The World Bewitched, Chapter 1
CHAP. I. Of the Importance, Neceſſity, and Ʋſefulneſs of this Matter, and in what Order it ought to be treated of.
I Promiſed to undertake this Work a long time ago, and 'tis yet longer ſince I projected it: 'Tis now at laſt come to its perfection; but I am afraid to venture too much by the publiſhing of it, my own Experience in ſeveral Occaſions, and my frequent Converſing with very Rational Men, together with my particular Study, have a thouſand times afforded me the occaſion to conſider, Whether it was poſſible, that whatever the Vulgar, and the Learned ſay of Devils, and whatever they aſcribe to them, were true? I would not have ſpar'd ſo much time as to ſearch into this matter, had not I perceiv'd that the Opinions of moſt Men, and perhaps of all the World, are only grounded upon an unſure and wavering Foundation. This has moved me impartially to examine ſeveral things, which my Calling, and common Converſation offered to me. This examination forced my Mind to reject many Opinions which I had admitted at firſt, only becauſe they were common; though grounded upon inſufficient Reaſons, as I came by degrees to be ſenſible of; ſo that I find that at preſent I know much leſs than I formerly imagined to do, eſpecially as to the ſubject in hand. This, however, I do not ſay with a deſign to Cenſure, or Deſtroy, what others have Written: I only intend to joyn my Thoughts to theirs for a fuller Inſtruction of ſuch Readers as love Truth, and are enquiring after it.
Sect. 2. I am not afraid to miſtake, if I ſay, that whatever belongs to this matter has not been exhauſted. Thoſe that have written upon it before having been ſomewhat retarded by Prejudices, that ſtick to their Mind, though they had freed themſelves of many others; for I own they have proceeded ſo far as to deſtroy moſt of the works of the Devil; at leaſt ſo far as 'twas neceſſary to free Men from Superſtition and frivolous Fears: But, as for me, I would, if it were poſſible, altogether overthrow them, and not leave one Stone upon another, that ſhould not be demoliſhed. And therefore I'll try whether I can bring my Countrymen to my Opinion, eſpecially thoſe of my Profeſſion, deſiring them to read this Treatiſe with as little prejudice as I have written; and not to ſuffer themſelves to be perſuaded by other Reaſons, but such as proceed from Natural Light, from a clear Interpretation of the Holy Scripture, and from certain Experiments. I have right to require theſe Conditions from the Reader, ſince they cannot be rejected by any Rational Perſon, that they are a Law to which I ſubmit my ſelf, and that the great conſequence of the matter requires them.
Sect. 3. I am Confident, and I hope, that the Reader will more plainly perceive it hereafter, that no point of the Chriſtian Religion is more important than this; and that no certain and ſufficient proofs may be had of all the others, than by rejecting the Opinion commonly receiv'd amongſt the Vulgar, concerning the Craft and Power of the Devil. Can it be imagin'd a ſmall Matter to know whether the Devil has a Kingdom upon Earth; and what are the Limits that ſeparate his Dominions from that of God Almighty? Or is … unſerviceable to examine, whether ſuch a curſed and deteſtable Creature can do more wonderful things than God ever did; and conſequently, whether the truſt we repoſe in God, and the fear we have of the Devil, ought to be equal? Such Thoughts ought never to enter into a Chriſtian Heart; yet they creep into it unawares; at leaſt I think ſo, and can ſcarce doubt of it: for the more I ſearch into this matter the more it ſeems evident to me; that whoever entirely believes all that it uſed to be aſcrib'd to the Devils and his Angels, and all that is commonly ſaid of them, both by the Learned and the Vulgar, ſaving the bottom of the Doctrine publickly receiv'd and taught in our Church; he can have no convincing proof that JESƲS is the Meſſiah, or that there is but one God: And if in this Writing I do not make the Reader very ſenſible of it, I grant that I have compoſed it to no purpoſe.
Sect. 4. But if I ſucceed, it will at the ſame time plainly appear, that it was altogether neceſſary to publiſh this Treatiſe, becauſe the Vulgar are ſtill confirm'd in their Errors by Men of Letters, and of great Name; who, being full themſelves of thoſe prejudices, make uſe of their Tongue and Learning to lead others into the ſame Labyrinth. To that end they wreſt ſeveral Expreſſions and Hiſtories of the Holy Scripture; which being not accurately examined, nor conferr'd with others, give a great probability to the common Opinion concerning the Devil; but if taken in the ordinary Senſe, they prove evidently oppos'd to other clear Expreſſions concerning the Fundamental Articles of our Faith: It follows, that ſuch a Senſe cannot ſubſiſt without overthrowing the grounds of our Salvation; that I can hardly bear, ſince a long time the nicety with which Points of ſmall conſequence, or at leaſt of little certainty, uſe to be treated of; ſince one cannot diſcuſs them without getting into a ſuſpicion of entertaining Erroneous Opinions; whilſt, in the mean time, we are not yet agreed upon Matters of the utmoſt conſequence; or if we are agreed upon them, it 'tis without any foundation: And therefore, ſince none was ever found fault with for defending an Article of Faith, or giving out a new Explication of it; ſo I perſuade my ſelf, that I do well by publiſhing the Illuſtrations upon a matter, on which the whole Edifice of our Salvation is grounded; in order that whoever will carefully and impartially examine it, may become Wiſer and Learneder.
