A discovery of the impostures of witches and astrologers by John Brinley.

CHAP. VIII.

That besides the forementioned open and express League, there are cer∣tain practices used by Witches, which imply a Compact without any form of words.

THough the practices of those miserable Caitifs, who do, con∣ceptis verbis jurare, to fight the De∣vils Battels, be so abominable, that no man, not wholly destitute of grace, but abhors them; yet there are ano∣ther sort, not lookt upon with so much detestation, which ought to be as much detested, as lying under an equal pressure of Guilt with the former. I mean such as not being in actual League with Satan, perform such acts of Witchery, as do in a covert manner imply a League, and Homage due to their Black Master.

These are such as we usually call White Witches; a sort of Sots who being Gull'd, and having their under∣standings Debauch'd by Superstition, do evil that good may come of it, that is, use Charms, Spells and Incan∣tations (all which are of no force without the Cooperation of the De∣vil) to remove Distempers, and do certain Feats in some measure useful to Mankind, yet of pernicious con∣sequence to themselves.

It may be objected, that 'tis not probable the Devil will attend those his immediate Servants without some security, that they shall continue his. To this I answer, that they being something queasie, and not able alto∣gether to relish the open Blasphemy, and Impiety the others run into; he is contented to deal with them after another manner, and so lets them think themselves loose, whereby he holds them the closer to him. He lets them make a shew of Religion, go to Church,

hear the Word, and otherwise imploy themselves about seeming good things. And 'tis indeed a main Policy in the Mystery of iniquity, to appear in feigned Colours.

For if a man or woman delight to use Superstitious Forms of words, and think there is a secret power, and force in Herbs, Minerals, or the like; and in using them, desireth in heart to have the thing effected; the Devil (who is ready to seize his prey upon any occasion) to comply with them, seconds their Designs with success: and so there is a secret Compact, for they have desired, and he hath con∣sented, and wrought the Business too.

Therefore those that do such things are in a kind of League with the De∣vil, though ignorantly they think otherwise; and as those which in Christs name Cast out Devils, though they openly followed not Christ, yet finding success in their attempts, were

not against Christ, nor likely could speak ill of his power, by reason of their Secret and implicit Faith, and Covenant with Christ: so these kind of persons finding their practices suc∣cesful, are not against Satan, nor can lightly speak ill of his working pow∣er, because of the secret and implicit League they have with him; more especially, because of the profit, they find insuing to them thereby. And so he rests satisfied with this thought of them, that they will be surely his, because they are not against him; as also he lets them please themselves with hopes of Gods mercy. For that in thus doing, they suppose they sin not, nor are in danger of the Devil, nor under Gods wrath, as are the others, who are profest and direct Vo∣taries of the Black Saint that rules in the Children of Disobedience.