Select cases of conscience touching vvitches and vvitchcrafts. By Iohn Gaule, preacher of the Word at Great Staughton in the county of Huntington.

12 Case. Whether a Witch may re∣pent, and so be saved?

I know the Churches of old have been so Charitable, as to suppose their Conversion: and to that purpose, have (in seve∣rall Cases) proposed their penance. And I read in Story of the Notable Repentance of certaine Pope Witches; with the miraculous signes of their salvation. And have heard the Tradition, how the Devill has been forc't to cast up and Can∣cell some such pacting Inden∣tures, though written with the Partyes owne Blood. I will conceive withall, that Witch∣es have as great Cause as may be to recant them of their bar∣gaine,

and Labour to returne. Because they have made a Co∣venant with one, that (on his part) never intended to per∣forme the least Tittle promi∣sed, otherwise then praestigi∣ously. They serve a hard Ma∣ster, that hates them according to an irreconcileable Enmity, Gen. 3. 15. notwithstanding all the pretended Familiarity: and not onely so, but renders them hatefull both to God, & Men. That infests their habi∣tation night, & day; torments them sleeping and waking; ter∣rifies them with gastly sights, & hideous sounds; makes them familiar to the most loathsome Creatures, wherein are least

footesteps of the Creator to be perceived. Haunts them continually, to be still imploy∣ing their Imps about one Mis∣chiefe or another: and will not suffer (would a Witch be so good) to remove the evill done to any one, but by trans∣ferring it upon some other; or else threatens to inflict it upon themselves. Keeps them al∣wayes poore, leane, naked, dis∣eased, discontented; and de∣ludes them utterly in their most Imaginary pleasures and Contentments. If they chance to steale any thing after a pro∣digious manner, he straight∣wayes as praestigiously conveys it from them againe; or so in∣fects

it that it is nothing usefull to them. And after once whol∣ly his seekes to betray them to Temporall Iustice, that so he may the sooner get them into his infernall Possession; and this he is the more eager upon, lest peradventure having wea∣ryed themselves in this way of wickednes it might come into their minds to repent them at length. And thus we have the Devill also fearing their re∣pentance; and by that it should seeme there is some hopes of them. There would be more hope if wee could heare God promising and promoving it. But God hath universally de∣clared himselfe for their dam∣nation.

Malac. 3. 5. Revel. 21. 8. and 22. 15. And it is safest al∣wayes to judge after his Sen∣tence. Wherefore though wit∣ches may have some slender thoughts and wishes for salva∣tion, as had Balaam, Numb. 24. 10. Yet I cannot but thinke it a rare thing still for Magitians to come and worship Christ. Mat. 2. 1, 2.

As to the Case therefore; to say that of Witches, Some may Convert and be saved; some cannot Convert, but shall bee Damned. This were to leave the Case as Indefinite, as I found it. For lesse then so can∣not be determined concerning the least of sins. Give me leave

therefore to declare the Iudge∣ment of my Conscience both somewhat more determinately and distinctly. viz. That the Arted Passive and simply De∣luded Witch may repent and be saved: But the solemnly Pa∣cted, malitiously Active, and utterly Apostate Witch nei∣ther can, nor will, nor shall. The Arted Witches, Act. 19. 13 Converted and so were saved. For the word of God prevai∣led to that Purpose. vers. 20. Yea they beleved and shewed their Deeds. vers. 18. But Si∣mon Magus though heeused the meanes of Salvation (hee beleeved, wondred and was Baptized, Act. 8. 13.) Yet nei∣ther

had hee part nor lot in the matter of Sanctification or Salvation, ver. 21. yea, though the Apostle puts a peradven∣ture upon his Repentance, Prayer, Remission; yet is hee peremptory upon his Repro∣bation, vers. 22. 23. And all is because of the Diabolicall and Indissoluble Pact the Bond of Iniquity. So the Damsell, Act. 16. 16. 17. 18. A meerly passive Witch (whose Divination or Soothsaying was forced tho∣row a Daemoniacal Possession) was saved no doubt. Of which her opportune Occursion, her Confession, her Application of it, her perseverance, with Sa∣tans Ejection out of her, are

sufficient Testimonies. But I cannot say so much of Iezabel and the witch of Endor, who were malicious active witches. Manasseh likewise (though some think hee was no Witch himselfe, but only a Consulter, a Favourer and a promoter of them) yet (led by the many notable Expressions, 2 Chr. 39. 6.) I rather conceive he was a very Witch. Neverthelesse it is said he sought the Lord, and prayed, and the Lord was en∣treated of him, vers. 12. 13. But he was no Apostate Witch. For it is not spoken of him til after his Conversion. He then knew that the Lord he was God, v. 13. But Simon Magus and Ely∣mas

the Sorcerer (two Apo∣state witches) who would have hired the power of the holy Spirit for money, who malici∣ously sought to pervert the faith & truth of Christ. These therefore the Apostles (Peter and Paul) denounce expresly for damned Reprobates, Act. 8. 23. and 13. 8, 9, 10.

To conclude, when I shal be instructed, of any one particu∣lar and specifique sin, so neare to the sinne against the holy Ghost as this of Witchcraft: Or that there is any other blas∣phemy more imputing the works of the Devill to God, or the workes of God to the De∣vill: or such an Anti-christian

Misterie of Iniquity with lying wonders, and strong delusions, 2 Thess. 2. Or such a giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of Devills, 1 Tim. 4. Or such a treading under foot the Son of God, counting the Blood of the Covenant a vaine thing, and doing despight un∣to the Spirit of grace, Heb. 10. Or in very deed such a sin unto death, 1 John 5. I say, when I shall be instructed that the sin of Witchcraft is not all this: Or if there bee any other spe∣cifique particular sinne so like to all this, as is the sinne of Witch-craft: Or to which both the Scripture phrases and properties that Divines

make of the sinne against the Holy Ghost, may bee more aptly and fully apply'd, then shall I bee convicted in Con∣science to bee more remisse in my Judgement against the Pa∣cted-Active-Apostate Witch.