A mirrour or looking-glasse both for saints and sinners held forth in about two thousand examples wherein is presented as Gods wonderful mercies to the one, so his severe judgments against the other collected out of the most classique authors both ancient and modern with some late examples observed by my self : whereunto are added the wonders of nature and the rare ... / by Sa. Clark ...

CHAP. LXXII. Examples of Gods judgments upon Witches, Conjurers, Inchanters, and Astrologers.

IT's heathenish sin, Deut. 18 10, 11, 14. Ezek. 13. 6. 23. 2 King 9. 22. Nah. 3. 4. 2 Chron. 33. 6. 2 King. 21. 6.

Forbidden, Deut. 18. 14. Jer. 27. 9. & 29. 8. & 14. 14. Ezek 12. 24. Lev. 19. 31. Mich. 5. 12. Gal 5. 20. Isai. 65. 4. & 29▪ 4.

Wicked seek to them, 1 Sam. 6. 2. 2▪ King 17. 17. Isai. 19. 3. & 47. 12, 13. Ezek. 21. 21. &c. Num. 22. 5, &c. Acts 16. 16. 1 Sam. 28. 7. Dan. 2. 2. & 4. 7. & 5. 7.

God oft befools them, Isai. 44. 25. Mich. 3. 7. Zach. 10. 2.

They should be slaine, Exod. 22. 18. Levit. 20. 27.

God punisheth such as seek to them, 1 Chron. 10. 13.

Regard not them that have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards to be defiled by them, Levit. 19. 31.

A man, or a woman that hath a familiar spirit, or that is a wizard shall surely be put to death: they shall stone them with stones: their blood shall be upon them. Levit. 20. 27.

Thou shalt not suffer a Witch to live, Exod. 22. 18.

There shall not be found amongst you any one that useth Divination, or an observer of times, or an Inchan∣ter, or a Witch, or a Charmer, or a Consulter with fa∣miliar spirits, or a Wizards, or a Necromancer▪

For all that do these things are an abomination to the Lord, Deut. 18. 10, 11, 12.

When they shall say unto you, Seek to them that have familar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and mutter: Should not a people seek unto their God? Isai. 8. 19.

Vitellius Emperour of Rome banished all Astro∣logers [ 1] out of Italy, enacting that if any remained he should presently be put to death. Suet.

Domitian the Emperour also banished all Astro∣logers [ 2] under a severe penalty, Eus. yet in his old age beving full of fears, he sent for an Astrologer, and asked him about his death; the Astrologer told him that it was near at hand, then he asked him, what he thought of himself? he told him that his destiny was, that shortly he should be torn in pie∣ces with Dogs.

Domitian to prove him a lyar, commanded him [ 3] presently to be slaine, and his body to be burnt, but while it was in burning there fell out a great tempest that quenched the fire, and so his body half unburnt was devoured by Dogs. Su••t

Constantine forbad all to ask Counsel at Witches, o•• [ 4] to use the help of Charmers, or Sorcerers upon pain of death.

Saul when he sought to the Witch at Endor, instead [ 5] of finding comfort, was told of his utter ruine, and destruction. 1 Sam. 28. 19.

Natholicus the 31^th. King of the Scots, who had [ 6] usurped the Crown, sent a trusty friend to a fa∣mous Witch to know what successe he should have in his Kingdom? and how long he should live? The Witch answered, that he should shortly be murthered, not by an enemy, but by his friend. The Messenger instantly inquired by what friend? By thy

self said the Witch. The Messenger at first abhor∣red the thought of any such villainy: but afterwards considering that it was not safe to reveal the Witches answer, and yet that it could not be con∣cealed, he resolved rather to kill the King to the content of many, then to hazard the losse of his own head: Thereupon at his return, being in secret with the King, to declare to him the Witches an∣swer, he suddenly slew him. Buc••an.

Cleomedes a great Conjurer in Rome having pra∣ctised [ 7] the death of many little children, the Parents of them at last sought revenge on him, who to shun their fury shut himself up close in a Coffer: but when they had broken it open the Divel had car∣ried away the Conjurer. Plut.

