-Y u 
 
 
 EX L I B R~ 1 i^i^j 
 
 JOHN ALBKEE 
 
PERKINS LIBRARY 
 
 Duke University 
 
 %dre Books 
 
The Pojjibiltty and Reality % of Ma/rick, 
 Sorcery ^and Witchcraft^ demonflrated. 
 
 VINDICATION 
 
 Of a Com pleat 
 
 Hiftory oi Magic k, 
 
 SoRCERY^and Witchcraft. 
 
 In Anfwer to 
 
 Dr. Hutchinson's Hiftorical EJfay> 
 Now Biftiop of Down an&Gnnor, in the 
 Kingdom of Ireland. 
 
 IN TWO PARTS. 
 
 Part I. Containing an Examination and An- 
 fwer of the Portions laid down in that Eook. 
 
 P a r t II. An Eflay of the Nature of Material 
 and Immaterial Subftances. How Immaterial 
 Subftances may afte& one another, and alter 
 Matter, or work upon Human Bodies ; proved 
 by Reafon, Philofophy, Moral Proof, and the 
 Teftimony of Scripture. 
 
 By RICHARD BOULTON, 
 
 Sometime of Brazen-Nofe College in Oxford. 
 
 Doit xviiJ. 10. II. There Jball not be found amcnf/l you any one 
 that maketh his Son or his Daughter pafi thxcu b the I ire, 
 or that ufeth Divt'ndtion, or an Obje.ver of Times, or an 
 Enchanter, or a Witch* Or a Cha mer, or Cenfuiier fifth 
 Familiar Spirits, or a Wizard, or a Necromancer. 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 Printed for J Roberts, near the Ox ford- Arms in War trick* 
 Lane. MDCCXXU. 
 
 Price Two Shillings. 
 
N, 
 

 PREFACE 
 
 TO THE 
 
 READER. 
 
 AV.I.NG formerly wrote a 
 Com.pleat Hiftory of Ma- 
 gick ,, Sorcery^ and Witch* 
 craft ; containing a Colle- 
 dion of the mod Authentick, and none 
 but well attefted Relations, of the Pra- 
 ctice of thofe Diabolical Arts^ and ha- 
 A z. , ving. 
 
iv The Preface 
 
 ving given an Account in the Preface and 
 Introduction, of the Defon and Ufeful- 
 nefi of that Hiflory, ( to which I refer 
 the Reader, ) which was dcfigned for the 
 Service and Good of Mankind • not only 
 by reprefenting the Barbarity and perni- 
 cious Effeds of fuch wicked Practices* 
 but alio to deter others, and breed in 
 them an Abhorrence of fuch notorious 
 Grimes, which are offensive, and contra- 
 ry to both the Laws of God and Men, 
 as well as deftru&ive to the Souls and 
 Bodies of the Guilty, and obnoxious to 
 Mankind, who fuffered in all Ages, by 
 fuch evil Doers : I am not a little fur- 
 prized, that one whofe Bufinefs is, as a 
 Shepherd of the Flock of Chrift, to dis- 
 courage Vice, and pronounce the Sen- 
 tence of his Matter againfl: fuch wicked 
 Practices, as might do fuch Damage, to 
 thofe who are, or ought to be his pecu- 
 liar 
 
to the Ke a de r. tf 
 
 liar Care : I fay, I am not a little fur- 
 prized, that he fhouFd write an E/Fty on 
 that Subjed", to difcou rage fo good a De- 
 fign ; efpecially to mlfreprefent fo ufeful 
 a Hiftory, as if k might do fome Mif- 
 chief. 
 
 Having beetrfome Time out ofEngtanct, 
 arrd not feeing this Effay, I was obliged 
 to lye under the Doctor s too fevere Cerc- 
 fure : But coming to London this Spring, 
 and meeting with that Book, I thought 
 my felf obliged to vindicate both my felf 
 and my Defign, and to clear my felf of 
 fuch ungrounded Reflexions. Uport 
 which Thoughts, reading the Dolors 
 Book, I found, that he had avoided, both 
 giving Reafons to juflify his Change, as 
 well as offering any Arguments to main- 
 tain his Caufe ; oppoCing moral Proof, and 
 the Testimony af Scripture, with his bare 
 A ? ipfe 
 
v) The Preface 
 
 jpfe dixit, or pofirive Aflertions to the 
 nrary; ufing cunning Insinuations, and 
 fl.ght Evafions, inflead of Arguments, to 
 leflen the Credit of Authentick Relations, 
 and to baffle the undoubted Teflimony of 
 Holy Writ. 
 
 Upon this View and Judgment made of 
 his Effay, I began to write the follow- 
 ing Vindication of my Compleat Hiftory 
 of Magick, Sorcery, and Witchcraft >; in 
 which, I prefume, I have made it ap- 
 pear, that his Charge was altogether 
 Groundlefs , and without Reafon ; and 
 that what I have offered, is grounded 
 upon Reafon, moral Proof, and the Tefli- 
 mony of Sacred Writings,- and confe- 
 quently, not likely to da Mifchief, but 
 Good. I need not fay, that his EJJay is 
 confequently likely to do much Harm ; 
 becaufe, if what is contained in my Hi- 
 ftory 
 
to the Reade r. vij 
 
 flory, is confirmed by, and confentaneous 
 to what is contained in Scripture, it will 
 follow, that what he fays m his Effay, is 
 the contrary. 
 
 The Scripture, in fundry Places, men- 
 tion and condemn the Practice of Magick, 
 Sorcery, and Witchcraft, as alfo the U(e 
 of Charms and Enchantments , and tell 
 us of the Appearance of Samuels Ghoft, 
 and often mention the Apparition or Ap- 
 pearance of Spirits ; as the Angel which 
 rolled away the Stone from the Door of 
 the Sepulchre ; and the Devil , who 
 tempted our Saviour, and carried him 
 about; and what we have delivered in 
 our Hiftory, are Relations of the fame 
 Nature, well attefted. 
 
 The Scriptures likewife tell us of fe- 
 deral poflefled with Devils; to prove all 
 
 which. 
 
vii) Tk Preface 
 
 which, we have quoted the feveral Texts 
 relating to thefe Diabolical Artifices and 
 Pra&ices ; and as the Scripture tells us 
 of Pofleffions, we have alfo cited feveral 
 Hiftories of the like Nature in our Con> 
 pleat Hiftory. 
 
 We fliall further obferve, in Vindica* 
 tion of what we have offered, that if 
 the Scripture hath taken Notice of fuch 
 Things, and condemns them; to ter- 
 rify the Wicked, and to breed an Ab- 
 horrence of Evil Actions ; and that the 
 World may be aware of the Devil and 
 all his Works, and guard themfelves front 
 being deluded and led afide from the Ser- 
 vice of God : I fay, if fuch Things may 
 warn us to beware of the Devil, and 
 fear and worfhip God, who is to protect 
 us from fuch Evils ; our Hiftory contain- 
 ing Relations of the fame Nature, will 
 
 be 
 
to the Reader. ix 
 
 be of the fame Ufe, and will do no Mif- 
 chief* but Good. 
 
 But, on the contrary, if the Doctor s 
 'Eflay difluades us from believing fuch Re- 
 lations, will not the Disbelief of fuch 
 Hiftories tend to breed a Disbelief of pa- 
 rallel Hiftories in Scripture > And if we 
 disbelieve Sacred Writings, mud not all 
 Religion be flighted > And then, will not 
 the Dodor s Effay be likely to do no Good, 
 but Mifchief I 
 
 Upon thefe Confederations, I leave the 
 Reader to judge, how juftly the Dodtor 
 hath laid his Charge j or , whether I 
 might not apply the Cenfure more pro- 
 perly to his Effay ; but this will be de- 
 cided by the following Sheets ; wherein 
 I have quoted Texts of Scripture, to coa- 
 
 6na 
 
x The Preface 
 
 firm what Arguments I have made ufe of 
 againft the Doctor's Opinioa 
 
 But the Doctor complains of the pom- 
 pous Title of that Hiftory, becaufe I 
 call it a Compleat Hiftory. The Reafon 
 why I call it Compleat, is, becaufe it 
 contains a full Account of all thofe Hi- 
 ftorical Relations, which are mentioned 
 in the bed Authors, and which are beft 
 attefted, and moft worthy Notice: And 
 I hope, he will not take it amift, if hi& 
 Eflay is, incompleat, becaufe it contains 
 feveral Relations of no Value, trumpt 
 up with the Advantage of cunning Insi- 
 nuations ,• as if Truth was of left Value, 
 becaufe (bme Stories or Relations may be 
 Impofitions : At that Rate, nothing mull 
 te R'.ght, becaufe fome Things are Wrong ; 
 and my Hiftory muft be Invalid^ becaufe 
 
 bis 
 
to the Reach r. x; 
 
 his Relations are of no Force ; or my Ar- 
 guments mufl be inefficient, becaufe his 
 are contrary to the Teflimony of Scri- 
 pture. 
 
 Another Charge the Do&or lays againft 
 me is, that my Hiftory is writ partially ; 
 becaufe it contains only an Account of 
 Hiftorical Truths ; and to prove this Pa * 
 tiality, he hath collected fome improbable 
 and invaluable Stories ; as if the not ta- 
 king Notice of fuch, made it imperfedK 
 But I underftand not how this can be 
 counted Partiality,- for though God Al- 
 mighty lets the Sun fliine upon the UtM 
 juft, as well as the Juft, yet in Hiftory, 
 Truth is only to be regarded ; and my De- 
 fign w T as only to take Notice of fuch Re* 
 lat'ons as carried the Face of Truth, 
 throwing away the Rubbifh, as Builders 
 do in erecting 'new Houfesj which, fince 
 
 the 
 
xij The Preface 
 
 the Do&or hath been pleafed to take up, 
 he is welcome to retain it ; and I ihall 
 think my Stru&ure never the lefs com- 
 pleat, for want of it ; my De/lgn not be- 
 ing to impofe upon the World, but to 
 vwite what was true and ufeful. 
 
 The Do&or, I fee, throughout his 
 Book, is for excufing and extenuating the 
 Sin of Witchcraft ; and to that Degree, 
 that he would have us believe no fuch 
 Thing, though the Holy Scripture men- 
 dons it in feveral Places. And though his 
 Tendernefs is fo great, to bear thefe 
 wretched Creatures harmlefs, I am forry 
 the Do&or fliould think, that to deny the 
 Authority of the Scripture, is the beft 
 way to carry a good Confcience, void of 
 Offence towards God and Man ; wiiich in 
 Effed he muft do, if he denies what God 
 by his Prophets and Apoflles affirms to be 
 
 true; 
 
fo' the Reade K. xn; 
 true ; who often mention the Sin of 
 Witchcraft as an abominable Crime, and 
 pronounce the Punifhment of Death a- 
 gainfi the Pra&ifers of it ; tho 1 the Do&or 
 would have them excufed, and lefc to the 
 righteous Judge ( p. 65.) at the lafi Day : 
 Of greater Tendernefs and Clemency than 
 God Almighty ! who exprefsly f Dent. iS.y 
 fays, AWitch {ball, not live. 
 
 And though (Jage 117.) the Do&or 
 would make Party-Bufinefs of believing 
 what the Scripture declares for* Truth^ 
 and fays, tt One Side lays hold of them, 
 " as Arguments of greater Faith and Or- 
 tC thodoxy, and clofer Adherence to-Scrr- 
 €i pture ;" yet I lhall never blame any 
 Party for their clofe Adherence to Scri- 
 pture ; and wonder the Do&or, in EP 
 fed:, fliould lefien its Authority to ferve 
 his Argument or Opinion, or endeavour 
 
 C a } » 
 
xiv The P R ET Aci 
 
 to alter the true Intent and Meaning of 
 the exprefs Words. The Scripture fhall 
 always be the Standard of my Faith, and 
 the Foundation- of my Belief. 
 
 But not t& trouble the Reader with a 
 long and tedious Preface ; I muft refer 
 him to the following Sheets , for a fur- 
 ther Account and Anfwer to the Doctor's 
 Effay-, and Vindication of my Hiftory r 
 ^which are divided into- Two Parts. 
 
 In? the Firfl Part, I have examined and: 
 anfwer d his Book, in Vindication of my 
 own ; in doing of which, I infill onr 
 nothing but Reafon ,. Moral Proof, and- 
 the TefUmony of the Old and New Te- 
 fiament ; which I hope are fufficient ta 
 prove his Arguments invalid , and his 
 gment erroneous, But if the Dio#or 
 i,, as. his Book feems ta do* or really 
 
 docsy 
 
to ^he Reader. xv 
 does, call the Authority of Scripture in 
 Queftion ; 
 
 In the Second Part, I have confident 
 the Nature of Material and Immaterial 
 Subjlances ; and the Power of Immate- 
 rial SufrJIances in altering Matter, and 
 affedting Human Bodies : The Defign of 
 which is to prove what the Scripture 
 fays, confonant to Reafon and Natural 
 Philofophy- 
 
 But here I would have it underftood, 
 that what I have (aid of the Nature 
 of Material and Immaterial Subflances* 
 and the Power of the latter in altering,, 
 or afFe&ing Matter, is only fo far as 
 relates to our prefent Purpofe and Oc- 
 casion ; reserving a more large Enquiry for 
 another Subjed:, for which thofe Thoughts 
 are chiefly defign'd* 
 
 (az> If 
 
xv) The PrefacIj &c. 
 
 If what I have faid is fatisfadory tor 
 the Candid and Impartial Reader, and 
 to convince the World of the Integrity 
 and Uiefulnefs of my Defign in publifli- 
 ing that Hifory of Witchcraft I write 
 in Vindication of, I fliall think my 
 Time not ill fpent, and ihall be obliged; 
 to the World for their Candid Re- 
 
 ception* 
 
 I am 
 
 
 The Reads nV 
 
 I Mo ft Humble Setvairt y 
 
 Richard Boultoj*. 
 
 THE 
 

 THE 
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 T 
 
 HE IntrodiiUioriy Pag. i 
 
 Part L 
 
 CHAP. I. 
 
 'Remarks on what the Da 3 or hath fald it* 
 his Dedication ; fiewing the Injuftke of 
 his Reflection on our Compleat Hiftory 
 of Magick r Sorcery and Witchcraft, 
 and the Erroneoufnefs of his Argu- 
 ments, f 
 
 CHAP. IT. 
 
 Remarks on the Firjl Chapter of his Hifto- 
 rical Eflay, : i & 
 
 CHAP. 
 
The Contents. 
 
 CHAP. III. 
 
 Remarks on his Second and Third Chap- 
 ters , which conjlft of a Chronological 
 Table ; and Observations on what is 
 contained in that Table , p. \i 
 
 CHAP. IV. 
 
 Remarks on what he hath faid of the 
 Witches in Suffolk, Salem, Bofton and 
 Andover in New-England , at Mohra 
 in Sweden > and the Witches of War- 
 bois, 57 
 
 CHAP. V. 
 
 Remarks on what the T)o&or hath faid of 
 the Tryal before -my Lord Chief Baron 
 Hale, of Richard. Dugdale > or the Sur- 
 rey Daemoniaek ; and the Cafe of 'Jane 
 
 \ Wenham, in Hertiordfhire, 97 
 
 CHAP. VI. 
 
 Remarks on what the Do fit or' hath faid of 
 Teats,, Marks^ (^barms^ Want of Tear s> 
 and fwimming Witches ^ u^r 
 
 CHAR 
 
The Contents. 
 
 CHAP. VII 
 
 Remarks on the Dofif'ors Twelfth Chapter* 
 of what Kind of Witchcrafts they are r 
 that are fpoken of in Holy Scripture^. 
 
 p. 128 
 
 chap. vnr. 
 
 Remarks on his Thirteenth Chapter, of the 
 Laws of Nations, 143; 
 
 Part II. 
 
 CHAR 1 j 
 
 MT Thoughts oftheNature 0/Materiat 
 and Immaterial Subftances, confix 
 nant to Philofophy, Scripture, and the Ar- 
 \ tides of Faith, according to the ChurS 
 of England, 157* 
 
 C H A P. II 
 
 1 \. 
 
 Of the Power of Immaterial Subftarrce* 
 *in altering Material Subjiances and Hit- 
 man Bodies 5 confonant to Reafon y Phi- 
 
The C O 1ST T E N T Si 
 
 lofophy. Scripture, the Creation of the 
 Univerfe, and the Formation of Human 
 Bodies : With a Conclufion of this Do- 
 8rine y apply d to fit/lain the Belief of 
 the Scripture, which affirms the Truth 
 of the Dofirine of the Reality of the 
 Arts 0/Magick, Sorcery, Witchcraft,&c. 
 with a final Period of God Almighty s 
 Judgment in fuch Cafes y p. 1 7 \ 
 
 ERRATA. 
 
 PAge 1 . Line 1 2. for as as was, r. as well as. P. 8. 1. %& 
 for make, r. prove. P. 5 3 . 1. 3 8. for the Scripture other* 
 wife, r. the Scripture te fifes otherwife. P. 8*5. I. 38. dele 
 vhicb. P. 93.. I. \6> for he, r.Jke. P. 125. 1. 12. for La- 
 fliw*/, r. Lachrymal. P. 1 56. 1. I 6* for difcwered, r. ^/br- 
 
 «fer«f. P. 1 6 * . 1. 2 2., dele w; w/y. 
 
 THE I 
 
[I] 
 
 
 THE 
 
 INTRODUCTION 
 
 H E Diabolical Praaice of Magick, Sor- 
 cery, and Witchcraft, hath been fo long 
 exercis'd in the World, through fo ma- 
 ny Ages and Countries, and their ill 
 Effe£ts been fo prejudicial to Mankind, 
 that no Body can reafbnably queftion the Truth of 
 fuch mifchievous Arts, who contemn not the Evi- 
 dence of moral Proof, the undeniable Teftimony of 
 Scripture, and the moft evident Demonftration Rea- 
 fbn can make ufe of. 
 
 To demonftrate their abominable ill Effects, as 
 as was pernicious Pra£tices, we, fome Time ago, 
 wrote a Hiftory of Magick, Sorcery and Witchcraft, 
 in Two Volumes, confifting of well attefted Matters 
 of Fact, to deteft and difcourage thefe vile Abufers 
 of Mankind. The Defign of thefe Papers was for 
 the Service of the Publick, and not only to lay open 
 the Wickednefs of fome, and to difcover by what un- 
 lawful Methods Mankind have been abufed, but alfo 
 I to deter others from impious Crimes, and wicked Per- 
 formances of the like Nature. 
 
 But this good Intention was not long put in Exe- 
 cution, before it met with fome Oppofition from a 
 Man of Learning and Judgment, though in this 
 Point very much miftaken, in a Book entitled, An 
 Hiftorical Effay concerning Witchcraft. 
 
 The Author of this Effay having unjuftly repre- 
 fented our Hiftory of Magick, gjfe. as if it were 
 
 B likely 
 
likely to do lome Mifchief, we think our felves obli- 
 ged, both in Juftice to our good Intention, as well as 
 the Service of the Publick, to look into, and exa- 
 mine how well this Author hath made his Charge 
 good, and how ftrenucufly he hath defended his 
 contrary Opinion; which being done, we ihall en- 
 deavour to make it appear, upon what reafonable 
 Grounds we have proceeded in that Work, and up- 
 on what reafonable Foundations the Belief of the 
 Reality of fuch Praftices may be confirmed. 
 
 In purfuing of which Intentions, we Ihall take 
 the following Method, dividing the whole into Two 
 Parts. 
 
 In the firft Part, we ihall, in Anfwer to what the 
 Author hath offered againft what is delivered in our 
 Hiitory, examine what he hath faid in his Dedi- 
 cation, and fhew, that what we have recited there, 
 cannot be the Spring of the Corruptions of Reli- 
 gion, nor the Perverfion of ]uftice, but the contra- 
 ry, being the fober Belief of good and bad Spirits, 
 which he owns to be an EfTential Part of Chriftian I 
 Belief. 
 
 Secondly, We fhall fhew that imaginary Relations 
 cannot corrupt or pervert either Religion or Jufiice, 
 having too weak an Influence to gain Credit or Af- 
 fent, iince they may be eafily diftinguiihed from 
 Realities well attefted, of which our Hiitory con- 
 flits. 
 
 Next, we mall make it appear, in anfwer to the 
 Falfe Conceptions of Melancholy Difpoiitions, that 
 the Temper of the Humours and Difpolition of the 
 Spirits, may be altered by .the Influence of evil Spi- 
 rits; and that our learned Author hath brought only 
 ridiculous Relations to lefTen the Credit, and dimi- 
 niih the Validity of autbentick Truths. 
 
 We ihall further proceed to ihew, that the Argu- 
 ments he hath offered, are either invalid, or Sup- 
 pofitious, or againft himfelf, not diftinguiihing be- 
 
 twixt 
 
[ 3 1 
 
 twixt Realities and Suppoiltions, and that affiled 
 Perfons are incapable of Feigning and Counter- 
 feiting. 
 
 We fhall further take Notice, that in the pro- 
 grefs of his Difcourfe, Arguments againft himfelf are 
 only ilightly handled, or ridiculed, and incredible 
 Suppositions infilled on to lefTen the Belief of an Hi- 
 ftorical Account of Matters of Fact. 
 
 Next we fhall confider , that his Chronological 
 Table confuting of real Truths, as well as Imposi- 
 tions, thofe impofitious Relations ought not to leiTeii 
 the Belief of real Truths ; fmce, as we noted before, 
 Counterfeits and Realities ought, and may ealily be 
 diftinguifhed. 
 
 We (hall next (hew the ill Confequences of the 
 delays in putting legal juftice in Execution, by com* 
 mining all Judgment to the Righteous Judge after 
 Death, where we mall make it appear, that his own 
 Pofitions are Arguments againft himfelf. 
 
 We fhall further take Notice, that the Reafons 
 he offers for the Decreafe of Witches, are errone- 
 ous ; Puniihment rather difcouraging that vitious Pra- 
 £tice; and though there are as many Devils now, yet 
 either they are undifcovered, or a£t after different 
 Methods ; former Practices being difcouraged and de- 
 tected by Laws, and terrify 'd by Profecutions • nor is 
 there any Reafon the Devils mould be fuppofed to 
 have forfaken our Age, the Vices of this prefent ex- 
 ceeding the Crimes of former Ages. 
 
 Next we fhall make it appear, that what he fays 
 of the* Power of Spirits, and Tranfmutation, or 
 Transformation, is confuted by the Teftimony of 
 Scripture, and car Saviour's Miracles, where Spirits 
 acted in Human Bodies, and afterwards in a Herd or. 
 Swine ; and then we ihall farther make it appear, 
 that he perverts the Senfe of Scripture and Provi- 
 dence 3 and contradicts himfelf. 
 
 B 2 Next, 
 
r 4 ] 
 
 Next, tho' he endeavours to leffen the Credit and 
 Belief of the A&ions of Spirits, by charging them 
 with often acting foolifhJy, we ihall make it appear, 
 that this ought not to gain the Advantage he pro- 
 pofes, but is an Argument on our Side, and anfwers 
 for the Confirmation of the Truth of fbme Relations, 
 that might otherwife feem ridiculous, fince we rind 
 that the wifeft of Spirits have afted foolifhly, as in 
 making War againft Heaven, and tempting our Sa- 
 viour, as -well as In other Anions which we lhall 
 recite. 
 
 In the next Place, we mail confider his Negative 
 Rules, which feem to be calculated in favour of thofe 
 deteftable Practices. We fhall further consider the 
 remaining Part of his Book, and reprefent the Weak- 
 nefs of his Arguments ; and Ja/tiy, take a View of 
 his Sermons. 
 
 Having thus finifhed the firft Part, ard examined 
 what the Author hath faid in refpetl of Witchcraft, 
 we lhall next proceed to the Second Parr, where we 
 lhall further lhew, that to determine the Power and 
 Pofiibility of Witchcraft, we are to confider : 
 
 Firft, The Nature of Subftance, Material and Im- 
 material. 
 
 Secondly , That Immaterial Subftances may alter 
 Matter, and affect Human Bodies. 
 
 The PoiTibility of which we lhall prove by Ob- 
 fervations in Natural Philofophy. We ihall likewife 
 conlider the Teltimony of Scripture in both OH and 
 New Teftament, to prove the Effects of evil Spirits, 
 with Metaphyseal Arguments. 
 
 And to lhew further the Power of Immaterial 
 Subitances over Matter, and how the latter may be 
 affected by the former, we ihall conlider the Works 
 of the Macrocofm, and compare them with tho r e of 
 the Microcolon, in the Formation of the Univerfe, 
 and Human Bodies, and Obfeivations in both, con- 
 trary to the common Laws of Nature, 
 
 1 AVm- 
 
[5l 
 
 
 y^ Vindication of a Compleat 
 Hifiory of Magick, Sor- 
 cery, and Witchcraft, &c. 
 
 In Anfwer to 
 Dr.Hutchinfotfs Historic alEssay. 
 
 Part I. 
 
 CHAP. I. 
 
 Containing Remarks on what he hath faid 
 in his Dedication. 
 
 HE Author of this Hiftorhal EJfay T 
 in the beginning of his Dedication 
 tells us, that his Colle£tions and 
 Obfervations had lain by him feve- 
 ral Years ; and, it may be had ftill 
 flept in Obfcurity, if a new Book,, 
 which very likely might do fome Mifchief, had not 
 htety come forth in Two Volumes, under the Pom- 
 pous Title of a Compleat Hifior) of Magick, Sorcery 
 and Witchcraft. 
 
 B* 
 
 lam 
 
[6] 
 
 lam obliged to the Learned Do&or for the Ponv 
 pous Reprefentation he makes of fo compleat a Hi- 
 flory, and am glad he efteemed it fo powerful, as to 
 wake his Cohesions and Obfervations out of their 
 fecure Obfcurity ; yet from what I fhall offer, I do 
 believe they might have as well flept on, flnce that 
 new Book was very unlikely to do Mifchief , but 
 might rather be hindred from doing Good, by the 
 Oppofition of his rouzed Obfervations, and which to 
 me leem of a more mifchievous Kind. To deter- 
 mine this, we are to confider further what the Do£tor 
 hath faid againft our Hiftory, or in Favour of his 
 own Effay. 
 
 Page the Second, he fay?, cc I think it a Point 
 cc very certain, that tho 5 the fober Belief of good 
 <c and bad Spirits is an EfTential Part of every good 
 <c Chriilian's Faith, yet Imaginary Communications 
 1C with them, have been the Spring both of. the- 
 c worit Corruptions of Religion, and the greateft 
 li Perverfions of Jaftice."' This is a very fevere Re- 
 flection, efpecially fince he fays it is our Hiftory is 
 likely to do fome ( which we take to be this ) Mif- 
 chief. In Vindication therefore of what I have 
 wrote againft this Charge, I fhall afk the Learned 
 Do£tor, whether, if a good Chriftian is to be- 
 lieve the Exigence of good and bad Spirits , he 
 is not alfo to believe, that good Spirits may do 
 Good, and bad Spirits do Mifchief; and whether, if 
 they can produce good or evil EfFedrs, they can do 
 and execute their ill Etefigns, without a Communi- 
 cation with thofe Bodies they a£l upon? Now, fince 
 they cannot be good or bad without good or bad 
 Anions, their Anions denominating them one or 
 the other, they confequently muft have a Commu- 
 nication ; but thefe are not imaginary Communica- 
 tions, but real ones ; and thefe real evil Communica- 
 tions may produce evil Effects ; yet the Belief of- 
 their Exigence and Communication cannot produce 
 
 ill 
 
[7] 
 
 ill Effects, though their acting by Communication 
 may ■ Inftances of which our Hiftory confifts of; 
 yet we think fuch Inftances unlikely to do Mifchief, 
 being, as our Author owns, the Belief of every good 
 Chriliian. 
 
 Now if the CorniTiHnications of evil Spirits may 
 do Evil, they may corrupt Religion, by perverting 
 the Actions of the Flock , or influencing the Shep- 
 herd, which is a certain way to corrupt Religion, 
 and hath too often taken Place ; but they cannot 
 pervert juftice, without making an ill judge or ju- 
 ry; for juftice may take Place upon a Criminal, not- 
 withstanding an evil Communication with the Per- 
 fon, which is an Evidence of the Perfon's Guilt ; ib 
 that a Criminal may be influenced with an ill Spi- 
 rit, and juftice only taking Place, cannot be laid to 
 be perverted ; nor is Religion concerned, where ju- 
 ftice is on'y put in Execution. 
 
 But our Author fays, Imaginary Communica- 
 tions corrupt Religion and pervert juftice • to which I 
 anfwer, That fince what is only inlmaginaion cannot 
 be real Actions, they cannot produce real Effects, 
 and confequently cannot affect either Religion or 
 juftice, having no Effect at all. Befldes, fuppoiing 
 we ihould believe Things to be true, which are nor, 
 this conflfting with fober Belief of good and bad 
 Spirits , muft come under the eflential Part of a 
 good Chriftian, and confequently cannot corrupt 
 Religion, tending to the fame Effect with Reali- 
 ties, in refpect of fober Belief, though the Judg- 
 ment may be deceived, in diftinguifhing Realities 
 from imaginary Communications ; fo that ima- 
 ginary Communications having the lame Effect upoi 
 the Mind, do not alter the Difpofition of the Mind, 
 but a£l upon it as Realities, having an equal and 
 parallel Influence ; nor can imaginary Communicati- 
 ons pervert juftice, fince they are too weak to byafs 
 judgment, which every Judse, I hope, ©ay be en-. 
 
 B 4 dovved 
 
[ 8] 
 
 dowed with : But if through the Weaknefs of Judg- 
 ment, they cannot diftinguifh betwixt Realities and 
 Imaginations, they rauft either be unfit for the Judg- 
 ment Seat ; or imaginary Communications muft be 
 fo like Realities, that they cannot be diftinguifhed, 
 and then the Judge is ftill fuppofed in the Right, 
 becaufe the Cafe carries moral Poifibility along with 
 it, which is fufficient to gain Affent, and juftify that 
 Judgment, which appearing to be morally Good, 
 cannot be erroneous, or faid to be perverted. 
 
 He further fays, " How many miferable Crea- 
 <c tures have been hanged or burnt, as Witches and 
 1 Wizards in other Countries, and former Ages? 
 u In our Nation, even lince the Reformation, above 
 c a Hundred and Forty have been executed, very 
 " much upon the Account of one ill tranflated Text 
 <( of Scripture." To which I anfwer,that if they were 
 executed upon moral Proof, that amounts to Cer- 
 tainty, and confequently that judgment muft carry 
 Truth along with it, and the Crminals muft receive 
 juft Condemnation : which proves Witches and 
 Wizards milerab'e Creatures, as the Author ftiles 
 them. 
 
 But if they were executed upon the Account of an 
 ill tranflated Text of Scripture, their fatal Ends were 
 owing to the Neglect and Carelefnefs of thofe who 
 ought to take Care of the Tranflarions, and not fuf- 
 ier the World to be milled and mifinformed through 
 their Miftakes ; {6 that whatever Mifcarriages hap- 
 pen upon that Account, are owing to fuch as furfer 
 fuch Tranilations to be printed and publilhed ; and 
 Religion and Juftice muft be perverted by thofe Per- 
 fons, not by the Communications of Spirits, or the 
 Belief of them; and then the Author brings his 
 own Function in Guilty, and not the Righteous 
 Judgment, nor the Hiftory of Hiftorical Truths. But 
 lince the Author does not make that AlTertion, or 
 produce that ill Translation^ this Accufation muft 
 
 tun* 
 
turn upon himfelf ; which being wrongfully charged, 
 muft either tend to pervert juftice, or corrupt thofe 
 fettled Notions of Religion, which depend upon- 
 oi#Faith, grounded upon Texts of Scripture, as they 
 are publifhed to the World. 
 
 He further fays, cc If the fame Notions were to 
 Cc prevail again, no Man's Life would be fafe in his 
 cc Houfe; for the fantaitick Do&rines, that fupport 
 €i the vulgar Opinions of Witchcraft) rob us of all 
 
 * the Defences that God and Nature have placed, fos 
 c< our Security againft falfe Accufarions." To which 
 I anfwer, that the Notions of Witchcraft can hurt 
 no Man's Life, without moral Proof; nor do they 
 iob us of the Defences for our Security; for the fan- 
 taftick Do&rines, as 1 faid before, are too weak to 
 prove real Communications ; and imaginary ones can 
 do no Harm, being inefficient to raife Belief; nor 
 can falfe Accufations eafily take away our Security, 
 iince the Characters of good and bad Men, as well 
 as their A&ions, eafily diftinguim them, and fhev/ 
 whether they are influenced by good or evil AngeK 
 If they are good, their Light voill fo jhins before 
 Men^ that thsy feeing their good Works, will not ea- 
 fily fufpe£ them to be guilty of bad-ones ; and will 
 take off the Force of fuch falfe Accufations ; whereas 
 evil Men, who do the Works of Darknefs, muft b« 
 milled by evil Angels, and their Works will difco* 
 ver what manner of Men they arc. Ths- Circum* 
 itances of Anions aflift in the Judgment of morai 
 Credit ; and the Reputation of the Accufed, as weH ! 
 as of the Accufers, goes a great way in laying the 
 Foundations of firm Belief; fo that a fudge and Jury 
 cannot eafiy be miftaken, when>Circumftances are 
 well weighed and confidered* 
 
 He further fays, that " In Profecutions for Witcfa- 
 " crafty if any wicked Perfcn. affirms yt cr any 
 
 * crack'd- brained Girl imagines, Of any lying Spirit 
 £ makes ber believe that lhe fee* any old. Womans 
 
 B 5 * or 
 
I 10J 
 
 ** or other Perfon, purfuing her in her Villous, the 
 u Defenders of the vulgar Witchcraft, tack an ima- 
 ** ginary j unproved Compaft to the Depofition. 11 
 To which I anfwer , that the Reputation of Evi- 
 dences may eafily be difcovered by the Neighbourhood 
 they live in; and it may eafily be diftinguiihed 
 jby a Judge, what Credit is to be given to their Te- 
 flimony, and by Circumftancc^ how far the Perfons 
 accufedj may defer ve and merit the Accufation laid 
 to their Charges. As for Brainfick Perfons, thole 
 are commonly known by Men of Judgment in Phy- 
 lick, who ought to be confulted in fnch Cafes; and 
 they muft be mad themfelves, or fenfelefs, that can- 
 sot diftinguifh diftra£ted Perfons from fuch as are 
 poffeffed with Devils. But at the fame Time the Do- 
 ctor fuppofes the Girl Brainfick, he acknowledges a 
 lying Spirit may make her believe what fhe affirms, 
 which is an acknowledgment of Poffefhons, though 
 he pretends to argue againft them ; fo that he is 
 obliged to allow, what he would argue impofhble 
 and imaginary, to fupport his AiTenion ; a ftrange 
 *vay of arguing. 
 
 He fays, c< Sickly Vifions are grounded upon 
 
 l< the Dregs of Pagan and Popifh Supeiftitions." 
 ■But if they are flckly Villous, I fuppofc them to be 
 grounded upon Diftempered Brains, which are diffe- 
 rent from other kind of Vifions; and which when 
 real,, cannot be faid to be grounded upon Pagan or 
 Popilh Superftirions, except he will affirm that the 
 Bible is Paganifm or Popilh ; fi nee both the G)d and. 
 the New Teftament witnefs what Matters of Impor- 
 tance have often been difcovered by Vifions in 
 Dreams, as in Ezek. 13^16. The Frophets of lfrael y 
 v?hich prophefy concerning Jerufale?}^ and which fee 
 &) fu.ru of £eac?. Like wife Ihfea 12. Id* we find: 
 ths following ExcrcfHona, I have alfo fpoken by the 
 Frophets > and I have multiplied Pl/ions, and ufed Si^ 
 mihtU&l % the JMintjpry of the Frophets* Agai% 
 
 5 3p*% 
 
Joel 2. 28. / vnU pour out my Spirit upon all Kefh^ 
 and your Sons and y>>nr Daughters I ball Frophefy^ 
 your old Men jball dream Dreams, and yo^r young 
 Men fljall fee Vifions. And 2 Cor. 12. 1. 1 xoitt 
 come to Viftons and Revelations. Where we find 
 that Vifions have been frequent both in the Old and 
 New Teftament, which were neither the Effects of 
 lickly and diftra£ted Brains, nor are grounded upon 
 Paganifm, nor Popiifi Superftitions ; Suggestions be- 
 low the Dignity of one, who muft be well acquaint- 
 ed with the Holy Scriptures. 
 
 He further adds, that ic As the very Nature of 
 cc the Subject carries both Horror and Difficulty, po- 
 cc lite Men, and great Lovers of Eafe, will turn 
 c< away their Thoughts from it with Difdai.v." 
 Here the Do£lor hath different Thoughts from any I 
 ever retained ; for I always thought that Men of po- 
 lite Learning were feldom Lovers of Eafe\ or 
 frighted with the Horror of a difficult Subje£t, but 
 commonly employ the greateft Induftry on fuch Oc- 
 caiions. 
 
 The next Page, fpeaking of the Profecution of 
 Witches, he fays , ' c That though the common Pro-- 
 c< fecution of Witches was a fad Impiety, the greater! 
 tt Part of the Clergy winked at it, and let it pais : 3 
 And foon after lie adds, cc Though Reverence to 
 cc our A#s of Parliament, and the Influence of an 
 <c ill tranflated Text, and fear of loofe People car- 
 <c rying the Notion too far the other way, may 
 cc have made feme pious Men too fearful in oppo- 
 " fing the vulgar Opinions, yet in the main, I be- 
 u Jieve our Church of England, and its Clergy, have 
 u as little to anfwer foi as any.? How our learned 
 Author can call the Profecution of Witches a lad Im- 
 piety, I do not weii underftand; except the Works 
 of that. Diabolical Spirit, by^ whofe Power they a£r, 
 include Piety ; then indeed it is impious »to difcou- 
 lagc vkipua and evil Practice^ and thofe Actions 
 
 which 
 
which we commonly call Good , rauft be impious^ 
 It will be neceflaiy then to change the common 
 Signification ©f thofe Two Words, Pious and Impi- 
 ous, and what we call Evil muft be called Good, 
 and Good Evil ; and then it will be a Sin to do what 
 is Good, and meritorious to commit Wickednefs : 
 But other wife, if it be impious to punifh ill Pra- 
 ctices , it muft be Piety to Sin, and by this Rule 
 we muft worfhip Satan, and defpife our Maker. But 
 I find the greateft Part of the Clergy were of a 
 different Mind, and rather chofe to encourage the 
 Puniftiment of thofe evil Practices, and Works of 
 abominable Tranfgreflbrs. 
 
 And I am glad, that a due Reverence and Regard 
 to an A£t of Parliament, and the dangerous Con- 
 fequence of carrying the Notion too far the other 
 wray, yet influences fome pious Men from encoura- 
 ging fuch Miftakes, as this contrary Opinion, which 
 the Doctor efpoufes, might bring us into ; for if 
 fuch. wicked Practices were once connivU at, the Con- 
 fequences would be much more fatal, than the Puniih- 
 inent of Witchcraft can prove impious. 
 
 To determine then, whether the Puntfhment of 
 Witchcraft, or the Connivance at it, would be of the 
 worft Confequence, we (hall confider briefly the In- 
 conveniences on both fides. 
 
 And firft, if that deteftable Pra&ice be puninYcT, 
 it muft, as in all other criminal Cafes, deter all E- 
 vil-doers from purfuing the like : Nor can it be any 
 Crime to inflicl fuch Punilhment?, where there is 
 Legal and Moral Proof ; and the Laws will reftrain 
 them from what their obdurated Confciences cannot 
 be a fufficient Guard. 
 
 Whereas, on the contrary, if the World was let 
 loofe to perpetrate and commit all manner of Evi?, 
 as the Devil and their ©wn Inclinations would fug- 
 ^efi, it would foon be over-run with the worft of vw 
 cious. Pta&kesv aa& Wifcbcxafc would foon be. a* 
 
 rife 
 
[ n ] 
 
 rife as ever. I have heard it reported, that it wzs> 
 and perhaps is, a Scheme of the Romans, to debauch 
 this Nation in their Principles, that they may be rea- 
 dy to receive any new Impreflions, and change their 
 Religion upon any offer'd Occalion ; whereas, if their 
 Conferences are tender, and their Principles unfha- 
 ken, they will be apt to adhere to their firft received 
 Maxims and Tenets. This Project hath already too 
 much taken place ; and I with the Church of Eng- 
 land and its Clergy, may have little to anfwer for in 
 this Refpe£. 
 
 - Now if the Sins of Witchcraft, and other fuch 
 like Crimes, are difcouraged, and their Practices ex- 
 pofed and laid open , the Terror of fuch Crimes will 
 make the Vulgar fear the Devil and his Works, and 
 with more Earneitnefs implore the Divine Afliitance 
 to withftand them ; fo that we think our Hiftory 
 may be lefs mifchievous than our Author's Hiftoru 
 eal Effay. 
 
 Before we leave our Author's Dedication, we fhall 
 j further obferve, that he takes notice of a Canon, 
 which <c fubjects to the Penalties of Impofture, any 
 j cc Clergyman who mould undertake to ufe Prayers 
 ! <c forCafting out of Devils." But we find in Scrip- 
 ture, that our Saviour neither difcouraged his Difci* 
 |>les, nor any body elfe, from fuch Practices, if they 
 did it in his Name. He caft out Devils himfelf, and 
 faffer'd others to do the like ; being accounted an Im- 
 poftor himfelf, yet branding not others with that 
 ignominious Title : Inftances of which, we fhall be 
 fufficiently furnilh'd with in Scripture. Mattb. 1 2» 
 2-2. There was brought unto him one poffeffed \ with cr 
 Devil, blind and dumb, and he healed him ; info* 
 \viuch that the blind and dumb both [pake andfaxv. 
 — 24. Bui when the Fharifees heard it, they ftoJL 
 7 'his fallow doth not caft out Devils, but by Beelze- 
 bub, fr\nc& of the' Devils* To which he anfwer^ 
 \. 27. if I fry Eejkcbub caft out Deyiki fy whom da 
 
 - yaw? 
 
t Ml 
 
 your Children caft them out t Again, Mark o. 38. 
 When John told our Saviour, Mafler, voe favo one 
 cafting out Devils in thy name ; and voe forbad him, 
 becaufe he follow eth not ia ; Jefm, v. 39. faid> For- 
 bid him not : And further declare?, v. 4.0. For he that 
 is not againfl iv>> is on ourPart ; giving his Reafons why 
 they mould not be hindered from doing good. 
 
 There is one Thing more in his Dedication, which 
 we fhall take notice of, which is in Favour of his 
 Effay> as he fuppofes, but I think very little to the 
 Purpofe : He fays, that cc any that fhall be difpofed 
 <c to find Faults, may fee, that the Notions in my 
 £ Book are neither new, nor contrary to the Do- 
 i( £trines of our Church, but well agreeing with the 
 cc Opinions of the greateft Men that have been of 
 iC it. I will quote at large fome Paffages out of his 
 iC Declaration of Popifh Impoftures. 
 
 How far his Notions are agreeable with Reafon or 
 Religion, may in a great meafure appear from what 
 we have already faid, and will further appear from 
 what follows in the enfuing Papers : And that it- 
 may appear, what little Service his Quotations will 
 do him, we will, to conclude this Chapter, in the 
 next place take notice of fome of thofe PaiTagcs,, 
 and examine how agreeable they are with Reafon or 
 Scripture, which is the Foundation of our Church's 
 Belief. 
 
 The firit is as follows : cc It is a Queftion mov'd by; 
 cc Scaliger-y Why Men. of a melancholy Conftitu- 
 tt tion be more fubject to Fancies, Fears and I ma- 
 * ginations of Devils and Witches, than other 
 cx Tempers be ? His Anfwer is, Becaufe from their 
 " black and footy Blood, gloomy fuliginous Spirits , 
 il fume into their Brain, which bring black, gloomy,; 
 u and frightful Images, Reprefentations and Simili- 
 « c tudes in them." That the Diforders of the Blood 
 will afted the Spirits^ and produce melancholy Sym- 
 ptoms ia. the Spirits, no body can fen% y it being 
 
 well 
 
1 *fl 
 
 ivell known both to Phyficians and others : But there 
 Diforders are much different from thofe that are oc- 
 caiioned by the Influence of evil Spirits ; which will 
 appear both from the Relations contained in our Hi- 
 ftory of Witchcrafts and the Teftimony of Scripture > 
 which we fhall presently recite. 
 
 We fhall take notice of one Paflfage more, which 
 is, cc That Devils may transform themfelves into any 
 * Shape, either of Beaft, or Men, gefc. 
 
 • Thefe Paflages, which the Author efteems fo much 
 to his Advantage , are only ridiculous Relations, in 
 ibme meafure banter'd and ridicufd, without any Rea- 
 fons ofFer'd to the contrary ; fo that the Do&or hath 
 only endeavoured to lefTen the Value, and queftion 
 the Truth of real Matters of Fa£t, and would repre- 
 fent innocent and well attefted Relations odious, by 
 flighting Impositions or Stories, not worthy to be ta- 
 ken notice of. 
 
 Yet to prove that evil Spirits may torture Bodies, 
 •and by a&ing in different manners, may even alter 
 the Temper and Difpofltions of them ; we fhall pro- 
 duce the TefHmony of Scripture, to confirm what we 
 have related in our Hiftory. 
 
 That Spirits may alter, and after different manners 
 torture human Bodies, and even Beafb, is evident 
 from the Teftimony of Scripture ; Mark 9. 17. One 
 of the multitude anfwered and faid> Mafter, I have 
 ■brought unto thee my Son, who hath a dumb Spirit : 
 And wherefoever he taketh him y he teareth hvn : and 
 he foametb, and gnafheth with hk teeth, and pineth 
 away ; and I fpake to thy D'tjaples, that they jhonld 
 caft him on\ and they could not : Bur,, v. 2c. they 
 brought him unto hi»i ; and when hefawhim y ftraight- 
 -ivay the Spirit tare him^ and he fell on the ground] and 
 wallowed^ foaming. And he asked hk Father y how 
 long is it ago fine? this came unto him I And he faid> 
 ^Df a Child.. Ahd oftentimes it hath caft him into the 
 '& e i an & *** t-b* wa * er i i0 dsftr.oi him :. Bur^ v. 25* 
 
 Jefm 
 
[ i6] 
 
 Jefus rebuked the foul Spirit, and /aid unto him, 
 Thou deaf and dumb Spirit, I charge thee come out 
 of him, and enter no more into him. And the Sprit 
 cried, and rent him fore, and came out of him , and 
 he was as one dead ; infomuchthat many faid, he ix 
 dead. But Jefus lifted him up, and he arofe. And 
 a Verfe or two after, he declares to his Dhciples, 
 that this Sort was caft out only by Prayer and Fafi- 
 ing. 
 
 To this we may add the Seven Devils, which he 
 caft out of Mary Magdalen, and efpecially that raoft 
 remarkable Story, Mark. 5. v. 2, gffc. And when he 
 was coins out of the Ship, immediately there met him 
 out of the Tombs, a man with an unclean Spirit ; 
 who bad his dwelling amongft the Tombs, and no man 
 could bind him , no not with chains ; Becaufe that 
 he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and 
 the chains had been plucked afunder by him, and the 
 fetters broken in pieces ; neither could any man tame 
 him. And always night and day he was in theMonn~ 
 tains, and in the Tombs, crying and cutting himfelf 
 with ftones. But when he faw Jefm afar off, he ran 
 and worfbipped him • and cried with a loud vr,h&, 
 and faid, What have I to do with thee, Jefm, thou 
 Son of the moft High God t I adjure thee by God, 
 that thou torment me not. F»r he faid unto him>, 
 Come ottt of the man, thou unclean Spirit. And he 
 asked him, What is thy name f And he anfwered, fay- 
 ing, My name is Legion, for we are many : And he 
 hefought him much, that he would not fend him away 
 out of that Country. Now there was nigh unto the 
 Mountains, a great herd of Swine feeding ; and all 
 the Devils be fought him, faying, Send us into the 
 Swine y that we may enter into them. And forth- 
 with Je fits gave them leave ; and the unclean Spirit 
 went out, and enter d into the Swine ; and the herd 
 van violently domiafieep place into the Sea * ( they 
 
 vtere 
 
r*7i 
 
 were about Two Thoufand) and were choaked in 
 the Sea. 
 
