IF you be unlearned, and want the comfort of freends, repaire to some learned, godlie, and discreet preacher. If otherwise need require, go to a learned physician, who by learning and experience knoweth and can discerne the difference, signes, and causes of such diseases, as faithlesse men and unskilfull physicians impute to witchcraft.//
The xxiii. Chapter.285. 201.
A confutation of the force and vertue falselie ascribed to charmes and amulets, by the authorities of ancient writers, both divines and physicians.
Y meaning is not, that these words, in the bare letter, can doo anie thing towards your ease or comfort in this behalfe; or that it were wholesome for your bodie or soule to weare them about your necke: for then would I wish you to weare the whole Bible, which must needs be more effectuall than anie one parcell thereof. But I find not that the apostles, or anie of them in the primitive church, either carried S. Johns gospell, or anie Agnus Dei*[* Ital.] about them, to the end they might be preserved from bugges: neither that they looked into the foure corners of the house, or else in the roofe, or under the threshhold, to find matter of witchcraft, and so to burne it, to be freed from the same; according to the popish rules.Mal. Malef. part. 2. qu. 2. cap. 6. Neither did they by such and such verses or praiers made unto saints, at such or such houres, seeke to obteine grace: neither spake they of anie old women that used such trades. Neither did Christ at anie time use or command holie water, or crosses, &c: to be used as terrors against the divell, who was not affraid to assault himselfe, when he was on earth. And therefore a verie vaine thing it is to thinke that he feareth these trifles, or anie externall matter.1. Tim. 4, 7.
Origin. lib. 3. in Job. Let us then cast awaie these prophane and old wives fables. For(as Origen saith) Incantationes sunt dæmonū irrisiones idololatriæ fæx, animarum infatuatio, &c.
ChrysostomeJ. Chrysost. in Matth. saith; There be some that carrie about their necks a peece of a gospell. But** Marke that here was no latine service. is it not dailie read (saith he) and heard of all men? But if they be never the better for it, being put into their eares, how shall they be saved, by carrieng it about their necks? Idem. Ibid.And further he saith; Where is the vertue of the gospell? In the figure of the letter, or in the understanding of the sense? If in the figure, thou dooest well to weare it about thy/286. necke; but if in the understanding, then thou shouldest laie it up in thine heart. AugustineAugust. 26. quæ. ultim. saith; Let the faithfull ministers admonish and tell their people, that these magicall arts and incantations doo bring no remedie to the infirmities either of men or cattell, &c.
The heathen philosophers shall at the last daie confound the infidelitie and barbarous foolishnes of our christian or rather anti-christian and prophane witchmongers. For as Aristotle saith, that Incantamenta sunt muliercularum figmenta: so dooth Socrates (who was said to be cunning herein) affirme, that Incantationes sunt verba animas decipientia humanas. Others saie; Inscitæ pallium sunt carmina, maleficium, & incantatio. GalenGalen. in lib. de comitiali morbo. also saith, that such as impute the falling e/vill,285. [=203.] and such like diseases to divine matter, and not rather to naturall causes, are witches, conjurers, &c. HippocratesHippocrat. lib. de morbo sacro. calleth them arrogant; and in another place affirming that in his time there were manie deceivers and couseners, that would undertake to cure the falling evill, &c: by the power and helpe of divels, by burieng some lots or inchantments in the ground, or casting them into the sea, concludeth thus in their credit, that they are all knaves and couseners: for God is our onlie defender and deliverer. O notable sentence of a heathen philosopher!/
