out, or that the Devil might fetch them, or the like: and no
marvel, for he that is so hardy to wish damnation, or other bad
curses to himself, or dearest relations; will not stick to wish
evil to the silly Beast, in his madness.

Atten. Well, I see still that this Badman was a desperate villain.
But pray, Sir, since you have gone thus far, now shew me whence
this evil of cursing ariseth, and also what dishonour it bringeth
to God; for I easily discern that it doth bring damnation to the
soul.

Wise. This evil of Cursing ariseth, in general, from the desperate
wickedness of the heart, but particularly from, {36a} {36b} 1.
Envie, which is, as I apprehend, the leading sin to Witchcraft. 2.
It also ariseth from Pride which was the sin of the fallen Angels;
3. It ariseth too from Scorn and contempt of others: 4. But for
a man to curse himself, must needs arise from desperate Madness.

The {36c} dishonour that it bringeth to God, is this. It taketh
away from him his Authority, in whose power it is onely, to Bless
and Curse; not to Curse wickedly, as Mr. Badman, but justly, and
righteously, giving by his Curse to those that are wicked, the due
Reward of their deeds.

Besides, these wicked men, in their wicked cursing of their
Neighbour, &c. do even Curse God himself in his handy work. Man is
Gods Image, and to curse wickedly the Image of God, is to curse God
himself. {36d} Therefore as when men wickedly swear, they rend,
and tare Gods Name, and make him, as much as in them lies, the
avoucher and approver of all their wickedness; so he that curseth