CHAP. XIV.
That it pleased God to manifest the power of his Son, and not of Witches by mi∣racles.
JEsus Christ, to manifest his divine power, rebuked the winds, and they ceased;* 1.1 and the waves of water, and it was calm; which if neither our Divines nor Physitians can do, much less our Conjurors, and least of all our old Witches can bring any such thing to pass. But it pleased God to manifest the power of Christ Jesus by such miraculous and extraordinary means, providing, and as it were, preparing diseases, that none otherwise could be cured, that his Sons glory, and his Peoples faith might the more plainly appear; as namely,* 1.2 Lepro∣sie, Lunacy, and Blindness; as it is apparent in the Gospel, where it is said, that the man was not stricken with blindness for his own sins, not for any offence of his ancestors; but that he was made blind, to the intent the works of God should be shewed upon him by the hands of Jesus Christ. But Witches with their charms can cure (as Witchmongers affirm) all these diseases mentioned in the Scripture, and many other more; as the Gout, the Toothach, &c. which we find not that ever Christ cured.
As touching those that are said in the Gospel, to be possessed of spirits,* 1.3 it seem∣eth in many places that it is indifferent, or all one, to say, He is possessed with a Devil; or, he is lunatick or phrentick; which disease in these dayes is said to proceed of melancholy. But if every one that now is lunatick, be possessed with a real Devil; then might it be thought, that Devils are to be thrust out of men by medicines. But who saith in these times, with the woman of Canaan, My Daughter is vexed with a Devil; except it be presupposed, that she meant her daughter was troubled with some disease? Indeed we say, and say truly, to the wicked, the Devil is in him: but we mean not thereby, that a real Devil is gotten into his guts. And if it were so, I marvel in what shape this real Devil, that possesseth them, remaineth. Entreth he into the body in one shape, and into the mind in another? If they grant him to be spiritual and invisible, I agree with them.
Some are of opinion, that the said woman of Canaan meant indeed that her daughter was troubled with some disease; because it is written in stead of that the Devil was cast out, that her daughter was made whole,* 1.4 even the self same hour. According to that which is said in the 12. of Matthew,* 1.5 There was brought unto Christ one possessed of a Devil, which was both blind and dumb, and he healed him; so as, he that was blind and dumb, both spake and saw. But it was the man, and not the Devil, that was healed, and made to speak and see. Whereby (I say) it is gathered, that such as were diseased, as well as they that were lunatick, were said sometimes to be possessed of Devils.