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
Having now sufficiently proved, that the Scriptures and sound Reason are
the proper Mediums to decide these difficulties by, we shall in the next
place shew the invalidity of some ways used by the most Authors, to
prove and defend these Tenents, and _ab uno disce omnes_, take Mr.
_Glanvil_ for all, in his own words: “That this being matter of fact, is
only capable of the evidence of authority and sense: and by both these,
the being of Witches and Diabolical Contracts, is most abundantly
confirmed.” To which we shall give this smart Reply. Not to make the
Proposition universal, generally to deny the evidence of authority and
sense; no, far be it from me to run into that wild and senseless
absurdity, which were in a manner to destroy the credibility of all
humane testimony: But we shall here speak of the evidence of authority
and sense with this restriction and limitation, to these Particulars. 1.
Those Authors that write of Apparitions and Spirits. 2. Those that treat
of Diabolical Leagues and Contracts. 3. Those that mention the Devil
sucking of the Witches body, carnal Copulation with them, their being
changed into Hares, Dogs, Cats, and Wolves, and the like. These Authors
we say are to be read with caution, and their relations not to be
credited, except better proof be given to evidence the matters of fact,
than hitherto hath been brought by any, and that for these especial
reasons and necessary cautions.
[Sidenote: _Epist._ _lib._ 7. _pag._ 252.]
[Sidenote: _De defect. oracul._ _p. mihi_ 700.]
[Sidenote: _Plutarch. in vit. Marc. Brut._ _pag._ 361.]
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