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The displaying of supposed witchcraft : $b Wherein is affirmed that there are many sorts of deceivers and impostors, and divers persons under a passive delusion of melancholy and fancy. But that there is a corporeal league made betwixt the devil and the witch, or that he sucks on the witches body, has carnal copulation, or that witches are turned into cats, dogs, raise tempests, or the like, is utterly denied and disproved. Wherein also is handled, the existence of angels and spirits, the truth Webster, John

Religion

The displaying of supposed witchcraft : $b Wherein is affirmed that there are many sorts of deceivers and impostors, and divers persons under a passive delusion of melancholy and fancy. But that there is a corporeal league made betwixt the devil and the witch, or that he sucks on the witches body, has carnal copulation, or that witches are turned into cats, dogs, raise tempests, or the like, is utterly denied and disproved. Wherein also is handled, the existence of angels and spirits, the truth

Name: The displaying of supposed witchcraft : $b Wherein is affirmed that there are many sorts of deceivers and impostors, and divers persons under a passive delusion of melancholy and fancy. But that there is a corporeal league made betwixt the devil and the witch, or that he sucks on the witches body, has carnal copulation, or that witches are turned into cats, dogs, raise tempests, or the like, is utterly denied and disproved. Wherein also is handled, the existence of angels and spirits, the truth
Author: Webster, John

Webster, John

Witchcraft; Witchcraft -- Early works to 1800

2. The Text it self doth plainly manifest, that they were not
transformed into true Apostles, for then St. _Paul_ had had no cause to
have written so bitterly against them; but that notwithstanding that
shew, form, or pretence that they held forth, and though outwardly they
seemed to personate the true Apostles of Christ, yet that was but an
external and hypocritical simulation; for really and truly they were
false Apostles, ψευδαπόστολοι, and deceitful workers, ἐργάται δόλιοι.
And so Satan may make what shews or pretences he will of goodness,
piety, and of heavenly things, and so may counterfeit, dissemble and
lye, yet still he remaineth a very accursed Devil, and is never really
changed from his damned and diabolical Nature.

[Sidenote: _Reas. 3._]

[Sidenote: Dialog. Disc. of Spirits and Devils, p. 234.]

3. Satan is so transformed into an Angel of Light, as his Ministers are
transformed into the Apostles of Christ. But Satans Ministers are not
essentially transformed into the Apostles of Christ. Therefore neither
is Satan essentially transformed into an Angel of Light. For though
Satans Ministers may pretend never so much piety and zeal, and labour to
personate and imitate the true Ministers of Christ, yet notwithstanding
that pretended transformation, they still really and essentially remain
as they were, that is, Deceivers and Hypocrites. And Satan for all his
seeming and apparent personating and imitating the Angels of Light, he
still remaineth in his essence and nature an Angel of Darkness, and a
lying and accursed Wretch.

[Sidenote: _Reas. 4._]

[Sidenote: _August. de Civ. Dei_, _l._ 2. _c._ 26.]

4. The Devil is never nor can be really and essentially
transubstantiated into an Angel of Light, for then he could (indeed and
in truth) be no longer a Devil, but his diabolical Nature would of
necessity cease. But all his transformation is, when he intendeth most
deeply to circumvent and deceive the sons of men, then he pretendeth the
most religious and the holiest shews of all. Pretending in all outward
appearance the holy affections, sincerity, and zeal of the holiest
Angels of Light. For as St. _Austin_ saith: “Unless the malignity of
Satan be sleightly and cunningly covered, his deceivable purpose is
seldom or never effected.”

[Sidenote: _Reas. 5._]

[Sidenote: _Chrysost. in loc._]

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