The discovery of witchcraft proving that the compacts and contracts of witches with devils and all infernal spirits or familiars are but erroneous novelties and imaginary conceptions : also discovering, how far their power extendeth in killing, tormenting, consuming, or curing the bodies of men, women, children, or animals by charms, philtres, periapts, pentacles, curses, and conjurations : wherein likewise the unchristian practices and inhumane dealings of searchers and witch-tryers upon aged, melancholly, and superstitious people, in extorting confessions by terrors and tortures, and in devising false marks and symptoms, are notably detected ... : in sixteen books / by Reginald Scot ... ; whereunto is added an excellent Discourse of the nature and substance of devils and spirits, in two books : the first by the aforesaid author, the second now added in this third edition ... conducing to the compleating of the whole work, with nine chapters at the beginning of the fifteenth [sic] book of The discovery.

CHAP. VIII.

The Witchmongers objection concerning the history of Job answered.

THese Witchmongers, for lack of better arguments, do many times ob∣ject Job against me; although there be never a word in that story which either maketh for them, or against me; insomuch as there is not the name of a Witch mentioned in the whole book. But (I pray you) what Witchmonger now seeing one so afflicted as Job, would not say he were be∣witched, as Job never saith? For first, there came a messenger unto him, and said, Thy oxen were plowing, and thy asses were feeding in their places; and the Sabeant came violently and took them; yea, they have slain thy servants with the edge of the sword, but I only am escaped to tell thee. And whilest he was yet speaking, another came and said, The fire of God is fallen from heaven, and hath burnt up thy sheep, and thy ser∣vants, and devoured them, but I only am escaped alone to tell thee. And whilest he was yet speaking, another came, and said, The Chaldeans set out their bands, and fell up∣on thy camels, and have taken them, and have slain thy servants with the edge of the sword, but I only am escaped alone to tell thee. And whilest he was yet speaking, came another and said, Thy sons and thy daughters were eating and drinking wine in their elder brothers house, and behold, there came a great wind from beyond the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, which fell upon thy children, and they are dead, and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. Besides all this, He was smitten with boiles, from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head. If any man in these dayes called Job, should be by the appointment or hand of God thus handled, as this Job was, I warrant you that all the old Women in the Countrey, would be cal∣led Coram nobis; Warrants would be sent out on every side, publick and private inquiry made, what old Women lately resorted to Jobs house, or to any of those places where these misfortunes fell. If any poor old Woman had chanced within two or three months to have borrowed a courtesie of seasing, or to have fetcht from thence a pot of milk, or had she required some alms, and not obtained it at Jobs hand; there had been argument enough to have brought her to confusion; and to be more certain to have the right Witch appre∣hended, figures must have been cast, the sive and shears must have been set on work; yea rather then the Witch should escape, a Conjurer must have earned a little money, a circle must have been made, and a Devil raised to tell the truth; Mother Bungy must have been gone unto, and after she had learned her name whom Job most suspected, she would have confirmed the suspition with artificial accusations; in the end, some Woman or other must have been hanged for it. But as Job said, Dominus dedit; so said he not, Di∣abolus vel Lamia, sed Dominus abstulit. Which agreeth with the tenor of the text, where it is written, that the Devil at every of Jobs afflictions desired

God to lay his hand upon him. Insomuch as Job imputed no part of his ca∣lamity unto Devils, Witches, nor yet unto Conjurers, or their Inchanments; as we have learned now to do. Neither sinned he, or did God any wrong, when he laid it to his charge: but we dishonor God greatly, when we attribute either the power or propriety of God the creator unto a creature.

Calvin saith, We derogate much from Gods glory and omnipotency, when we say, he doth but give Satan leave to do it: which is (saith he) to mock Gods justice: and so fond an assertion, that if Asses could speak, they would speak more wisely than so: For a temporal judge saith not to the hangman, I give thee leave to hang this offender, but commandeth him to do it. But the main∣tainers of Witches omnipotency, say, Do you not see how really and palpably the Devil tempted and plagued Job? I answer first, that there is no corporal or visible Devil named nor seen in any part of that circumstance; secondly, that it was the hand of God that did it: thirdly, that as there is no community be∣tween the person of a Witch, and the person of a devil, so was there not any con∣ference or practise between them in this case.

