Modest Inquiry into the Nature of Witchcraft, Chapter 15
CHAPTER. XV.
I proceed now to ſpeak of ſome kinds of theſe Deviliſh artiſts, not by an exact diſtribution of them into their ſeveral ſpecies. For though they are diſtinguiſhed by ſeveral names and practices, yet they all agree in the general crime of Witchcraft, and being thereby as it were the Devils Prieſts and Prophets, depending upon his aid and oracles; ſo that he that is of one kind may be alſo of another, or all the reſt, according to their ſeveral ends for which, and ways by which they make their applications to the Prince of darkneſs: and as he is pleaſed to communicate of his skill or power to the anſwering of their expectations for a reward of their dependance upon him. And as of old, they had ſeveral names, as Magicians, Diviners, &c. So of late times, they have their ſeveral names, and in part ſeveral kinds of skill, or power, as Conjurers, Aſtrologers, Cunning men, Mathematicians, Witches, &c. But all of them if they have their knowledge, or skill, or working by the Devil, are in Satans black liſt of Witches. Some ſuch there have been who divine by repreſenting a perſon, or coffin, or thing ſought after in a looking glaſs, to diſcover to the perſon enquiring ſomewhat ſecret, or future. I have heard ſeveral credible Stories of ſuch Conjurers; and ſhall relate one here that I ſuppoſe was never in Print. An ancient Woman related to me, That when ſhe was a Maid, ſhe had a curioſity to know who ſhould be her Husband, and was informed of a Doctor that would ſhew Maids their future Husbands in a glaſs: To him therefore ſhe went with her Money in her hand, to know who ſhould be her Husband; and be carryed her to a great looking glaſs, where ſhe ſaw a man in his full proportion whom ſhe never ſaw before. And a while after met this man (repreſented in the glaſs) in the street, and having on the ſame Cloaths he was repreſented with from head to foot; and ſoon after he came a Suitor to her, and ſhe was Married to him, and was her Husband when ſhe made this Relation. In this relation obſerve,
1. It was no doubt a truth, for ſhe told me this in way of craving my advice, whether ſhe had done well or evil in going to the Dr. and I told her, ſhe did evil in going thereby to the Devil. 2. It was no deluſion of her phantaſie, or affection working toward any perſon; for it was one ſhe never ſaw before, that was now ſhewed unto her. 3. The Dr. could not bring into the glaſs the ſhadow of a man abſent and unknown, by any natural cauſe, or means by him uſed. Therefore it was from the Devil, who raiſed this Spectre in likeneſs of a man then unknown. 4. And the Dr. doing this frequently for his Money, muſt know he did it by a familiar Spirit, and therefore was a Conjurer in ſome league explicite, or implicite with Satan. And I have heard and read of other Stories of this kind very credible, which ſatisfy me, that this was not the only Conjurer in England. But it may be queried,
Q. How could Satan foretel this woman who ſhould be her Husband, it being then a future contingent thing?
A. In this caſe, it might be eaſy for Satan to give a very probable conjecture; for the man was a Newfoundlander that came to England for a Wife, as directed by his friends unto this young woman: And the Devil knew of his coming, he being at that time upon the Sea thitherwards, or newly come on ſhoar; and the Devil knew his errand, and the quality and conditions of both parties (as he is a diſcerning, peircing ſpirit;) and ſo knew it very probable to be a Match. And by this repreſentation in the glaſs impoſeth upon her Superſtitious, ignorance, a kind of belief of a neceſſity to accept him when he came. But in other caſes, its not ſo eaſy.
Q. Here then we may enquire, How can the Devil know things to come? Is not this Gods prerogative? Iſa 41.22, 23.
A. Its true that the Lord alone knows things to come, ſo that neither man or Angel can know future events, unleſs the Lord make them known, or afford means whereby the creature may attain to know them: Shew us things to come hereafter, that we may know that ye are Gods. Of that day and bout knoweth no man, no not the Angels of Heaven, Math. 24.30. Rev. 5.8, 4. None in heaven, or earth, or under the earth, was able to open the book (ſealed with ſeven ſeals) and to looſe the ſeales thereof. Many other Scriptures ſpeak of our ignorance of things & times to come, Prov. 27.1. Eccl. 8.7. & 6.12.
2. Yet God affordeth means whereby men, who are far leſs diſcerning than Spirits, come to know many futurities certainly, and of others probably to gueſs, ſo as generally or for the moſt part it proves according to mans foreſight. A wiſe man fore-ſeeth the evil, Prov. 22.3 & 27.12.