 From all which Relations it appears, that evil 
 Spirits may not only torment and rack, and pine 
 away human Bodies, but alfo poflefs even the Bo- 
 dies of Brutes, and confequently appear in the Shape 
 of different Creatures, 
 
 Now, however the Do£tor may flight and contemn, 
 or ridicule common Relations, or fuch as are proved 
 by Moral Poflibility, yet I hope Divine Teftimony 
 may be trufted to ; or we muft deftroy all the Foun- 
 dations of Religion and Eccleiiaftical Government, 
 and reduce the World to its original Blindnefs, and 
 its priftine State of Ignorance. 
 
 Having thus far taken notice of what the Learned 
 Do&or hath faid in his Dedication ; it may, from 
 what we have offer'd, fufficiently appear, whether 
 our Hftory, or his Bffa^ is likely to do molt Mis- 
 chief ; what we have related being of a like kind, 
 and tending to a Confirmation of the fame Belief 
 with thefe Divine Hi (lories ; whereas, what he hath 
 faid, feems to have a contrary Tendency, leiTening 
 the Credit of fuch Things ; the Belief of which helps 
 to lirengthen our Faith. 
 
 We ihall, in the next place, proceed to examine 
 his Book, and fee what he hath offer'd in Favour of 
 his invaluable Notions ; looking upon this fpeciou3 
 Fiontifpice, as a Specimen of a great deal of Satif- 
 fa£hon within. 
 
 CHAP, 
 
I i8 ] 
 
 CHAP. II. 
 
 Containing fome Remarks on the Firjl Chap- 
 ter of his Hiftorical Eflay. 
 
 "D Eing fome Years out of England^ lince I wrote 
 •^ Two Volumes, entituled, A Cov/pleat Hiftory of 
 Magick^ Sorcery, and Witchcraft ; I had not, till of 
 late, the Opportunity of feeing a Book, wrote lince 
 that Time, calTd, An Hiftorical Eff ay of Witchcraft^ 
 which feems to be chiefly levelled at that Hiftory, 
 How far the Learned Author hath gain'd the Ad- 
 vantage, may, in a great meafure, appear from what 
 ha tli been faid in the firit Chapter, with refpect to 
 h;s Dedication ; I ihall next proceed to conlider what 
 appears in the Body of his Effay. 
 
 Upon viewing the firit Chapter of this Effay> I 
 perceive the Author hath laid his Scheme with a 
 great deal of Art and Skill $ being publifh'd by way j 
 of Dialogue, betwixt Two of his Friends and him- 
 felf ; they have treated him with a great deal of Re- j 
 fpecr, and he hath return'd it with a great deal of 
 Civility • they neither puzzling him with too ftrong 
 Arguments, nor he confounding of them with too j 
 much Reaibn. 
 
 lam forry I had not the Hap pine fs to be at that ( 
 Conference, lince too much modeft Civility on both j 
 Sides, feems to have handled the Caufe with too j 
 much IndirTerency. The Juryman was unfkilled, the , 
 Advocate from Home, and oblig'd to be civil ; fo $ 
 that they have given up the Caufe without much 
 Difficulty. Had I been there, I fhould have delired „ 
 a little more Liberty, which might have occafion'd ^ 
 more fatisfactory Anfwers ; but lince I was not there, u 
 I hope the Doftor will not take it amifsj if 1 let him « 
 
 know : 
 
know what I have to fay on that Subje£r, and where- 
 in I think what he hath faid infufficient. As for his 
 Two Friends, I ihall not fay much to them • for fince 
 they have given up the Argument fo eafily, they are 
 likely to do me little Service, and therefore I make bold 
 to fpeak for my felf. 
 
 After fbme Compliments, whi:h we have no Oc- 
 casion for here, the Doflor advifes, c< If the Cafe 
 Ki be not very plain, fave Life." In this he is right ; 
 for except there be moral Proof, it would be Injuftice 
 and Murther to take any body's Life away. But I 
 ihouM have thought, that as a Divine is not con- 
 cerned in Common Law, he ihould have faid, If they 
 be guilty, fave Life, that they mav r-epent and live * 
 God not willing; the Death of a Sinner, but rather 
 that he fiould repent and live : But if they will not 
 repent, they are not fit to Jive ; Life being, by God s 
 Prefcription, only granted, that Repentance might 
 precede, and make em fit for it : Therefore, without 
 Repentance^ they are not fit to live, and consequently 
 ought to dye, according to Law. Deut. 30. v. 1 «^, &c. 
 See > thvs day I have jet before thee life andgood> and 
 death and evil : But if thine heart turn away, jo that 
 thou xoilt not hear> but [halt be drawn axoay^ and 
 or/hip other gods^ and ferve them : I denounce unto 
 you this day^ that ye \h all fur el) perif/j> and that you 
 [hall ?iot prolong your days upon the Land', 
 
 We are of the fame Opinion with the Do£tor, 
 the Innocent ought not to be punihYd, but the Guilty ; 
 and therefore we did not undertake to cenfure Impo- 
 fkions, but to relate True Hiftories ; the Authors of 
 which ought to to be puniih'd, as dealing with evil 
 Spirits, and inhumanly with their Fellow-Creatures. 
 
 The next Thing we ihall take notice of, is, Pag, 3. 
 where the Doctor hath chofe a Child with Fits to be 
 the Subject debated on : and fays, " That the affii&- 
 cc ed Perfon falls into Fits, as foon as the Woman 
 " is brought into the Room where fhe is." To folve 
 ' this, 
 
[ io] 
 
 this, lie aflcs fome Queftions, which neither he nor 
 any body elfe anfwers ; and upon that makes fome 
 Suppofitions, upon which he grounds this Concluli- 
 on : <; That if fome fooliih young Women, by ly- 
 a ing Stories, or otherwife, are made as fearful of 
 u this poor Creature, (i.e. a Witch,) as this Girl 
 cc was (fuppofed to be) of a Spirit ; is it any won- 
 c< der fhe falls into Fits when ihe fees her ?" To> 
 which I anfwer, that the Doctor loves fuppofitious 
 Arguments better than imaginary Communications,, 
 which I take to be fynonymous Terms in this Cafe : 
 But fuppoling the Cafe to be real, the Fright muft be 
 with fome Surprize and Suddennefs, to occafion great 
 Diforders, efpecially fuch as are occafioned by the In- 
 fluence of evil Spirits : Nor hath the Doctor aflign'd 
 what Fits thefe are, and therefore fuppofitious both in 
 refpect of the Propofer and the Anfwerer : But ta- 
 king them as propofed, the Symptoms differ much 
 from r uch as evil Spirits occafion ; the former being. 
 Phyfical, having known Sym"ptoms j the latter con- 
 trary to what naturally attend Diftempers. 
 
 But he fays, (for I take the Advocate, the Jury- 
 man, and the Clergyman, to be the fame Perfon ; 
 tho' Clergymen are feldom upon a jury, or plead at 
 the Bar ,- ) cc Many affii£ted Perfons fall into Fits r 
 cc when the fuppofed Witch hath been brought in, fo 
 t{ as the Party hath not feen her." After fome cu- 
 rious Suppofitions, and a Queftion not belonging to 
 the Subject, (as being foreign) he fays, « Some Scent, 
 €t or fecret Communication of Spirits, are the cora- 
 <c mon Ground of all fuch Antipathies." If Scents 
 at fuch a Diftance could have any great Effects, 
 they muft be fo ftrong as to be perceived by the- 
 Standers-by, tho' they could not produce fuch Effect 
 upon them : If the Influence of Spirits, the Spirits 
 muft be evil, that caufe fuch pernicious Symptoms ^ 
 which is what we contend for. 
 
 He 
 
Ui ] 
 
 He further fays; <c P/rTty, and many others alfo 
 ft fuppofe , thefe ill Scents may be to the Degree of 
 cc Venom and Infection : And we need not won- 
 c< der at it ; for every malignant Fever makes any 
 ec of us venomous, for the Time it lafts." To which 
 I anfwer ; That when Scents amount to the Degree 
 of Venom and Infection, that Infection extends to 
 more than one fingle Perfon : And when malignant 
 Fevers are venomous, the venomous Perfon who in- 
 fects the reft, is always troubled with the like 
 Symptoms before. Therefore thefe Arguments are 
 btit weak and trivial, and infufficient to deftroy the 
 received Opinion of Witches ; which a£t after dif- 
 ferent manners, according to the Natures of thofe 
 evil Spirits ; as our Saviour faid, Thefe Sort are only 
 caft out by Fafling and Prayer : Whereas Fits which 
 depend only upon Phyfical Caufes, have much like 
 Symptoms in all ; thofe being their proper Diagno- 
 fticks, or Marks, by which they are diftinguiftied. 
 
 Pag. «5» He fays, " The bare Fits make the leaf! 
 * Part of the Wonder ; they tell of ftrange Aeti- 
 <c ons." If any other or particular Symptoms at- 
 tended the fuppofed Fits, (which he neither de- 
 fcribes as a Phyfician, nor anfwers as a Philofopher) 
 they ought to be made known , that the Reader 
 might judge of the Nature of the Cafe ; but the 
 Do£tor, inftead of enquiring into that, and ftating 
 the Cafe, fairly proceeds ; 
 
 <c And yet they may be natural Fits and Vapours 
 Ci for all that/ 5 And they may be Demoniacal Fits, 
 for ought any body can tell ; yet they teem to be ima- 
 ginary Communications, being not delcrib'd. 
 
 But to pro eed : He fays, cc When fome Sort of 
 <c Fits (which are undoubtedly natural) continue, 
 " they alter the Habit of the Body j whence many 
 <c times there grows a lurking, intermitting Fever 
 cc and Delirium^ or particular Madnefs ; and then 
 
 their Fancies and ftrange Symptoms are more f ir- 
 
 <c prizing. 
 
[ 11 ] 
 
 K prizing. There- are marvellous ErTe£ls, both in 
 * c their Minds, Eyes, Ears, Voices, and the whole 
 « Body. 
 
 That fome Sort of Fits will, tho' natural, by 
 their Continuance, alter the Habit of the Body, is 
 certain ; and fo will any : But I would fain know, 
 of what Sort of Fits we are talking ? If natural, 
 they belong to Phyfical Difcourfes ; if from Witch- 
 craft they take their Rife, or evil Spirits, they are 
 fuch as I mention in my Hiftory of Witchcraft, of 
 which there are feveral Kinds : But if we fpeak of 
 natural Fits, we ought to diftinguifh what Kind of 
 Fits we fpeak of, from whence the above-mention'd 
 Symptoms may flow ,- they being not well known 
 amongft Phyficians, nor publiihed in any of their 
 Writings. 
 
 He fays, <c Their Minds will fometimes be fb 
 c< clouded, and opprelTed, and dull, that they think 
 c< themfelves dead/' This indeed is a new Obfer- 
 vation, and the World is mightily obliged to the 
 Do&or for communicating ir. I have known Hyfte- 
 rick and Hypochondriack rerfons fancy themfelves a 
 dying, or in Danger ; but when once they fancy 
 themfelves dead, they muft fancy themfelves part 
 Thinking, or fpeaking their Thoughts. 
 
 7 he reft of the Fifth and Sixth Pages is fill'd with 
 Hypochondriack Difcourfe about the Symptoms of 
 that Diftemper ; but there is a great deal of Diffe- 
 rence betwixt the Symptoms of Hyfterick and Hy- 
 pochondriack Perfons, and thofe which attend the 
 fupernatural Effects of evil Spirits and Witchcraft ; 
 the firit denominating that Phyfical Cafe, the latter 
 the Refults of fupernatural Powers. 
 
 P. 7. He fays, " ConvuKive Motions turn their 
 ' c Heads, as if their Necks were broken : draw their 
 c< Mouths on one fide, wring their Arms out of 
 ic Joint, turn their Eyes inwa'd, and make them 
 cc lamentable Sje£tacles. 3> Thefe are Obfervations fo 
 
 uncom- 
 
r *? i 
 
 uncommon, that they are impoflible : For, firft, if 
 their Heads were turn'd as they are when their 
 Necks are faid to be broke, the fame Confequences 
 would follow, and Death muft enfue ; the Circula- 
 tion of the Spirits, as well as Refpiration, being hin- 
 der'd by fuch Dillocations. When the Mouth is 
 drawn afide by Convulfions, it commonly continues 
 fo, the oppofite Mufcles being relaxed, and is called 
 a Spafmu* Cynicu* : Nor can Dillocations be occa- 
 sioned by the molt forcible Contra£tion of any Muf- 
 cles. 
 
 He further fays, " If Blood be extravafated flow- 
 cc ly, the Heat of the Stomach in a little Time may 
 " form it into odd Figures, that when they are vo- 
 * c mited may feem very furprizing. Or if it hath 
 ci received any Seed, or Spawn, the Heat and Nou- 
 ** rifhment may produce the Animal." All thefe 
 Things are ftrange, and appear much more like Im- 
 positions, than the raoft unlikely Relation in our 
 H'ftory of Witchcraft ; and they that believe them, 
 muft have fome of the Doctor's melancholy Sym- 
 ptoms above-mention'd , or be bewitch 'd. I will 
 not fay, but Blood will be clotted by the Heat of 
 the Stomach, and thofe Clots will be of an uncertain 
 Figure : and vomiting of Blood is furprizing at any 
 rate ; but how Animals ihould be hatched in the 
 Stomach, is moft incredible, lince the Heat and Fer- 
 ment of the Stomach would diifolve them in pieces, 
 if they were hatched. How ftrangely it would grieve 
 a Man, to have his Stomach peck'd in pieces by a 
 Chick, upon fwallowing a new-laid Egg ; or to have 
 his Body open'd after Death, to fearch for an Oyfter- 
 Bank ! 
 
 He proceeds : <c Pins and Needles, that have been 
 cc fwallowed long before, will work their way to the 
 P outward Parts of the Body, and be taken out of 
 c< the Perfon's Sides, or Thighs/' Such like Stories 
 have indeed been told by ancient Phyficians, who 
 
 were 
 
[Ml 
 
 wpre credulous, and related what they only received 
 by Hearfay. If fuch Stories were true, the Stomach 
 and Guts, as well as other Parts, muft be wounded, 
 and occafion violent Symptoms and Death, before 
 fuch Penetration could be made : And it is equally 
 as likely, that a Man ihould vomit up his Toes, 
 as that Pins Ihould pafs from the Stomach to the 
 Thighs. If the Do&or can believe fuch Relations, 
 which the Nature of Bodies, and the Anatomy of 
 the Parts difproves, I wonder he has as much Aver- 
 fion to the Belief of Witches as fome have to their 
 A&ions, which may be confirmed by Moral Proof 
 and Reafon. 
 
 Yet to improve the Hypochondriack Stories be- 
 fore noted, he adds, Page 8. c< We have a great ma- 
 cc ny other Matters to confider of. One is, the great 
 cc Addition that will be made to the ftrangenefs of 
 cc fuch Cafes, if the Perfons themfelves give their 
 <c Minds to thofe Things, that will increafe the 
 c< Wonder, too many go a great way further, 
 
 <c even to a wicked Management of their own Di- 
 cc ftempers, and counterfeiting Symptoms that their 
 <c Difeafes did not occafion." There are indeed too 
 many, that upon flight Occafions dhTemble them- 
 felves worfe than they are; but thofe who have 
 fuch Symptoms as the Do£tor mentions, muft be fo 
 bad, that they need not, if able, defire to make 
 themfelves feem worfe, it being neither Pleafure nor 
 Advantage; befides, in Hypochondriack Difeafes, 
 their Thoughts are fo much depraved, and their 
 Minds fo much difordcred, that they are very unfit 
 for counterfeiting and making themfelves ill ; it would 
 be much more Satisfa&ion and Pleafure, if they 
 could counterfeit and dhTemble themfelves well ; a 
 difordered Brain is very unfit and incapable of 
 policy,, and they can fcarce deceive others, who 
 cannot undeceive themfelves. A Man in his right 
 Senfcs, and who hath his Reafon and Wit at Will, 
 
 cannot I 
 
cannot aft the Part of a Hypochondriaek VerCon Co 
 naturally, but that he may be diftinguiihed from 
 one in a real Diftemper ; much lefs can we fuppofe, 
 that he who hath his Mind Co much difcompofed 
 and difordered> mould act the Part of him that 
 hath an Evil Spirit or a Devil in him. there being a 
 great deal of Difference betwixt pretematual andfu- 
 pernatural Anions and Symptoms. So that all the 
 Art the Doctor can ufe, will not make the Sym- 
 ptoms that perplex Hypochondriacal Perfons, amount 
 to the Degree in which People poffeiTed or bewitched 
 are tortured and tormented. There is a vafl difference 
 to diftinguilh them. 
 
 He adds, (C Though a Diftemper at firft be furpri- 
 cc zing, and puts the afflicted Perfons beyond their 
 <c Thoughts of Tricking, yet a little Time makes 
 <c them familiar with their Calamity; and when 
 " they find themfelves come fafe out of Grange Fits, 
 * and begin to have the Ufe of their Thoughts 
 c< while they are in them, and bear what Judg- 
 ^ ments are made of their Cafe, they manage their 
 c < Calamity to ferve their own Intereit." It is very 
 ) I unlikely, that when a Man hath been long out of 
 A his Senfes, and almoft at Death's Door, he ihould be 
 {capable of thinking cunningly at once, at a Time 
 ) when he is capable of thinking nothing at all; be- 
 «| fides in thefe violent Fits, having, for the Time , loft 
 X their Senfes, how ihould they remember after what 
 J manner they were afflicted ? And if the Fit hath 
 ^deprived them of Memory, how Ihould they be 
 able to act the fame over again, as in an Epilepfy, 
 or Fall'ng-Sicknefs, can any body well aft the Sym- 
 ptoms of it? Can they make themfelves infenfible of 
 Pain, when prick'd or cut ? Can they counterfeit 
 froathing, tough, vifead P"r.le:m, when there is none 
 in their Stomach? Or can they fain thofe preter- 
 natural Sweats, or violent Tranfpiratibri, which con- 
 tinue frequently in the Fit. In the Time of the Fit, 
 
 C violent 
 
[ *6 ] 
 
 violent Convulsions refemble extraordinary Strength, 
 the Mufcles then forcibly contrail ing ; but when a 
 Man is well, how can he counterfeit that extraordi- 
 nary Strength? He then can ufe no more than what 
 naturally belongs to him. 
 
 But the Do£tor fays, Yage o. he will bring Inftan- 
 ces to favour his Thoughts ; fucb, fays he, " As I 
 u have either read in fober Authors, or heard 
 <c from very good Hands." If Reading is fufrici- 
 ent Proof to gain Alien t, why does he not believe 
 what is writ in our Hiftory of Witchcraft , which 
 was collected from very fober Authors, one no lefs 
 than a King, a wife Man, and a great Scholar, 
 which every body allowed King James the Firft to 
 be. If only by Hearfay, though from good Hands, 
 why might not they be impofed upon firit, awd con- 
 fequentiy himfelf ? But 1 peroeive the Doctor be- 
 lieves what may ferve his Opinion very eafily, 
 and will take a Friend's Word for it : but hath no 
 Faith upon moral Proof, the Teitimony of Scrip- 
 ture, nor the troublefome Impertinence of Reafbn. 
 
 But let us view his Inflances; c< It is common 
 " then with fuch, that by long holding their Breath, 
 cc they can throw themfelves into Fits when they 
 will." But this, I hope, the Doctor does not call 
 dhTernbling : for when they are in real Fits, it is pall: 
 Hypocrify, or Counterfeiting. But the Pofiibility of 
 this is not confident with the Symptoms, for there 
 mud be that vifcid Phlegm which twinges the | 
 Nerves in the Stomach, to caufe its convulfive Mo-,- . 
 tion, and to fupply that frothy Stuff di'charged at' [ 
 the Mouth, and the Blood muft have its particular E 
 Indifpolitions to occalion thofe convulUve Motions 
 of Mufcles, and violent Cramps. 
 
 His next Inftance is, <c By often moving and ' 
 <c ftretching the Skin of their Heads ; if the Hair be J 
 c< lhort, they can make it ftand upright, like an ' 
 «* angry Dog j and then they w'.ll bark and fnar], ." 
 
[ *7 ] 
 
 K and run upon all Four, as if they were changed 
 
 u into Maftives, ■ they ^ can fuck up their 
 
 <c Breath, and draw in their Guts, till the By-ftan- 
 cc ders can feel the Back-bone/' If they can make 
 the Hair ftand up like an angry Dog, it muft be as 
 long as the angry Dog's, or it cannot be like it, and 
 then Mens Hair is too weak commonly to ftand an 
 End, except new Shaved j and though they may run 
 upon all Four, except they had Legs like Maftives, 
 they would look more like Monfters. As for him 
 that could fuck up his Guts, fo that the By-ftanders 
 might feel his Back-bone ; this I take to be a piece 
 of Banter, and cannot think the Doftor would be fo 
 impofed upon ; yet a Man may feel his own Back- 
 bone fa, or if he breaks Wind, and puts his Hand 
 behind him. 
 
 Page ic, n> and 12, are filled with ridiculous 
 Stories of the Art of feigning Voices, and jugglers 
 Tricks, which ought rather to have been printed by 
 themfelves, for the ufe of Jugglers, and fuch as in- 
 tend to ftudy that Art, but otherwife it is not worth 
 while to take Notice of them. Every body almofl 
 can tell the pretty Things thofe Artiits amufe them 
 with ; but may be unacquainted with the Pra&ice of 
 Witchcraft. And though the Do£lor may bring thele 
 fmall Arts in Queftion, to lelfen the Credit of Hi- 
 ftorical Truths, he will come fliort of that with 
 any judicious Perfons, who can eafily fee through 
 the Fallacy of his Delign ; for though thefe Things 
 are Fallacious, and Imposition, yet it does not fol- 
 low that thofe Relations are filfe, which are evident 
 to Reafon, morally Pomble, and attefted by the Au- 
 thority of Scripture. Thefe trifling Stories, furely, 
 will not confound the Belief of our Saviour's Mira- 
 cles, who not only caft out Devils, but hath told us 
 the manner of their Actions, and given us an Ac- 
 count of their Symptoms, which we have recited in 
 the firft Chapter , and ihall elfewhere in proper 
 i Places. C 2 " But 
 
[ *8 ] 
 
 But if the Doftor had thought fit to lefTen the 
 Validity of that Doctrine, fo agreeable and con- 
 fentaneous with Hiftories in Sacred Writings, it 
 had been much more honourable and confident with 
 his Function and Character, to have oppofed them 
 with Dint of Argument, and given a Rational De- 
 monstration of the Impoffibility of PofTeilions, than 
 to endeavour to gain a Caufe, by flight Evafions, 
 and artificial Infinuations. 
 
 Page the 1 3th, after a florid Acknowledgment to 
 difguife and cover the Intention of the reft of his 
 "Writing ; he fays, c< The Holy Scriptures, that are 
 cc our only fure Rule, though they give us many 
 * c Inftances of the Employment both of the good 
 cc and evil Spirits, they teach us none fuch as we 
 c< commonly meet with in the modem Relations of 
 Witchcraft." Here the Doctor thinks it neceflary to 
 recant all his former Notions, with an artificial Eva- 
 lion. He cannot deny the various Kinds of the Mi- 
 niftration of bad Spirits, only the Inftances of their 
 evil Practice in modern Writings, are not fuch as / 
 are mentioned in Scripture. To which we anfwer, 
 that all the Relations of PovTeflions in Scripture are 
 not alike, one differing much from the other in 
 their Kind and Symptoms, according to the different 
 Nature and Miniftration of thofe evil Spirits ; and 
 if the Miniftration of Spirits and Natures differ and 
 produce different Effects, there is very good Reafon 
 why modern Relations vary from thofe, as well as 
 from one another; the Devil and his Angels acting \ 
 after various Manners, to difguife their evil Pradti- 
 fes, that they may pafs undifcovered to the World ; 
 as 2 Cor. xi. 14. For fuch are fa'fe Apoftles, deceit- 
 ful Worker s> transforming them f elves into the Apo- 
 files of Chrift ; and no marvel^ for Satan hbnfelf is 
 of: en transform d into an Angel of Light: And 
 Matth. vii. 1 <y Bewar" of falje Prophets } which come 
 to you in Sleeps Chathing^ but inwardly they are 
 
 ravsnhig 
 
[ 2-9 ] 
 
 ravening Wolves. So that we fee the Devil often 
 works under the Cloak of SanfUty, that he may be 
 better able to war againft Sacred Things; and if he 
 can at this rate transform himfelf, why may he 
 not into any other Form? Carnal Things, which 
 belong to this World, being more under his Power, 
 than thofe of a Diviner Nature ; and confequent- 
 }y, it will be eafier for him to appear in the Form 
 of a Brute, or a Fowl, or a Man, than that of an 
 Angel ; for which reafon he is defcnbed like a Beaft, 
 with Tail, Horns, and a cloven Foot; and as he 
 was able to poffefs human Bodies as well as Brutes, 
 whilft our Saviour was upon Earth, why may he 
 not communicate with Perfons of a beaftly Nature, 
 who refufe the afiiftance of good Angels, and only 
 make room for evil Spirits ? 
 
 Page 13, and 14, he adds, cc Some take Pains to 
 <c join the Scripture Relations and theie as clofe as 
 
 cc they can together, they are very different 
 
 <c Things, and upon the Credit of very different 
 
 " Witneifes, — the Scripture Relations are wit- 
 
 cc neffed by Prophets and Apoftles, that are venerable 
 <c for Divine Virtue and Goodnefs." As for join- 
 ing of them together, the Doctor need not com* 
 plain of that, flnce he does more in his Difcourfe, 
 interlarding one with the other, fo that it is diffi* 
 cult to find Coherency in the handling of the Sub- 
 ject, or to give direct Anfwers, without picking up 
 Scraps at a Time, as People fort Goods in a Ware- 
 1 houfe, confu r edly jumbled together; but that's the 
 knack of Dialogue, for when Three People are talk- 
 ing , it will be hari for a Fourth to put in a 
 Word; For that Reafon 1 have fortejj 'he Expreffi- 
 ons in this Page. But to the purpofe : I think 
 thefe not fuch different Things as the Do£tor re- 
 prefents them; for though fome are delivered in 
 the Bible, and fome out; if tho e out of it, and 
 in another Hiftory , be well attefted , and appear 
 C 3 to 
 
to be PofTefiions, they are of the fame Kind ; and 
 fince thofe in the Bible are confirmed true PofTefii- 
 ons, 'by the Teftimony of fuch undoubted Evidence, 
 it adds to the Credit of Relations of the fame kind 
 out of the Bible ; and proving the Poflibility, adds 
 to the Credit of thofe WitneiTes which might 
 othenvife be fufpe£ted , and their Jugdment que- 
 stioned ; which neverthelefs amounts to moral Proof 
 and Certainty : So that all the Difference betwixt 
 thefe Relations is, that fome are witncfTed by the 
 Prophets and Apoftles, happening in their Time, 
 and regifter'd amongft Sacred Hiftories ; others hap- 
 pening after their Time, are witnelTed by good Peo- 
 ple of thofe Times, and good Men, though not chofen 
 Apo files. 
 
 But he fays, <c The Scripture Fafls foberly inter- 
 c preted, agree with the Notions we have of God 
 * c and Providence, and the Laws of Nature ; where- 
 cC as thefe confound the Laws of Nature, and 
 c< deftroy the Teftimony of our Senfes, in fome 
 cc Cafes/' To which I anfwer, that in this Point 
 too, the Do&or muft be miftaken ) for though they 
 agree with the Notions we have of a God and Pro- 
 vidence, fince they fhew the Power of fupernatu- 
 ral Agents, yet they agree not with the Laws of 
 Nature, all the Symptoms of PoiTeiTions bnng pre- 
 ternatural, and out of the common Courfe of Na- 
 ture, occafion'd by the Interpofition of a Spiritual 
 and Supernatural Power, as the Devil and his 
 Agents, which gives them the Name of Poffellions, 
 and diftinguiihes them from natural Difeafes : And 
 as for thofe mentioned in other Hiftories; they 
 are equally confiftent with the Notion of a God 
 and Providence, fince they equally acknowledge a 
 Divine Power, and proceed alike from the fame fu- 
 pernatural Agents ; and they equally difagree with 
 the Laws of Nature, proceeding from the like fu- 
 pernatural Caufes; yet they deftroy not the Tefti- 
 mony 
 
[ It 1 
 
 mony of our Senfes, becaufe our Senfes teftify and 
 diftinguifh them from what is natural; and acknow- 
 ledge a fupernatural Power. 
 
 Hiving thus far run through the Firft Chapter of 
 his HtJloricalEJfay • from what we have faid, it may 
 appear, that the Arguments he hath offer'd againft 
 the Do£lrinc of Witchcraft are flight and trivia), 
 confirming more of Fallacies, and flight Evafions and 
 Infinuations, than real and fubftantial Reafons ; and 
 that he hath trump'd up fome ridiculous Stories of 
 cunning Artifts and Jugglers, to leifen the Credit of 
 authentick Truths ; and that he might as well bring 
 the fame Arguments to diminiih. the Credit of Sacred 
 Writ, if the Apoftles did not ftand in his way, the 
 fame Arguments being good againft one, that ftand 
 good againft the other. 
 
 CHAP. III. 
 
 Containing Remarks on the Contents of his 
 Second and Third Chapter^ which con- 
 fifts of a Chronological Table \ and Ob- 
 fervations upon what is contained in that 
 Table. 
 
 AS for his Chronological Table, we find, upon ta- 
 •" king a View of it, that it confifts of real Truths, 
 though there are a mixture of Impofitions amongft 
 them. This the Do£tor himfelf owns to be true, 
 and condemns himfelf out of his own Mouth ; his 
 Words are as follows. " That fince there have been 
 cc fo many Condemnations by lawful Judges and Ma- 
 ^ giftrates, though they do feem to be miftaken in 
 
 C 4 many, 
 
[ ^ ] 
 
 cc many, yet there muft be many alfo, in which the 
 cc Facts were real/ 5 And this he fays, and acknow- 
 ledges to appear from c€ The Time and Place, and 
 <c cited Authors for the Execution of many Thou- 
 cc fands, befides general Testimonies of great Num- 
 <c bers more : He hath reckoned up about One Hun- 
 Cc drei Forty Six that hive fuifered in England lihce 
 u the Reformation, by Protectant Judges and Juries. 
 4C In New-England One and Twenty, fo very lately 
 <c as the Year 1692; and.fince thefe, Seven in Scot" 
 <c land) in the Year 1697. Now the Concluiion 
 <c I mult make is, That they muft be right in many 
 <c Cafes, though I doubt they were often miftaken." 
 The Author hath thus condemned , what he had 
 fo long before been contending for, endeavouring to 
 prove the Doctrine of Witchcraft falfe and erroneous. 
 Now if any of thefe Cafes be true, as they morally 
 appear to be, though there may be Impofitior.s, thefe 
 impoiitious Relations ought not to leffen the Credit 
 and Belief of real Truths, and autbsntick Hiftories; 
 fince, as we noted before. Counterfeits and Realities 
 ought, and may eaflly be diftinguiihed. 
 
 But though the Do£tor hath thus, by his own 
 Words, owned the Reality of Witchcraft, yet he 
 would full endeavour to lcfibn the Credit of what he 
 cannot contradict. 
 
 Page 65. " If they were miftaken in one half of 
 * thefe Tryals, it makes a very bad Cafe. And bet- 
 <c ter that they had all been committed to the Righ- 
 iC teous Judge, who does not negleit the other Caufes, 
 <c that are too hard for Man's Judgment. The 
 Doctor is in the right to think the^Cafe bad, where 
 Miftakes are made. But to commit them to the 
 Righteous Judge, feems to be a Reflection upon the 
 Judges of this World, as if they were Unrighteous. 
 Bat not to infift upon that, believing the Doctor to 
 have a more favourable Opinion of them, I ihall on- 
 ly obfeive, that if this Advice was put in Execution, 
 
 what 
 
r it i 
 
 what muft become of our Courts of Judicature ? There 
 would be no occafion for Judges or Council, and the 
 Judgment-Seat, and Juftice, might be laid afide, and 
 vanilh into the other World : For Miftakes in com- 
 mon Law and Equity, as well as in capital Cafes/ 
 may be made for want of good Evidence, and a true 
 Reprefentation of Circumftances, which not appear- 
 ing before a Judge in a true Light, may pervert right 
 Judgment • but becaufe Cafes and Circumftances may 
 fometimes be mifreprefented, mult all Judgment be 
 condemned ? And becaufe Injuftice may be done , 
 muft no Juftice take Place ? At this Rate, left a Mi- 
 ftake lho lid be made, no Miftakes muft be corredted, 
 and confev[uently all muft be Injuftice, for want of 
 Judgment. But to fpeak of Capital Crimes only : It 
 fometimes happens, that a Man fufFers upon Moral 
 Probability, and Lawful Evidence , when Circum- 
 ftances may mifreprefent the Cafe ; but it does not 
 follow that all Crimes muft go unpuniihed ; and be- 
 f caufe one dies innocently, that the wicked mould go 
 unpuniihed. If it were not for the Terror of the 
 Laws, horning but Wickednefs would abound, and 
 the Devil and his Angels would a£l in every Shape, 
 Murther, Theft, and Witchcraft ; nay, ait manner 
 of Vice would put the World into Confufion. But 
 if the Do£tor can prevail with his Rhetorick, who 
 can withftand him ? Yet this great Clemency will 
 Icarce appear fo confiftent with Reafon, as to take 
 Place, no more than Men wilj leave off the life of 
 Swords or Piftols in their Defence, becaufe fometimes 
 they kill, and aie made an ill Ufe of. 
 
 But the Do£tor offers his Reafons for his Opinion, 
 the firft of which is, c< That where the Times have 
 w not been fo violent and fuperftitious, but that in- 
 c< genious Men might venture to fpeak freely, and 
 " the Government hath put the Parties into their 
 c * Hands, that they might make full Tryal; they 
 ^ haye ufually difcovered Cheat and impofture. 
 
 C 5 * Here 
 
[ 34l 
 
 c * Here are a Matter of Fifteen famous Dete&ions 
 
 cc of Fraud, many after Judges and Juries, and a 
 
 Ct Multitude of Eye-witneiTes had been deceived. 
 
 c< Thefe give me a ftrong Sufpicioh, that if the reft 
 
 cc had undergone as ftri£t an Enquiry, molt of them 
 
 tc would have been difcovered as well as thefe." I 
 
 find I have a very fhict Reafoner to deal with, and 
 
 therefore it concerns me to make a ftri£t Scrutiny to 
 
 find them out ; they feeming to lye in as much Ob- 
 
 fcurity, as before the Papers were publiihed. How 
 
 violent the Times are, I leave the World to judge : I 
 
 can fee nothing of Violence •, and as for Superftition, 
 
 I think there is fo little, that Religion, now a Days, 
 
 is at fo low an Ebb, that if there was lefs, there 
 
 would be none at all : molt Men neither fearing God 
 
 nor the Devil, nor any of his Works, but perpetrate 
 
 and commit all manner of Crimes, and if Judgment 
 
 was left t6 the Righteous Judge, before that lime, 
 
 like a Horfe without a Bridle, they would go more 
 
 Aitray. 
 
 As for the Government putting the Parties into 
 the Hands of ingenious Men, I think they are fo, 
 when they are brought to Judgment, fince Judges 
 ought to be ingenious Men. But becaufe fome Im- 
 postors have been found out, the Do£tor begins to 
 fufpect what the Page before he feemed not to que- 
 IHon : he fufpedls that thofe that are real are falfe ; 
 at this Rate, indeed, we are got into Superltitious 
 .Times. 
 
 The next Reafon the Doctor offers is fo full of 
 Weight, that it is funk quite out of Sight. It is as 
 follows: K Though the Relations are wrote by thofe 
 c< that believe the Fa£ts, and told the Stories with 
 tc as much Advantage as they could well- yet as I 
 <c have in Part obferved already, fo I now add, that 
 cc there are few of them without fome great Abfur- 
 u d'ty or Folly, that looks like an Affes Ear out of 
 * a Lion's Skin. If any one fhaU think it worth his 
 
 ° while, 
 
[ ?H 
 
 tc while, I believe he may collet out of the Books 
 <c of Witchcraft^ as many incredible Tales, very 
 <c near, as there are in the Golden Legend.'* Curi- 
 ous Obfervations , and ftrong Arguments againft 
 Witchcraft • Stories like AfTes Ears out of a Lions 
 Skin ! and incredible Tales in the Goldzn L^end I 
 as for the firft, I never faw the Sight, and cannot 
 tell how it would look ; th ; s is a Secret of the Do- 
 ctor's, and perhaps may be in the Obfcurity his Pa- 
 vers lay fo long in. As for the Golden Legend, I ne- 
 per had it in my Study. 
 
 But to conclude his Reafon, fays he, u Now when 
 ,c Papifts had fwelled their lying Miracles into fuch 
 <c a Multitude, our Reformers ventur'd to reject both 
 cc the Stories and the Doctrines that they proved by 
 <: them, without troubling themfelves to account for 
 <c every Particular Relation. And as we have reap'd 
 cc a very lafting and happy Benefit from their found 
 (c Judgment, 1 do not fee but we may apply their 
 ct Example to the Cafe before us." This leems 
 to be a great and lucky Thought , to compare 
 the rejecting of a few Hiftoncal Accounts of 
 PoiTeffions and Witchcraft, with the Reformation 
 of a whole Church ; but though the Kingdom receiv- 
 ed a happy and lafting Benefit from the Reforma- 
 tion, what will it receive, if thefe fhould be thrown 
 afide, and what Principles may be built upon them? 
 To determine this, we are to confider what Princi- 
 ples may be built upon them. What Good or Harm 
 they may be likely to do, we have already noted in 
 the firft Chapter : and as for what may be built upon 
 them, lince Poffcilions now are of the fame Kind 
 with thofe mentioned in Scripture, only differ in 
 fome Circumftances, no PoiTeitions being alike in 
 Circumftances : no other Principles can be built up- 
 on thefe, but what might be upon thofe, they both 
 tending to the fame End and Intention, as they 
 make People afraid of the Devil and his Works > and 
 
 ihew 
 
fhew the Neceflity of imploring Divine Afliftance : 
 Only there is this Difference ; thofe happening in 
 ou Saviour's Time, tended to his Glory, as they 
 gave him Opportunity to work Miracles, and fhew 
 his P wer in cafting them out ; whereas now he not 
 being upon Earth, they cannot ferve to that Purpofe. 
 Yet to reject the Belief of thefe, is to leflfen the Be- 
 lief of the others • and if there were no Devils in 
 thofe, none could be caft out ; which would fhake 
 our Faith as to the Number of Miracles : Therefore 
 I think we had not belt cc apply their Example to the 
 |£ Cafe before us. 
 
 But to proceed to his Third Obfervation, which 
 as, <c An unpardonable Partiality, and perfect Hu- 
 cc mour in judging what are Atls of Sorcery, and 
 " what are not/' But the Doftor can excufe his own 
 Partiality, in condemning that which he gives fuch 
 ilight Reafons againft. 
 
 But to go on to the remaining Part of this Third 
 Obfervation^ or Reafon, he obferves, cc Tho* the 
 tc Statute againft Witchcraft forbids all Acts of Sor- 
 * eery whatever, and all Charms for employing of 
 <c Spirits ; yet for difcovering a fuppofed Witch, 
 <c they allow any that call themfelves Accuicrs, to 
 ic ufe barbarous and unnatural Charms, which muft 
 cc have their Force (if they have any at all) from 
 Ci the fame Diabolical Power, becauie they are no 
 <c natural Caufcs of fuch Effects. They allow them, 
 " for inftance, to f:t the Bottle and Urine upon the 
 * c Fire, well corkM and ty'd down, and to burn 
 <c Cakes made of the Parties Water. All thefe are 
 <c fetking to, and confuhing with the Devil, and 
 <c employing of him, and ufing the Vinculum .Facl 7, 
 u and are within the Reach of the Statute againft 
 " Witchcraft • and yet all thefe they confefs of 
 ct themfelves, and practife unpunifhed, and think it 
 f no Harm. But this is the utmoft Partiality, or 
 " rather mere Wantonnefs in judging ; for whether 
 
 « fuch 
 
[ V7 1 
 
 tt fuch Compass ar-e real, or only imaginary, they 
 c< ought to be puniihcd equally on both fides, with- 
 <c out Refpect of Perfons." I am forry the Doctor 
 fliould be To often miltaken, having fuch good Judg- 
 ment ; for tho' he difclaims, and endeavours to ex- 
 tinguifh the Belief of the Doctrine of Witchcraft, 
 yet, tho 5 his Intention feems to be otherwife, he 
 cannot (now and then) forbear in Words, and 
 confequently in Thoughts , owning of it • or elfe 
 why mould he call them barbarous and unnatural 
 Charms, which the Accufers make ufe of ; and fay, 
 f< they mull have their Force from fome Diabolical 
 f c Power ;' which is owning fuch a Diabolical Pow- 
 er f But he would have the Act to take place upon 
 the Accufers ; he would have the Accufers punimed, 
 yet hath a great deal of Clemency for the Witches : 
 Is not this Partiality ? What a great deal of Pains 
 he hath taken, to refer the Accufed to the Righteous 
 Judge ; yet is mightily offended the Witnelfes are 
 not punifhed ! But to fatisfy the Doctor of the Im- 
 partiality, we fhall only put him in mind of an ap- 
 I proved Saying, Set a 'thief to catch a Thief : And 
 I we find in common Capital Cafes, as Robbing on 
 j the Highway, if a Highway-Man (tho'enually con- 
 1 cern'd with others) turns Evidence, he is pardon'd 
 for his part Crimes ; becaufe he detects thofe that 
 might continue in their Wickednefs, and perfevere in 
 their ill Practices : But if he is catch'd again in fuch 
 a Fact, this former Accufation will not excufe that 
 Jart Crime. But tho' the Accufers in Witchcraft 
 make ufe of Charms, which are in themfelves cri- 
 minal, yet there is a great deal of Difference betwixt 
 an old Offender and a conftant Practifer, and one 
 that only makes ufe of a lingle Trial, to difcover 
 and detect fuch Perfons : And fince one is done with 
 an ill Intent, and the other with a good Defign, the 
 Facts not being equally pernicious, cannot deferve 
 equal Puniihment, tho' there were no Excufe to be 
 
 made 
 
T J* ] 
 
 made for the Accufers. But to put the Cafe fur- 
 ther : The Doctor, being throughly acquainted with 
 the Divine Attributes, it will not be amifs if I fhould 
 afk him, Whether, tho* it is confiftent with God 
 Almighty's juftice, that all thofe who tran r grefs the 
 Divine Laws , tho' the Fact be greater or lefs, the 
 Fad breaking of them, fhould fjffer for the Breach 
 of his Commandments ; yet may not his Mercy pre- 
 vail with the Rules of Juftice, and pardon them ? 
 Otherwife he is not Omnipotent. He may puniih, 
 and he may pardon : By the Law they dye, but by 
 his Mercy they may be faved. Arid fo in Common " 
 Law, tho' by the Statute the Tranfgreflor ought to 
 furTer, yet Mercy may prevail ; and there can be no 
 Mercy without Pardon : For if Juftice was always 
 exactly executed, there could not, nor would be fuch 
 a Thing as Mercy : The Word would be of no Ufe 
 or Signification. 
 
 But to proceed to his Fourth Obfervation, or Rea- 
 fon : He fays, cc That the Number of Witches,- and 
 <c the fuppofed Dealing of Spirits with them, in- 
 <c creafe or decreafe, according to the Laws, andNo- 
 <c tions, and Principles of the feveral Times, Pla- 
 <c ces 3 and Princes." That they might increafe or 
 decreafe according to the Laws, there is no doubt ; 
 Executions lefTening the Number, as well as deter- 
 ring others from the like Practice : And no doubt, 
 but Princes encouraging the Profecution of fuch abo- 
 minable Practices, might enforce thofe Laws. And 
 no Queftion, but Notions and Principles might do 
 much ; for tho' fome Men s Principles might be bad 
 enough, yet the Notions they had of the Punifh- 
 ment, the Severity of the Law*, and the Refentment 
 of Princes, might deter them, and difcourage vici- 
 ous Practices. 
 
 He fays ; cc In the Times of the Rowan- Empire, 
 " fome of the C&fars condemned Witches, others 
 [[ would not/ 5 which he might as well have ex- 
 
 prefTed 
 
[ 39 1 
 
 prefTeJ another way, and faid, Some of them dif- 
 couraged and puniihcd Offenders : others were vici- 
 ous themfelves, and encouraged Vice, or neglected 
 the Punhhment due by Law. 
 
 But he fays , ' c In Lorrain, where Remigius, by 
 cc his Principles, could find Eighteen Hundred in 
 cc Fifteen Years , I do not underftand that there are 
 <c more now tlian in other Places." To which I 
 anfwer, That the Execution of fo many might well 
 decreafe the Number, as well as deter others. But 
 he fays, there are no more now than in other Pla- 
 ces : And yet there may be as many now as ever ; for 
 tho' they a£t not after the fame manner, and dare 
 not difcover themfelves in fuch evident and violent 
 ways, fo eafily difcover'd ; they may do more Mif- 
 chief by more cunning and clandeftine ways. They 
 then took a Pride in it, to ihew their mifchievous 
 • Power ; but now they dare not , but may a£l after 
 manners more prejudicial , tho' not eafily per- 
 ceived. 
 
 He fays, <£ In Savoy, Spain, and Germany, fince 
 cc Philofophy and Learning h?.ve prevailed , they 
 * c have but few, tho 5 great Multitudes before." I 
 wifh then that Phiiofophy and Learning might pre- 
 vail in England, which would be better for the 
 Doctor and me too, (tho' not equally, becaufe I 
 cannot pretend to To much as the Minifter of St. 
 James's in Edmond's-Bury : ) Beiides, we mould 
 have fewer Witches in England ; and I believe there 
 are a great many now, for Half the Kingdom are 
 bewitch'd, or worfe. But to be ferious : How Learn- 
 ing and Philofophy mould decreafe the Number of 
 Witches, I cannot tell ; for tho' I think I have a 
 tolerable Share of either, I cannot well tell how to 
 caft out a Devil : But perhaps fuch Learning as the 
 Doctor means, hath caft out all the Devils, and ba- 
 nifhed all the Witches. 
 
 He 
 
He goes on : <c Formerly France was as much 
 cc vexed with the Accufation of fuppofed Witches ; 
 <c but fince they have difcouraged Profecutions, they 
 cc have been in much more Eafe and Freedom from 
 c< them. 3 ' The Do£tor feems to own or acknow- 
 ledge, that they have been troubled with them ; but 
 if the difcouraging of Profecutions abates the nume- 
 rous Appearance of their ill Effects, perhaps it may 
 be convenient to do as the Africans do ; they wor- 
 Ihip the Devil, that he may be good-humour'd ; for 
 they think God is good, and will do them no harm. 
 And they fay, Witches never do any Mifchief, but 
 when they are vexed. The Devil is good- humoured, 
 when he is pleased ; but who would do evil , to 
 pleafe fuch a Matter, as will punilh them that pleafe 
 him at the laft ? The beft way therefore is to con- 
 temn and defy him, and to punim his Inftruments, 
 and fo to deter them from doing his Drud;ery. 
 
 The Author hath more of this Kind of Obferva- 
 tions , Page the 69th ; telling us , how in fome 
 Times few or none were executed, but at other Times 
 great Numbers. But having faid enough alrerdy in 
 refpecT: of fuch trifling Accounts , I think it not 
 worth while to take notice any further of fuch ufe- 
 lefs Repetitions. And I mail ask the DodV>r's Ex- 
 alte, if 1 have anfwerM feveral of thefe evafive Re- 
 lations with a feeming Slight ; for as I found them 
 to contain little Reafon , but only ferved to amufe 
 the Reader ; fo I thought, that where m.ich Rea- 
 fon or Argument was not required^ or what was pro- 
 pofed did not admit of it, the belt way would be to 
 entertain the Reader with the mo ft pleafant Argu- 
 ment I cculd contrive, and leaft offeniive to the 
 Learned Author. 
 
