Therefore in this act, there is a certain power plainly proper and natural to the Witch, which belongs not to Satan. [unspec 87]
Moreover, of what nature, extent, and quality that power may be, we must more ex∣actly fift out.
In the first place, it is manifest, that it is no corporeal strength of the Male Sex; for neither doth there concurre any strong touching of the extream parts of the Body, and Witches are for the most part, feeble, impotent, and malitious Old Women: Therefore there must needs be some other power, far superiour to a corporeal attempt, yet natural to Man.
This power therefore, was to be seated in that part wherein we most nearly resemble the Image of God: And although, all things do also after some sort, represent that venerable [unspec 88] Image; Yet because Man doth most elegantly, properly, and nearly do that; therefore the Image of God in Man doth far outshine, bear rule over, and command the Images of God in all other Creatures.
For peradventure by this Prerogative, All things are put under his feet. [unspec 89]
Wherefore if God act per nutum or by a beck, namely by his Word; so ought Man to act some things only by his beck or Will, if he ought to be called his true Image: For neither [unspec 90] is that new, is that troublesome, is that proper to God alone: For Satan the most vile abject of Creatures, doth also locally move Bodies per nutum or by his beck alone, seeing he hath not extreamities or corporeal Organs, whereby to touch, move, or also to snatch a new Body to himself.
That priviledge therefore ought no less to belong to the inward Man, as he is a Spirit, if he ought to represent the Image of God, and that indeed not an idle one: if we call this [unspec 91] faculty Magical, and thou being badly instructed, art terrified at this Word, thou mayst for me, call it a spiritual strength or efficacy: For truly, we are nothing solicitous about [unspec 92] Names, I alwayes as immediately as I can, cast an eye upon the thing it self.
That Magical power therefore, is in the inward man, whether thou by this Etymology or true Word, understandest the Soul, or the vital Spirit thereof it is now indifferent to us; [unspec 93] since there is a certain proportion of the internal Man towards the external in all things, glowing or growing after its own manner, which is an appropriated disposition, and pro∣portioned property.
Wherefore this power or faculty must needs be dispersed throughout the whole Man; in the Soul indeed more vigorous, but in the Flesh and Blood, far more remiss.
The vital Spirit in the Flesh and Blood performes the office of the Soul; that is, it is that same Spirit in the outward man, which in the seed formes the whole figure, that ma∣gnificent [unspec 94] Structure, and perfect delineation of Man, and which hath known the ends of things to be done, because it contains them; and the which as President, accompanies the now framed Young, even unto the period of its Life; and the which, although it de∣part therewith, some smatch or small quantity at least thereof, remains in a Carcass slain [unspec 95] by violence, being as it were most exactly co-fermented with the same. But from a dead Carcass that was extinct of its own accord and from nature failing, as well the implant∣ed as inflowing Spirit, passed forth at once,
For which reason, Physitians divide this Spirit, into the implanted or Mumial, and in∣flowing or acquired Spirit, which departs, to wit, with the former Life. And this influxing [unspec 96] Spirit they afterwards sub-divide into the natural, vital, and animal Spirit: But we like∣wise, do here comprehend them all at once in one single Word.
The soul therefore being wholly a Spirit, could never move or stir up the vital Spirit, (being indeed corporeal) much less flesh and bones, unless a certain natural power, yet [unspec 97] Magical and Spiritual, did descend from the Soul into the Spirit and Body.
After what sort I pray, could the corporeal Spirit obey the commands of the Soul, unless there should be a command from her for moving of the Spirit and afterwards the Body?
But against this Magical motive faculty, thou wilt forthwith Object, That that power is limited within her composed Body, and her own natural Inn: Therefore although we call this Soul a Magitianess, yet it shall be only a wresting and abuse of the Name; for truly, the true, and superstitious Magick draws not its foundation from the Soul: Seeing this same Soul is not able to move alter, or excite any thing out of its own Body.
I Answer, That this Power, and that natural Magick of the Soul, which she exerciseth out of her self, by virtue of the Image of God, doth now lye hid as obscure in Man, and as it were lay asleep since the Fall or corruption of Adam, and stands in need of stirring up;