Part 7 (1/2)
[Footnote pp: _Procopius Gazeus in Leuitic.u.m._]
_The ninth Proposition, and second Corrolary._
There hath alwayes beene some wanton, or peruerse wits, who only to make triall of their skill, would take in hand to defend absurd positions, and commend both such things and persons, which were infamous, and contemptible as [a]_Phauorinus_ writ the praise of the Quartane Ague, one of the gout, blindnesse, and deafness, [b]_Lucian_ of a flye, [c]_Erasmus_ of folly, [d]_Synesius_ of baldnesse, [e]_Glaucus_ in _Plato_ of iniustice. And among the exercises of the [f]ancient Orators, wee finde those who strained all their vnderstanding to blaze the honour of that witlesse and deformed Coward _Thersites_. And this they haue performed with great Art and eloquence, onely to shew their faculty, but neuer in good earnest took such a matter in hand. And therefore more deeply is hee to be censured, who hath made himselfe an aduocate to plead the cause of [g]Witches, and defend th[~e] as innocent. And because this is a dangerous example, and doth draw those who are euill affected to offend, hoping for patronage of their impiety, I adde for conclusion this last proposition: Wisards, Witches, and the whole rabble of Sorcerers (no kinde excepted) are iustly liable[h] to extreame punishment. The arguments alleaged for proofe hereof, are many: I will make choyce of a few (with reference to such authors in whose writings more may bee found) and those which are most[i] demonstratiue.
[Footnote a: _Phauorinus apud Agellium. lib. 17. cap. 12._]
[Footnote b: _Luciani encomion musc[e,]._]
[Footnote c: _Erasmus._]
[Footnote d: _Synesius._]
[Footnote e: _Lib. 2 de Republica._]
[Footnote f: _Extat eius laudatio inter exempla exercitationum Rhetorum ab Henrico Stephano editarum c.u.m Polemonis & Himerij declamationibus._]
[Footnote g: _Wierus._]
[Footnote h: _Simlerus in 22 Exodi._]
[Footnote i: Of these all the following reasons. _Binfeldius de confessionibus maleficorum, & in Commentarijs ad t.i.tulum legis de maleficis & mathematicis copiose. Remigius de D[e,]monologia, lib.
3. cap. vltimo. Peucerus de pr[e,]cipuis Diuinationum generibus.
Erastus de Lamijs. Bodinus Daemonomanias lib. 4. cap. 5._]
First, G.o.d himselfe hath enacted that p[oe]nall statute, _Thou shalt not suffer a witch to liue. Exod. 22 18._ and nameth here a [k]woman practising this d.a.m.nable Art for two reasons: First, they are more inclinable hereunto then man. Secondly, that though their fault may seeme, as being the weaker, excuseable, and is in this respect extenuated by some, yet is not therefore to bee spared, whether of that sort which they call [l]good, or bad (for so are they distinguished) & there be some who neuer brought[m] harme vpon any in body, goods, or minde. The cause of this so sharpe a doome, is their compacting with the Diuell, openly or secretly, whereby they couenant to vse his helpe, in fulfilling their desires, and by this meanes make themselues guilty of horrible impiety: for in this they renounce the Lord, who hath created them; make no account of his fauour and protection, cut themselues off from the couenant made with him in baptisme, from the communion of Saints, the true fellows.h.i.+p and seruice of G.o.d; and on the contrary yeeld themselues by this confederacy, to Sathan, as their G.o.d (and therefore nothing more frequent and vsuall in their mouthes, then my G.o.d will do this and that for me) him they continually feare and honour. And thus do at the last become professed enemies both to G.o.d and Man. You may adde to this former law, that which is _Leuit. 19. 26._ & _cap. 6_.
_You shall vse no inchantment: the soule that turneth after such as haue familiar spirits, and are Wisards, to goe a whooring after them, I will set my face against that soule, and will cut him off from among his people, &c._ Againe, _Deut. 18. 10_. _There shall not bee found among you any that vseth Diuination, nor an obseruer of times, or an inchanter, or a Witch, or a Charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, a Wisard, or Necromancer._ And that G.o.d might shew how[n] much _Mana.s.ses_ had prouoked him to wrath, through his transcendent and outragious sinnes in the Catalogue thereof, his conspiring with Diuels is mentioned _1. King 21. 8_. And therefore is depriued of his kingdome, bound in fetters, and carried captiue vnto _Babel_, _2. Chron. 33.
6.11._ and though he repented of these outragious and enormious transgressions, yet G.o.d would not bee appeased for them fiftie yeares after he was dead, _Ierem. 15. 4._
[Footnote k: _Hironimus Oleaster in loc.u.m, & Iunius & Tremelius in eundem._]
[Footnote l: _Perkins_ of Witch-craft.]
[Footnote m: _Binfeldius in Commentarium ad t.i.tulum codicis de Mathematicis & Maleficis._]
[Footnote n: _G.o.delmannus de Magis & veneficis, lib. 3. cap. 11.
n. 14. 15. 16. & seq._]
Secondly, the ciuill lawes in this case are most strict, decreeing them to bee burned, and their goods confiscate, though they were persons of quality, and honourable, seated in dignity, and place of authority:[o]
and there is a seuere const.i.tution made by [p]_Charles_ the fift in late dayes against them, that though they shall not haue done, or be conuinced to haue hurt any, yet because they attempted a thing vnlawfull, and abhominable vnto G.o.d, are extraordinarily to be punished.
And concerning this particular, S. _Augustin_ discourseth excellently, worthy to be read, _de ciu. dei. l. 8. c. 19._