The Mystery of Witchcraft Discovering the Truth of Nature, Book 1 · Chapter 1
CHAP. I.
Of the Occasions and Scope of this Treatise; wherein is especially proued that this doctrine of Witch-craft is very necessary to bee handled and prosecuted in these daies.
DIVERSE hauehave beene the motiues and occasions which hauehave lead mee to treatise of this Subiect at this time.
Some more Generall, concerning the diseases of the Time.
Others Speciall, concerning my Selfe.
The Generall are: Because the wise and glorious God by his speciall Generall reasons mouing to this Treatise.prouidence in these daies, requireth an especiall account of our Faith in this Truth: And that in these respects.
First, That we should in thankefulnesse, acknowledge his great power and mercy, That hath so honoured and iustified the Reuelation of the glorious Gospell of his Sonne Iesus, by which this Mysterie of Satan which in former ages hath beene either smothered, or peruerted, to the further erecting and maintaining of the Kingdome of darknesse; is now gratiously and cleerely, not onelyonly discouered, but further also reformed to the true vse thereof, and so wee rightly enformed how to deale therein: And so by the power of God, the Magistrate enabled to take such course therein, as may best serue to the demolishing of the Kingdome of Anti-christ.
Secondly, seeing the Power of the Gospell is thus able to discouer and confound the kingdom of Satan, may not this condemne our vnprofitable receiuing thereof, who still maske it in our sinnes, and will not come out of them, whereas the very deuils giuegive testimony thereunto? If they beleeue Iam. 2.and tremble, if they cannot endure the glorious light of the Gospell, if they forsake their holds, and confound their Proselites, being forced to discouer them by the power of the Word, and so to be the executioners Act. 19. 3.of Gods righteous iudgements against them; Shall not this bee our condemnation, that though light bee come into Ioh. 3. 9.the world, yet still wee louelove the darkenesse more then the light? wee lesse obey the Gospell then the deuils do; wee Angels Angli quasi Angeli.in name, are lesse affected then these infernall spirits; wee spurne against Authoritie, when these are controuled by it; wee continue in our sinnes, when these are cut off by the Magistrate; wee iustifie sinne, when these discouer and vnfold it?
Surely seeing God is glorifyed in confessing of our sinnes, shall not the Iosh. 7. 9.deuils rise vp in iudgement against vsus? may not they teach vsus to yeeld more obedience to the Gospell? And seeing, for our disobedience to the Truth, it hath pleased the Lord to 2. Thess. 2. 11.giuegive vsus vp in his iustice to strong delusions; either, to rest in the forme of religion Delusions of the time.denying the power thereof, or else, to runne backe to Aegypt againe: euen to loath this heauenly Manna, and so to doate vponupon the fitches and onions, yea the garbidge and very deepenesse of Antichrist, exalting him aboue all that is called God, In seeking for helpe vntounto Blessers, and good Witches, as wee call them, who being commonly ignorant, prophane, and superstitious, proue verie dangerous instruments for the restoring and encrease of the kingdome of Antichrist. As both colouring their Diabolicall practise vnderunder pretence of holy prayers and naturall meanes, and thereby aduancing that lip-labour and formall deuotion, the very life of Popery. As also by their pretence of great charitie in relieuing so many infirmities, iustifying that false Fire Note. Miracles.of Popish LoueLove, and fained Miracles: But especially nuzeling the people in ignorance by their example and corrupt practise, and seducing them from the light of the Gospell, and such holy meanes as therein are offered for their reliefe, to most indirect and desperate remedies, as to enthrall their soules to hell for euer, that the poore carkase may hauehave present case: As requiring trust and confidence to bee reposed in them, and so excluding vtterly from Christ, and so from saluation. Seeing (I say) these Blessers are highly esteemed of in these daies, as being dangerous Factors for Anti-christs kingdome: Ought not eueryevery True Member of Christ to see this plague, to giuegive warning of it, that so their bloud may not bee required at his hands? And hath the glorious Lord beene without witnesses in these daies to discouer the practises of Anti-christ, his creepings in againe, and that by these meanes of Sorceries and enchantments?
Surely, the Name of his Maiestie bee blessed for euer, that hath raised vp euen a cloud of Witnesses in these declining daies; as to contest against Anti-christ, and his hellish Monarchie, so withall to discrie his deepenesse in these his deuilish instruments, and therefore especially to detect and confound the same.
Consider, I pray you, with mee the wisedome of our God, and let vsus magnifie his Name together.
Hath hee not ordained the Magistrate and the Minister for the seasonable ouerthrow of Anti-christs kingdome?
And hath hee not very meruailously disposed in these times, that as Anti-christ hath renued his hopes by these and other desperate engines of his spirituall warfare, so he hath beene confronted by Gods powerfull Ordinances?
