Part 4 (2/2)
[Footnote i: _Augustinus de Genesi ad literam, l. 11. c. 22_.]
G.o.d suffereth the diuell to preuaile against the wicked, yet in the most Holy there is no iniustice _2. Chron. 19. 7_. But First, [k]Herein is the declaration of his iustice, whereby hee punisheth obstinate sinners, & those who prouoke him to wrath, and will not repent: And thus it is sayd of the _Aegiptians_, whom no plagues could soften, that hee cast vpon them the fiercenes of his anger, and indignation, and trouble, by sending euill Angels among them, [l]_Psalm 78. 49_. And when _Saul_ had neglected the commandement of G.o.d, an euill spirit from the Lord troubled him, _1. Sam. 16. 14_. Thus _Ahab_ seduced by his false prophets descendeth into the battaile, and is slaine (contemning the words of _Michaiah_) in[m] whose mouthes the diuell was a lying spirit, who sent of the Lord, perswaded him and preuailed, _1. Kin. 22.
22.23.24_.
[Footnote k: _Hyperius in locis Theolog. lib. 2._]
[Footnote l: _Augustinus in locuus consulatur._]
[Footnote m: _Vide Iaquerium in flagello hereticorum fascinariorum, cap. 23._]
Second, By affliction in the body or goodes, G.o.d[n] would quicken them vp to seeke the saluation of their soules. And so _Paul_ gaue ouer a scandalous and incestuous person vnto the diuell, that he might be induced to forsake his sin, liue chastely heereafter, and be an edifying example to those whom he had offended: and this kinde of discipline was more soueraigne, then any other could haue beene, because mans nature abhorreth Sathan, and trembleth with feare once to conceiue that he should fall into his power and hands, and this is that which he writeth, aduising the Corinthians to deliuer him vnto Sathan, for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saued in the day of the Lord Iesus, _1. Cor 5. 5_. And in this sort he speaketh of two other deceiuers and blasphemers, _Hymenaus_ and _Alexander_, I haue deliuered them vnto Sathan, that they may learne not to blaspheme, _1. Timothie 1. 20._ therfore this giuing ouer, was not to destruction, but for correction.
[Footnote n: _Idem cap. 21._]
The last poynt propounded, was, That witches haue power granted to vex G.o.ds owne children aswell as others, and preuaile ouer them; and that we doe enquire (so farre as we may, and is iustifiable) of the causes thereof, which may be these.
First, [o]This is permitted vnto them for the experience of their faith and integrity, so that by this meanes their loue towards G.o.d which lay hidden in the heart, is now made manifest. To be quiet and patient in prosperity, when we may enioy benefites at our owne pleasure, is a matter easily to be performed: But to endure the fire of Tribulation, that is the proofe of a stedfast Christian, and in losses and sickenesse procured by such to bee silent, and submit our selues, this is the note of a faithfull man, & to choose rather obeying the law of G.o.d, to beare the infirmity of the body, then to ouer-flow in riches, and enioying health and strength offend the Lord.
[Footnote o: _Trithemius in libel. 8 qu[e,]stionum quas illi dissoluendas proposuit Maximilia.n.u.s Imperator, qu[e,]st 7._]
Second, this maketh a difference betweene the wicked and the G.o.dly: for thus the holy Apostle speaketh of the righteous, that by many afflictions they must enter into the kingdome of heauen, _Act. 14. 22_.
And all that will liue G.o.dly in Christ Iesus suffer tribulations, _2.
Timoth. 3. 12._ for whom the Lord loueth, he doth chasten, _Prouer. 3.
12_. It is a Christians glory to vndergoe for G.o.ds cause, any vexation whatsoeuer, whether wrought by the diuell, or brought to pa.s.se by wicked men his [p]instruments; for when he is tryed, hee shall receiue the crowne of life, which G.o.d hath promised to those who loue him, _Iames 1.
12_. But wee reade contrary of the wicked, they become olde, yea, are mighty in power, their seede is established in their sight with them, and their of-spring before their eyes, their houses are safe from feare, neyther is the rod of G.o.d vpon them, &c. they spend their dayes in wealth, and in a moment go downe into the graue, _Iob 21. 7.8.9._ &c.
Yet surely they are set in slippery places, sodainely destroyed and perished, & horribly consumed as a dreame when one awaketh: O Lord, thou shalt make their Image despised, &c. _Psal. 73. 18.19.20_.
[Footnote p: _Potestatis diabolo concess[e,] has causas ponit Iohannes Gerson de erroribus circa artem magicam, in dicto secundo._ _1. Obstinatorum d.a.m.nationem._ _2. Peccatorum purgationem, & punitionem._ _3. Ad fidelium probationem, & exercitationem._ _4 Ad gloriae dei manifestationem_]
_The seuenth Proposition._
More women in a farre different proportion prooue Witches then men, by a hundred to one; therefore the Lawe of G.o.d noteth that s.e.x, as more subiect to that sinne, _Exodus 22. 18_. It is a common speach amongst the Iewish Rabbins, [a]many women, many Witches: And it should seeme that this was a generally receiued opinion, for so it is noted by _Pliny_, _Quintilian_, and others, neyther doth this proceede (as some haue thought) from their frailtie and imbecillity, for in many of them there is stronger resolution, to vndergoe any torment then can bee found in man, as was made apparant in that conspiracy of _Piso_ against _Nero_,[b] who commaunded that _Epicharis_, knowne to bee of the same faction, should first presently be set vpon the racke, [Sidenote: _Muliebre corpus impar dolori._]
imagining that being a woman, she would neuer bee able to ouercome the paine: But all the tortures that he or his could deuise, were not able to draw from her the least confession of any thing that was then obiected against her. The first dayes question shee so vtterly contemned, that the very Chaire in which they conueied her from the place, did seeme as a Chariot wherein shee rid, triumphing ouer the barbarous vsage of their inhumane cruelty. The morrow following brought thither againe, after many rough incounters, remained so vnshaken, that wrath it selfe grew madde, to see the strokes of an obstinate and relenting fury fall so in vaine vpon the softer temper of a Woman: and at the last tooke a scarfe from about her necke, and by it knits vp within her bosome the knowledge shee had of that fact, together with that little remainder of spirit, whereof by force and violence they laboured to depriue her.
[Footnote a: _In Perkei ababboth. Bodinus in confutatione opinionis Wieri. Plinius in hist. natural. Quintilia.n.u.s Inst.i.tutionum oratoriarium lib. 5. cap. 10._]
[Footnote b: _Tacit. Annal. lib. 15._]
[c]Former ages haue likewise produced _Leena_, an exemplary president of this sort, to all posterity, who when _Armodius_ and _Aristogiton_ hauing failed of the execution of their enterprise against _Hipparchus_ a tyrant, had beene put to death, she was brought to the torture to be enforced to declare what other complices there were of the conspiracie.
But rather then shee should bee compelled thereunto, bit her tongue asunder, and spit it in the face of the tyrant, that though she would, yet could not now disclose them. In remembrance whereof the Athenians caused a Lyon of Bra.s.se to bee erected, shewing her inuincible courage by the generosity of that beast, and her perseuerance in secrecie, in that they made it without a tongue. Therefore the learned haue searched out other causes thereof, and among the rest, obserued these as the most probable.
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