The Mystery of Witchcraft Discovering the Truth of Nature, Book 1 · Chapter 6

The Mystery of Witchcraft Discovering the Truth of Nature · Book 1 · Chapter 6

p. 88CHAP. VI.

Of the Ceremonies of the Couenant.

HE hath further diuerse ceremonies accompanying this couenant which tend very fearefully to the confirmation thereof.

And these are:

First, As the Lord hath a speciall Seale to bind his seruants vntounto his obedience; namely, the seale of Baptisme, Rom. 4. So when Satan hath once obtained this absolute promise of his Prentices, to yeeld themselues wholy to his deuotion, then his manner is, to set his seale vponupon them, thereby to appropriate them vntounto him.

And this is commonly some sure marke vponupon some secret place of their bodies, which shall remaine sore and vnhealed vntill his next meeting with them, and then for afterwards proue euer insensible, howsoeuer it be pinched by any.

p. 89To assure them thereby, that as therein he could hurt or heale them, so all their ill and well-doing must depend wholy vponupon him: And that the Intollerable griefe they feele in that place, may both serue to seale vp vntounto them their eternall damnation; And so to awaken and giuegive them no rest till the next meeting againe, that so they may hasten the vengeance that now they hauehave tasted of.

This shall appeare the better if wee consider the next meeting, and such circumstances of place and actions, that are performed therein.

SECTIO. I.

Of the Place where the Witch is summoned for further confirmation and binding of her to Satan.

When Satan the Prince of darknesse that ruleth in the children of disobedience, hath once entangled this Nouice within his snares, and set his Priuie Marke vponupon her, thereby to bind her vntounto him more surely, That she may bee yet further giuen p. 90vp by the fierce wrath of the Almightie to his power: he hath yet many other Policies to effect the same.

As first,

She must bee conuented solemnly into the house of God, there to make Of the cō vening of Wiches into the Church.open testimony of her subiection vntounto him, by renouncing all former couenants with the Lord.

And heere

Vsually, these things are performed in their order.

First, Satan blasphemously occupying, the Place whence the holy Oracles In Daemonology.are deliuered, doth thence:

First, require of his Proselite an acknowledgement of her couenant, causing 1 Approbation of the couenant.her vsually in her owne person to repeate the forme thereof: As IN. do here acknowledge, that vponupon such condition I hauehave giuen my selfe vntounto Satan to bee disposed of him at his pleasure: And

Secondly, when this acknowledgement is made, in testimoniall of this 2 Kissing of backeparts.subiection, Satan offers his back-parts to bee kissed of his vassall.

p. 91Thirdly, this being done, he then 3 Information in the rules and mysteries of his Art.deliuers vntounto his Proselite, and so to the rest (for many are conuened at this meeting) the Rules of his Art, instructing them in the manner of hurting and helping, & acquainting them with such medicines and poysons as are vsuall herevnto.

Fourthly, Taking also account of the 4 Accounting for profite.proceedings of his other Schollers, and so approuing or condemning accordingly.

Fifthly, for their further confirmation, 5 Renouncing Baptisme.he yet enioynes them another ceremonie: Namely, to compasse about the Fount diuers times, there solemnely to Renounce the Trinitie, especially their saluation by Iesus Christ, and in token thereof to disclaims their Baptisme.

Sixthly, and in further token of 6 Sacrificing of their bloud.their subiection vntounto Satan in yeelding vp themselues wholy vntounto his deuotion, behold yet another ceremony heere vsually is performed: namely, to let themselues bloud in some apparant place of the body, yeelding the p. 92same to be sucked by Satan, as a sacrifice vntounto him, and testifying thereby the full subiection of their liues and soules to his deuotion.

Lastly, to gratifie them somewhat for this their dutifull seruice, it pleaseth 7 Carnall and familiar conuersing with them.their new Maister oftentimes to offer himselfe familiarly vntounto them, to dally and lye with them, in token of their more neere coniunction, and as it were marriage vntounto him.

These are vsually the ceremonies wherby Satan binds his Proselites to keep couenant with him.

And his Policies heerein are manifold: both in regard of the Witches themselues, as also in regard of others that shall take notice thereof.

Concerning the Witches.

