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. II.

The gift of Prophesie is ceased.

THat Witches, nor the Woman of Endor, nor yet her Familiar or Devil can tell what is to come, may plainly appear by the words of the Prophet, who saith, Shew what things are to come, and we will say, you are gods in∣deed: According to that which Solomon saith, Who can tell a man what shall happen him under the sun? Marry that can I (saith the Witch of Endor to Saul.) But I will rather believe Paul and Peter, which say, That Prophesie is the gift of God, and no wordly thing; then a cosening quean, that taketh upon her to do all things, and can do nothing but beguile men: Up steppeth also another Bungie, and she can tell you where your Horse or your Ass is bestowed, or any thing that you have lost is become, as Samuel could; and what you have done in all your age past, as Christ did to the Woman of Sichar at Jacobs well; yea, and what your errand is, before you speak, as Elizeus did.

Peter Martyr saith, That only God and man knoweth the heart of man, and therefore, that the Devil must be secluded; alledging these places; Solus Deus est scrutator cordium; Only God is the searcher of hearts: And, Nemo scit quae sunt hominis, nisi spiritus hominis qui est in eo; None knoweth the things of man, but the spirit of man which is within him: Solomon saith, Tu solus nosti cogita∣tiones hominum; Thou only knowest the thoughts of men. And Jeremiah saith, in the person of God, Ego Deus scrutans corda & renes; I am God searching hearts and reins: Also, Mathew saith of Christ, Jesus autem videns cogitationes eorum; And Jesus seeing their thoughts, who in Scripture is called the searcher and knower of the thoughts in the heart, as appeareth in Act. 1. & 15. Rom. 8. Mat. 9.12. & 22. Mark 2. Luke 6. & 7. & 11. John 1.2.6. & 13. Apoc. 2. & 3. and in other places infinite.

The same Peter Martyr, also saith, That the Devil may suspect, but not know our thoughts; for if he should know our thoughts, he should understand our faith, which if he did, he would never assault us with one temptation. Indeed we read that Samuel could tell where things lost were strayed, &c. but we see that gift also ceased by the coming of Christ, according to the saying of Paul, At sundry times, and in divers manners God spake in the old times by our Fathers the Prophets; in these last dayes he hath spoken unto us by his son, &c. And therefore I say, that gift of Prophesie, wherewith God in times past endued his people, is also ceased, and counterfeits and coseners, are come in their places, according to this saying of Peter, There were false Prophets among the people, even at there shall be

false teachers among you, &c. And think not that so notable a gift should be taken from the beloved, and the elect people of God, and committed to Mother Bungie, and such like of her profession.

The words of the Prophet Zechary are plain, touching the ceasing both of the good and bad Prophet, to wit, I will cause the Prophets and unclean spirits to depart out of the land, and when any shall yet Prophesie, his parents shall say to him, Thou shalt not live, for thou speakest lyes in the name of the Lord; and his Parents shall thrust him through when he Prophesieth, &c. No, no; the foretelling of things to come, is the only work of God, who disposeth all things sweetly, of whose, counsel there hath never yet been any man; And to know our labours, the times and moments God hath placed in his own power. Also Phavorinus saith, That if these cold Prophets or Oraclers tell thee of prosperity, and deceive thee, thou art made a miser through vain expectation; if they tell thee of adversity, &c. and lye, thou art made a miser through vain fear. And therefore I say, we may as well look to hear Prophesies at the Tabernacle, in the bush; of the Cheru∣bin, among the clouds, from the Angels, within the Ark, or out of the flame, &c. as to expect an oracle of a Prophet in these dayes.

But put the case, that one in our Common-wealth should step up and say he were a Prophet (as many frantick persons do) who would believe him, or not think rather that he were a lewd person? See the Statutes Eliz. 5. whether there be not laws made against them, condemning their arrogancy and cosenage: so also the canon laws to the same effect.

Notes

• Isa. 41.23.
• Eccl. 6.12. 1 Sam. 28. Rom. 12. 1 Cor. 12. 1 Pet. 1.
• John. 4.
• P. Marytr. loc. com. 9. sect. 17.
• P. Martyr in loc. com.
• Heb. 1.2.
• 2 Pet. 2.1.
• Zech. 13.2, 3.
• J. Chrysost. in Evang. Johan. Hom. 18.

  Pet. Blest. Epi. 49.
• Canon. de malef. & Mathemat.