Firmly leaning on the foundation of Scripture, I shall not rashly disagree.

WHAT THE INFAMOUS MAGICIAN IS.

Chapter I.

The infamous magician.

The name of the "infamous magician" magus is more general and not constricted by such narrow boundaries; however, the designation of "witches" lamiae original: "lamiarum." Weyer uses this term specifically for the women accused of witchcraft, whom he often views as mentally ill. and "poisoners" original: "veneficarum" is circumscribed by stricter limits. I define a Magician as one who, having been voluntarily taught by a demon, by others, or from books, attempts to illicitly summon a demon for some deceptive, fallacious, or otherwise playful service. He does this according to his own will, using a prescribed formula of barbaric, unknown, or known words—whether recited, whispered, or applied—or by any characters, exorcisms, dire curses, ceremonies, solemn rites, or frequently attached objects. He seeks to have the demon show itself in an assumed or visible image, or reveal itself in some other way, and respond to his questions by voice, whisper, pictures, signs, or any other way; or he is one who strives to perform some other work in a similar manner beyond the laws of nature. Under this name I also include those who, called by various names among the Hebrews, Greeks, and Latins, predict the future in a superstitious and forbidden manner.

Sorcerer original Greek: "goēs"

This magician is called a sorcerer or an enchanter original Greek: "epōdon" by the Greeks (though this latter word is a less general name for magicians). It appears that he frequently attempts to perform something above the order of nature: in shaping the air into many false forms, in displaying any kind of spectacle, in bringing forth the ghosts of the dead, or in showing hidden or otherwise distant things. In short, he is believed to perform miracles here.

Enchanter original Greek: "epōdos"

They even dare to call him by the more honorable term "enchanter," though with a certain distinction, as if they think the former should be condemned as one devoted to illicit arts, while the latter is praiseworthy;

although both are bound to the deceptive rites of demons under the names of angels.

Of this faction were those famous magicians of Pharaoh, who are thrust forward by everyone as soon as there is a debate or consultation about witches, as if the actions of both were the same—though I perceive them to differ widely. Therefore, so that this power (or rather, these fables and mockeries) of magicians may be more open to the view of all, and the distinction between these men and those women meaning the accused "witches" may be more clearly known, come, let us contemplate with eyes by no means deceived, and investigate with skillful search the attempts, works, and power of Pharaoh's magicians or sorcerers.

Exodus 7. The true form in the work.

In the hand of Moses, the chosen legate of Almighty God to Pharaoh, a rod is truly transformed by the word of God into a living dragon or serpent. By this evidence, he testifies that he was sent by the only Creator of heaven and earth and all things within them—for it belongs to Him alone to create and truly transmute things.

The deceptions of Pharaoh's magicians.

But as for the fact that Scripture says the same thing was done by Pharaoh's magicians through incantations, one who looks more deeply into the matter will understand that it was not the same metamorphosis that was truly shown by Moses. Instead, it was at most a deceptive form praestigia original: "praestigiosam formam." Weyer uses this term to denote optical illusions or demonic tricks rather than physical reality. of a serpent, cast before the eyes of the impious king. For this reason, the lying face of the magical vanity was swallowed by the true serpent of Moses as a revelation of the trickery, just as a lie is conquered and absorbed by the truth.

Book 2 of the Jewish Antiquities.

Therefore, according to the testimony of Josephus Flavius Josephus, a 1st-century Romano-Jewish historian., Moses says: "Now I shall clearly declare that these are not deceptions praestigiae imposing upon the unwary with the appearance of truth, but the very power of God, which shall be proof of that almighty will among the unbelieving." And with this word, he throws the rod upon the ground, commanding that it become a serpent; which...