His Policie in conuening them into the Church is:

1 Partly, to procure in them a Satans policies herein 1 in respect of Witches.conceit of the lawfulnesse of the businesse (as being done in so holy a place) thereby to make them secure in continuing therein.

p. 932 As also to encourage thē the rather to hold out by reason of the companie where-with they meete, ready to hearten by presence and example.

3 And doth not Satan by this convening them into the house of God, and there presenting himselfe vntounto them, procure in their minds a conceit of his Deitie and soueraigne Power, that so they may yet better conceiue of their dealing with him, and more willingly performe all couenants, seeing as God he requires nothing but his due, as God he will performe with them to the full, and therfore they must not flinch from him.

4 And surely if wee shall looke vp vntounto the ouer-ruling hand of God heerein, in giuing Satan his enemie leaue to Prophane the place of his worship, and thus to appeare there vntounto his Proselites for their further condemnation: May not the Lord hauehave these ends herein in respect of these Witches?

1 That here they may receiue the punishment of …heir grosse hypocrisie, and p. 94prophanenesse for their former abuse of Gods holy ordinances, and bodily seruice, lip-labour, &c. where they committed the sin.

2 That here they may be hastened to the participating of this punishment, by being prouoked to fearefull blasphemy, and renouncing of that God whom formerly they serued, and so might bee more iustly subiected to the power of Satan.

SECTIO II.

And may wee not heere learne many profitable things?

Doth not our gracious God tender some light vntounto vsus out of this Vses herein to the Saints. 1 Prophanesse reproued.darknesse? Yea surely.

1 Our Prophanenes is reproued, that abuse and defile the house of God with our bodily seruice, & vaine thoughts and speeches, rather like a company of deuils, then the Saints of God.

2 Our superstition is condemned, in 2 Superstition cō demned.ascribing holinesse and perfection to the place of Gods Worship, as if the place did sanctifie our seruice, or sheild vsus from danger: as if we were free from p. 95Satan when once wee hauehave got the Church ouer our backes: As if no prayers were auaileable but what were offered vp here. Doth not Satan hereby take away the benefite of priuate prayer which indeed is the life and touch-stone of the publike? Doth he not prouoke vsus hereby to rob God of his glorie, in ascribing that vntounto the place, which is proper onelyonly to his Maiesty? Doth he not vtterly frustrate & preuent all spirituall worship of the heart, as if the performing of a little lip-labour in the house of God would serue the turne; wee need not stand vpō any inward touch or feeling, it shal suffice that we hauehave offered vp the sacrifice of our lips before the Lord. Surely when I cōsider 3 Priuate praying in publique exercises taxed.the practise of the time, namely, when we come to the house of God which is appointed for publicke prayer to be performed iointly by the whole Congregation, we then fall to …bling our priuate deuotions, yea when the publick Exercises are in hand, so that for the presēt we neither can ioine with thē, nay rather indeed do disturbe & giuegive p. 96offence to the Congregation, in not consenting with them, mee thinkes euen Satans Proselites may heere condemne vsus, who cary themselues more regularly in the house of God to serue the deuill, then wee here to the seruice of God. These wretches, I warrant you, are kept from sleeping, they spare not their bloud to please the Customary and formall worship reproued.deuill, they are contented to submit themselues to any base office heerevnto: Nothing can keep vsus waking, not though Iesus Christ bee crucified among vsus daily, though we are partakers of his bloud, yet wee will not kisse the Son of Righteousnesse; we cannot so much as shed a teare in testimony of our renouncing of sinne and Satan; whereas these wretches spare not their deerest bloud to shew their homage vntounto Satan.

4 And are we not hereby taught, now to feare our selues most, when we 2 Instructi on to wall in great feare in GODS house.are before the Lord, in his Sanctuarie, because Satan will now be one with vsus, both to hinder vsus in the seruice of God that we shall not profite, or else to p. 97puffe vsus with Pride, as if wee had deserued much heereby: and then to accuse vsus of presumption, that so hee may driue vsus to despaire.

Surely, seeing wee cannot be free from Sathans snares, neither the house of God will protect vsus, nor our owne houses can shield vsus, but Sathan wil be closing to rob God of his glorie, 2 To serch & subdue the heart to worship God in spirit.and vsus of the comfort of any publique duety; shall not this send vsus to the searching of the heart? shall it not teach vsus to worship God in spirit: that so Sathan may not bee acquainted with what we are about, and so may not interrupt vsus, or if hee guesse at our purposes, may be yet confounded, in that our hearts are best knowne to the Lord?

