ABSTRACT

The Writers upon this Subject before me seem to have all been at a loss to fix the Original of Magick as an Art Diabolical, and they would fain have us believe it was in Practice in the Antediluvean World. This I have not denied, nor shall I deny it still; but granting the Devil to have a Conquest upon the first Woman, and by her Weakness and Treachery drawing her Husband into the same Snare, we may give up all their Race for as black as Hell could make them: And indeed the sacred Text describes them in Terms as black as can well be expressed, Gen. vi. 12. God looked upon the Earth and behold it was corrupt, for all Flesh had corrupted his way upon the Earth; and ver. 13. The Earth is filled with Violence; and ver. 5. speaking of Man, the Imagination of the Thought of his Heart was only Evil continually; and the Wickedness of Man was great upon the Earth: upon this Account, I say, I gave up all that Race in the Beginning of this Work; and be it so, or be it only supposed to be so, ‘tis much the same, nor is it worth disputing with any Body; if the Devil had the Management of them, as ‘tis evident he had, much less could not be expected, let that part go.