Piso being accused by Tyberius for bewitching [ 8] Germanicus to death, instead of defending himself, cut his own throat. Taci.

There was in Denmark one Otto a great Magician, [ 9] and a great Pirat who used to passe the Seas with∣out the help of a ship, or any other Vessel, and by his divellish Art to raise stormes, and drown his enemies; but at last being overmatched by one that was more expert in that Art then himself; he was by him drowned in the Seas. Olaus Mag.

There was a Conjurer in Saltzburg, who attempt∣ed [ 10] to gather together all the Serpents there abouts into a Ditch, and to feed them there: but as he was practising of it, the old Serpent the Divel drew him into the Ditch amongst them, where he perish∣ed miserably.

The Governour of Mascon, a great Magician, as [ 11] he was at dinner with some company, was snatched away by the Divel, hoisted up into the air, and car∣ried three times about the Town to the great asto∣nishment

of the inhabitants to whom he cried for help, but all in vain. Hugo de Cluni.

Anno Christi 1437. in the reign of Charles the 7^th. [ 12] King of France, Sr. Giles of Britane, high-Constable of France, was a wicked Magician, having murther∣ed above 160. Infants, and women great with child, with whose blood he wrote Books full of horrible Conjurations, which being proved against him, he was adjudged to be hanged, and burned to death, which was accordingly executed.

Picus Mirandula writes that in his time a great [ 13] Conjurer promised a certain Prince that he would present to him the Siege of Troy, with Hector, and Achilles fighting together as when they were alive; But as he was about his Conjurations the Divel carried him away that he was never heard of after.

The Lord of Orue in Lorraine when Noble-men, [ 14] or Gentle-men came to visit him, used (as they thought) to serve them very honourbly with all sorts of daintie dishes, and viands, but when they de∣parted they found their stomachs empty, having eaten nothing. On a time a Lords servant going from thence having forgotten some thing behind him, went back, and suddenly entering the Hall found a Munkie beating the Lord of the house that had feasted them: others reported that he hath been seen through the chink of a door lying on his belly along upon a Table, and a Munkie scourging him very strongly, to whom he would say, Let me al ne▪ wilt thou alwayes thus torment me? at last he fell into so great misery, and beggery that he was fain to get into an Hospital in Paris, where he ended his wrethed life.

Anno Christi 1530. there was in Nu••••mburg a [ 15]

Popish Priest that studied the black Art, who co∣veting riches, the Divel shewed him through a Cristal, treasures hidden in a part of the City: Thither therefore did the Priest go with another companion, and having digged an hollow pit, he perceived in the bottom a Coffer with a great black Dog lying by it, which whilest he beheld, the earth fell upon him, and crushed him to death. Wierus.

Cornelius Agrippa was a great Necromancer, and [ 16] was alwayes accompanied with a familiar spirit in the shape of a black Dog: But when his end ap∣proached, he took off the Inchanted choller from the Dogs neck, saying, Get thee hence thou cursed beast, which hast utterly destroyed me: After which the Dog was never seen: and he died a mi∣serable death. P. Jovius.

Zoroastres King of Bactria, a great Astrologer [ 17] and Magician was burned to death by the Divel. Theat.

Anno Christi 1578. one Simon Pembrook of St. [ 18] Georges Parish in London was suspected to be a Con∣jurer, and used to erect figures, for which he was called in question; but whilest he was before the Judge he fell down and died, having some Conju∣ring Books found about him.

Julian the Apostate sending to Delphos to enquire [ 19] of the Divel the successe of his Parthian War: whilest his Ambassadors were there, fire came down from heaven, and destroyed Apollos Temple, and beat his Image all to pieces, like to the lightest, and smallest powder or dust.

Mr. Tindal being present in a roome where a Con∣jurer [ 20] was, hindred him that he could not play his pranks. A Saints presence may hinder Satans elbow∣roome from doing his tricks: See Tindals Life in my

first Part: And the Like of Athanasius in his Life in the same Book.