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

CHAP. II. (Book 2)

That God's hand is in all Crosses, who Ruleth over Devils and all their Instruments. (Book 2)

THe want of due consideration of the first and leading Cause, from whence all Crosses and afflictions proceed, has not only been the occa∣sion of many mens betaking them∣selves to unlawful Remedies, but even of doubting either the Existence, or Providence of the Deity. To see wicked men advanced to the greatest Honours, enjoy the most splendid Fortunes, and continue in the firmest health, and strength of body, and vigor of mind; while others of the most temperate dispositions, most ho∣ly habits, and most constant Pieties, labour under the greatest Crosses, and Misfortunes imaginable, has startled

the belief of many wise and good men. At this block the ingenious Poet Clau∣dian confesses that he stumbled.

Sed cum Res hominum tantá caligine volvi Adspicerem; laetos{que} diu florere no∣centes, Vexari{que} pios, rursus labefacta ca∣debat Religio.

But when I saw things so confus'd∣ly hurl'd, And strangely tost in this our lower world, The wicked flourish, and the pious quail, My tottering belief began to fail.

There is no need to multiply exam∣ples of this kind; tis the common Fate of man to fall into these doubts. The example of the holy David may serve for all, whose foot had well nigh slipt

upon the like consideration.

But if we shall enquire into the Holy Scriptures, we shall find that Afflictions come not but by the ap∣pointment or permission of God, who governs and disposeth all things as seemeth best to his Godly wisdom, and so as that the events of all things may contribute most to his own glory, and suit best with the happiness of his Saints. We are assured in Iob, that Afflictions come not out of the dust. Iob. 5. 6. The evil (of punishment) is from the Lord. Amos. 3. 6.

☞ So the Lord smote all the first∣born of man and beast in Egypt, Exod. 21. 29. So did he Iehoram the son of Iehosophat with an incurable disease, till his bowels fell out. 2 Chron. 21. 18, 19. And so it was the hand of God, that turned the Pride of Nebuchadnezzar into madness and brutishness. Dan. 4. 31. And it was the Angel of God that smote Herod, causing worms to eat him to death. Acts. 12. 23. And all

the Magicians and Sorcerers in the world, nay, nor all the power of Hell could never have relieved these. It was only in the power of him that sent these punishments, to have removed them.

'Tis true indeed, God sometimes sends out the evil Spirits, as the exe∣cutioners of his Justice, as he did a∣mong the Egyptians. Psal. 78. 49. and so did he send an evil Spirit upon Saul to vex him, 1 Sam. 16. 15. But when he does send out these Instru∣ments of his displeasure, they have their Commissions and Orders, beyond which they cannot go. The Devils could not enter so much as into the Swine of the filthy Gadarenes, with∣out the leave of Christ. Mat. 8. 31. The Witches and Sorcerers acknow∣ledge their limits. It is not all per∣sons, that they can pretend to hurt. Lipsius well observes Physiolog. Stoicor. lib. 1. Cap. 17. that neither Magi∣cians, nor Devils themselves can take away Gold or Letters out of mine, or

Crassus's Chest, & Clientelis suis lar∣giri. For they are base, poor, contem∣ptible fellows for the most part. Bo∣dinus also. Daemon. lib. 3. cap. 3. Notes that they can do nothing (in Iudicum decreta aut poenas, in Regum concilia, vel arcana, nihil in rem num∣mariam aut thesauros, They cannot give money to their Clients, alter Judges Decrees, or Councils of Kings: these Minuti Genij cannot do it. Al∣tiores Genij hoc sibi asservarunt, the higher powers reserve these things to themselves. Now and then peradven∣ture there may be more famous and powerful Magicians, such were Simon Magus, Apollonius Tyaneus, Pasetes, Iamblicus, Odo de Stellis, that for a time can build Castles in the air, repre∣sent Armies, and perform very strange Feats; but all these end in nothing, but the power of God protects those that fear him from their Malevolence, and destroys all these Phantasms, bringing their wicked works and

the Authors of them to inevitable ru∣in. So it fared with that great ene∣my of the Christian Faith Simon Ma∣gus, who when he had been several times bafled by Saint Peter, at last, to give further demonstration of his great power, ascended the Capitol, giving out to the people, that he would fly up to Heaven from whence he came, and accordingly began his flight; up∣on which Saint Peter besought God, that he would not suffer the world to be deluded by his Sorceries; and forth∣with the wicked wretch fell down, and in his fall put an end at once to his delusions and his life. So soon can God bring to destruction all those that work wickedness. Wherefore he on∣ly is to be sought after, in all our Ca∣lamities and Afflictions; for he alone can remove them, and will do it, when he sees it most for his glory, and the everlasting welfare of our Souls.

☞ It is the greatest folly imagi∣nable upon every Affliction, to run

forthwith to the Devil, or any of his Instruments: for it is not his will that we should be cured of any of our Ma∣ladies. He rather glories in deceiving us, and bringing us into all kind of misery, both temporal and eternal. Besides he can neither do us good nor harm, but by Godspermission, and there∣fore all good men have ever acknow∣ledged, that whatever befel them, was the hand of God, yea, even when they have known, that the most Devilish instruments have been imployed against them. Thus Iob concludes, The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away. Iob. 1. 21. Histerrors he called the terrors of the Lord C. 6. 4. And he said also, that God scared him with dreams, and terrified him with visions. C. 7. 14. He therefore, from whom all things have their being, their life, and their motion is to be Supplicated, either to remove our Cross, or so Sanctifie it to us, as that it may turn to our health and Salvation.

Passionate people will not be con∣tent to wait the Lords leasure, and so grow impatient and furious under the Chastisements of the Lord, and are brought to destruction. So fared it with Iehoram the son of Iesabel, who though he knew the Lords hand was upon him, and his people; yet was he so impatient to endure the misery, and so Hellishly enraged, that he Swore to take away the life of the Prophet Eli. 2K. 6. 31, 33. But the end of this man was a short life, a troublesom Reign, & a violent death, for he was trod to death by the people in the gate, as the Prophet had foretold. 2 Kings. 7. 17. But it fell out much otherwise with the patience of Iob, who never murmured at any of Gods dispensations towards him, but contented himself with all occurren∣ces, and humbly submitted to the se∣verest Chastisements. Him therefore did God deliver from all his troubles, and doubled his Blessings and his Re∣wards upon, and made his end glorious

and happy. The same Method of de∣portment is observable in Saint Paul, who when the messenger of Satan was sent to Buffet him, betook himself to Prayer, and had deliverance.

I shall proceed no further in Instan∣ces, to shew that God alone has the power to help us in all our needs, and likewise such a Dominion over all crea∣tures both good and bad, that without his permission and assistance they can do nothing. I only shall mention that remarkable passage of Balaam, whom Balac did imagine to have been endu∣ed with such a power, as that he could Bless, or Curse whosoever he pleased. But the Prophet assures him, that though he would give him his house∣ful of Silver and Gold, he could not go beyond the Word of the Lord, to do more or less. Num. 12. 18. There∣fore let no man think it lies in the power of Inchanters, Witches, or any of their Associates or Assistants, the Divels, to cure those whom the Lord

hath smitten, or to hurt any person, whom the Lord is pleased to Bless.