through their meanes.

I conclude with that memorable speech of a most noble and learned
man,[ff] The Diuell is the Author and principall of all that euill which
the Witch or Wisard committeth, not thereby to make them more powerfull,
but to deceiue them by credulity and ouer-light beliefe, and to get
himselfe a companion of his impiety, cruelty, and hatred, which he
beareth both to God and man; and also of eternall damnation: for indeed
it is his worke, which the foolish and doating wisards coniecture is
brought to passe by the words and inchantments which they vtter: and is
very busie thus to colour his proceedings, which neuer come abroad in
their owne likenesse, because he enuieth the blessed estate of man, and
his eternall saluation purchased by the perfect obedience of Christ the
Redeemer, and hateth that Image of God which hee beholdeth in him; much
like the Panther,[gg] who when hee cannot get hold of the man himselfe,
is so inflamed with rage, that he teareth his picture in peeces
violently which is cast vpon the ground to hinder his pursuit of the
hunter who hath carried away his whelpes. And [hh]so as _Lactantius_
speaketh, these vncleane spirits cast from heauen, wander vp and downe
the earth, compasse land and sea, seeking to bring men to destruction as
a consort of their owne desperate and irrecouerable estate.

[Footnote ff: _Iulius Scaliger de subtilitate, ad Cardanum,
exercitatione 349. an venefici credulitas vim addat malefice._]

[Footnote gg: _Basilius Homilia 21. in diuersos Scriptura locos
sermone habito in non procul a fine._]

[Footnote hh: _Lib. 2. qui est de origine erroris cap. 15._]