CHAP. III.
But to the Matter in hand, we see the natural Astrologers they go by a Rule, and their Wisdom and Knowledge in Things of Nature, it is declared by them from and by a Rule, else that they say would be meer Nonsense and Foolishness.
Yet I say, your natural Astrologers they are Witches, and have their Figure to judge the Effects of the Stars; but this Witchcraft is allowed by the Powers of the Nations.
So I say, these Witches that doth do Things by a Familiar Spirit, they have a Rule to walk by as the other hath; for as the Imagination of the other hath by the Study of the Figure, attained to give some Judgment upon the Effects of the Stars, upon a particular Person or Nation. So likewise those Witches that hath a Familiar Spirit, they have attained to this Familiar Spirit out of their Imagination of Reason, as I said before.
And this Familiar Spirit being begotten in themselves by the Strength of Imagination their Father; now understand thus much, that this diabolical Wisdom that is begotten in Man and Woman by the Imagination of Reason, the Devil is that Familiar Spirit that Men and Women do act by.
And after this Familiar Spirit is begotten in Man or Woman by Imagination their father, as I said before, then this Familiar Spirit of the Witch will motion in the Mind too fast, and pray unto the Host of Heaven, the Sun, Moon and Planets, supposing that the good Spirit in some of them, and imagining the evil Spirit or Devil to be in other some of them.
Now observe, when this Familiar Spirit is produced in them, then they observe every Motion of the Mind, and their Faith being in every Motion of their Minds, it produceth either some farther Knowledgein their own Apprehension, or else some Visions are presented to their Phantasies; for they have dedicated some certain Words to be said in their Minds motional, to be used when they would do any Feats, besides their Fasting and Prayer. And this Thing they have dedicated to enquire of, is that which they divine with, or tell any Thing from it, is much like unto the Astrologers, their Figure is dedicated for that Purpose, that he may tell Things from, and without the Knowledge of the Figure. He can tell nothing except he were skilled in it before, but the Figure was the Thing he came to know more than others at the first; for wonderful Things may be accomplished through the Imagination of Reason, when it hath set it self apart on purpose to attain unto such Things.
For I find by Experience within this seventeen Years, what strange Things hath been atchieved by Man and Woman, who hath given themselves up to an unknown God upon a Religious Account. Some hath by their Fasting and Prayer unto an unknown God, attained unto Visions, Apparitions, Appearance of Angels, Voices, and many other strange Things; yet altogether ignorant of the true God and the right Devil, and what Angels are; so that these Things hath been all within them, and they thought that God had revealed these Things unto them; when as they did attain unto these Things aforesaid by their own Endeavours; as manyQuakersand others can Witness at this Day, if they would, by hearkening to the Light within them, and Fasting, and such like. Neither did God present any Vision, or speak any Voice unto them, but they do produce those Things aforesaid by their own Imaginations.
So is it with Witches, they do raise Shapes and Voices out of themselves, and those Voices they hear, they are no other but motional Voices in themselves; and the ignorant People that believes them is Partakers of those motional Voices also with the Witch.
For their is no Spirit of the Devil without them, that doth assume any Shape, or speak any Voice unto the Witch, neither doth any Spirit without the Witch reveal any Knowledge unto them; it is all produced by their own wicked Imagination, who hath begotten within themselves that Familiar Spirit they deal with, and not from any Devil or Spirit without them.
But all cometh from the Imagination within, that is, the Devil and no other; yet this Familiar Spirit is produced from within them, to see Shapes, and hear motional Voices, meerly by watching the Motion of the Imagination that is placed in their Mindsor Hearts, even as theQuakersdo by hearkening to the Light within them, they do procure many strange Visions and motional Voices, but they being Groundless and Nonsensical they come to nothing.