1. By viſions and revelations and ſuch like, ſo God revealed to Abraham and David, the conditions of their Poſterity for a great while to come, 2 Sam. 7.19.
2. The Prophecyes, promiſes & threatnings in Scripture are a ſtanding revelation of futurities, in matters religious, civil, political & natural, as the changes of ſeaſons, &c. Gen 8.22.
3. Many things are fore-known by their cauſes. As that wood thrown into the fire will be burnt, &c. And thus many Phyſitians foreſee the death of a perſon ſick of an incurable diſeaſe, when neither they nor their relations are ſenſible of it.
4 Many things are fore known by the uſual ſignes that go before them, which though they are not proper cauſes of the effects following, yet are concurrent with them. As when the Fig trees branch is tender Summer is nigh, Math. 24.32. A red skie in the evening is a ſign of a fair morning; and a red skie in the morning lowring of ſoul weather, and ſo it comes to paſs, Math. 16.1, 2, 3. Luk. 12.54, 55, 56.
5. Some things men foreſee very probable to come to paſs, becauſe themſelves or others have intended and contrived how to bring them to paſs. As Saul fore tells to Jabeſh-Gilead; They ſhall have help to morrow by that time the Sun be hot, 1 Sam. 11.9. Becauſe he intended and contrived it.
6. By obſervation & experience of the uſual events of providence, in the way of Gods governing the world; a wiſe man fore knows probably at leaſt, what will come to paſs under like circumſtances. And among men, one fore ſeeth things to come farther than another; as he excels another in prudence. As the prudent fore ſeeth, when the ſimple paſs on and are p…ſhed, Prov. 22.3. Or hath had a larger experience than another, Eccl. 8.5. A wiſe …ans heart diſcerneth time and judgment.
1. In all the above mentioned ways, except the firſt, Satan hath the ſame advantage to know future events as man hath; and many advantages above man. (1.) As he is more knowing, wiſe, and of a larger underſtanding than man. (2.) In that as a Spirit, he pierces more into the inſides and ſecrets of perſons, actions and things. He cannot know the heart of man immediately, that is Gods prerogative, Jer. 17.10. Yet ſo far as the heart diſcovers it ſelf by its operations, upon the ſenſes, external and internal, and other members of the body, Satan will find it out. (3.) By the ſwiftneſs and multitude of thoſe Legions of unclean Spirits; they are preſent in all Companies, Counſils, Cabals, and affairs of the Children of men, even with the Sons of God when they worſhip God; and with the Sons of men in all the compaſs of the earth. Job 1.6, 7. (4) They have their experiences of five thouſand years ſtanding. (5.) When they intend and contrive any deſign upon the children of men, they a…e not in danger of being prevented by death (as men often are) for Spirits cannot dye; and ſo more probably foretel the events of their own counſels. And by all the means and advantages above-ſaid, Satan can fore-ſee future contingent events much farther off than man can, and ſo foretell (the Lord ſuffering) a ſign or wonder which ſhall after come to paſs.
2. Satan hath alſo the advantage of foreknowing, and fore ſhewing future things by ſome way of divine revelation at ſome times, for the puniſhment of men. So God by ſome means (the way whereby to us unknown) lets the Devil know the death of Saul and his Sons, and reveal it to Saul for his puniſhment in going to ſeek to Satan; and ſo Satan knows the way to deſtroy Ahab, and that from God; and contrives a way to bring it about, viz. by being a lying Spirit in the mouth of Ahabs Prophets.
3. Yea, the Lord ſucceeds the diabolical divinations of the King of Babylon, to prophecy ſucceſs unto him againſt Judah, for the puniſhment of Judahs fins. Ezek. 21.18. to 25. From this place obſerve, (1.) That the King of Babylon intending War againſt Rabbath and Jeruſalem, knew not which to go firſt unto. (2.) Therefore he uſeth divination by arrows, by conſulting an Image or Teraphim, and by looking into the liver of ſome beaſts (always uſed by the heathen) ſo that if the divination favour the right hand, he will go firſt to Jeruſalem: If the left, to Rabbah. (3.) Thoſe divinations had no natural power in them to direct them, but they were means whereby they enquire of their Gods, that is the Devil. (4) The Lord ſo over rules the divination, that is the Devils Oracle by the Image, &c. that the anſwer ſhall be, Go to Jeruſalem and proſper; and accordingly he goes and proſpers. (5.) The Lord grants ſuch ſucceſs (not appointing the ſin) unto theſe devilliſh divinations for the puniſhment of his apoſtate people. But when ever the Lord pleaſeth, he diſappoints all the Devils. Ordinances. So that the Devil cannot know, or cannot diſcover to his Vaſſals what ſhall come to paſs. Iſa. 44.25. He fruſtrateth the tokens of the lyars, and maketh diviners mad, and maketh their knowledge fooliſh.
