The sixt Booke. 111. 84.

The first Chapter.

The exposition of this Hebrue word Chasaph, wherein is answered the objection conteined in Exodus 22. to wit: Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live, and of Simon Magus. Acts. 8.

HASAPH, being an Hebrue word, is Latined Veneficium, and is in English, poisoning, or witchcraft; if you will so have it. The Hebrue sentence written in Exodus, 22. is by the 70. interpretors translated thus into Greeke, Φαρμακοῦς οὐκ ἐπιζεώσετε, which in Latine is, Veneficos (sive) veneficas non retinebitis in vita, in English, You shall not suffer anie poisoners, or (as it is translated) witches to live. The which sentence JosephusJoseph. in Judæorum antiquitat. an Hebrue borne, and a man of great estimation, learning and fame, interpreteth in this wise; Let none of the children of Israel have any poison that is deadlie, or prepared to anie hurtfull use. If anie be apprehended with such stuffe, let him be put to death, and suffer that which he ment to doo to them, for whom he prepared it. The Rabbins exposition agree heerewithall. Lex Cornelia differeth not from this sense, to wit, that he must suffer death, which either maketh, selleth, or hath anie poison, to the intent to kill anie man. This word is found in these places following: Exodus. 22, 18. Deut. 18, 10. 2. Sam. 9, 22. Dan. 2, 2. 2. Chr. 33, 6. Esay. 47, 9, 12. Malach, 3, 5. Jerem. 27, 9. Mich. 5, 2. Nah. 3, 4. bis. Howbeit, in all our English/112. translations, Chasaph is translated, witchcraft.

And bicause I will avoid prolixitie and contention both at once, I will admit that Veneficæ were such witches, as with their poisons did much hurt among the children of Israell; and I will not denie that there remaine such untill this daie, bewitching men, and making them beleeve, that by vertue of words, and certeine ceremonies, they bring to passe such mischeefes, and intoxications, as they indeed accomplish by poisons. And this abuse in cousenage of people, together with the taking of Gods name in vaine, in manie places of the scripture is reprooved, especiallie by the name of witchcraft, even where no poisons are. According to the sense which S. Paule useth to the GalathiansGal. 3, 1. in these words, where he sheweth plainelie, that the true signification of witchcraft is cousenage; O ye foolish Galathians (saith he) who hath bewitched you? to wit, cousened or abused you, making you beleeve a thing which is neither so nor so. Whereby he meaneth not to aske of them, who have with charmes, &c: or with poisons deprived them of their health, life, cattell, or children, &c: but who hath abused or cousened them, to make them beleeve lies. This phrase is also used by Job.Job. 15, 12. 15. But that we may be throughlie resolved of the true meaning of this phrase used by Paule, Gal. 3. let us examine the description of a notable witch called Simon Magus, made by S. Luke;Acts. 8, 9. There was (saith he) in the citie of Samaria, a certeine man called Simon,/85. which used witchcraft, and bewitched the people of Samaria, saieng that he himself was some great man. I demand, in what other thing here do we see anie witchcraft, than that he abused the people, making them beleeve he could worke miracles, whereas in truth he could doo no such thing; as manifestlie may appeare in the 13. and 19. verses of the same chapter: where he wondered at the miracles wrought by the apostles, and would have purchased with monie the power of the Holy-ghost to worke wonders.

It will be said,Acts. 8, 11. the people had reason to beleeve him, bicause it is written, that he of long time had bewitched them with sorceries. But let the bewitched Galathians be a warning both to the bewitched Samaritans, and to all other that are cousened or bewitched through false doctrine, or legierdemaine; least while they attend to such fables and lies, they be brought into ignorance,/113. and so in time be led with them awaie from God. And finallie, let us all abandon such witches and couseners, as with Simon Magus set themselves in the place of God, boasting that they can doo miracles, expound dreames, foretell things to come, raise the dead, &c: which are the workes of the Holy-ghost,1. Reg. 8, 39.
Matth. 9. 4. 12. 25. 22.
Acts. 1, 24. & 15, 8.
Rom. 8, 27.
Mark. 2.
Luk. 6, 17. & 11. & 9.
Joh. 1 & 2. & 6. & 13.
Apoc. 2. & 3.
Luk. 11, 29. who onlie searcheth the heart and reines, and onelie worketh great wonders, which are now staied and accomplished in Christ, in whome who so stedfastlie beleeveth shall not need to be by such meanes resolved or confirmed in his doctrine and gospell. And as for the unfaithfull, they shall have none other miracle shewed unto them, but the signe of Jonas the prophet.

And therefore I saie, whatsoever they be that with Simon Magus take upon them to worke such wonders, by soothsaieng, sorcerie, or witchcraft, are but liers,Eccl. 34, 5. deceivers, and couseners, according to Syrachs saieng; Sorcerie, witchcraft, soothsaieng, and dreames, are but vanitie,Eccl. 34, 8. and the lawe shalbe fulfilled without such lies. God commanded the people, that they should not regard them that wrought with spirits,Levi. 19, 31. nor soothsaiers: for the estimation that was attributed unto them, offended God.