Select Cases Conscience Touching Witches and Witchcrafts, Question 3
3. Caſe. Whether there be not ſundry degrees of Witches and Witchcrafts to be conſidered?
ORiginall ſin indeed (being one & alike in all) admits of no variety of degrees in any. But witchcraft is an actuall, & therefore none are borne, all are made Witches. Talk they what they can of an Incubus, the Divell and the Witch produce not to witch-craft by Generation but ſeducement. Moreover, when by witchcraft one growes ſo high as the ſin againſt the holy Ghoſt, ther's now no further meaſure (ſave in numericall Acts) for one Witch to exceed another. Otherwiſe there's no ſinne (taken indefinitely) but may admit of ſeverall Meaſures, and ſo (to every mans conſideration) highten or leſſen the guilt or poenalty to that ſubject in which it inheres.
It is worthy to be conſcionably waighed; that in witchcraft there is an Inchoation, as well as a Conſūmation. 1. The Inchoation or diſpoſition to witch-craft is in ſuperſtition. The Fathers, and Schoolmen therefore are not much amiſſe in defining witch-craft by ſuperſtition: Making this to be the Genus, and gathering the other in all the ſpecies under it, ſo that no kind of Witchcraft may be named, which is not found upon ſuperſtition, and works not by it. Becauſe in this main Act, ſuperſtition and Witch-craft both agree; to apply the Creature as means unto thoſe ends and uſes; unto which it is neither apt by its own nature, nor thereunto ordained by divine Inſtitution. Only theſe two differ in degrees; for ſuperſtition is witchcraft begun, and witch-craft is ſuperſtition finiſhed. Wherefore now, ſince Superſtitions are the ſeedes of witch-crafts; and we all have in us the ſeeds of ſuperſtitions; how ought we then to take heede of nouriſhing ſuperſtitions; and thoſe eſpecially that bend & diſpoſe to witch-craft? which are indeed too much to be obſerved in the Obſervations, Traditions, Opinions, Affections, Profeſſions, Proverbs, Practiſes, Occupations, and Converſations of the Vulgar. Lord! how many are the ſorcerous ſuperſtitions of the Many? As they are too too notorious; in obſerving of ſeaſons for lucky or unlucky; in foretelling of Fortunes and deſtinies; in marking of Contingences and Caſualties; in caſting of Lots; in regarding of dreams; in making of meales, in uſing of ſports, in ſecuring of feares, in promoting of hopes, in curing of diſeaſes, in making of Marriages, in taking of Journeys; and the like: All which (in truth) are grand ſuperſtitions, or petty kinds of witchcrafts. Yet are not to bee neglected neither: for without Gods good Grace, and great merciemercy, they eaſily grow to a higher meaſure or degree of that kind of malignity. 2. The Conſummation and Completion of witch-craft, is in the Witches abſolute Pact, and reall Fact, whereby it is covenanted & conſented to work, not by God, not by nature; not by Art, not by reaſon; but by diabolicall deluſions alone.
Likewiſe of reall and abſolute Witches, there are ſeveral degrees to bee conſidered according to ſeverall kindes of them. As the good Witch is to bee judged and eſteemed worſe then the bad; the Idolatrouſly pacted, worſe then the Cunningly Arted, the pernitiouſly operative, worſe then the fondly ſpeculative: the miſchievouſly Active, worſe then the abuſed Paſſive. For if among very Divels one may be found worſe then another, Lu. 11. 26. how much more among Witches? nay even among Witches of the ſame kind, there are alſo conſiderable degrees or aggravations to guide a Conſcience, either as touching private Eſtimation, or publike Cenſure, viz. 1. From the Time, as the inveterate Witch is to bee thought worſe then the Novice. 2. Place, As a Witch at Court, is worſe then a Witch in the Countrey, and a Witch in the Church worſe then a Witch in her own Cell. 3. Sexe, As the Male witch is worſe then the Female. For though ſhe may be more envious and malicious; yet he has abuſed the Abler and Nobler Sexe. 4. Degree or Quality, as Jezabel was worſe then the Witch of Endor. 5. Profeſſion, As the Chriſtian Witch is worſe then the Pagan. 6. Office, As the Clericall is worſe then the Layicke Witch. 7. Object, As to practiſe witch-craft on Men is worſe then if on Beaſts only. 8. Malicious intent, As to have made one Witch, is worſe then to have bewitched many.