experience confirms, That they are common enemies of Mankind, and set
upon mischief, is not to be doubted: That the Devil can (by Divine
Permission) and often doth vex men in Body and Estate, without the
Instrumentality of Witches, is undeniable: That he often hath, and
delights to have the concurrence of Witches, and their consent in
harming men, is consonant to his native Malice to Man, and too
lamentably exemplified: That Witches, when detected and convinced, ought
to be exterminated and cut off, we have God's warrant for, +Exod. 22.18.+
Only the same God who hath said, +thou shalt not suffer a Witch to
live+; hath also said, +at the Mouth of two Witnesses, or three
Witnesses shall he that is worthy of Death, be put to Death: But at the
Mouth of one Witness, he shall not be put to Death+, +Deut. 17.6.+ Much
debate is made about what is sufficient Conviction, and some have (in
their Zeal) supposed that a less clear evidence ought to pass in this
than in other Cases, supposing that else it will be hard (if possible)
to bring such to condign Punishment, by reason of the close conveyances
that there are between the Devil and Witches; but this is a very
dangerous and unjustifiable tenet. Men serve God in doing their Duty, he
never intended that all persons guilty of Capital Crimes should be
discovered and punished by men in this Life, though they be never so
curious in searching after Iniquity. It is therefore exceeding necessary
that in such a day as this, men be informed what is Evidence and what is
not. It concerns men in point of Charity; for tho' the most shining
Professor may be secretly a most abominable Sinner, yet till he be
detected, our Charity is bound to Judge according to what appears: and
notwithstanding that a clear evidence must determine a case; yet
presumptions must be weighed against presumptions, and Charity is not to
be forgone as long as it has the most preponderating on its side. And it
is of no less necessity in point of Justice; there are not only
Testimonies required by God, which are to be credited according to the
Rules given in his Word referring to witnesses: But there is also an
Evidence supposed to be in the Testimony, which is throughly to be
weighed, and if it do not infallibly prove the Crime against the person
accused, it ought not to determine him guilty of it; for so a righteous
Man may be Condemned unjustly. In the case of Witchcrafts we know that
the Devil is the immediate Agent in the Mischief done, the consent or
compact of the Witch is the thing to be Demonstrated._
_Among many Arguments to evince this, that which is most under present
debate, is that which refers to something vulgarly called +Spectre
Evidence+, and a certain sort of Ordeal or trial by the sight and touch.
The principal Plea to justifie the convictive Evidence in these, is
fetcht from the Consideration of the Wisdom and Righteousness of God in
Governing the World, which they suppose would fail, if such things were
permitted to befal an innocent person; but it is certain, that too
resolute conclusions drawn from hence, are bold usurpations upon
spotless +Sovereignty+: and tho' some things if suffered to be common,
would subvert this Government, and disband, yea ruine Humane Society;
yet God doth sometimes suffer such things to evene, that we may thereby
know how much we are beholden to him, for that restraint which he lays
upon the Infernal Spirits, who would else reduce a World into a Chaos.
That the Resolutions of such Cases as these is proper for the Servants
of Christ in the Ministry cannot be denied; the seasonableness of doing
it now, will be justified by the Consideration of the necessity there is
at this time of a right Information of men's Judgments about these
things, and the danger of their being misinformed._
_The Reverend, Learned, and Judicious Author of the ensuing Cases, is
too well known to need our Commendation: All that we are concerned in,
is to +assert our hearty Consent to, and Concurrence with the substance
of what is contained in the following Discourse+: And, with our hearty
Request to God, that he would discover the depths of this Hellish
Design; direct in the whole management of this Affair; prevent the
taking any wrong steps in this dark way; and that he would in particular
Bless these faithful Endeavours of his Servant to that end, we Commend
it and you to his Divine Benediction._
William Hubbard.
Samuel Phillips.
Charles Morton.
James Allen.
Michael Wigglesworth.
Samuel Whiting, _Sen._
Samuel Willard.
John Baily.
Jabez Fox.
Joseph Gerrish.
Samuel Angier.
John Wise.
Joseph Capen.
Nehemiah Walter.
CASES OF CONSCIENCE CONCERNING
WITCHCRAFTS.
