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
Webster, John
Witchcraft; Witchcraft -- Early works to 1800
5. For Dr. _Casaubon_ to rank him amongst illiterate Wretches, is
against the very Rule of the Law of Nature, that teaches all men, that
they should not do that to another, which they would not have another to
do unto them. And sure Dr. _Casaubon_ would not have another to judge
and condemn him for an illiterate Wretch, and therefore, he ought not to
have condemned Mr. _Scot_ to be so. And as it is against the Law of
Nature, so it is contrary to the rules of modesty and morality to give a
man such stigmatizing titles: nay it is even against the rules of good
manners and civil education, but that some men think that it is lawful
for them to say any thing, and that nothing what they say doth misbeseem
them. And lastly, how far it is against the Rules of Christianity and
Piety, let all good Christians judge.
6. The falsity of this foul scandal is manifest in both the particulars
therein couched. 1. For Mr. _Scot_ was a learned and diligent person, as
the whole Treatise will bear witness; he understood the Latine Tongue,
and something of the Greek, and for the Hebrew, if he knew nothing of
it, yet he had procured very good helps, as appeareth in his expounding
the several words that are used in the Scriptures for supposed Witches
and Witchcraft; as also his quoting of divers of the Fathers, the
reformed Ministers, and many other Authors besides, which sufficiently
prove that he was not illiterate. 2. And that he was no wretched person,
is apparent, being a man of a good Family, a considerable Estate, a man
of a very commendable government, and a very godly and zealous
Protestant, as I have been informed by persons of worth and credit, and
is sufficiently proved by his Writing.
I have not been thus tedious to accumulate these instances of men that
have been censured, for opposing vulgar opinions, or writing of abstruse
Subjects, as circumstantial only, or for a flourish, but meerly as they
are introductive, necessary, and pertinent to the purpose I intend in
this Treatise, as I shall make manifest in these Rules or Observations
following, and shall add sufficient reasons to confirm the same.
[Sidenote: _Rule 1._]
1. That the generality of an opinion, or the numerousness of the persons
that hold and maintain it, are not a safe and warrantable ground to
receive it, or to adhere unto it: nor that it is safe or rational to
reject an opinion, because they are but few that do hold it, or the
number but small that maintain it. And this I shall labour to make good
by these sure and firm arguments following.
[Sidenote: Exod. 13. 2.]
[Sidenote: Mat. 24. 5.]
[Sidenote: Luke 6. 26.]
[Sidenote: _Lib. de vit. beat. Lactant. Duimar. Instit. l. 2. c. 3._]
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account