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

9. Case. How the power and malice of Witches may be prevented and re∣drest with a good Conscience?

THe Popish Schoolemen not a little leave our Con∣sciences perplexed, in this Question of theirs. Whether it be lawfull to remove the signes of Witchcraft; to the In∣tent the Effect thereof may cease? In that they who pro∣posed it, are so divided upon

it. Some of them make it an Act meritorious, so to doe: Some againe, an Act Super∣stitious. But their Resolution on either side satisfies not. For it cannot be an Act meritori∣ous in any (to dispell or de∣stroy the signs, means & works of the Devill) but in him alone that came into the world for that very intent. 1 Iohn. 3. 8. Nor is it to be counted for an Act superstitious, to remove or dissolve any thing, that the Witch hath left or put in any place, for a Signe, Spell, Charme to bewitch by; and that such a thing removed, dissolved, the Witchcraft is disappointed and must cease.

So be, it be certain that they are the signes or meanes of witchcraft, and placed there for that very End. And that there bee not a more diligent search to find out the Witches signe or spell, then to betake to prayers and like duties. And that the Effect of such ceasing bee not hoped or expected meerly from the Removall of the thing; nor as the Conse∣quent or Condition of the di∣abolicall Compact. But that it is done through Confidence in God; and a contempt of all such Sorceries. For if a man were certaine that such a thing were a Witches signe or spell to bewitch by; it would argue

more assent to the Devils wor∣king to suffer it, and let it a∣lone; then to remove or de∣stroy it. Neither is there any doubt to bee made, but that Witchcraft (with all the Ap∣pendices) may be resisted and removed by any unlawful meanes. Which cannot but be such, if there be no consulting with, cōsēting to, or expecting from the Devill: but a Refe∣rence to, confidence in, and dependance upon God alone.

Indeed people are here but too superstitious, as touching the Fortifying or relieving themselves. I passe over what superstitious Remedies are here taught in that other Re∣ligion;

as the tolling of a bap∣tized bell; signing with the signe of the Crosse, sprinkling with holy water, blessing of Oyle, Waxe, Candles, Salt, Bread, Cheese, Garments, wea∣pons, &c. carrying about saints Reliques, with a thousand su∣perstitious fopperies of their exorcising Trade. I only speak of such superstitious practises, as are used by men of all Reli∣gions. 1. In seeking to a witch, to be holpen against a Witch. 2. In using a certain or suppo∣sed Charme; against an uncer∣taine or suspected witchcraft. 3. In searching anxiously for the Witches signe or Token left behinde her in the house,

under the Threshold, in the Bedstraw: and to be sure to light upon it, burning every odd ragge or bone, or feather that is to be found. 4. In swea∣ring, rayling, threatning, cur∣sing, and banning the Witch: as if this were a right way, to bewitch the Witch from Be∣witching. 5. In Banging and basting, scratching & clawing, to draw blood of the witch: an Act not onely superstiti∣ous, but so injurious; that it's rather a provocation to the malice of the witch, then any Fortification against it. 6. In daring and defying the Witch out of a Carnall security, and presumptuous temerity: Be∣believe

well (saythey) have a good heart and feare not, and the Witch can have no power over, &c. A good Beliefe will now arme well indeed: But a∣lass! that's quite another thing, to this confident Audacity. One is in God, the other in themselves. One is the Confi∣dence of a pure heart, the o∣ther is the security of the pro∣fane: One keepes within its own Calling, the other wan∣ders out of it: And so not only tempts God, but the Devill too. It is worth the observing, how the Devill once served them upon such a presuming as this, Acts 19. 13. and 16. But what say they for all this?

Bold Bayard once daslrt out the Witches braines. Never tell them; they have alwayes observed that Witches least hurt them, that worst use them; and they that are least affraid of them, still fare best by them. Oh! how the Devil dissembles a feare of those men whose Cases are most to bee feared? how hee spares them Temporally, that he may not spare them spiritually and e∣ternally? what cares he for be∣witching their Bodies, when hee has thus bewitched their better parts, their soules?

