witches who have been punished as the gravity of their crimes deserved; and in this has God’s justice been made manifest.
Canon 1. de Calumnia. Canones cum illorum, de sentent., excommunic. atrox, de injuria. in Institutio. S. Thom. 1. 2. q. 73. art. 9It may further be said that, when the injured person is innocent the crime is all the greater; for the severity of the punishment is regulated by the quality of the party injured, and the greater the enormity of the crime, the greater punishment it deserves; and therefore, that Hell may be increased for witches, God permits them to harm and to possess children. I know that the Theologians distinguish five causes for the affliction of men by devils, but I leave such argument to them; for I would not enquire too closely into the judgements of God, and shall always content myself to believe that the great Master of the Universe does nothing without good reason, since St. Paul speaks of Rom. 11.“The depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God.”
Chapter VI.
Whether One Witch can Harm Another.