Sect. 5. As to what concerns this Book, I will at firſt ſet down the ſubject matter of it before the Reader. The deſign is to examine to the bottom what the Devil can do, and what he really doth; that is, How far his Knowledge extends; either in Natural or Supernatural Things. Either as to the Preſence, as it is conceal'd from Men; or as to the Future, as it is contingent, or poſſible, and not neceſſary. Moreover, what Direction or Power he has to operate in Nature, what Communication he has with Men, with the Human Soul, and with all ſorts of Bodies? That he ſhould tranſmute himſelf into them, or put on their various Forms: That he ſhould act upon the Soul, or upon the Body: That he ſhould direct Thoughts, Words, Actions, and Geſtures: What is his Power over the Beaſts and Fruits of the Earth; Over the Air and Winds: What his help may contribute to the Knowledge of Man and his Actions. Herein conſiſt Auguries, or Soothſaying, Witchcraft, the Art of Conjuring up Ghoſts, and of Divining Dreams. All which things are methodically (and in the ſame order that is mentioned here) treated of in this Book.
Sect. 6. But becauſe the perfect Knowledge of them depends upon another, viz. which is the Nature of a Spirit, wherein it conſiſts, and how it's diſtinguiſhed from that of the Body: (for Devils are undeniably Spirits, and Man is compoſed of a Body and a Spirit) ſo it will be neceſſary in this Treatiſe to proceed farther, and to examine firſt the Nature of Spirits, Good and Bad, and then that of Man. Beſides, God himſelf being a Spirit, but infinite and independent, we ought not to pay our ſelves with the conformity of the Name; but by reaſon of the manifeſt difference betwixt the Creator and the Creature, we are obliged more particularly to examine, how much the increated Spirit differs from thoſe that are created; and amongſt theſe laſt, how much thoſe that are immaterial, and thoſe that are united with a Body, differ from each other.
Sect. 7. However, ſuch a difficult piece of work cannot be undertaken, without knowing the different Opinions and Practices upon this Subject; and without ſpecial Conſiderations upon them: Now, whoever ſhall reflect upon what is ſaid and practic'd, as to this matter, through all the World, and withall upon the converſe, which Men may have with the Spirits, and the Operations that may attend them, he will undoubtedly deſire to be well informed of all theſe things, that he may diſtinguiſh betwixt the Truth and Falſhood of thoſe Opinions, and what is lawful and unlawful in thoſe Practices. For theſe Reaſons I deſcribe all the Sentiments that have been receiv'd amongſt Men, in all Ages and Places whatſoever, concerning God and the Spirits; what means Men have made uſe of to conjure them up and down; and what they may be able to operate by the help of thoſe Spirits: whence proceeds a ſufficient matter for a more particular examination of what ſound Reaſon, and the Holy Scripture teach us, as to this Point, and what experience teſtifies of it.
Sect. 8. To treat of theſe things methodically, I have divided this Treatiſe into four Books. In the firſt I propoſe the Opinions and Cuſtoms of all Nations, in all Ages, Countries, and Religions, concerning the Deity, and the good and bad Spirits. I ſay the Opinions and Cuſtoms; for in the matter we undertake to treat of, we muſt take a ſpecial notice of theſe two things; the Knowledge, and the Action; Since no Fruit can be perceived from the Knowledge, but by putting it into Practice. Beſides, we fee every where that the Behaviour of Men, either in the Words or Actions, has a relation to the Doctrines they have been taught. For this Reaſon I have again divided in two parts, the examination of what is contained in the firſt Book. In the firſt part I enquire what Knowledge may be had or Spirits, of their Power and Operations, according to Reaſon and the Holy Scripture; which Enquiry is the matter of the Second Book. In the other part, which is the ſubject of the Third Book, I examine thoſe Sciences that are ſaid to be grounded thereupon; as Witchcraft, Divination, Conjuring, and the like. Moreover, as Men uſe to have recourſe to experience, not only in things which are not diſcover'd by Reaſon, and of which the Holy Scripture is ſilent; but alſo eſpecially in this Caſe, in which Reaſon, and the Holy Writ, are made to ſpeak, according to the certainty which we ſuppoſe to have acquired by Experience: This Conſideration has furniſhed me with the matter of the Fourth Book, in which I examine all that Men teſtifie ever to have experienced in themſelves, or profeſs to have done.