EPI. Your three reasons as I take, ar grounded the first of them
_negativè_ vpon the Scripture: The second _affirmativè_ vpon Physicke: And
the thirde vpon the certaine proofe of experience. As to your first, it is
most true indeede, that all these wise men of _Pharaoh_ were _Magicians_
of art: As likewise it appeares wel that the _Pythonisse_, with whom
_Saul_ consulted, was of that same profession: & so was _Simon Magus_. But
yee omitted to speake of the Lawe of God, wherein are all _Magicians_,
Diuines, Enchanters, Sorcerers, Witches, & whatsouer of that kinde that
consultes with the Deuill, plainelie prohibited, and alike threatned
against. And besides that, she who had the Spirite of _Python_, in the
Actes, (M15) whose Spirite was put to silence by the Apostle, coulde be no
other thing but a verie Sorcerer or Witch, if ye admit the vulgare
distinction, to be in a maner true, whereof I spake in the beginning of
our conference. For that spirit whereby she conquested such gaine to her
Master, was not at her raising or commanding, as she pleased to appoynt,
but spake by her toung, aswel publicklie, as priuatelie: Whereby she
seemed to draw nearer to the sort of _Demoniakes_ or possessed, if that
conjunction betwixt them, had not bene of her owne consent: as it appeared
by her, not being tormented therewith: And by her conquesting of such
gaine to her masters (as I haue alreadie said.) As to your second reason
grounded vpon Physick, in attributing their confessiones or
apprehensiones, to a naturall melancholicque humour: Anie that pleases
Physicallie to consider vpon the naturall humour of melancholie, according
to all the Physicians, that euer writ thereupon, they shall finde that
that will be ouer short a cloak to couer their knauery with: For as the
humor of Melancholie in the selfe is blacke, heauie and terrene, so are
the symptomes thereof, in any persones that are subject therevnto,
leannes, palenes, desire of solitude: and if they come to the highest
degree therof, mere folie and _Manie_: where as by the contrarie, a great
nomber of them that euer haue bene convict or confessors of Witchcraft, as
may be presently seene by manie that haue at this time confessed: they are
by the contrarie, I say, some of them rich and worldly-wise, some of them
fatte or corpulent in their bodies, and most part of them altogether giuen
ouer to the pleasures of the flesh, continual haunting of companie, and
all kind of merrines, both lawfull and vnlawfull, which are thinges
directly contrary to the symptomes of Melancholie, whereof I spake, and
further experience daylie proues how loath they are to confesse without
torture, which witnesseth their guiltines, where by the contrary, the
Melancholicques neuer spares to bewray themselues, by their continuall
discourses, feeding therby their humor in that which they thinke no crime.
As to your third reason, it scarselie merites an answere. For if the
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