Magic and the 10 Commandments

[Scott]

Which of the 10 commandments does the practice of magic violate?

 

[VirginiaHuguenot]

Off hand, I would look to the first and second commandments:

Q105: What are the sins forbidden in the first commandment?
A105: The sins forbidden in the first commandment are, atheism, in denying or not having a God;[1] Idolatry, in having or worshipping more gods than one, or any with or instead of the true God;[2] the not having and avouching him for God, and our God;[3] the omission or neglect of anything due to him, required in this commandment;[4] ignorance,[5] forgetfulness,[6] misapprehensions,[7] false opinions,[8] unworthy and wicked thoughts of him;[9] bold and curious searching into his secrets;[10] all profaneness,[11] hatred of God;[12] self-love,[13] self-seeking,[14] and all other inordinate and immoderate setting of our mind, will, or affections upon other things, and taking them off from him in whole or in part;[15] vain credulity,[16] unbelief,[17] heresy,[18] misbelief,[19] distrust,[20] despair,[21] incorrigibleness,[22] and insensibleness under judgments,[23] hardness of heart,[24] pride,[25] presumption,[26] carnal security,[27] tempting of God;[28] using unlawful means,[29] and trusting in unlawful means;[30] carnal delights and joys;[31] corrupt, blind, and indiscreet zeal;[32] lukewarmness,[33] and deadness in the things of God;[34] estranging ourselves, and apostatizing from God;[35] praying, or giving any religious worship, to saints, angels, or any other creatures;[36] all compacts and consulting with the devil,[37] and hearkening to his suggestions;[38] making men the lords of our faith and conscience;[39] slighting and despising God and his commands;[40] resisting and grieving of his Spirit,[41] discontent and impatience at his dispensations, charging him foolishly for the evils he inflicts on us;[42] and ascribing the praise of any good we either are, have, or can do, to fortune,[43] idols,[44] ourselves,[45] or any other creature.[46]

1. Psa. 14:1; Eph. 2:12
2. Jer. 2:27-28; I Thess. 1:9
3. Psa. 81:11
4. Isa. 43:22-24
5. Jer. 4:22; Hosea 4:1, 6
6. Jer. 2:32
7. Acts 17:23, 29
8. Isa. 40:18
9. Psa. 1:21
10. Deut. 29:29
11. Titus 1:16; Heb. 12:16
12. Rom. 1:30
13. II Tim. 3:2
14. Phil. 2:21
15. I John 2:15-16; I Sam. 2:29; Col. 3:2, 5
16. I John 4:1
17. Heb. 3:12
18. Gal. 5:20; Titus 3:10
19. Acts 26:9
20. Psa. 78:22
21. Gen. 4:13
22. Jer. 5:3
23. Isa. 42:25
24. Rom. 2:5
25. Jer. 13:15
26. Psa. 19:13
27. Zeph. 1:12
28. Matt. 4:7
29. Rom. 3:8
30. Jer. 17:5
31. II Tim. 3:4
32. Gal. 4:17; John 16:2; Rom. 10:2; Luke 9:54-55
33. Rev. 3:16
34. Rev. 3:1
35. Ezek. 14:5; Isa. 1:4-5
36. Rom. 1:25, 10:13-14; Hosea 4:12; Acts 10:25-26; Rev. 19:10; Matt. 4:10; Col. 2:18
37. Lev. 20:6; I Sam. 28:7, 11; I Chr. 10:13-14
38. Acts 5:3
39. II Cor. 1:24; Matt. 23:9
40. Deut. 32:15; II Sam. 12:9; Prov. 13:13
41. Acts 7:51; Eph. 4:30
42. Psa. 73:2-3, 13-15, 22; Job 1:22
43. I Sam. 6:7-9
44. Dan. 5:23
45. Deut. 8:17; Dan. 4:30
46. Hab. 1:16

Q109: What are the sins forbidden in the second commandment?
A109: The sins forbidden in the second commandment are, all devising,[1] counseling,[2] commanding,[3] using,[4] and anywise approving, any religious worship not instituted by God himself;[5] tolerating a false religion;[6] the making any representation of God, of all or of any of the three persons, either inwardly in our mind, or outwardly in any kind of image or likeness of any creature whatsoever;[7] all worshipping of it,[8] or God in it or by it;[9] the making of any representation of feigned deities,[10] and all worship of them, or service belonging to them;[11] all superstitious devices,[12] corrupting the worship of God,[13] adding to it, or taking from it,[14] whether invented and taken up of ourselves,[15] or received by tradition from others,[16] though under the title of antiquity,[17] custom,[18] devotion,[19] good intent, or any other pretense whatsoever;[20] simony;[21] sacrilege;[22] all neglect,[23] contempt,[24] hindering,[25] and opposing the worship and ordinances which God hath appointed.[26]

