praetorius was a protestant minister. he believed that man can do either good or bad things. however, god chooses certain people to do certain things. those things can be good or bad. according to praetorius, witchcraft can only be a fall from the favour of god, and a pact with the devil. but, neither the devil nor sorcerers can do more than is in their nature (and predestination). god will punish those who are witches or sorcerers. this however, does not give human courts a right to put those to death, they believe are guilty of the crime of witchcraft. for praetorius, witchcraft cannot exist, because it is beyond the faculties of either man or the devil. it is also against nature.