not suffer a witch] Witchcraft is here forbidden, Deuteronomy 18:10. and that upon paine of death, 1 Samuel 28:9. By Witch is here meant any one that hath any dealings with the devil, by any compact or confederacie whatsoever: the word in the Originall, is of the Feminine Gender, because the Devils craft most prevailes with womens weakenesse, in that kinde: but there are men Witches as well as women, Leviticus 20:27. and their sinne as hainous, and their punishment as grievous: and it likewise signifieth one that changeth any thing before the sight, (as Jugglers doe) but if it be by slight of hand, without diabolicall art; it is not here condemned. Some have thought Witches should not die, unlesse they had taken away the life of mankinde; but they are mistaken, both for the act of the Witch, and for the guilt: for first, the act of killing any one in such a way, as is called witchcraft, is not the act of the Witch, but of the Devill; and sometimes it is rather his act to faine it, then his act to do it; for such is his craft that where God hath given him a commission to doe hurt; or by his great knowledge (being a spirit and of long experience) he doth foresee in naturall causes (though concealed from others) some imminent evill, he stirreth up malice betwixt the Witch, and the party, and offereth himselfe (for his, or her satisfaction) to bring the evill upon him, wherein the Witch hath no part, but a wicked will; and in that the devil is more wicked then the Witch, and would doe what evill he can, though she would entreat him to the contrary: But why then must the Witch be put to death? Answ. Because of the league and confederacie with the devil, which is high treason against God; because he is Gods chiefest enemie, and therefore though no hurt insue this contract at all, the Witch deserves present, and certaine death for the contract it selfe.