On Witches

DE LAMIIS

it seems the edict should be commended, which provided that one should not fast on the Lord's Day Sunday.
As found in Roman theology, thesis 4. 5. Truly, that it is permitted to eat meat in a time of pressing necessity (provided that offense, contempt, and gluttony are absent) on days forbidden by the Roman Pontiff The Pope, others defend from these words of Christ: "Hear and understand: it is not what enters into the mouth that defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this makes a man unclean." original: "Audite & intelligite: non quod ingreditur in os..." — Matthew 15:11 Likewise from Paul to the Colossians, chapter 2: "Let no one judge you in food or drink, or regarding a festival day, or a new moon, or the Sabbaths, which are a shadow of things to come, but the body is of Christ." And later: "If you have died with Christ to the elements of the world, why, as though living in the world, are you held by decrees? Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle; all of which perish with use according to the precepts and doctrines of men, which indeed have a show of wisdom in superstition and humility of mind, and neglecting of the body, not in any honor to the satisfying of the flesh."
thesis 4. To Timothy he also writes here: "The Spirit speaks certainly, that in later times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons through the hypocrisy of liars, having their conscience seared with a hot iron, forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by the faithful and by those who have known the truth; because everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it be received with thanksgiving; for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer. If you remind the brothers of these things, you will be a good minister of JESUS Christ, nourished in the words of faith and of good doctrine, which you have followed. But reject profane and old wives' fables." 1 Timothy 4:1-7 These are the words of Paul.

Likewise: "Eat everything that is sold in the meat market, asking nothing for the sake of conscience. For the earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof." 1 Corinthians 10. Psalm 23.

Furthermore, concerning the fact that by a pact they are forced to hide certain crimes in confession: Hiding crimes in confession. Who, I ask, will narrate each sin distinctly? When for the most part all our thoughts, words, and actions are stained with the blot of sin? Or by what testimony of the divine will shall it be proven that such an exact narration of every single crime is necessary? By what order did that publican in the temple depart, or the thief on the cross? Luke 18. 23. The author argues that these biblical figures were forgiven through simple faith and repentance, rather than a detailed list of sins as required in formal confession.

So too, it is considered as grave a crime to spit on the ground at the time of the elevation Spitting on the ground at the time of the elevation. The "elevation" refers to the moment in the Mass when the priest raises the bread and wine, believed to be the body and blood of Christ. as it is to keep spittle in the mouth. And useless words uttered without the Mass deserve the same punishment as those brought forth during its performance. Uttering useless words during the Mass. To this may be added the crime committed in secretly treading upon the cross; Secretly treading upon the cross. likewise, that Lamiae original: "Lamiæ" — witches or female demons enter the temple on the Lord’s Day before the consecration of the lustral water; Entering the temple on the Lord's Day before the consecration of the lustral water. Lustral water is "Holy Water" used for ritual purification. and a thousand other ravings of old women, brought here by the demon so that, under the pretext of religion, he might introduce and establish superstition and impiety. Here, any godly person clearly sees the sinew of this deceptive "pact."

Most rightly, therefore, Augustine says: In Book 1 of On Christian Doctrine; also read in canon 26, question 2. "All arts of this kind, whether trifling or noxious superstition, arising from a certain pestilential society of men and demons—as if a pact of unfaithful and deceitful friendship—are to be utterly repudiated." And Origen: Book 3 on Job. "The incantations of the devil are seductions, the mockeries of demons, the dregs of idolatry, the infatuation of souls, and the stumbling block of hearts."

WHICH MEN ARE MORE

exposed to the illusions and arts of demons.

Chapter IX.

Here, furthermore, that class of men is most especially attacked which is of such a temperament, whether from external causes...