 But Page the 69th, he farther fays, cc I make no 
 <c great Doubt, but that we have as many Devils 
 < c now amongft us, a,s they had in other Ages. For, 
 
 cc we 
 
r 41 ] 
 
 u we have as many Temptation and Lies, and 
 cc Thefts, and Adulteries, and Murthers, that are 
 cc the Devil's Works. But our Witches, for the 
 cc prefent, are gone after the Poets Gods, and mo- 
 <c dern Fairies. For, I muft add, that they are not 
 tc fo far from us, but that if we ihould have a 
 <c Prince, and Judges, and Juries, and Witchfinders;, 
 cc of the fame Principles, that found out fo many 
 " before., in Two Years Time, in all Probability, 
 c< they would find out as many now/' 
 
 The Doclor, fuppofing we have as many Devils 
 now as ever, wonders we have not as many Witches, 
 lince the reft of the Devils Works go on now as faft 
 as ever. For which 1 anfwer, that for ought he 
 knows we have, though the Severity of the Laws 
 andPuniihments, deters them from acting in fo open 
 a Manner, yet they may act • and I doubt not but 
 they do fo cunningly, that their ill Deeds are not fo 
 apparent, or fo eafily diftinguifhed ; the Scripture, 
 wnich, I fuppofe, he allows to be true, tells us of 
 People being poifefled with the Devi], and gives us 
 an Account of what ftrange Things were ailed by 
 them, yet we fee no fuch violent Effects by Poife (li- 
 ons, and muft we conclude, therefore, that there is 
 no Devil ? Is he gone away with the Poets Gods, 
 and modern Fairies ? No; he is as bufy now as ever, 
 but not in the fame kind of Actions, and though 
 Witches act not now as they were ufed to do, muft: 
 we conclude there are none? But I fuppofe the 
 ©evil and they have made a new Compact, and held 
 a General Council, and fettled Meafures, how they 
 may do Mankind moft Mifchief. 
 
 But he fuppofes judges, Juries, and Witch-fin- 
 ders, can produce a Number when they pleafe. As 
 Thief-catchers commonly belong to that honourable 
 Society, or elfe could not difcover them, having no 
 Correfpondence with them ; fo I fuppofe Witch- 
 finders muft be fome of that Sifterhood; and no 
 
 doubt 
 
doubt but if fome of them had good Encouragement," 
 they might make large Difcoveries ; but the Do&or 
 will not allow the Accu r ers to be pardoned, and who 
 would condemn themfelves, by accuiing another? 
 As for Princes, Judges and juries, I fuppofe they 
 would not take away the Life of a Perfon, without 
 lawful Proof, and moral Certainty ; who would take 
 away a Perfons Life without Profit, and be guilty 
 of Murther, without a Profpe£t of Gain and Ad^ 
 vantage ? 
 
 Page the 69th, to proceed, the Do£lor hath ftarted 
 and contrived a new Method of talking, to puzzle 
 himfelf and others ; for inftead of making ufe of 
 Arguments, he tells us, cc That the Difcovery of 
 cc Witches does follow Principles ; for if Men be- 
 cc lieve none, it is not likely they mould find any : 
 <c But then it may be their Unbelief, or wrong 
 ' c Principles, that are the Reafon why they are nei- 
 <c ther found out, nor looked for. To bring this 
 cc Point to an Iffue, he fays, it is ncceffary to give 
 <c a Catalogue of fuch Principles and Notions, as 
 <c have prevailed where many Witches were found, 
 C{ or fuppofed to be found ; and another of fuch as 
 cc have prevailed, where Men have found out few • 
 <c that we may judge, whether kind of Principles 
 cc are more Sound and Rational. For if the Princi- 
 cc pies upon which Men went, when fuch great 
 Cf Numbers were convi£ted , be true and right , 
 
 cc they rauft not be miftaken in Matters of Fa£l, 
 
 cc in fo very many Cafes.'* To which he adds, that 
 it is 6C a very difficult Tafk to reduce thefe Two 
 cc forts of Principles into Order for a View. For 
 cc both the Subjeft it felf is difficult, and the Opini- 
 cc ons of thofe that defend the vulgar Notions, are 
 cc fo confufed and contradi£tory , that it is im- 
 M poffible to bring them into any certain Rules. 
 
 But fince this Talk is fo difficult and impollible, 
 1 lhall endeavour to do it for the Doctor, his other 
 
 Studies 
 
t4? 1 
 
 Studies perhaps not allowing him Time. Tn order 
 to this, it will be neceftary to confider what the 
 Doftor means by Principles, which by what he fays, 
 appears to be a WoTd ufed in the fame Signification 
 with Belief, fince he ufes this Expreflion, Unbelief, 
 and wrong Principles, which is in Contradiftin&ion 
 to Belief, and right Principles ; now fince thele 
 Principles, he faith, are only of Two Kinds, the one 
 muft be Belief, and the other Unbelief. Now far- 
 ther, the Reafon of this Difficulty is, becaufe People's 
 Opinions are confufed and contradictory; and fince 
 nothing can be more contradictory than Belief and 
 Unbelief; thele, according to his Expreflions, muft 
 be the Two Sorts of Principles which he calls Opi- 
 nions confufed; fince then he fays Unbelief is the 
 Reafon why Witches are not found out, Belief muft 
 be the Principle that finds them out : So that when 
 (b many were found out, the Principle Belief muft 
 prevail, when they were not found cut it muft be 
 Unbelief; fo that I hope I have reduced thefe Two 
 Principles in order for a View. And all that made 
 the Matter- obfcure, was the Ufe of this Word Prin- 
 ciple, which might have ftill remained in Obfcurity, 
 had not the reft of his Expreflions explained it ; but 
 I fuppofe, this Word was only made ufe of to en- 
 tangle the Senfe, fo that it fhould not eafily be un- 
 derstood. 
 
 But fince the Meaning of this Term is underftood, 
 and it appears that the right was Belief, which Men 
 went upon, when fo many were convi£ted, it will 
 follow, that they could not be miftaken in Matter of 
 Fa£r, in fo very many Cafes. But fuppoling he will 
 not ftand to the Conviction of his own Words, Prin- 
 ciples by which they are found muft be good or bad, 
 and let the way they are found be what it will, it 
 muft be nothing but moral Proof that could convi£l 
 them, except any Body could think a Judge would 
 condemn a Perfon wrongfully, whofe Circumftances 
 
 are 
 
[44] 
 
 are fo indifferent, that they muft rather be Obje&s of: 
 Pity than Envy. 
 
 Page the 70th, he proceeds, c< As fome Ages have 
 u had the Appearance of many Witches, and others 
 c * of few, fo in fome Ages Witches , and their 
 ct Works, and Confefiions, are quite different from 
 u others. 31 It is no wonder that Witches and their 
 Works fhould differ ; for, as we have noted before , 
 the PofTeffions in Scripture not only differed from one 
 another, but our Saviour declared, that they pro- 
 ceeded from Spirits of a different Kind, Mark ix. 29. 
 *Ihp$ Kind can come forth by nothing hut Prayer and 
 Tafting. 
 
 But he fays, cc A Hebrew Witch, a pagan Witch, 
 * a Lapland Witch, an Indian Witch , a Popijh 
 u Witch, and a >Proteftant Witch, differ from one 
 cc another." Indeed the Place of thtir Nativity 
 may diftinguifh them , as they belong to different 
 Countries,* but 1 never thought that Witches were 
 of any Religion before, fince they worihip not the 
 true Cod in any manner, but the Devil, whofe 
 Works they do. 
 
 His next Paragraph conflits of fome ridiculous 
 Banter, which can relifh with no body that can di- 
 ltinguilh evafive and fuperficial Ridicule from found 
 Arguments, and therefore I think it not worth 
 while to take Notice of it. But Page 71, he 
 fays, <c W r e have been apt to wonder why the Devil 
 <c had forfaken our Age, that we had no PolTeffions 
 <c among us , when ; in ancient Times they had fo 
 <c many." He insinuates alfo, as if pious Perfons 
 may be bewitched who turn Accufers; and adds, 
 l< But if they that have been thought to have been 
 cc betwitched, have really been D^moniacks, and the 
 c< Devil by their Mouths hath carried on his great 
 " Work of falfe accusing and murthering of inno- 
 c< cent People, then we muff own he hath done by 
 *[ Craft, what he could not do by direct Tempta- 
 
 cc tioiu 
 
tion, and hath made thofe very Men his Tools, to 
 cairy on his Plots, who verily believed, they had 
 been deftroying his Works." As to the firit, we 
 have little Reafon to think, that the Devil had 
 Forfaken our Age, becaufe we have no fuch PofTef- 
 (ions as formerly j for though he acls not fo openly, 
 we fee too many of his Works daily, and the Do£lor 
 himfelf was of a different Opinion but Two or 
 Three Pages before j for there he fays, page 68, and 
 69. cc That we have as many Devils now amongft 
 us, as they had in other Ages • for we have as 
 u many Temptations, gfc." So that the Doctor 
 makes ufe of the Devil, juft as he will ferve his Pur- 
 pofe ; and as our Saviour turned him out of the po r - 
 tefled Perfon into the herd of Swine, fo he would 
 caft him out of Witches, and fbmetimes out of the 
 Age, or fetch him in again, as Occafion ferves ; nay, 
 he will not allow him Communication with Witches, 
 but would inilnuate him into pious Perfons, and 
 make him aft as an Informer, or Accufer ; at this 
 Rate, why may we not fuppofe, that he hath entered 
 into the Doctor, to make him defend Criminals and 
 pofT:fIed Perfons, and accuie pious Perfons? Who 
 knows but fo pious a Perfon as himfelf, may be 
 worked upon by Craft, though it could not be done 
 by Temptation ? This Suggestion feems as natural as 
 what the Do£tor fays, who feems to favour his Plots, 
 though he verily believes he is deftroying his Works ; 
 and to ufe the Doctor's own Words, cc I donot.af- 
 * c fert this, but I will fay, there are fome Appear- 
 <c ances that look that way. For the Do£tor makes 
 ufe of very crafty Inlinuations , though but very 
 weak Arguments, if any at all ; fo that I have only 
 the Opportunity of difcovering his Suggeftions, ha- 
 ving very little Reafon to oppofe ; but thofe were an- 
 fwered in the Two firft Chapters. 
 
 But to proceed, Page 71, and 72, he fays, <c That 
 * c we might judge when the Confeflions of Witches 
 
 " proceed 
 
U*] 
 
 iC proceed from a found Mind, and when from Ima- 
 cc gination and Vapours ; ( that is, whether they are 
 cc real or no ) it would be neceffary we lhquld have 
 cc fome fixed bounds of the Power of Spirits, that 
 c< we might know when they had palled the Degrees 
 <c of PofTibility. 5> That there are fixed Bounds of 
 the Power of Spirits, is evident from Scripture ; that 
 having ihewn us what is in the Power of Spirits to do. 
 Satan tempted our Saviour, and carried him up upon 
 the Pinnacle of the Temple : Devils poiTefTed feveral, 
 and produced Effects which could not be attributed 
 to natural Ciufes; and this is to be diftinguilhed ; 
 thofe Effects which proceed from natural Caufes , 
 ranging themfelves amongft the Number of known 
 Diftempers, which appear by their Symptoms; 
 whereas the Effects of fupernatural Caufes own their 
 Caufe, becaufe they differ from what is Natural. 
 
 But farther, Fage 72, he goes on, cc Concerning 
 cc the Nature and Will, and Defigns of Sprits, 
 ■ Q though we are fure of their Being, yet we are by 
 <c no means able to lay down fare Rules, by which 
 u we may judge of their Actions and Intentions." 
 That we cannot have adequate Idea's of what is im- 
 material Is certain, yet as to the Will and Deiigns of 
 them, we know that they mult be either good or 
 bad, which Rules are fafe enough; befides their 
 Anions ihew their Natures to be Good or Evil ; and 
 if we guefs right, their Wills and Intentions are ac- 
 cording to their Actions, which mufl be either good 
 or oad too. 
 
 He proceeds, cc Some think, and have written, 
 " that there are harmlefs Spirits, that are ; n a kind 
 <l of middle State, betwixt Angels and Devils ; and 
 ' c if fo, one would think it ihculd be no Capital 
 " Offence to have Communication with them." 1 
 would aik the Do£lor, allowing fuch, if there be fuch 
 Sprits, whether any body was ever convicted for do- 
 in^ no Harm? Whether ever any one was accu r ed 
 
 for 
 
[47 1 
 
 ? or a Witch, without fome ill Anions fufpe&ed or 
 proved ? If there is no ill A&ion, there can be no 
 Proof of any ; nor can any body tell what Spirits a 
 Man hath Communication with, except his Anions 
 difcover what manner of a Spirit it is. The Tree is 
 known by its Fruit, and a Man condemned or ju- 
 fiified by his bad or good Deeds. Malth. vii. 16, 17, 
 18,19,20. Te [ball know them by their Fruits: Do 
 Men gather Grapes of Thorns, or Tigs of Thi files £ 
 Even fo every good Tree hringeth forth good Fruit ; 
 but a corrupt Tree hringeth forth evil Fruit. A good 
 Tree cannot bring forth evil Fruit : neither can a cor- 
 ruptTree bring forth good Fruit .Ever yTree that bring- 
 eth not forth good Fruit, is hewn down, and caft into 
 the Fire. Wherefore by their Fruits ye ft? all know them. 
 He next quotes Dr. More, and tells us of other 
 Spirits, Cf That are very great Fools. That Spirits 
 a£t varioufly, and in different Manners, is certain 
 from their Actions ; and that not only Spirits who 
 aft according to the Will and Direction of a foolifli 
 Creature, may do lb, is very likely , but it is evi- 
 dent that the Devil himfelf hath acted very often 
 more like a Fool, than a fubtle crafty Spirit : It was 
 not very prudent of the Devil to war againft God, 
 who not being fatisfied with his great Share of Hap- 
 pinefs, loft his firft State, and caft himfelf out into 
 everlafting Mifery : Nor was it a much lefs fooliih 
 and vain Undertaking, to offer Temptations to the 
 Son of God, who he knew was in EfTence the fame, 
 and equal with his Father. Befides thefe, there are 
 'ether Inftances of the Folly of his Attempts, but 
 thefe are (umcient for our prefent Purpofe. 
 
 Tags 73, he goes on, tt Who dare venture to de- 
 <c termine what God will fuifer, and what he will 
 c *' not f W 7 ho knows whether he may not permit 
 <c fuch Things, on purpofe >to prove Judges and ]u- 
 l< ries, how wife and valiant they will be, in de- 
 [[ fending the Lives of the Poor and Innocent/* To 
 
 which 
 
which I anfwer, that what God will permit, as far 
 as relates to the prefent Subject, appears from what 
 he hath permitted; he hath permitted the Devil and 
 his Angels to tempt his Creatures, to try whether 
 they would relift Temptations ; he hath laid before 
 them Good and Evil, and a Power to chu r e which they 
 will; a Witch may chufe whether ihe will take upon 
 her the Service of the Devil, and forfake the Service 
 of God ; and his Providence hath appointed Judges 
 and Juries to examine into their wicked Deeds, 
 and to puniih evil Doers, as Deut.xxx. 15, 17, 18. 
 SsB) this Day 1 have fet before thee Life and Good, 
 and Death and Evil, But if thine Heart turn axoay^ Jo 
 that thou voilt not bear> hut (halt he drawn avoay^ and 
 voorjhip other Gods, and ferve them : 1 denounce un- 
 to you this Day , that you /ball furely peri/h, and that 
 you fijHnot prolong your Days upon the Land. But 
 the Doctor fays, thefe Things were permitted to try 
 the Wifdom and Valour of Judges and Juries : I ne- 
 ver heard before, that Judges and Juries were ever 
 tempted in any other Shape, but that of current 
 Coin ; it would be very hard to hazard the Lives of 
 the Innocent, to try Judges, when the Tryal muft 
 deceive them, and pervert Judgment, without any 
 Crime in them, fince by the Evidence it appeared to 
 be true : Therefore the only way to try Judges and 
 Juries, is by Bribery, to try whether they will accept 
 it or not, which is at their Free-will and Choice, and 
 a voluntary Action ; but who would bribe to murther 
 innocent, efpecially poor People ? 
 
 He fays further, cc Who can fay to what Degree 
 Cf God may permit him to ufe his natural Craft and 
 w Subtilty?" To which I anfwer, Why does the 
 Do&or argue againft his natural Craft and Subtilty? 
 which God Almighty hath permitted, and hath told 
 us in what Degrees; having fufficiently warn'd us of 
 his Devices, and given us Co many Inflances in Sacred 
 Writings. 4 
 
r 49] 
 
 Fage 74> he fays, cc Wife Men have thought ft 
 <c neceffary to be wonderfully cautious in Penal 
 
 <c Laws and, where their Neighbours Blood or 
 
 <c Reputation is at Stake, they think they are bound 
 <c to keep to fome few negative Rules." And in this 
 they are in the Right ; it would be hard the Inno- 
 cent fhould fuffer, and it would be as hard that the 
 Wicked fhould go unpuniihed, when there is good 
 Proof. We fhall therefore take a View of his nega- 
 tive Rules. 
 
 The fir ft is, <c Do not intrude into Things that you 
 vCC have not feen. Col. 2. 18. If this is one of his 
 negative Rules, it little concerns this Subjeft ; and 
 the Doctor hath cited it very partially, the Text be- 
 ing thus, Let no Man beguile you of your Reward^ 
 in a voluntary Humility ', and voorfhipping of Angels^ 
 , intruding into thofe Things which he hath not feen y 
 J vainly puffed up bj his flefhly Mind, St. Paul 
 here is exhorting the People to Conftancy, that they 
 might reap the Fruits of it, but fays not a Word o£ 
 Witchcraft^ nor that a ]udge and Jury fhall not exa- 
 mine the Evidence, becaufe they themfelves are not 
 WitnefTes. 
 
 The Second is, <c Even good Spirits are no Legal 
 <c Evidence in our Courts." In this he is right, for 
 they would be neither acceptable to Judge nor Jury; 
 betides, it would be difficult to fummon them there ; 
 and as for the Devil, if he fhould appear, 1 believe 
 neither the Jury would flay to give their Verdict, nor 
 the judge to receive it. 
 
 The Third is, c< We mud not make our Neigh- 
 <c bours fuffer for the Harms the Devil does. As 
 <c the Serpent will bite without bidding, fo the De- 
 H vil will do Mifchief without our Leave,'* But if 
 our Neighbour a&s by virtue of an evil Spirit, and 
 contents to what the Devil does, and the Devil is 
 employed by a Neighbour, the Neighbour is either 
 A&or> ox Accef&ry, and consequently makes it his 
 
 D owa 
 
I 50 I 
 
 own A&ion, and ought to fuffer for it, which is the 
 Cafe of Witches. 
 
 The Fourth is, " We can no more conviS a 
 tc Witch upon the Tricks of Swimming, Scratching, 
 <c Touching, or any other fuch Experiments, than 
 <c we may convi& a Thief upon the Tryal of the 
 <c Sieve and Sheers. 5 * I thought a Thief was never 
 convicted, except upon Legal Proof before a Judge 
 and Jury j and if there be moral Proof before the 
 fame againft one accufed of Witchcraft^ that is fuf- 
 fkient. 
 
 The Fifth negative Rule is, cC Witches Confefllons 
 cc have fa often been extorted, fo often the Effects of 
 c< Diftraition, proceeding from long Watching and 
 cc Tortures of Diitempers, and have been fo often 
 * c found contrary to plain Truth, that they are not 
 * c to be believed againft the Probability of Things, 
 <l and the natural Orcumftances of Anions. Wc 
 fur.oie no Confeffions can be faid to be extorted, 
 wh.:n are voluntary, without Tortures and violent 
 M3«ns: and as for diftrafted People, Madnefs is'' 
 eafily difcovered ; and who would convict a Witch 
 againft Probability and Circumftances of Actions ? 
 Thefe are the Things which moral Proof confifts of^ 
 and which give Credit to Teftimony, and as Belief is 
 founded upon moral Proof, upon that Proof Judg- 
 ment ought to be given. 
 
 The Sixth is, " Things odd and unaccountable 
 u ou°ht to be refpited, till we uni'erftand them/ 1 
 But to this I anfvver, that Probability and Circum-» 
 frances make them accountable and underftood. But 
 this Rule contradkts h ; s firit Rule, for if you are not 
 to intrude or examine into Things, how will you un- 
 derftand them; 
 
 The Seventh, (c Where there is no known Rule 
 « to decide by, make no Jid >ment. In Law, 1 think 
 Precedents make Rules; ani Pr ability and moral 
 Proof is another Rule. 
 
 But 
 
[ y* 3 
 
 Rat to proceed to his laft negative Rule, he faysj 
 cc It becomes us to ihew our Faith in God, by lea- 
 <c ving doubtful Cafes to his Provilsnce, which is 
 Cc powerfully prefent and a&ive in the World." To 
 which I anfwer, that his powerfal Providence direfls 
 us to examine into doubtful Cafes, and to remove 
 thofe Doubts ; and God Almighty who is the only 
 Providential Being, hath directed by his Prophets, 
 thatfuch as do Evil, ihall fuffer Punilhment, as a, 
 juft Reward of their evil Ways. Belides, this nega- 
 tive Rule leaves our Neighbours Reputation at Stake^ 
 'as under Sufpicon, which ought to be clear'd, fo that 
 here the Doftor makes his own Opinion contrary to 
 Reafon and himfelf. 
 
 But thefe are the Rules the Do&or fuppofes, 
 where the World difcovered few Witches ; and in- 
 deed, where they were neither examin'd into, nor 
 tried, but left to aSt at their own Difcretion, with- 
 out Notice, I cannot fee how there fhould be any 
 Appearance, none being taken Notice of. 
 
 But let us fee what Rules brought Offenders to Ju- 
 ftice, and fuffered not fuch Vices to be praflifed with- 
 out Punilhment, and Difcouragement. 
 
 The Tirfl is, fc That the Devil cannot make a 
 " Perfon m Fits, think he ihould fee the Shape or 
 <c Appearance of another, unlefs that Perfon hath 
 <c made a Compact." The Doctor does not: approve 
 this ; he would think, I fuppofe, that the Devil may 
 poifefs a Perfon, yet hath all along been declaiming 
 againft Pofieflions; but if the Devil may thus difturb 
 the Brains of diltempered People, why may he noc 
 a£t upon others, and diforder them as in PofTefiions 
 mentioned in our Hiftory; and if he does, why may- 
 he not do it at the Requeft of thofe that have made 
 a Contract with him ? For it is not to be fuppofed, 
 that a Witch cm do any Thing without the Afli- 
 ftance of an evil Spirit, or one of the Devils Agents • 
 
 D 2 ? an^. 
 
In ] 
 
 and if fo, we may believe, that this PofTefllon of the 
 Perfon was at the requeft of that Perfon who had fo 
 contra&ed, who was the Agent that employed that 
 Spirit. 
 
 The Second is, * c That therefore tlie Spe&ral Evi- 
 * c dence, that is, the afflicted Parties thinking they 
 *' fee the Perfons that torment them, may be given 
 <c in Evidence." Becaufe the Devil always reprefents 
 •the Perfon that employs him, and makes the deluded 
 Witch believe fhe does it, which is her great Satis- 
 faction for her ill Bargain j which Fact (he confent- 
 ing to, makes it hers, lhe employing the Author of 
 Chat Mifchief. 
 
 The Third is, cc That it is lawful to try the fup- 
 tc pofed Witch, by obferving how the airlifted Party 
 u is airlifted at the Touch of her.' 5 For then it is fup- 
 pofed, that the evil Spirit is obliged by Contrail to 
 Till to Work. Befides, the Devil ufes his Servants 
 web fo little Honour, that, as he defigns to torment 
 them at the laft, he often betrays them to Juftice, 
 that he may the (boner have them in his Pof- 
 feflion. 
 
 The Fourth^ <c That it is lawful to ufe the Lord's- 
 u Prayer, for a Teft to difcover them. Sadd. Debelt. 
 Fage 54. 
 
 Fifth, <c That Swimming is a fair Tryal of a 
 <c Witch. King James's Damon. 
 
 Sixth, cc That want of Tears is another Mark. 
 Sadd. DeheU. 
 
 Seventh, a That infenfible Parts and Teats art' 
 <c Signs of Witchcraft. Dahons Country Juftice. 
 
 Eighth^ cc That the Devil's Mark may be like a 
 <c Flea-bite. Daltcns Country -Juftice. 
 
 Ninth, <c That the Devil can do more, when he 
 <c hath a Witches CommitTion, than he can do 
 cc without it. Mr. Baxters Certainty of the World 
 of Spirits. 
 
 Tenth 
 
Tenth , u That Terfona Mobiles^ in other Ca- 
 u fes, even infamous Per'bns, are lawful Evidence in 
 « the Cafe of Witchcraft. Sadd. DebelL p. 58. 
 
 Seventh , cc That Tortures may be made ufe of^ 
 u to extort Confefiions/ With as much Reafon in 
 this Cafe, as in others. 
 
 Twelfth -, <c That the Witches may be kept long 
 <c from Sleep, and then examined. 
 
 Thirteenth, " That the fufpe&ed Witches may be 
 
 tt watched, till their Imps appear ; and then Impsr 
 
 " may come in the Shape of Cats, Dogs, Rats, 
 
 v * Mice, Spiders, Fleas, Nits, Birds, Flies, a Toad, 
 
 c< a Frog, a Hen, a Crow, a Hornet, or a Mole. 
 
 This Rule he oppofes thus : <c This is a pernici*-' 
 c< ous Way of Tryal ; becaufe it would be Itrange, 
 *' if no Creature mould happen near them." To 
 which I anfwer, That real Subftances, or thofe which 
 are material ones, may eafily be diftinguifhed from 
 Apparitions of Spirits. But the Do£tor proceeds : 
 cc If we know any Thing of Spirits, this is contra- 
 ) ** dictory to the true Notion of them ; for if they 
 c< are, or can make themfelves invifible, what figni- 
 <c fies watching T 1 To which I anfwer ; Thar tho 1 
 they may be invifible if they pleafe, or may make 
 themfelves otherwife if they will, yet they often 
 chufe rather to be vifible, that they may betray and 
 difcover the Bondilave that employs them. Thac 
 Spirits as fuch are invifible is certain ; or elfe we 
 might difcover the Soul of a Man when it departs 
 the Body ; but that they may afTume a Body, 02 
 Corporeal Subftance, ancLbe vifible, is as certain.- 
 To convince us of this, we have our Saviour's 
 Words ; wh~> when he appeared unto his Difciples 
 after his Refurre£tion, bad them feel the Marks of 
 the Nails in his Hands, to convince them that it 
 was his Boly ; whereas, if a Spirit could not be 
 made vifible, he might as eafily have faid, a Spirit 
 is invifible, and cannot be feen : But the Scripture 
 D 3 other-*- 
 
[ 54] 
 
 otherwife ; witnefs the Vifibility of Spirits, Angels 
 having appeared upon feveral Occalions : But of this 
 more in the Second Part of Material and Immaterial 
 Subftances. 
 
 The Fourteenth Rule is, cc When the Accufed are 
 <c upon their Tryal for bewitching any particular 
 <c Perfon, it is lawful to give in Evidence Matters 
 <c that are no ways relating to that Fa£r, and done 
 <c many Years before, which confequently they cannot 
 tc be prepared to aniwer to." And this I think very 
 reafonable ; for thefe concurring Circumftances tend 
 either to clear, or reprefent more fully their Sufpi- 
 cion, and the Probability of their being ill Perfons ; 
 and whether they have been long guilty, or fufpe£t- 
 ed to follow fuch ill Pra&ices : As when a Man hath 
 been try'd for his Life formerly, or hath been burnt 
 in the Hand, the Continuance of fuch Vices adds to 
 the Probability of his Guilt. 
 
 The Fifteenth is, fC That ill Fame of their Ance- 
 <c ftors, is a reafonable Ground of Sufpicion :** And 
 not without Reafon ; becrufe it implies, that they 
 were brought up in ill Principles. 
 
 The Sixteenth is , " That Imps may be kept in 
 " Pots, or other Veffels ; and that the Pots and Pla- 
 <c ces where they are kept, ftink deteftably ; and that 
 
 * therefore fuch ftinking Phces in their Houfes, are 
 <c Signs that they have Imps." Daltoris Country 
 Jtift. 
 
 The Seventeenth : " That received Rules, that 
 <c have been prac>ifed by Courts of Juftice, are not 
 a to be examined by Reafon. 
 
 The Eighteenth : " That tho' thefe Argument?, 
 <c fingle, are not concluding ; yet feveral of them, 
 " together, are fufficient : As Five little Candles, 
 <{ together , give one great one." To which the 
 DoSof fuggefts • <c Which, by the way, is a falla- 
 <c cious Comparifon : For Forty bad Arguments 
 
 * prove no more than one : that is, nothing at all : 
 •"■■ "But 
 
I 55 ] 
 
 ** But it can never be faid fo of lighted Candles in a 
 " Room." And to the Doctor's Anfwer I mi ft re- 
 ply. That it is more fallacious ; for all the Circum- 
 fiances, or Rules, are fuppofed to concur to make 
 Truth evident and plain, and ftrengthen one ano- 
 ther : as Five Candles make one good Light,, or evi- 
 dent and moral Poiiibility. 
 
 Having thus taken a View of thefe Rules, we 
 cannot but admire what ftrong Arguments the 
 Doctor hath offer'd againft them. He condemns 
 them without: any Tryal at all • tho' he would not 
 have poor Witches try'd ; and at once pronounces 
 them unfcriptural, fiperititious, and falfe. 
 
 The Doctor is endowed with a wonderful Stock 
 of Clemency ; he had rather the World ihould fuf- 
 fer, than ]ufti:e ihould be done to the Children of 
 the Devil : They ought to be ufed tenderly, leit, like 
 Dogs h) a Paflion, they ihould bite. He hath taken 
 a great deal of Fains in Favour of them, tho' God 
 Almighty condemns them. How great mult that 
 Mercy be, which exceeds infinite Mercy ! 
 
 This puts me in mind of a Sermon I heard in the 
 Country, about the Feaft in the Gofpel, fome Years 
 ago : For tho' the Lord was angry, when his Guefts 
 were invited, and would not come ; yet this fweet- 
 tempered Gentleman, being more companionate than 
 the Lord , tho' he likewife blamed iome , excuied 
 others; ths fir/? (Luk?'i{. 18.) J aid unto him, M 
 have bought a Vieze of Ground y and I muft go and 
 fee it : Now, fays the Parfon, could not this Man 
 have gone and Ceen it another Day ? Another faid, 
 I have bought Viva Tohi of Ox p .n^ and I go to prove 
 thwi : Says the Mmifler, Could not this Man prove 
 his Oxen another Day ? Another fiid, 1 have mar- 
 ried a Wife, and therefore I canmt come : Now, 
 fays our good-natur'd Gentleman i this Man I could 
 D 4 not -. 
 
[ 56] 
 
 He was for excufing him , the/ the Lord 
 
 Thus the Do£tor would not have Witches pu- 
 niih'd, no not fo much as lo?k'l after, tho* rhe 
 Sen: lemns them. He will not eafily admit 
 
 of [ 5 3 tho* our Saviour and his Difciples 
 
 found enough : But thefe, he fays, are moft frequent- 
 ly found out in fuperftitious Times ; and he would 
 itch finders punihYd , as well as the 
 What would he have done with our Sa- 
 r and his Difciples ? Were they fuperftitious ? 
 their Principles of an ill Kind, unfcriptural 
 . - 
 n what we have hitherto observed , I can 
 find bat little Reifon the DoSor hath oner'd to 
 ne our TUftory of Witchcrafts and much lefs to 
 favour hi ■> which very likely may do 
 
 h more Harm than fome are aware of. 
 
 eed to fhew, that the Scripture could 
 
 rians, Sorcerers, and Witchcraft, and fe- 
 
 i with Devils, to enforce and confirm 
 
 * we have faid ; but 1 (hall refer that to the Sf- 
 
 -:, where we fhall ftiew the Efre£ls Spirits miy 
 
 \i:- , in wo'king upon, and altering Matter. 
 
 We fhall therefore conclude this, and examine 
 Gmhei :he next Chapter, what the Do£tor hath 
 laid in the remaining Part of his Effaj. 
 
 CHAP. 
 
I 57 1 
 
 CHAP. IV. 
 
 Containing fome Remarks on what he hath 
 faid of the Witches in Suffolk, Salem, 
 Bofton an d Andover in New-England ; 
 at Mohra in Sueden, and the Witches 
 at Warbois. 
 
 "CRom what we have faid in the foregoing Chap- 
 -*- ters, it appears, That the Doctor hath faid very 
 little to favour his Opinion ; but that, on the con- 
 trary, it is manifeft, both from Reafon and the Te- 
 ftimony of Scripture , that Pofleffions are not only 
 poflible, but have been frequent. Now if in fome 
 Cafes there fhould be Miftakes, or fome fhould en- 
 deavour to deceive the World, this does not detrafi: 
 from the Credit which ought to be given to thofe 
 that are true ; no more than Counterfeit Bonds, or 
 forged Bills diminilh the Value of thofe that are 
 genuine. If there are Miftakes or Impositions, it 
 behoves thofe, under whofe Care it lies, to difcover 
 and diitinguith what are real, and what are Iraj 
 tions : And this is the Work of Judges and Juries, 
 when fuch Cafes come before them ; which , no 
 doubt, their Confciences will oblige them to take 
 care of. 
 
 As for the Doclor, any body that takes notice of 
 his Partiality in Managing this Subject, his cunning 
 Infinuations and Evafions, and the Weaknefs of his 
 Arguments, { tho' in Oppofition to what is contain- 
 ed in Scripture) will fuppofe he will muiter up ail 
 the Miftakes or Impofitions he can, to favour his 
 efpoufed Do&rine : But fuppofing them to be as he 
 would reprefent them, it ihews them falfe, perhaps ; 
 D 5 but 
 
r 5-s ] 
 
 but crcept all are falfe, his Opinion is bad. And in 
 examinng thcfe Cafes, no doubt but the Do£lor 
 will ufe all the Art he can, to reprefent them errone- 
 ous ; therefore, tho' it alters not the Subie£l in gene- 
 ra), whether true or falfe, we lball (as briefly as we 
 can ) take a View of them, and fee with what Skill 
 the Do£tor hath endeavoured to make particular Ex- 
 ceptions to univerfal Truths. If thefe Stories are 
 falfe, it will follow, that our Hiftory in general is 
 true, having the Authority of Scripture on our fide ; 
 and that the Dolor's Effay contains a Collection of 
 falfe Relations and Impoftures. 
 
 As for the firlt Cafe , which is of the Suffolk 
 Witches , he quotes an Account of them out of 
 Mr. Baxters Certainty of the World of Spirits, 
 which is as follows : <c The hanging a great Num- 
 ,c ber of Witches in Suffolk and Effex, by the Difco- 
 tt very of one Hopkins , in 1645 and 1646, is fa- 
 
 * moufly known. Mr. Calamy-went along with the, 
 " Judges in the Circuit, to hear their Confcflions > 
 cc and fee that there was no Fraud or wrong done them. 
 C£ I fpake with many underftanding, pious,and credi- 
 <c ble Perfons, that lived in the Countries, and fome 
 
 * that went to them to the Prifons. Amongft the 
 €c reft, an old Reading Parfon, called Lowes, and 
 ic not far from Framlingham , was one that was 
 <c hanged • who confelTed that he had Two Imps ; 
 " That one of them was always putting him on do- 
 f< ing Mifchief, and (he being near the . c ea) as he 
 cc faw a Ship under Sail, it moved him to (end 
 tl him to fink the Ship, and he confented, and 
 tc law the Ship fink before* him. One penitent 
 <c Woman confelTed j That her Mother lying fick, 
 
 * and fhe looking to her, fomewhat like a Mole ran 
 
 cc into the Bed to her • which fhe being fiartJed at, 
 
 " her Mother bid her not fear it, but gave it her, 
 
 ^ c faying, Keep this in a Pot by the Fire, gfc. and 
 -- - — -- - tc ^0^ 
 
<f thou (halt never want. She did as fhe was bid : 
 ^Shortly afcer a poor Boy came (feemingly) in, 
 c ' and asked Leave to fit and warm him by the 
 ci Fire; and when he was gone, the found Money 
 cc under the Stool ; and afterwards oft did fo again ; 
 cc and at lift laid hold of her , and drew Blood 
 cc of her : And fhe made no other Compact with 
 " the Devil, but that the Imps fucked her Blood ; 
 " and, as I heard, lhe was delivered. Abundance of 
 <c fad Confeilions were made by them : by which 
 cc fome teftified, that there are certain Punifhments 
 (c which they were to undergo, if they did not fome 
 <c Hurt as was appointed them. 
 
 In Confutation of this Hiftorical Account , writ by 
 fo learned a Man, and one of fo good Authority,- 
 the Do&or makes fome Reflections on Mr. Baxter, 
 neither becoming himfelf, nor due to the other ; and 
 produces a Letter writ by Mr. Hopkins, which is as 
 follows : 
 
 M. N. 
 iC My Service to your Worfhip prefented ; I have 
 cc this Day received a Letter, gefc. to come to a 
 <c Town called Great Stoughton> to fearch for evil r 
 <c difpo r ed Per r ons, called Witches, (though I hear 
 c< your Minifter is far againft us, thro' Ignorance :) 
 cc I intend to come (God willing) the fooner, to 
 <c hear his lingular judgment in the Behalf of fuch 
 cc Parties. I have known a Minifter in Suffolk r 
 <: preach as much againft their Difcovery in a Pal— 
 <e pit, and forced to recant it (by the Committee) 
 <c in the fame Place. I much marvel, fuch evilMem- 
 " bers Ihould have any , ( much more any of the 
 c< Clergy, who ihould daily preach Terror, to coii- 
 iC vince fuch Offenders) ftand up to take their Parts, 
 <c againft fuch as are Complainants for the King, 
 cc and Sufferers themfelves, with their Families and 
 if Eftat.es/' — ^- So much of this Letter as is nece£ 
 
 fcry; 
 
fary ; the reft only enquiring what Sort oF Enter- 
 tainment they were likely to meet with, to refrefh 
 themfelves. 
 
 To this Letter, the Do£or annexes a Quotation 
 From Mr. Gaul ; which 'tis necelTary to tranfcribe, 
 that we may fee what great Conclufions the DocTor 
 draws from the whole ; it is as follows : <c To all 
 t£ thefe, I cannot but add one at large, which I have 
 ■*l lately learnt, partly from fbme Communication I 
 tc had with one of the Witch-finders, (as they call 
 <c them) partly from the ConfelTion which I heard, 
 <c of a fufpe&ed and a committed Witch, fo handled 
 tc as fhe faid, and partly as the Country-People talk 
 fC of it. Having taken the fufpe^ed Witch, Ihe is 
 cc placed in the Middle of a Room, upon a Stool or 
 <c Table, crofs-legg'd, or in fome other unealyPo- 
 cc Iture ; to whi h, if ihe fubmits not, fhe is then 
 <c bound with Cords. There is fhe watch'd , and 
 ^ kept without Meat, or Sleep, for the Space of 
 tc Four and twenty Hours • for within that Time, 
 <c they fay, they fhall fee her Imp come and fuck. 
 cc A little Hole is likewife made in the Door, for 
 tc the Imp to come in at ; and left it ihould come 
 tc in fome lefs difcernible Shape, they that watch, 
 <c are taught to be ever and anon fweeping the Room, 
 cc and if they fee any Spiders or Flies, to kill them ; 
 cc and if they cannot kill them, then to befurethey 
 ** are her Imps. 
 
 Having thus related what the Doctor hath quoted* 
 to his Advantage, let us fee what Advantage he 
 makes of it. The rlrft Paragraph, (Fag.S^ y 84.) he 
 only complains of the Severity of the Tiyal of the 
 Stool, and only fuppofes an extorted Confeflion ; 
 tut Mr. Baxter hath told us of voluntary Confeffi- 
 011s of Perfons themfelves, of which he was an Eye- 
 vritnefL 
 
 In 
 
[(5i ] 
 
 In the next Paragraph, the Doctor tells as of a 
 1 Woman that was kept fafting, and without Sleep, 
 ; till fhe confeffed, and called her Imp Nan ; which 
 | when fhe had got Sleep, and refrefhed her felf, ihe 
 I deny'd again : But it does not therefore follow, that 
 Ihe was innocent , her firft Confeflion making hei 
 guilty. 
 
 Page the 85th, he tells of walking them, and 
 fwimming of them, till they would confefs ; and of 
 fearching for Teats, and other Marks ; and this he 
 I calls Barbarity : But is it not more Barbarity to 
 fuffer them to damnify and abufe their Neighbours, 
 by their ill Practices ? And as none but People of 
 ill Characters, and whofe Actions had given juft 
 Grounds of Sufpicion, were ufed fo ; it feems to be 
 no more Hardihip, than it is to bring a fufpected 
 Highwayman before a Judge upon his Tryal : there 
 being no way of Conviction without Tryal, nor any 
 Punilhment without Proof. 
 
 The next Paragraph, the Doctor is offended, that 
 • the Parliament being addrefs'd, rather encouraged 
 the Execution of juftice, than fuffer'd the wicked to 
 go on in their ways, and follicit evil Spirits to exe- 
 cute their ill Defigns ; as too many do now-a-days. 
 But, Page the 86th, he brings a Text out of Hudi- 
 hra* to affift his Burlefque, and tells us, that Hop- 
 kins was at laft abufed for his good Service, being 
 abufed by one Party, becaufe he was encouraged by 
 the other. 
 
 In the next Paragraph, the Doctor is angry, be- 
 caufe he called Mr. Lowes a Reading Parfon : But if 
 he was fb, where was the In juftice ? Would he have 
 him called a Bifhop ? But the Doctor will not be- 
 lieve Mr. Lowes Confeflion, tho' Mr. Baxter witneP 
 leth it. Is not Mr. Baxters Affirmation as good 
 Proof, as the Doctor's Suppofition is to the contra- 
 ry ? He was a Man of great Learning , great Parts, 
 and lingular Piety « why fhould not his Word , m 
 
 the 
 
[ <Si] 
 
 fhe Affirmative, be better than a Denial, without 
 Evidence to the contrary ? All that he fays, he 
 wants to know the Time, and the Ship*s Name, 
 and WitnefTe* | and if ends the whole 88 th Page y 
 in Circumlocutions about Mr. Baxters Relation. 
 How ihould any body know the Ship's Name, and 
 no body to enquire ; the Ship being at Sea ? But 
 he asks, what Gain could be got by the Fa£r. ? Or 
 what Gain c-'iuld be got by his Accufetton ? The 
 Doerrr, I thought, had known very well, what Gain 
 Mr. Lsrres might txpetit to get, for ruining lo many 
 Familes : He cor.f:iTed the Facr, and received the 
 Wages of Sin, which is Death. We know , that 
 the Devil goes about like a roaring Lyon } fe?king 
 wb&m he way devour ; and if he can delude any 
 poor Creatures to join and confent witli him in 
 Mifchief, he brings them in guilty of the Fa6r, 
 without Hopes of Reward or Provocation. I would 
 ask the Doflor, what Harm Mankind have done to 
 the Devil, that he fhould covet to betray them to 
 Sin and Death ? Is it to fp'ite God Almighty, by de-' 
 Proving his Works : being capable of no other Mif- 
 chief? And as he does Mifchief without Hopes of 
 Gain, or Provocation, fo he takes delight to miflead 
 Mankind, and draw them into the fame Snare, to 
 fight and war agai'.ft Heavon. 
 
 But, Page the 89th, the Doctor gives Mr. Lewes 
 an extraordinary Character, and prints the following 
 Letter to fecond it, from Mr. Rivstt, z. Gentleman 
 of BrandHon. 
 
 S I T>, 
 <c In Anfwer to your Requeft concerning, Mr.L<ww, 
 cc my Father w*s always of the Opinion, that 
 cc Mr. Lowes fufter'd wrongfuliv : and hath often 
 c: faid, That he did believe he was iq> more a Wi- 
 " zard than he was, 
 
 M 
 
T 63 ] 
 
 As to the flrft Character, he might be in other 
 Actions efteemed a good Man, and yet be guilty of 
 this Crime. You hear nothing alledged againft a 
 great many Offenders > but the Fact they are accufed 
 of ; and if that be proved, or they confefs it, the 
 Law gives Judgment : And therefore we muft fup- 
 pofe, that it was proved ; or elfe the Judge and Jury 
 would never have brought him in guilty, and con- 
 demned him. If h ; s Accufers were in fault, the 
 Witneffes and his Confeffion muft ftand againft him, 
 or a Judge would never be lb wicked to condemn an 
 innocent Perfon, without Hopes of Gain, no more 
 than the Jury would bring him in guilty : So that if 
 he committed the Crime> what fiemifies the ret of 
 hi^ Character ? He was not hang'd for his good Cha- 
 racter, but for the Crime he confelTed, and was ac- 
 cufed of. And as for Mr. Rivstfs Character, that 
 does not fay he was not guilty j it only fays, he 
 could be no Witnefs againft him : Nor can I, any 
 further than as the Story is related : And for any 
 Thing the Doctor offers to the contrary, the Cafe 
 feems to carry the fame Shew of Truth as it did be- 
 fore. 
 
 But to go on with the Letter : He writes, cc I have 
 <c heard it from them that watch'd with him, that 
 <£ they kept him awake feveral Nights together, and 
 ' c run him backwards and 'forwards about the Room, 
 tc until he was out of Breath. Then they refted him 
 <c a lirtle, and then ran him again; and thus they 
 €i did for feveral Days and Nights together, till he 
 <c ' was weary of his Life, and was fcarce fenflble of 
 <c what he did. They fwam him at ¥<amlmgba»i ; 
 <c but that was no true Rule to try him by, for they 
 ic put in honeft People, and they fwam as well 
 <c as he. 
 
 This walking and running, the Doctor thinks 
 barbarous ; but I cannot think it true, for thofe that 
 ran with him > muft fuf&r themfelves as well as 
 
 be : 
 
[ 6 4 } 
 
 he ; and they would fcarce ufe themfelves barba- 
 roully : Nor can I think, that running and walking 
 could make a Man fenfelefs. The Do&or miftrufts 
 Reports on the other Side, but is willing to believe 
 any Thing that favours his Caufe; but fuppoiing 
 this true, could this make him guilty; would he con- 
 iefs himfelf guilty of Death, becaufe he was weary 
 of walking or running ; this is more incredible than 
 what is alledged againft him. 
 
 But to proceed, our Witchfinder-General , Mr. 
 Jlipkins, owned, cc that he had Twenty Shillings a 
 <c Town for going to them." And if he had, does 
 that leffen the Guilt of the Perfon ? Muft not the 
 Doctor's Parilhioners believe what he fays in the Pul- 
 pit, becaufe he is paid for his Pains ? Could a Mail 
 live, and travel, without Reward or Payment > 
 
 He fays further, (C that they had fwam many^ that 
 cc they had watched them for Four Nights running, 
 cc and does not deny but they had kept them ftand- 
 " ing, or walking, till their Feet were blifteredj" 
 for which Mr. Hopkins gives this very good Reafon. 
 The Reafon, fays he, was to prevent their couching 
 down ; for indeed when they be fuffered fo to couch, 
 immediately come their Familiars into the Room, 
 and fcare the Watchers , and hearten on the 
 "Witch, £ffc. So it is not the Barbarity of the 
 watching, but the fearfulnefs of the Watchers, that 
 may give the Do&or Reafon to complain, if there 
 be any. 
 