It is our comfort vnspeakable before our God, that hereby wee desire to worship him in truth, because, as our hearts witnesse with the truth of our endeuours, so doe they also witnesse for God against vsus, the imperfection of them: that the Lord may be iustified when he iudgeth, Psal. 51. 4. 5.

p. 98That Sathan may be preuented, and confounded, by this iudging of our selues, that heereby wee may be daily prouoked to perfection: by labouring to be found in Christ, not hauing our owne righteousnesse, and so may grow vppe in him to perfect holinesse, Philip. 3. 13.

Shall not this teach vsus to trie our publike worship by this touch-stone of 3 Publike worship to be tried by the heart.the heart, and not the place? Shall it not weane vsus from the louelove of this world: seeing no place so holy, no meanes so sacred, but by Sathans policie they may be abused? Shall it not prouoke vsus to hunger after our dissolution, that so To recant vsus from the louelove of the world.we may freely and continually glorifie our GOD in his blessed kingdome?

Doeth not this condemne that pompous and carnall decking of the house 1 Reproueth pompous & carnall decking of god his house.of God, rather to please the eie, then affect the heart, rather as a Pallace for the god of this world to reuel in, and prey vponupon new-fangled and silly soules, then a place of spirituall worship, for the great GOD of Heauen p. 99and Earth?

Certainely, when I obserue some occupying the place of Gods worshippe: and thence deliuering vntounto Gods people Chaffe in stead of Wheat, 2 Here reproued carnall & merchantlike teaching. 2. Pet. 2. 2. Ezech. 13.2 Pet 2:2Ezek 13nay sometimes poyson in lieu of wholesome foode, making merchandise of the word of God &c. may I not conclude, that these are the diuells factors, bartering their owne, and their peoples soules vntounto him, for alitle, vaine credite, and for a few shekells of siluer, and morsels of bread? heerein farre worse then the diuell himselfe, that whereas he meanes plaine dealing, to drawe them to damnation: Note.these notwithstanding pretend to shew them a nearer way to Heauen, promising libertie, when themselues are slaues to corruption, and so nouzling in securitie, and excluding repentance, do thereby cary their people in a dreame vntounto hell, 2. Pet. 2. 19. 20.

And when I consider on the other side, that faithfull teachers, who labour by enforcing the Lawe, to bring Faithfull teaching iustified.the people to a sight of their sinnes, and p. 100so to a denyall of themselues, that they may hunger after Christ Iesus: being Mat. 11. 28Matt 11:28loaden with the burthen of their sinnes: That such, I say, are not withstanding traduced, as Preachers of domnation, no better then Satans harbengers, to driue silly soules through despaire into the very snare and pitte of destruction.

Me thinks I obserue heere, a farre more dangerous practise of Sathan, then this, with these Nouices, to renownce their Baptisme, euen to cause the people of God vtterly to reiect the true means of their saluation, namely Christ Iesus.

In that he will not suffer them to see, what neede they hauehave of him, by humbling them with the Law, that so they might bee forced out of themselues, Gal. 3. 24.Gal 3:24to relie wholie on his sacrifice for the pardon of their sinnes. Is there not more hope of the saluation euen of these Witches, that are thus kept sensible of their wofull estate, either by the smart of their priuie match, or by such continuall tampering with p. 101them, sometimes by vgly apparitions, to terrifie them, eftsoones to keepe them watchfull by continuall employments. Is there not, I say, more hope euen of the recouerie of such, then of many thousands in the world, who Desperate estate af secure ones.are lulled asleepe in securitie, and fatted vp, without all sense of danger, euen to vtter destruction?

Oh that we were wise to vnderstand these things, to Trie the spirites, and choose the good and perfect way. Is not the Prophet a snare vponupon Mispath? and profound to deceiue? Is it not iust with God, that because wee hauehave not receiued the trueth, therefore to giuegive vsus vp to strong delusions to beleeue lies, 2. Thess. 2. 11. 12.

