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CHAP. VI.
A further confutation of witches miraculous land omnipotent power, by invincible reasons and authorities, with disswasions from such fond credulity.
IF witches could do any such miraculous things, as these and other which are imputed to them, they might do them againe and againe, at any time or place, or at any mans desire: for the devill is as strong at one time as at another, as busy by day as by night, and ready enough to do all mischief, and careth not whom he abuseth. And insomuch as it is confessed, by the most part of witch-mongers themselves, that he knoweth not the cogitation of mans heart, he should (me thinks) some∣times appear, unto honest and credible persons, in such grosse and cor∣porall forme, as it is said he doth unto witches: which you shall never heare to be justified by one sufficient witnesse. For the devill indeed entreth into the mind, and that way seeketh mans confusion.
The art alwaies presupposeth the power; so as, if they say they can do this or that, they must shew how and by what meanes they do it; as neither the witches, nor the witch-mongers are able to do. For to eve∣ry action is required the faculty and ability of the agent or doer; the aptnes of the patient or subject; and a convenient and possible applica∣tion. Now the witches are mortall, and their power dependeth upon the analogy and consonancy of their minds and bodies; but with their minds they can but will and understand; and with their bodyes they can do no more, but as the bounds and ends of terrene sense will suffer: and therefore their power extended not to do such miracles, as surmount∣eth their own sense, and the understanding of others which are wiser than they; so as here wanteth the vertue and power of the efficient. And in reason, there can be no more vertue in the thing caused, than in the cause, or that which proceedeth of or from the benefit of the cause. And we see;* 1.1 that ignorant and impotent women, or witches, are the causes of incantations and charmes; wherein we shall perceive there is none ef∣fect, if we will credit our own experience and sense unabused, the rules of phylosophy, or the word of God. For alas! What an unapt instru∣ment is a toothles,* 1.2 old, impotent, and unweildy woman to flie in the aire; Truely, the devill little needs such instruments to bring his pur∣poses to passe.
It is strange, that we should suppose, that such persons can worke such feates: and it is more strange, that we will imagine that to be possible to be done by a witch, which to nature and sense is impossible; specially when our neighbours life dependeth upon our credulity therein; and when we may see the defect of ability, which alwaies is an impediment both to the act, and also to the presumption thereof. And because there is nothing possible in law, that in nature is impossible; therefore the judge doth not attend or regard what the accused man saith; or yet would