 As for die Story of the Old Woman, the Do£tor 
 does not deny but that it hath been confirmed ; but 
 notwithitanding he cannot contradifl it, he would lef- 
 fen the Credit by Infinuations ; fays he, <c What ligni- 
 <c fics Confefliojis, after fuch Ufage ?" Yet I do not 
 find the Old Woman was ill ufcd, but that this was 
 a voluntary Confellion ; but the Doctor goes on, 
 <£ Old Women are apt to make fuch Fancies of them- 
 
 " felvec and after hearing how familiar the Devil 
 
 « was 
 
I6f] 
 
 ct was with others", and what Imps they had, fhe 
 11 might begin to think that a Beggar-boy had been 
 lc a Spirit, and Mice upon her Mother's Bed, had 
 cc been her Imps." A very likely Story! that an Old 
 Woman fhould falfly accufe her felf to be hanged; 
 or how fimple muft the Daaghter be, to think a Beg- 
 gar-boy a Spirit, and yet not be afraid; or why 
 fhould lhe think Mice Imps, when fhe faii, what 
 ran into the Bed was like a Mole ; or was a Mole 
 running into the Bed, like Mice playing upon it ? 
 this is a weak Evalion of the Doc-tor's; he would 
 impofe this Suggeftion, yet Mr. Baxters Teftimony, 
 which he cannot deny neither, muft not be be- 
 lieved. 
 
 Yet though the Doitor cannot difbwn the Con- 
 feflion, he would further evade it, by representing 
 it in another Manner, hoping to make it appear of 
 lefs Credit, which rather confirms it. 
 h He fay?, < c Elizabeth Clark, an old Beggar with 
 only one Leg, they faid, had an Imp, called Vine- 
 ** gar Tom; another called Sack and Sugary and 
 J another that, fhe^aid, fhe would fight up to the 
 i Knees in Blood, before fhe would lofe it. She faii 
 the Devil came to her Two or Three Times a 
 Week, and lay with her like a Man ; and he was 
 I fo very likely a Man, that fhe was forced to rife 
 and let him in, when he knocked at the Door, 
 and fhe felt him Warm. Goodwifo Ibgtrez 
 kept her Imp a Year and half with Oatmeal, and 
 loft it." This Confeflion the Do£tor hath had con- 
 firmed, yet he is very hard to be per uaded to be- 
 lieve what is contrary to his Inclination ; no Tefti- 
 mony will prove any Thing, which fuits not with 
 his Opinion ; he will yet favour his efpoufed Caufe, 
 and would make us believe they u had kept thefe 
 poor People without Meat or Sleep, till they- knew 
 not well what they faid ; yet the Daughter confefs'd 
 they found Money ; and he juft before fays, fhe had 
 
 Money 
 
[ 66 } 
 
 Money given every Day, almoft, for telling the Sto - j 
 ry; now if ihe had Money given her every Day>| ( 
 what occafion had lhe to want Meat; or how can he j 
 fuppofe that flie knew not what lhe faid, when he 
 owns lhe told the Story to get Money ? 
 
 Of the Witchcraft at Salem, Bofton and 
 Andover, in New-England. 
 
 Having taken a View of what the Do£tor hatli 
 faidj to evade the Credit of the Suffolk Witches, we ' 
 ihall next take Notice how he manages his CaufCj j 
 in refpeft of the New- En$la?id Witches. 
 
 As to the Cafe of Goodwins Children, for the 
 Bewitching of whom one Glover was hanged the i 
 Year before : Though the Truth of this was con- i 
 firmed by Mr. Mather^ and the Proof was fo unde- , 
 niabJe, as to gain the Credit of Mr. Baxter^ and i 
 others: and though, Vage the 98th, he himfelfi 
 own?, lc Such Fits may be Diabolical, for though | 
 Cf evil Spirits cannot be fuppofed in Reality to be 1 
 * difterently affected, according to Popiih or Inde- 1 
 " pendent Notions; yet the fame Spirit may coun- .1 
 cc terfeit a Torture, or a Delight at the very fame || 
 ic Book, according as he can better make ufe of it 
 " for a Snare to tho'e that are about him;" yet 
 though the Doctor confeffes the Poilibility of the 
 Truth, yet at rhe fame Time he endeavours to baffle 
 and leiTcn the Cred'.t- of it, by fuggefting, c ' That 
 ci the poor Old Woman being an lr'ifk Papift, and 
 c; not ready in the Signification of Englifh Word?, 
 cc had entangled her felf by fuperftitious Belief, and 
 ic doubtful Anfwers about Saints and Charms." A 
 veiy powerful Suggeftinn to baffle the Truth of an 
 Hiftorical Account of Matter of Fait. We muft 
 take the Doftor's Suppofitions for Arguments againft 
 naked Truth ; but how mould this Woman come to . 
 
 believe. 
 
[ *7 ] 
 
 telieve any Thing me did not underftand, and ho.v 
 could the fuppofe her felf to underftand, not know- 
 ing the Signification of Words. 
 
 But the Doctor feems mightily offended at a Teem- 
 ing Reflection made upon the Common- Prayer , which 
 yet may be really none j for who knows but the De- 
 vil may fubtijy ihew a liking to a good Book, to 
 put fome Perfons out of Conceit with it ? Yet this 
 does not anfwer the Doctor's Intention, in not pro- 
 ving the Perfon pofifefTed, if other Circumfhnces 
 -make it evident ; nor does the Fallibility of this 
 Rule take away the Poflibility of perfons being pof- 
 feiled. 
 
 But the Doctor obferves one Thing further in 
 Mr. Mathers Book, ic He took this young Woman 
 c< Home, that he might the better make his Obfer- 
 a vations. She orten ufed to fav, that the Witches 
 <c brought her an invisible Horfe, and then fhe w^uld 
 * ikip into a Chair, and feat her felf in a riding Po- 
 * £ fture; and after that ihe would be movd as if Am- 
 k bling and Trotting, and Gallopping, me talked 
 " with inviiible Company, that feemed to go with 
 <c her, and iiftened for their Anfwers. After Two 
 <c or Three Minutes, fhe would feem to think her 
 <c felf at a Rendevouz with Witches a good way off, 
 <c and foon after return back upon her imaginary 
 <c Horfe, and then come to her felf; and once me 
 <c told Mr. Mather of Three that fhe faid had been 
 ic there, and what they had faid." To which he 
 I adds, <c In many other Authors, there are Relations 
 <c of Perfons that have been feen to lye (till intranced 
 c< at Home, while they have faid they have been at 
 <c thefe Witches Meetings/' From which he in- 
 fers : 
 
 Firfl, That thofe that have made no Com pier, 
 and are not Witches, may fancy they take thefe airy 
 Journeys with Witches : But though Perfons may be 
 deceived, and imagine ftrange Things, it does not 
 
 follow 
 
[ 68 J 
 
 follow that all mull be thus deceived ; the Innocence 
 of Tome Perfons does not take away the Crimes of 
 the Guilty ; there being a great deal of Difference 
 betwixt Perfons owning a Contraft, and confeffing 
 real Matters of Fa&, and confenting to be deluded, 
 and only fantaftical Imaginations. 
 
 But Secondly, the Doctor fays, thefe journeys and 
 Rendezvouzes are not real, but fantaftical Things; 
 and that Mr. Mather, and a Houfe-full of Witneffes 
 flood by, and faw her at home in her Chair, wherv 
 fhe thought her felf at their Meetings. To which I 
 anfwer, that even thofe that have made Compa& 
 with the Devil, and confefs themfelves Witches, are 
 deluded by Spirits, and fancy they do what the Spirits 
 ail for them ; but iince what is done is by their Con- 
 fent, and at their Requeft, this makes them guilty 
 of thofe A&ions, they being intentionally done and' 
 committed by them ; and though others are pofleiTed 
 only with Imaginations, yet if thofe Imaginations 
 proceed from the Suggestions of an evil Spirit, the* 
 Perfon maybe faid to be pofTefTed, though no Com-< 
 pa& were made ; and thefe Perfons are only to be di- 
 iHnguiftiedj by the Confent they give to fuch. 
 Thoughts, and the A&ions proceeding from them 5 
 and if they confefs themfelves guilty, the Doctor's In- 
 sinuations to the contrary cannot render them- 
 Guilrlefs. 
 
 But farther, the Dc&or fays> thefe ]bnmeys, £ffc. 
 were like fanraftick Things, or Dreams; but to this 
 I anfwer, that we find in Scripture, that Dreams are" 
 not fantaftick Things only, but often proceed from 
 the Suggefiions of good or bad Spirits ; for Joel'iu 28. 
 we find the Prophet declares, / xo\U pour out my 
 Spirit ubon all Fle/h, and your Sons and your Daugh- 
 ters fial? Prophefy^ your old Men /ball dream Dreams^ 
 your young Men [ball fee Vifwns ; and Gene/is xxxi. 1 o. 
 Jacob tells us, It came to pafs at the 'Time that tlie 
 Cattle conceived, that I lifted up ttiy Eyes, and faw in 
 
 a l)ream % 
 
[6 9 1 
 
 a Dream, and behold the Rams which leaped upon the 
 \ Cattle voere Ring-Creaked, Speckled, and Grifled. 
 ! And the Angel of God [pake unto me in a Dream. 
 I Which not not only fhews, that Spirits can prefent 
 I to our Minds true Idea's of Matters of Fa&, but that 
 thofe Idea's are real, and not fuch imaginary Con- 
 ceits as the Do£tor would fuppofe them: And 
 though the Perfon was in the Chair, yet the Repre- 
 fentation of the Horfe, and thefe Journeys might be 
 real, depending on the Suggeftions of an evil 
 \ Spirit. 
 
 Again, Matth. 27. 19. When our Saviour was 
 brought before Pilate, When he was fet d'jwn on the 
 Judgment-Seat, his Wife fent unto him, frying, Have 
 thou nothing to do with that juft Man • for I have 
 Juffered many Things this Day in a Dream, bscaufe 
 of him. And if Spirits can thus affeft Bodies, and 
 which were real Sufferings becaufe of him, why may 
 not this Woman fuffer by an evil Spirit, by Means 
 of an evil Agent that employed that Spirit ? 
 
 But the Do&or proceeds, <c Courts of Tuftice may 
 cc as well hang People upon their Confeilions, for 
 ci the Murthers they think they commit in their 
 ct Dreams, as for what they fancy th:y do in thefe 
 cc Trances." To which I anfwer, that Confeflions 
 are always efteemed equal to Proof; and if they con- 
 fefs themfelves contenting, it implies them guilty of 
 the Facl thote Spirits did by their Content, thofe Spi- 
 rits being tet at Work by them. 
 
 Page 1 01, the Do£lor, after ibme flight Reflexi- 
 ons upon Perfons, who were Men of Note, and of 
 good Characters in the World, tells us, c< Here I will 
 a lay before you a brief State of the Fa£rs of thofe 
 K New-England Witchcrafts. My Author, for the 
 <c greatelt Part of it, is Mr. Calef, a Merchant in 
 K that Plantation." The Do£or believes fmall Evi- 
 dence great Arguments on his Side, but on ours will 
 not believe Scripture, Reafon, the Teftimony of Wit- 
 
 neflfesj 
 
[ 7o] 
 
 neffes, nor Peoples own Onfeflions ; the Teftimony ' 
 of a lingle Perfon that favours his Caufe is more pre- 
 valent. 
 
 But let us fee how thefe Relations tend to his 
 Advantage. c In the latter end of February, 1694., 
 Cc divers young Perfons belonging to the Family of 
 <c Mr. Parr is, Mini iter of Salem, and one or more of 
 tc the Neighbourhood, began to act after a ftrange 
 " and unufual Manner. They crept into Holes, and 
 <c under Chairs and Stools. They ufed Antick Ge- 
 cc ftures, ar.d fpoke ridiculous Speeches, and fell into 
 " Fits. After fome Time, and a Day of Prayer 
 <c kept, the affiled Perfons named feveral that they 
 cc faid they faw in their Fits afflicting them; and in 
 <c particular an Indian Woman, that lived in Mr. 
 <c Pjrrxs Houfe, and had tried a Trick with Rye- 
 rc Meal, and the Childrens Water laid in Afhes, 
 cc £if c - me being beaten, and threatened, confe'Vd 
 cc her felf to be the Witch, and faid the Devil urged 
 c< her to fign a Book. Others confeffed their being 
 cc urged to fign the Book. One faid it was a 
 tl Red Book of a confiderable Thicknefs, and about 
 i( a Cubit long. 
 
 " In a little Time the Number of the Afflicted 
 fc increased to Ten. One Goodwin Cory was examin- 
 cc ed ; the antteted faid , ihe bit , pinched, and 
 < l ftrangled them. They faid, they fa w her Likenefs 
 " bring a Book to them to fign. At the Tims of 
 <c her Tryal, they faid, a Black Man whifpered in 
 cc her Ear, and that ihe had a Yellow Bird, that 
 " even then fucked betwen her Fingers. Orders 
 a were given to feareh the Place. The Girl that faw 
 <c it, faid it was now too late, ihe had removed a 
 lC Pin, and put it on her Head; upon Search it was 
 iC found, that a Pin was there {ticking upright. 
 
 " A Child about Four or Five Years Old, was ac- 
 <c cufed and apprehended. The Aceufers faid this 
 
 « Child 
 
I 7i ] 
 
 :c Child bit them, and would fhow the Marks of 
 cc fmall Teeth upon their Arm. As many as the 
 tc Child caft its Eyes upon, would complain that 
 c< they were in Torment/' Now in thefe Stories the 
 Particulars evidently make it appear, that fome evil 
 Spirit rauft aft at the Requeft or Confent of thefe 
 Perfons; and if you diibelieve the Truth of Wit- 
 neffes and Coiifeflions, and demonftrating Circum- 
 ftanc-rs, we may diibelieve and reject any Hiftories as 
 Falthoods and Impofitions. 
 
 The Doctor mentions fome Cafes where the Par- 
 ties did not confefs, yet if the Proof is fufhcient, a 
 ftirf denial of Guilt is no Argument of Innocence, 
 when a Man's Safety depends upon it. Amongft the 
 reft, he mentions Rebecca Nurfe, that was executed. 
 <c At firft the jury brought her in Not Guilty ; ini- 
 cc mediately all the Accufers in the Court, and fud- 
 cc denly after all the airlifted out of Court, made a 
 <c hideous Outcry, to the Amazement not only of 
 tc the Spectators, but of the Court. They were fent 
 v out again, to consider better of one Expreilion of 
 cc hers, and returning again, they brought her in 
 <c Guilty." Now if Witneiles, a Judge and jury 
 could not judge of her Guilt, how mould a ilngle 
 Perfon pretend to think her innocent ? Can a fingle 
 Evidence be of more Force than a Multitude ? 
 
 To thefe he adds other lnftances, which are againfl 
 his Purpofe; <c one uling folemn Expreflions of his 
 tc Innocency, the Accufers witneffed, that the Black 
 P Man dictated to him." Another " made his 
 <; Efcape Forty Miles from Salem, yet it is laid, that 
 <c the Accufers told the exaft Time when he was ap- 
 " prehended, faying, now Millard is taken." And 
 though Giles Gary pleaded Not Guilty, and fufFered 
 himfelf to be PrefTed ; this implied, thit he was 
 guilty rather than innocent, and chofe rather to dye 
 that way, than by a publick Execution. He fays, 
 44 the Cart going to the Hill with others, was fei 
 2 tc for - 
 
[ 71} 
 
 « for a Time. 1 ' The afflicted faid the Devil hin- 
 dered it. 
 
 Page the 106th, he tells us of a Queftion ftarted, 
 Whether the Devil could afflict in a good Man's 
 Shape ? And upon a Belief of this, feveral were for- 
 ry for the Death of accufed Perfons; and Page io8, 
 above Fifty that confefTed themfelves Witches were 
 not executed; and further, Page 1 1 2, feveral who had 
 been upon Juries, made the following Acknowledg- 
 ment ; cc we confers our felves were not capable to 
 IC underftand, nor able to withftand, the myfterious 
 <c Delufions of the Powers of Darknefs, and Prince 
 " of the Air. 
 
 Now if we confider what the Doctor hath offered 
 in thefe few Pages, it appears, that he owns that the 
 Devil can afflict in a good Man's Shape ; and if fb, 
 why not in a bad one ? This is granting what we 
 contend for, and againft what the Doctor hath all 
 along been arguing for ; and if the Devil can act in 
 any Shape, he may afflict at the requert of thofe who 
 have made a Compact ; and confequently there may 
 be a Compact, and if fo, a Witch ; and if fuch, 
 why mould they not be examined into, and fuffer ac- 
 cording to Merit ? Though in the beginning of his 
 Effay , he would have them punifhed by the righteous 
 Judge. 
 
 But he fays, above Fifty confefTed themfelves 
 Witches, and were not executed, which ftill might 
 convince him that there were fuch Creatures, fince 
 they themfelves ought to know whether they had 
 made any Compact with the Devil, or nor, But he 
 fays, the Jurymen confefTed they were not able to 
 withftand the myfterious Delufions of the prince of 
 Darknefs, which further is owning his Power 5 and 
 if he hath fuch a Power, why might he not execute 
 his Power upon thofe Witches, as well as upon 
 them > But Mr, Cafcf'a fingle Teftimony is not fufficU 
 cnt Witnefs of what he relates, after fo many Wit- 
 
 neflei 
 
[ 7? ] 
 neffes to the contrary. We have much more reafon 
 to cjucftion the Truth of what he relates, than of a 
 great many more credible Teftimonies; but this is 
 an Author after the Doctor's own Heart ; and being 
 of his Mind, mult needs be believed by him ; though 
 the unlikelinefs of the Truth of what be fays, will 
 make others diihelieve him , lince what he fays 
 Amounts to no lefs than Contradiction, affirming 
 Poffeffions not probable , yet owning them con- 
 fefTed. 
 
 But the Doctor quotes a further Relation of thefe 
 Matters, publiihed by Mr. Cotton Mather^ at the 
 8oth Page of his Sixth Book of the Hiftory of New* 
 England> which is as follows: <c But that which 
 tc chiefly carried Matters on to fuch a Height, was 
 j ¥ the increafing of Confeflions, until they amounted 
 <c to near upon Fifty ; and Four or Six of them upon 
 tc their Tryals, owned their Guilt of the Crime, 
 cc and were condemned for the fame, but not exe- 
 P cuted. And many of the Confeflbrs confirmed 
 f c their Confeflions with very ftrong Circumftances, 
 <c as their exact Agreement with the Accufations o£ 
 <c the Afflicted ; their punctual Agreement with the 
 <c Accufations of their fellow Confeflbrs; their re- 
 <c lating the Times when they covenanted with 
 cc Satan, and the Reafons that moved them thereto. 
 " Their Witch- Meetings, and that they had their 
 6C Mock Sacrament of Baptifm, and the Supper, in 
 cc fome of them : Their figning the Devil's Book, 
 < c and fome (hewed the Scars of the Wounds, which 
 <; they faid were made to fetch Blood with, to fian 
 <c the Devil's Book : And fome faid, they had Imps 
 c ' to fuck them, and (hewed Sores raw, where they 
 * { faid they were fucked by them, 
 
 <c The arrlicled complained that the Spectres which 
 c vexed them, urged them to fet their Hands to a 
 ' Book, prefented to them, ( as to them it feemed ) 
 6 with Thicatnings of great Torments, if they 
 
 E « figned 
 
[ 74 1 
 
 cc "figned not, and Ptomifes of Ea r e, if they o- 
 '* c keyed. Amongft thefe , D. H. as ihe fa id, 
 <c ( which fundry others confefTed afrerwards) being 
 <c overcome by the Extremity of her Pains, did fign 
 <c the Book prefented, and had the prornifed Eaie ; 
 cc and immediately upon it, a Spectre in her Shape 
 cc afflicted another Ferfon, and faid I have figned 
 cc the Book, and have Eafe, and now do you ngn, 
 c ' and fo iliall you have Eafe. 
 
 Now, though the Doctor thinks this Story to his 
 Purpofe, I think it altogether againit him; for 
 in the tirft Place it proves Compacts, and Confent to 
 be the Devils Servant ; and though another is 
 brought into the fame Premunire by the Subtilty of 
 the Devil 3 yet when they are brought into the fame 
 Bargain, they are equally guilty, and give way to the 
 Devils Delulions; and when they confent to be his 
 VaiTa.s, they feem guilty x>f his Actions in their 
 Name, though he does thefe ill Deeds for them. 
 And though the Devil acts, their Confer. t to be his 
 Servant, ar.d to thofe Actions, makes them guilty, 
 •-and liable to the Punuhrnent due to thofe Deeds. 
 Bur to proceed to the Account, as the Doctor relates 
 it, he goes on. 
 
 xi And one Day the afflicted Perfon pointed at a 
 <c certain Place in the Room , and faid there is 
 * c D. H. upon which a Mail with his Ra«- 
 <c pier ftruck at »the Place , though he faw no 
 K Shape, and the afflicted called out, you have given 
 C£ her a fmall piick about the Eye. Soon after this, 
 <c the faid D. H. confefTed her felf to be made a 
 xi Witch, by %ning the Devil's Books, and declared 
 <c that ihe had afflicted the Maid that complained 
 u of her, and ingoing of it Ird received Two 
 cc Wounds, by a Sword or Rapier • a fmall one 
 * c about the Eye, which lhe lhewed to the Magn- 
 ates, and.a bigojsr on the Side, of which lhe was 
 tt iearched by a difcreet Woman, who reported that 
 
 2 D. H. 
 
[ 75 1 
 " D. B. hid on her Side the iign of a Wound newly 
 " healed, gsf<?. 
 
 " By thejfe Things you may fee how thefe Matters 
 cc were carried on, viz. chiefly by the Complaints 
 C{ and Accufations of the afflicted, and then by che 
 cc Confeflions of the accufed, condemning themielves 
 c< and others 3 yet Experience thews, that the more 
 <c there were apprehended, the more they were af> 
 c< fh&edby Satan; and the Number of the Confef- 
 <c lions mcreaiing, did but increafe the Number of 
 cc the accufed : And the executing of fome made 
 <c way for the apprehending of others. 
 
 Thus we fee that thofe that were convi&ed, not 
 only by their Accufers and afflicted, but alfo by their 
 own Confeflions, muft very probably be punilhed up- 
 on moral Certainty ; and if the Numbers apprehend- 
 ed made Satan the bufyer, it appears that warring 
 againft the Devil and his Angels makes them the 
 more enraged and active; and as the Legion caft out 
 of one, entered into a whole Herd of Swine, fo this 
 ) Diabolical Arm}', upon fome Defeats, were more vi- 
 gorous in their Temptations; which anfwers for 
 what is fubjoinedin this Quotation: cc For ftill the 
 cc afflicted complained of being tormented by new 
 iC Objects, as the -former were removed." But he 
 adds, cc Henceforth the juries generally acquitted 
 u iucn as were tried, fearing they had .gone on too 
 cc far before. And Sir WhUlam Vhipps^ the Gover- 
 <( nor, reprieved all that were condemned, even the 
 /tc Confeffors as well as others." So Princes leave ofF 
 War, when they find great Iofs of Subjects , and 
 fometimes it may be necelfary to fpeak the Devil 
 fair. 
 
 But he adds the Reafons why he believed they 
 went too far. Firfr, <c The Number greater than 
 <c could be imagined to be really guilty." But I 
 ■fhould rather think, that the Number of Witnefles 
 wculd confirm the Truth of any Thing- but I find 
 
 E 2 the 
 
176] 
 
 *he Doctor likes the lead Evidence beft, becaufe he 
 hath the feweft for his Opinion. 
 
 His Second Reafon is, c< The Quality : Religious 
 cc Perfons, that had taken great Pains- to bring up 
 cc their Children well/' This is a peculiar Reafon. 
 But we feldom hear of Religious Perfons accufing 
 themfelves of ill Deeds, or confefling the Practice of 
 Witchcraft; their Religion muft be ftrangely con- 
 trived, and only fit for the Worihip of the De- 
 vil, in which wa"y we find they have been too 
 zealous. 
 
 His Third Reafon is, c( Nineteen denying the 
 * e Crime to Death." But I fuppofe they were tried 
 and condemned by fufficient Proof and Evidence 
 againft them, which in any Capital Crime, or of 
 lefs Confequence, prevails againft the denying of the 
 Pacl, or Thieves and Murtherers would oftener 
 efcape than they do. 
 
 His Fourth Reafon is, " Upon ceafing the Profe- 
 <c cution, all was well and quiet." Thus when Sin 
 is unregarded, no Criminals are brought to Juftice;' 
 yet fevere Laws deter evil Practices, though not put 
 in Execution : Neverthelefs, feveral Crimes are com- 
 mitted, but fo cunningly, as not to be difcovered. 
 And Witches feldom do much Mifchief, but when 
 their Malice and Envy is ftirred up by Provocations. 
 And very often the Devil excites his Servants to do 
 ^Mifchie c , that they may difcover and betray them- 
 felves, having not fully obtained his End, till he 
 hath got them into his Kingdom ; and, like a juft 
 Mafter, gives them an ill Reward for their evil 
 Traaifes. 
 
 But let us fee further what the Doctor offers upon 
 this Subject. He fays, Page 117, " There is no- 
 <c rliing in this whole Cafe feems fo ftrange to me, 
 cc as what they fay of evil Spirits appearing in the 
 " Shape of innocent Perfons. 
 
 The 
 
[ 77) 
 
 The Do&or, notwithstanding all Proof to the con- 
 trary, would ftill fuggeft thefe Perfons fairly con- 
 vi£ted innocent; yet evil Spirits appearing in the 
 Shape of innocent Perfons, does not prove fuch as 
 are lawfully convi&ed innocent; becaufe they are 
 convi£ted for evil A&ions, and confequently cannot 
 be innocent Perfons. But it needs not feem ftrange te> 
 the Doctor, that the Devil may appear in the Snipe 
 of innocent Perfons, iince the Scripture witneiTes 
 that he hathfometimes transformed himfelf into the 
 Appearance of an Angel of Light, fo that he may 
 borrow a Vehicle to make him appear in that Shape ; 
 and fo far 1 am of the Do£tor's Opinion, that, to 
 ufe his own Words, <c I can never believe, but that 
 c< Divine Providence would interpo'e, and lay their 
 *? natural Powers under a Divine Reftraint, rather 
 * than to fuffer them to ufe them for fuch Mifchief. rt 
 But then I believe what the Doftor fays, upon thefe 
 Terms, that thofe Perfons refift Temptations ; and 
 this is the Defence good Men have againft him ; but 
 they lofe the Name of good Men, when they give 
 way to Temptations; and upon thofe Terms Provi- 
 dence hath fuffered them to do Mifchief ; but though 
 the Devil entered into Judas^ yet the reft refitted 
 fuch Temptations : Nor can I think Providence 
 would fuffer any to be polfeiTed, if they had not in 
 fome Meafure forfaken him. 
 
 But let us fee further, what the Do£tor hath of- 
 fered upon this Occafion. He fays, <c if Magiftrates 
 cc do their Duty in true Judgment, and punilh Of- 
 u fenders only for their own real acls of Wickednefs> 
 <c not for theEffe£h that Spirits work in other Mens 
 cc Shapes without them, then his Appearances wiir 
 (t hurt no body." To which I anf ver, that Magi- 
 ftrates do their Duty, if they punith Offenders upon 
 moral Proof, which is legal Teftimony ; and as for 
 the real A£h of Witches, they cannot be done by 
 a. Witch- only, lhe being no more than another Wo- 
 E 3 man* 
 
[78] 
 
 man of her felf : for it is her Compact with evil Spi- 
 rits, and employing them, that makes her a Witch j 
 and as they do Mifchief by their Authority, they 
 are anfwerable for their Crimes, and guilty. 6f their 
 A&ionsj and confequently liable to Puniihmcnt; and 
 as for appearing in their Shapes , they being the 
 Witches Servants, they ought to weir their Livery 
 or Like'nefs, or what other Drefs or Shape they are 
 fitteft to do their Work in. But he fays his Ap- 
 pearances would do no Hurt, if Magiirratespuniihed 
 only Offenders for their own A&s : To which I re- 
 ply, that the Mifchief done on thofe . tortured, is 
 Hurt, I believe, though the Witch were to be fup- 
 pofed innocent 5 but fince the Hurt is done by the 
 Witches hired Servant by Compa-fr, lhe is guilty of 
 the Hurt. 
 
 But the DoSor goes on, cc If contrary to the fre- 
 te quent Warnings in Scripture, thofe who are to 
 <c judge thofe Cafes, givexvirSpirirs the Advantage 
 <c agamft them, hath God any where promifed, that 
 c< by a particular Acl of Power, -he will fave credu- 
 ' c lous Men from being deceived, becaufe othenvile 
 a the Blood of innocent Men will be in Danger ? 
 How Judges can give Spirits any Advantage in de- 
 ceiving them, or be blamed for their Credulity, 
 I cannot underftand, when they a 61 upon moral 
 Proof, and downright Coireflions : fuch judgment 
 cannot make them in danger of fpilling inr.ocent 
 Blood, when they only condemn the Guilty accord- 
 ing to Law, and which is warranted by Scripture $, 
 nor are there any Warnings in Scripture, not to pu- 
 niih evil Doers: This is confident with the Laws of 
 God and Man. See Galatians v. 18, 19, 20, 2i« 
 But if ye be led by the Spirit, ye are under the Law. 
 IS T o\v the Works of the Flefh are man? f eft, which are 
 thefe, Adultery, Fornication, XJncleannefs, Lajciviouf- 
 nefs : Idolatry, Witchcrafts Hatred, Variance, &c. an I 
 fuch like -j of the which 1 tell you before^ as I have aljb 
 
 told 
 
[ 79 1 
 
 t o 7 d you in Time paft, that they wbkh do futb , £bwgj t 
 fhaU not inherit the Kingdom of God* Where 
 Witchcraft is condemned by the Laws of God. And 
 Ezodm xx ii. iS. Thou /halt not fuffer a Witch to Live* 
 And again, Deuteronomy xviii. 10. There fball not 
 be found among ft you, any on:: that maketh his Son or 
 his Daughter to pafs through the Tire, cr that ufetb 
 Divination, or an Obferver of Times, or an Enchan- 
 ter, or a Witch. 'dndVerfi it. Or a Charmer, or 
 a Confulter \xith familiar spirits, gv a Wizard, or a 
 Necromancer. From all which it appears, that the 
 Seripture both believes and condemns this deteftable 
 Sin ; but the Doctor is more merciful, and exceeds 
 infinite Mercy in Companion. 
 
 But to proceed, after all this Scuffle, Page 118, 
 the Doctor fays, " I will add fame jlnftances, where 
 " evil Spirits have been faid to have appeared in the 
 <c Shapes of thofe that have not been fufpected to be 
 c< otherwife than very innocent and virtuous Per- 
 <c foils." But foonv after he fays, growing moderl in 
 Vindication of his favourite Relations, " I dare 
 " not sffure you of my own Belief of the Inftances 
 ? c I ihall give." To which we offer, that a great ma- 
 ny evil Actions may be fecretly committed, before 
 Perfons are fufpe£ted, efpecially having Art enough 
 to deceive the World. But as for the Inftances, 
 fince the Doctor fiys he does not believe them, I 
 ihall not think it worth while to take Notice or: 
 them. Only one Tiling I cannot but obferve, which 
 -is, that though Page 66, he condemns the Golden 
 Legend, as containing incredible Stories, and lying 
 Miracles, attributing Miftakes of this Kind to be 
 built upon Popilh SuperftitioHs , yet to ferve his 
 Turn, he brings a Proof out of Popiih Legends ; fa 
 that any Thing to ferve his Turn hath Two 
 Handles , and yet neither of them to be- taken 
 hold of. 
 
 UK fage 
 
[ 8o] 
 
 Tage 121 and 122, he fays, " Since I have collect- 
 ed and drawn Kp thefe Things, I fee the Author 
 oF the Compleat Hifiory of Witchcraft, &c. hath 
 printed the firft Fads and Depositions, that de- 
 ceived the People of New England ; and hath 
 ftopt there, without giving notice of the Mi/lakes 
 
 that fol'owed. And who can he able to give a 
 
 rational Anfwer to fuch a Cafe, where the Fad is 
 laid before him fo partially ?" The Doctor is dif- 
 gufted, becaufe I have only taken notice of Matters 
 of Fad proved by Depofitions ; but, to fatisfy the 
 Dodor, the Reafon why 1 ftopt there, was, becaufe 
 I thought nothing worth Notice, but what appear'd 
 to be Truth well attefted : And it is no little Sa- 
 tisfadion, that the Dodor thinks a rational Anfwer 
 cannot be given againfl them. But how Truths 
 well attefted fhould deceive theTeople, I cannot un- 
 derftard, fince Truths and Falfhoods ought to be di- 
 ftinguiihed : And if they made any Miftakes, they 
 diminifh not the Value of what was true, and con- 
 fequently not of our Hifiory. But the Dodor charges 
 me with Partiality, becaufe I relate only Truths $ 
 which was the Intent of that Hiftory : And , to 
 conclude this Difcourfe of the Nzvo-Englan d Witches, 
 I lhall only ask the Dodor, whether he is not more 
 paitial in bringing Relations, which he would fup- 
 pofe falfe, to leflen the Credit of Truths ? Tho' 
 from what lie hath faid, it appears, that he hath 
 lather endeavour'd to reprefent them fo : and hath 
 made ufe of more cunning EvalloriS and Insinuati- 
 ons, than ftrong Arguments, if any at all. 
 
 Of the Witchcrafts at Mohra, in 
 Sweden. 
 
 From what hath been faid of the Witchcrafts in 
 New-England } it appears what Pains the Dodor 
 
 hath 
 
[8x } 
 
 hath taken to- evade the Hiftories of Matters of 
 Fa&, well attefted by the Authority of Men, the 
 Teftimony of Scripture, and their own Confeflions ; 
 we fhall next take a View of what he hath faid in 
 refpeft of the Witchcrafts at Mohra y m Sweden. 
 
 Page 123, he fays, " The Narrative of their Cafe 
 c< is faid to be taken out of the Records of the 
 <c Court, foon after the Time, and is fince tranfla- 
 " ted out of High-Dutch by Dr. Horneck^ and is 
 <f printed at the End of Mr. Glanvil^ and Dr. More's 
 <c Relations of Witches and Spirits, There were 
 cf condemned at one Time of Judgment, no longer 
 <c fince than 1670, Fourfcore and five Perfons* Fif- 
 <c teen of whom were Children, and mod, if not 
 cc all of them, were burnt and executed." To this 
 attefted Truth upon Record, and credited by fuch 
 worthy Perfons, after fome trivial Banter, he fays, 
 <r Tho' it be a great Difadvantage to anfwer, where 
 
 <c one hath little or no Account of the Fad yet 
 
 <c it confutes it felf.° So that tho 1 the Doftor hath 
 Tittle or no Account of the Fa£t, which is recorded 
 as Truth, yet he will undertake to banter us out of 
 our Relief, by his undeniable Method of Evafion 
 and Suggefh'on. And, firft, he caUs the Records of 
 Matters of Fa£t, fuppofed Witchcrafts ; and brings in 
 his canting Notion of Principles • as if no body 
 had good Principles but himfelf, who contradi£ts 
 the Teftimony of Scripture and Moral Proof, 
 yet blames others, who upon good Grounds purfue 
 the dire& Commands of Scripture, in difcouraging 
 and punifhing fiicli Vices. As for his Notion o'f 
 Principles, that having been often anfwer'd to, to 
 avoid as much *s podible vain Tautologies, we mall 
 only refer the Reader to what hath been faid of the 
 Nevo-Englan.l Witches , the fame Evafions being 
 there propofed by this Learned Author. 
 
 E 5 Page 
 
[8z J 
 
 Vage 124, and 125, he obferves, fC There were 
 <c Three Hundred Children faid to be carried away 
 <c every Night, out of one Town, to Blockala. The 
 cc Children faid, they were fure they were there in 
 '' Body ; for the Devil fed them at the Door, while 
 t€ . fie W it hes fat down with him at the Table. :> 
 
 *, the Doctor calls for Wimelfes, after 
 
 : ded and proved before judge and Jury ; and, to 
 
 leilen the Credit of recorded Truths, adds the fuppo- 
 
 v of a Clergx rnarij faying, ' c One Cler- 
 
 ftp and wacn X and fhewed his Wi'e 
 
 he Child in Bed all I : ; only about Twelve 
 
 tc a-Clcck, the C i and ihiver'd." But 
 
 whether this Clergyman fat up or not ? 
 not be as fallacious as other Clergymen the 
 Doctor acciues of Impofricns .? Or mi^ht not 
 Dr. Horned^ Glanvil^ and Dr.Mor/s Relief, be a*, 
 prevailing , as Dr. Hurcbin.'on'b Unbelief of thefe 
 Tales ? ] eke a-Oo:k, the Child groan- 
 
 ed and ihiverM : This the Doctor would needs at- 
 tribute '0 die P the Devil : when ' c the poor 
 c< Women of the Town confefs what the Children 
 cc fad of thtm. 
 
 But the D~o#dr is further disturbed with a Mon- 
 tC firou* Abp4',\Ynies {' what others believe upon 
 rea! Pre. of, the Doctor's Genius, being beyond Faith, 
 equal to his fuperabundant Clemency, would nei- 
 ther hat is proved, nor pumir; .the convict- 
 ed. But muft everjt Thins that is monftrous be ab- 
 fordin refpictcf Belief, that is fo in regard to the 
 common Rule of Reafon ? Or would he have the 
 monftrous AeYions of Witche3 and Devils, to be 
 JLke thole that are natural ? They are monftroitt Crea- 
 tures ; and therefore the Scripture deems them not 
 fit to live 3 becaufe their Actions are like them- 
 felves. 
 
 * Thefe 
 
[ *1 ] 
 
 u Thefe Women and Children, they fay, rode 
 
 * to Blockria upon Men ; and tho r e Men , when 
 u they came there, were reared againlt the Wall 
 <c aileep. Then again they rode upon Ports, or up- 
 " on Goats, with Spits ftuck into their Backfides. 
 Cl They flew thro' Chimneys and Windows, with- 
 a out breaking either Brick or Glafs. When they 
 <c were there, they lay with the Devil, and had 
 <{ Sons and Daughters • and thoie Children were 
 " mirried, and brought forth Toads and Serpents. 
 Cc Then they build Houfes, and Walls fall upon 
 " them, and make them black and blue." Thefe 
 Things the Doctor believes to be monftrovt ; and I 
 Would ask the Doctor, Does any body think them 
 natural ? Are the Devil's Works like, or according 
 to the Laws of Nature ? But as we faid before, and 
 in our Hiflory, no doubt but in fome Things the De- 
 vil deludes, and makes them believe that whit he 
 does by their Confent, is done by them : But as long 
 as it is by their Confent, and upon Compact, they 
 may be faid to do it, and are guilty of fuch Acti- 
 ons. 
 
 He adds ; cc They are beaten, and abufed, and 
 cc laugh'd at • and yet when they thought the De- 
 <€ vil had been dead, they mide great Lamenta- 
 " tion. 3> I would ask the Doctor, when ever did 
 the Devil ufe his Servants fo kindly ? Does he not 
 torment them after Death, for feiying him in their 
 Lifetime ? And if they were forry for the Lofs of 
 fo bad a Mafter, it might be, becaufe they could 
 not purfue their malicious Intentions without his 
 Afliftance £ or were like to lofe thofe Advantages^ 
 that encourage People to follow fuch evil and abo- 
 minable ways. 
 
 • But it is faid, Page 1 26, <c That at that very Time,' 
 a while they were in Court before the Commiffion- 
 
 * ers, the Devil appeared to them very terrible, 
 i% with Claws on his Hands and Feet, and with 
 
 « Horns 
 
[8 4 ] 
 
 cc Horns on his Head , and a long Tail behind ; i 
 cc and fhewed them a Pit burning, with a Hand pat 
 <c out ; but the Devil did thruft the Perfon down 
 <c again with an Iron Fork/ 5 Here the Do&or asks, 
 Whether there was really then any Pit burning ? 
 To anfwer which, I ask, Whether reprefenting fuch 
 a Thing to Appearance, was not an Argument of 
 the Devil's Power in forming Apparitions ? And 
 then, why may he not make the People believe 
 they do what nothing but a Spirit can do ? But 
 their Content and Compact makes 'em guilty of the 
 Fa£t : And if fuch Creatures forfake God, and ferve 
 the Devil in Will only, is not the Wages of Sin 
 Death i 
 
 Page 127, the Doctor goes on thus : ft They fay 
 u they have Two Spirit?, called Carriers, the one 
 tc like a Cat, the other like a Raven ; and thefe fetch 
 <c them home Butter, and Cheefe, and Bacon, and 
 cc all Sorts of Seeds, and Milk. Now, to pafs by 
 11 the reft, pray tell me, how this Cat and Raven 
 ** brought home Milk ? A Cat or Raven could not 
 cC well carry a Pail, or Pitcher, for their Milk. 5 * 
 The Qucftion is not only ridiculous , but the Anfwes- 
 much more : For, as to the Quefton ; If the Devil 
 can appear in any Shape, no doubt but he might in 
 thofe to human Sight, and yet be in his own Shape 
 luifeen, and carry a greater Burthen than they had 
 Occalion for. Did not he carry our Saviour, and 
 (et him upon a Pinacle of the Temple ? Which 
 proves him capable of moving bodily Subftances : 
 As Matth. 4. 5. Then the Devil taketh him up into- 
 the holy City> and fetteth him on a Vinaclt of the 
 Temple. And v. 8. Again the Devil taketh him up 
 into an exceeding high Mountain. And if the De- 
 vil was able to carry our Saviour thus about , why 
 may he not tranfport Witches about at his Pleafure, 
 or uipply them with any Thing they want ? As for 
 the Anfwci j what can be more ridiculous, than to 
 
 fupr 
 
[ 8j ] 
 
 fuppofe or call the Devil a Cat or a Raven, when he 
 only appears in thofe Shapes ? 
 
 The Do&or proceeds : li I cm devife no way, un- 
 cc lefs they drank it firft, and then fpewed it up 
 <c again for the Witches to drink after them. And 
 cc 1 think , the 1 5th Pttge intimates that it was this 
 cc way ; for there it is faid, That thefe Carriers 
 " fometimes fill themfelves fo full, that they open 
 cc by the way ; which Spewing is found in feveral 
 c< Gardens where the Col worts grow, and not far 
 <£ from the Houfes of thofe Witches, and is called 
 ' c Butter of Witches" The Doftor adds, « I could 
 <c be glad I could find a way of representing the 
 <c Folly of this, without reflecting upon the Swsdtfb 
 <c Commillioners and Dr. Hjrmck" But Dr. Hdchin- 
 fon will find the Folly of this Argument much harder 
 ro be reprefented without reflecting upon his Cha- 
 racter ; and I am fbrry he mould place filch mean 
 Banter in th? Room of Arguments. The Word 
 devife is indeed, I think, of his own Devife ment ; 
 but, without drinking it up, and fpewing it again, 
 I have juft now made it appear, that the Devil can 
 carry greater Burthens than a Pitcher of Milk, and 
 in an unfeen Shape, tho' he may appear in another. 
 And as for their fpewing up Milk, that might be 
 done at fuch Places mentioned, having fill'd them- 
 felves with it, befides what they otherwife carried : 
 So that the Intimation of the Do£tor's Way, is Ban- 
 ter inftead of Reafon ; and I can fcarce believe, 
 that he truly thinks this way the intimated way of 
 Page the 15th. And though he, in the next Page^ 
 would fuppofe this Milk the fame with the Froth he 
 mentions, and to come from the Graihoppers : yet 
 the Quantity that would fill a Cat or a. Raven, 
 which intimates it not to be that which comes fiom 
 Graihoppers ; tho' the latter might be called Witches 
 Butter, from fome Likenefs with t'ie former. Be- 
 fideSj this which comes from Grafhoppers, is called 
 
 fo 
 
[ 86 J 
 
 Co by the Rabble ; the other Witch's Bxtter> by tho r e 
 the Doftor is too timorous in ridiculing with a (up- 
 pofitious Oversight, which appears to be none. 
 
 But Page 128, and 129, he takes notice, that 
 cc they were not thefe Circumftances, but their own 
 cc Confeflionsj which were the Grounds of their 
 <c Condemnation/ 3 But in Anfwer to this, he fays, 
 cc Confctfio ret wrpojfibtlis , non efi ConfejfiQ fan& 
 K mentis : A Ccnftiiion of a Thing impoftible, is 
 u not the Confefiion of a found Mind. That will 
 <c always be an inviolable Ru'e with wife Judges. 5 * 
 A very good Suggeftion for the Doctor's Purpofe, but 
 not prober in this Cafe. For tho' it is not reafon- 
 able a found Mind fhould confefs Actions impoflikle 
 for human Nature, or a Woman : yet a Witch, 
 who acts by virtue of an evil Spirt, tho' in a found 
 Mind, may confefs Things done by her Confent and 
 Direction , which are fupernatura], and imooflible 
 for her aloi^ yet pofiible to that evil Spirit (he em- 
 ploys : So that thofe Things which are impoilible for* 
 a Woman that is not a Witch, are poliible for 
 a Witch, who acts by fupernatural Afilftance or 
 Concurrence. So that the Doctor's Rule comes ihort 
 of being an unavoidable Rule in the Cafe of Witch- 
 craft. 
 
 But the Do~tor would ftill infinuate, this Con- 
 fefiion is extorted, or that they are perfuaded : But 
 what Pcrfuafions of human Kind can oblige People 
 to confefs a Crime, which makes them liable to fuf- 
 fer Death ? Yet we fee, in other Capital Crimes, 
 Men often confefs ; their guilty Confcien;es ftrcngly 
 accufing them, and making them conclude it an un- 
 avoidable Nece Hi ty, and that it is impoilible for them 
 to efcape. 
 
 Of 
 
[ 9?) 
 
 Of the Witches of Warbois. 
 
 It appearing, from what hath been faid of the 
 Witchcraft of 'Sweden, that what the Doftor hath 
 offer'd in relation to that, cannot diminifh the Cre- 
 dit which ought to be given to filch" undeniable Fa&s ; 
 we fhall next fee, what he hath to fay in relation to 
 the Witches of Warbois. 
 
 [ He begins : fC The Witches of Warbois are well 
 ic known ; Old Sattmel and his Wife, and Agnes 
 ic Samuel, their Daughter, were condemn'd at Hun- 
 ic tingdon, by Mr. Juftice Tenner, April 4. 157^ 
 <c for bewitching Five of Mr. Throgmorto?i's Chil- 
 <c dren, Seven Servants, the Lady Cromwell, and the 
 c< Gaoler's Man, gfc. The Father and Daughter 
 u maintained their Innocence to the laft ; but the 
 c< Old Woman confeffed. 
 
 I cc That which makes the Execution more remark- 
 <c able, is, That Sir Samuel Cromwell, Husband of 
 <c the aforefaid Lady Cromwell, having the Goods 
 <c of thefe People efcheated to him, to the Value of 
 <c Forty Pounds, as Lord of the Minor,, gave the 
 <c faid Forty Pounds to the Mayor and Aldermen of 
 a Huntingdon, for a Rent-Charge of Forty Shil- 
 <c lings yearly, to be paid out of their Town-Lands, 
 <c for an annual Le&ure on the Subjeil of Witch- 
 
 y- craft , to be preach 'd at their Town every Lady- 
 <c Day, by a Do&or or Batchelor of Divinity of 
 <c Queens -College in Cambridge. This Lecture is 
 <c continued to this Day. 
 
 To this theDoflor wifely, and with a good Mean- 
 ing , anfwers : <c I mike no Queftion but that 
 a Learned Body hath taken care to have that Le- 
 ** cture preached by fuch grave, judicious Perfons," 
 (by which he feems to reflect upon his own Gown, 
 as if fome were neither grave nor judicious ) " as 
 
 " would 
 
[ 88 1 
 
 cc would teach the People fafe Notions (To that 
 we may fuppofe, according to his Suggeftion, that 
 fome preach unfafe Notions) <c concerning Witch- 
 <c craft, and difcourage them from imitating any 
 * Thing that was amifs in that Profecution." So 
 that thofe that are of the Doctor's Opinion may 
 hope for grave and judicious Characters, but thofe 
 who arc otherwife mult expe£t the contrary. Here 
 the Wifdom of a whole Learned Body is called in 
 Queftion, left his Notion of Principles mould be 
 brought into Sufpicion. It is a wonder they 
 fhoulJ admit of a Lecture being founded in Memory 
 of fuch a Profecution, or Condemnation : This feems 
 to deferve the Doctor's Cenfure. 
 