Well, this we may learne, by this impudencie of Sathan, in abusing the place of Gods worship: and drawing his Proselites hither for their further confirmation in their subiection vntounto him.Instructiō to professe Christ pub likely. 1. Pet. 3. 151 Pet 3:15

And are we not yet further taught hereby, to make a profession to our God of our subiection to him, and that publikely, p. 102when wee shall be called hereunto furtherby the magistrate, to giuegive an account of our hope, or by the Minister to approue ourprofiting by the word; or by our Christian brother, to confirme him therein? nay, ought we not, to stop the mouthes of the wicked, by acknowledging our soueraigne Lord the great God of heauen and earth: seeing the wicked are not ashamed to honour their master the diuel: glorying in this, that they are the damned crue? &c. shall not euen Damned crue taxed.these silly deceiued soules, rise vp in iudgement against such monsters, that are drawne to that through feare, or ignorance, or hope of present release, seeing these wittingly and malitiously, as it were defie God: & with an high hand, blaspheme, and treade vnderunder foot, the blood of the couenant, acknowledging willingly, and with great applause, their subiection to Satan? Nay, shall not our Politike and Statechristians, State-chri stians condemned.bee condemned by these poore and base creatures, who vponupon necessitie, and through faire promises p. 103onelyonly are brought to this subiection?

Surely, when I obserue, the wisedome of the flesh in many great & migh tie of the world, that eyther come to the house of God, only to receiue honor, & to maintaine credit, and outward esteem; or else, to hedge in some profit and suck some aduantage hereby; or else rather, to honour the word by their presence (for this is vsually the best end) then to be humbled and reformed thereby, rather, I say, to controule the ordinaunces of the mightie God, then to be brought in subiection vnderunder the power thereof: may I not conclude, that heerein they rather publish their homage unto Sathan, then testifie any obedience vntounto the As rather seruing the diuell then God. Note.Lord? Are not these the very stratagems of Satan, to ensnare vnstable soules, by causing them thus to abase the word, thus to peruert the holie ends therof, are not the wicked hereby iustly giuen vp to the illusions of Satan, for the profaning of Gods ordinance? do they not by these abuses, p. 104testifie their obeisance vntounto the Diuell, while they pretēd the honor of god, doe they not in seeking their owne honor, abase that which belongs to the Lord, approue themselues to be imps of that king of Feare, who in all things seeketh to robbe God of his glorie.

And what else may wee deeme of Authority aboue and cōtrary to the word, reproued.that high mysterie of carnall wisedome chalenging Preheminence ouer the word of God, in determining Lawes: besides, or contrary to it, confining & suiting it to it crooked Rules; binding and loosing it, for the satisfying of it lusts. Is not this a plaine badge of of that man of sinne, that sonne of perdition? Is not this an apparant euidence of it subiection to Satan? And if wee shall scanne the mystery of that sublimated policie: that nowadayes, he Absolute subiection to man cō demned.is not a wise man, who is not a seruant vntounto men, submitting himselfe to be new moulded & fashioned according to the lust of his Patron. This blasphemously chalēging him as his proper creature; & the creature reioicing p. 105as in his soueraigne creator, conforming heart and hand simply to his deuotions: May we not see Satan here aduāced as god of this world in the children of disobedience? May wee not conclude, that such absolute subiection as is giuen vntounto man, is wholy taken from God, and giuen to the Diuell?

And what may wee deeme of the common Idolatrie of all sorts? One Diuers Idolatries of the world reproued.makes the wedge of golde his hope: An other makes his mistris the soueraigne of his heart: this, makes his belly his god, the other sacrifices to his net, &c. Are not all these (in effect) sacrificers vntounto the Diuell? Is not subiection and homage performed vntounto him, euen in them all?

What shall we thinke of the generall and ordinarie seruice of God in these dayes; the most feare him with their Lippes, but their hearts are far from him: the best vsually serue him but by halfes, they cannot be Saints, God must beare with thē in some sin; they must liue, & therefore they must strain a litle: they are but flesh and blood, & they p. 106do what they can, God must be mercifull to them in this &c. Do they not in all these, shew themselues seruants to him, whom yet they obey, euen the prince of darkenes, the great deceiuer of their soules?

Is not Satan the lord of their harts, while they serue God but with their As the homage to Sathan.lips? & doth he not hereby hold their hearts faster bound vntounto him, in that hee giueth way to their bodily seruice; nay, will he not hauehave their tongues also at his deuotion, at a pinch, to c…rse the same God whom they seeme to Iac. 3 3 4.Jas 3:3blesse, or to slaunder their brethren, and condemne thē of hypocrisie, because they labor to serue God in spirit & truth?

