A discourse of the subtill practises of deuilles by vvitches and sorcerers By which men are and haue bin greatly deluded: the antiquitie of them: their diuers sorts and names. With an aunswer vnto diuers friuolous reasons which some doe make to prooue that the deuils did not make those aperations in any bodily shape. By G. Gyfford.

The sharp punishment appointed in the word of God for such as worke with the deuill, and the true cause of the same, and that it is no godly zeale but furious rage, where∣with the common sort are caried against witches. Chapt. 10.

THe Lord God did by Moses appoint and prescribe penalties for the offences, and transgressions of his holy lawes. These were not all of one kind, but according to the degrée of the trespasse, was the pu∣nishmēt lesse or greater. Some sinnes are more horrible then others, and doo more prouoke the displeasure of God: vnto such he appointed the sharpest penalty (that is to say) death without mercy. Among these were such as fell into Apostasie from the law of Moses, as wee may see Hebrue. 10. vers. 28. Or such as did per∣suade

others vnto Apostasie, Deut. 23. vers. 5. The murthe∣•…•…er might not be redeemed. Numb. 35. vers. 31. The selfe same▪ seuerity is required against such as worke by the deuill, or that dealt with familiare spirites: for it is sayd, thou shalt not suffer a Witch to liue, Exod. 22. Mechashshepha by the tropesinecdo•…•…he is in this place being but one kinde, put for al that practise deuilishe arte. For it is very vaine and friuolouse to take it, that death should bee appointed, as to a murtherer with poyson. For in another place, namely Leuit. 20. vers. 27. The Lord doth take two other kindes where he appoynteth the penaltie of death. These be his words, the man or the wo∣man in whom there shall be Ob or Iiddegnoni, shall dye the death. Out of which places we may collect the true cause of this seueritie to bée in very déede the familiaritie with deuils. The deuils be the vtter enemies of GOD, which seeke by all meanes to dishonor him and to deface his glorie. How can any then vse familiaritie with them, vse their helpe, or seeke vnto them, but he committeth a monstrous enormitie, and such as deserueth a thousand deathes. Moreouer the Witch, the Con∣iurer, the Enchaunter, the Sorcerer, and the rest are the cause of foule errors and much wickednesse, much horrible abusing Gods holy and sacred name, and therefore are woorthie to dye. This being the true cause why God doth abhorre such, as it is manifest, we may easily sée the grosse error of the blind mul∣titude, in this behalfe. For they hold that witches should bee put to death, and not onely that, but are inflamed with a won∣derfull rage and fury to haue it accomplished. I call it rage & not zeale, because it is not to a right end. For if they were so zealous of it for Gods honor it were a merueilous good thing: but in déed it is not for any zeale of God y^• they be so forward, but for an other consideration. Thieues and murtherers say they be put to common deaths: how much more sharp death & tormēts are witches worthy to haue laid vpon them? But aske them why: Oh say they, the witches send their spirits and kill and lame men: they kill young infantes: they kill cattle, they •…•…aise winds & tempests, they be the very plagues of men. Here

is a false cause, for where doo we euer finde in the holy scrip∣tures, that Witches or Coniurers haue such things layd vnto their charge? I haue shewed the priuy packing which Satan vseth in this behalfe. When men are once so be witched as to thinke, who can liue in safety while witches remaine: they run with madnesse to séeke all meanes to put them to death, & not onely them, but all such as are suspected. They run to Coniu∣rers to know if they be not witches who they suspect. They examine witches to know whether their spirites haue not told them how many witches be within certaine miles of them, & who they be. The Lord doth not alow one witnesse being a man in a cause of death to be sufficient: but these would alow the accusation of one deuill if he accuse xl. persons: they thinke it a merueilouse charitable deede where there is one that hath bene suspected for witchery, to hi•…•… or entice children to accus•…•… them, to practise with some subtill maide which faineth her self to be bewitched, to get some matter of accusation. Many Iu∣rers neuer weigh the force of the euidence which is brought, but as if they had their oth for coniectures or likelihoodes, they are oftentimes very forward to finde guilty, being sicke of the same disease that the accusers be. But some man will reply & demaund why the people should not be so earnest to séeke their death & rooting out? why should it be reputed as a fault? they doo it of a good minde, & to the glory of God. In déed if it could be shewed that they doo it in regard of Gods glorie it were of a good minde & much to be commēded: but it is manifestly to be prooued that Gods glory is not regarded. For if the people did regard Gods glory, they would hate witchchraft, & shew their vehemency against it, because his dishonor is much procured thereby, as when men go for help vnto his enimy: but we sée they hate not that. But if a man or child be sick, they run vnto a witch, they hate not y^• ioyning in compact with deuils, when as they runne for help vnto them: they haue somewhat lost or stole: they doo by & by fly vnto deuils: they make account that those be good witches & do no harme. But in very déed they be as euill as other witches, for they haue felowship with deuills

which is the chiefe fault, for those dāmages which they ascribe vnto witches, are not in their hand to giue power to the deuill for to doo: Then if they did it for loue of God they would hate these also: but we sée they doo not only alow them, but make of them. God cōmandeth in his law that all that haue familier spi∣rits should be put to death, & yet I say the faithles people doo make much of them, & alow of them. Moreouer there be none more extreme haters of witches, then such as be infected with a kinde of witchcraft them selues: for what are they but wit∣ches (if a man looke well into y^• matter) which haue their night spell, and so many charmes & deuises to auoide the daungers of witchcraft, or to vnwitch? none are more furious agaynst witches then these, & such as of all others are y^• readiest to run for help vnto the deuill: therefore I may boldly affirme, that it is of a mad rage, and not of a good zeale that the most are car∣ried withall against witches: which ought to teach men wise∣dome, discreation & warines when they be for to deale in such matters, especially when as it doth concerne life or death.