 But he goes on, afcer his refolved Method of Ar- 
 gument : u And as for the Donation, there is no 
 cc doubt but that Superftition makes as large OfFer- 
 cc ings as true Religion ; and chat many Gifts have 
 cc been given , to fupport the Credit of doubtful 
 K Actions : And therefore I will pafs over the Le- . 
 € * elure, and confider the Fact. 5 ' In the foregoing 
 Part of his Effay. the Do£tor charged the Vapifts and 
 Diffenters with Superftition : but now the Church 
 and all are guilty, and not only of Superftition, buc 
 Bribery to maintain a Caufe : For he fays, Many 
 Offerings and Gifts have been given to fupport it ; 
 which is dt'e£t!y charging the Mmifters of the Go- 
 fpel with that deteftable Crime, becaufe they preach 
 againft that Sin which the Scripture hath forbid- 
 den , and which this whole Effay feems to fa- 
 vour. 
 
 But as to the Faft, he fays, H It ought to be ob- 
 cc (erved, tint this Profecution was not grounded 
 cc upon a; y previous A els of Sorcery, that thefe 
 cc People had been taken in, but upon Experi- 
 c me- its and Charms, which the Profecutors corn-, 
 
 pelled them to ufe, and tried upon them." Ta 
 
 which 
 
 <f 
 
[8 9 ] 
 
 which I anfwer, tBat there muft be a previous Sufpi- 
 cion, before any Profecution can be made ; for no 
 body can be faid to be profecuted for -a Crime, with- 
 out Accufation, which implies a previous A£t, tho 1 
 it be not fully proved : Nor is there any full Proof 
 till they come upon Trial, and if then the Fa& be 
 proved, it juftifies the Profecution , as in this Cafe ; 
 for if the Fa& had not been proved, they would not 
 have been condemned : Therefore the Do&or's Sug- 
 gestion muft be wrong. Befides, it is worth ob- 
 serving, that the Doctor makes ufe of his ufual Art, 
 to gain his Caufe if poflible, and gives Judgment 
 of the Beginning, before the Beginning is ftated ; 
 which is managed with fbme Cunning, for the Cafe 
 being itated, would alter the judgment. 
 
 But after Judgment made, he proceeds to the Be- 
 ginning, and fays • cc Then the Beginning of it is 
 " fuch, as makes the whole Thing defervedlyfufpeft- 
 ce ed. One of the Daughters had Fits, and was ill ; 
 Ci but there were no Signs or Thoughts of Witch- 
 )" crafr, till this Mother Samuel (living near them) 
 cc came in to fee her, and fat in the Chimney-Cor- 
 
 * ner, with a black Knit Cap upon her Head ; and 
 <c when the Child in her Fit faw her, fhe look'd 
 tc like an old Wirch ; and from that Time (he took 
 Cc a Fancy, that Mother Samuel had bewitch'd her/' 
 To which I anfwer, That this Profecution wis not 
 -without Grounds of Sorcery ; for tho 1 fhe did not 
 accule her at firft, yet her accullng her afterwards, 
 
 Avas Ground to beleve fhe was guilty of the firft 
 A£t. Befides, how fhould an innocent Child think 
 of her Diftemper proceeding from Witchcraft ; ex- 
 cept fhe had fome private Caufe to think her a 
 
 • Witch i And further 5 her Phyfkhns would have 
 diftinguifhed betwixt the Symptoms of real and na- 
 tural Dinempers, and Accidents that proceeded from 
 fupernatural Caufes : and if they could have found 
 thofe Fits the Effects of natural Caufes, that would 
 
 have 
 
[ 90] 
 
 have cleared the old Woman from any Sufpicion ; but 
 fince upon this Sufpicion fhe was accufed, and upon 
 further Proof was profecuted, convicted, and like- 
 wife confeffed, this was fufficient to prove her guilty 
 the whole Time, and moral Proof was enough to 
 confirm the Truth of the whole. 
 
 But the Doctor Dys, U after that, the other Chil- 
 <c dreii had the fame Fears and Fancies, and Fits 
 cc like hers ; and nothing is more common than for 
 cc Children to take fuch Frights from one another." 
 The Doftor readily calls extraordinary Fits diftin- 
 gu.ihable from common Diitempers, Fears and Fan- 
 cies : a very artful way of foftening the Ca r e, after 
 a full Proof and Conviction. But it is not a little 
 furprizing to me, that Children lhould take fuch 
 Fits from one another; for though the Do£lor fays 
 r.othing is more common , it is fo feldom, that it 
 never happens. I have read molt Phyilck Books 
 worth reading, but never heard any fuch Thing be- 
 fcrc; nor have I, for above Twenty Years, ever {ten 
 it; no Fits- being catching, except Epilepfiss ; and 
 when it feems to happen, it is rather imagined than 
 real ; befides, Epikfifiss are Diitempers that have a 
 Jong Time been (o well known, chat they might 
 have eafily been difcovered, and diftinguifhed from 
 extraordinary Fits of a fupernatural Kind. 
 
 Bur, cc after this, the Lady Crowrvttl to whefe 
 c< Hniband thefe Samuels were Tenants, came to 
 <c Mr. Tbrrgmortons Hoti r e. She fent for the old 
 c< Woman, and called her Witch, and abufed her* 
 <c and called her lurcher, and cut off feme of her 
 c ' Hair, and gave to M r s. Throgtmr ton to burn, fort 
 c< a Charm. At Night this Lady, as very likely ihe 
 <f would, after fuch an ill Days Work, dream d of 
 a Mother S.imud, and a Cat, and fell into Fits, 
 <c and in about a Year and a Quarter died. And if 
 " her Death was really occafioned by the Fits that 
 ** began then, I can only count it a jufl Confequence 
 
 « of 
 
1 9i ] 
 
 <c of her Sin, and Folly, and Superftition." The 
 Doftor is very charitable to an old Witch, but very 
 uncharitable and unmerciful to the onfortuiiate 
 
 Lady ; he would fave and excufe the Witch, that 
 ought not to Live , but would count it juft for 
 the Lady to fuffer Death, 'for pulling off the oil 
 Woman's Kircher, and a fmall Abufe that was de- 
 ferving. He fhews a mighty Friend to old Witches; 
 forely he need not fear the Devil, whp is fo kind 
 to his Works, and the Promoters of his Intereft upon 
 >Earth. 
 
 After this mighty faint Stroke to difcredit the Be- 
 lief of the Witches of Warbois 7 the Doctor gives an 
 Account of Mother Savin-:?* Imps, and their Tricks ; 
 and that we may better judge of the Force of his Re- 
 flections, and especially because we think they con- 
 firm the Truth of the Profecution,. and (hew the 
 Wcsknefs of his JtrSgment, or his Fardsiiry in this 
 Ca r e ; what he relates, is as follows : 
 
 <c It is fa id in that Narrative, that there were 
 c< Nine Spirits that belonged to thefe People and cal- 
 :C * led Mother Samuel their old Dame. Two of 
 Cv their Names. I have forgot r but the other Seven 
 f were Ftuck] Harciname, Catch, Three Smacks 
 <c that were Con/ins, and Blxo. The Children feem- 
 cc ed to talk with thefe Spirits in their Fits. The 
 
 * Standers by neither faw any Shape, nor heard any 
 <£ Voice, only Crnderftood what* the Spirits fa id, by 
 u the Children's Anfwers, and by what the Children 
 " told therri afterwards. I will give you a Specimen 
 ;c of one, which you may find in the Narrative. 
 
 * The Dialogue was between one of the SuMcks, 
 * and Mrs. Joan, the eldeft Daughter of Mrs. 
 
 u ThfpgtnortGriy about the Age of Sixteen or Seven- 
 cc teen Years : and as the Thoughts of young Wo- 
 <c men about that Age, wereilpon Love and Court- 
 Pj fhip, fhe thought Smack was in Love with her, 
 <c and fought to win her Favour, and taught her 
 
 * Charms, 
 
" Charms, and fought for her, and promifed to 
 " bring his old Dame either to Confeflion or Confu- 
 u lion. The Dialogue it felif is as follows. 
 
 cc From whence come you, Mr. Smack, and what 
 c News do you bring ? The Spirit anfwered, that he 
 <( came from Fighting. From Fighting, faid fhe, 
 cc with whom, 1 pray you ? The Spirit anfwered, 
 IC with Pluck. Where did you Fight, I pray, faid 
 cc fhe ? The Spirit anfwered, in his old Dame's Bake- 
 4< Houfe, which is an old Houfe (landing in Mother 
 " Samuels Yard, and they fought with great Cowl- 
 c< ftaves, laft Night. And who got the Mattery, I 
 W P ra Y y° u ) faid to e ? He anfwered; That he broke 
 " Plucks Head. Said fhe, I would that you had 
 ct broke your Nerk alfo. Said the Spirit, is that all 
 c< the Thanks 1 have for my Labour ? Why, fays (he, 
 cc Do you look for Thanks at my Hand? I would 
 fS you were all hang'd up one again ft another, and 
 <c Dame and all, for you are all naught; but it is no 
 '* Matter, {aid fhe, 1 do not well to Cur'e you, for 
 cc God, I hope, will defend me from you all. So he 
 li departed, and bad her Farewelf. 
 
 fc Soon after fhe fees Pluck coming in, with his 
 cc Head hanging down, and he told her again of 
 C{ the Battel, and how his Head was broke. When 
 cc he was gone, Catch, lhe faid, came in limping, 
 K with a broken Leg. And after him, Blexo brought 
 c< his Arm in a String; but they threatned, that 
 <f when they ihould be well, they would join toge- 
 <c ther, and be revenged of Smack. Next Time 
 " that Smack came, lhe told him of their Defign, 
 cc but the fet them at light. He bragged that he 
 <c could beat Two of them himfelf, and his Coufin 
 cc Smack would be of his Side." The Do£tor fays 
 nothing to thefe Relations, but that they are as ri- 
 diculous as the Popith Legends : fo that he needs rauft 
 
 fay 
 
[ 93 1 
 
 fay fomething to intimate a Diflike, though he can- 
 not contradict the Narrative. 
 
 Yet fall, notwithstanding all this Evidence again ft 
 her, and her own Confeffion, the Do£tor would 
 needs reprefent her Confeffion extorted. He fays, 
 <c But by long ill Ufage, her Hufband on one Side 
 " fwearing at her, and beating her, and on the 
 c< other Side Mr. Tbrogworton, and his Children, 
 <c fcratching of her, and trying unfair Tricks, and 
 <c keeping her from Home, amongft his Children, I 
 tc reckon that her Health was fo impaired, that one 
 cc Night the was vapoured to that Degree, that (he 
 c< thought the Devil was in her." A cunning way 
 cf arguing ; the Doftor's Reckoning , or Supposi- 
 tion, that lhe was weak and vapoured, though he 
 knows nothing of the Matter, mull pafs for Ar- 
 gument againft her Confeffion. As for her Hufband's 
 beating her, that could not be much, fince he was not 
 much at Home, but was kept amongit the Children, 
 to keep her in Awe, and fear of doing Mifchief ; 
 hor could the want Vi£tuals in a Houfe, where, no 
 doubt, lhe was much made of enough, to keep her 
 lufty, and well in Health, as well as to pleafe her f 
 and make her good humoured. 
 
 But lull he would have her Confeffion extorted ; 
 c< The Children begg'd withTears that (he would con- 
 <c fefs, for then they faid they iliould be well, if lhe 
 cc confefTed, and they would forgive her from the 
 cc bottom of their Hearts ; and beiides, that they 
 u would intreat their Friends and Parents fo much 
 J? as in them lay, clearly to forgive, and forget all 
 <c that was part, but this would not do/' There- 
 fore this could not extort her Confeffion, lhe being 
 too obftinate to yield to eafe thofe ihe had exercifed 
 her Cruelty and Malice, fo long upon. But this 
 ihewed, that the Children had a great deal of Rea- 
 (bn to think the was the Author of their Mifchief, 
 to pray fo heartily for Relief from her. 
 
 " But 
 
t 94 1 
 
 <c But Mr. Ihrcgmorton prevailed with her to 
 <c charge the Spirit, in the Name of God, that they 
 cc might have no more Fits. She yielded . to that, 
 <c and then the Children would grow veil." This 
 plainly feems to imply, that the Mifchief was ma- 
 naged through her Occafion : But the Do£lor. to 
 take off the Force of this Demonstration , would 
 fuppofe, cc this furprized the poor Woman, and 
 cc very likely made her believe, that all had pro- 
 ci ceededfrom her ill Tongue.' Ti.e Doctor kindly 
 fuppofes a Surprize, yet tins could never make her 
 believe fuch Things ihould proceed from her ill 
 Tongue, except ihe had Power, and knew that ihe 
 had an ill Tongue' But he turther fuppofes, that 
 cc having been told fo often, that if ihe would but 
 " confefs, ail would be well, and they forgive hen; 
 <c might make her confefs ;" but this Method before 
 was found ineffectual. Yet further it is urgedj 
 <c That then Mr. Throgmcrtcn was angry, and 
 * c threatned to carry her before the Biihop of 
 u Bugden; but. upon Condition that Ihe might not 
 <c be carried -there, me promifed to confefs again. 1 * 
 Now would the Biihop of Bugdsns. Prefen:e oblige 
 her to confefs, if Ihe was innocent? She Ihould ra- 
 ther have delired to be carried to prove her In- 
 nocency. 
 
 Bdt let us fee further, how the Devil contrives to 
 betray his Servants into his own Power, to make 
 them pay for the Service he has done them. " About 
 c< this Time, the Spirits, as they faid, taught them^ 
 " bur, in Truth, their own Folly led them to ufe a 
 <: Charm to try them by: and though it was a def- 
 * c peiate Snare to their own Lives, Mr. T'hrogmorton 
 <c had that Power, that they made the poor Woman 
 c< fay it an Hundred Times over." Here we may ob- 
 ferve how well the Do&or manages the Caufe tG his 
 Advantage, by interlarding the truth with his Sup* 
 pclitions • as, they faid, and then fuggefa their own 
 
 • Folly 
 
I 95 3 
 
 Folly led them to it. But let us conflder, whether 
 Folly could make them wife ; and fo wife, as to 
 know what Charm would make the Witches be- 
 tray themfelves; is it not more like, that the 
 Subtiiry of thefe Spirits ihould direit them to 
 Charms ? 
 
 The Charm the Spirits directed them to, was: 
 u I charge thee, thou Devil, as 1 love thee, and 
 <c have Authority over thee, aud am a Witch, and 
 c< guilty of this Matter, that thou fuffer this Quid 
 cc to be well at prefent. Upon faying of this, the 
 uc Children would come out of their Fits.'" But the 
 Author of the Eifay fays, " In Probability they could 
 c< either put themfelves into their Fits, or out of 
 <c them, when they would. And therefore it is ob- 
 cc fervable, that when any Times were fet, that they 
 <c could be free from their Fits till that Day, it was 
 " excepted , unlefs Strangers came. And if any 
 cc Strangers did happen to come, then they never 
 < c failed to have them." A very i likely Story ! 
 £hat Fits which were commanded oft by a particular 
 Charm, ihould be cart oif, or brought on at Pleafure; 
 amd how ftrange is it to fuppofe, that a Gentleman 
 ihould think it reafonable, or Pleafure, to torment 
 his Children, to afford Strangers fuch ungrate- 
 ful Entertainment ? Or that Children ihould tor- 
 -menr themfelves, to pleafe others ? 
 
 Btit if nothing elfe will do, the Doftor would re- 
 3>relent the Judge unfkilful in thefe Matters ; but 
 ,£his is contrary to his efteemed Character. The 
 Doctor offers one PafTage at the Tryal of the old 
 Man. He made no Confeflion , but was obfti- 
 nate in affirming his Innocence ; yet the judge told 
 him, cc that if he would not fpeak the Words of 
 <c the Charm, the Court would hold him guilty of 
 <c the Crimes he was accufed of, and fo at length, 
 cc with much ado, the faii Samuel^ with a loud 
 *J Voice (kid, in the Hearing of all prefent; as I 
 
 " am 
 
1961 
 
 " am a Witch, and did confent to the Death of the 
 " Lady Crorrnvell, fo I charge thee, Devil, to fufrer 
 tt Mrs. Jane to come out of her Fits at tfris prefent, 
 
 fC upon this ihe came out of her Fit. Then the 
 
 <c Judge faid, You fee all, fhe is now well, but noc 
 " by the Mufick of the Devil's Harp, ge?c. n The 
 Daughter alfo was upon a like Difcovery found 
 Guilty. Yet the Do£lor would reprefent her a vir- 
 tuous Woman ; and after fome ridiculous PafTages be- 
 twixt both, to excufe both after Conviction, the 
 Do&or clofes his Remarks, with calling thefe Rela- 
 tions ridiculous; but from what he hath faid, his 
 Remarks feem much more fb; reflecting upon his 
 Brethren for commemorating this impious Piece of 
 Witchcraft, and charging the Gown with little 
 lefs than Bribery to fupport the Credit of evil 
 AcYions. 
 
 The Do£tor clofes this Cafe with a Reflection up- 
 on the ill Author of the Compleat Hifiory of Witch- 
 craft ; but I am not very feniible upon what Grounds 
 he places that Reflection, having offered nothing but 
 what I have here proved confonant to Reafon, mo- 
 ral Proof, and the Teftimony of Scripture ; but from 
 what hath been faid in his Effay, it's manifefr, that 
 he oppofes thofe Things which are agreeable with 
 Scripture, and juitified by the Laws both or God and 
 Man, as will appear from the feveral Texts of Scrip- 
 ture quoted in this Vindication ; and inftead.of Ar- 
 guments, flies to artful Insinuations 5 and weak 
 Evasions. 
 
 P.] J 
 
[97] 
 
 CHAP. V. 
 
 Containing Remarks on what the T)oUot 
 hath [aid on the Tryal before my Lord 
 Chief Baron Hale, of Richard Dugdale, 
 or the Surrey Demoniac ; and the Cafe 
 of Jane Wenham, in Hertfordfhire. 
 
 iU Aving in the foregoing Chapter made it appear,' 
 " how weakly the Doctor hath oppofed the Credit, 
 of our Hiftory of Witchcraft^ and fame Cafes men- 
 t tioned in if, and how little he hath faid to favour 
 jhis own Suggeftions, I (hill next proceed to confider 
 I what he hath to fay, in Relation to the Perfons tried 
 land condemned by our late excellent Lord Chief 
 Baron Hale. 
 | Page 14.0, lie fays, <c I have as true an Honour 
 
 ■ :<< and Reverence for that great and good M in but 
 
 ii tc we muft not fo far forget the common Frailty of 
 1 cc our human Nature, as to think it ftrange for 3, 
 1 " great Man to be once miftakeu." Here the Doftor 
 i I cannot deny the Goodnefs of this great Man, yec 
 > thinks it necefliry to leflen the Efteem of what he 
 defigns to oppofe, and obi raft the Luftre of his 
 (hining Character, left it mould be too bright for 
 fcim to face ; as Mofes, Exod. xxxiv. 33, had a Vail 
 over his Face, xohilfi he [poke to the Children of 
 Ifrael y left the fhining of his Face, when he came 
 out of Mount Sinai, fhould be too bright, and dazzle 
 them. But methinks the Do£lor 5 having fo much 
 Honour and Reverence for this great and good Man 
 fhould not vail him with the common Frailty of hu- 
 man Nature, much more to tell him he was mifta- 
 ken. A jud^e is not miftaken, if his Judgment is 
 
 £ upon 
 
[ 98 ] 
 
 upon moral Proof; he is not to anfwer for the Mi- 
 flakes of Evidence ; but I find no body can be in the 
 right, that is not of his Opinion. 
 
 He goes on, c< In the firil place it feems to me, 
 tc that there are feveral Signs of a great Zeal and 
 cc Eagernefs in the Profecutions. They laid Thir- 
 €C teen feveral Indictments againft him." The 
 Doctor continues his Tendernefs over thefe Creatures, 
 and feems of a different Kidney from the Prophets 
 and Apoftles, fince they oppofe Vice, efpecially thofe 
 of the worft Kind, with Zeal and Eagernefs, de- 
 nouncing heavy Judgments, Death, Hell, and ever-" 
 lafting Torments, againft fuch Offenders: And if 
 they had given Occafion for Thirteen feveral Indict- 
 ments, fuch vile Offenders ought to be profecuted 
 with a Zeal equal to their abominable and notorious 
 Crime?. So t at to jnftrfy this Zea], I need but 
 make ufe of the Doctor's own Words fubjoined, 
 which aggravate what he would excufe, viz. " By this 
 cc Means they gave in Evidence of Things that had 
 *•' been faid long btfore 3 and at diftant Times and 
 cc Places ; and when they were laid together, they 
 * c fupported one another, and made a greater Ap- 
 cc pearance of Guilt, than they had at the feveral 
 tc Times when they were done." Thus it is in other 
 Capital Crimes, or even common Cafes, old Offen- 
 ders are treated according to the Nature of the Cir- 
 cumftances; and when one hath been frequently- 
 guilty of Thefts, and a great many Indictments are 
 brought in againft one Man, they make a ftronge^r 
 Prefumption of the evil Difpoiition of the Perfcn 
 aecufed, and confequently he is more deferving of 
 the Rigor of the Law. And when an old Offender 
 is accufed but of a lingle Fact, if it appear that 
 he hath formerly committed Crimes of the fame Na- 
 ture, though the laft Fact be lefs confiderable in it 
 feif, he is locked npon as an egregious Sinner; and. 
 according to "the Cuftom of Ccurts of Judicature, is 
 
 brought 
 
[99] 
 
 brought to condign Punifliraent, and fuflfers the Ex- 
 tremity of the Law. 
 
 He goes on, <c Notwithstanding this, confider how 
 cc very few Things they could prove, that were real 
 <c Fa&s of the fuppofed Witches doing/' To which 
 I anfwer, that if they proved but a few real Fa&s, 
 as he ownsj the Witches accufed muft be real, and 
 not fuppofed Witches, as he calls them. 
 
 He proceeds, " One fmgle Witness, Dorothy Du- 
 cc rent, confefJed of her felf, that which was a more 
 tt Criminal A& of Sorcery, than all they could prove 
 16 againft the accufed Parties." Here the Doftor 
 owns, that the Parties committed fome, becaufe he 
 fays the WitnelTes a£ted more. So that by his 
 Charge, both the Perfon accufed, and the Witnefs, 
 muft be Witches. He would excufe the accufed 
 Witch, yet accufes the other of Sorcery himfeJf • 
 now lince the Do&or is an Accufer as well as Durent^ 
 W T ho muft excufe Durent, who is accufed by him? 
 And who muft blame the Do£lor, for acculing her ? 
 
 } That which he blames Durent for, he is guilty of 
 him felf ; and by the Law that he condemns other 
 Accufers, he ought to be tried. But I find the 
 Doctor hath as much Infallibility as the Pope; he is 
 in the right, let the Cafe be what it will, and fuits 
 his Opinion, as Conveniency requires. 
 
 But further, he fays, cc For of Fa£ts of their do- 
 <c ing, I fee little befides giving a Child an empty 
 " Breaft Seven Years before, to quiet it, and giving 
 
 ff* another a little Water, which is ufually done in 
 c< Vapours." I never heard of a young Child being 
 troubled with what Phylicians call Vapours be- 
 fore , or that Water was a Medicinal Prefcri- 
 ption; but I fuppcfe the Doftor may have fome 
 unknown Phyfick-Book lodged in the profound 
 Obscurity , where thefe Papers llept fo many 
 Years. 
 
 But 
 
[ ioo ] 
 
 But to proceed, he fays , <c The faid Dorothy Du- 
 cc rent having been with a Witch Doctor, acknow- 
 cc ledges upon Oath, that by his Advice, the hanged 
 c< up the Child's Blanket in the Chimney, found a 
 <c Toad in it at Night ; had put it into the Fire, and 
 cc held it there, though it made a great and horrible 
 cc Noife, and flaihed like Gunpowder, and went orY 
 ic like a Piftol, and then became invifible ; and that 
 <c ,by this the Prifoner was fcorched, and burnt la- 
 €C mentably. 
 
 Now what can the Doctor fay to this, which is an 
 evident Argument and Proof of a Diabolical Pow- 
 er ? Truly he ufes his ufual, powerful, and unrefuta- 
 ble Banter and Ridicule. cc I do not believe this 
 cc Witnefs ; for fhe muft be a filly loofe Woman, or 
 t( fhe would not have gone to the Witch Do£tor." 
 A good Reafon to make her a filly loofe Woman- 
 for the Doclor believes there are Witch-Do&ors, 
 though he will allow none to be Witches, but Accu- 
 fers of Witches. What then muft Accufers of thefe 
 Accufers be ? But, 
 
 cc She fays, ihe believed her a W T itch, yet left her 
 cc Child to be tended by her." How could fhe be- 
 lieve her a Witch, before fhe knew her Anions? But 
 after the Child had been with her, then it was fhe 
 blamed her for what fhe did. 
 
 cc She fays, the Prifoner was very much fcorched 
 <c and burnt with Fire, and yet no Scars, or figns of 
 
 cc Burning, were ihewn and therefore I believe 
 
 cc fhe was a lying old Woman." Strong Arguments 
 to invalidate a Witnefs 1 How does the Doctor know 
 but the Marks of Burning were lhewn, and did ap- 
 pear? Nothing can be offer'd to the contrary, but 
 the Doctor's good Word • for by her Oath it mould 
 be true, and in Defence of the old Woman's Reputa- 
 tion 1 muft needs fay, it does not appear fhe was 
 a lying old Woman, for the Marks muft be lhewn, or 
 fcpw could they tell ihe was burnt ? 
 
 The 
 
[ ioi ] 
 
 The reft of Page 141, and 142, the Do&or goes 
 on to prove them both Witches, and turns Witch 
 Accufer himfelf : And I believe, talking much longer 
 upon the Subjeft, would alter his Opinion , and 
 make him believe what he hath hitherto fo cruelly 
 difcouraged, with lniinuations and Evafions ; for he 
 feems to purfue the Accufer Durent^ with that Zeal 
 and Eagernefs he complained of the Page before ; 
 and I believe I may fay to the Doctor, as Paul faii 
 to Agrippa, A&s xxvi. 27, 28. King Aprippa, be- 
 ' lievsfi thou the Prophets * I know that thott believe ft. 
 Then Agrippa faid unto Paul-> Alwoft thou perfuadeft 
 vie to be a Chriflian. Bat to lhew how vigoroully 
 the Doctor accufes Dxrent , I lhall quote his own 
 Words. 
 
 i6 But fuppofe it literally true, as (lie faith ; and 
 cc what follows ? Why, the only fure Concluiion is, 
 cc that {he charg'd her felf with real Sorcery in 
 
 ) u ail its Steps and Gradations. She fir ft departed 
 c< from God, by forfakihg his way of Prayer, and 
 <c natural Means, and leaving the Event to his ?v^- 
 cc vidence. She employed the Devil, by the ufe of a 
 cc Charm, which fhe knew could have no ErTcit 
 <c without the Devil's Help. After ihe found a 
 <c Toad in the Child's Blanker, which could not get 
 c< into it in the Chimney, but by the lame Power ; 
 1 as Witches ufe to roaft the Reprefentation of the 
 
 J c£ Party to be afftiaed, fo ihe burnt the Toad ; and, 
 cc if there be any Truth in her Words, afflicted this 
 c< Rofe Callender^ the Prifoner, by that Act of hers. 
 Cc And what Judgment can be made of th.s Matter? 
 C{ Why firit, take it in the hardeft Senfe againft the 
 <c - Prifoner, and imagine, that by fome Prior Acts 
 <c of Sorcery, Ihe had made her felf fubject to th:s 
 c Power of the Devil, yet both are guilty within the 
 c Statute, and are but Two Witches trying to perfe- 
 cc cute one another. 
 
 F 3 « Olam 
 
[ 102 ] 
 
 " Oltrns Magnus, and the Jefuit Delrio and Sbef- 
 C{ ferius, and others that are deep in the Belief of 
 " thefe dark Notions, give us Relations of eminent 
 <c Magicians, that had great Contefts with one ano- 
 cc ther ; and ufed Charm againft Charm, and Spirit 
 u againft Spirit, till the lefs potent Conjurer was 
 <c fnbducd or killed by the molt powerful. And 
 cc therefore, if we believe Sorcery in this Cafe before 
 * us, we have but Witch againft Witch, both ern- 
 cc ploying Spirits, and therefore both to be punifh- 
 * c ed ; for the Law is not partial, but punifhes all 
 Cf equal Fa£ts wherever it finds them. Our Statute 
 <c forbids all manner of Ufe and Exercife of any 
 cc Sorcery or Charm for employing Spirits, and pu- 
 <c nifhes the guilty Perfon with Death , if they do 
 u harm to Man or Eeaft , and with Imprifonment 
 ic and Pillory, though their-Charms have r.o Effe£t. 
 <c And therefore, upon this fir ft Suppofition, they 
 cc both ftand guilty, they are both in Danger, ac- 
 cc cording, as they frail meet with Judges and Juries 
 that will be Partial or Impartial in the Execution 
 
 Here we fee the Do£ror is very fcvere in executing 
 Laws againft this Vurert : nay, both ; buc her espe- 
 cially, hie tells you the Heinoufnefs of the Ciime, 
 the Guilt of the Perfons, and the Severity of the 
 Law ; and 1 am glad he is of rr.y Opinion, or I of 
 his, he being the greater Man, as it happens; let it 
 be as he will, as to that Point; yet, as the Do£tor is 
 Counfel for CaUend-:r, and I for Lurent, upon the 
 laft Claufe of this Declaration, I muft offer fome- 
 thing in favour of Durent, as well as the Judges and 
 Junes. And firft, in refpeS of Durent, though they 
 both ftand guilty upon the firft Supposition, as the 
 Do£tor fays, yet they ought not to be both equally 
 in danger; for what Callender did, was a long conti- 
 nued Pra£Uce 3 excited by the Malice of the Devil ; 
 
 4 but 
 
 
[ 10} ] 
 
 but what Burent did, was but an Experiment, 01 
 fingle Aclion, with no ill Defign, nor with a Deftgn 
 to continue in it, and to be a Profeflbr of that ill 
 Practice. Befides, the Mifchief of the Prifoners 
 Actions fell upon innocent Perfons, but the latter 
 upon an old Sinner that deferved Puniihment. And 
 as to the Partiality or Impartiality of Judges and 
 Juries, though the Letter of the Statute might re- 
 quire ftri£t Execution of Juftice, yet Circumstances 
 alter the Cafe, and intercede for Mercy in Durenfs 
 
 ,..Cafe, for the Reafons above-mentioned. 
 
 But Page 143, the Doctor fays; cc her being af- 
 Cc Aided by this Witnefs's Sorcery, was no proof of 
 (i her Guilt, even though the Fa<£t was true ; for we 
 <c have a Thoufand Stories which teach us, that in- 
 <f nccent Perfons may be afflicted, even fucking Chil- 
 <c dren in their Mothers Arms." Here the Doctor 
 owns what we contend for in our Hiftory of Witch- 
 craft, and what he hath been contending againit 
 throughout his ElTay ; he hitherto deny'd PofeiTions, 
 'snd the Effe&s of Witchcraft ; but now own-, that 
 Thoufands have been affliited, nay Children in their 
 Mothers Arms. And as for the Sorcery being no 
 Proof of her Guilt, this he contradicts himfelf, 
 Page 141, and 142. " After fhe found a Toad in the 
 cc Child's Blanket, which could not get into it in 
 cc the Chimney, but by the fame Power (the Devil's 
 c * Help,) as Witches ufe to roaft the Reprefentation 
 
 J* of the Party to be afflicted, fo ihe roafted the 
 c< Toad.'' Thus we fee the Doctor contradicts him- 
 felf backwards and forwards, as he thinks it will 
 ferve his Purpofe. To excufe Witches all alone^, he 
 hath deny'd PofTeffions, and the Power of Witch- 
 craft; but he hath fo much Averilon to Accufers of 
 them, that to bring in Durent Guilty, he charges 
 her with the Fact, and produces the Statute. And 
 further, to take orT her Evidence, and prove her 
 Guilty, he owns what he faid would not prove Cal- 
 
 F 4 lender 
 
[ 104 1 
 
 lender Guilty; he fays, u But how, and by whom J 
 c< and by what did fhe try to make the Difcovery ? 
 cc She tried to difcover by a Charm and Sorcery ; for 
 KC the Blanket in the Chimney was not a common 
 <c Atf, but defign'd for a Spell or Call to a Spirit. 
 cc And therefore lhe try'd to difcover the Witch , by 
 tc employing the Devil to afBi£l another, and by that 
 cc to let her know, whether that other was a Witch. 
 <c And is not this a hopeful Evidence, and fit to be 
 <c laid before a Chriftian Court of Juftice ? Where 
 he allows Spells and Charms, and uncommon 
 Acts, yet in the forego : ng Part of his J)ifcourfe, 
 he would not allow any Thing like PoffefTions, but 
 would have all the Accidents of PoflTefiions to pro- 
 ceed from Vapours, or other natural Caufes- nay, 
 even in this Chapter. But this Evidence is not fit to 
 appear before a Chriftian Court of Juftice. I won- 
 der where thefe Chriftian Courts of juftice are to be 
 found : for the Do£lor hitherto talks of nothing but 
 partial Judges and Juries, and would have all fuch 
 Cafes referred to the Righteous Judge, being not wil- 
 ling any of the r e innocent Creatures ihould come be- 
 fore the Judges upon Earth. 
 
 From Page 144, he hath fpent about Six Pages in 
 trifling and ridiculous Banter, that would be tedious 
 to the Reader to hear repeated , and full of fuch 
 mean Reflexions, and fuch weak Offers of defeating 
 and baffling Evidence, that it would both wafte 
 Time and Paper to no Purpofe, to ufe Words about, 
 them. I fhall only take Notice further, of what is 
 faid Page the 151ft, which is fufficient to anfwer all 
 the omitted Pages contain, without any further En- 
 quiry. 
 
 Page i«$t, the Do&or, to fatisfy the World that 
 he can confute himfelf when he pleafes, and fave any 
 body elfe the labour, fays, cc Sir Thomas Brown of 
 u Norwich, the Famous Phyfician of his Time, was 
 ^ in Court, and was defired by my Lord Chief- 
 
 « Baron 
 
lias! 
 
 a Baron to give his Judgment in the Cafe ; and he 
 cc declared, that he was clearly of Opinion , that 
 c< the Fits were natural, but heightened by the De- 
 c< vil, co-operating with the Malice of the Witches, 
 <c at whofe Inftance he did the Villanies ; and he ad- 
 ° ded, that in Denmark there had been lately a 
 <c great Dilcovery of Witches, who ufed the very 
 " fame way of arHi&ing People > by conveying 
 " Pins into them. 
 
 In anfwer to this, the Do£tor flies to hisufual way 
 * of Evafion ; and a Bundle of infignificant Expres- 
 sions. Says the Do&or, cc This Declaration of Sir 
 c< Thoma* Browns could. not but much influence the 
 CC J UIV 3 and' I count it turned back the Scale, that 
 u was other wife inclining to the favour of the accu* 
 <f fed Perfons." I would alk the Do&or, why the 
 Opinion cf fo learned a Man, who could well di- 
 ftinguilh betwixt the Symptoms of a natural Diitem«- 
 per, and theEffefts of Supernatural Gau r es, frrouldin-*- 
 i fluence a Jury- he could have ncrDefign againft theft r 
 poor People; nor would any Man, without profpe& 
 of conliderable Gain or Advantage, give his Opi* 
 nion contrary to his Judgment,.. The. Doflor goes . 
 on : 
 
 <c And in Submiflion, I' think it fhould not have 
 <c been faid. For this was a Cafe of Blood, and 
 "- furely the King's Subjects ought not to lofe ther 
 cc Lives upon the Credit of Books from Denmark^ 
 D The Do6tor puts the Compliment of Submtflion, yet 
 i contradicts Dr. Browns Declaration, telling him it 
 fhould not have been faid ; a good Token of Submit- 
 (ion! by a new Method, when I fubmit, I-muft con* 
 tradict ; but this was a Cafe of Blood, and the 
 King's Subjects ought not to lofe their Lives upon 
 the Credit of Books from Denmark; but juft now 
 it was the Doctor's Declaration turned the Scale. 
 But fince.the Do£lor is fo tender of fuch wicked SoK 
 
 F $ jea s> 
 
•I 106 ] 
 
 }c£s, as only belong to the Kingdom oF Darknefs ; 
 I muft needs fay, the Earthly King's Subjedh ought 
 not to be tormented and deprived of their Eafe and 
 Happinefs, if not their Lives, by fuch miferable Of- 
 fenders, who, moved by Malice and Revenge, for- 
 fake their God to ferve the Devil; they ought to 
 depart from the Society of Men, and converfe only 
 with thofe Infernal Shades which they take raoft de- 
 light in. 
 
 But this he fays was a very particular Cafe, and 
 a very hard Queftion, tc Whether ever any one fin- 
 " c gle Perfon was guilty of it, as it ftood there 
 " charged ? There were as many probable Signs of it 
 c: in this Cafe, as had ever been in any, the Wit- 
 * c nefTes, the affli&ed Perfons, the fuppofed Witches, 
 *' and very much of the Fa£l, were all before them. 5 ' 
 Therefore there is the greater Probability that Judg- 
 ment took Place according to Merit; for they muft 
 have the Opportunity of a full Information of Mat- 
 ters of Fa£r. on every Side, and both Judge and Ju- 
 ries muft be well informed of the nature of the 
 Cafe. And after fo many Advantages, and before fo 
 many Spectators, and fo great and good a Judge, 
 Judgment could not well be perverted. After a great 
 deal of fuch like Stuff as the Do&or hath offered, in 
 Relation to this Cafe, the Dofror, Tage 1^2, fays, 
 c< it feems to have been a very raih Profecution, and 
 * an injudicious Sentence/ 5 It is very ftrange that a 
 Profecution mould be raih, when there were fo many 
 Advantages at the Tryal, that all Perfons who could 
 be concerned in Evidence, or otherwife, were pre- 
 fent ; it rather looks as if they had full Time to pro- 
 vide themfelves for their Defence. But it is much 
 Granger the Doclor fhould be fo raih in his Expre£ 
 fions, as to call my Lord Chief-Baron's Sentence in-, 
 judicious ; a Perfon for whom he expreflfed, in the 
 beginning of this Chapter, fo much Honour and Re- 
 fpccl, both as a great and good Man, 
 
 « But, 
 
r 107 j 
 
 u But*, fays he, what did my Lord Chief-Baron 
 cc add, befides his Defire to Sir Thomas Brown to 
 cc give his Judgment ? And how came he to be fa- 
 <c tisfy'd fo far as to condemn them ? There was 
 cC the Spectre Evidence, Pins and Nails j and, if 
 <c the Witnefs fpoke Truth, there was a Diabolical 
 cc Interpofition in fbme of the Facts. — —This made 
 cc that great and good Man doubtful, that he was in 
 cc fuch Fears , and proceeded with fueh Caution,. 
 <c that he would not fo much as fum up the Evi- 
 cc dence, but left it to the Jury, with Prayers, That 
 cc the Great God of Heaven would direct their 
 
 <{ Hearts in that weighty Matter. And in H'.lf 
 
 11 an Hour, they brought them in Guilty of all the 
 IC Thirteen Indictment?. 
 
 M After this , my Lord Chief-Baron gave the 
 c< Law its Pla:e, and they were condemned, and 
 « died. 
 
 Now it is fo plain and cleirly manifeft, both 
 from the Circumftances of trie Tryal , the Strength 
 and Validity of the Evidence, and the great Cauti- 
 on my Lord ufed in his Proceedings, that thefe Per- 
 fons muft be guilty of the Fact, and were fairly con- 
 victed ; that I cannot but wonder and admire, with 
 what Grounds, and for what Reafons, the Doctor 
 can fufpect the juft.ce thefe Perfons were treated 
 withal ; or how he can charge my Lord with an 
 injudicious Sentence ! The Jury, upon downright 
 Teftimonv, and moral Demonstration of the Merit 
 of their Cafe, brought them in guilty of Thirteen 
 Indictments ; and it muft be very ftrange, if they 
 could be miftaken in all : But when their VvTcked- 
 nefs appeared fo confpicuoufly on every fide, Truth 
 could never be in the dark : They muft be true in 
 fome at leaft ; ar.d lir.ee one was enough to juftify 
 their Condemnation, fo mar.y meritoriois Acts muft 
 needs require the fata! Senter.ce that impartial Juftice 
 called for. 
 
 But 
 
[io8 ] 
 
 But notwithstanding all this Proof and evident 
 Demonstration, the Doctor will not admit of any 
 Guile on their fide, tho' they were deemed guilty by 
 the Law. The Doctor will not infift upon the Sta- 
 tute, as he d'd againft Durent. He hath a great 
 mind to fave their Lives after their Death, and if 
 lie could raife them up again, as our Saviour did the 
 Body of Lazantt, it would mightily redound to the 
 Greatnefs of his Character. But tho 5 fuch Things 
 are impojjible with Men, yet he will not be put out 
 of his Opinion of their Innncency : Judges, Juries, 
 and all are in the wrong • only Serjeant Keeling he 
 hath a great Refpecl for, becaufe he was of the Opi- 
 nion the Doctor is now ; for which Reafon the 
 Doctor canonizes his Name thus, with the Altera- 
 tion of a Word or two, (as he fays) to his Advan- 
 tage no doubt, as much as poffible. 
 
 Said he, " Admitting that the Children were re- 
 cc ally bewitcfr'd, yet it could never be apply'd to 
 ic the Prifoners, upon the Imagination only of the 
 iC Parties afflicted ; for if that might be allow'd, no 
 r< Perfon whatfoever could be in Safety : For per- 
 cc haps they might fancy another Perfon, who might 
 Cc be altogether innocent in fuch Matters." If this 
 -was all the Counfellor could fay , he needed not to 
 fear him r e3f in Danger • fori believe, no body would 
 take him for a Conjurer. But there is no fuch Thing 
 as Farcy or Imagination of the Parties, fince it is 
 done by the Interpofition of an evil Spirit : The 
 WitncfTes proved a Diabolical Interpofition ; and 
 therefore the Opinion of this Serjeant will do little 
 Service, in clearing the Guilt of the Perfons : for 
 if it were cf any Force, it would have taken place 
 in Court ; but the Evidence was too ftrong, and 
 the Circumftances too clear, or a Jury would not 
 have brought them in Guilty. The Caution of my 
 Lord Chief-Baron was fufficient to make them 
 cautious. 
 
 Tut 
 
[ iop ] 
 
 But the Doctor is yet diiTatisfled in his Mini 
 about his pretty Notion of the Times, and quefti- 
 ons the Integrity and Honefty of Judges and juries. 
 He fays : IC Immediately after the accufed Perfons 
 <c were found guilty , the Three Children of 
 <c Mr. Pacy were perfectly well of their Fits, and 
 K were reftored to their Speech : And Dorothy Du- 
 cc rent, who had gone Three Years upon Crutches, 
 <c was reftored to the Ufe of her Limbs, hid her 
 <c Crutches afide, and went home without them. 
 
 I ec And as at that Time this fatisfied many that 
 u both the Proceedings and Verdict had been juft ; 
 cc why may we not now make the fame Conclu- 
 <.' lion ? 
 
 <c But, fays the Doctor, if it be really true, that 
 c * the Judgment of Law and Authority hath this 
 <c fupernatural Effect in this Cafe above all others ; 
 " what was the Reafon why the Effect was partial, 
 " and only cured fbme of the afflicted , and not 
 <c others ? Why did Sufan Chandler ft ill look very 
 
 1 tc pale and wan, and felt a Pricking like Pins in her 
 cc Stomach ? 
 
 The Do£tor depending upon the Difficulty of 
 this la ft Queftion, hath fpent Two or Three Pages 
 in Triumph, upon new-raifed Notions ; and thinks 
 he hath gained a mighty Conqueft : But I would 
 not have him place too much Security upon this 
 Foundation ; for the Queftion is not (b difficult, but 
 that ic may eafily be anfwer'd. For the famous Sir 
 
 * 'Thorn m Brown of Norwich, told my Lord Chief- 
 Baron, ( Page 151.) cc That he was clearly of Opi- 
 cc nion, that the Fits were natural, but heightened 
 <c by the Devil, co-operating with the Malice of the 
 " witches, at whofe Inftance he did the Villanies." 
 Now tho 1 natural Fits might go oft fooner, if not 
 enforced by a Diabolick Power ; and confequently 
 when that Diabolick Power ceafes, they may difap- 
 
 pcar; 
 
[ no ] 
 
 pear ; the natural Caufe that concurred being di- 
 rninifhed, and not fufficient to continue thefe Fits, 
 without the adjoined Force of Daemoniack Affi- 
 ftance : Yet in fome Bodies, the Proportion of the 
 natural Caufe may be greater, and tho' the Diabo- 
 lick Force is taken away, it may be furncient to 
 continue natural ill Effefrs : And tho J it was not 
 fufficient at the firft without that concurring Diabo- 
 lick Force, yet the Body being by Jong Continuance 
 weakened, depraved Humours may grow more abun- 
 dant in Quantity, and continue thofe ill Symptoms 
 when the Devil hath loft his Power : fo that this 
 Difference depends on the Difference of Conftituti- 
 ons, and Degrees of Weaknefs, as well as depraved 
 Qualities of Humours. 
 
 And now I hope I have fatisfied all thofe Scru- 
 ples which lay upon the Doctor's Mind, and think 
 it appears plainly, that the Perfons accufcd were 
 not wrongfully accufed, convicted, nor condemned ; 
 and confequently, that all the Pains and Trouble he 
 hath taken to mifreprefent the Cafe under Confide- . 
 ration, was only unneceffary Toil to him, and might 
 as well have been fpared. 
 
 Of the Surrey Darnioniack. 
 
 From what we have obferv'd in the late Tryal 
 it appears, that the Doctor hath faid nothing to 
 the Purpofe, to leiTen the Credit which ought to be 
 given to a Cafe fo plain and evident : Let us now 
 fee what he hath to fay to the Surrey Dtm'jniacky 
 which is proved by Seventy Depofitlons of Perfons, 
 that were Eye and Ear-witnerTes of the Poffeflicn 
 of that Creature ; the Depofitions proving that his 
 Afflictions could not be occafioifd without a fuperna- 
 tural Power. 
 
 To 
 
[ III ] 
 
 To difprove this Fact, the Do&or fays ; « Take 
 cc this Cafe as the fcandabus Author leaves it, with 
 " telling only one Side." What the Do&or means 
 by telling only one Side, I do not know ; except it 
 be that I only tell the Truth, attefted by Seventy 
 Witneifes upon Oath ; viz. That the Perfon was 
 pofTeiTed , committing A£tions above the Power 
 of natural Caufes in human Bodies, un3fliited by 
 evil Spirits ; and that he was relieved by the ef- 
 fectual Prayers of pious good Men. As for (can- 
 dalous Language, I cannot tell how to anfwer it * 
 being always deiirous to fhew what RefpecT: I poifi- 
 bly can to the Gown, let him be what he thinks fir. 
 But if he takes the Subject as I leave it 5 he will find 
 it proved by fu:h undeniable Teftimony, that no 
 body can difpute the Truth, but thofe that will be In- 
 fidels, and convine'd of nothing that is contrary to 
 their Inclinations. 
 
 If the Do£tor hath any Thing to fay againft the 
 Depofitions laid down in our Comphat Hiftory^ &c. 
 let him produce as many Teftimonies to the contra- 
 ry, and prove what he fays either by Arguments or 
 Witneffes. But inftead of that, the Doctor jufl 
 fays what he thinks fit, without offering any Thing 
 to confirm us in a Belief of any fuch trifling Affer- 
 tions : But all the Oppofition I find the Do£lor 
 makes, is, That Dugdale (upon Examination) de- 
 clared, that he believed he never had any evil Spi- 
 rit in him. But this we muft take the Do&or's 
 Word E)r ; his Affirmation being fuperior to Twenty 
 evident Proofs to the contrary. He is of a happy 
 Genius, to be always in the Right when he pleafes ; 
 both when he afferts one Thing, and when he con- 
 tradicts himfelf, and affirms another. That we may 
 make a better judgment of his Work, we thai} fum 
 up the Number of Contradictions, Iniinuations, E- 
 yafions, and ftrong Arguments contained in his Ejjay 
 
 either 
 
[ fti ] 
 
 cither in. Defence of his own Opinion, or againft 
 oars :. 
 