1. Num. 15:39
2. Deut. 13:6-8
3. Hosea 5:11; Micah 6:16
4. I Kings 11:33; 12:33
5. Deut. 12:30-32
6. Deut. 13:6-12; Zech. 13:2-3; Rev. 2:2, 14-15, 20, Rev. 17:12, 16-17
7. Deut. 4:15-19; Acts 17:29; Rom. 1:21-23, 25
8. Dan. 3:18; Gal. 4:8
9. Exod. 32:5
10. Exod. 32:8
11. I Kings 18:26, 28; Isa. 65:11
12. Acts 17:22; Col. 2:21-23
13. Mal. 1:7-8, 14
14. Deut. 4:2
15. Psa. 106:39
16. Matt. 15:9
17. I Peter 1:18
18. Jer. 44:17
19. Isa. 65:3-5; Gal. 1:13-14
20. I Sam. 13:11-12; 15:21
21. Acts 8:18
22. Rom. 2:22; Mal. 3:8
23. Exod. 4:24-26
24. Matt. 22:5; Mal. 1:7, 13
25. Matt. 23:13
26. Acts 13:44-45; I Thess. 2:15-16

See also William Perkins on the Second Commandment:

10. Worship of devils: 1) Magic, which is a mischievous Art is accomplishing wonders by Satan's assistance. For it is appropriate to God to do miracles; for he alone of both beyond and against the course of nature, doth a wonderful things. Now the instruments which God uses in producing miracles, are only they could do in the true Church of God make profession of the faith, Mark 16:17, "œAnd these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues."

Yet may they affect marvels or wonders and that, not by making a new thing, which before was not at all: but rather by moving, transporting, and applying natural things diversely, by causing a thin body (to see as the air) to be thick and foggy, and also by bewitching the senses of men.

The foundation of magic, is a covenant with Satan.

A covenant with Satan, is such a contract, by which magicians have mutually to do with the devil. In this observed: the origin of this mutual contract: 1) Satan maketh his choice of such men to be his servants, as are by nature in the notorious bad persons, or very silly souls. 2) He offers unto them diverse means, either by other magicians, or by some books written by such: satanical means, I call those, which are used in the producing of such an effect to the which they need there by any express rule out of God's word, nor of their own nature were ever ordained. Such are obscure words, words of the Scripture rested and to be used, to the great disgrace of the Lord God; wholly or rather on a holy water, sieves, seals, glasses, images, bowings of the knee, and such like diverse gestures. 3) When the wicked see these means offered unto them, they presently are not a little glad, and assuredly believe that in those things there is a virtue to work wonders by. Member for they declare this there a set tentacle confidence, by their earnest endeavor, practicing, and abusing of the means. Then the devil is at their elbows, being thus affected that he made both assist them, and show them diverse tricks of his arsenal; because he alone does by means avoid such virtue, in effect that which his wicked instruments intended.

Again, observe that Satan's counterfeiting of God. He is God´s ape, and take it upon him as though he were God. 1) As God hath his word, His Sacraments, and faith do unto Him; so the devil has certain words of his own and to seal them unto the wicked he annexes certain signs, namely characters, gestures, sacrifices, and the like, as it were Sacraments, that both he may signify his devilish pleasure to his magicians and they again testify their satanic cult both obedience and confidence to him. 2) As God heareth such as call upon, trust in, and obey him, so the devil is greatly delighted with magical ceremonies in invocations, because by them God is dishonored, and he magnified: Therefore if God cut him not short, he is ready to press to assist such, as show you such ceremonies are indications.

The covenant is either secret or express.

Secret or implicit when one does not expressly compact with Satan, yet in his heart to allows of his means; assuredly in upon knowledge believing that if such means were used there might indeed that great wonder be wrought which he desired.

Express, when one does not only put his confidence in saint, but covenant with him upon this condition, that he, giving himself wholly over to the devil, may again, by observing certain ceremonies, accomplishes desire.

Magic is either divine or working.

Divining, whereby things to come are foretold by the help of the devil. Now of predictions, some are done with means, others without.

