Mine owne opinion and resolution of the nature of spirits, and of the divell, with his properties.
UT P. Mart. in loc. com. 9. sect. 14.to use few words in a long matter, and plaine termes in a doubtfull case, this is mine opinion concerning this present argument. First, that divels are spirits, and no bodies. For (as Peter Martyr saith) spirits and bodies are by antithesis opposed one to another: so as a bodie is no spirit, nor a spirit a bodie. And that the divell, whether he be manie or one (for by the waie you shall understand, that he is so spoken of in the scriptures, as though there were abuta 1. Sam. 22.
Luk. 8.
John. 8.
Eph. 6.
2. Tim. 2.
1. Pet. 5. one, and sometimes as though bone/541. b Coloss. 1, verse. 16.
1. Cor. 10.
Matth. 8, &, 10.
Luke. 4. were manie legions, the sense whereof I have alreadie declared according to Calvins opinion, he is a creature made by God, and that for vengeance, as it is cwrittenc Sap. 1.
Apocal. 4. in Eccl. 39. verse. 28: and of himselfe naught, though emploied by God to necessarie and good purposes. For in places, where it is written, that dalld 1. Tim. 4, 4 the creatures of God are good; and againe, when God, in the creation of the world, esawee Gen. 1. all that he had made was good: the divell is not comprehended within those words of commendation. For it is written that he was a fmurthererf Gen. 8. 44. from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, bicause there is no truth in him; but when he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his owne, as being a lier, and the father of lies, and (as John saith)1. Joh. 3. 8.
Isai. 54. 16. a sinner from the beginning. Neither was his creation (so farre as I can find) in that weeke that God made man, and those other creatures mentioned in Genesis the first; and yet God created him purposelie to destroie. I take his substance to be such as no man can by learning define, nor by wisedome search out. M. DeeringEdw. Deering, in his read. upon the Hebr. 1. reading the 6. saith, that Paule himselfe, reckoning up principalities, powers, &c: addeth, Everie name that is named in this world, or in the world to come. A cleere sentence (saith he) of Paules modestie, in confessing a holie ignorance of the state/388. of angels: which name is also given to divels in other places of the scripture. His essence also and his forme is so proper and peculiar (in mine opinion) unto himselfe, as he himselfe cannot alter it, but must needs be content therewith, as with that which God hath ordeined for him,Eph. 6, 12.
Col. 2, 16.
Matth. 25. and assigned unto him, as peculiarlie as he hath given to us our substance without power to alter the same at our pleasures. For we find not that a spirit can make a bodie, more than a bodie can make a spirit: the spirit of God excepted, which is omnipotent. Nevertheles, I learne that their nature is prone to all mischeefe: for as the verie signification of an enimie and an accuser is wrapped up in Sathan and Diabolus;1. Pet. 5. so dooth Christ himselfe declare him to be in the thirteenth of Matthew.Idem ibid. And therefore he brooketh well his name: for he lieth dailie in wait, not onelie to corrupt, but also to destroie mankind;Matt. 25. 41. being (I saie) the verie tormentor appointed by God to afflict the wicked in this world with wicked temptations, and in the world to come with hell fier. But I may not here forget how M. Mal.Mal. malef. par. 1. quæ. 5. and the residue of that crew doo ex/pound542. this word Diabolus: for Dia (saie they) is Duo, and Bolus is Morsellus;The etymon of the word Diabolus. whereby they gather that the divell eateth up a man both bodie and soule at two morselles. Whereas in truth the wicked may be said to eate up and swallowe downe the divell, rather than the divell to eate up them; though it may well be said by a figure, that the divell like a roring lion seeketh whome he may devoure: which is ment of the soule and spirituall devouring, as verie novices in religion may judge.
The xxxiii. Chapter.
Against fond witchmongers, and their opinions concerning corporall divels.
OW, how Brian Darcies he spirits and shee spirits, Tittie and Tiffin, Suckin and Pidgin, Liard and Robin, &c: his white spirits and blacke spirits, graie spirits and red spirits, divell tode and divell lambe, divels cat and divels dam, agree herewithall, or can stand consonant with the word of GOD, or true philosophie, let heaven and earth judge. In the meane time, let anie man with good consideration peruse that booke published by W. W.The booke of W. W. published, &c. and it shall suffice to satisfie him in all that may be required touching the vanities of the witches examinations, confessions, and executions: where, though the tale be told onlie of the accusers part, without anie other answer of theirs than their adversarie setteth downe; mine assertion will be sufficientlie prooved true. And bicause it seemeth to be performed with some kind of authoritie, I will saie no more for the confutation thereof, but referre you to the booke it selfe; whereto if nothing be added that may make to their reproch, I dare warrant nothing is left out that may serve to their condemnation. See whether the witnesses be not single of what credit, sex and age they are; namelie lewd, miserable, and envious poore people; most of them which/389. speake to anie purpose being old women, & children of the age of 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. or 9. yeares.
And note how and what the witches confesse, and see of what weight and importance the causes are; whether their confessions/543. be not woonne through hope of favour, and extorted by flatterie or threats, without proofe. But in so much as there were not past seventeene or eighteene condemned at once at S. OseesAt S. Osees 17. or 18. witches cōdemned at once. in the countie of Essex, being a whole parish (though of no great quantitie) I will saie the lesse: trusting that by this time there remaine not manie in that parish. If anie be yet behind, I doubt not, but Brian Darcie will find them out; who, if he lacke aid, Richard Gallis of Windesor were meete to be associated with him; which Gallis hath set foorth another booke to that effect, of certeine witches of Windsore executed at Abington. But with what impudencie and dishonestie he hath finished it, with what lies and forgeries he hath furnished it, what follie and frensie he hath uttered in it; I am ashamed to report: and therefore being but a two pennie booke, I had rather desire you to buie it, and so to peruse it, than to fill my booke with such beastlie stuffe.
The xxxiiii. Chapter.
A conclusion wherein the Spirit of spirits is described, by the illumination of which spirit all spirits are to be tried: with a confutation of the Pneumatomachi flatlie denieng the divinitie of this Spirit.