 Ccntradi&ions, » about ico. 
 
 Insinuations, ■ .about I coo. 
 
 Evafions, « .about poo. 
 
 Strong Arguments for his Opinion, oo-c 
 
 Againft ours, coca 
 
 Jpfe dixit' s, loooo. 
 
 Whoever takes a View of what we have faid 
 ftriftly, will find this Account not much mi/taken; 
 But as to the prefent Cafe in Hand, having anfwer*- 
 ed all the Do£tor offers except Raillery , to fhew 
 how well this Narrative is attefted, we fhall here 
 mention Two or Three Depofitions, to prove the 
 Truth of the Surrey Damoniack , and refer the 
 Reader to that Hiftory for a full Account and 
 Proof. 
 
 Thomas Dugdate) Father of the faid Richard 
 Dugdale , maketh Oath, That he confulted with 
 Crahtree in Behalf of his faid Son, then under a 
 firange Diftemper ; and had his Anfwer, That it' 
 there was Money enough, he could effect the Cure. 
 Whereupon this Deponent feeing his Son's Body 
 much weakened with the faid Crahtree s Phyfick, and 
 his Fits more violent, applied himfelf to Mr. Jolfy> 
 a Neighbouring Miniirer, and others of his Brethren 
 in the Miniftry : And this Deponent faith, He hath 
 feen his Son vomit up Stones, feveral Times, and 
 other Thine?. Once he declar'd, He muft either vomit 
 up Gold, Silver, or Brafs Rings, and Hair Buttons • 
 and accordingly he did fo. At other Times, he vo- 
 mited great Stones, alfo blue Stones like Flints. 
 
 One Time he vomited a Stone an Inch and a half 
 long, and an Inch and a half broad, having Blood 
 upon the Edges • which this Deponent, and others 
 
 ftand- 
 
[ ti'i J 
 
 ftanding by him, apprehended to be painful to 
 him. 
 
 And further this Deponent maketh Oath, That 
 one Day, a little before Night, walking by his faid 
 Son then in a Fit, it growing dark, a Candle was 
 brought in ; this Deponent looking upon him, there 
 was a great Stone laid upon his Belly, weigh- 
 ing about .Twelve or Thirteen Pounds : This 
 Deponent not knowing how it came there, nor 
 were there any fuch like Stones about the Houfe. 
 Befides, Stones have been thrown at the Barn-fide, 
 falling very thick upon the Door ; yet this Depo- 
 nent could never difcover the Hand that threw them, 
 nor any Perfon employ'd therein, altho* this Depo- 
 nent's Wife was hit with one of them, but without 
 any Hurt. At other Times, the faid Richard Dug- 
 dale would caft Goofe-Dung at this Deponent, and 
 others ftanding by, which he feemed to fetch out of 
 the Bam-fide ; altho* neither this Deponent, nor 
 thofe that were with him could find any there, nor 
 difcover any one that brought it ; nor were there 
 any Geefe kept at the Houfe, nor other Geefe that 
 came near it. And laltly, this Deponent faith, That 
 his faid: Son would run upon his Hands and Feet to- 
 gether, as faft as molt Men could run upon their 
 Feet alone : And his Body would fometimes be Co 
 heavy, that Two or Three ftrong Men could hardly 
 lift him up, and at other Times as light as a Bag of 
 Feathers. 
 
 John Walwfly^ of Harwood in the faid County of 
 Lancafler> Sadler, depofeth, That he hath feen the 
 faid Richard Dugdale in a Fit, and held in a Chair 
 by Six Men : And whilft his Feet were off trie 
 Ground, he hath leaped up in the Chair for Two or 
 Three Hours together, as faft as a Man can ordina- 
 rily count any Thing , and hath fb fweated thra his 
 Cloaths, that it hath flood like a Dew upon them. 
 
 More- 
 
[ "4l 
 
 Moreover, this Deponent hath taken the faid Ri- 
 chard Vugdale by the Shoe, betwixt this Deponent's 
 foremoft Finger and Ins Thumb, another taking him 
 at his Head, and fo lifting him up : This Deponent 
 thinks he could not weigh Six Pounds, 
 
 And further this Deponent faith , Mr. Jolly the 
 Minifter fending Word by him to the faid RLbard's 
 Father, that the Minifters would be at his Houfe 
 called Surrey on fuch a Day ; this Deponent going 
 the fame Day he was fpoken to with his Errand, the 
 faid Richard declared it before this Deponent men- 
 tioned it , as likewife what Minifters would be 
 there. 
 
 And farther this Deponent upon his Oath faith, 
 That the faid Richard Dugdale, in fome of his Fits 
 opening his Hand, hath received written Papers in- 
 to it, none of the By-ftanders knowing how they 
 came thither ; which the faid Richard Dugdale hath 
 given People that were about him. Alio the faid 
 Deponent hath feen him muffle Rufhes like Cards, 
 and play Games on them, as tho* he had been play- 
 ing with fome other Perfon , whom he had chid * 
 about the Calls, curling and fwearing about his Play, 
 and then faid, Do not Gamefters thu* f He likewife 
 play'd with Rufhes as if they had been Dice, ufing 
 exactly feveral Expreflions belonging to that Play ; 
 faying , People think this is laid upon me for my 
 Sins, hut I never was a Game ft er in my Life ,• net- 
 ther know I how to play at fuch Games , when out of 
 my Fits. And the faid Richard Dugdale did like- 
 wile play at Bowls, making Bowls of Rulhes s and 
 when he had thrown the jack, he faid, / muft now 
 throw my Gill : Then running a good way, as if 
 he had been running after a Bowl, fwearing, Run, 
 run j flee, flee ; Hold a Biafs. And fometimes he 
 catclul up Rulhes, as if they had been Bowls, fwear- 
 ing, Sirrah^ ft and out of the way, or Til knock out 
 
 your 
 
[ H5- ] 
 
 your Brains : Adding, / never was a Bowler ; but 
 dorit Gentlemen do thm { 
 
 And this Deponent faith, That the faid Richard 
 Dugdale had feveral Firs, after his being threatned 
 with his being brought before a Jultice of Pe -ce : 
 And once being in his laft Fit, when this Deponent 
 was prefent, he declared his Fit was thro' Obfeflicn, 
 and in a Combination, which ihould never be difco- 
 ver'd whilft the World endured. And this Depo- 
 nent hath feen him in a great Fit, as in a great A- 
 
 ♦gony, with fomething he could not fee ; and then 
 hath been taken up, and been thrown backwards ; 
 afcer that fet upon his Head, and fo flood till he was 
 pulled down by one John Fletcher, As alfo this De- 
 ponent hath heard himfelf curfed and fweared at by 
 Richard Dugdale ; and his Gefture was fo terrible, 
 it would have frighted a Man to come near him ; 
 and yet in a Moment's Time after, he was in, fuch 
 a Fear, that he fought to creep into any Hoie, Or be- 
 hind any body, to have hid himfelf, as moved the 
 Standers-by with much Companion. He would at 
 cne Time have told when his Fits would begin, 
 when he had Two or Three "in one Day, or Three 
 or Four Days afanier ; wherein he was never dis- 
 proved that he knew of : Which Fits commonly be- 
 gan in the Calf of his Leg, and wrought upwards 
 unto the Cheft of his Body : And then he was 
 thrown down , where he would lye for a good while 
 
 s%s dead , or breathlefs , and then would have a 
 ftrange Noife in his Mouth and Nofe ; and there 
 would j to his Apprehenlion , be fomething like 
 Whelps in his Bofom before he rofe , after which 
 fometimes he would be very furious,* and fometimes 
 more quiet. 
 
 William hound , of Harxoood in the County of 
 Lancafter, Carrier, maketh Oath, That he hath 
 heard the faid Richard Dugdale curfe and fwear ; his 
 
 Gefture 
 
[ II<J ] 
 
 Gefture being fo terrible, it would have frighted a 
 Man to come near him ; and yet in a Moment of 
 Time after, in fuch a Fear, that he hath fought to 
 creep into any Hole, or behind any body, to have 
 hid himfelf, and Co lamented himfelf, as moved the 
 Standers by with great Companion. He would, at 
 other Times, have told when his Fits would begin, 
 when there were Two or Three in one Day, or Three 
 or Four Days afunder ; wherein he was never difap- 
 pointed that he knew of: Which Fits commonly 
 began in the Calf of his Leg, and wrought upwards 
 into the Cheft of his Body ; and then he was thrown 
 down, where he would lye for a good while as dead, 
 or bewitch 'd, and then would have a ftrange Noife in 
 his Mouth or Nofe ; and there would be in his Breaft 
 fomewhat like Whelps before he rofe, after which 
 fometimes he would be very furious, fometimes more 
 quiet* 
 
 Wilkughby. 
 Ralph Egerton. 
 
 We whofe Names are fubfcribed, being Minirters 
 of the Gofpe), having read or heard the Affidavits 
 and Depofitions, taken before the Right Honourable 
 Hugh Lord WiUoughhy and Ralph Egerton, Efq; Two 
 of his Majefty^ Juftices of the Peace for the County 
 Talatine of Lancafter, concerning one Richard Dug- 
 dale of Surrey in the Parifli of Whalley ; do verily 
 believe the Truth of the fame, and that the ftrange 
 Fits of the faid Dugdale were by a Diabolical Power. 
 
 Given when we were at Blackburn in Lanca- 
 fhire^ on AuguH the 6th, 16^5. 
 
 Th wim Crcmpton* Samuel Angler. 
 
 Vtter Afpinxvall-. Nathaniel Heyxvood. 
 
 * 
 
 John Crompton. Samuel Eaton. 
 
 John Farr^ Nathaniel Scholes. 
 
 I do 
 
[ "7 ] 
 
 I do hereby teftify, ( as many more will, if there 
 be Occailon ) from my own Obfervation, as an Eye 
 and Ear Witnefs, at the meeting concerning Richard 
 Dngdale, that I verily believe he was then under a 
 Diabolical PofTefiion, or Obfefhon. I do alfo te/tify 
 that he is now delivered from that fupernatural Ma- 
 lady; and that no other probable Means of his Deli- 
 very may be affigned, but the Word of God and 
 Prayer, with Fafting ; which Spiritual Means was 
 made ufe of by feveral Minifters of great Faithfulnefs 
 and Diligence, for a confiderable Time together. 
 
 Witnefs my Hand, the ioth Day of 
 June, 1695. 
 
 Robert Wbiteaker, Phyfician. 
 
 Thefe Teitimonies and Depofitions are fufficient to 
 prove the Truth of the Surrey Demoniack ; but if 
 any body hath a mind to be further fatisfled, they 
 rcpy find both a fuller Account, as well as a great 
 jNumber of Teitimonies for the Confirmation of it, 
 in my Compleat Hiftory of Witchcraft , &c. 
 
 But the Do£tor is uneafy <becaufe the DiiTenters 
 had the Honour to caft out this Devil, and difpolTefs 
 the poor Creature ; would not the Do£tor have done 
 the Chriftian Part of aflifting, if his Help had been 
 required? Our Saviour, as I have in the beginning 
 of this Vindication fhewn, when his Difciples came 
 a#d told him, that others cafi out Devils in his 
 Name> charged them not to forbid them, laying, 
 They that are not againfl its, are on our Fart. And if ^ 
 what our Saviour allowed be no Crime, what matters 
 it, whether a DuTenter, or a Churchman, difpof- 
 feiTed a tormented Creature, if it can be done by 
 either ? But the Doctor, throughout his ElTay, is ra- 
 ther for encouraging Sin and Wickednefs of the 
 higheft Nature, and would have the Devil to work 
 
 his 
 
[ n8 ] 
 
 his Will, excusing Witches, and difcouraging their 
 Accufers. 
 
 But the Doctor finds fault with the Author of the 
 Cotnpleat Hiftory , for pafling by thefe Things , 
 though they lay plain before him. And 1 have paf- 
 fed by fome Things in this Effay, for the fame Rea- 
 fons; mz. becaufe they were not worth taking No- 
 tice of. In that Hiftory I have taken Notice of no- 
 thing but what is authentick, and founded upon 
 moral Proof, or Probability at Jeaft ; endeavouring 
 to feparate the Dirt, which was fit for nothing, but 
 to be trod under the Foot, fiom thofe more valuable 
 Jewels of Ufe and Worth. But lime the Doclor 
 finds fault with me, why did he not read over that 
 Cotnpleat Hiftory^ and (hew the Faults of the moft 
 material Parts, which fhew the Reafbnablenefs and 
 Ufefulnefs of that Hiftory? Why did he not anfwer 
 the Preface and Introduction, as I have his Dedica- 
 tion, himfelf, and his Two Companions, the Advo- 
 cate, and the poor filly ]uryman. I have offered 
 nothing but what is grounded upon, and proved by 
 Scripture, againft the material Part of his Effay, 
 and have given Reafons for what I fay ; but the 
 Do£tor calls me ill and fcandalous Author, without 
 fhewing any Reafons for it ; and though he fays my 
 Hiftory may do Mifchief , the Reafons I have of- 
 fered againft him, prove that his EiTay is likely to 
 do a great deal more, deftro/ing and difcouraging 
 thofe Hiftorical Truths, whi:h are of the fame Na 
 ture with thofe in Scripture, as to Poffeflions an£ 
 Witchcraft ; and though not attefted by Divine Au- 
 thority, yet they have equally moral Proof, and 
 might be attefted by the fame WitnelTes, had they 
 happened at the fame Time. Now if what I have 
 offered is according to Scripture, as it appear?, ami 
 his Notions are not, as I have proved : It will nol 
 be amifs, if I end this Difcourfe concerning Lhgdale 
 with the Doctor's own Word?, " What he dcferves 
 
 i: for 
 
[ H9 1 
 
 cc for poifoning the Minds of Men with falfe— 
 cc (Notions) in fuch a high and tender Point, I 
 <c leave the Reader ro make Judgment. 
 
 As for the Ca r e of Jans Wenham, if fhe was fb 
 innocent, that nothing could be proved againft her, 
 it muft be barbarous Cruelty, either to torture her 
 undefervedly, or to fpill innocent Blood; but this 
 Miitake does not make the guilty innocent ; and as I 
 faid before, in the beginning of this Trad, becaufe 
 lometimes Mifhkes may be made, th ; s is no Rule 
 that the Wicked mould go unpunifhed ; and as 
 Judges and Juries ought to be cautious how they pu- 
 nilh the innocent, fo they ought to be as fevere in 
 difcouraging Wickednefs and Vice, of fo heinous a 
 Nature. 
 
 CHAP. VI. 
 
 Containing fome Remarks on what the 
 Dotlor hath faid of Tears , Marks , 
 Charms, want of Tears, and fwimming 
 Witches. 
 
 IT H E Doftor, in the beginning of his Eleventh 
 f Chapter, after a ihort Harangue with a filly 
 Juryman, takes Notice of King James's Reafon why 
 Witches Swim, and modeftly excuiing the Deficiency 
 of that Reafon, Page 172, tells us of the Tbibii 
 in Pliny^ who fays, non poffe mergt^ that they cannot 
 be drowned; which if applicable to our Witches, is 
 againft him, who would not allow the Validity of 
 the Experiment. 
 
 But 
 
[ IIO ] 
 
 But fpeaking of our Nation, fays the Do£tor, 
 ** we find in our Nation, lb late as the Norman 
 cc Conquelt, that they tried their Robberies, Mur- 
 " ders, Adulteries, and often their Claims to Land, 
 cc by Combat, ( and To Highwaymen do now to Mo- 
 cC ney and Goods,) or the Decretory Morfel, or by 
 K carrying hot Iron, or palling through hot Plow- 
 < c lhares, or putting them into hot Water, or fwim- 
 cc ming them in cold. And when a Prifoner in 
 c< Court is aflced how he will be tried ? I fuppofe it is 
 cc a Continuance of the Queltion put to them in 
 <c thofe Times, when they had the Choice of be- 4 
 cc ing tried by a Jury, or by one of thofe Ways.'* 
 But this not relating to the Subje& in Hand, I mall 
 not fpend Time to enquire whether the Do£lor's 
 Suppofition be right or not, yet probably it may. 
 
 We (hall next proceed to confider, what may re- 
 late to the prefent Purpofe, and the Subjects we go 
 upon. I find that, though the Doctor mentioned 
 Swimming laft in the Title of his Chapter, yet it is 
 the firft he begins with ; and the Cafe being ftated ., 
 betwixt a Jury-man and him, it puts me to the Stand 
 who I have to deal with ; that is, Whether the Jury- 
 man is transformed into the Do£tor's Shape , or 
 not ? For the Juryman talks more like a Do£tor than 
 the Clergyman ; but as 1 fuppofe they are both one, 
 and alter their Shapes as they think fit, I (hall take 
 the whole as it is betwixt them both. Which is 
 thus : cC When our Country People do try old Wo- 
 11 men this way, and they Swim, doth it not ihew av, 
 Cc fupernatural Power, either of God or the Devil > 
 cc If it be allowed in fome Cafes to be fo, as there 
 <c are Mrange Stories told, it would not follow that 
 <c we might therefore ufe it ; for we may not tempt 
 <c God, and we may not truft the Devil. 
 
 From what we observe, it is plain and manife!), 
 that the Do£tor owns it to be a fupernatural Power, 
 either of God or the Devil, allowing that it may be 
 
 f3 
 
[ I" ] 
 
 fo in fome Cafes ; but he only infills, that it would 
 not follow, that we might therefore ufe it ; and all 
 the Reafon he offers for that is, we may not tempt 
 God, and we mull not truft the Devil. Now in do- 
 ing of this, the Queftion is, Whether we tempt 
 God, or whether we truft the Devi! ? 
 
 As to the fir ft, I believe, that in doing fo, we 
 tempt not God; for thefe Creatures having forfaken 
 God, he not being in all their Ways, he hath cafl 
 them out of his Vineyard, and hath nothing to do 
 ♦with them ; and therefore, as they cannot depend 
 npon his Afliftance, who never afk it, they feem to 
 be wholly in the Devil's Hands, whom they Wor- 
 ihip, and it is in him they put their Truft ; and if 
 any Thing faves them from the Common Laws of 
 Nature, it muft be thought his fupernatural Power ; 
 and therefore if Witches Swim, it muft be the De- 
 vil's Power that keeps them from finking : And if fo, 
 the Experiment muft be reafonable, and juftifuble, 
 and true. 
 
 But the Do6lorfays ; <c I take it to be ufually ow- 
 cc ing to the manner of the Tryal ; in which a Rope 
 c< being tied about the fuppofed Witch, one End is 
 <c held by fome Man on one Side the River, and the 
 other by others on the other, whereby a little pul- 
 c< ling may keep her above Water." To which I 
 anfwer, that a little pulling will not make a rever- 
 beratory Force, fufficient to make a body Swim : 
 ^his hath been tried by People fwimming after a 
 Boat with a Tow, when they were timerous, or fuf- 
 pe£ted their Art of Swimming ; and it hath hap- 
 pened, that notwithftanding that Caution, the Per- 
 fon who thus relied upon his Safety, hath been 
 drowned : For the People thinking the Man fafe, be- 
 caufe in Towe , neglected looking behind them - 
 whilft the Perfon, who thought him r elf fecure, fod- 
 jdenly failing of his Art, or Strength, hath towed 
 
 I under Water till drowned,^before thole in the Boat 
 G looked 
 
[ m ] 
 
 looked back to take Care of their Friend : And in 
 other common Experiments we find, that nothing, 
 whofe Specifick Gravity difpofes it to fink, will fwim 
 above Water by being towed, except the Motion be 
 flvift and violent. 
 
 The Doctor goes on ; <c and fometimes it may be 
 <c owing to the Lightnefs of their Bodies and 
 <c Cloaths, and tying their Thumbs and Toes toge- 
 iC ther, and then putting them into the Water, not 
 <c with the Feet downwards, but Lengthways, fo as 
 <c that the Trunk of their Body that is light, may 
 * bear up thofe Parts that ave more Solid. And I 
 cc do not know, but that half of the old Women in 
 <c the Nation might Swim, if they were tried this 
 cc way in Woollen, and fweaty Petticoats/' How 
 well the Doctor may know the Art of Swimming, I 
 do not know • but I have always heard, that People 
 in their Cloaths are moft unpat to Swim ; for thofe 
 that can Swim the be ft own, that they cannot Swim 
 fo well in their Cloaths, as they can without them ; 
 and as for tying their Thumbs and Toes, that cannot 
 alter their &pecifick Gravity ; for the Body hath the 
 fame'Specifick Gravity, Quantity for Quantity, whe- 
 ther it be immerged Longitudinally, or Perpendicu- 
 larly ; fo that the manner of immerging, or putting 
 them in the Water, can make no Difference, in re- 
 fpe£l of their fwim ming or "linking, except it alters 
 the Rules of Staticks, and Hydroftaticks. Indeed, if 
 a Body were to be thrown with Force, or to fall 
 from Diftance into the Water, the Refiftance muft 
 be greater, according to the Quantity of Parts oppo- 
 sing one another ; and confequently the Longitudinal 
 Pofture having greater Refiftance than the Perpendi- 
 cular, according to the breadth of the Buoyant Super- 
 ficies, the Body, upon the firft Contact, will be lefs 
 apt to fink ; but when that acquired Force which 
 makes the Refiftance is loft, the Specifick Gravity of 
 the Body will accelerate and quicken the Depreflure 
 
 of 
 
 
[ A% ] 
 
 of it, or its linking, as the <y£.]uitibriuM of that 
 Body, and an equal Quantity of Water, (hall vary. 
 So that the more a Body differs from Water, and 
 exceeds it in Specifick Gravity, the apter it is to 
 link; but a Body having the fame Specifick Prepon- 
 derance, whether the Thumbs are tied or not, it 
 muft have the fame Tendency to fink, and confe- 
 quently that cannot make a Body more apt to Swim. 
 And as for Woollen Cloaths, they will not Swim up- 
 on Water, except the Air contained in the Pores 
 helps to buoy them up; but as foon as the Water 
 gets into thofe Pores , and prefTes the Air out , 
 they fink prefentty. And it* the Pores which might 
 contain Air, are filled with Sweat, they are the lefs 
 apt te Swim, and fink prefently. 
 
 But Page 174, he fays; ' c It is vifible, that the 
 • c< Bodies of all Creatures are near to an equal Poife 
 <c with the Water; their Swimming, while alive, 
 <c and their floating after Death, are a conftant De- 
 <c monftration , that they are always near to an 
 €Q ^Equilibrium^ That Bodies are near to an 
 ^Equilibrium with Water, no body denies, but the 
 drowning of fo many is Demonftration that they 
 are too heavy to Swim, without the Ailiftance of 
 Art, or fome fupernatural Power ; and whether that 
 is likely to be good or bad,, when ill Perfbns are fup- 
 ported, appears from what we faid before ; fo that if 
 Witches Swim, it muft be by the Ailiftance of an 
 evil Spirit. And when Bodies Swim after Death, 
 that depends upon the Expanfion of windy Vapours 
 in the Stomach, Inteftines and Lungs, which extend- 
 ing the Body, alter the Specifick Gravity of the 
 whole. This acquired Expanfion making the 
 Quantity of Body equal, or to exceed the Levity of 
 a proportionable extended Quantity of Water ; 
 which makes Bodies Swim, when the Thorax is ex- 
 tended with Air retained upon lnfpiration, but that 
 Body will Swim no longer than that Air is fo re- 
 G 2 1 tained 5 
 
[ I2 4 ] 
 
 rained; for upon Expiration the Body finks, ex- 
 cept the Motion of the Parts makes a greater than 
 natural Refiftance of Water to fupport the Body ; 
 but when the Thumbs and Toes are tied, that Mo- 
 tion is difappointed , and confequently the Body 
 rouft fink, except prevented by fupernatural Afli- 
 ftance ; which demonstrates that an evil Perfbn muft 
 be fupported by an evil Power- and confequently 
 this Method of Tryal may be reafonable and jufti- 
 fiable; and though fome good People may Swim a 
 while, it rauit be becaufe they hold their Breath, or 
 have fome Motion which a flirts them : So that we 
 conclude, that Witches, who have not the Liberty 
 of making fuch Motions, muft fir.k, if not kept up 
 by the Devil, or his Agents. 
 
 But the Dodlor fays ; <c That of all Things, this 
 11 Tryal of Swimming is unfit for an Appeal to Pro- 
 <c vidence. 5 ' To which I anfwer, that Providence 
 hath nothing to do with fuch Creatures, who have 
 refufed to fubmit to Providence , but fly to the 
 Devil for Protection ; but if Prov : dence. would over- 
 rule in fuch Cafe?, it would be to bring them to |.i- 
 ftice; and for that Confideration, a good Angel 
 may aflift them, that they may not Jye undifco- 
 vered. 
 
 Vage the I7«$th, he fays ; <c There is another vul- 
 cc gar Mark or Witchcraft) wheh helps to explain 
 cc the Fallacy of this, and that is want of Tears. 
 <c It is manifeft by that, that the poor old Creatures 
 <c have little Moifture in their Bodies. Old Age, 
 a Sorrow, and want of Sleep, under fuch Afflictions, 
 a dry it up, and fill them with Wind and Vapours, 
 11 that both hinders them from fhedding Tears, and 
 cc makes them lye light upon the Water.' 1 But to 
 this I anfwer. that they were not all old People that. 
 were accufed for Witchcraft, therefore the Doctor's 
 Objection is but particular ; and though old People 
 are not fo full of Moifture as young ones, yet there 
 1 are . 
 
are none fo dry, but that they have Moifture enough 
 to fupply the Lacrimal Glands with a few Drops of 
 fuperfluous Moilture, which may be prefled out, 
 when the Parts are conftringed; but their want of 
 Tears is rather to be attributed to their fturdy obfti- 
 nate Temper, hardened in Wickednefs, and guarded 
 from Timeroufnefs, by their fuppofed Safety, and the 
 Confidence they place upon their Lord and Matter 
 the Devil : and though they may be troubled with 
 Wind and Vapours, the Quantity of Wind is fo 
 fmall, that it is not fufficient to extend their Abdo- 
 men fb much, as to bring the Body to an ey£pi/i- 
 brium with Water; belides, their Bodies are (b 
 much fhriveled and fhrunk up with a lo(s of Far, 
 which was the lighted Subftance of their Bodies, that 
 the Bones retaining the fame Proportion, add to the 
 Gravity of their Bodies in Proportion: and make 
 the Difference much greater from an <L/£-]uilibrhiw y 
 and confequently more apt to fink ; fo that, though 
 we will not fay, that want of Tears is a certain 
 Mark, yet what the Dotlor offers to the con- 
 trary, does not make it lefs a Mark than it was be- 
 fore. 
 
 But it is not Swimming, or Tears, that I take to be 
 fufficient Teftimonies of Witchcraft ; it mutt be their 
 Actions, and the Mifchief they do, eirher legally 
 proved by good Evidence, and the Sufferings of the 
 tormented, or their own Confeilion, that imply their 
 Guilt. 
 
 As for Teats, Magica] S ; gns, and infenfible Parts, 
 the Do£tor fays; ' c No doubt but fome of them are 
 cC Scurvy Spots, or Mortified, or withered Parts, or 
 li hollowed Spaces betwixt the Mufcles. Others are 
 <: Piles, or Varrucdt, pmfiles-, hanging Warts, which 
 ci in old Age may grow large and Fiftulous. Others 
 <c may be Moles or Scars, or Marks in the Womb 
 " from the Mothers Imagination, gffc. 
 
[ n<5 ] 
 
 As for Scurvey Spots, thofe are eafily diftinguifhed 
 from any Thing of a Supernatural Kind, and fo are 
 
 withered and hollow Spaces, or the Interftices of the 
 Mufcies ; the Do&or would not make all the World 
 fo ignorant, but that they can tell when any Perfon 
 hath the Scurvey; or can fee when Parts are wi- 
 thered ; or tell the Interfaces of the Mufcles, when 
 they fee them ; thefe are too natural and obvious to 
 he mistaken ■ and lb are Piles, Warts, Moles and 
 Scars; and as for Mortifications, they foon difcover 
 them "elves, never continuing long without a Cure; 
 or increafe fo faft, as in a little Time to become 
 Mortal: and Marks by Imagination, which are fixed 
 in the Womb, thefe appearing at the Time of Biith, 
 arc foon difcovered, and noted amongft the Goflips, 
 before the Child can be of Age to be fuppofed a 
 Witch, or to be fuppofed to commit fuch Acti- 
 ons, as miy bring them under Sufpicion of Witch- 
 
 a aft. 
 
 But to favour this Notion of his, he quotes Epif- 
 ci'puus Theological Inftkutwns ; who fays, (< It hath 
 <{ many a Time been found true, that Women, who 
 <c by Reafon of thefe imprelTed Marks, have been 
 cc condemned to the Rack, either for fear of, or 
 a Force of Torments, have confehed, and been put 
 " to Death. 
 
 As for the Torments of the Rack, I think them too 
 barbarous and inhuman to be made ufe of upon any 
 Occafion, or on Sufpicion only, efpecially; it being 
 unjuft to put Perfons that may be innocent, upon 
 fuch Tryals and Sufferings ; but this is a Method that 
 hath been made Ufe of in few Countries, and not 
 without very ftrong Prefumptions of the Perfons 
 Guilt : but on the contrary we find, that feveral 
 have confeffed the Ufe of Teats and Marks, without 
 being put to Torture, or having their Confefilons any 
 other way extorted; and it hath been proved upon 
 others by Eye-Witneifes j and fuch Marks appear 
 
 after 
 
I **7 ] 
 
 after a different Manner, and eafily di/tinguiuHable 
 from what are Natural. 
 
 As for Charms, the Do£tor fays, <c It is both a 
 <c great Sin, and a great Folly, to ufe them." Yer 
 he endeavours to leflen the Credit and Belief of 
 fuch Things, by telling Three or Four ridiculous 
 Tricks of Men that impofed upon credulous Perfons, 
 with Charms that would make them Proof againft ve- 
 nomous Creatures, and invulnerable ; but the Rea- 
 lity of Charms hath been fufEciently attefted, by 
 condemning fuch Perfons, and punifhing them with 
 Death ; a Punifhment too fevere to be inflicted on a 
 Perfort- who only banters, and barely impoies upon 
 Mens Credulity, with cut doing any Harm or Mif- 
 chief by their fmall Deceits. 
 
 The Truth of thne are not only attefted by the 
 AfTertions of Men, and punifhed by human Laws, 
 but cenfured by the Scripture in Sacred Writing*, 
 and threatened by Divine Laws. As Deuteronomy 
 xviii. io. 'there /ball not be found amongfi yon anj 
 one, that maketh his Son or his Daughter to pafs 
 through the Fire, or that ufeth Divination, or an ob- 
 server of Times, or an Enchanter^ or a Witch. And 
 Verfe 1 1. Or a Chirmer, or a Confulter with Fami- 
 liar Spirit s, or a Wizard, or a Necromancer ; which 
 are all threaten'd with Deftmction. And though 
 Divine Providence may interpofe, and prevent their 
 Effects ; as Jeremiah viii. 17. Where the Prophet 
 / tells the People, in Defiance of their Skill, Behold y 
 1 will fend Serpents, Cockatrices, amongfi you, which 
 will not he charmed. Yet this Defiance of their inr 
 ferior Power, fhews they had fuch Power, and pra- 
 cVifed it. And again, Ifaiah xix. 3. The Spirit of 
 *s£gypt /hall fall in the midft thereof and I will de- 
 fray the Connfel thereof, and they /ball feek to the 
 Idols, and to the Charmers, and to them that have 
 familiar Spirits. And though the Do&oc would 
 make the Teftimony of the Scripture of no EffecT, by 
 
 G 4 relating 
 
[ i*8 ] 
 
 relating Two or Three ridiculous Attempts about the 
 Poifon of Serpents : The Scripture forewarns us of 
 the Infufficiency of Charms againft fuch Poifons. 
 Pfalm lviii. 4, 5. Their Poifon is like the Poifon of a 
 Serpent, they are like the deaf Adder that ftoppeth 
 her Ear, Which will not hearken to the Voice of 
 Charmers , charming never fo wifely. But though in 
 all Cafes Charms will not take I lace, yet if there 
 were not fuch Things to be done, why would Sacred 
 Writings take Notice of them? 
 
 We might add a great deal more upon this Sub- 
 ject; but llnce what we have faid may be fufficient 
 to prove that there are fuch Things as Charms, 
 we fhall put a Concluiion to this Difcourfe, and 
 proceed to confider of the Contents of his next 
 Chapter. 
 
 CHAP. VII. 
 
 Cent/lining Remarks on the DoEtors Twelfth 
 Chapter, of what kind cf Witchcrafts 
 they are, that are fpoken of in the Holy 
 Scripture. 
 
 T^ H E Do&or begins this Chapter with the Confi- 
 deration of Divine Laws, and fays, <c This is a 
 <c Point of very great Difficulty amongft the Cri- 
 <c ticks, and! will not pretend to make my felf 
 cc Umpire ; but I will offer fome few Things, that 
 cc I think are manifeft, and may keep us from pref- 
 <c fing them too hard againft our Neighbour's Lives. 
 By the Doctor's Introduction to this Difcourfe, we 
 may eafily perceive his main Drift and Intention, 
 
 and 
 
 r 
 
[ «9 ] 
 
 and that he is for fofcening and mollifying oP thofe 
 Divine Laws , which were feverely urged aga'inft 
 Evil-doers by the Prophets and Apoftles. He is 
 of a more Godly and Chriftian Temper • and there- 
 fore thinks fit to explain thefe Laws as much ill Fa- 
 vour of his Caufe as poflibly he can ; nay, rather 
 than fail, he recommends the Non-execution of 
 thera. 
 
 Page 182, he fays ; <c Whatever the Meaning of 
 cc thefe Laws were , they are of that Part of the 
 <c Law which is ufually called Judicial, and therefore 
 cc they are not binding to us, further than we find 
 (t them ufeful and agreeable to our Times." I 
 thought that the Ufefulnefs of Laws was to fupprefs 
 Vice, and to punilh Offenders ; and that they were 
 proportionably fevere according to the Heinoufnefs 
 of the Crimes, and confequently are equally ufeful 
 and agreeable in all Times. And as thefe Judicial 
 Laws were laid down as juft, according to the Me- 
 rit of Offenders of that Kind, by God Almighty's 
 Appointment, through the Mouths of his Prophets 
 and Apoftles, they were defigned as a Pattern and 
 Prefcription for us to go by, and confequently mull 
 be as binding to us as they were to them. For as 
 we ought to do juitice and difcourage Wickednefs as 
 well as they, and thefe Lav/3 are directed as a Rule 
 of Juftice for us to go by : fo if we fulfil the Com- 
 mands of God by his Prophets, we ought to purine 
 the Laws he hath ordained, and confequently they 
 are as binding to us as they were to them ; the Sins 
 they punilh being as heinous «s ever, and equally 
 deferving Death. 
 
 But the Doctor, more inclined to Mercy, 
 lieving that Go.! ^ who / 'pah 3 bv the Prophets, would 
 excufe Offenders of an infufferable Kind) fays ; 
 <{ Our Government hath either increafzd, or tno- 
 * "derated the Punifriment of Theft, Sabbath -bizzk- 
 £ irig a Perjury, and Adultery, as they found need- 
 G $ tt ful- 
 
r 130] 
 
 u ful ; and they have the fame Liberty with refpe£t 
 c< to this of Sorcery, if they fee good Reafon." To 
 which I anfwer ; That tho J we moderate, or exafpe- 
 rate the Degrees of Punifhment of Crimes of a lefs 
 heinous Nature, we have not the fame Liberty with 
 refpeft to this, where there is the exprefs Command 
 of God that they (baU not live. But if we may in- 
 deed do his Will, or let it alone at our own Plea- 
 fure ; then we may grant Indulgence* for the Breach 
 of all his Commandments, and let the World abound 
 in Sin, and flouriih in Iniquity. But if Men mail 
 think fit thus to naffer a Breach to be made of 
 God's Laws, it is a Queftion, how far God Al- 
 mighty will approve of thofe that fuffer his Com- 
 mands to be broke and trampled upon ? Whether 
 we are not Acceffories, in confenting to fuch Indul- 
 gences ? For fince not to difcourage, is in Effect to 
 encourage and approve of Wickednefs • we feem, 
 if we fhould connive at fuch Offences, to be equally 
 gu : lty ; and as far as thofe Laws are remitted, to be 
 froportionably guilty of the fame Fa £b. 
 
 But he goes on : <c The Laws of the Old Tefta- 
 % ment^m this Point,are moltly grounded upon Names 
 V without Definitions along with them ; and there- 
 c< fore, tho* they might be fufficiently known then, 
 cc they can hardly be determined now fo certainly, 
 cc as to be made the Rule by which we may take 
 <c away our Neighbours Lives. Of all Kinds of 
 u Wo'ds, it is hardeft to tranflate common Names' 
 <c of Persons, becaufe Length of Time fixes perfect- 
 " Jy different Chara&ers to the very fame Words. 
 <c You know what a bad Man we mean by a Vil- 
 u lain ; and yet anciently the very fame Word fig* 
 u nified only a Countryman, that lived in a Vil- 
 u Ja?c, ggfo 
 
 To whijh I toifxveT ; That tho* thofe Laws were 
 vr t : n Words, or Names without Definitions, yet 
 the Meuiing of thofe Words was fuffickntly known 
 
 \vkb» 
 
fl 3 r l 
 
 without Definitions ; and the Anions of thofe Per- 
 fons they were defined againft being mamfeft, 
 it was certain fuch Perfbns were meant by fuch 
 Names as commonly committed fuch Afrions : And 
 lince from Age to Age, the Meaning of Words and 
 Chara&ers are transferr'd, and carry 'd down by Tra- 
 dition, we may be as certain now of their Mean- 
 ing as then. And it is plain that we are, by the 
 Doflor's own Words : For if we know that Words 
 are apply r d or made ufe of to fignify different Things 
 at different Times ; our Knowledge of that Change 
 in the Ufe of Words, makes their exprefs Meaning 
 as intelligible at one Time as at another. And we 
 have as true and clear a Knowledge of Perfons and 
 Anions, tho' Names are apply'd to fign fy different 
 Things ; for that Alteration of their Meaning be- 
 ing underftood and known, we have as diitinir. Ideis 
 of thofe new- meant Things by that Name, as we 
 had of thofe formerly-meant Things by that fame 
 Word i knowing that that Word is a Charaflerifticlc 
 of fuch Ideas : For as formerly Villain figni'fied a 
 Villager, or one that lived in a Village, and now is. 
 aoply'd to denote a vile and fcandalous Man, that 
 Word now carries along with it the Character of 
 fuch a Man, and reprefents that Meaning without- 
 confounding or intermixing the Notion of what: 
 it formerly reprefented. And as for the Difficul- 
 ty of tranllating Words or Names, that is fb fmall, 
 that it appears to be none at all in confounding our 
 Knowledge of Things : For if a Creature called a 
 Horfe, hath a ffe&rarNartie to denctefuch a Crea- 
 ture, and tha* Creature in Transition into our lan- 
 guage is called a H~-r r e , the word: Horfe being or 
 die fame Signification with the Ffibrerv ward, rs as 
 intelligible as it ; and both- Words wi:h equal Cer- 
 tainty determine their Significations : And fo the. 
 Words in the Old 'Tefiavi-s'/it having their original 
 Meaning transferr'd by Tradition, and Words in 
 
 Enghh 
 
r n* ] 
 
 EngVi/h having the fame Signification ; the Drift 
 and Defign of thofe Laws are as well known now as 
 then • and the A&ions of the Perfons thofe Laws 
 were enabled againft, which Actions denominate 
 fuch Perfons they were properly defigned to ex- 
 pr^fs. 
 
 The Doctor goes on : <c A Magician was one that 
 <c was a wife Man and a Philofopher ; and you 
 tc know how Daniel endeavour'd to fave the Lives 
 u of the Magicians in his Time. And Three Ma- 
 u gicians came out of the Eaft, to worfhip our Sa- 
 C£ viour/' That Magicians were wife Men, no bo- 
 dy queftions : but they converted their Wit to an ill 
 Purpofe : And tho' they gain'd the Admiration of 
 the People by the mighty Acts they did, (in fome 
 Cafes being ferviceable to the People ) yet in other 
 Cafes, they were as pernicious and vicious, in mif- 
 leading the People from the due Regard they ought 
 to have to the Power of God, and his Works. Thus 
 PharaoVs wife Men, Exod. 5. 8. imitated a great 
 many of the Miracles wrought by Mofes, which 
 hardend that wicked Tyrant's Heart. And this 
 fhews, that the ; r Power depended on the Affiftance 
 of a Diabolical Spirit, acting in Defiance of Mofes's 
 Works, which were done by Divine Afliftance. And 
 tho' Three Magicians came out of the Eaft to wor- 
 ihip our Saviour, this good Intention did not excufe 
 thofe former ill Acts which they did by a Diabolical 
 Afliftance. Their Conversion to acknowledge the 
 Divinity of our Saviour, was to his Glory ; but ju- 
 stified not their wicked Practices, in dealing; with fa- 
 miliar Spirits, by whofe Afliftance only they could 
 plav their Pranks. 
 
 Page 183, he fay?, c< A Conjurer is a very literal 
 u Tranflation of Exorcift ; and yet Time hath made 
 cc one Signification an Officer that is ajlowed in the 
 ? Rowan Chuich^ and the other an infamous Cri- 
 
<c minal, both in their Church and ours/' He goes 
 on : cc In the Time of Tacitm^ and long after, fuch 
 cc ill People were call'd Mathematici • and if a 
 cc bad Name be an Argument againft them, fuch a 
 Ci good one Ihould be as ftrong in their Favour." 
 To which I anfwer ; That the Name was no good 
 Name when it fignified bad People • but when it 
 is apply J d to fignify that which is good, it becomes 
 a good Name : So that the Goodnefs or Badnefs 
 does not confift in the Name ; that, when written, 
 •only confifting of Letters, and when fpoke, oF an 
 articulate Sound ; that is, to denote fomething it is 
 apply 'd to fignify. I fay, the Quality of the Body 
 does not confift in its Name , but in the Nature 
 of the Thing named ; fo that altering the Names 
 of Things, does not alter their Nature ; for they 
 retain that, let their Names be varied ever fo much. 
 For if the Name of Virtue was given toillA£ti-' 
 ons, and of Vice to good ones, that would not make 
 good bad, nor evil good ; only Virtue would be fcan- 
 dalous. and Vice praifc-worthy. So that this Jargon 
 about Words, will tend little to the Doctor's Advan- 
 tage. 
 
 He further fays ; c: Sorcery is one of the raoft 
 <c common Names in our Law-Books for Witch- 
 cc craft, and is made Felony by our Statute : But 
 <c to what little Purpofe would they fpend their 
 <c Time, who ihould go about to define the Crime 
 / c * by the Name : for, in Striflnefs, Sorcery figni- 
 <c fies Lottery, and no more ?' To which I an- 
 fwer, That if Sorcery be one of the moll common 
 Names of Witchcraft, and is Felony by the Sta- 
 tute ; Sorcery and Witchcraft are in our Law fyno- 
 ryinous Terms, and confequently their Meaning is 
 well under/rood ; and there is no Occafion to define 
 the Crime by the Name, fince the Nature of the 
 Crime is well known, both by Fa&, and the Names 
 that espreis that Fa& ; And the Etymology of the 
 
 Word 
 
Word is not concerned, if it is borrow'd to fignify 
 Witchcraft ; and we know it is made ufe of as a 
 Charafteriftick of fuch a Crime. 
 
 He proceeds : <c Ic feems very likely, that there 
 <c hath happened as great a Change to the Word 
 <c Witch ; for Witch, if Dr* More interprets it right- 
 * ly, fignifies a wife Woman ; and we may be 
 <e pretty fure that the Law was riot, Thou [halt not 
 cc faffer a wife Woman to live.'' To which I an- 
 fwer, That the Magi were counted wife Men, be- 
 caufe they knew and could do more than other Peo- 
 ple could do or know how to do ; and fo do Witches. 
 But fince all their W 7 ifdom and Power proceeds from 
 their Correfpondence with evil Spirits, that Wifdom 
 is what is condemned by the Law, and fuch wife 
 Women are not fit to live. 
 
 The Doftor adds ; " What the Hebrew Word 
 cc does fignify, I find Interpreters much at a Lofs. 
 <c In the Popifb Bible it is tranflated btchanter ; and 
 <c that does not imply a Perfon in Covenant with 
 <c the Devil, but one that thought to work Won- 
 <c ders by ringing powerful Verfes.'' To which I 
 anfwer ; That Zinging of no Verfes can be fo power- 
 ful, as to effect fuch Things as are done by Witch- 
 craft or Inchantment, without the AfTiftance of the 
 Devil or his Angels : and thofe Verfes only ferve to 
 blind the World as a Charm, whilft the Devil fe- 
 cretly does their Work for them. And as it is the 
 Actions and the Perfon that does them that is pnniih- 
 ed by the Law, and not an empty Word or Sound ; 
 fo it matters not whether that Perfon be denoted by 
 the word Witch or Inchanter, as long as it means the 
 Perfon guilty of fuch Anions. 
 
 The DoSor fays further ; ct In the Vulgar Latin 
 <c >t is Ventfica, or Poyfoner : In the Septuagint ir 
 Cf is <f>cfce^d*«<, a Word that favours the fame Senfe„ 
 <c 'jnniw and r Tremellim tranfhte it Pr&ftigiatrkim, 
 <c a ] u S^ er a and the French Church, a Sorcerer.. 
 
 "The 
 
The other Names in the 1 8th of Deuteronomy are 
 interpreted as varioufly. Dr. More, and they that 
 give great Credit to the Power of Magick, tran- 
 flate them into Englifk Names that imply a great 
 Power : as, Diviner, lnchanter, Charmer, Necro- 
 mancer, Witch, Wizard, and Confulter with fa- 
 miliar Spirits. They that think all Magick to 
 be mere Juggle, without any real Power, tran- 
 flate them Aftrologers, Fortunetellers, Soothfayers % 
 lmpofors, Ob/ervers of the Flying of Birds, Con- 
 jeblurers, Confulter s with Oracles, Ventriloquifts, 
 6 Gnofticks, and Jugglers. The Tranflations of 
 <c the Septuagint, Junius and TremeUiut, the old 
 u Tranflation of our Engbfb Bible , with refpeft to 
 cc fome of the Words, and very many Learned Men, 
 <c incline this way. 
 
 The Do£tor highly approves any Thing that in- 
 clines the way that he is inclined, but I fee not 
 which way what he offers can tend to his Ad- 
 vantage : For tho' there may be a great many Ap- 
 pellations, that fignify Perfcns guilty of A&ions of 
 a finifter Kind, yet the Difference -of Words alters 
 not the Nature of Things ; and tho' thefe Words 
 may fometimes be ufed allegorically and reciprocally 
 one for another, by fome particular Authors, con- 
 founding fimilar Cafes one with another ; yet that 
 they have different Senfes and Significations one 
 from another, is plain from the Tranflations we 
 ought to eftcem moft authentic^ and that is our 
 prefent Tranflation of the Bible ; which as it is 
 publifhed by the Authority of the Church, and 
 tbofe whofe judgment ought to be preferr'd before 
 the Opinion of Two or Three private Men, we 
 think what the Doctor favs not fufficient to call in 
 queftion the Authority of fo many Learned Men, 
 well fkiU'd in Languages, and in the Senfe of 
 Words, 
 
 That 
 
[ i?<n 
 
 ThatSorcery, Divination, Tnchantment and Witch- 
 craft, are of fimilar Kind of A&ions is certain ; fince 
 all thefe wicked Practices are put in Execution by 
 Virtue of a Diabolical Power, and confequently 
 equally finful, and therefore equally condemned by 
 the Scripture ; but that they differ'd in their Effects, 
 and refpe£l different Kinds of Aclions, is as plain ; 
 there being a great deal of Difference betwixt one 
 that pretends to prophefy and foretel, and a wicked 
 Spirit that tortures and torments, as in Witchcraft. 
 And that there is a great deal of Difference in the 
 Signification of thefe Words, is manifelt from the 
 Testimony of the Bible • where, Deut. 18. ic, II. 
 they are all diftinftly mention'd in one or two 
 Verfes, the Scripture exprefly faying, There [hall not 
 he found amongfl you any one that maketh his Son 
 or Daughter pa/s thro' the Fire, or that ufeth Di- 
 vination^ or an Ohferver of Times , or an Inchan- 
 ter, or a Witch, or a Charmer, &c. Now if thefe 
 Words had not different Meanings 5 what Occa- 
 sion would there be to mention them all diftin£tly ? 
 But this Diilinciion implies a Difference. 
 
