A Treatise of Witchcraft | Page 8

heathen were so sottish Idolaters, and defiled themselues with many detestable and loathsome sinnes, [c]because when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankfull, therefore God gaue them ouer to a reprobate sence, and vile affections to doe those things which were not conuenient, full of all vnrighteousnesse, _Rom 1. 24.25. &. 29_ So these being enthralled, and deuoting themselues to the Diuell by a mutuall league (either expresse or secret) he brandeth with his mark for his [d]owne, as in ancient time was an vse with Bondslaues and [e]Captiues, and these bee +ez?grêmenoi+, taken aliue in his snare, _2. Tim. 2. 26._ and that in some part of the body, least either suspected or perceiued by vs (for hee is a cunning concealer) as vnder the eye-lids, or in the palat of the mouth, or other secret places: Wherefore some Iudges cause them, once being called into question, and accused, to be shauen all the body[f] ouer. And for the manner of impression, or branding, it is after this sort. The Diuell when hee hath once made the contract betweene himselfe and the Witch, and agreed vpon the conditions, what they shall doe, the one for the other, giueth her some scratch[g], which remaineth ful of paine & anguish vntill his return againe: at which time hee doth so benumme the same, that though it be pierced with any sharpe instrument, yet is without any sence of feeling, and will not yeeld one droppe of bloud at all: a matter knowne by iust, often, and due triall.
[Footnote a: _Dan?us de sortiarijs. cap. 20_]
[Footnote b: _Iaquerius in flagello Hereticorum, cap. 18._]
[Footnote c: _Peccatum si citius p?nitendo non tergitur, iusto Iudicio omnipotens Deus obligatam peccantis mentem, etiam in culpam alteram permittit cadere, vt qui flendo & corrigendo noluit mundare quod fecit, peccatum incipiat peccato cumulare, Greg. Hom. 11. in Ezech. Augustinus lib. 83. questionum questione 97. & Aquinas 1. 2. qu?st. 79. artic. 3 & qu?st. 87. artic. 2._]
[Footnote d: _Zanchius de operibus creationis, part. 1 lib. 4. cap. 15. Dan?us de sortiarijs cap. 4. & Erastus de Lamijs._]
[Footnote e: _De hoc more Alexander ab Alexandro. Dierum genialium lib. 5. cap. 18. Suetonius in Caligula, cap. 27. Cicero de officijs lib. 2. C?lius Rhodinginus Antiquarum lectionum lib. 7. cap. 31. & olim militi? Tyrones_ +stigmatiai+ _erant & in cute signati Vegetius lib. 1. cap. 8. & 2. cap. 5. Prudentius_ +peri stephan?n+ _Hymno 10. & huius moris meminit, Ambrosius in funebri oratione pro Valentiniano._]
[Footnote f: _Et insigne exemplum apud Gildemannum de Lamijs lib. 3. cap. 10. sectione 38._]
[Footnote g: _Remigius in D?monolatria lib. 1. cap. 5._ and citeth the confession of eight seuerall persons, acknowledging both to haue receiued the marke and in what part of the body.]
And for the most part, hee bringeth these his slaues and vassailes obliged to him as his owne, to some desperate, Tragicall,[h] and disastrous end; and that either by the execution of Iustice for their demerits, or by laying violent hands vpon themselues, or else God powreth vpon them some strange and extraordinary vengeance, or their Grand-maister whom they haue serued, dispatcheth them in such manner, as they become dreadfull and terrible spectacles to the beholders, whereof Histories will furnish vs with [i]varietie and plenty of examples: For the Diuell is a murthering spirit, desirous to doe mischiefe, swelling in pride, malitious in hatred, spitefull in enuy, subtill in craft; and therefore it behoueth euery one resolutely to withstand his assaults, _Ephes. 4. 27._ and cautelously to decline his subtilties, and cunning ambushments [Sidenote: +methodeiai+] from whence he inuadeth vs, _Eph. 6. 11._[k] For this aduersary against whom we fight, is an old beaten enemy, sixe thousand yeares are fully compleat since the first time hee began to assault mankinde. But if any keepe the Commandements of God, and constantly, by a liuely faith, cleaue fast vnto Christ, he shall ouercome: for our Lord is inuincible.[l] The Diuels indeed doe willingly offer themselues to be seene of those who are not gouerned by the Holy Ghost; and that either to win themselues some estimation, or to intangle and deceiue men, vailing their treacheries vnder a smiling countenance, whom they deadly hate, for if it lay in their possibilitie, they would ouerthrow and destroy heauen it selfe. Now vnable to do this, they endeuour to worke vpon a more weake subiect and matter; and therefore hee that will not bee subdued of them, must auoid all occasions whereby he may take any aduantage, and couered with the Breast-plate of Righteousnesse, and defended with the Shield of Faith, quench all his fiery Darts. _Ephes. 6. 14._
[Footnote h: _Peucerus de pr?cipuis diuinationum generibus titulo de Magia._]
[Footnote i: _Philippus Camerarius in Historicis medicationibus part. 1. cap. 70. & 72._]
[Footnote k: _Cyprianus in pro[oe]mio libri