The True Christians T est, Part 1 · Meditation 96
MEDITAT. XCVI. Of Interpretative Witchcraft.
BEſides this groſs and formal Witchcraft, there is another ſort not ſo groſs and palpable, which yet denominates men Allies to the God of this World.
There are amongſt men Allies by Covenants, Articles, and Formal Ratification: And there are alſo Allies by Kindneſs, Conjunctneſs of Intereſt, and Faithful Correſpondence. So it is here: There are many that keep Correſpondence with the evil Spirit, that have not articled with him, or deliver'd themſelves up to him by a Formal Covenant.
I dare not poſitively conclude, That the Spirit of Prophecy has quite forſaken the World: But I apprehend there is not much need of it, ſince the perfecting of the Canon of the Scripture. I ſuppoſe it is very rare, (if it be at all) and that it only reſts upon pure and holy minds, and upon very weighty occaſions.
Whether the Skilful may Aſtrologically or Chiromantically gueſs at the future ſtate of Nations or Perſons, has been diſputed often amongſt Learned men: And for my part, I do not ſee ſuch convincing Arguments on either part, as to adventure to interpoſe.
I do believe that the Devil can tell many things, which we cannot, and that he is very officous to them that conſult him: But withal I think that no man ought to conſult him, though it were in an important Caſe, ſuch as King Saul's was. For he is the grand Apoſtate and Rebel againſt God: And the Loyal Subjects of the Almighty commit a kind of Treaſon, to keep any Correſpondence with the Wicked One.
Beſides, it is wonderful unſafe to be ſo great with him: for his Dona, are Hamata; and his very gratification of our Curioſity, only ſerves to a further and pernicious acquaintance. It is not likely he will comnunicate his skill for nothing, nor his ſecrets, without a further ſecret deſign of making his Clients to be his Votaries.
Beſides, it is imprudent: For his ſworn Enmity againſt Man is ſuch, that no man can be aſſured but he will deceive him. He will be true to his Clients in one thing, that he may deceive them in many: Nay, by his ambiguous Nature, he often deceives, even in ſpeaking the Truth.
As for Necromancy, I confeſs I know not what Converſe ſeparate Souls do hold with the embodied; neither know I whether it pleaſes God at any time to ſend any of them, or faſter them to come amongſt us upon any Errand of his, or of their own. But I believe it is out of the power of the Devil to diſturb, or employ and bleſſed Souls upon his Errand. And if by his intereſt one might come to an acquaintance with ſome of the other ſort, it were unwarrantable and unſafe, and indeed ſuperfluous too; for what need he be employ'd to fetch another perſon to tell a thing, which himſelf can tell better?
But beſides all theſe, there are ordinarily a ſort of bold People, that conſult the Devil blind folded, and are kind of Conjurers, and do not know it. Such (at leaſt) I take all the Augures and Aruſpices, and Prieſtly Perſons of old to have been, who conſulted the Intrails of Beaſts, the Flying of Birds, and the like thereby to know future comingent Events. And amongſt our ſelves there are many that uſe Rites and Ceremonies, Words and Phraſes, of which no rational account can be given, which nothing in the Scripture-Divinity does direct. I confeſs if God do propound or direct a thing of which we can give no Philoſophical account, yet it in to be believed. If the true Prophet, whoſe … was well known, bade, Go and waſh in Jordan; if Chriſt dreſt the Eyes of the blind Man with Mortar, it is not to be wondred at nor disbelieved: But when we have no Divine Authority, nor can give any Philoſophical Account, it is very ſuſpicable and hazardous.
It is obſerved by ſome, That the Devil loves to be believed at a venture, ſuch is his Pride: And that he loves to be worſhiped in the dark, his beſt Servants being they that do his Will without inquiring into the reaſon of his Commands: whereas God loves to be converſt with in a way of light and underſtanding.
And that the Devil ſhould give life and operation, and ſignification to his own Inſtitutions, and be vertually preſent by his influences, to deceive the Simple, or gratifie the Curious, needs not to be wondered at. Many Stories tell how fain he would be reputed a God, as we have partly ſeen before; and therefore he courts the implicite Faith of men, and their blind Obedience.
Aaron caſt the Ear-rings into the Fire, and there came out this Calf. How far the Devil might aſſiſt in this Action, I cannot tell; but it is eaſie to believe he does aſſiſt in the curious Inquiries, and unwary Attempts of Aſtrological men, and others, and enables them by his unſeen hand to predict and perform many things, which yet they never give him Thanks for; but either aſcribe to ſome falſe natural Cauſe, or wonder at, as a ſtupendious ſecret, of which no account can be given.
The merciful Jeſus apprehended little Zacheus climbing up into the Tree, out of meer Curioſity to ſee him, and brought ſalvation to him. The Cruel Apollyon is courteous alſo, to gratifie the Curioſity of vain men, and meet them half the way, and go home with them too: but it is not to bring ſalvation to them, but them to damnation.
Bleſſed God, Heal me of all Licentiouſneſs and Unſubduedneſs of Underſtanding! Cloath me with Humility, that I may be wiſe according to what is written; both on this ſide Heaven, and on this ſide Hell: lest by over-daring on the one hand, I provoke thee to blind me; or on the other hand, tempt the Devil to enlighten me. And as I am a reaſonable Creature, ſo grant that I may always act rationally; not ſmothering the Candle of the Lord ſet up in my Soul, not quitting the guidance of it to be led in ways of darkneſs, and blind mazes, wherein I can neither walk with ſafety nor ſatisfaction!
O my Soul, Put not out thine eyes, lest thy grand Enemy catch thee, (as they caught Sampſon of old) and make ſport with thee, yea, make a Drudge of thee to grind in his Mill. Go no further in thy Inquiries or Experiments, than thou canst feel firm ground to ſet thy foot upon, than th… canst diſcern thy way, lest in thy unwary and licentious Ramblings, thou be ſpirited, as many ſilly Children are; caught up and defiled, as it hapned to the Daughter of Jacob, who was first unwary, then unchaſte.