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. V.

The diversity of true Prophets; of Urim, and of the Prophetical use of the twelve precious stones contained therein; of the divine voyce called Eccho.

IT should appear, that even of holy Prophets, there were divers sorts: for David and Solomon, although in their Psalms and Parables are contained most excellent Mysteries, and notable Allegories; yet they were not in∣dued with that degree of Prophesie, that Ely and Elisha were, &c. For as often as it is said, that God spake to David or Solomon, it is meant to be done by the Prophets; for NATHAN or GAD were the Messengers and Prophets to reveal Gods will to David. And Ahiam the Shilonite was sent from God to Solo∣mon. Item, the spirit of Prophesied which Elias had, was doubled upon Elisha. Also, some Prophets prophesied all their lives, some had but one vision, and some had more according to Gods pleasure; yea, some prophesied unto the people of such things as came not to pass, and that was where Gods wrath was pacified by Repentance. But these Prophets were alwayes reputed among the people to be wise and godly; whereas the Heathen Prophets were evermore known and said to be mad and foolish, as it is written both of the Prophets of Sibylla, and also of Apollo; and at this day also in the Indies, &c.

But that any of these extraordinary gifts remain at this day, Bodin, nor any Witchmonger in the World shall never be able to prove; though he in his book of Devilish madness would make men believe it: for these were miraculously maintained by God among the Jews, who were instructed by them of all such things as should come to pass; or else informed by Urim: so as the Priest by the brightness of the twelve pretious stones contained therein, could Progno∣sticate or expound any thing: Which brightness and vertue ceased (as Josephus reporteth) two hundred years before he was born. So as since that time, no an∣swers were yielded thereby of Gods will and pleasure. Nevertheless, the He∣brews write, That there hath been ever since that time, a Divine voyce heard among them, which in Latin is called Filia vocis, in Greek 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, in English the Daughter of speech.

Notes

• Divers degrees of Prophesie.
• 2 Reg. 2.
• J. Bodin.
• Joseph. de an∣tiquit.

  Josue filius Levi lib. Pir∣keaboth.