 But the Doctor, to favour his Caufe, would needs 
 confound the Meaning of thefe Words, and flies to 
 particular Tranflations (not thinking it convenient 
 to ftand to that which the Church approves of) to 
 gain his Point : He muft have a Bible on Purpofe j 
 and would rather fay the Bible is falfe, than his O- 
 pinion mould be rejected ; fince one or the other 
 muft be erroneous. But I am itill of Opinion, that 
 the Bible, as now tranflated, is of greater Authority 
 (being the Senfe, and publiih'd by the Content of 
 the whole Church) than his fingle Opinion, or the 
 Concurrence of one or two that may fay fomething 
 to favour his Caufe. 
 
 Page i8<$, He quotes the Mirror of Juflice y to 
 prove '* that Sorcery is the Art of Divination :'* 
 But this does not prove that Divination is Witch- 
 craft - ? 
 
[ i?7] 
 
 craft ; the former only confulting the Devil and his 
 Angels about what hath, or may happen ; and the 
 latter employing an evil Spirit to torment and torture 
 their Fellow-Creatures, to fatisfy their malicious, re- 
 vengeful Tempers. 
 
 But, fage 186, he goes on : fc And the Holy 
 c< Scriptures teach us the fame Doctrine ; I Sam, 
 u 15. 22,23. And 'Samuel faid ', Hath the Lord as 
 <c great delight in Burnt-Offerings and Sacrifices, 
 Cf as in obeying the Voice of the Lord ? Behold^ to 
 
 j <c obey is better than Sacrifice, and to hearken than 
 c< the Vat of Rams. Tor Rebellion is as the Sin of 
 cc Witchcraft, and Stubbcrnnefs as Iniquity and Ido- 
 cc latry. Over-againft the word Witchcraft in the 
 cc Margin, is put Divination, which leads us to this 
 <c eafy Senfe of Samuels pious Reproof/' By this 
 the Dc&or would cunningly infinuate, that Witch- 
 craft is Divination, becaufe the Margin refers to a 
 Sin of the like Kind, tho J different Practice : I fay 
 of the like Kind, becaufe they both employ a Dia~ 
 bolical Spirit, tho 3 employ'd in different Offices. 1 
 The Doctor might as well fay, that Witchcraft is 
 Rebellion, becaufe the Text fays, Rebellion is as 
 Witchcraft. And indeed it is fo in refpecl: of God 
 and his Works, fince the Compact, with the De- 
 vil is forfaking God, and their Actions war againft 
 his Works. But tho' the Doctor takes all this 
 Pains to iniinuate as if there was no fuch Thing as 
 
 ,/ Witchcraft, or would endeavour to reprefent it fo 
 llightly, as by Divination, by Birds, Q<fc. yet if we 
 look further into the faid Book of Samuel^ we fha.ll 
 find that there is a Difference betwixt Divination, 
 which is only a juggling Art, and Witchcraft : And 
 tho' a Witch may alfo divine, and both may pro- 
 ceed from the fame Diabolical Power, yet they feem 
 to be different A&ions of that Power. And tho* 
 he Doctor makes fo flight of fuch Creatures as 
 fitches and Diviners, we may be fully fatisfied of 
 
 the 
 
E x 5 8 j 
 
 the Reality of fuch Anions , if we confult I Sam] 
 28. v. 3. Now Samuel was dead> and all Ifrael had 
 lamented him y and buried him in Ramah, even in 
 his own City : And Saul had put away thofe that had 
 familiar Spirits, and the Wizards out of the Land. 
 Where it appears, that there were thofe that were 
 familiar with evil Spirits , and with Wizards and 
 Witches. 
 
 And tho J the Doctor, Page 185, and 186, would 
 reprefent Witchcraft by Divination only, and that as 
 a flight Divination by Augury, &c. yet that the 
 Scripture teftifies to the contrary, is plain, not only 
 from what we have frequently quoted from Scrip- 
 ture, but further from Sau 13 s Proceedings in this 
 28th Chapter of the rlrft Book of Samuel^ v. 6, ro 
 v. 1^. And when Saul enquired of the Lord , the 
 Lord anfwered him not^ nth her by Dr earns , nor by 
 Urim , nor by Prophets. Then [aid Saul unto his 
 Servants. Seek me a Woman that hath a familiar 
 Spirit , that I may go to her, and enquire of her. 
 And his Servants [aid to him , Behold, there is a 
 Woman that hath a familiar Spirit at Endor. And 
 Saul difguized him j elf and put on other Raiment ; 
 and he went, and two Men with him, and they came 
 to the Woman by Night : And he faid> 1 pray thee 
 divine to me by the familiar Spirit-, and bring me 
 him up whom I fhall name unto thee. And the 
 Woman faid unto him , Behold, thou knowefl what 
 Saul hath done, how he hath cut off thofe that have v 
 familiar Spirit s y and the Wizards out of the Land ; 
 wherefore then layeft thou a Snare for my Life, to 
 catife me to dye f And Saul fw are to her by the Lord> 
 faying, As the Lord Uveth, there ft all no Punifhment 
 happen to thee for this Thing. Then faid the Wo* 
 man, Whom fhall I bring up unto thee * And he faid y 
 Bring me up Samuel. And, when the Woman faw Sa- 
 muel, fte cried with a loud Voice : And the Woman 
 fpake to Saul, faying^ Why haft thou deceived me f 
 
 for 
 
[ 139] 
 
 for thou art Saul And the King faid unto her, Be 
 not afraid : For what favoeft thou f And the Woman 
 faid unto Saul, 1 faro Gods afcending out of the 
 Earth. And he faid unto her, What Form is he off 
 And fhe faid, An old Man cometb up ; and he is co- 
 vered with a Mantle. And Saul -perceived that it 
 was Samuel , and he flooped with his Face to the 
 Ground, and bowed him f elf And Samuel faid to 
 Saul, Why hafi thou dtfquieted me, to bring vie up f 
 From whence it fully appears, that there are not 
 only Witches and Wizards which deal with Fami- 
 liar Spirits, but that they have power to A£t by thofe 
 Spirits, which may appear in what Shapes or Form 
 they pleafe. 
 
 But the Do£tor would endeavour Further to peF- 
 fuade us to be of his Opinion , by quoting fbme 
 Texts of Scripture, which he wrefts as well as he can 
 to his Advantage; but if we take a full View of 
 them, they appear wholly againit him. The firft is, 
 Jeremiah xxvii. <?, ic. 'therefore hearken not ye to 
 your Frophets, nor to your Diviners , nor to your 
 Dr earner s, nor to your Enchanters, nor to your Sorce- 
 rers, which fpeak unto you, faying, Te /ball not ferve 
 the King of Babylon : For they Frophefy a Lie unto 
 you, to remove you far from your Land. Where he 
 makes a Diftin&ion betwixt Prophets and Diviners, 
 Sorcerers and Enchanters, and warns the People of 
 their wicked Pra&ifes. And again, Ifaiah xlvii. 12, 
 '13. Stand near with thy Inchantments, and with the 
 Multitude of thy Sorceries, wherein thou haft labour- 
 ed from thy Touth ; if fo be thou fbalt be able to pro- 
 fit, if fo be thou may eft prevail. Thou art wearied 
 in the Multitude of thy Counfels : Let now the Aftro- 
 logers, the Star-gazers, the Monthly Frognofticators 
 ft and up, and fave thee from thofe Things that (hall 
 come upon thee, In which Text we fee likewife, 
 that Enchanters and Sorcerers are diuHnguifhed from 
 Aftrologers and Stargazcrs; and all of them are de- 
 fied, 
 
[ i 4 o ] 
 
 fied, when God Almighty is pleafed to interpofe his 
 Superior Power, and to defeat their Works. 
 
 Thus it appears, that what the Do£lor urges in 
 favour of his Opinion, is againft him ; thefe Texts 
 proving the Practice of Sorcery and Enchantments, 
 though ineffectual, when oppofed by that great Om- 
 nipotency, who can over-rule the Devices of Satan, 
 and his evil Angels. And though he quotes a Text 
 out of Ezekielxxi. 21, 22. to prove, That the King 
 of Babylon flood at the parting of the Way, at the 
 Head of the Two Ways, to ufe Divination ; what he 
 adds, viz. he made his Arrows bright, he confulted 
 with Images, he looked into the Liver. At his Right 
 Hand was the Divination for Jerufalem. This does 
 not weaken the Teftimony of thofe other Texts, 
 which pofirively acknowledge, and exprefly menti- 
 on Witchcraft and Sorcery ; nor does this Method 
 of Divining difprove that which proceeds from Cor- 
 refpondence with Familiar Spirits; nay, even in 
 thefe Cafes, what was done by thefe Divinations, 
 might not be without the Afliftance of evil Spi- 
 rits , who might direct them in their Obfer- 
 vations. 
 
 Nor does what he mentions in the Prophet 
 Nahum, lels disfavour his Opinion, Nahum Yu. 4.. 
 Becaufe of the Multitude of the Whoredoms of the 
 well favoured Harlot, the Miftrefs of Witchcrafts, 
 that felleth Nations through her Whoredoms, and Fa- 
 milies through her Witchcrafts. For in this Place, J 
 the Harlot is charged diftinftly, both with Whore- 
 dom and Witchcraft ; fo that the Prophet does not 
 fay her W T horedoms were her Witchcrafts, as the 
 Doctor would fuggeft. And the like we find in 
 Micah v. 1 2. And I will cut off Witchcrafts out of . 
 thine Hand, and thou [halt have no more Soothfayers. 
 Verfe 13. Thy Graven Images alfo will 1 cut off. 
 In which Place the Prophet threatens Deftru&ion to 
 Witchcraft and Scothfayers^ the latter of which pro- 
 bably 
 
[ t 4 I ] 
 
 bably making their Forms of Predictions only a Cloak 
 for what they did by Familiar Spirits. But here we 
 are further to obferve, that he likewife makes a Di- 
 ftin&ion betwixt Witchcraft , and thofe Idolatries 
 which the Do£tor would fuggeft to be meant by their 
 Witchcrafts. 
 
 Page the ipift, he fays, <: The Sorcerers in the 
 <c New Teftament; were their falfe Apoftles and Se- 
 <c ducers, and their Witchcrafts and Sorceries were 
 cc their pretended Infpirations, Miracles and Vilions, 
 <c whereby they imitated, and tried to outdo the 
 
 <c true Apoftles, they had their feigned Vifions, 
 
 <c Revelations, and counterfeit Infpirations. That 
 Cc is the Reafon that St. John, I Epift. c.4. Verfe 1. 
 cc exhorts the Chriftians he wrote to, To try the Spi- 
 Cc rits whether they are of God> hecaufe many falfe 
 cc Prophets are gone out into the World.—* The Sons 
 cc of Sceva ventured to make a Tryal, whether they 
 cc could not venture to caft out a Devil; and though 
 cc at that .Time he would not be ejected, at another 
 :c Time he might pretend to be overcome, that he 
 r might give Credit to one of his own Instruments. 
 Now if the Doflor allows that thefe Ferfons were 
 the Devils Inftruments, and acted by virtue of his 
 Power, fb that they imitated what was done by the 
 Apoftles, why are not thefe properly Witchcrafts^ 
 fince they are done by a fupernatural Power, and by 
 the Affiftance of an evil Spirit, which was not of 
 iGod ? For, as we have obferved, all the Actions of 
 Witches are not alike ; fometimes they torment and 
 torture, fometimes they delude and deceive Men 
 with ft range Apparitions and Viiions, and fo did 
 thefe in the New Teftamenr. But he fays, Page 192, 
 <c That St. Paul, when he fpeaks of Witchcraft^ 
 " ufually joins it with Idolatry and Hcrdy," And 
 well he may, fince they are all A6ts of the Devi], 
 though of different Kinds; by the fame Power, 
 though by different Agents, and after a different 
 
 Man* 
 
[ I4X ] 
 
 Manner ; yet this joining of thefe Words together, 
 makes them no more iignify the fame Thing, than 
 joining Idolatry and Herefy, makes thofe Two 
 Words of a like Signification. But fuppofing the 
 Word Witchcraft were ufed allegorically in that 
 Senfe, becaufe both Crimes are alike of a heinous 
 Nature, and all proceed from the Power and Delu- 
 sions of the Devil, who withdraws Mankind from 
 the Worihip of the true God, to ferve him ; yet 
 this would not necelTarily make it imply, that there 
 is no fuch Thing as Witchcrafts ; nay, Page 193, 
 he owns that there were fuch a fort of People called 
 Witches j and Page 195, that their Works were Su- 
 pernatural, above the Power of Man or Matter. 
 And Page 194, he fays, c< Whofoever oppofes 
 cc and corrupts God's Truth, whofoever promotes 
 c< Principles that give Liberty to Sin, ( not meaning 
 cc himfelf) whofoever difturbs the Happinefs of 
 
 <c Mankind every fuch Man Sacrifices to the De- 
 
 Ci vil, and his Actions may very juftly be called the 
 <c Works of the Devil. 
 
 From what we have ©bferved, it may fufficiently 
 appear, that both the Old and New Teftament ac- 
 cused feveral of Witchcraft ; and that they, as well 
 then as now, acted by the Afliftance of a Diabolical 
 Power ; which is the Notion we have, at this pre- 
 fent, of Witches; only the Reltraint of the Laws, 
 as they did the Witch of Endor^ makes them afraid 
 to act and follow their ill Pract fes openly * but were 
 it not for that Reftraint, no doubt but the Devil 
 would be as ready to ihew himfelf in the fame 
 Shapes as he ever did, and commit as great Enor- 
 mities ; but however cautioufly thefe Creatures may 
 now do the Devil's Work, though they efcape the 
 Laws of Men, and their Notice, they cannot Dif- 
 guile themfelves from the all feeing Eye of God, 
 whole Vengeance will foOn overtake, and fall upon 
 them. And though the Doctor would extenuate 
 
 their 
 
[ «4? ] 
 
 their Crimes, and excufe them, it is the ftri£l Law 
 of God , and his exprefs Command , that they 
 fhould not go unpuniihed. I ihall conclude this 
 Chapter with what the Do£tor (ays himfelf, Page 
 188, after all his Puzzle to difluade the fame, viz. 
 The Words of the Lord Chief-Baron Hale, which 
 were part of his Dire£tion to the Jury , at the 
 Tryal of thofe Two that he condemned. Said he, 
 cc The Wifdom of all Nations hath provided Laws 
 6C againft fuch Perfons, which is an Argument of 
 e their Confidence of fuch a Crime. 
 
 CHAP. VIII. 
 
 Containing fame Remarks on his Thirteenth 
 Chapter, of the Laws of Nations. 
 
 T - * H E Dj&or throughout his Books, hath efpoufed 
 ■*• the Caufe of Witchcraft with a great deal of 
 Art, Zeal and Tendernefs over them, complaining 
 of the Severity of Profecutions, and the Strictnefs of 
 the Laws, which he would have mitigated or an- 
 nulled, for the Encouragement and Satety of thofe 
 miferable Creatures, though Divine Laws condemn 
 tfiem, as pernicious Abufers of Mankind, and not 
 fit to live. 
 
 And the better to difpofe the World to Moderation 
 in fuch Cafes, or a plenary Indulgence for the worft 
 of Crimes, in th ; s Chapter he gives us an Account 
 of the gradual Steps that were taken againft fuch 
 Crimes, in diferent Times and Nations, which we 
 (hall take a brief View of, that we may the bet- 
 ter determine how far they were in the right, 
 
 and 
 
[ M4 1 
 
 and how far wrong, either to his Advantage, or 
 againft it. 
 
 Page the 199th, he thus begins; <c And firft, 
 cc Lamhertus Dantus tells us, Chap. VI. that as 
 <c long as the Nations were Idolaters, they ufed 
 {C the Help of Magick and Sorcery without Scruple, 
 " and had thofe that were fkilled in it in Honour ; 
 " and that to this Day, it is much in Ufe amongft 
 cc the barbarous Nations, both in the North and Eaft, 
 u and amongft the Tartars, and the Weft-Indians. 
 cc He proceeds, that in all the Empire of Perjia, the , 
 cc Study and Aits of thefe Men are in Efteem 
 <c now, as it was amongft the Egyptians for- 
 cc merly. 
 
 " When Jofeph afked his Brethren whether 
 ce they thought fuch a Man as he could not Di- 
 cC vine; he fpeaks not of Divination as a Fault, 
 cc but as a neceffary Qualification of a great 
 c< Man. 
 
 u In the Magick of TCtrami and Carpocra- 
 cc tion y it is faid that it was a neceffary Quali- '• 
 u fication, required in the Kings of Per/la. And 
 <c Tidly , in his Book of Divination , fays the 
 cc fame. 
 
 " Moft of the Ancient Philofophers, the Chal- 
 t( deans, the Magi, Drnids, Brachmans, and Plato- 
 <c nifls, allowed and ufed it. 
 
 But for this Practice of the Ancients, the Doctor 
 
 gives a Reafon himfelf. cc Natural Reafon 
 
 cc could no ways guefs, that thofe Spirits were fallen 
 cc from their firft Creation ; or that they were Ene- 
 cc mies to Mankind. Their firft Thoughts would ra- 
 c< ther be, that all reafonable Creatures, though in- 
 cC viiible, would be of a friendly Mind, and aflilling 
 cf to all with whom they had Communications, and 
 u either fay nothing, or tell Truth to thofe that en- 
 cc quired of them. This the firft Men would na- 
 u turally hope; and without Revelation, nothing 
 
 « but 
 
[ i4> 1 
 
 c< but Experience could teach them, that either there 
 <c was nothing but the Chance of Things, that leem- 
 <c ed to anfwer their Tryals; or elfe, that thofe Spi- 
 cc rits that dealt with them, were deceitful and mif- 
 cc chievous Things, that took a wicked Pleafure in 
 c< their Delufion and Deftru&ion. 
 
 From whence it appears, that the Do£tor allows 
 and acknowledges thefe wicked Spirits, or Beings ; 
 and that it lay in their Power to deceive and delude 
 Mankind. And that it was only for want of a 
 Knowledge of God, and his Goodnefs, and the De- 
 vil and his Angels, that made them give ear to th* 
 Devil, and do his Works ; and all that made it no 
 Crime, was, for want of Revelations, and Laws to 
 reftrain that Practice : But the Do&or would abolifli 
 thofe Laws, or hinder their Execution, ht the 
 Wicked go unpunilhed, and leave the World at Li- 
 berty to ufe their Freedom ; for in the beginning of 
 this EfTay, he is for leaving all to the Righteous 
 Judge after Death, and will by no Means allow what 
 he now exprefTes of the Communications of the Spi- 
 rits ; but it is a long way from fhe beginning of his 
 Effay, and a Man may alter his Opinion in lefs Time 
 than he was writing of it. 
 
 But now we are undeceived as to the Nature of 
 thofe evil Spirits, and know both their ill Intentions 
 and Deligns, we are to ftand upon our Guard, and 
 oppofe fuch Practices with all our Might, we ought 
 to abandon the Devil, and forfake all his Works, 
 * and to have no fuch Communication with him. To 
 which End, and to difcourage fuch miftaken No- 
 tions, Divine Revelation having put us into a better 
 Light, as the Doctor takes Notice, Laws were made 
 tofoibid the Dealing with fuch wicked Spirits • and, 
 as the Do£tor fays, 
 
 <: The Laws in the Holy Scripture, are the firft 
 " that we know of: and it muft ever be accounted to 
 cc the Honour of revealed Religion, that it was the 
 
 H « firft 
 
[ i 4 <5 ] 
 
 cC firit in forbidding fuch pretended, and very dan- 
 cC gerous Communications." Here 1 cannot but 
 wonder, why the Do&or ihould call them pre- 
 tended Communications, if dangerous, fince they 
 cannot be dangerous, except real; ai d if not real, 
 where would be the Honour of forbidding them? 
 And if it be an Honour to forbid them, Why would 
 the Do&or have Religion lofe that Honour, In not 
 executing the Laws made againft fuch Crimes ? For 
 though there was no Sin till Laws were made, now 
 they are eftablithed, they ought to be put in Execu- 
 tion againft fuch abominable Breaches of Laws pre- 
 fcribed by God's efpecial Command, by the Mouth 
 of the Prophets. 
 
 He goes on, and fays ; c< The next that I meet 
 cc with, and which is often quoted to prove the real 
 c< Power of Magick, are thofe of the Twelve Ta- 
 <c blcs : That they ihould not bewitch the Fruits of 
 <c the Earth, nor ufe any Charms to draw their 
 
 " Neighbours Corn into their own Fields; 5 ' And 
 
 though the Doctor , by Seneca s Authority, calls the 
 Truth of this in Queftion, yet, at that Time when 
 thofe Laws were made, they mutt be fenfible of fome 
 extraordinary Effects of fuch Charms, or they would 
 never have enafted Laws againft them. 
 
 He goes on ; <c About a Hundred and Fifty Years 
 u after that, the Lex Cornelia^ another Rowan Law, 
 <c was made, and is ufually quoted as a Law againft 
 c< Sorcery. And indeed it was againft Poifoning , 
 <c £«f mala Sacrificia, (i.e. Sacrifices to Devils) 
 <{ and was made when a Hundred and Seventy Rowan 
 iC Women, of the better Quality, were condemned 
 <c for really poifoning thofe they had a mind to re- 
 <c move." This Law the Doftor would have to fug- 
 geft, that Sorcery fignify'd Poifofiing ; but that, not- 
 withftanding this Iniinuation, muft be equally de- 
 signed againft what was called Sorcery, the Word 
 Sorcery referring to mala Sacrificia i which I call 
 
 Sacrifices 
 
[ 147 3 
 
 Sacrifices to Devils 5 becaufe thofe which they allowed 
 of, according to their Form of Worihip, could not 
 be called ill Sacrifices, but good ; and we are told by 
 Witches, that they often keep mock Sacrifices, or 
 Sacraments to the Devil, in Contempt of the true 
 Sacrament. 
 
 He proceeds, <c The next Law that I know of^ 
 Cc was made by Conflantine^ the firft Roman Empe- 
 cc ror : His Law required, that they fhould be pu- 
 <c nilhed, if they ufed Charms to do Hurt, but it 
 cc mould be lawful to ufe them for reftoring Health, 
 cc or preferving the Fruits of the Earth." From 
 which Law it appears, that they had a Power to do 
 Hurt, by Virtue of their Charms, and did a great 
 deal, otherwife they had not been fo far taken No* 
 tice of, as to oblige the Government to make Laws 
 to prevent their ill Effects • and that they have a 
 Power likewife to do Good, may reafonably be fup- 
 pofed, if we do but take Notice of the Wonders the 
 Magicians performed, by Virtue of their Charms, 
 in Imitation of the Miracles which Mofes did, 
 which were done to fhew the Power of the true God, 
 far exceeding the Efforts of the Devil and his An- 
 gels, who affifted thofe Magicians in their Perfor- 
 mance. The Words of this Law, as the Do£tor 
 cites them, are as follows: cc Their Skill is to be con- 
 cc demned, and very defervedly puniihed in the fe- 
 cc vereft Manner ; who being furnifhed with Know- 
 p ledge of the Magick Art , ihall have acted any 
 €l Thing , either for the impairing of a Man's 
 Health, or drawing chafte Minds to unlawful Love. 
 But no Vexations are to be brought againft Re- 
 medies that are fought for the Bodies of Men, 
 or Charms that are innocently ufed in Country 
 Places, gff. 
 
 cc About a Hundred Years after that, the Em- 
 tc peror Leo the Firft, abrogated this Law, and for- 
 cc bad all Ufe of them." He proceeds further, and 
 H a fays 
 
[ i 4 8 ] 
 
 fays ; ec Mr. Tyrrel, in his Hiftory of England, 
 <c Vol I. Book V. Page 34c, lays, that the Sixth 
 cc Law of King Athslftan, was againft Witchcrafts, 
 <c Enchantments^ and the like Deeds that procure 
 cc Death. That if any of them be made away, and 
 ? c the Thing cannot be denied, fuch Praciifers fhall 
 cc be put to Death/ Now if we take a View of all 
 thefe Laws, we ihall find, that as Virtue and Reli-* 
 gion gave the World a better Taile and Difguft to j 
 thefe vicious Practices, they ftill inflicted feverer Pu- 
 nifhments on Offenders; but now Religion is flight--" 
 ed and funk to a low Ebb, and Vice fiourithes with- 
 out Controul, all manner of VVickednefs going un- 
 punilhed ; we live almoft as loofe, as Mankind in 
 their firft Blindnefs, before the Will of Gcd was re- 
 vealed to us. All manner of Punilhments of Vice 
 are fo much remitted and mitigued, that it is no 
 wonder a Stickler mould fet up in Defence of thefe 
 Criminals, left they fhould not have their equal/ : 
 ihare of Indulgence with the reft of Sinners. 
 
 After human Laws, the Do£tor mentions fome 
 Canons of the Church, which condemn thefe evil 
 Praclices; and fays. Page 20^, " Thefe Canons 
 f< teach us, that fuch Wizards deferve Punilnment,» 
 xc as it is moft certain they do." And the next Pa- ( 
 ragraph he fubioins, <c There are fome other Ca- 
 <c nons that cenfure them*, without defining their 
 Art. 5 ' Whi:h ihews that the Church hath in all 
 Ages cenfured and condemned fuch Vices, and conies 
 qucivly believed them to be true: yet notwithstand- 
 ing, the Doctor endeavours to infinuate the contrary 
 of" what he allows in the fame Paragraph, in thefe 
 Words, cc But by joining them with thefe known 
 cc Cheats, 1 flunk, they intimate to us, that the* 
 c< thought them very like one another;" as if they 
 >fe what they thought true, like what thejf 
 d : yet in one Senfe I am of his Opinion^ 
 s a Cheat, may be very like what is true, 
 
 01 
 
[ 149 1 
 
 or it would not be very likely to impofe upon any 
 body. 
 
 Here he goes on ; Cc But that which I reckon ta 
 cc have fet this Point of Witchcraft upon the Foot 
 cc that it ftands on now, was fomething lefs than 
 <c Law or Canon ; it was that Bull I mentioned, of 
 cc Pope Innocent's the Eighth/ 1 This is but a weak 
 Argument to leflen the Belief of the Footing it is 
 now upon ; but it cannot lefTen the Credit of its 
 Footing, becaufe the Pope believes Witchcraft; fince 
 it is rather an additional Confirmation of what we 
 believe, fince both we and they confent jointly to the 
 fame Senfe of the Scriptures, which confirms both our 
 Beliefs. But further, I do not underftand why the 
 Do£tor fhould build our Belief upon this Bull ^ 
 when, in the next Chapter, he fays, it was from 
 Scotland. 
 
 But, as I was faying before, this additional Con- 
 fent in Opinion may confirm ours. I fhall take a 
 View of this Bull, as the Do&or gives it us . Which 
 is as followeth : 
 
 tc Innocent , Bifhop, a Servant of the Servants of 
 * c God, in perpetual Memory of the Thing, £«fc. 
 cc It is come to our Ears, that great Numbers of 
 u both Sexes, carelefs of their own Salvation, and 
 cc falling from the Catholick Faith, are not afraid to 
 <c abufe their own Bodies, with Devils that ferve to 
 K both Sexes. And with their Inchantments , 
 <c Charms and Sorceries, they vex and afflift Man 
 K and Beaft, both with inward and outward Pains 
 tc and Tortures. They render Men and Women im- 
 cc potent for Generation. They deftroy the Births 
 u of Women, and the Increafe of Cattle. They 
 cc blaft the Corn of the Ground, the Grapes of the 
 cc Vine, the Fruit of the Trees, and the Grafs and 
 Jf Herbs of the Fields. 
 
 H 3 « We 
 
t 1*0 ] 
 
 * We, therefore, according to our Duty, being 
 c * defirous to apply fit Remedies For fo great an Evil, 
 u do by our Apoftolick Authority, appoint by thefe 
 c< Prefents, &c. that the Perfons aforefaid, ihall 
 cc exercife the Office of Inquifiti, and correft, impri- 
 f c fon, punilh and fine, gffc. all Perfons that mall 
 c< be found guilty of the Crimes aforefaid , g«f c. 
 <c And whereas many, both of the Clergy and Laity, 
 <c leeking to be wife above what is fit , did not 
 c< blufh to aflTerr, that the Perfons were not to be 
 ,c profecuted in thofe Points, we command all 
 €c Oppofers, Contradi£tors, or hinderers of thole 
 ** Profecutions, of whatfoever State, Dignity, Ex- 
 u cellence or Preeminence they may be, to be ex- 
 c< communicated, orfufpended, as Occalion Ihall re- 
 " quire, or punilhed with greater or more formida- 
 * c ble Punifiiments- and, if there be Need, that the 
 Cc fecular Arm be called in to help. Given at Rome^ 
 u in the Year of the Incarnation of our Lord, 
 ? 1484. 
 
 Upon this Occalion the Do&or builds, or at leaft 
 endeavours to force a way to gain his Point, and 
 make his Opinion more apt to be credited ; he thinks 
 all will efpoufe his Caufe againft a Popifh Bull, 
 though our own Church, and the Scripture believe 
 the fame; therefore, after telling us that a great 
 many were executed upon this, and that great Terror 
 was fpread about the Country, for fear of thefe 
 Witches, and that great Numbers were condemned 
 and executed ; he fays, <c The Writers of that Age 
 l< itudied for Caufes, which might be the Reafon 
 c< why they had fo many Witches above former 
 u Times; the Reafon they affign is, that their Age 
 cc was a Time of great Illumination, and therefore 
 c< God permitted the Devil the more Power, that 
 cc their Temptations might be proportionable to 
 J' their Talents.** But the Doctor not approving of 
 
 this. 
 
[ iji ] 
 
 this, as not being to his Purpofe, fays, cc But the 
 c< Reafon I mult give is, that it was an Age of Su- 
 <c perftkion and Ignorance, and their own Creduli- 
 cc ty and Folly, and joining Witchcraft with He- 
 " re fy" But fince the Do£tor owns that Witchcraft 
 was in the Cafe, he might as well have faid fo many 
 Witches was the Reafon ; but Superftition and Ig- 
 norance always ftand by the Doctor for Reafons : But 
 I would afk the Dotlor, whether the Times when 
 Revealed Religion but juft appeared, was not likely 1 
 to be an Age of more Ignorance ? And the Times o£ 
 our Saviour were not alfo more Ignorant and Super- 
 ftitious, before the Will of God, or the Light of 
 the Gofpel was well known, or ihone through the 
 World ? Which I believe fo plain and manifeft, that 
 I need no Arguments to prove the great Advantages 
 we had of more Light, to difperfe Ignorance and 
 Superftition. And 1 fuppofe they were more brier? 
 m thofe Times, when God Almighty, by his Pro- 
 phets, denounced fuch heavy Judgments, and Cc^erc 
 Puniihments. And this appears from what the 
 Do£tor himfelf hath obferved; for before the Light 
 of Revealed Religion, 3s he obferves in the begin- 
 ning of this Chapter we are confidering, the Practice 
 of Magick, and dealing with Familiar Spirits, was 
 no Crime, they then not knowing the Devil to be 
 their Enemy; and therefore fo many being fkilled in 
 thofe Arts, it muft be a long Time before fo great an 
 Evil could be rooted out ; but a greater and clearer 
 Light of Nature, and Severity of Laws, hath gra- 
 dually cleared the World of thofe Practices in a great 
 Meafure ; though I am apt to think, that the Devil 
 hath a great many Agents yet of that Kind, though 
 they work more cunningly, and do not act fo open- 
 faced. 
 
 But the Doctor adds, <c Some Obfervations con- 
 
 [[ cerning the State of the Age, and the particular 
 
 H.4, " Argu- 
 
[ 1*1 ] 
 
 Cc Arguments ^ with which they maintained their 
 Cc Opinion. 
 
 <c Firft, he fays> the Authority of thefe Inquifi- 
 c< tions was not grounded upon any Canon of a 
 c< Council, but a Pope's Bull." To which I anfwer, 
 that the Pope's Authority in his own Territories, is 
 counted fufficient ; and confequently the Inquifition 
 legal in their Conftirution • and if they found them 
 guilty, the Law of God condemns them. 
 
 The Doctor's Second Obfervation is, <c That their 
 cf Heads were full of Romances, Legends and Spi- 
 u rits , and Melancholy Notions." So that the 
 Doctor will allow evil Spirits to be in the People, 
 though not bewitched. And rather than want a 
 bundle of Words, inftead of an Argument, fuppofes 
 the whole Country to be Hypochondriack, and the 
 World a univerfal Mad-houfe, filled with a crazy 
 Generation. 
 
 His Third Obfervation is, <c That the Council of 
 <c Aqu'ileas had determined, they could not really 
 u change a Man or a Woman into any other Shape; 
 cc but the ConfeiTions of the Witches proved to the 
 €t contrary. 5 ' This is but a fmall Argument for the 
 Doctor : for though they may not be transformed in 
 Real Subftance, yet they may in Appearance, as is 
 manifeft by what the Doctor adds againft himfelf; 
 or Satan may delude them, fo that they think thcm- 
 felves transformed, and may appear fo, though they 
 are not. Inftances enough of which Delufions, we 
 have given in our Compleat H'ftory. 
 
 After fome Banter, not worth Notice, the Doctor 
 obferves, Page 113, that the caning Evidence in 
 moft Tryals, was the Confeflions of the Parties, 
 and thefe Confeflions were drawn from them by Tor- 
 tures. Thus they ufe the Rack upon the Wheel, in 
 other Crimes lefs heinous; but I lhould fcarce make 
 ufe of fuch Means, without very ftrong Preempti- 
 ons of Reality 3 but that beft appeared to thofe who 
 
 were 
 
r 15? ] 
 
 were to try them, and by the Circumfiances of their 
 Accusation and Tryal. But methinks the Do&or 
 ought not to fufpe£t thofeConfefiions, furze Page 210, 
 juft before, he acknowledges himfelf, that Herejy 
 and Witchcraft joined, were the Occafion of fo many 
 being executed. 
 
 The next Chapter is wholly fpent in Remarks on 
 our Statutes again ft Witchcraft, &c. but fince that 
 confifts either of Reflexions on Religion, or Suppo- 
 sitions of the Do&or's, I fee nothing that either 
 wants, or is worth while to argue about ; it is plain 
 the Government thought fit to make Statutes againft 
 fuch Practices ,- and that Page 224, Agnes Synipfony 
 and feveral others, confeffed themfelves guilty of 
 Witchcraft. u And Agnis Sympfon told King 
 cc James, ihe had been at Church at Eleven a Clock 
 cc at Night, with above a Hundred other Witches, 
 c< They had black Candles, me faid, fet round the 
 c< Pulpit, and the Devil, in a black Gown and Hat,. 
 c< preached to them, that they mould keep his Com- 
 <c mandments, of doing all the 111 they could. Then 
 u they opened Three Graves, and took the Fingers 
 <c and Toes, and Nofes of the Dead People, and 
 <4 me had a Winding-lheet, and Two Joints, for 
 u her Share. After that they kuTed the Devils 
 cc Backfide, and went away." Upon which King 
 James the Firft, a Prince of great Learning, and as 
 great natural Parts, took Care to provide a Statute 
 againft fuch Proceedings. The Words to that Pur- 
 pofe being as follows : Cl If any ihall take up any 
 cc dead Man, Woman, or Child, out of his or her, 
 Cc or their Graves, or any other Place where the 
 <c Dead Body refteth, or the Skin, Bones, or any 
 cc other Part of any dead Perfon, to be emploved or 
 t( ufed in any manner of Witchcraft, Inchantmenr, 
 <c Charm or Sorcery/' This the Doctor fuppo<es was 
 promoted by that good King ; and if fo, it is of 
 greater Force, and. an additional Argument on our 
 . H 5 Side: 
 
[ m ) 
 
 fide j For if fo great a Prince, both in Parts, Learn- 
 ing, and Piety, thought Reafon fufficient on his 
 Side, to perfuade him to fuch an Opinion, it ought 
 to have the ftronger Influence, fince it was not 
 either with defign of Profit or Advantage, that 
 moved him to that Faith, but the Evidence of Rea- 
 fon, Scripture, and moral Teftimony. 
 
 The Doftor goes on, <c And I muft add, that the 
 ,c Tranflation of our Bible being made foon after, 
 cc by King James's particular Defire, hath received 
 <c fome Phrafes that favour the vulgar Notions, more 
 <c than the old Tranflation did:" I am glad we have 
 fo worthy a Patriot on our Side, who was a great 
 Scholar, and unbiafled in his A&ions, and under- 
 ftanding that Language, was able to fee ]uftice done 
 to the Original. 
 
 But the Do£lor fays, K At that unhappy Time, 
 €c there was brought in that grofs Notion of a Fa- 
 * c miliar Spirit, though the Hebrew Word hath no 
 K Epithet at all ; and ihould rather have been tran- 
 f ' Hated into fome of thofe Words, that fignify a 
 ** cheating Ventrihquijir To which I anfwer, that 
 though there be no Epithet in the Hebrew, yet a* 
 thofe Spirits are made Familiar, by their Communi- 
 cation with fuch as employ them, the Epithet i* 
 juft ; but though the Do&or diflike the Epithet Fa- 
 miliar, yet he would gladly admit of the Epithet 
 Cheating, becaufe that would ferve his Purpofe ; be- 
 tides, the Word Ventriloquift , or fome of thofe, 
 'Would very well fait the Nature of his Difcourfe. 
 
 fage 227, the De&or proceeds, cl Not that I 
 u would have our cheating Fortunetellers, Jugglers, 
 cf pretended Conjurers, Witch- Doctors, Gypfies r 
 cc Calculators of Nativities, or any that are guilty 
 ** of cruel Curfes, and Threatnings, or any real 
 <c outward Acts of Sorcery, to be fuffered unpunifhed.. 
 u I am fo far from thar, that I heartily ivifh the 
 <c Grand-luries would prefent fuch Mifdemeanors, 
 
 « and 
 
Trrrr 
 
 c< and liave them puniihed more feverely than they 
 <c are.' 1 Here the Doctor owns real Acts of Sor- 
 cery, and would have them puniihed worfe than 
 they are ; though throughout his EfTay-, he was for 
 excuiing and mitigating both the Nature of their 
 Crimes and Puniihment. According to this,, it is a' 
 hard Thing to know which Side the Doctor is on ; 
 for now he contradicts what he hath often fa id be- 
 fore, and juft now in the lame Tags , where he 
 would have Familiar Spirits called cheating Ventri- 
 loqulfts ; the latter of which he explains elfewhere, 
 a way of duTembling and feigning of Sounds, So 
 that the Doctor represents Two Perfons, but not like 
 the Two Sofias in Amphitryon , which could not be- 
 diftinguifhed, but fo much oppoflte and unlikely y 
 that they are quite contrary to one another. 
 
 We lhall conclude this Chapter with this Obfer-- 
 vation, viz. That, the Doctor, Page 227, fays fur- 
 ther, " Thefe Doctrines have often been made. 
 cc Party- Caufes, both in our own and other Na-~ 
 <c tions.. One Side lays hold of them as Arguments ■• 
 cc of greater Faith and Orthodoxy, and clofer Adhe- 
 cc rence to Scripture, and calls the other Atheifts, , 
 cc Sadducees- and Infidels, The People eafily fall in 1 
 <c with fuch popular Pretences. 55 That thefe Do-- 
 ctrines are made ufe of as Party Bufinefs, is plain,, 
 by the Doctor's various Reflections ; and I am not 
 alhamed, that my Arguments and Opinion have this • 
 greater Truth, by their clofe Adherence to Scripture ^- 
 and though I call the Doctor neither Atheiit nor 
 Infidel, becaufe he thinks fit to vary his Opinion* 
 from fuch clofe Adherence to Scripture, yet I lhall be 
 glad to be one of th^fe People always, that fall in* 
 with fuch popular Pretences. I take the Scripture to 
 be the Rule and Standard of my Belief, as it is tram 
 flated and publiihed by the confent of the Church, 
 and with their Approbation, who are the Heads op' 
 the Church, and have. moft Right and Probability of 
 
leading mc in the right Way ; but if the Doctor 
 pleafes to quit his Adherence to the Scripture, and 
 difallows the Validity of its Teftimony, he may 
 be his own Chufer, but fhall not be my Director* 
 
 Hitherto we have confidered and examined what 
 the Doctor hath fiid of Witchcraft, either as he de- 
 fends his own Opinion, or is againft it, or ours,* ill 
 the next Place, he proceeds to a Collection of Impo- 
 ftors detected, as he calls them ; but my Intent be- 
 ing only to vindicate Truth, and not to concern my 
 felf on purpofe with Impofitions, I fhall leave the 
 Doctor to enjoy the Satisfaction he may have in his 
 Collection of Impoftures, having faid what is fuffi- 
 cientto vindicate our compleat Hiftory of confirmed 
 Truths. And though the Doctor fays, Page 286> t 
 u That that Judge that hangs a Witch, will never be 
 u thought a Conjurer:" Yet he that does not hang 
 a Witch upon fair Proof, and lawful Evidence, nei- 
 ther acts according to the Laws of God nor Man. 
 
 Having thus finifhed the firft Part, and exarnin'd 
 what the Doctor hath faid of Witchcraft we fhall 
 next proceed to the Second Part, where we fhall fur- 
 ther confider what is necefTary to determine the 
 Power and Poffibility of Witchcraft. 
 
 A Vin- 
 
[ *57 ] 
 
 VJ^Um UiV^U US\JL U-Vu. U/^XX^ ^LX^ «A -WxO. JV\J. .U'Vt J^V» -UAu. ij/v 
 
 y^ Vindication of a Compleat 
 Hiftory of Magick, Sor- 
 cery, dfft/ Witchcraft^ 6>V. 
 
 Ia Anfwer to 
 'Dr.Hutchinforfs Historical Essay. 
 
 Part II. 
 
 CHAP. I. 
 
 Of the Nature of Material and Imma- 
 terial Subftances. 
 
 HAT we may more clearly apprehend 
 how human Bodies may be affli&ed by 
 by the Power of Witchcraft^ and how 
 thofe Servants or Agents of the Devil 
 may put their evil Pra£tices in Execu- 
 tion, by the Mediation or Afilftance of evil Spirits, 
 we are to confider the Nature and Properties of hu- 
 man Bodies^ and of Spirits, and how the former may 
 be altered, and preternaturally indifpofed by the In- 
 fluence of the latter. 
 
 And firft, that we may form the clearer and more 
 intelligible Ideas > of the Nature and Properties of 
 
 human 
 
[ T S * J 
 
 human Bodies, we are to confider, that a human 
 Body confifts of Material Parts, and an Immaterial 
 Soul ; which united to that Body, aptly organized, 
 makes up the compleat Creature, called Man. 
 
 And as human Kind, which are chiefly the Sub- 
 je& the Devil and his Agents work upon, and affect 
 in the Pra&ice of Witchcraft^ confift of a Material 
 and Immaterial Subftance united, both of which are* 
 affe&ed by the Diabolical Power of Witchcraft ; that- 
 we may the better underftand how the former are 
 or may be difordered by the latter, both as-Material 
 and Immaterial, we fhall firft confider the Nature of 
 Material and Immaterial Subftar.ces, in Relation to 
 human Bodies, and then of Spirits Good or Evil- 
 efpecially Diabolical, as they aft upon both the for- 
 mer. 
 
 And firft, to form a clearer Notion or Idea of 
 human Bodtes, as material, we are to confider, that 
 when that great Omnipotent Power, which was the 
 firft Caufe of all Things, firft created Matter, it con- 
 firmed of Parts of an Homogeneous Nature ; no one 
 Part, as Matter, being different from another: So 
 that material Subftance in its Primitive State, and as 
 the Subftance of Accidents, was a fimilar Body, not 
 diverfificd by different Qualities. 
 
 But when, by the Will of that eternal Power, 
 who fir ft created Matter, the Parts of it were put hi 
 Motion, they foon divided one another into Parts of 
 different Sizes, Shapes and Magnitude ; which again 
 convening or being added together in various Man- 
 ners or Modes, according to that different Contexture 
 put on new Forms, and confequently Matter con- 
 lifting of Parts in different Forms, became Hetero- 
 geneous, in refpetl of one another, being diverii- 
 fied from one another by thofe Forms. 
 
 Now when Matter had thus put on different 
 Forms, by a new Convention or Coalition, and 
 Contexture of Parts, they acquired different Qua- 
 lities,. 
 
[ 1*9 1 
 
 lities, and a&ed upon one another after different 
 Manners, ftill adding to the Variety of new Forms, 
 and consequently different Qualities, as they were 
 united and joined together varioufly, and modified 
 after a diftincT: Manner. Thofe Compofitions of 
 new Forms, which were in Motion, and continued 
 fo, made up and compofed different Kinds of Li- 
 quids, or fluid Subftances, but thofe which happened 
 to ceafe from Motion, and to unite in a perfeft 
 Reft, formed folid Bodies, various according to> 
 their different united Parts, or the Variety of con- 
 certed Forms. 
 
 If then, primary Matter came thus to be diver* 
 flfied into different Subftances, and Liquid Bodies 
 confift of Parts in a conftant and perpetual Motion, 
 as long as they continue Fluid ; it will follow that 
 the Parts of Matter a£ting upon one another, by 
 Virtue of their Motion, will ftill break the Parts 
 of Matter fo compounded, into Parts of different 
 Size and Shape from what they were before ; and 
 thofe new modified Parts being again united, will 
 make different Subftances, or new Forms; and as 
 thefe Parts are more or lefs Ratified and Subtle, they 
 will infinuate themfelves betwixt the Parts of other 
 grofTer Bodies, and fubtilize and rarify them; but if 
 they meet with Parts that refift their Force, they 
 will be entangled betwixt thofe groffer Parts, and 
 lofing their acquired Motion, unite with that Solid, 
 and altering its Form by their Concurrence , will 
 alter its Qualities. 
 
 Thus Bodies, or material Subftances, by conftantly 
 a&ing one upon another, are fubjeft to fucceffive Al- 
 terations, and to put on new Forms, and confe- 
 quently to be endowed with new Qualities. So that 
 material Subftances being always liable to thefe Alte- 
 rations, are not only faid to be corruptible, lince 
 their Forms are always liable to be changed, and 
 their Qualities to differ; but as they compofe human 
 
 Bodies^ 
 
- [ i<?o ] 
 
 Bodies, either in a Solid or Liquid Form, thofe Bo- 
 dies are liable to Decay, and to be put out of their 
 Natural State; for human Bodies conflit not only 
 of Solid Parts, which may alter their Qualities, as 
 I juft obferved, by the addition of Parts in Motion, 
 entangled in their Pore*, and altering the Form of 
 the whole; but Liquid Bodies alfo being made up, 
 and compofed of Parts of different and heterogene- 
 ous Qualities, they likewife become fubje£t to Chan- 
 ges, and are liable to be depraved and perverted 
 from their natural State, which renders human Bo- 
 dies corruptible, and fubjeft to Death, or thofe lefs 
 pernicious Disorders, which occafion the various 
 Symptoms both of internal and external Diftem- 
 pers ; as Deliriums, Convulfive Motions of the Sto- 
 mach, lnteftines, and Diapbragma y and alfo of the 
 Mufcles; but when thefe appear, they are eafily di- 
 ftinguiihed, and known as the proper Symptoms 
 that attend particular Diftempers. 
 
 But the Liquid, and confequently the Solid Parts 
 of a human Body, are not only fubjeft to Altera- 
 tions, by the Influence and mutual Coa£Hon of the 
 Parts of the fame Body, but alfo by the Concurrence 
 of external Caufes, which are Extrinfick, and Non- 
 natural, in refpe£r of thofe Humours that the Body 
 conlifts of; as the Temperature of the Air, the Qua- 
 lities of which are varioufly diverfify'd , accord- 
 ingly as it is impregnated with the addition of Par- 
 ticles exhaling from the Bowels, or the Superficies of 
 the Earth. 
 
