If this witch of _Endor_ had performed that, which manie conceive of the matter, it might have beene compared with the raising up of _Lazarus_. I praie you, is not the converting of water into milke, as hard a matter as the turning of water into wine? And yet, as you may read in the gospell, that Christ did the one, as his first miracle; so may you read in _M. Mal._ and in _Bodin_, that witches can easilie doo the other: yea, and that which is a great deale more, of water they can make butter. But to avoid all cavils, and least there should appeare more matter in Christs miracle, than the others, you shall find in _M. Mal._ that they can change water into wine: and what is it to attribute to a creature, the power and worke of the creator, if this be not? Christ saith, _Opera quæ ego facio nemo potest facere_. Creation of substance was never granted to man nor angell; _Ergo_ neither to witch nor divell: for God is the onlie giver of life and being, and by him all things are made, visible and invisible. ♦An ironicall collation.♦ ♦_Mal. malef. par. 2. quæ. 1. cap. 14._♦ ♦Acts. 17. Tim. 6, 13. Col. 1, 16.♦ ♦_Athanas. symbol._♦ Finallie, this woman of _Endor_ is in the scripture called _Pythonissa_: whereby it may appeare that she was but a verie cousener. For _Pytho_ himselfe, whereof _Pythonissa_ is derived, was a counterfet. And the originall storie of _Apollo_, who was called _Pytho_, bicause he killed a serpent of that name, is but a poeticall fable. For the poets saie he was the god of musicke, physicke, poetrie, and shooting. In heaven he is called _Sol_, in earth _Liber pater_, in hell _Apollo_. He florisheth alwaies with perpetuall youth, and therefore he is painted without a beard: his picture was kept as an oracle-giver: and the preests that attended thereon at _Delphos_ were couseners, and called _Pythonists_ of _Pytho_, as papists of _Papa_; and afterwards all women that used that trade, were named _Pythonissæ_, as was this woman of _Endor_. But bicause it concerneth this matter, I will breefelie note the opinions of divers learned men, and certeine other proofes, which I find in the scripture touching the ceasing of miracles, prophesies and oracles. ♦Apollo Pytho uncased.♦ ¶ _The eight booke._ The first Chapter. _That miracles are ceased._