A Treatise of Witchcraft | Page 4

artes_ +pros ap..ên eleein?n anthr?p?n t?n rhadi?s hupokleptomen?n eis tauta hupo tou diabolou.+ _affirmat Cedrenus in histori? compendio._]
[Footnote e: _Probationes ex quibus legitim[~u] est Iudicia fieri, tres necessari? planè dici & indubitat? possunt 1a veritas notorij & permanentia facti. 2a confessio voluntaria eius qui reus factus est, atque peractus. 3a certorum testium firmorumque testimonium: his & 4a addi potest violent? pr?sumptiones de Rodinus de D[e,]monomania lib. 4. cap. 2.3.4._]
[Footnote f: The Oracles of the Pagans in all places of the world, wh[~e] CHRIST was borne, were silenced, and the Diuell became mute: so that _Augustus C[e,]sar_ demanding of Apollo by his messengers, sent to Delphos, had this answer returned, +pais hebraios keletai+ &c. in sence thus much, _An Hebrue Childe commandeth me to leaue this place, and returne againe to hell._ From hence therefore you must depart from our Altars, without resolution of any questions propounded. _Eusebius de pr?paratione Euangelica, lib. 5. cap. 8. Theodoretus de Gr?corum affectionum curatione qui est de oraculis +meta tên tou s?têros hêm?n epiphaneian apedrasan hoi tênde tên exapatên tois anthr?pois prospherontes+, Vide & Suidam in Augusto, & Athanasium de incarnatione verbi._]
[Footnote g: _De hac ligatione & solutione Diaboli plenissimè August. de Ciuitate Dei, lib. 20 cap. 8._]

_The first Proposition._
It is a _Qu?re_, though needlesse, whether there be any Witches: for they[a] haue some Proctors who plead a nullitie in this case, perswade themselues, and would induce others to be of the same minde, that there be no Witches at all: but a sort of melancholique, aged, and ignorant Women, deluded in their imagination; and acknowledge such things to be effected by them, which are vnpossible, vnlikely, and they neuer did; and therefore Magistrates who inflict any punishment vpon them, be vnmercifull and cruell Butchers. Yet by the way, and their good leaue, who take vpon them this Apology, all who are conuented vpon these vnlawfull action, are not strucken in yeares; but some euen in the flower of their youth be nuzled vp in the same, and convicted to be practisers thereof; neither be they ouerflowed with a blacke melancholique humor, dazeling the phantasie, but haue their vnderstandings cleere, and wits as quicke as other: Neither yet be they all women, though for the most part that sexe be inclinable thereunto: (as shall afterward be shewed, and the causes thereof) but men also on whose behalfe no exception can be laid, why any should demurre either of their offence or punishment for the same. Wherefore for this point, and confirmation of the affirmatiue, wee haue sundry pregnant and euident proofes.
[Footnote a: _Wierus de magor[~u] infamium p[oe]nis lib 6. cap. 17.18 19 20 21 22 23 24 &. 27. & de Lamijs lib 3. cap 7. & de lamiarum impotentia._ But this position commeth from another as dangerous, euen Infidelity denying that there be any Diuel, but in opinion; which was the doctrine of Aristotle, and the Peripatetique Philpsophers. _Pomponatius de incarnationibus Binfeldius de confessionibus maleficorum_]
First testimonies Diuine and Humane: Diuine of God himselfe in his word,[b] left for our instruction in all dogmaticall truth, reproofe and confutation of falshood in opinions, correction for the reforming of misdemeaners in conuersation, doctrine for the guidance of euery estate Politicall, Ecclesiasticall, Oeconomicall. _2. Timoth. 3. 16._ Therefore expressely, _Thou shalt not suffer a Witch, to liue, Exod. 22. 18._[c] but to bee executed in the same day wherein she is conuicted, and this was a custome obserued by the ancient Fathers. And _Deuteronomy 18. 10.11._ there is a blacke Bill set downe[d], and registred of sundry kinds of these slaues of Sathan, all condemned, and God addeth in the same place the reasons of this his seuere and sharpe iudgement against them. First, because they are an abhomination vnto him. Secondly, he determineth vtterly to destroy all such, and giueth his people the Israelites an example thereof in the Canaanites, whom their Land spewed out. Thirdly, for that he requireth all who belong vnto him, to be pure, vndefiled and holy, not stained with impieties, for they are bound vnto him by couenant in obedience. Fourthly such were the Heathen, strangers from God, blinded in their dark vnderstanding, without sauing knowledge, with whom the Israelites, a chosen and peculiar nation, enioying his lawes and statutes, must haue no familiarity. Further, the woman of Endor acknowledgeth herselfe to be one of the rank. _1. Sam. 28. 9_. And Iesabel, mother of Iehoram, is in plaine tearmes stiled a Witch. _2. King. 9. 22._ who is [e]supposed to haue brought this Art, and the Professors thereof into Samaria, which there continued for the space of sixe hundred yeares. Insomuch that it was rife in common speech, when any would reproach another, to doe the same in this forme; _Thou art a Samaritan, and hast a Diuell_ (a familiar spirit)