Predictions done with means, are these: 1) Soothsaying, which is divination by the flying of birds. Deuteronomy 8:10, "œWhen thou hast eaten and art full, then thou shalt bless the LORD thy God for the good land which he hath given thee." 2) The kind of divination, which is by looking into beasts and trails. Ezekiel 21:21, "œFor the king of Babylon stood at the parting of the way, at the head of the two ways, to use divination: he made his arrows bright, he consulted with images, he looked in the liver." 3) Necromancy, or conjuring by which the devil in the form of some dead man is sought unto for counsel. 1 Samuel 28:11, "œThen said the woman, Whom shall I bring up unto thee? And he said, Bring me up Samuel." See also verses 13-14, "œAnd the king said unto her, Be not afraid: for what sawest thou? And the woman said unto Saul, I saw gods ascending out of the earth. And he said unto her, What form is he of? And she said, An old man cometh up; and he is covered with a mantle. And Saul perceived that it was Samuel, and he stooped with his face to the ground, and bowed himself." This Samuel, was not that true prophet of God who anointed Saul king over Israel: for 1) the souls of the saints departed are far from the devil's clause and dominion. 2) That good Samuel, if it had been He in deed, would never have permitted Saul to worship him. 3) He sayeth to wicked Saul, tomorrow shalt thou be with me, verse 14. Neither could this be a bare allusion, and as I may say, an instrument of the witch, for he plainly foretold Saul's destruction which an ignorant woman could not know much less durst she constantly avouch any such matter to the king: It remains the then, that this Samuel, was a mere illusion of Satan.

Divining without means is called Pythonism, when such as are possessed with an unclean spirit, use immediately the help of the same spirit to reveal secrets. Acts 16:16, "œAnd it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying." Isaiah 29:4, "œAnd thou shalt be brought down, and shalt speak out of the ground, and thy speech shall be low out of the dust, and thy voice shall be, as of one that hath a familiar spirit, out of the ground, and thy speech shall whisper out of the dust." Magic operative or working has two parts: juggling and enchantments. Juggling whereby through the devil's conveyance many great and very hard matters, are in a show affected. Exodus 7:10-12, "œAnd Moses and Aaron went in unto Pharaoh, and they did so as the LORD had commanded: and Aaron cast down his rod before Pharaoh, and before his servants, and it became a serpent. Then Pharaoh also called the wise men and the sorcerers: now the magicians of Egypt, they also did in like manner with their enchantments. For they cast down every man his rod, and they became serpents: but Aaron's rod swallowed up their rods."

Enchantment, or charming, is that whereby beasts, but especially young children, and men of riper years, are by God's permission infected, poisoned, hurt, bound, killed, and otherwise molested; or contrarily, sometimes cured of Satan, by mumbling up some few words, making certain characters in figures, framing circles, hanging amulets about the neck, or other parts by herbs, medicines, and such like things, that there by the punishment of the faithless may be augmented, in proposing their strength upon such rotten ideas, and the faithful may be tried, whether they will commit the like abomination. Psalm 58:4, "œTheir poison is like the poison of a serpent: they are like the deaf adder that stoppeth her ear." Ecclesiastes 10:11, "œSurely the serpent will bite without enchantment; and a babbler is no better."

Thus have we herd magic described out of God's word: The which, how common it is as yet, in those especially which are without God in the world, and whom Satan by all means strongly diluteth, though lamentable experience which many men, in most places have thereof, can sufficiently prove unto us. And surely, if a man will but take a view of all property he shall easily see that a great part of it is mere magic.

They would spread abroad by their riding or otherwise, that which is our nothing else but melancholy and doting women who through the devil's delusion suppose that they themselves do that which indeed the devil doth alone: albeit they endeavor cunningly to cloak the sin, yet by the same means they may defend murder, adultery, and what other sin whatsoever.

2. those which do consult with magicians do also worship the devil for they revolt from God to the devil, howsoever they plastered up their impiety with untempered mortar, that they seek God's help though by the means of magicians. 1 Samuel 28:13, "œAnd the king said unto her, Be not afraid: for what sawest thou? And the woman said unto Saul, I saw gods ascending out of the earth." Leviticus 20:6, "œAnd the soul that turneth after such as have familiar spirits, and after wizards, to go a whoring after them, I will even set my face against that soul, and will cut him off from among his people." Isaiah 8:19-20, "œAnd when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? for the living to the dead? To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them."

