Thirdly, they[h] cure not diseases but in shew, except such as
themselues haue inflicted, otherwise those doe returne, as is reported
of _Adrianus_ the[i] Emperour, who troubled with a dropsie, by magicall
charmes did oftentimes empty the water thereof, but in a short space
increased againe; and perceiuing the same to grow worse & worse, sought
to dispatch and rid himselfe of life, by poyson, or the sword, or some
other desperate attempts. Or a worse malady (the first being abated)
followeth: as I haue knowne one, who vsing the help of a wisard for the
cure of a sore in his breast, prescribed in this sort: crossed the place
affected with his thumb, and mumbled to himself some words in secret,
after gaue the patient a powder like the ashes of wood, which was to be
boiled in running water, and with it to wash the vlcer, after certaine
clouts were to be applyed, with speciall care to lay that side of the
clout vnto the sore, which was by him crossed, and marked; and all these
clothes must at once be bound vpon it, and euery day the lowest remoued
or taken away: thus in short time that anguish and griefe ceased; but
not long after the party fell into a more grieuous infirmity, and still
continueth therein. Or if the euill be taken from the[k] person
presently afflicted, then is it layd vpon his friends children or
cattell, and sometime it falleth to the lot of the witch herselfe, so
that alwayes the diuell is a diuell, doing euill, and working mischiefe.
[Footnote h: _Tatianus oratione tertia contra Græcos._]
[Footnote i: _Xiphilinus ex Dion. in Adriano_ +manganeiais men te
se kai goêtiais ekeonto pote tou hugrou, palin de autou
epimplato.+]
[Footnote k: Bodine proueth this by many examples in his
_Dæmonomania_, _lib. 3. cap. 2_.]
Fourth, a [l]wisard, witch, or sorcerer can not releeue any but by his
or her inuocation, and help of the diuell, but this fact is absoluteIy,
and without exception, wicked, and can by no limitation or circumstance
bee made tolerable: Therefore they who require this at their hands,
which they cannot performe without committing of sinne, be liable to the
same vengeance and wrath of God to which they are; for not only the
principall offenders, but the [m]accessaries, and consenters to their
euill, are worthy of death, _Rom. 1. 32_.
[Footnote l: _Binfeldius de confessionibus maleficorum. Cardinalis
Caietanus in summula titulo de maleficio. Toletus in summa casuum
conscientiæ, sine instructione sacerdotum li. 4. c. 16._]
[Footnote m: _Gratianus in Decretis parte 2, causa 26. qu[e,]st.
2. sect. Qui sine saluatore, &c._]
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