CHAP. I.
Of witchmongers opinions concerning evil spirits, how they frame themselves in more excellent sort than God made us.
* 1.1IAmes Sprenger and Henry Institor, in M. Mal. agreeing with Bodin, Barth▪ Spineus, Danaeus, Erastus, Hemingius, and the rest, do make a bawdy discourse; labouring to prove by a foolish kind of philosophie; that evill spi∣rits cannot onely take earthly formes and shapes of men; but also counterfeit hearing, seeing, &c. and likewise, that they can eat and devour meats, and also retaine, digest, and avoid the same; and finally, use diverse kinds of activities, but specially excell in the use and art of venery. For M. Ma•• saith,* 1.2 that the eyes and eares of the mind are farre more subtill than bo∣dily eyes or carnall eares. Yea it is there affirmed, that as they take bodies, and the likenesse of members; so they take minds and simili∣tudes of their operations. But by the way, I would have them answe••••ed this question. Our minds and soules are spirituall things. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 our corporall ears be stopped, what can they hear or conceive of any e••ternall wisdome? And truly, a man of such a constitution of body, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 they imagine of these spirits, which make themselves, &c. were of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 more excellent substance, &c. than the bodies of them that God made in paradise; and so the devils workman-ship should exceed the hand•• work of God the father and Creator of all things.