seemeth good vnto himselfe. So _Pharaohs_[x] Magitians could turne water
into bloud, their roddes into serpents, produce frogges, &c. But when it
came to the base vermine, to make lice, they were pusled, and
acknowledged their imbecillity, confessing, _Digitus Dei est_,[u] Gods
finger is here, _Exod. 18. 19_. For if they could effect and bring to
passe all mischieuous designements without his sufferance, it would
inferre a weakenesse, and conclude a defect of[z] power in him, as not
sufficient to oppose their strength, supplant their force, and auoid
their stratagems. And we must not imagine that the practioners of these
damnable Arts of which sexe soeuer, be they men or women, do performe
those mischifes which they effect, by their owne skills or such meanes
as they vse, of which sort bee the bones of dead mens skuls, Toades,
Characters, Images, &c. But through the cooperation of the Diuell, who
is by nature subtile, by long experience instructed, swift to produceth
strange works, & to humane vnderstanding admirable. Yet[aa] he will haue
those his vassals perswaded of some great benefit bestowed vpon them,
whereby they are inabled to helpe and hurt, whom, how, and when they
list; and all to indeere them, & by making them partakers in his
villany, being strongly bound in his seruice, & stedfastly continued in
the same, might more grieuously offend God, and bring iust condemnation
vpon themselues. And for the greater, and more forceable inticing
allurement hereunto, hee promiseth to giue and doe many things for their
sakes, and reueale to them hidden secrets, and future euents, such[bb]
as he himselfe purposeth to doe, or knoweth by naturall signes shall
come to passe. So then to conclude, in[cc] euery Magicall action, there
must be a concurrence of these three. First, the permitting will of God.
Secondly, the suggestion of the Diuell, and his power cooperating.
Thirdly, the desire and consent of the Sorcerer; and if[dd] any of these
be wanting, no trick of witch-craft can be performed. For if God did not
suffer it, neither the Diuell, nor the Witch could preuaile to do any