THE fables of Witchcraft have taken so fast hold and deepe root in | |
the heart of man, that fewe or none can (nowadaies) with patience | |
indure the hand and correction of God. For if any adversitie, greefe, | |
sicknesse, losse of children, corne, cattell, or libertie happen unto them; by | |
& by they exclaime uppon witches. As though there were no God in Israel | Job. 5. |
that ordereth all things according to his will; punishing both just and unjust | |
with greefs, plagues, and afflictions in maner and forme as he thinketh good: | |
but that certeine old women heere on earth, called witches, must needs be the | |
contrivers of all mens calamities, and as though they themselves were innocents, | |
and had deserved no such punishments. Insomuch as they sticke not to ride | |
and go to such, as either are injuriouslie tearmed witches, or else are willing so | |
be accounted, seeking at their hands comfort and remedie in time of | |
their tribulation, contrarie to Gods will and commandement in that behalfe, | Matth. 11. |
who bids us resort to him in all our necessities.
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Such faithlesse people (I saie) are also persuaded, that neither haile nor | |
thunder nor lightening, raine nor tempestuous winds come from the | |
heavens at the commandement of God: but are raised by the cunning and | |
power of witches and conjurers; insomuch as a clap of thunder, or a gale of | |
wind is no sooner heard, but either they run to ring bels, or crie out to burne | |
witches; or else burne consecrated things, hoping by the smoke thereof, to drive | |
the divell out of the aire, as though spirits could be fraied* awaie with such | |
externall toies*: howbeit, these are right inchantments, as Brentius affirmeth. | In concione. |