The First Case that I am desired to express my Judgment in, is this,
_Whether it is not Possible for the Devil to impose on the imaginations
of Persons Bewitched, and to cause them to Believe that an Innocent, yea
that a Pious person does torment them, when the Devil himself doth it;
or whether Satan may not appear in the Shape of an Innocent and Pious,
as well as of a Nocent and Wicked Person, to Afflict such as suffer by
Diabolical Molestations?_
The Answer to the Question must be Affirmative; Let the following
Arguments be duely weighed in the Ballance of the Sanctuary.
_Argu. 1._ There are several Scriptures from which we may infer the
Possibility of what is Affirmed.
1. We find that the _Devil by the Instigation of the Witch at Endor
appeared in the Likeness of the Prophet Samuel_. I am not ignorant that
some have asserted that, which, if it were proved, would evert this
Argument, _viz._ that it was the true and not a delusive _Samuel_ which
the Witch brought to converse with _Saul_. Of this Opinion are some of
the Jewish Rabbies[1] and some Christian Doctors[2] and many late Popish
Authors[3] amongst whom _Cornel. a Lapide_ is most elaborate. But that
it was a _Daemon_ representing _Samuel_ has been evinced by learned and
Orthodox Writers: especially [4]_Peter Martyr_, [5]_Balduinus
[6]Lavater_, and our incomparable _John Rainolde_. I shall not here
insist on the clearing of that, especially considering, that elsewhere I
have done it: only let me add, that the Witch said to _Saul_, _I see
Elohim_, i. e. _A God_; (for the whole Context shows, that a single
Person is intended) _Ascending out of the Earth_. _1 Sam. 28.13._ The
Devil would be Worshipped as a God, and _Saul_ now, that he was become a
_Necromancer_, must bow himself to him. Moreover, had it been the true
_Samuel_ from Heaven reprehending _Saul_, there is great Reason to
believe, that he would not only have reproved him for his sin, in not
executing Judgment on the _Amalekites_; as in Ver. 18. But for his
Wickedness in consulting with Familiar Spirits: For which Sin it was in
special that he died. _2 Chron. 10.13._ But in as much as there is not
one word to testify against that Abomination, we may conclude that it
was not real _Samuel_ that appeared to _Saul_: and if it were the Devil
in his likeness, the Argument seems very strong, that if the Devil may
appear in the form of a Saint in Glory, much more is it possible for him
to put on the likeness of the most Pious and Innocent Saint on Earth.
There are, who acknowledge that a _Daemon_ may appear in the shape of a
Godly Person, _But not as doing Evil_. Whereas the Devil in _Samuel's_
likeness told a pernicious Lye, when he said, _Thou hath disquieted me._
It was not in the Power of _Saul_, nor of all the Devils in Hell, to
disquiet a Soul in Heaven, where _Samuel_ had been for Two years before
this Apparition. Nor did the _Spectre_ speak true, when he said, _Thou
and thy Sons shall be with me:_ Tho' _Saul_ himself at his Death went to
be with the Devil, his Son _Jonathan_ did not so. Besides, (which suits
with the matter in hand) the Devil in _Samuels_ shape confirmed
_Necromancy_ and _Cursed Witchery_. He that can in the likeness of
Saints encourage Witches to Familiarity with Hell, may possibly in the
likeness of a Saint afflict a Bewitched Person. But this we see from
Scripture, Satan may be permitted to do.
And whereas it is objected, that the Devil may appear indeed in the form
of Dead Persons, but that he cannot represent such as are living; The
contrary is manifest. No Question had _Saul_ said to the Witch, bring me
_David_ who was then living, she could as easily have shown living
_David_ as dead _Samuel_, as easily as that great Conjurer of whom
[7]_Wierus_ speaks, brought the appearance of _Hector_ and _Achilles_,
and after that of _David_ before the Emperour _Maximilian_.
And that evil Angels have sometimes appeared in the likeness of living
absent persons, is a thing abundantly confirmed by History.