 Human Bodies receive different Alterations like- 
 wise, from the various Natures, or the Temper of 
 thofe Things they receive their Nourifhment from ; 
 whether Solids, as common Food of different Kinds, 
 or Liquids of feveral Natures, either altered by Fer- 
 mentation, Digeftion, or Diftillation. 
 
 The Tempers of our Bodies alfo are very much al- 
 tered, by the ftrong Impreflions of Paflions of the 
 
 Mind • 
 
[ i6i ] 
 
 Mind ; for as the Mind is of a chearful or melan- 
 choly Difpofition, fo the Humours of human Bodies 3 
 are better or kfs digeftcd ; and confequently the 
 Temper of the whole altered ; thus we fee tho r e of a 
 chearful Temper of Mind., of a hearty and whole- 
 fome Difpofition of Body, brifk, lively, and viva- 
 cious ; whereas thofe of melancholy Difpofitions y 
 linger and pine away ; and accordingly, as Bodies 
 are more or lefs inclined to either of theie Two 
 Tempers, fo Conftitutions vary , and are either 
 healthful and ftrong, or infirm and difordered. 
 
 Nay, the Impreflions of the Mind are fo rtrong, 
 and the Difpofition of the Humours fo eafily altered 
 by them, that daily Experience is fufficient to con- 
 vince us, how the Temperature of the Body is to be 
 difcovered by the Influence of the Soul. Several 
 Perfons, through Grief; and Sorrow, gradually de- 
 cline, pine away, and die ; and others, by the con- 
 trary Paflions, having their Spirits raifed and anima- 
 ted, recruit and recover from a lingring Condition, 
 
 j to a State of Health. 
 
 j There is fuch a flricl Union betwixt the Soul ani 
 Body, that they both Sympathize with their mutual, 
 or each others Changes; if the Body be affli&ed, the 
 Soul fufFers, and the Spirits are deprefTed, and con- 
 fequently the whole languifhes and decays. 
 
 Thus much being fufficient to our prefent Purpofe, 
 as to the Nature of Material Subftances, which are 
 
 * fubjeft to Changes, and are endowed with corrupti- 
 ble Qualities ; we fhall next, according to our pre- 
 fent Intention, proceed to conlider the Nature of 
 immaterial Subftances, as they relate to human Souls, 
 or fuch immaterial Subftances as may be united, and 
 cohabit with them, and be of eternal Duration, and 
 continue with them for ever. 
 
 What Changes Matter, in the State it is now in, 
 mult undergo, to become immaterial or immortal, we 
 cannot fo throughly underftand, as to form adequate 
 
 Notions 
 
[ I<J* ] 
 
 Notions of it; we can only affirm Negatively, that 
 an immaterial Subftance mull have none of thofe 
 Qualities it now hath in a Mortal State ; an imma- 
 terial Subftance muft not confift of Parts in Motion, 
 as Matter does, for then they would be apt and fub- 
 je£t to Decay, Parts flying away, and making a lofs 
 of Subftance ; they muft not want Supplies of addi- 
 tional Subftance, none of their former being want- 
 ing; their Sight muft be of another Kind, and a 
 different manner of Viiion, having no fuch Organs 
 as are common to corruptible Creatures; nor muft 
 their other Qualities be like thofe of corruptible 
 Bodies. 
 
 But tho 5 we cannot form adequate Notions of 
 this Change, nor throughly comprehend how Matter 
 may be fo altered as to become immaterial, yet that 
 it may and will be fo, is plain from the Teftimony 
 of Scripture, and the Article of our Belief concern- 
 ing the Refurrection. And firft, i Cor.. I <. 40. we 
 are told, There are alfo celeftial Bodies, and Bodies 
 terreftnal ; but the Glory of the celeftial is one, and 
 the Glory of the ierreftrial another. And again, 
 v. 51, 52. We flail not all fie ep, hut we [ball he 
 changed, in a moment, in the tmnkling of an eye, 
 at the laft Trump. Tor the Trumpet [hall found, 
 and the Bead fhall he rat fed incorruptible, and roe 
 flmll be changed. And to ill uft rate this Change; 
 v. 53. the Apoftle fays, Tor this Corruptible muft 
 put en Incorrttption , and this Mortal muft pat on 
 Immortality. From whence it appears, that this 
 Body muft not only be incorruptible, but what now 
 is fubje£t to Corruption, muft be fo alter'd as to be- 
 come immortal, and confequently an immaterial 
 Subftance ; fince what is not immaterial, muft be 
 mortal. 
 
 But to mew further that Matter muft be fo alter'd 
 as to become immaterial, the Apoftle {v. 44. of the 
 fame Chapter) tells us more intelligibly the Imma- 
 teriality 
 
1 1*3 1 
 
 teiiality of this changed mortal Subftance, in thefe 
 Words ; It is fown a natural Body, it is rat fed 
 a fpiritual Body : So that it muft needs follow, 
 that if this Celeftial, incorruptible, immortal Bo- 
 dy becomes fpiritual, it muft confequently be im- 
 material • lince all fpiritual Bodies are immaterial 
 Subftances. 
 
 And that Material Subftances may and will be 
 changed into immaterial ones, is further evident 
 from what we find in the Third Chapter of Philip-* 
 plans ^ v. 21. the Verfe before fpeaking of our Lord 
 Jefus Chrift, xoho [hall change our vile Body, that it 
 may he fajhloned like unto his gloriozrt Body ; where 
 this vile terreftrial Houfe we live in, made of Clay, 
 is to be changed into an immaterial Subftance. 
 
 From what we have faid it appears, That Matter 
 may be changed into an Immaterial Subftance, 
 which muft be united to and cohabit with the Soul, 
 and be of Eternal Duration, and continue with it 
 for ever : And that this is the Senfe afid Mean- 
 ing of the Scripture, not only appears from the 
 Texts already mention'd, but from the Opinion of 
 the Church deliver'd in the Articles of our Faith ; 
 and firft in that of 
 
 Article II. Of the Word y or Son of God, which 
 was made very Man. 
 
 The Son, which is the Word of the Father, be- 
 gotten from Everlafting of the Father, the very and 
 Eternal God , of one Subftance with the Father, 
 took Man's Nature in the Womb of the blelTed Vir- 
 gin, of her Subftance : So that Two whole and per- 
 fe£t Natures, that is to fay, the Godhead and Man- 
 hood, were joined together in One Perfon, never to 
 be divided 1 
 
 And 
 
[ I<J 4 ] 
 
 And that Matter muft be fo changed as to 
 become immaterial, and lofe its corruptible mortal 
 Qualities, (given to Change, and fubje£t to acciden- 
 tal Alterations) and that it muft put on fuch a 
 Form as will make it capable of Eternal Duration, 
 is not only evident from this Article of our Faith 7 
 but alfo from the Fourth Article. 
 
 Art I CLE IV. Of the RefurreBion of Chrifl. 
 
 Chrift did truly rife from Death , and took again 
 his Body, with Fleih, Bones, and all Things apper- 
 taining to the Perfe£tion of Man's Nature, where- 
 with he afcended into Heaven, and there fitteth un- 
 til he return to judge all Men at the laft Day. 
 
 From both which Articles of our Belief it is not 
 only manifeft , that corruptible Matter muft put on 
 lncorruption, but alfo that Material Subftance muft 
 become immaterial, otherwife it would not be of 
 everlafiing Duration : And that Matter muft under- 
 go this Change, and become immaterial, is not on- 
 ly plain from the Evidence of Scripture • as I Cor. 
 1 %. 49, 50. And a* xoe have horn the Image of the 
 Earthy , xoe [hall alfo hear the Image of the Hea- 
 venly. Novo this 1 fay, Brethren , that Flefh and 
 Blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God ; neither 
 can Corruption inherit lncorrnptwi : I fay, it is not 
 only evident from Scripture, that Matter muft un- 
 dergo this Change, but Reafon it felf convinceth us 
 of the Neceffity of it : For as Material Bodies are 
 conftantly fubje& to Decay, and ftand in need of 
 frefh Supplies of Nouriftiment to fupport them, 
 and are too of a perifhing Kind ; fo it is neceflary 
 they ihould be transformed into Celeftial, or Imma- ' 
 terial Spirituous Bodies, that ftand in need of no 
 fuch Suftenance ; but may be durable and fit to con- 
 tinue, 
 
[ *6$ 1 
 
 tinne, without being fubjeft to Alterations^ to all 
 Eternity. 
 
 And here we may take notice and obferve by 
 the by, that the Soul does not only want and ftand 
 in need of a flelhly and carnal Body in this World, 
 to make it a fit Habitation on this Globe , and 
 adapted with proper Organs of Senfe, to convey 
 Ideas o c carnal Things to it whilft it remains here, 
 that the Soul may have a true Senfe and Tafte of 
 worldly Obje&s, to render this World in fome mea- 
 fure fatisfa&ory to it ; but alib we are to take no- 
 tice, that Celeftial Souls or Spirits have Celeftial Bo- 
 dies joined to them, as proper Habitations for thofe 
 more refined Subftances in thofe Mmiions of Bli{s y 
 and aptly formed to make them ferviceable in thofe 
 Celeftial Regions, and fit to convey Spiritual Ideas 
 of Heavenly Obje&s to that more Intelle&ual Sub- 
 fiance which is joined to thefe Celeftial Bo- 
 dies. 
 
 Having faid thus much of Material and Immate- 
 rial Subftances in their neareft Relation to one ano- 
 ther, and as the one forms Terreftrial and the other 
 Celeftial Bodies ; we thall next proceed to take a 
 View, in fome Meafure, of thofe more refined Spirits 
 which inhabit thefe Celeftial Bodies , and which 
 are more immediately concerned in the A&ions of 
 Immaterial Spirits ; or which a r e Celeftial Subftan- 
 ces of a more refined Nature and Power, endowed 
 with the Qualities of Thinking, Reafoning, and 
 of Communicating their Ideas from one to the 
 other. 
 
 The next Degree of Immaterial Subftances (above 
 that which confifts of Matter, tranfmuted and 
 changed into an Immaterial Subftance, and which 
 forms Celeftial Bodies) is the Soul or Spirit of a 
 Man, which hath the Power of Thinking, Reafon- 
 ing , and receiving Ideas of External Objects, not 
 only by the common Senfories which convey them 
 
 from 
 
[ i66] 
 
 from External Objects, but alfo of reciprocal Con- 
 veying and Receiving Ideas of Obje&s laid up in 
 the common Repofltories of the Mind from one to 
 another. 
 
 This Power of communicating our Ideas from 
 one to the other, is a ftrong Argument and Demon- 
 ftration of the Sublimity and Excellency of a Ra- 
 tional Soul in Human Fleih fublifting : And tho* 
 here we fee but thro' a Glafs darkly, being clouded 
 by the Incumbrance of Terreftrial Vapours about 
 our Underitandings, which obftruft the brighter O- 
 perations of the Mind ; yet when we come to fee 
 Face to Face y in a refined, Celeitial, and Immaterial 
 Body, our Thinking will be more fublime, our Con- 
 ceptions clearer, and our Ideas brighter. Yet the 
 Soul, even as it is, in its darkfome Cell of flefhly 
 Subitance, is a glorious Specimen of Infinite Wis- 
 dom, and ftupendous Power. 
 
 God Almighty hath not only endowed us with the 
 Capacity of Thinking, and Reafoning, and Recei- 
 ving as well as Communicating Ideas of Things 
 about us, but hath enabled us to contemplate his 
 Works of Superior Orders, and to know likewife 
 that we are not much Inferior to fome of them. 
 TfaL 8. ^. For thou haft made htm a little lower than 
 the Angeh -, and haft crowned him with Glory and 
 Honour. 
 
 And this Capacity God hath given us of difcern- 
 ing our State and Station, till we fhall be tranflated 
 to his Celeftial Mansions, gives a certain and unde- 
 niable Proof of the Exiftence of human Souls or 
 Spirits little lower than Angels , and confequently of 
 the Exiftence of thofe Superior Orders betwixt us 
 and his Infinite Eternal Spirit. It gives us an in- 
 difputable Confirmation of our Exiftence, bccau r e we 
 know that we have the Power to know, and there- 
 fore are certain that we exift, becaufe we are fallible 
 of the Qualities of our exifting Subitance, that is 
 4 endowed 
 
[ i*7 1 
 
 endowed with the Ability of Thinking, Reafoningi 
 and Decerning : And as we difcern thofe Qualifica- 
 tions of our Soul, fo we are affined that there is a 
 Soul which is the Spring from whence thofe Qua- 
 lities rife. 
 
 And tho' we cannot form exactly adequate Ideas 
 of that Immaterial Spirit, or Thinking Subftance ; 
 yet, as the great Mr. Locks^ in his profound Ejjay 
 of Human Undsrftanding , obferves ; c< If a Man 
 <c will examine hinruelf concerning his Notion of 
 <c pure Subftance in general, he will find he hath 
 <c no other Ideas of it, but by a Suppofition of he 
 <c knows not what Support of fiich Qualities, which 
 <c are capable of producing fimple Ideas in us ; 
 <c which Qualities are commonly called Accidents. 
 < c Thus if we talk or think of my Corporeal Sub- 
 ic ftance , as Horfe, Stone, &c. tho' the Idea we 
 cc have of either of them be but the Complication 
 ci or Collection of thofe feveral fimple Ideas, or fen- 
 u iible Qualities, which we ufe to find united in 
 <c the Obje6l called Horfe or Stone • yet becaufe we 
 cc cannot conceive how they mould fubfift alone, nor 
 cc one in another, we fuppofe them to fubfift in, 
 <c and to be fupported by fome common Subje£t ; 
 cc which Support we denote by the Name of Sub- 
 cc ftance, tho' it be certain we have no clear or di- 
 c< ftindt Idea of that Thing we fuppofe a Sup- 
 ec port. 
 
 cc The fame Thing happens concerning the Ope- 
 rc ration of our Mind, viz. Thinking, Reafoning, 
 cc Fearing, gfc. which we, concluding not to fub- 
 cc fift of themfelves, a::d not apprehending how 
 <c they can belong to Body, are apt to think thefe 
 <c the Anions of fome Subftance we call Spirit.: 
 <c Whereby it is evident, that having no other No- 
 <c tion of Matter, but iomething wherein thefe ma- 
 cc ny fenlible Qualities wh'xh affect our Senfes do 
 c< fubfift, by fuppofing a Subftance wherein Think- 
 
 " ing, 
 
[ i<J8 ] 
 
 €C ing, Knowing, Doubting, and a Power of Mo- 
 <c ving do fubfift, we have as clear a Notion of the 
 cc Nature or Subftance of Spirit, as we have of Bo- 
 <c dy ; the one being fuppoftd to be (without know- 
 cc ing what it is) the Subfiratum ro thofe fimple 
 c . { Ideas which we have from without ; and tlie other 
 c( fuppofed ( with a like Ignorance of what it is) to 
 cc be the Suhftratum of thofe Operations which we 
 c< experiment in our felves within. It is plain then, 
 cc that the Idea of Corporeal Subftance in Matter 
 c< is as remote from our Conceptions and Appre- 
 Cf henfions, as that of Spiritual Subftance ; and there- 
 cc fore from our not having any Notion of the Sub- 
 K ftance of Spirit, we can no more conclude its not 
 " Exifting, than we can for the fame Reafon deny 
 <c the Exiftence of Body • it being as rational to af- 
 tc firm there is no Body, becaufe we cannot know 
 
 * its Effcnce as it's called, or have the Idea of the 
 '* Subftance of Matter, as to fay there is no Spirit, 
 <c becaufe we know not its Effence, or have no Idea 
 
 * of Spiritual Subftance. 
 
 And this may not only be fufficient to fatisfy us 
 as to the Exiftence of a reafonable Soul, or the Im- 
 material Spirit of a Human Body, which muft be 
 joined to an Immortal Subftance, or Body, after 
 Death. 
 
 And as this Immaterial Subftance hath the Power 
 and Capacity of thinking, reafoning, and retaining 
 Ideas of Things (adequate or inadequate) about us, 
 which are Obje&s of Senfe, or Things without our 
 Sphere, which we cannot comprehend, but only con- 
 template, tho* we are fare of their Exiftence : fo 
 we are as certain that we have the Power of retain- 
 ing Ideas of thofe Things, and of communicating 
 them one to another : This we are convinced of, 
 by our frequent Ccnverfation and Correfpondcnce 
 with one another. 
 
 And 
 
F i*9 1 
 
 And by the fame Rule and Manner of reafonihg* 
 tve are as certain of the Exiftence ( as I fiid before,) 
 of a Superior Order of Spirits above us. Angel 5 
 have often made their Appearance upon Earth as 
 Meffengers of Goc], and Miniftring Spirits, which is 
 the Signification of their Name " /\y),*h&- ; God Al- 
 mighty employing thofe good Spirits more immedi- 
 ately under him, to execute thofe more fublime Offi- 
 ces which he hath thought necefTary for his own 
 Glory and the Good of Mankind ; which is evident 
 from feveral Places in Scripture, both in the Old and 
 New Teftament : As Gen. 24. 7. The Lord God of 
 Heaven, which took me from my Father s Houfe i and 
 from the hand of my Kindred^ and which fpake unfa 
 me, and which fware unto me, faying, Unto thy Seed 
 will Igws this Land ; He fhjUfnd his Angel before 
 thee. And again, Exod. 23. 23. For mine Angel 
 /.hall go before thee? and bring thee in unto the Ano- 
 rites. Again, John 5. 4. For an Angel went down 
 at a certain feafon into the Fool, and troubled the 
 Water. And an Angel not only appeared to the 
 Centinel that guarded our Saviour's Body when 'aid 
 in the Sepulchre, but to Zacbur'nis before the Birrh 
 of John, to inform him that his Wife Eliz.ibeth 
 mould bear a Son. Luke 1. 11. And there appeared 
 unto him an Angel of the Lord, fianding on the right 
 hand of the Altar of Incenfe. And v. 1 2 1 3. When 
 Zacharias faw him, he was troubled, and Fear fell 
 upon him. But the Angel {aid unto him , Fear not 
 Zacharias ; for thy Prayer is heard, and thy wife E* 
 lizabeth foall bear th?e a Son, and th:u {halt call his 
 name John. From whence it appears, that' Angels 
 have openly demonftrated their Exiftence, by their 
 publick way of executing the Commands and Will 
 of God. 
 
 From what we have hitherto obferved of the Na- 
 ture of Immaterial Subliances, it is ev'de :r That 
 the Souls of Men. (whi:h I reckon in (he Second 
 * Degree 
 
[ i?o ] 
 
 "Decree of Immaterial Subfiances) have not only the : 
 •Power of communicating their Thoughts, and thofe 
 .acquired Ideas laid up in the Refervatoiy of their 
 . Minds ; but that Angels, which may be reckon'd a 
 Third Degree of Immaterial Subflances, hold Corre- 
 Xpondence with Men, and can convey the Will of 
 their Creator to them , when they receive his Order 
 and Commands. And this they do, not only by open 
 and naked Conversion and perfbnal Appearances, 
 b ut fometimes by a more fecret way of Communica- 
 tion, conveying fuch Ideas into the Minds of Men 
 as may reprefent their Thoughts without Speaking, 
 or Vocal Sounds, to affect the External Senfory, As 
 when an Angel appeared to Jofeph in a Dream, 
 ■Mat. T. 18, \p, 2c, 21. before the Birth of our Sa- 
 viour. When a* his Mother ?Aary was gfpoufed to Js- 
 fepby before they came together, /he was found with 
 Child of the Holy Ghoft. ° Then Jofeph her Hu[band y 
 being a juft Man^ and not willing to make her a 
 fublick Example, wa<s minded to put her away pri- 
 vily. But while he thought on thefe Things , behold 
 the Angel of t he Lord appeared to him in a Dream, 
 faying , Jofeph, thou Son of David, fear not to take 
 unto thee' Mary thy Wife, for that which is conceived 
 in her is of the Holy Ghoft : And /he [hall bring forth 
 a Son, and thou (halt call his name Jefm ; and he 
 [hall fave the People from their Sins. And Jacob 
 when 1 e ilept in h s way to Haran> faw in a Vifion 
 what we muft allow to be true, being teftirVd by 
 Holy Writ, Gen. 28. T2. And he dreamt, and be- 
 hold a Ladder fet upon the Earthy and tb? Top of it 
 reached to Heaven : And behold, the Aigels of God 
 amending and defending upon it. 
 
 From what we have faid, it appears, how Imma- 
 terial Subflances of a Superior Order and Degree to 
 the Spirits of Men, may communicate their Thoughts 
 r ; or only by Words to the Souls of Men, but even fe- 
 crctly may convey fuch Ideas as reprefent their 
 
 Thoughts 
 
[ 1*1 ] 
 
 Thoughts, into the Minds of Men in Dreams, and 
 whilft they ileep. We might add feveral other 
 Texts of Scripture to the fame Purpofe : but tliefe 
 may be iufricient to our prefent Dclign , which is to 
 Jhew hovv Spirits, or Immaterial Subftances, may 
 aft upon one another, and communicate their 
 Thoughts ; which ferve to dluftrate the Nature of 
 Immaterial iubftances, and to make the Idea we 
 have of them more clear and intelligible, as well 
 as to give us a truer Reprefentation of the Nature of 
 them. 
 
 Thus much being faid of the Nature cf thefe Im- 
 material Subftances as fhey relate to good Angels, 
 we mall next fee what we are to think of thole evil 
 Angels which are the Authors not only of their own 
 DeftrucHon, but of all the Miferies and Misfortunes 
 ■of Mankind. Thefe, in their firft Stite, were of 
 the fame Degree of Glory with the reft ; and not- 
 withstanding their Fall thro' their Folly and Tranf- 
 •greflions , yet they are full Immaterial Subftances of 
 the fame Degree or Order as to the Nature of their 
 Subftance, tho' their Rebellion againft the moil 
 H ! gh God (which is the Fourth, and moft infinite- 
 ly Superior Order of Immaterial Subftances) hath 
 made them Outcafts, or Devils : The word &/*&*&') 
 which is derived from zW£*x\c ? Transjicio, figiv- 
 fying Outcafts, or Angels caft out of Heaven for 
 their rebellions Tranfgrefiions againft' the God of 
 Heaven and Earth. Thus 2 Pet. 2. 4. God [pared 
 not the Angels that finn°J y hut cafl th*m down to 
 H:U) and deliver d them into Chains of Darkn?fs. 
 And aeain, Juds 6. The Av?els that kept not their 
 fir ft Eflate, but left their Habit at ion , he hath re- 
 ferved in everlaftwg Chains under Darknefs. Ar.d 
 further, Mat. 2<t. 41. Depart from me> ys atr[ed % 
 into everlafing fire^ prepared for ths Devil and his 
 
 Aizdi, 
 
 c 
 
 I 2 Thefe 
 
[ 17* 3 
 
 Thefe evil Angels had not long left their Rrfk 
 "State before they began to contrive the Fall of Man- 
 kind, and made ufe of their Art and Cunning to 
 bang us into the fame Condition with themfelves : 
 And as good Angels have their Power to a£t as Mi- 
 niftring Spirits to a good Purpofe, fo thefe having 
 loft their Happinefs by their Rebellion againft their 
 Maker, attempted to betray Mankind, and make us 
 guilty of the like Tranfgreflion, in difobeying the 
 Will and Commands of God. To this End, the De- 
 vil tempted Eve in the Shape of a Serpent to eat of 
 forbidden Fruit, and break that firft Commandment, 
 which laid us open to the Wrath of God, which 
 deprived us of the Blifs and Happinefs we had other- 
 wife enjoy'd in that delightful Paradife which oar 
 firft Parents were placed in. 
 
 And as the Devil at the firft made ufe of a Wo- 
 rn m to betray us to Eternal Mifery, fo now and all 
 A> s lince, he hath made ufe of thofe Agents to 
 exrc te his ill Defigns ; which is fully demonftrated 
 by thofe Valfals of his, who concur with evil An- 
 gels to put in Practice the Diabolical Arts of Ma- 
 gick, Sorcery and Witchcraft. And that we may 
 the better underftand how the Devil is aififting to 
 thefe deluded Creatures that enter themfelves into 
 his Service, and forfake their God to a£l under his 
 Banner ; having in this Chapter confider'd the Na- 
 ture of Immaterial Subftances, and ihewn briefly 
 how they may influence Material Bodies in fome 
 meafure ; we (ball, in the next, proceed to obferve 
 more fully how Immaterial Subftances may alter Mac- 
 -ter^ and afFccl Human Bodies. 
 
 CHAP. 
 
[ 173 1 
 
 CHAP. II. 
 
 Of the Power of Immaterial Suhflances in* 
 altering Material Sttbjlances^ and affeB- 
 ing Human Bodies. 
 
 TJRom what hath been faid in the foregoing Cftap- 
 •^ ter, it fufficiently appears how Immaterial Sub- 
 stances may affe& one another, by communicating 
 Ideas, and transferring them, or fecretly conveying 
 them into the Minds of Men. Now fince there are 
 both good and evil Angels ; accordingly, as the 
 Mind is furnith'd with good or bad Reprelentations 
 of Things j and receives thofe different ImprelTions 
 from Mmiftring Spirits of a Divine Nature, or from 
 the Devil and his Angels, it will follow confequent- 
 ly, that the Difpofition of the Soul will be altered, 
 and differently inclined to good or bad Works : And 
 when the Devil hath thus fecretly gained the Advan- 
 tage, he will purfue his lntenrion and Vurpofe in de- 
 luding thofe he hath prewii'd upon to put his evil 
 Defigns in Execution, and to tranfgrefs the Laws of 
 God varioufly, as they are difpofed to commit Crimes 
 of feveral Kinds* 
 
 And fince it is evident that evil Spirits mav have 
 a private Communication with the Souls of Men, 
 and incline them to commit Wkkednefs, and to 
 tranfgrefs the Laws of God and Men ; no doubt 
 but they will be willing and ready to aflift them in 
 thofe ill Actions, which they are not able to com- 
 mit themfelvcs without Help. And tho' Sins of a 
 lefs Degree may be put in Execution not only by the 
 C onfent of, but by the immediate Act. of Human Bo- 
 d ies ; as Theft, Munher, £fc. yet fince the Diabo- 
 1 3 . lical 
 
r X74 ] 
 
 fieal Arts of Magick, Sorcery and Witchcraft, re- 
 quire not only the Consent of the Perfon who is the 
 Devil's Agent, bat like wife his A finance in putting 
 their evil Intentions in Practice afer a private and 
 lecret mao:,er 3 it is evident he will be willing upoa 
 all Occafion*, and iii all different wrys, either their 
 Envy and Malice or his cunning and era-fry Devices 
 can connive, to execute their ill Intentions* 
 
 And forafmuch as tho'e that -are tormented and 
 fup rnaturally affected with the Power of Witch- 
 enfr, are diforder'd both in Body and Mind, by the 
 Mediation of an ill Spirit that purs the Intentions 
 of fuch wicked Perfons in Execution ; we ihalt 
 next consider how Immaterial Subftances miy^altcr 
 the Fo ; ms of Matter, and confequent'y their Quali- 
 ties, ard a .'eel human Bodies with Diforders and ir- 
 regular Symptoms, contrary to the common Courft 
 of Nuure. 
 
 How Immaterial Sub/knees may afredl one ano- 
 th- r, and alter the Difpofition of the Mind, we have 
 already observed ; viz. by loading it wi h Ideas of 
 ■an ill or irregular Kind, which may either incline it 
 to wicked Pra^kes, as thofe wretched Creatures are 
 thar practife Witchcraft ; or by the Content or the 
 Hequeft of thofe Witches, thefe evil Angels may 
 convey fuch Ideas into the Mind of the Perfon who 
 is diforder'd by the Devil and his Agents, as may oc- 
 cafion irregular Symptoms, and create unufual Pains 
 and Tortures. 
 
 And that TmmateriarSpirits may not only diforder 
 the Mind, and thus difquiet the Soul, but diforder 
 the Body alfo, wilt be further evident, if we feri- 
 oufly reflect upon the great Diforders that happen in 
 human Bodies only by the Influence of our own 
 Soul, when di 'quieted with irregular Pa (lions of the 
 Mind : Some with Grief and Sorrow pine away and 
 dye ; and others, tho* their Flefh is almoft confumed; 
 and wafted away, yet when that uneafy Pa (lion ia 
 
 removed 
 
[ ITS I 
 
 removed that before difordcr'd the Sod,' they pie* 
 fently recover their Strength, and grow ltrong ani 
 lulty agaid. And that the Soul of Man, which is 
 arrJmmaterial Subftance, hath fo great an Influc 
 as to alter the Difpoficion of human Bodies fo 
 much, not only the common Obfervation oF the 
 World tefYifies , but even the Scripture : As Prov, 
 I<v 13. A merry Heart makes a chsarfal Counte- 
 nance \ but bj Sorrow of the Hearty the Spnit is 
 broken. And again, Prov. 17.22. A merry H 
 does goo. I like a Ale. Heine 5 but a broken Spirit 
 dries the Bones. And farther, Prov. 18, 14. The Spi- 
 rit of a Man xcrfl fuftain his Infirmities • but a 
 wounded Spirit xoho can bear I 
 
 And if the Soul of Man, difquiet or difordered, 
 occafions fuch great Enormities, and irregular 
 Symptoms and Accidents, as often happen by the 
 Pafiions of tire Mind, and the Strength of Imagina- 
 tion, what ft range Accidents may be produced by 
 the forcible Power of an immaterial Subftance, of a 
 faperior Degree , and endowed with far greater 
 Strength and Capacity, as well as Difpofition to do 
 Mifchief: and if the Devil can diforder the Soul with 
 a much greater Force than Pafiions of the Mind, as 
 he is a more active and fubtle Spirit, Why may he 
 not occalion much greater Diforders in material Sub- 
 dances, and natural Humours, that fluctuate in hu- 
 man Bodies ; and as his Power is fupemitural, it is 
 but reafonable to fuppofe and allow, that this Power 
 exerted, mud produce fupernatural Effects. 
 
 And fince a fupernatural Power can produce fuper- 
 natural Effects, and this Diabolical Power goes about 
 like a Lion, feeking whom he may devour, it is no 
 wonder he puts his Power in Execution in deluding, 
 and communicating with fuch dduded Creatures, who j 
 make that wicked Compact with him, to fulfil their : 
 wicked Defires, in tormenting and torturing other ♦ 
 I 4, People^ 
 
1 r 7 6 ] 
 
 Peopkj whom Envy and Malice may move them to 
 difturb. 
 
 And that the Devi] and his Angels being imma- 
 terial Subftances of more Power and Subtiky than ( 
 Jiuman Souls, can produce more dreadPul Accidents 
 In human Bodies, than what are natural, is evident 
 from the great Force they have in a Sing upon Mat- 
 ter, fo as to be able to move Bodies of confiderable 
 Weight and Bulk, to diftant Places , without any 
 vifible Contact. The Scripture tells us of his mo- 
 ving our Saviour into a high Mountain, and carry- 
 ing him up, and fetting him upon the Pinnacle of 
 the Temple : And it is recorded, and carry *d down 
 to us by Tradition, how he hath moved Bodes more 
 ponderous and heavy. There is a Church belonging 
 to a Town, in Oxford Road from London, which 
 Hands upon a high Hill, remote from the Place,, 
 where nobody would cbufe to build fueh a Fabrick, 
 k being both troublefome to the People to afcend 
 fuch a Hill, as well as inconvenient in bad Weather ; 
 and if you aft the People who are Inhabitants there- 
 abouts how it came to be built there, they will tell 
 you, that the Stones which were prepared to build it 
 in a more convenient Place, were carry \i away ii* 
 the Night by a Diabolical Power, fo thar they were 
 obliged to build it there, or not at all. There is 
 another on a high Hill in DevQnflrire, that the In- 
 habitants give the fame Account of, in the Read 
 from Exster to "Plymouth. And in Cbefhtre> there is, 
 a Pavement fome Miles long and broad, th.it was 
 built or laid in one Night , without any human 
 Knowledge or Affiitance ever known. I might 
 mention feveral other ftrange Actions of Diabolick 
 Power of this Kind ; but thefe are fufficient to mew 
 what Power immaterial Subftances have to move 
 and a<$ upon material, Jubilances a or corporeal 
 Boies. i 
 
 In* 
 
I *77 1 
 
 - Bat not to mention thefe Hiftorical Accounts, 
 which are carried down from our Anceftors to Po- 
 sterity, we may be fully convinced of the Truth of 
 this Diabolical Power, to acT upon Matter, and 
 confequently .human Bodies, by Inftances contained 
 in Holy Writ ; as the Magi, who by their Charms, 
 imitated moit of the Acts done by Mofes^ afiifted by 
 Divine Power. 
 
 And if thole evil Spirits have fo much Power up- 
 on Bodies of Bulk and folid Weight, how much 
 cafier may they aft upon the Himou-s and Parts of 
 a human Body ; either as when they act in Poffef- 
 lions, or at the Requeft of a wicked Man or Wo- 
 man, who hath made a Compaft and Agreement 
 wirh them, who hath forfaken her God, and given 
 way to thelniinuations, and falfe Deluiions of the 
 Devil. And if thefe Spirits further can tranfport 
 Solid Bodies of vaft Weight, how much eafier may 
 they move violently the fmall Minute Pares of Fluid 
 Humours, and occafion violent Convulfions of the 
 Parts, and exquiiite Pain, by twinging the fenlible 
 Pans, which receive the Impreflion of fuch Bodies^ 
 and occafion the Senfe of Feeling* 
 
 And if thefe Spirits , or incorporeal Subftancesj 
 can convey Idea's of Things iecretly into the 
 Mind, and thus insinuate themfelves into the chief 
 and principal Seat of the Soul, where (he performs 
 the nobleft Operations of the Mind : why cannoc 
 they purfue all the fine Meanders of the Body, and 
 accompany the Soul id her Operations there, and 
 produce ill Effc£h preternatural , and above the 
 Power of natural Force? That they do, is certain, 
 ftom the Teftimony of Scripture, and the different 
 Anions mentioned in Holy Writ, of Diabolick 
 Kinds, both in the Old and Ne.v Teftament; a 
 great many of which I have quoted and laid down, 
 in the feveral Chapters cf this Book, upon different 
 Occasions, and -therefore ihall not have Occasion' 
 
 I 5 to 
 
r 17a ] 
 
 -to repeat them again ; as when the Witch of Endor 
 raifed Samuel ; Devils of different Kinds, poiTeiling. 
 the Bodies nf Men and Beaft, gfc. 
 
 Thus iv;u.:h may be fufheient to mew the Capacity 
 im materia] Subffances have to inflict Pains and 
 Tortures, as well as evil Communications and 
 Thoughts upon Mank nd. But fince we have taken 
 Notice of the different ill Efteils produced by theft 
 evil Angels, and what various Ways they tike to 
 do Mifchief; we mall further obferve, that as we 
 have diftinguifoed immaterial Subftances, by Four 
 principal Orders or Degrees: Viz. Firft, that imma- 
 terial Subftance that compofes the riling Body, and 
 winch is the eternal Habitation of the Sou). 
 Secondly, That immaterial Spirit of Man, which 
 is the Soul, and the Ij.habiter of that Heavenly 
 Geleftial Body. Thirdly, That more exalted and 
 refined immaterial Subftance, which is given to 
 form the Voftance cf Angels. And Fourthly, That 
 eternal irfinte Spirit, who, Genefis ivii. 1 • de- 
 clares of himfelf, and his Power, faying, / am tbs 
 Almighty God. Of this la ft there is no Difference ; 
 he having no Rival, and none being greater, and 
 2^0 Part of the Godhead being greater or le r s thin 
 the other. But in the inferior Order, viz. that of 
 Angels, they are different in Strength and Power; 
 as Vfahn ciii. 23. We are told of Angels thai excel 
 tn Strength ; and 2 Veter ii. K. we are told of 
 Angils greater in Power ; and elfewhere, of Angels 
 and Archangels. And as good Angels differ in Glory 
 and Honour, fo evil Angels are of different Kinds, 
 as our Saviour declares, Mark ix. 20. And he [aid 
 unto them, this Kind can come forth by nothings but 
 by Prayer and Faffing, 
 
 And thus you h*nd, by the different Hiftories, in 
 our Ihftory of W> chcr tft y that Witches made ufe 
 of various Sons of Spirits, which a£ted after a di£« 
 &rent Manner; and that Devils not only vary in 
 
 their 
 
I i79 ] 
 
 their manner of a Ring , but alib have different 
 Names, is plain from what our Saviour fail to the 
 Devil, which enterAi into the Herd of Swine, alking* 
 him what his Name was, who anfwered, Legion; 
 being of a different Kind from that Dumb Devil, 
 Mark ix. which would be cart out by nothing bur 
 Prayer and Farting. 
 
 1 has much might be furacient to p r ove the Pof- 
 fibili y of evil Angels ailing upon human Bodies, 
 and purfuing the ill Defigns of thofe wicked Crea- 
 tures, which are deluded by them, and are called 
 Magicians, Sorcerers, and Witches ; lince we have- 
 not only Moral Proof, and their own Confefiions^ 
 but alfo the Teftimony of Scripture, and the Evi- 
 dence of Rea r on ; to confirm the Truth of what we 
 aflerr. 
 
 But to demondrate ftifl more fully, the Pofli- 
 bility of thofe ill Practices, we ihall confider further 
 the Power of in material SubftaiKes over Matter, 
 and how the latter may be affected by the for- 
 mer. 
 
 To demonflrare this, we may reflect on that 
 grand Work of the Microcofm, or the Formation- 
 of the Univerfe. For as that omnipotent Cau r e 
 of all Things, muft needs precede the Creation, 
 which was the Work of that Power, and the Caufe 
 of fucceeding Effects, when Matter was firrt Created 
 if immaterial Subftance could not affect Matter, the 
 Parts of Matter had never betn put in Motion ; and 
 not convening into new Forms, could never have ac- 
 quired new Qualities. Nor can we fuppofe that 
 rude and fenfelefs Matter of it felf, could ever con- 
 vene into Worlds formed after fuch a curious Man- 
 ner, as we fee they are; nor into different Bod<e<?, 
 framed with the greateft Contrivance and Skill : The 
 Curioufnefs of the Works, ihew the ftupendious Wif- 
 dom of their Maker, and their Harmony and Ufe- 
 fulnefs, the vaft Forecaft of Providence. 
 
 But 
 
I 180 J 
 
 i BuT though the Univerfe was formed at the migh- 
 ty Fiat) or Will of the Creator, out of primary 
 created Matter, yet that Fiat, or Will, could not he 
 put in Execution, without fomething to dire& the 
 Parts of Matter into the turious Order they are in ; 
 they muft -be directed by fomething that gave them 
 Motion, and which was able to model and consti- 
 tute the Form of the Univerfe ; and fince in the 
 Beginning God created the Heavens and the Earthy 
 it muft: be that immateral Spirit of infinite Fore- 
 fight and Knowledge, that impelled or direfted Cre- 
 ated Matter into different Worlds ; and fince that is 
 the immaterial Subftance of the higheft Order, and 
 the Caufe of all other Things, it follows, that an 
 immaterial. Swbftance may aft upon Matter, other- 
 wife the World would have been without Form, and 
 all the Creatures in it unfaihioned. 
 
 And as an immaterial Subftance , of the pureft 
 Kind, and higheft Nature, as well as profoundeft 
 Knowledge, even infinite in all his Attributes-, was 
 the firftDire°or o : Matter in all its different Ap- 
 pearances or Shapes, fo his Providence, to lhew the 
 Greatnefs of his Power, hathj upon fome Occafions v 
 altered the Courfe of Nature, and put a flop to 
 the Eternal Laws he had prefcribed to natural Bo- 
 dies. Thus when Five Kings were at War againft 
 Gibson, jolhua x. 12, 12. Then [pake Jo/hua to the 
 Lord, in the Day when the Lord delivered up the 
 Amorites before the Cbildr n of lfrael, and he [aid: 
 in the Sight of Ifrael, Sun, ft and thou ftiU upon. 
 Gib eon, ami then Mo^n in the Valley of Ajalon. 
 And the Sun flood ftill, and the Moon flayed, until 
 the P ople had avenged themfelves upon ther Enemies. 
 Is not this written in the Booh of Jafher f So the Sun 
 flood fill in the nndfl of Heaven, and ha fled not t$ 
 go dwn about a whole Day. Which makes it plain 
 what mighty Power an immaterial Subftance may 
 have upon Matter, though in fo. rapid a Motion as 
 
 the 
 
 ** 
 
[ i8i ] 
 
 the San ; and which muft ^ive it Motion again whei 
 it had loft its firft prefcribed Motion. And though 
 this was done by an infinite Poiver, yet that infinite 
 Power being an immaterial Subftance, it proves 
 what great Effects immaterial Subftances may have 
 upon material Bodies; and though it lies nor in the 
 Power of an immaterial Subftance of an inferior 
 Order, to equal God in his Works ; yet, it is fuf- 
 Bcient to prove that they have an inferior Power up- 
 on Matter, according to their Force and Strength ; 
 and this is evident, by the Power of good and bad 
 Angels, (hewn in their different Actions, and de- 
 tnonftrated by their feveral Works, which we have 
 'often mentioned in this Book. 
 
 B ut to (hew the Power of immaterial Subftanc&s 
 and what Effects they can produce upon Matter, 
 let us conlider briefly their Effects on human Bodies, 
 in the Formation of the Microcofm, or human Bodies 
 in their firft beginning of Increafe in the Womb, 
 upon Impregnation and Conception. 
 
 Upon this Occafion we (hall not enter upon a 
 Phyfical Difcourfe of the Rcafon of Impregnation 
 and Conception, but only obferve what is funicient 
 to our pre r ent Purpofe, and to anfwer the Intention 
 we here aim at. 
 
 Upon this Occafion, then, we are to confider, 
 that human Creatures are compofed of a Soul and 
 Body; and that the Soul is the grand Agent in di- 
 recting the Actions of the Body, as the immenfe 
 immaterial God is of the U.iiverfe : I mean not in 
 firft formmg Mankind, that being the Work of God 
 in the Creation, as part of the Univerfe ; but I 
 mean the Soul, that immaterial Subftance, added to 
 human Nature, is the great Plaftick Power which 
 overrules the Anions within the Body, except a fu- 
 perior immaterial Subftance interpofes, and is chiefly 
 concerned in directing the Parrs of Muter in the 
 Formation of a Fdui in" the- Womb; and that when- 
 
 upon 
 

 f iS* ] 
 
 toon Conception, the Ovum, or nVft Seed of Man- 
 kind is conveyed from the Ovaries into the 
 Womb, and hath increafed to that Maturity, that J 
 it grows fa ft to the Morher, and receives Nouriih- I 
 ment ; then the Soul diretls and influences the Dif- ' 
 political or orderly Structure of the Parts, and a£lu- 
 ates them into a proper Form, or the firft Shape of 
 a Body; which makes the httle WorJd, our Body, 
 an Emblem of the greater World, the Ui*iverfe, 
 and illuftrates the Neccfiity of a Power fupericr to 
 Matter, or an immaterial Subftance to form the 
 tTniverfe. 
 
 Now that the immaterial Subftance our Soul is 
 concerned in the firft Formation of our Bodies with- 
 in the Womb, is evident from the irregular Acci- 
 dents that happen upon Womens longing for parti- 
 cular Things, which they never attain ; the Marks 
 Upon the Child being fixed by the Strength of Ima- 
 gination, and the Energy of the Soul, of thofe par- 
 ticular Things they longed for. Now if the Soul 
 hath Power by a ftiong Conveyance of the Idea's of 
 fuch Things down to the Child, through fuch Me- 
 diums as properly belong to neither Mother nor 
 Child, but are ufcfol only to convey Nourilhment, 
 and return what is fjperfiuous, and occalionsan irre- 
 gular Formation of a F<etu<s y or Child in the Womb 
 irnot only {hews what a ftrong Influence immaterial 
 Sub/lances may have upon Matter : and that the Soul 
 m??y be very reafbnably the Caufe of regular Forma- 
 tions; but it alfo gives us to conclude, that, llnce 
 immaterial Sub ft a nee s of a higher Nature than hu- 
 man Spirits, viz. thofe of fallen Angels, can infi- 
 nuate themfelves into our Thoughts, and confequent- 
 Jy penetrate into all the Recefies of the Sou! : I fay, 
 it gives us juft Rcafon to conclude, that fuch Sub- 
 ftances can produce ftrange and fripernatun] Effects 
 in human Bodies: no - only when they ent r i to our 
 Bodies, as in PofRili mis, but when they arc employed 
 2 by 
 
1 183 ] 
 
 by Compact with thofe deluded Creatures called 
 Witches. 
 
 From what we have fai J, considered and put toge- 
 ther, I doubt nor but it will furriciently appear, that 
 immaterial Subftances have the 1-owcr to commit all 
 thofe Actions which have been mentioned in this 
 Book , and our Cowpleat Hiftory of Witchcraft ; 
 when thofe immaterial Subftances are of that per- 
 nicious Kind, which loft Angels proved to be, when 
 they were cait out of Heaven, and merited the Name 
 ef Devils ; being caft out of Heaven by the Power 
 of that fuperior infinite Spirit, who was the Maker 
 and Governor of all Things. 
 
 And though fome may fav, that God Almighty 
 would not fuffer fuch Creatures to aft jointly with the 
 Devil, to inflict and torment innocent good Perfons ; 
 yet the Scripture tells us, that the Devi), like a roar- 
 ing Liofty gofi about) feeking xrkow he way betray ; 
 and if he hath betray \i fuch, and they acl by his 
 Tower, no doubt but they will purfue the Works of 
 their new Matter, whom thev adhere to, having left 
 their true GocV; and though they can do nothing 
 without God's Permiflion, yet, we know, that he 
 fufiPered him'elf to be tempted, to learn us how to 
 reiiir. Temptations ; and none can fuffer, that wholly 
 confide in him, and follow his Exam:le itrifrly, in 
 reiifting Temptations ; yet the -railry of human Na- 
 ture hath made us too apt to give way to them, and 
 few grown Peifbns can fay they are without Sin, and 
 confequently have in fome Meafure forfiken their 
 God, which may render them liable to the Infults of 
 the Devil ai d h s Angels, or thofe other inferior 
 VaiT Is, which a£t in Concert with them, and ac- 
 quire that reproichful Denomination of Witches. 
 And though fome tmy fay, that though grown Per- 
 fons may be liable to fu.Ter by fich Perlbns under 
 Contra c t with ths Devil, who a flirts them, yet In- 
 fants^ and thofe of tender Years, can have commit- 
 ted 
 
[ i8 4 ] 
 
 ted no Offence, notwithstanding they likewife Tuffe* 1 
 by the fame evil Agents; to which I anfwer, that 
 fince the fall of Alam> we are from our Birth guilty 
 of Original Sin -, and the Commandment tells us, 
 that the Sins of the Fathers jhall be vifited upon 
 their Children^ to the Third and Fourth Generation. 
 
 I ihall therefore conclude this Chapter, with this 
 Obfervation further, of the Nature and Power of 
 thofe Diabolical Spirits, who are the chief A£tors of 
 thofe Tragical Arts of Witchcraft, &c. viz. That as 
 they can inlinuate their ill Reprefentations into the 
 Minds of Men, and torture their Bodies, fo they 
 have Power to allume Bodies when they pleafe, and 
 appear in different Shapes ; as when the Devil en- 
 tered the Swine, and transformed himfelf into an 
 Angel of Light. And Angels not only appeared up- 
 on feveral Occalions, but our Saviour told his Difci- 
 pies to feel that he had Fie in and Bones; which he 
 needed not to have diftinguifhed himfelf by, it* Spi- 
 rits could not render themfelves Vifible ; he would 
 have faid that Spirits could not appear. 
 
 Since then it appears, that the Art of Witchcraft 
 is not impoiTible, but hath the Teftimony of Rea- 
 fon, as well as other Proof; all I ihall add is, that 
 as God fpared not Angels that finned, nor Adam 
 that tranfgreffed, and hath ftri-tly commanded that 
 a Witch (hall not live , the Laws againft fuch Per- 
 fons ought to be put in Execution, left we difobey 
 God, and in excufing horrible Crimes, fuffer the 
 World to be overrun with Wickednefs* 
 
 finis. 
 
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