the practisers thereof themselues by their owne voluntary confessions
made, or procured by order of Iustice (according to the manner of that
Countrey where they be questioned) haue acknowledged, or is manifested
by the sundry mischiefes done of them vnto others, proued by impartiall
testimonies vpon oath, and by vehement presumptions confirmed, or else
communicated vnto vs in the learned Treatises, and discourses of ancient
and late Writers gathered from the same grounds. And[f] although this
Hellish Art be not now so frequent as heretofore, since the Pagans haue
beene conuerted vnto Christianity, and the thick fogges of Popery
ouer-mantling the bright shining beames of the Gospel of _Iesus Christ_
(who came to dissolue the workes of the Diuell _.1. Ioh. 3. 8._) and
were by the sincere and powerfull preaching therof dispersed; yet
considering these bee the last times, dayes euill & dangerous, fore-told
that should come, _2. Tim. 3. 1._ in which iniquity must abound, _Mat.
24. 12._ and as a raging deluge ouer-runne all, so that Faith shall
scarce be found vpon earth, _Luk. 18. 8._ and the Diuell loosed from his
thousand yeares imprisonment, [g]_Reuel. 20. 3._ enraged with great
wrath walketh about, and seeketh whom he may deuoure _.1. Pet. 5. 8_.
Because he knoweth hee hath but a short time, _Reu. 12. 12._ Before I
enter into the particularity of the narration intended, it shall be
materiall to set downe some generall propositions, as a handfull of
gleanings gathered in the plentifull haruest of such learned men, who
haue written of this argument, whereby the erronious may be recalled,
the weake strengthened, the ignorant informed, and such as iudge aright
already, confirmed: and among many other these as chiefe, all which you
shall see exemplified in the following Discourse.

[Footnote b: _Augustinus de Ciuitate Dei. lib. 21. cap. 14._]

[Footnote c: _Iustinus in Epitome Trogi Pompeij. lib. 1._]