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. XXXI.

Of the Curse rehearsed Gen. 3. and that place rightly expounded; John Calvins opi∣nion of the Devil.

THe curse rehearsed by God in that place, whereby Witchmongers la∣bour so busily to prove that the Devil entered into the body of a Snake, and by consequence can take the body of any other creature at his plea∣sure, &c. reacheth I think further into the Devils matters, than we can compre∣hend it, or is needful for us to know, that understand not the wayes of the De∣vils creeping, and is far unlikely to extend to plague the generation of Snakes; though they had been made with legges before that time, and through his curse was deprived out of that benefit, And yet, if the Devil should have entered into the Snake, in manner and form as they suppose, I cannot see in what degree of sin the poor Snake should be so guilty, as that God, who is the most righte∣ous Judge, might be offended with him.* 1.1 But although I abhor that lewd inter∣pretation of the Family of Love, and such other Heretiques, as would reduce the whole Bible into allegories: yet (methinks) the creeping there is rather metapho∣rically or significatively spoken, than literally; even by that figure, which is there prosecuted to the end: Wherein the Devil is resembled to an odious creature, who as he creepeth upon us to annoy our bodies; so doth the Devil there creep into

the conscience of Eve, to abuse and deceive her: whose seed nevertheless shall tread down and dissolve his power and malice: And through him, all good Christi∣ans (as Calvin saith) obtain power to do the like.* 1.2 For we may not imagine such a material tragedy, as there is described, for the ease of our feeble and weak ca∣pacities.

For whensoever we find in the Scriptures, that the Devil is called God, the Prince of the world, a strong armed man, to whom is given the power of the air; a roaring Lion, a Serpent, &c. the Holy Ghost moved us thereby, to beware of the most subtil, strong and mighty Enemy, and to make preparation, and arm our selves with faith against so terrible an Adversary. And this is the opinion and counsel of Calvin,* 1.3 That we seeing our own weakness, and his force manifested in such terms, may beware of the Devil, and may flie to God for spiritual aid and comfort: And as for his corporal assaults, or his attempts upon our bodies, his night-walkings, his visible appearings, his dancing with Witches, &c. we are neither warned in the Scri∣ptures of them, nor willed by God or his Prophets to flie them; neither is there any mention made of them in the Scriptures. And therefore think I those Witchmon∣gers and absurd Writers to be as gross on the one side, as the Sadduces are im∣pious and fond on the other, which say, That Spirits and Devils are only motions and affections,* 1.4 and that Angels are but tokens of Gods power. I for my part confess with Augustine, That these matters are above my reach and capacity; and yet so farr as God Word teacheth me, I will not stick to say, That they are living crea∣tures, ordained to serve the Lord in their vocation. And although they abode not in their first estate, yet that they are the Lords Ministers, and Executioners of his wrath, to try and tempt in this world, and to punish the reprobate in Hell fire in the world to come.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Family of Love.
• * 1.2

  J. Cal. lib. instit. 1. cap. 14. sect. 18.
• * 1.3

  J. Cal. lib. in∣stit. 1. cap. 14. sect. 13.
• * 1.4

  Aug. de cura pro mort &c.