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

CHAP. I.

That most men are naturally inclin'd to Superstition, especially the igno∣rant sort.

AN Owl, an Hare, and an Old-wo∣man, was Ancient∣ly the Emblem of Superstition; and truly if we shall di∣ligently search into the Causes of this Error, we shall find that Ignorance, and Dotage, vain hopes, and foolish fears, groundless expectations, and casual events have been the Springs from whence this folly proceeds, which is the Mother of all these Omens and Prognostica∣tions. It is an Ancient observation,

Primus in orbe Deos timor fecit, that fear Deified the first gods, and with∣out doubt there is much truth in the Assertion.

For though the Idea of one true God, and first Principle of all things, was at first Imprinted upon the Soul of man; yet the fears of after Ages Canonized the multitude of false gods. It was a Storm, and an Eclips, that Consecrated Romulus; and Iove him∣self had not been Master of heaven, or worshipped upon earth, had not the terrors of his Thunders advanced the conceit of his Divinity amongst the ignorant, and fearful multitude. Hence Aulus Gellius observes in Noct. Att. l. 5. c. 12. That he was not on∣ly worshipped as a Iuvans Pater, a friend and helper of Mankind, but as a Vejovis and hurtful Deity; and there∣fore his image was placed in a Tem∣ple near the Capitol-with darts in his hand, to signifie his hurtful power; and therefore for this reason, Virgil

in his Georgics is thought to depre∣cate these unlucky gods.

In tenui labor, at tenuis non gloria, si quem. Numina laeva sinunt, audit{que} voca∣tus Apollo.

Upon the like grounds the rest of the Stars, and Planets came to be reckoned amongst the gods. For the ignorance of vulgar apprehensions, conceiting that it lay in their own powers to disperse what influences they themselves pleased, were not on∣ly fearful to offend these new Deities, which themselves had created; but also took great care to win and please, lest they should send forth such Malevo∣lent Emissions of their fury, as might be to the prejudice of Mankind, or at least the ruin of those who neglected their worship. Hence also has it come to pass, that the Devil himself has had his Votaries, and hath still

his devoutest worshippers; and the cause of this has not only been envy, or desire of Revenge, which prompts men sometimes to the most wicked and unlawful practises; but even cowardly and melancholly apprehen∣sions. And this is evident, first, in that the most ignorant and Narrow∣sould people are most often seduced by evil Spirits, or by the weakness of their own imaginations, to practise unlawful or unnecessary, and fruitless Arts. And secondly, in that all Witches and Necromancers in their Spells, and most solemn Invocation of Devils, have this, or the like Form. viz. Whereas thy Servant N. is unworthy to crave the help or assistance of Good Angels, give leave to the Daemons, &c. to come to my Aid. And yet these sort of abused people have as many Followers as the greatest Divines, while the ignorant multitude in all Misfortunes, Crosses and Afflictions, forthwith make their Applications to

them as the most ready help.

If the man be sick, where shall he have his Physick, but from one that fetches it from behind the Curtain? If he lie under any Misfortune, he pre∣sently betakes himself to some Fortune-teller or Conjurer. If the Cattel be sick, the White-Witch is presently sent for to bless it.

I shall therefore make it my business to undeceive the people, and to shew them that it is altogether unlawful to have recourse to such men, who pra∣ctise unlawful Arts; that in all Trials, Crosses, and Afflictions whatever, God alone is to be sought after, who suffers us sometimes to fall into grie∣vous troubles, that we may the more devoutly call upon him.