[8]_Austin_ tells us of one that went for resolution in some intricate
Questions to a Philosopher, of whom he could get no Answer; but in the
Night the Philosopher comes to him, and resolves all his Doubts. Not
long after, he demanded the reason why he could not answer him in the
Day as well as in the Night; The Philosopher professed he was not with
him in the Night, only acknowledged that he dreamed of his having such
conversation of his Friend, but he was all the time at home, and asleep.
_Paulus_ and _Palladius_ did both of them profess to _Austin_, that one
in his shape, had divers times, and in divers places appeared to them:
[9]_Thyreus_ mentions several Apparitions of absent living persons,
which happened in his time, and which he had the certain knowledge of. A
Man that is in one place cannot (_Autoprosopos_) at the same time be in
another. It remains then that such _Spectres_ are Prodigious and
Supernatural, and not without Diabolical Operation. It has been
Controverted among Learned Men, whether innocent Persons may not by the
malice and deluding Power of the Devil be represented as present amongst
Witches at their dark Assemblies. The mentioned _Thyreus_ says, that the
Devil may, and often does represent the forms of Innocent Persons out of
those Conventions, and that there is no Question to be made of it, but
as to his natural Power and Art he is able to make their shapes appear
amongst his own Servants, but he supposeth the Providence of God will
not suffer such an Injury to be done to an Innocent Person. With him
[10]_Delrio_, and _Spineus_ concur. But _Cumanus_ in his _Lucerna
Inquisitorum_ (a Book which I have not yet seen) defends the Affirmative
in this Question. _Bins Fieldius_ in his Treatise, concerning the
Confession of Witches, inclines to the Negative, only [11]he
acknowledges _Dei extraordinaria Permissione posse Innocentes sic
representari._ And he that shall assert, that Great and Holy God never
did nor ever will permit the Devil thus far to abuse an Innocent Person,
affirms more than he is able to prove. The story of _Germanus_ his
discovering a Diabolical illusion of this nature, concerning a great
number of Persons that seemed to be at a Feast when they were really at
home and asleep, is mentioned by many Authors. But the particulars
insisted on, do sufficiently evince the Truth of what we assert, _viz._
That the Devil may by Divine Permission appear in the shape of Innocent
and Pious Persons. Nevertheless, It is evident from another Scripture,
_viz._ that in _2 Cor. 11.14._ _For Satan himself is transformed into an
Angel of Light._ He seems to be what he is not, and makes others seem to
be what they are not. He represents evil men as good, and good men as
evil. The Angels of Heaven, (who are the Angels of Light) love Truth and
Righteousness, the Devil will seem to do so too; and does therefore
sometimes lay before men excellent good Principles and exhort them (as
he did _Theodore Maillit_) to practise many things, which by the Law of
Righteousness they are obliged unto, and hereby he does more effectually
deceive. Is it not strange, that he has sometimes intimated to his most
devoted servants, that if they would have familiar Conversation with
him, they must be careful to keep themselves from enormous Sins, and
pray constantly for Divine Protection? But so has he transformed
himself into an Angel of Light, as [12]_Boissardus_ sheweth. He has
frequently appeared to Men pretending to be a good Angel, so to
_Anatolius_ of old; and the late instances of [13]Dr. _Dee_ and _Kellet_
are famously known. How many deluded _Enthusiasts_ both in former and
latter times have been imposed on by Satans appearing visibly to them,
pretending to be a good Angel. And moreover, he may be said to transform
himself into an _Angel of Light_, because of his appearing in the Form
of _Holy Men_, who are the _Children of Light_, yea in the shape and
habit of Eminent Ministers of God. So did he appear to Mr. _Earl_ of
_Colchester_ in the likeness of Mr. _Liddal_ an Holy Man of God, and to
the _Turkish Chaous_ Baptized at _London_, _Anno 1658._ pretending to be
Mr. _Dury_ an Excellent Minister of Christ. And how often has he
pretended to be the Apostle _Paul_ or _Peter_ or some other celebrated
Saint? Ecclesiastical Histories abound with Instances of this nature.
