The triall of witch-craft, shewing the true and right methode of the discouery: with a confutation of erroneous wayes / By Iohn Cotta, doctor in physicke.

  • John Cotta
Date:
1616
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The triall of witch-craft, shewing the true and right methode of the discouery: with a confutation of erroneous wayes / By Iohn Cotta, doctor in physicke. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    may walke herein before God and men., hath beene in this Treatife formerly difquired and difeourfed. Therein (intelli¬ gent Reader) thou maid obferuetwo forts of mamfeft Wit¬ ches : The one is offered vnto the outward fenfc, in his appa¬ rent and palpable Sorcerous workes: The other is made eai¬ de nt by plaine demonftration out of the facred word of truth. It hath euer preuailed with vulgar cuftome(becaule molt ien- (ible of the j mo ft grofle harmes more open tofenie) to caft chiefely,or for the moft part, the eye and common iealoufie vpon the firft kinde. The other kinde (becaufe .vfually left no¬ ted of fenfe, and therefore efteemed leaft harmefull to men) is both in the iuft protradlion or production thereof vnto the barre of Iuft ice much m,ore rare and feldome,Sc aifo in com¬ mon and vulgar obferuation is little or not at all confide red. Hence it proceeaeth,that moft men do doubtfully refolue thereof; Yea, fome men admire a worth therein, others e- fteeme it of reafonabk and commendable vfc^vnto the fans- fadVion of their curiofities, in things fecret and hidden from the knowledge of man. But fmee Almighty God hath more fpecially ( as is in the former Treatife prouedJboth giuen moft certaine and plaine indication, and information of this kinde, by theexprefted fruits thereof, and the neceffary inference of familiarity ana confutation with other Spirits then himfelfe -, IfkiahS.ver'? 29 .and hath alfofooft in fo diuersplaces iterated the gr<t« abomination,and his high deteftation thereof,it is not on -l 5/ the fauing duety ofallpriuate men to take more diligent a> d warie notice thereof,thereby to efehew and Bye from it, ac¬ cording vnto Gods expreffe charge and command; but t is the charge ofPrinces 8c Magiftrates alfo,ro fulfill therby the commanded execution of Gods holy wrath and vengeance vpon it;for which pleaftng feruice and facriftce vnto him Al¬ mighty God hath vpon the euerlafting records of hishoiy word fixed for euer the fo memorable praife,8c comendation of thofe famous Princes, who haue dedicated themfelues vn¬ to his will therein. As it hath been declared by what meane Witches and Sorcerersjin two kindes (cueraily may be marft
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