A Discourse of Witchcraft

Exodus 22:18 You shall not suffer a witch to live.

This text contains one of the Judicial laws of Moses touching the punishment of witchcraft: which argument I have chosen to entreat of, for these causes:

First, because witchcraft is rife and common sin in these our days, and very many are entangled with it, being either practitioners thereof in their own persons, or at the least, yielding to seek for help and counsel of such as practice it.

Again, there be sundry men who receive it for a truth, that witchcraft is nothing else but a mere illusion, and witches nothing but persons deluded by the Devil. And this opinion takes place not only with the ignorant, but is held and maintained by such as are learned, who do avow it by word and writing, that there be no witches, but as I said before.

Upon these and such like considerations, I have been moved to undertake the interpretation of this judicial law, as a sufficient ground of the doctrine which shall be delivered. In handling of which, two things are distinctly to be considered. The first, what is a witch. The second, what is her due and deserved punishment. And both these being opened and handled, the whole meaning of the law will the better appear.

For the first. To give the true description of a witch, is a matter of great difficulty, because there be many differences and diversities of opinions touching this point. Therefore, that we may properly and truly define a witch, we must first pause a while in opening the nature of witchcraft, as far as it is delivered in the books of the Old and New Testament, and may be gathered out of the true experience of learned and godly men.

Touching witchcraft therefore I will consider three points: 1. What witchcraft is. 2. What is the ground of the whole practice thereof. 3. How many kinds and differences there be of it.