Thus having removed all false means; Though we here approve of no kind of exerci∣sing,

much lesse admit it as an ordinary calling in the Church of Christ; yet we freely pro∣fesse, that God hath not here left his church destitute of suf∣ficient and lawfull Remedies, whether Preservative or Re∣storative. And these be; 1. A Conscionable care against sin, the old Witch of all. That did Effascinate our first Parents, and us in their loyns; but since hath directly bewitched us, both in our professions, Gal. 3. 1. as also in our Conversati∣ons, 1 Sam. 15. 23. That hath made us make a Covenant with Death, and an Agree∣ment with Hell, Isa. 28. 15. That hath brought us to an

Abnegation of the sacred Tri∣nity; and to a corruption and profanation, both of Word and Sacraments. That makes us beleeve wee are Lords and Ladies of our own Wils; when wee are the only servile wret∣ches, led Captive by Satan at his Will.

That rewards onely with meer delusions of momentary pleasures, to the hazard of e∣ternall paines. More especially it behoves us to take heed of all such sinnes as (besides the Devill) more particularly ex∣pose us to the Witch. And they are, 1. Morose Cogitati∣ons; For they tempt God to give us over to visible tempta∣tions.

2. Dire Imprecations; for they want only Gods say∣ing Amen unto them. 3. Ty∣rannous and oppressive Acti∣ons; for they cause the Lord to depart from us, and an evill spirit from the Lord to trou∣ble us. 4. Hypocriticall pro∣fessions; For if the uncleane spirit finde his house empty of all true graces, and swept only by an outward Restraint, of some more scandalous and no∣torious vices: and Garnished with simulated vertues, super∣fluous observations, affected garbes, and formall services: then hee taketh with himselfe seven other spirits, &c. Matth. 12. 44, 45. And it is to be no∣ted

how the Devill has always delighted to haunt & frequent Monasteries, Nunneries, and old Abbeys, places of so much hypocrisie. 5. Superstitious and profane communications, especially of Devills, Witches, and Witch-finders. We have some stories of such as by ma∣king these their Table-talke, have made themselves the more obnoxious to their infe∣stations. It is strange to tell what superstitious opinions, affections, relations, are gene∣rallyrisen amongst us, since the Witch-finders came into the Countrey. And I pray God that these things doe not dis∣pose & expose us to Witches,

rather then help to ridde us of them.

2. Next to a care against sins; is an endeavour after gra∣ces. And those 1. Faith, for that makes every way strong to resist the Devill, 1 Pet. 5. 8, 9. 2. Purity of heart, for the unclean spirit findes no rest in dry places, Mat. 12. 43. And to let him find no rest in us, is the way not to be molested by him in any kind. 3. Prayer and fa∣sting, for these are prevalent a∣gainst the worst kind of them, Matth. 17. 21. 4. Confidence in Christs name and power, word and promises, Mark. 16. 17. 5. Frequent reading and meditating upon the holy

Scriptures, for ther's the sword of the Spirit, to pierce the head of the huge Leviathan: There's the voyce of the wise Char∣mer, to make the deafe Adder, and the olde Serpent burst in pieces. Search we there, & ap∣ply we the speciall promises & consolations for our particular Case, Gen. 3. 15. Ps. 91. 11, 12, 13. Joh. 16. 33. 1 Joh. 3. 8. Mar. 16. 17. Rom. 16. 20. 1 Cor. 10. 13. Jam. 4. 7. 1 Pet. 5. 9. But we must take heede of profaning Scripture names, phrases, and fragments; as Witches them∣selves do, in their most execra∣ble witchcrafts. Or of setting apart certaine incompetent, and in-concerning verses for

Charms, as the Papists do and teach. 6. The Prayers of the Church or Congregation, for they avayle exceedingly in a∣ny manner of Infirmity, Jam. 5. 14, 15. 7. Thanksgiving to God for his speciall provi∣dence; Blessing and praysing him for his own protection, & Angells administration. 8. A keeping us within our owne Callings, so shal the Devil find us, neither idle, nor ill occupi∣ed; so shall occasion be avoy∣ded either for him to tempt us, or we him. 9. A just contempt of the Devill, and of all his praestigious. Arts and Instru∣ments, Jer. 10. 2. as not to bee secure, so not to feare, for the

Devill is a false spirit, & smiles in fayning a yieldance to a fond presumption: But hee's a proud one too, and therefore cannot be more vext and trou∣bled then at a just & true Con∣tempt.