As the Magistrate not onelyonly in Magistrates. R. Iacobus.making seuere Lawes against the encrease of his kingdome, but further also by his happie Pen, cutting down his vsurped Authoritie to the very roote; and further also discouering and confounding this Mysterie of Witch-craft, as being a maine proppe In Daemonologia.and hope for the vpholding and continuance thereof.
And concerning the Ministers of Ministers.the Gospell, hauehave not these in their Places, as they hauehave the more in generall beene zealous against Antichrist kingdome, as they hauehave more discerned the Mysterie and Marke of the Beast, so they hauehave beene more quick-sighted to discerne him in this Policie of Witch-craft, Mr. Perkins Gifford, North-brooke.and so hauehave more earnestly laboured against the same? And shall I hold my peace in this day of good-tydings? Shall I not also bring my fagot to the burning of these Witches, and so to further the destroying of the kingdome of Antichrist.
Hath not the Lord enabled mee to discouer the practise of Antichrist in that hellish Plot of the Gunpowder-treason? Hath hee not preserued mee gratiously from many such diuelish Practises of these Antichristian Instruments, not onelyonly in keeping mee from seeking for their helpe, when my children were suspected to bee afflicted by them, that so my soule might bee endangered thereby: But especially in preseruing mee from many cursed snares which by these mischieuous instruments hauehave beene priuily laid for me, to the endangering of my life, and hinderance of the Gospell?
Surely were there no generall reasons to induce mee heerevnto, yet mine owne priuate respect, might well heerein prouoke mee to erect some such like Altar in memoriall of Gods mercies towards mee; and to enable and aduise my brethren to keep themselues from Witch-craft.
Must I not confesse, to the glory of my God, that as Yonger Studies are subiect to Pride and Curiositie, so Curiositie, through Pride, not contenting it selfe with Common knowledge, is prouoked hereby to taste of the forbidden fruit, euen to di…e into secrets belonging onelyonly vntounto God, to foreknow things to come, and so to gaine some high and diuine esteeme in declaring of them?
And doth not Art giuegive some colour and shew heerevnto? as yeelding out of generall precedences of Note.the coniunctions and motions of heauenly Bodies, some probable coniectures concerning the motion & successe of these inferiour things? And doth not Satan most cunningly and dangerously shroud himselfe vnderunder this Art? as concluding particular certainties out of generall probabilities, and coniectures, which the curious Student coueting after, as being ashamed to stagger in his skill; while he cannot therefore finde this in his Art, is therefore the-rather baited by Satan to seeke this skill from him, who will not now faile to tender his helpe for the satisfying of proud curiositie, and that by such meanes as are not likely to bee refused.
For whereas flesh and bloud would bee afraid to encounter Satan in his owne likenesse at the first, vnlesse it were further deluded and hardned in the Trade; therefore behold the dangerous cunning of Satan to entice these nouices to his lure, and that by the appearance of contrarie semblance.
To this end he appeares first transformed into an Angell of Light, pretending his willing subiection to certaine idle and worthlesse Characters and Names of God, whereby he deceiues his nouices two waies.
First, in making them beleeuethat this Art is approued of God, in that it goes vnderunder his name.
2 That it is also performed by the power of God, as whose name is the ground of the charmes, and therefore shall hauehave good successe.
3 And that not onelyonly in the thing attempted, but also to the party attempting the same, as hauing speciall fauor with God, hauing the Lord (as it were) at his becke, being made of Gods secret counsell, being as God, knowing things to come.
For the further confirmation of this delusion, behold in this point another pollicie of Satan; that whereas man, through pride, desires Soueraignety & Dominion, therfore now (in the second Place) Satan offers himselfe vntounto this Nouice, as a Slaue and Vassaile, seeming to be commanded by him, whom he now labours to enthrall for euer, And therein notably gulling the ambitious spirit with this conceited Emperie: What canst thou desire more then to preuaile with God, then to leade hell captiue in this triumphant manner, then by these meanes to preuaile with men?
Thus are Yong Schollers puffed vp with knowledge, and the Pride of knowledge exalts them aboue that which is meete, that so their fall may be more fearefull and irrecouerable.
And was not my Yonger Studies subiect to this tentation?
Surely blessed bee God in Iesus Christ that hath lent mee life to acknowledge his merciemercy in this behalfe!
Was there not a time when I admired some in the Vniuersitie fam… zed in that skill?
Did not the Lord so dispose of mee, that my Chamber-fellow was exceedingly bewitched with these faire shewes, and hauing gotten diuers bookes to that end, was earnest in the pursuit of that glorie which might redound thereby?
