It matters not, saith Paracelsus, whether it be God or the Devil, Angels or unclean spirits cure him, so that he be eased. If a man fall into a ditch, as he prosecutes it, what matters it whether a friend or an enemy help him out? and if I be troubled with such a malady, what care I whether the devil himselfe, or any of his ministers by Gods permission redeem me?

He calls a Magician Gods Minister and his Vicar, applying that of vos estis dii prophanely to them, for which he is lashed by T. Erastus part. 1. fol. 45. And elsewhere he encourageth his patients to have a good faith, a strong imagination, and they shall finde the effects; let Divines say to the contrary what they will.

He proves and contends that many diseases cannot otherwise be cured. Incantatione orti incantatione curari debent; if they be caused by incantation, they must be cured by incantation. Constantinus lib. 4. approves of such remedies: Bartolus the Lawyer, Peter Ærodius rerum Judic. lib. 3. tit. 7. Salicetus Godefridus, with others of that sect, allow of them; modò sint ad sanitatem, quæ à magis fiunt, secùs non, so they be for the parties good, or not at all.

But these men are confuted by Remigius, Bodinus, dæm. lib. 3. cap. 2. Godelmannus lib. 1. cap. 8. Wierus, Delrio lib. 6. quæst. 2. Tom. 3. mag. inquis. Erastus de Lamiis; all our Divines, Schoolmen, and such as write cases of conscience are against it, the Scripture it self absolutely forbids it as a mortall sinne, Levit. cap. 18. 19. 20. Deut. 18. &c. Rom. 8. 19. Evill is not to be done, that good may come of it.

Much better it were for such patients that are so troubled, to endure a little misery in this life, then to hazard their souls health for ever, and as Delrio counselleth, much better dye, then be so cured.

Some take upon them to expell Devils by naturall remedies, and magicall exorcismes, which they seem to approve out of the practice of the primitive Church, as that above cited of Josephus, Eleazar, Ireneus, Tertullian, Austin. Eusebius makes mention of such, and Magick it self hath been publickly professed in some Universities, as of old in Salamanca in Spain, and Cracovia in Poland: but condemned Anno 1318. by the Chancellor and University of Paris.

Our Pontificiall writers retain many of these adjurations, and forms of exorcisms still in the Church; besides those in Baptisme used, they exorcise meats, and such as are possessed, as they hold, in Christs name. Read Hierom. Mengus cap. 3. Pet. Tyreus, part. 3. cap. 8. what exorcismes they prescribe, besides those ordinary means of fire, suffumigations, lights, cutting the aire with swords, cap. 57. hearbs, Odours: Of which Tostatus treats, 2. Reg. cap. 16. quæst. 43. you shall finde many vain and frivolous superstitious formes of exorcismes among them, not to be tolerated, or endured.