And is not Sathans cunning the more dangerous, in that he is content to hold the wicked but by one string? Hypocrits condēnedIs not their state more dāgerous, that while they seem to hauehave escaped the pollutions of the world, & to make a faire shew in the flesh; as if they were good 2. Pet 2 20 Gala. 6 122 Pet 2:20Gal 6:12Christians, glorious sepulchres, yet eyther inwardly they are full of rotten bones, or else one dead flie will be sufficient p. 107Matth. 23.Matt 23to corrupt all the ointment of the Eccle. 10 1Eccl 10:1Apothecarie, easily may Satan recouer his full possession againe: euen by reason of that one traitor, which they shall nourish in their bosomes: Shall he not reenter with seuen worse spirits, Luk 11. 20Luke 11:20and so the later end of that man shall be worse then the beginning: The dog shall returne to his vomite: and the swine vntounto the mire, of which he was cleansed, and so become twice dead, and pluckt vp by the roots: euen two-fold more the child of 2. Pet. 2. 22 Iude 12.2 Pet 2:22Jude 1:12perdition, then euer he was before?

O that wee were wise to discerne our selues whose we are! and whom we serue! how long shall we halt betweene two opinions? If God be Lord, Mat. 23. 15Matt 23:15deseruing all seruice at our hands, inabling vsus by his spirit, to offer vp our bodies and soules, as a reasonable seruice Rom. 12. 1Rom 12:1vntounto him: (& what more reasonable then to giuegive him his owne, that hath bought it so dearely.) If his yoake be easie Mat. 11. 29Matt 11:29to those that will take it vp, and his commaundements not grieuous, to those that will endeuour the performance thereof.

p. 108If hee bee contented to accept according to that which wee hauehave, not requiring 2. Col 3. 12Col 3:12what he giuegive vsus not. If he vouchsafe the Will insteed of the Deed: If hee that giues Will, will giuegive the Deed also, that wee may serue him Phil. 2. 13Phil 2:13in Truth, though wee cannot bee perfect: That the sense of our imperfection, Phil. 3.Phil 3may still send vsus vntounto the Fountaine Christ Iesus, that so from him wee may still draw forth waters to eternall life, being daily found in him, not hauing our owne righteousnesse, that so through him wee may daily make our requests Manifest at the throne of Grace: That we may bee carefull in nothing, nor fearefull of Phil. 4. 6.Phil 4:6any thing: Casting our care vponupon God, 1. Pet. 5. 7.1 Pet 5:7because hee careth for vsus, and committing our selues in well-doing into 1. Pet. 7. 18the hands of our faithfull Creator, still forgetting that which is behind, that Phil. 3. 13.Phil 3:13wee may hasten to that which is before, for the price of our high calling in Iesus. Who may not trie himselfe hereby whether he be in the faith or not? Who will not daily striue and p. 109endeuour to make himselfe thus manifest 2. Cor. 5. 102 Cor 5:10vntounto God and to his owne conscience? If hee that is in Christ must bee a new creature; so new that 2. Cor. 5. 172 Cor 5:17all old things must bee abolished, because hee that abids in the flesh cannot please God, Rom. 8. And if wee nourish but one knowne sinne Iam. 2. 11.Jas 2:11wee are guiltie of all: If wee must hauehave respect vntounto all Gods commandements, Psal. 119. Heb. 13. 18 Rom. 13. 14.Ps 119Heb 13:18Rom 13:14desirous in all things to please our blessed God, Not caring for the flesh, to satisfie the lusts thereof: Wil it any thing auaile vsus to plead Flesh and Bloud? If there be but one thing wanting, will all the rest any whit auaile vsus? If Christ Iesus bee not thus vsus in, That the bodie is dead to Lue. 18. 25 2. Cor. 13. 5 Rom. 8.2 Cor 13:5Rom 8sinne, but the Spirit is life for righteousnesse sake; Are we any better for all our formall righteousnesse then very 2. Cor. 13. 52 Cor 13:5Reprobates, the very slaues of Satan to whom yet wee do obey, to whom we there performe most acceptable seruice, when wee doe thinke it sufficient toserue God according to the flesh, either by halfes, for a seasō, &c.

p. 110Let this serue for our Triall heerein, Triall of sinceritie.and let vsus giuegive our hearts to obserue heere further matter:

Doe wee thinke that Sathan in tampering thus with Witches, entendeth onelyonly, eyther their owne bane, or else, by them to hurt onelyonly the bodies of others?

