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
2. It is one thing barely to affirm, and another thing to prove
sufficiently and fully: For though they boldly alledge, that these
things are sufficiently proved by Authors of unquestionable credit and
verity, we must return a flat negative, and that for these reasons. 1.
Let them shew us any one Author of credible veracity, that ever was ear
or eye-witness of the Devils making of a visible and corporeal League or
Bargain with the Witches, or that he ever suckt upon their bodies, or
that he had carnal Copulation with them, or that by the experience of
his senses ever certainly knew a man really transubstantiated and
transformed into a Wolf, or a Wolf into a man, and we will yield the
whole Cause. But we must assert and truly affirm, that this pretence of
theirs, that these things are sufficiently proved by Historians of good
credit, is a meer falsity, and a lying flourish of vain words. There are
(we confess) a multitude of vain and lying stories, amassed up together
in the Writings of Demonographers and Witchmongers of strange and odd
Apparitions, Feats, Confessions, and such like; but never any one
positive proof of any of these four particulars by any Authors of credit
and reputation: and this we dare boldly aver to the world. 2. Let them
produce any two Witnesses that were of honesty and integrity, sound
understandings and ability, that ever were present, and ear and
eye-witnesses of a visible, vocal, and corporeal League made betwixt the
Devil and the Witch; or let them tell us who was by, and watched, and
really and truly saw the Devil suck upon some part of the Witches body;
or who were the Chamberlains, Pimps or Panders, when the Devil and the
Witch committed carnal Copulation; or who were ever present when a Witch
was changed into a Cat, a Dog, an Hare, or a Wolf. If they can but bring
forth any two credible Witnesses to prove these things by, then we shall
believe them, but we must assert that never any such two could be
produced yet: and therefore cannot but wonder at the shameless impudence
of such persons, that dare affirm these things that never were, nor can
be proved, and yet have not blushed to vent and trumpet forth such
execrable and abominable lyes to the World. Mr. _Glanvil_ confidently
affirms these things to be matters of fact, and _affirmanti incumbit
probatio_, let him produce his Witnesses, and if they be persons of
judgment, veracity, and impartiality, then we shall accept their proof;
but it is not figments, supposals, weak presumptions, or apparent
falsities that will perform it; for that which never was acted, can
never truly be proved, and things that appear not, are as though they
were not; therefore he must produce his testimonies, or lose both his
cause and credit, and must be taken for an Assertor of never-proved
Fables. _Lying lips are abomination unto the Lord: but they that deal
truly are his delight._
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