[Edited on 7-12-2006 by VirginiaHuguenot]

 

[VirginiaHuguenot]

A case could probably be made for magic to be covered by the third commandment as well:

Q113: What are the sins forbidden in the third commandment?
A113: The sins forbidden in the third commandment are, the not using of God's name as is required;[1] and the abuse of it in an ignorant,[2] vain,[3] irreverent, profane,[4] superstitious,[5] or wicked mentioning, or otherwise using his titles, attributes,[6] ordinances,[7] or works,[8] by blasphemy,[9] perjury;[10] all sinful cursings,[11] oaths,[12] vows,[13] and lots;[14] violating of our oaths and vows, if lawful;[15] and fulfilling them, if of things unlawful;[16] murmuring and quarreling at,[17] curious prying into,[18] and misapplying of God's decrees [19] and providences;[20] misinterpreting,[21] misapplying,[22] or any way perverting the word, or any part of it,[23] to profane jests,[24] curious or unprofitable Questions,[25] vain janglings, or the maintaining of false doctrines;[26] abusing it, the creatures, or anything contained under the name of God, to charms,[27] or sinful lusts and practices;[28] the maligning,[29] scorning,[30] reviling,[31] or any wise opposing of God's truth, grace, and ways;[32] making profession of religion in hypocrisy, or for sinister ends;[33] being ashamed of it,[34] or a shame to it, by unconformable,[35] unwise,[36] unfruitful,[37] and offensive walking,[38] or backsliding from it.[39]

1. Mal. 2:2
2. Acts 17:23
3. Prov. 30:9
4. Mal. 1:6-7, 12; 3:14
5. I Sam. 4:3-5; Jer. 7:4, 9-10, 14, 31; Col. 2:20-22
6. II Kings 18:30, 35; Exod. 5:2; Psa. 139:20
7. Psa. 50:16-17
8. Psa. 1:16-17
9. Isa. 5:12
10. II Kings 19:22; Lev. 24:11
11. Zech. 5:4; 8:17
12. I Sam. 17:43; II Sam. 16:5
13. Jer. 5:7; 23:10
14. Deut. 23:18; Acts 23:12, 14
15. Esth. 3:7; 9:24; Psa. 22:18
16. Psa. 24:4, Ezek. 17:16, 18-19
17. Mark 6:26; I Sam. 25:22, 32-34
18. Rom. 9:14, 19-20
19. Deut. 29:29
20. Rom. 3:5, 7; 6:1-2
21. Eccl. 8:11; 9:3; Psa. ch. 39
22. Matt. 5:21-48
23. Ezek 13:22
24. II Peter 3:16; Matt. 22:24-31
25. Isa. 22:18; Jer. 23:34, 36, 38
26. I Tim. 1:4, 6-7; 6:4-5, 20; II Tim. 2:14; Titus. 3:9
27. Deut. 18:10-14; Acts 19:13
28. II Tim. 4:3-4; Rom. 13:13-14; I Kings 21:9-10; Jude 1:4
29. Acts 13:45; I John 3:12
30. Psa. 1:1; II Peter 3:3
31. I Peter 4:4
32. Acts 4:18; 13:45-46, 50; 19:9; I Thess 2:16; Heb. 10:29
33. II Tim. 3:5; Matt. 6:1-2, 5, 16; 23:14
34. Mark 8:38
35. Psa. 73:14-15
36. I Cor. 6:5-6; Eph. 5:15-17
37. Isa. 5:4; II Peter 1:8-9
38. Rom. 2:23-24
39. Gal. 3:1, 3; Heb. 6:6

William Perkins on the Third Commandment:

X. Superstition, which is an opinion conceived of the works of God´s providence: the reason whereof, can neither be drawn out of the word of God, not the whole course of nature. As for example , that it is unlucky for one in the morning to put on his hoe awry, or to put the left shoe on the right foot; to sneeze in drawing on his head; to have salt fall towards him; to have a hare cross him; to bleed some few drops of blood; to burn on the right ear. Again that it is contrarily good luck to find old iron, to have drink spilled on his, for the left ear to burn, to cut our nails on a certain day of the week, to dream of some certain things. The like superstition is to surmise that beasts may be tamed by verses, prayers, or the like; that the repetition of the Creed or the Lord´s prayer can infuse into herbs a faculty of healing diseases. Deuteronomy 18:11. Here also is Palmistry condemned, when by the inspection of the hand, our fortunes foretold.