No surely, as his principall end is, by all meanes to dishonour God, and discouer his malice, and rage against the Almightie, so doth hee expresse his hatred against God, in destroying the Creature, and in the Creature that which most resembleth God. And therefore he not onelyonly aimeth at the Diuine soule, but by all meanes laboreth the generall confusion of mankinde: that so (if it were possible) he might robbe God of his glory, in sauing any; you see how hee spared not our very Sauiour himselfe, the head of his Mat. 4. 5. 6 7Matt 4:5Matt 4:6Church, and will he not attempt (if it may be) the destruction of all the members? And doth he not prosecute this his designe, in the other Ceremonies, whereby he obligeth these p. 111miserable wretches yet faster vntounto Vse of the ceremony of accoun ting with his Proselites.him? For, what else doth that other practise of his ayme at, in taking account of his vassals, and informing them in the mysteries of his damnable trade: rewarding them accordingly as their paynes hath beene, and enabling them hereby to commit further mischiefe?

As hereby he blasphemously imitates the Offices of that great Iudge and 1 Sathan herein bla sphemously imitats God, vsurpeth the offices of Christ.mightie Sauiour: instructing them as a Prophet in their seuerall dueties, censuring them as a Supreame Iudge and soueraigne, according to their exploits.

As their high priest enioying the sacrifice of their blood, as a pledge and bond of their allegeance, and satisfaction for their failings: So doth he hereby also more desperately insnare their soules: As,How the Witches are deceiued hereby. Note.

1 Arresting them hereby wholly to stand to his verdict, & so to make a mocke of the day of Christs comming.

2 Deceiuing them vnderunder pretence of these naturall medicins, as if it were p. 112by vertue of them, not by anie C… nant with him, that such effects followed.

3 And binding them hereby surely to him, by his familiar & carefull dealing with them, in furnishing them with all meanes, to become maisters of their desires.

4 Puffing them vp with conceit of extraordinary skill in Natures secrets, & so with a vain imaginatiō to be as gods, through such rare knowledge and great power: thereby lulling them in security: that so they may hasten their damnation. Thus are th…se Witches ensnared thereby. But may not this his policie extend it selfe also vntounto others?

Yea surely; Behold (saith reuerend Latimer) The diuell is a more carefull Conuictiō of idle ministers hereby.and painefull Dioclesian in his charge then many of our idle and Idole Pastours are in theirs. Satan is neuer idle, he is alwayes going about to destroy the soules of men: These sleepie dogs lie still in their kennells, fatting themselues Esay 56. 12Isa 56:12with the fleece, & leauing the flocke to be deuoured of the wolfe.

p. 1132 Satan is alwaies resident vponupon his charge to keepe the same in his clawes: These leaue the Flocke, and attend the Courts of Princes, or their Hounds and Hawlkes, or worse: as for the Flock it may sink or swimme; Better farre to bee such ones Dogges or Horses then to hauehave their soules committed vntounto them.

3 Satan he will take account how his Schollers do profite, he will see that the non proficient shall bee sneaped, and the painefull encouraged: These by their euill example corrupt the Flocke, discourage those that are forward and zealous, encouraging those that liue at ease in Syon, and will eate any flye, as peaceable men, quiet neighbours, wise and discrete subiects, &c.

4 Satan will not cease to informe his Proselites further in the Mysteries of their Trade, that so they may bee more skilfull and profitable in his seruice; These complaine, that the people hauehave too much knowledge; they labour rather to keepe them in ignorance, p. 114and to darken the light by their prophane handling thereof, that so they may plucke out the spirituall eyes of their people, and so to leade them Note.about with them, like blind Sampson, to sport with their follies, and gaine Iud. 16. 24.Judg 16:24by their infirmities.

Thus shall Satans vigilancie condemne the sleepinesse, and carelessenesse of carnall Pastors.

But this is not all that may bee gathered out of this Ceremony.

1 May not this bee a stumbling blocke to the Separation, to renounce Stumbling blocke to the separation.our Assemblies, when Witches, yea the deuill and all, can Lord it therein?