And as touching the communication betwixt God and the Devil, behold what Calvin saith, writing or rather preaching of purpose upon that place, where∣upon they think they have so great advantage; When Satan is said to appear before God, it is not done in some place certain, but the Scripture speaketh so to apply it self to our rudeness. Certainly the Devil in this and such like cases is an instrument to work Gods will, and not his own; and therefore it is an ignorant and an ungodly saying (as Calvin judgeth it) to affirm, that God doth but permit and suffer the Devil: For if Satan were so at his own liberty (saith he) we should be overwhelmed at a sudden. And doubtless, if he had power to hurt the body, there were no way to resist: for he would come invi∣sibly upon us, and knock us on the heads; yea he would watch the best and dispatch them, whilest they were about some wicked act. If they say, God com∣mandeth him, no body impugneth them; but that God should give him leave, I say with Calvin, that the Devil is not in such favour with God, as to obtain any such request at his hands.

And whereas by our Witchmongers opinions and arguments, the Witch procureth the Devil, and the Devil asketh leave of God to plague whom the Witch is disposed: there is not (as I have said) any such corporal communi∣cation between the Devil and a Witch, as Witchmongers imagine. Neither is God moved at all at Satans sute, who hath no such favour or grace with him, as to obtain any thing at his hands.

But M. Mal. and his friends deny, that there were any Witches in Jobs time: yea the Witchmongers are content to say, that there were none found to exer∣cise this art in Christs time, from his birth to his death, even by the space of thirty three years. If there had been any (say they) they should have been there spoken of. As touching the authority of the book of Job, there is no question but that it is very canonical and authentick. Howbeit, many Writers, both of the Jews and others, are of opinion, that Moses was the Author of this book; and that he did set it as a looking-glass before the people: to the intent the children of Abraham (of whose race he himself came) might know, that God shewed favour to others that were not of the same line, and be ashamed of their wickedness: seeing an uncircumcised Painime had so well demeaned himself. Upon which argument Calvin (though he had written upon the same) saith, that forasmuch as it is uncertain, whether it were Res gesta or Exempli gratia, we must leave it in suspense. Nevertheless (saith he) let us take that which is out of all doubt; namely, that the holy Ghost hath indited the book, to the end that the Jews should know that God hath had a people alwayes to serve him throughout the World, even of such as were no Jews, nor segregated from other nations.

Howbeit, I for my part deny not the verity of the story; though indeed I must confess, that I think there was no such corporal interlude between God,

the Devil, and Job, as they imagine; neither any such real presence and commu∣nication as the Witchmongers conceive and maintain; who are so gross herein, that they do not only believe, but publish so palpable adsurdities concer∣ning such real actions betwixt the Devil and man, as a wise man would be asha∣med to read, but much more to credit: As that S. Dunstan lead the Devil about the house by the nose with a pair of pinsors or tongs, and made him rore so lowd, as the place rung thereof, &c. with a thousand the like fables; without which neither the art of Popery nor of Witchcraft could stand. But you may see more of this matter elsewhere, where in few words (which I thought good here to omit, least I should seem to use too many repetitions) I answer effectually to their cavils about this place.

Notes

• Job 1.14.15.
• 16.
• 17.
• 18.
• 19.
• Job 2.7.
• J. Calvin in Job 1.21.
• J. Calvin in Job 2. Serm 8. Muscul. in loc. comm.

  Idem. ibidem.
• J. Calvin in his Ser. upon Job.
• J. Calvin in Job 1. Serm. 5.
• Mal. Malef. par. 1. quaest. 1. Idem. part. 1. quaest. 4.
• Note what is said touching the book of Job.
• In legenda aurea.