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.

What is forbidden in Scriptures concerning Witchcraft; of the operation of words, the Superstition of the Cabalists and Papists; who createth Substances; to imitate God in some cases is presumption; words of Sanctification.

THat which is forbidden in the Scriptures touching inchantment or Witchcraft is not the wonderful working with words: For where words have had miraculous operation, there hath been alwayes the spe∣cial Providence, power and grace of God uttered to the strengthening of the faith

of Gods people,* 1.1 and to the furtherance of the Gospel: as when the Apostle with a word slue Ananias and Saphira. But the prophanation of Gods Name, the seducing, abusing, and cosening of the people, and mans presumption is hereby prohibited, as whereby many take upon them after the recital of such names as God in the Scripture seemeth to appropriate to himself, to foreshew things to come, to work miracles, to detect fellonies, &c. as the Cabalists in times past took upon them, by the ten Names of God, and his Angels, expressed in the Scri∣ptures, to work wonders: and as the Papists at this day by the like names. by Crosses, by Gospels hanged about their necks, by Masses, by Exorcisms, by Ho∣ly-water, and a thousand consecrated or rather execrated things, promise unto themselves and others, both health of body and soul.

* 1.2But as herein we are nor to imitate the Papists, so in such things as are the pe∣culiar actions of God, we ought not to take upon us to counterfeit or resemble him which with his word created all things: For we, neither all the Conjurers, Cabalists, Papists, Soothsayers, Inchanters, Witches, nor Charmers, in the world, neither any other humane or yet diabolical cunning can add any such strength to Gods workmanship, as to make any thing anew, or else to exchange one thing into another. New qualities may be added by humane Art, but no new substance can be made or created by man. And seeing that Art faileth herein, doubtless nei∣ther the illusions of Devils, nor the cunning of Witches, can bring any such thing truly to pass. For by the sound of the words nothing cometh, nothing goeth, otherwise than God in Nature hath ordained to be done by ordinary speech, or else by his special Ordinance. Indeed words of sanctification are necessary and commendable, according to S. Paul's rule, Let your meat be sanctified with the Word of God,* 1.3 and by Prayer. But sanctification doth not here signifie either change of sub∣stance of the meat, or the adding of any new strength thereunto: but it is sancti∣fied, in that it is received with Thanks-giving and Prayers; that our bodies may be refreshed, and our souls thereby made the apter to glorifie God.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Acts 5.
• * 1.2

  Jonas 1.
• * 1.3

  1 Tim. 4.5. Words of san∣ctification, and wherein they consist.