2 May not this be an occasion to despise the holy Ordinances of God, the Word, Baptisme, &c. seeing they are thus prophaned by these cursed miscreants, Stumbling blocke to the Familist and Anabaptist.and so in seeking to runne from God, or rather from the deuill abusing these things, euen to runne to him, with the Anabaptist and Familist, for Reuelations and Enthusiasmes.

p. 115If now wee shall take a further view of that other ceremonie in causing his Proselite to compasse the Font, and there to Renounce her Baptisme: as heerein he entends to harden her heart the more, by this blasphemous disclaiming of the Seale of her faluation, and so to bind her more firme vntounto him; so hath he also diuers Policie in renouncing the outward scale.Fetches heerein to deceiue others.

As First, to cause Ignorant and vnstable soules, to rest in the necessitie of the outward Seale.

As 1 To feare damnation if they 1 In causing the ignorant to rest there in.want it, which gaue occasion to that blasphemous and sacrilegious intrusion of Midwiues to the performance cie of that ceremonie in a case of necessitie.

2 To presume of certainty of saluation vponupon the hauing of the Seale; as if outward Baptisme made a Christian, and nothing else, and so to open a gappe to all profanenesse.

3 And so by building saluation vponupon the outward Elements and meanes; thereby to imply an vncertainety, p. 116and fayling thereof vponupon the To build saluation vponupon visible means.want of outward meanes: As if vponupon extremitie, wee should bee enforced to deny our profession, therefore we should bee depriued of our saluation, if by persecution wee should bee driuen from the outward meanes, as the Word, Sacraments: therefore also our hope of safety were gone. And hence

4 Erecting an Anti-christian visibilitie, as if no Church; where no publicke libertie of the Meanes: That onelyonly the True Church where the Forme of Religion is kept a foote, howsoeuer the power thereof bee therein denyed.

Thus doth Satan deceiue by this Ceremonie of Renouncing Baptisme.

And doth he not also notoriously beguile vnstable soules by that other ceremonie, In causing his Proselite to confirme her subiection by venting of her bloud and offering it vp vntounto him Vse of the sacrifice of bloud.as a Sacrament of her loyalty, and entire deuotion vntounto him?

Yea surely, he may pretend hereby p. 117Thankefulnesse in the Witch that To the Witch.thinkes nothing too deere for him.

He may intend hereby the prophaning of the bloud of Christ, as if her owne bloud should seale vp her faithfulnesse and pledge her zeale to encrease his Kingdome.

He may hereby make her more desperate and greedie to shed the bloud of others in reuenge of her owne.

He may heereby prepare her by this continuall …ssue of bloud, causing paine and waste of the bodie, to hasten her owne destruction by accusing of her selfe, &c.

But his intent is also to condemne the Vse to the world of condemnation.world: That will not affoord a good word for Christ, not endure a fillip for him, much lesse insist vntounto bloud in so good a cause. As also to scorne and condemn the Manhood of the world that consists onelyonly in this, to shedde their bloud in reuenge of their owne quarrels, or for the defence of their friends, A Witch will do as much to please the deuill: A Witch will not spare her bloud in her M^r. quarrell.

p. 118And so to deceiue the world: As first Heretickes, that if they iustifie it with 2 Of deceit; 1 Heretickes.their bloud the cause is good; so say the Papists, so boasted the Ancient Heretickes.

Secondly, seeing these Witches are adored as Gods, in the hearts of godlesse people, therefore if they spare not their owne bloud, may they not be prodigall of the bloud of others? This is one ground of all that cruel murthering of infants, of friends, of enemies; yea bathing themselues in the bloud of Princes; Papists herein deceiued.They (for the most part) are prodigall of their owne bloud, yea they offer it vp willingly vntounto Satan, to preuaile by this meanes in their wicked purposes, and must they not gratifie him with continuall shedding of bloud? must they not satisfie their owne bloud by powring out the bloud of the greatest, that so thereby they may make way for Generall conuulsions, and massacres of all sorts.

Thirdly, nay who will not seeke to imitate these ghostly Fathers; nay indeed who can choose but follow them; either p. 119they will cosen and disapoint their Practise of Papists.followers, and so through discontent and despaire will driue them to Butcher themselues; or else by partaking with them in their deuilish plots, they will draw them within the compasse of Authoritie, that so their bloud may recompense their offenses.

If now for eueryevery drop of bloud which the Witch shall shed, she may gaine so many soules to the deuill, or take away life from so many others, Is not her bloud deerely bought?

