aduantage of the pride of Nature, and vnthankef…lnesse of men, that would not obey the Gospel, but rather peruert it, to iustifie the flesh▪ As they were therefore giuen vp iustly by the Lord to strong delusions▪ so is Sathan still ready at a pinch to beguile▪ vnstable soules, and insteade of the puritie and simplicitie of the Gospell, to draw them by degrees into a Mysterie of Iniquitie, and so in the end, to most grosse and palpable Idolatrie, iustifying and exceeding the most barbarous Heathens therein.
To this end, euen so soone as the good Housholder had sowen his Seede, the enuious man was readie to sowe his Tares, raysing vp false apostles to withdraw the people from the Si… plicitie Galat. 3.of the Gospell, and so to prepare them, by giuing libertie to the 2. Cor. 10. 11. Galat. 5.flesh, to that corruption of doctrine, which afterwards ouer-spread the face of the Churches.
And at the first assault Sathan so preuayled, as that how soeuer, as yet the light of Iudgement remayned with the Church, as being able to dis… of Spirites, euen to discouer such as said they were Apostles, & yet in truth, were no better then Sathans Ministers: yet, by reason that the flesh was willing to cast off the yoake, and apt to turne the graces of God into wantonnesse: heereupon zeale beganne to decay, euen with the best, first Reul. 2. 23.louelove was left; the bond of Perfection, and so way hereby made to carnall liberty, and for the maintenance thereof.
Corrupt doctrine by degrees was hatched, and embraced: whereof as the Purest times were not altogether 1. Cor. 15. 1. Tim. 4. 2free, as may appeare by the Nicolaitans and others, that went out euen from amongst the Apostles, both to grosse prophanenesse, and also to Doctrines of diuels, for the iustifying therof: So appeared heereupon the great 1. Tim. 4.merciemercy of God in casting this Iezabel Reuel. 2.into a bed of affliction, and encreasing his Church graciously with those ten bloudie and desperate persecutions, for the purging out of her drosse, and renuing of her first louelove: Whereby, as she wanne vntounto her the hearts of her enemies; so by this means she gained great friends: euen the kings of the earth beganne to worship the Lord: and the mightiest became nursing Fathers and foster Mothers, Esay chapter 49. chapter, to the distressed Church of God.
And now behold, the great har…st of the Gentiles being wel-neare in, & so the man-childe beeing borne vntounto God; the time was come, for the further Reu. 12. 13reuelation of Gods iustice, for the former affliction of his Church. And also to manifest yet further his great mercies vntounto his Church, in exercising the same with new afflictions, for the preuenting of that securitie, and purging out the carnallnesse, which by the fauour and arme of flesh had growne in the Church.
For euen thus it befell with the deare Spouse of CHRIST, that as her former afflictions, had now fitted her to some rest, which shee attayned by the meanes of Constantine: so this rest and ease, accompanied with outward honour and acceptance with the greatest: instead of Godlie simplicitie brought in carnall pompe and wisedome of the flesh.
And the wisedome of the flesh, being once aduaunced, and grounded in the hearts of men, banished pre sently all godlie seueritie of life and zeale for the honour of Almightie God; And instead thereof brought in wil-worship, and prophanenesse. And did not carnall wisedome strike the chiefe stroake heerein? Yea surely, the Church being now taken into the Court of the Emperour, and warming her selfe well by his fire: as she forgets her former affliction; so is she not vnwilling to remit also of her sinceritio, as not being so sutable to the place and persons, that now shee hath to deale withall: now shee must a little become all vntounto all, that so shee may eyther winne others, or holde her owne; somewhat must be yeelded to her Patrons, to shew her thankefulnesse: and some Corruption must be swallowed vp, to maintayne credite.
Now …histian liberty must be strained to be an occasion to the flesh, and Authority must be deified to maintaine the same.
Thus the poore Church of Christ being freed from the malice of heathenish Idolatrie, is corrupted by prosperitie, to set vp spirituall Idolatrie: Not onlie aduauncing her Patrons and Benefactours aboue what was meete but aduauncing also her selfe by their helpe, aboue all that was called God, and so by degrees hauing well feathered her neast, and strengthned her selfe by the arme of flesh, ouerthroweth cunningly the same, euen with it owne weapons, and aduanceth it selfe gloriously vponupon the ruines and wrecke thereof.