1. Then Inchantments, Sorceries, Aſtrologers, &c. ſhall not be able to ſave from evil, or to profit, Iſa. 47.12, 13, 14.
4. If all the ways above ſaid ſo fail the Devil, that he cannot foretel what ſhall be hereafter, he hath an art by the ambiguity of his anſwers, to ſalve his credit, be the event which way it will. So 1 King. 22.6. He tells Ahab; The Lord ſhall deliver it into the hand of the King; but doth not determine which King, whether of Syria, or Iſrael. So in his Oracles of old to Creſus. Creſus Halyn penetrans magnam diſperdet opum vim. Like the Sophiſm uſed againſt King Edward the Second. To ſhed King Edwards Blood refuſe to fear, I count it good. And this ſhall ſuffice to ſpeak of this kind of Divining.
2. Another ſort of Diviners are they that reveal ſecrets, as where Stollen Goods are hid, or how Perſons and Veſſels do at Sea, or in other Countries, which they pretend to know by the Stars, and Poſitions of the Heavens; but indeed by a familiar ſpirit. Theſe are by way of diſtinction called, Aſtrologers, Mathematicians, &c. Such, Iſai 47.13 are called, Heberei Shaemajim, Obſervers of the Heavens, (tranſlated Aſtrologers) And Hachotſim Bechochabim, Beholders of the Stars, or Star gazers. But whatever men pretend, the Stars cannot reveal ſuch ſecrets.
1. Suppoſe two men go to Sea in the ſame Ship, from England to Barbadoes, and one dyeth, and another liveth; they go out, continue at Sea, and come to the Iſland both of them under the ſame poſition of the Stars. How then can the Heavenly Bodies tell the Aſtrologer in England, that one man is dead, and the other alive? So Perkin and Paulet ſteal each an Horſe out of the ſame Stable, at the ſame time; Perkin carries his ſtollen Horſe to Briſtol, and Paulet carries his to Exeter, both at one time; how can the Stars direct the Mathematician to find one Horſe at Exeter, and the other in Briſtol? they cannot, but the Devil can.
2. The Stars have their regular motion continued the ſame, according to the Law God laid upon them at firſt, Pſa. 19.4, 5, 6. & 104.19. The fixed Stars continue in their orb, and the planets in theirs, whether men ſteal or be honeſt, go abroad or ſtay at home, are ſick or well. They are for ſigns and ſeaſons; but not to point out the arbitrary actions of or contingent events upon men. Mr. Lee, the …te learned Miniſter of the Goſpel in New Briſtol, related a credible Story of a Gentleman in Hartford-ſhire, Who had ſtudied the Rules of Aſtrology, and being much urged, tryed by them to find for his friend a ſtolen Horſe; but when by all the rules of his art, he could find nothing, ſat muſing with his eyes ſhut, and juſt ſuch a Horſe as the man deſcribed, was repreſented to his Imagination, going with two men into a Stable, at ſuch an Inn, in ſuch a Town: He directs the man to go thither: he did ſo, and found his Horſe, and returned to thank the artiſt The Aſtrologer told him it was the Devil ſuggeſted it to his Imagination, and thereupon reſolved never more to meddle with that art.
3. The inſufficiency of theſe rules of themſelves appear, in that thoſe that ſeek for help by theſe artiſts, muſt have a belief, that they can help them, or elſe they cannot diſcover any thing to them. But if it were by pure art, the rules would be as effectual when people come without ſuch a faith, as with it. I knew a very pious Matron, who when ſhe was young in England, had loſt ſome goods, and in her ignorance, went to a cunning man to find them. He told her he could not help her, unleſs ſhe did believe he could. She anſwered, ſhe believed in God, (or hoped in God) he could. Nay replied he, if you believe in God, I cannot help you. And ſo ſhe returned without her goods, but with a conviction that ſhe had gone to the Devil for help, and was not aware of it. Another relation like this, Mr. Sherman of Boſton told me concerning himſelf. He being in England was unawares brought into the Company of ſuch a Mathematician, to whom diverſe came and gave him Money, to tell them, how, and where their friends & veſſels were, that went over ſea. And he after he had raiſed his Scheams, and made his calculations gave them ſuch informations as they were ſatisfyed in. And at length, underſtanding Mr. Sherman was a New England man, asked, … h… would know the ſtate of his friends in New England. Sherman replyed, there were … of his Art in New-England: (Oh that it may be always ſo ſaid of us!) but he had heard of this profeſſion: it was ſaid, they could inform none that did not believe they could help them: And he did not believe. The Artiſt replyed, he did it by pure Art, and would have Sherman try him, which at laſt he did. Tell me, ſaid he, where my Father and Mother now are, and how they do. The Aſtrologer asked him many queſtions, and after he had tryed the rules of his Art, ſaid; They were both alive in good health in Boſton in New England. This is not ſo, ſaid Sherman, for they were both dead before I came thence; and I told you, that you could not help me unleſs I did believe.