These and such like albeit they have true events, ye are we not to give credence unto them: for God permitteth them to have such success that they which see and hear such things, may be tried and it may appear what confidence they have in God.

XI. Astrology, whether it be casting of nativities or Prognostications. This counterfeit art is nothing else, but a mere abuse of the heavens and of the stars. 1) The twelve houses, which are the ground of all figures, are made of the fained signs of a supposed Zodiac, in the highest sphere commonly called the first Movable: and therefore to these houses a man cannot truly ascribe any influence of virtue. 2) This art arises not from experience but because the same position of all stars never happens twice: and if it did, yet could there not be any observation made from thence, because the efficacy and influence of the stars is confusingly mixed both in the air in the earth, as if all herbs were mingled together in one vessel. 3) This art withdraw men's minds from the contemplation of God's providence, when is they hear, that all things fall out by the motion and position of the stars. 4) Stars were not ordained to foretell things to come, but to distinguished dates, months, and years. Genesis 1:14, "œAnd God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years:" Isaiah 47:13, "œThou art wearied in the multitude of thy counsels. Let now the astrologers, the stargazers, the monthly prognosticators, stand up, and save thee from these things that shall come upon thee." See also verse 14. Daniel 2:2, "œThen the king commanded to call the magicians, and the astrologers, and the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans, for to shew the king his dreams. So they came and stood before the king." Acts 19:19, "œMany of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver." 5) Astrological predictions are conversant about such things, which either simply depend on the mere will and dispensation of God, and not on the heavens: or else such as depends upon man's free will, are all together contingent: and therefore can neither be foreseen, nor foretold. 6). It is impossible by the bare knowledge of such cause, as is both common to many, and far distant from such things as it were to thin, precisely to set down particular effects: but the stars are common causes of those which are done upon earth, and also far removed: and therefore a man to know more surely foretell what shall ensue by the contemplation of the stars, then he which sees a hen sitting, can tell what kind of chicken shall be in every egg.

Question. Have then the stars no force in inferior things?

Answer. Yes undoubtedly, the stars have a very great force, yet such is manifest itself only in that operation which it hath in four principal qualities of natural things, namely, in heat, cold, moisture, and dryness; and therefore and altering the state, and disposition of the air, in the diversely affecting compound bodies, the stars have no small fact. But they're so far from forcing the will to do anything, that they cannot so much as given unto it the least inclination. Not to define how great force the stars have, it is beyond any man's reach. For all be at the effects of the sun, in the constitution of the four parts of the year, are apparent to all in the operation of the moon not very obscure; yet the force in nature of both planets and fixed stars, which are to us innumerable, are not so manifest. Therefore seeing man no with only some stars, in their only operation, and not all with their forces: it cannot be that he should certainly foretell future things although they did depend on the stars. For what the position of such and such certain stars do demonstrate such an effect to ensue? May not the aspect of such as thou yet knowest not, hinder the act and produce the contrary?

Question. Is then the use of astrology utterly impious?

Answer. That part of astrology which concerns the alteration of the year is almost all both false and frivolous; and therefore in a manner all predictions grounded upon that doctrine are mere toys, by which the silly and ignorant people are notably diluted. As for the other part of astrology, concerning the activities, revolutions, progressions, and directions of nativities, as also that which concern the election of times, and the finding again of things lost, it is very wicked; and it is probable that is of the same brood with him plus set and close magic. My reasons are these. 1) The word of God reckoning astrologers among magicians a Judge's to them to both one in the same punishment. 2) But the astrologer says, he foretells many things, which as he said, come so to pass: Be it so, but how, I demand? And by what means? He says by art, but that I deny. For the precepts of his art will appear to such as read them not with a prejudice affection, very ridiculous. Whence then, I pray you, does this curious diviner for show the truth, but by an inward and secret instinct from the devil? This is Augustine's opinion, in his book 5 and Chapter 7 of the City of God. "If we weighed all those things, safety, we will not without cause belief, that astrologers, when they do wonderfully declare many truths, work by some secret instinct of evil spirits, which designed to fill men's brains with erroneous and dangerous opinions of starry destinies and not by any art, derived from the inspection in consideration of the horoscope which indeed is none. "

XII. Popish consecration of water and salt to restore the mind and health and to chase away devils. The Reformed Missal.

[Edited on 7-12-2006 by VirginiaHuguenot]

 

[Scott]

Very helpful resources, Andrew -- thanks!