Did not wee communicate our Studies together? was not this skill proposed and canuased in common? And did not the Lord so arme his vnworthy seruant, that not onelyonly the snare was gratiously espied; but, by the great merciemercy of my God, the Lord vsed mee as a meanes to diuert my Chamber-fellow from these dangerous Studies? And shall not this merciemercy of our God bee had in euerlasting remembrance?
Surely the mercies of God are euerlasting, worthie to bee sought out of all that feare him: How are they renued Lam. 3. 23.eueryevery morning, so great is his faithfulnesse?
For did not my God exercise mee vsually with continuall buffetings of Satan, that so I might be better enabled to discouer his sleights to others? Witnesse my diurnall Records to this end, which if God continue life and health, may serue the common Good.
Hath not the Lord since, wheresoeuer it hath pleased him to pitch my Tent, euen there to follow mee with this Tentation, to bee assaulted In Cheshire and Couentry.with this pestilent-brood, and Deuillish Generation? Hath not hee vsed mee as an instrument, though most vnworthy, to comfort others according to the comforts that hauehave abounded vntounto mee? Hath not my gracious God wonderfully deliuered mee from their cursed Traines, and made mee able in some poore measure to declare his great mercies to the generations to come?
And hauehave I not often Vowed to glorifie God in this behalfe? HaueHave not my meditations and experience beene faithfully stored vp to this end? Was I not purposed vponupon a speciall occasion of the death of the Ladie HALES procured by Witchcraft, to commend such obseruations to Posteritie, but that the good knight her husband, for reuiuing and continuing of his griefe by that memoriall ouer-ruled that opportunity: But is not the Lord mercifull to offer another seasonable and worthie occasion to Pay my Vowes?
Surely, the Lord bee blessed that awakens this secure age daily by renued tokens of his power and displeasure: And seeing wee will not obey his Word, but reiect the power of it, vouchsafeth yet to Preach vntounto vsus by his wonderfull workes.
And seeing ordinary iudgements will not awaken vsus; euen from the belly of Hell hee cries vntounto vsus, and sends forth his euill Angels to vexe and torment vsus. Blessed bee his Name that giues vsus warning of the great and spirituall plague vponupon our soules, by these torments vponupon our bodies: That lets vsus see the plague of grosse and palpable darkenesse threatned against vsus by these common and fearefull delusions of the Prince of darkenesse.
Doth not eueryevery Assise almost throughoutthe Land, resound of the arraignement and conuiction of notorious Witches; either where grosse ignorance and Popery most aboundeth, or where the truth of God is with-held, and prophaned, by vnrighteousnesse and hypocrisie?
Can wee forget the late Assise at Lancaster, where no lesse then fifteene were endited, and twelue condemned of that horrible crime, a Countrie abounding on that part thereof, with grosse ignorance and Popery?
Hath not Cou…ntrie beene v… haunted by these hellish So… where it was confessed by o… them, that no lesse then three-… were of that confedracie? And … this a place famous for the … and glorie of the Holy Mountai…
And was I not there enioyned … a necessity to the discouerie of … Brood?
These are the occasions of … ensuing Treatise, this is the scope and end thereof.
And is it not then a word in … season for our present edification?
Surely seeing the Word and the Sword do verie gratiously sort together, the one to authorize and confirme the other: Seeing now the sword of the Magistrate is seasonably brandished against these offenders: is not the Word encouraged to iustifie that Authoritie, which vsually is too fearefull and charitable in rooting out such euils?
Ought not the Word to encourage the Sword to this glorious worke … detecting and confounding the kingdome of darknesse, which especially preuailes by these deuillish charmes.
And that not onelyonly in the Ignorant multitude, and wilfully seduced Papist; But euen in the Carnall Protestant, and Grosse Hypocrite, though they hauehave receiued the knowledge of the Truth; For do wee not generally detaine the truth of God in vnrighteousnesse, making a shew of Religion and yet denying the power thereof; making our belly our God, and the wedge of Gold our hope, turning the graces of God vntounto wantonnesse, and so giuing vp our members as weapons to the seruice of sin; do thereby plainely discouer whose seruants wee are, euen the bondslaues of Satan who ruleth in the children of disobedience? And doth not the Lord very wonderfully discouer our shifts, and confound our painted shewes, euen by these euill Angels which hee sends amongst vsus?
Doth not our Atheisme on the one side, convince our heartlesse and deceitfull worship, while wee Plead for Satan, and maintaine his Kingdome concluding his preuailings to bee but Counter… tings; his Contracts with Witches Scot.to bee but Delusions, ascribing his power in afflicting, to Naturall Diseases.
And yet doth not the Lord on the other side reiect our confiden… that so our owne tongues and waies may fall vponupon vsus?
For doe wee yet feare those Withes, whom wee conclude to bee harmelesse, hurting rather by our infidelitie, then any power of satan, or in themselues?