And thus the Church flies into the Reu. 12. 14wildernesse vponupon Eagles wings, by the fauour of earthly Princes, being first highly aduaunced, and so thereby growing to loosenes and profanenes; and so iustly left to grosse errors: both for the conceiuing, as also for the iustifying thereof; whereby it cometh to passe, that corrupters of doctrine in the end preuailing, sincerity is banished, and so Antichrist by degrees exalted aboue all that is called God: not onelyonly in wilworship and bodily seruice, Coloss. 2.tyrannizing ouer the consciences of the faithlesse and rebellious generation: but aduancing himselfe by lying 2. Thess. 2.signes and wonders thereby, to maintaine the opinion of that arrogated trueth, and so to subdue and hold in captiuitie the deceiued world.
And so as profane pompe succeeded godly simplicity, so barbarous ignorance also came in place of pure and sauing Reu el. 8. 7knowledge, that not onelie the third part of the earth was killed therewith, but euen the verie Sea of Doctrine was so corrupted by that mountaine of worldly pompe and glorie cast into the same, that euen the third part also of all things therein were vtterly destroyed: yea Heauen it selfe euen Verse 8.the church of God escaped not this infection, but that the Taile of the Dragon euen drew downe the Starres from Heauen, Reuelation chapter 12. verse 1. Yea the Dragon himselfe set vp his very throne of darkenesse 2. Th. 2. 10in the Temple of the Lord. That his darling the whore of Babylon might bee aduaunced thereupon, aboue all that is called God: and did not Satan furnish his minion at all affaies, that so shee might prosper and preuaile ouer the children of vnbeliefe? yea certainely, it was not enough for that man of sinne, to strengthen himselfe from the vsurped power of Heauen, chalenging the keyes, to… pen and shut at his pleasure; but he must also wrest into himselfe all power on earth, disposing of Kingdomes, and deposing the mightiest at his pleasure.
And that hee might appeare to be Philip. 2.the true Antichrist, in all things opposing the kingdome of Iesus Christ. Behold, as all things vnderunder earth doe bow vntounto the Sonne of God, the very diuells tremble, and are subiect vntounto him: Euen so doth this Abaddon Iames 2.assume the power of the Dragon: and so by Coniuration and Enchantments, attaineth to and confirmeth his supreame authoritie.
And thus Witch-craft became an especiall proppe of Antichrists kingdome.
And that in diuers respects, accordingly as that man of sinne, by diuerse meanes aduaunced and confirmed himselfe. And these were,
1 Opinion of diuine power.
2 Presumption of perfect Holinesse, and so of merites.
3 Maintenance of Idolatrie, and
4 Outward greatnes and soueraigntie.
To the furthering of al which this diuelish Art stood him in great steed.
As, For the first, As Antichrist, intruded into the seate of the Lord, both fitting in the Temple of the Lord, and raigning in the consciences of men, and so exalting himselfe in voluntary worship aboue all that is called God: So was hee much furthered heereunto, by this Art of Negr…mancie:
As both heereby through fayned myracles and lying wonders.
1 Gaining from the conceit of the deceiued people, the Reputation of diuine power.
2 And by the power of Satan, confounding his enemies, attaining to a cō ceit of supreme & immediate iustice, As,
3 Hereby relieuing extraordinarily his fauourites; and so arrogating the conceit of diuine merciemercy.
And thus also by this Art gayned he an opinion of perfit Holinesse:
As, not onelie hereby being able to bleare the eyes of the world, not to discerne, or not to dare to discouer his abhominable wickednesse.
But especially heereby being furthered to performe many glorious outsides of well-doing, that hee might be applauded as the mighty power of God. Acts 8. And so:
Withall, by this meanes, bewitching the hearts of the ignorant, to admire the beauty of the strumpet, and so to fall downe and worship her. And,
By this Art, furthering also that Deuice of canonizing of Saints for their perfect Holinesse, by such forged miracles as hereby were made shew of to that end:
Which as it was an especiall ground and foundation of that Idolatry, which beginning of a reuerend estimation Note the ground of Idolatrie.and affection to holie men; grew at the length, not onelie to a worship of their persons, being dead, but of their Statues and Images also: which at the first, being onelie erected in memoriall of their well-doings by a thankefull world, grew at length to be adored and exalted also aboue all that was called God: and that especially by meanes of this diuellish Art.