Looke to this you that seeke to these Proctors for the deuill, you that betray the glory of your God in seeking helpe of Sathan: behold the Lord will giuegive you vp, and remember that which followeth.

You shall hauehave the honour to kisse Vse of kissing Satans back-parts.the deuils back-parts, and so hath the Witch: The baser and vnseemelier the homage is, the more it binds, Reason being turned vpside downe cannot iudge otherwise thereof: The more vnseemly the more it binds, as p. 120agreeable to flesh, that delights in filthinesse, it is iust with God to giuegive vp to such slauish basenesse, because his seruice being most pure and holy, is reiected. Looke vponupon Poperie the nurse of Witch-craft, most glorious in her greatest libertie to the The glorie of Popish Religion it shame.flesh, in the grossest filthynesse thereof commending horrible vncleannesse not to bee named, as if delighted in kissing Satans backe-parts: Thus doth Satan recompense his best schollers.

That we may preuent this, learne we to Regard the knowledge of God, to encrease therein, to make conscience of practise as wee know, so shall we not bee giuen vp to such monstrous wickednesse, Rom. 1. 28. 29. 30.

As for that Priuate familiaritie which Satan hath with the Witch, in Of Incubi & succumbi.conuersing with, and carnall knowledge of her body, whether this be performed really, or by some collusion, it matters not: I dare not simply deny but that Satan may hauehave this dealing with her, as being able to assume a dead bodie that is not yet corrupted, p. 121and so by his spirituall qualitie so farre to enliue the same, as that, though not by any seed therein, because it appeares that it purgeth out together with other humours, immediately vponupon the dissolution, yet by some other seed, stollen from a liuing body (to which I rather agree, because it is confessed that such seed is vsually very cold) he may pearce the body of the Witch.

And further also so affect the How Satan may hauehave carnall copulation with Witches, and of the effects thereof.same, as through the diuine iustice to procure some monstrons birth, either through mixture with the seed of the woman, or else (which I rather incline vntounto) he may by his skill, through Wind or other pestilent humours, so affect the body of the Witch as that it shall swell, and encrease, as in a True Generation, yea at the time of the birth, shall bee subiect to paine and such trauell as is vsuall to women in such case, and then in the time of the breaking open of the wombe may foist in some Infant stollen else where, or delude the eyes of p. 122the beholders with some Impe of … owne, in the shape of a child; or with some dead childe taken vp and enliued to the purpose: Which things are … sie for him to doe, thereby as to giuegive testimonie of secret acquaintance, so to deceiue the Witch with her new Darling, which likely shall bee but a babie of a day old, so to encrease withall her sorrow, and yet ease of the trouble, which is happily the desire of such monsters, that so they may be free to the satisfying of his, and their owne insatiable lusts.

This (I say) howsoeuer it may bee granted, yet I cannot see but all this may bee done, as well as others of as great consequence, euen by delusion and imagination; And yet both to one end, euen to deceiue the Witch, and Others.

Touching the Witch, she is hereby deceiued many waies: As

1 She is fed with shadowes in steed of substance, with cold and The Witch how deceiued, hereby.dead delights, in steed of reall contentment of the flesh.

p. 1232 She is put to a great deale of paine and torment in the bearing and birth: and in the issue, either some Monster or Abortiue is brought forth to encrease her sorrow, and procure Horror and Despaire.

3 This disapointment of her lust, enrageth and encreaseth the fire, and so prouoketh to further mischiefe for the satisfying thereof.

4 So is she faster bound vntounto Satan for the satisfying of her lusts; and for the gratifying of her Maister, still put vppon new mischiefes, that so at length she may make vp her measure.

Thus is the Witch deceiued by this familiaritie with Satan: And …th not this also proue a snare vntounto others? Yea surely.

This conuersing of Satan with the How others are deceiued.Witch, hath beene the ground of all these Conceits of Fairies, &c. whereby the Papists kept the ignorant in awe.

And is not the Lord robbed heereby of the glorie of his iustice, who punisheth Adulterie sometimes with p. 124strange and monstrous births, That because God robbed of the glorie of his iustice.by this familiaritie with Sat… some such monsters are eft-soone… brought forth, therefore all such effects are restrained to this cause: either some Witches brat is foisted in, &c. or else caused by Witch-craft, &c. Thus is the Lord robbed of the power of his iustice, when his immediate hand is ascribed vntounto Satan.