Theſe two Relations agree with what Mr. Perkins urgeth againſt Judicial Aſtrologers. Chap. 3. p 80 Viz. That they cannot help thoſe that come doubting of their ability, or in a way to tempt the Aſtrologer.
3. A third ſort of theſe Diviners are ſuch as pretend to tell perſons their Fortunes (as they call it) or future Condition by looking into their hands. I have been acquainted with ſome who have acquainted me with ſtrange futurities, theſe Fortune tellers have informed them of, which after came to paſs; ſuch as man could not foretel but by the Devil, no nor the Devil, but by ſome Judicial Act of God over ruling their Predictions, as he did the divinations of Nebuchadnezzar. Ezek 21.21. above mentioned: The vanity and falſhood of the pretended Art of Chyromancy to predict by, appeareth (1) In that there is no ſuch variety of ſtrokes or marks in the hands or faces of men and women, as there be variety of conditions in mans life which they pretend to find out by theſe marks. (2) If there were any ſuch predicting Characters ſtamped by nature upon the bodies of perſons; theſe Fortune-tellers are the moſt unlikely to know them; they being generally illiterate, ignorant of nature, art, religion, reaſon, hiſtory, & experience, and ſcarce a degree above b…uit beaſts.
Let all be warned then of the great ſin and ſnare that is in hearkening to ſuch Soothſayers; the ſcope of their profeſſion being to draw men off from dependance upon God and his guiding Providence in obedience to his Scripture Commands, with faith reſting upon his promiſes, to lean upon the predictions of Fortune tellers, who whether they prophecy good or evil, enſnare thoſe exceedingly that enquire of them: for if they prophecy good, they are eagerly lifted up with doubtful expectations of its accompliſhment. If it be evil, they are hanging upon a wrack of doubtful fears and terrors which rob them of the comfort of their times of health and proſperity, contrary to the advice given them, Eccl. 2.24 & 3.12, 22. Theſe above named uſe Witchcrafts in way of divination.
4 There be a fourth ſort, whoſe exerciſe is more in operation, viz. ſuch as caſt a miſt before the eyes of others by their Witchcrafts, who are alluded unto, Gal. 3 1. by the Greek word Baſcaino quaſi phaeſi Kaino. They have their eyes ſo held or darkened, that they cannot ſee things as they are: So the falſe teachers did bemiſt the eyes of the Galatians, viz the eyes of their minds, that they could not ſee Chriſt Crucifyed before their eyes. Alike unto theſe are they who raiſe the Devil, or Spectres in divers forms, doing ſtrange things thereby. Of this ſort was Dr. Lamb the notorious Conjurer, kill…d by the Mobile in London, in Charles the firſt his Reign. Mr. Baxter of Spirits, Chap. 7 p. 155, 156. Relates a well atteſted Story of Dr. Lamb, his raiſing in the middle of a room, a Tree, little fellows, apes, baskets, &c. all which ſoon vaniſhed. I refer the Reader to Mr. Baxter, for the Story at large.
5. Another ſort are ſuch as they call white Witches; that by ſpells, charms, &c. will cure Diſeaſes, and that more eaſily than men can, and fetch fiſh bones out of mens hands, &c. (1) Note here that the Devil hath more skill in the knowledge of all healing medicines than any man: and more ability and dexterity to convey them inſenſibly unto any fore, than any mortal creature. (2.) That ſome have ſuch an ambition to excel in Phyſick, & curing variety of wounds and diſeaſes, that they will rather go to the Devil, then fail of their deſired skill and honour thereby. Many credible Hiſtories I have heard of this kind; but I ſpare to enlarge in theſe things which have been ſo fully handled by Perkins, and others.