For by this meanes these Stockes and Stones beeing made to speake and doe wonderfull things, as it confounded the Image-makers, who by this practize condemned their Doctrine Note.of Images: Teaching that they were but otdayned as meanes to remember Bellarm.the people of those persons whom they did represent, and yet by this practize, making the people beleeue, that they were the Saints themselues: so were the ignorant and heartlesse people hereby grossely Ose. 7.deceiued and detained in this idolatrie, euen by those lying wonders and signes that were wrought at these Images.
And thus as that man of sin, attained to exceeding credit and riches in the world: So that he might further exalt himselfe aboue all that is called God: behold, he aduanceth himselfe aboue the great Kings and Potentates of the earth: and is furthered heereto especially by this Art of Coniuration.
For hereby being acquainted with the secrets of all estates, gayned he oportunitie to preuent, or confound their determinations.
By this meanes hee many times casts bones among them, that tearing & deuouring each other, they might both in the end, become his prey.
By this, was hee able secretly to remoue the greatest opposite, and yet by the secret conueyance thereof to keep the credit of his Holinesse: yea to gaine the opinion of diuine power and assistance.
By this meanes, whosoeuer banded openly against him, was like to take the foyle. And thus, heereby nouzeling the world in ignorance and infidelity, excluded them by this meanes the protection of the Lord: and so they became a prey vntounto Antichrist.
The bondage of Egypt must lie vponupon their necks, these cruell taske-maisters must encrease their burdens & withdraw their means: that so at length the oppressed world might grone to the Lord, who in his mercy, hath (in some measure) released the yoake of the oppressor, in restoring light vntounto the world, and authoritie to the magistrate.
And so now it is come to passe, that thogh in places of ignorance, witchcraft aboundeth, because, as yet, the strong man keepes possession: yet, where the light of the Gospell hath once taken footing, as at the comming of Christ the Oracles ceased, so Plutarch.Satan falls downe like lightning, at the preaching of the Gospel, and the grosenesse of Witchcraft is well cleared, and banished, only bicause, though the Gospel be offred vntounto al, yet seeing al receiue not the knowlege of the truth: Therefore it is iust with God to giuegive 2. Thess. 2. 11. 12.vp men to strong delusions, to beleeue lies: and so Satan becomes, not only a lying spirit in the mouth of the Prophets, 1. Reg. 22.to deceiue vnstable soules, but taking euen seuen spirits worse, as the Luke 11.doctrine of the Gospell, decayes in it purity, and so becomes a Broker to profanenesse: so together with corruption of Doctrine, Popish delusions crept in againe, to beguile and enthrall vnstable soules: And among these Delusions, Witch-craft not the least, hath againe got some life and power, where the Gospel hath beene reuealed. And that,
1 By being defended and iustified by godlesse men, as if there were no Scot. & alijsuch thing, that it is but a conceit.
2 Being detected, yet is it not punished thorowly. The Blesser escapes, and the silly people that run to this white Diuell, are let alone.
Which, as it may teach the wise Vse. Of the pla ces where Witches haunt,to see the plague, and hide himselfe, so it may resolue vsus concerning the places where Witches haunt vsually. either in places of ignorance, and there in more grosse and sensible In what places witche… most abound, and how.manner, or else in Places of knowledge abused, where Hypocri…ie and carnall wisedome, hath thrust out the power of synceritie: There Satan returnes with seuen worse spirits, Witch-craft is embraced and countenanced of men, So much the more dangerously, by how much now Witches are become great Professors, and followers of the Word, hauehave attained some knowledge, and pretend great holinesse, and honestie; whereby as it appeareth that Satan is now transformed into an Angell of light; so are wee informed heereby the rather to arme our selues against such cunning and desperate policies, which now especially are plotted to the ensnaring of our soules.