Do wee not close with them desperately, releeuing them with our Almes, and so binding them by our charitie, and euen Tying them by the Teeth, that they may not hurt vsus?
Nay, though wee make profession to seeke to GOD alone in our troubles; yet when it comes to the Pinch, doe wee not runne vntounto the Deuill? Hath not the Blesser, more Proselites and Patients then the Physition; yea then the conscionable Preacher?
The Lord giuegive vsus vnderstanding in these things. Where is our Faith in God? Is there not a God in Israel that wee must runne to Beelzebub the Prince of darkenesse for helpe?
Nay where are our Wits and common sence? do wee say that Witches hauehave no power to hurt by Satan; And yet doe wee runne to those for helpe? Which seeing they hauehave no calling from God, nor vse any such meanes as are Warrantable by the Word, it must needs follow that they proceed from the Father of Lies; who then hurts most dangerously when hee pretends to helpe: And must needes hurt desperately when hee is exalted and adored aboue all that is called God, requiring that homage which is onelyonly due vntounto God.
Thus, though light bee come into the world, though it bee entertained for a season, yet men louelove darknesse more then the light, because their workes are euill; and so are iustly giuen vp for their disobedience to this Strong Delusion, euen to worship Satan; and so to become two-fold more the children of hell then they were before.
And doth not their example harden the Papist in their Idolatry? And yet surely the Iustice of God doth still gloriously appeare in these Children of wilfull ignorance that still stoppe their eaires against the voyce of the charmer, charme hee neuer so wiselie. That seeing they will not bee conuerted by that milde voyce from Heauen, they may bee confounded by this fearefull voyce from hell: That they may now discerne their true estate to bee no better then the Deuils slaues, led captiue by him at his will, by these Good and Bad Eph. 2. 2. Tim. 2. 32.Witches: these hurters and helpers.
As Trusting to these for helpe for the body, and so renouncing the soueraigne and safe remedie of the light of the Gospell for the saluation of soules. As, fearing the other more then the liuing God, and his Vicegerent the Magistrate; and so by this slauish feare, as with a strong cord being faster bound vnderunder the power of darkenesse, binding hereby iniquitie as with Cart-ropes, while they adde drunkennesse vntounto thirst, confirming Ignorance and Infidelitie by this palpable Idolatry in seeking helpe of Satan: And so being confounded in their vaine confidence of will-worship vntounto God: As now being iustly convinced to offer sacrifice to the deuill, might either by this shame bee brought to repentance, or else being made vtterly inexcusable, might so bee giuen ouer to the fearefull expectation of the vengeance to come.
Certainely, if these accursed people yet seeke for signes and shadowes to confirme them in their superstition or reforme them to the Truth: HaueHave they not a signe from heauen, euen the signe of the Sonne of Man, Daily crucified vntounto them in the powerfull Preaching of the Gospell? And yet behold their fearefull obstinacie.
Doe they not still dote after stockes and stones? Doe they not runne from the liuing to the dead? Doe not they renue their Idolatrous Crosses, to encrease their stony hearts? Do they not say vntounto the stockes thou art my Sauiour, and to the stone thou hast redeemed mee?
Oh Adulterous and faithlesse Generation, how long will they prouoke the Lord? Shall not his iealousie burne like fire to consume them and all their stubble with vnquenchable torments.
And seeing they boast that they hauehave made a Couenant with hell, and Esay 28. 45are at an agreement with death, as pretending that by their Keyes they hauehave the power to open and shut hell at their pleasure; and yet intending, and discouering plainely heerein their horrible Athiesme, that they hauehave made Falsehood their Refuge, and are Hid vnderunder Vanitie, making the Pleasures of sinne, their Heb. 11. 26chiefe God and happines, and resting in their Visible Monarchie, as their Soueraigne and supreme Kingdome aAnd esteeming hell as a Bug-beare and puting the euill day farre from them that they may approach to the seat of Iniquitie. Amos 6. 3..
Hath not the Lord mightily reiected their confidence by giuing them another Signe euen from the bowels of the earth: By letting Satan loose to torment and delude them, to vexe their bodies and yet also to deceiue their soules?
Surely the Iustice of GOD is admirable heerein to bee laid to heart of all those that doe hate the Where, and desire her desolation, that so they may lift vp their heads because their saluation draweth neere; in that they may discerne in this glasse of his prouidence, the confusion of Anti-christs approachings: And so may take the oportunity, to hasten the same in their seuerall places and meanes which yet the Lord in mercy affoords vntounto them.
And blessed bee God that giues some measure of wisedome to redeeme the time, and declare the wonders of the Lord to the Generation to come. Shall not this make for the confirmation of our faith, that the Lord will tread Satan vtterly ynder our feete?