Yea, sometimes he has transfigured himself into the Form of Christ. It
is reported that he appeared to [14]St. _Martin_ Gloriously arrayed, as
if he had been Christ. So likewise to [15]_Secundellus_, and to another
Saint, who suspecting it was Satan, transforming himself into an _Angel
of Light_ had this expression, _If I may see Christ in Heaven it is
enough, I desire not to see him in this World_; whereupon the _Spectre_
vanished. It has been related of _Luther_, that after he had been
Fasting and Praying in his Study, the Devil come pretending to be
Christ, but _Luther_ saying, _away thou confounded Devil, I acknowledge
no Christ but what is in my Bible_, nothing more was seen. Thus then the
Devil is able (by Divine Permission) to Change himself into what form or
figure he pleaseth,
_Omnia transformat sese in miracula rerum._
A Third Scripture to our purpose is that, in _Rev. 12.10._ where the
Devil is called the _Accuser of the Brethren_. Such is the malice and
impudence of the Devil, as that he does accuse good Men, and that before
God, and that not only of such Faults as they really are guilty of, he
accused _Joshua_ with his filthy Garments, when through his Indulgence
some of his Family had transgressed by unlawful Marriages, _Zach. 3.23._
with _Ezra. 10.18._ but also with such Crimes, as they are altogether
free from. He represented the Primitive Christians as the vilest of men,
and as if at their Meetings they did commit the most nefandous Villanies
that ever were known; and that not only Innocent, but Eminently Pious
Persons should thro' the malice of the Devil be accused with the Crime
of Witchcraft, is no new thing. Such an Affliction did the Lord see meet
to exercise the great _Athanasius_ with[16] only the Divine Providence
did wonderfully vindicate him from that as well as from some other foul
Aspersions. The _Waldenses_ (altho' the Scriptures call them _Saints_,
_Rev. 13.7._) have been traduced by Satan and by the World as horrible
Witches; so have others in other places, only because they have done
extraordinary things by their Prayers: It is by many Authors related,
that a City in _France_ was molested with a Diabolical _Spectre_, which
the People were wont to call _Hugon_; near that place a number of
Protestants were wont to meet to serve God, whence the Professors of the
true reformed Religion were nic-named _Hugonots_, by the Papists, who
designed to render them before the World, as the Servants and
Worshippers of that _Daemon_, that went under the name of _Hugon_. And
how often have I read in Books written by Jesuits, that _Luther_ was a
Wizard, and that he did himself confess that he had familiarity with
Satan! Most impudent Untruths! nor are these things to be wondered at,
since the Holy Son of God himself was reputed a _Magician_, and one that
had Familiarity with the greatest of Devils. The Blaspheming Pharisees
said, _he casts out the Devils thro' the Prince of Devils_, _Matth. 9.34._
There is then not the best Saint on Earth (Man or Woman) that can assure
themselves that the Devil shall not cast such an Imputation upon them.
_It is enough for the Disciple that he be as his Master, and the Servant
as his Lord: If they have called the Master of the House Beelzebub, how
much more them of his Household_, _Matth. 10.25._ It is not for men to
determine how far the Holy God may permit the wicked one to proceed in
his Accusations. The sacred story of _Job_ giveth us to understand, that
the Lord whose ways are past finding out, does for wise and holy Ends
suffer Satan by immediate Operation, (and consequently by Witchcraft)
greatly to afflict innocent Persons, as in their Bodies and Estates, so
in their Reputations. I shall mention but one Scripture more to confirm
the Truth in hand: It is that in _Eccles. 9.2, 3._ where it is said,
_All things come alike to all, there is one event to the Righteous and
to the Wicked, as is the Good, so is the Sinner, this is an evil amongst
all things under the Sun, that there is one Event happeneth to all._ And
in _Eccles. 7.15._ 'tis said, _There is a just man that perisheth in his
Righteousness._
From hence we infer, that there is no outward Affliction whatsoever but
may befal a good Man; now to be represented by Satan as a Tormentor of
Bewitched or Possessed Persons, is a sore Affliction to a good man. To
be tormented by Satan is a sore Affliction, yet nothing but what befel
_Job_, and a Daughter of _Abraham_, whom we read of in the Gospel: To be
represented by Satan as tormenting others, is an Affliction like the
former; the Lord may bring such extraordinary Temptations on his own
Children, to afflict and humble them, for some Sin they have been guilty
of before him. A most wicked Person in St. _Ives_, got a Knife, and went
with it to a Ministers House, designing to stab him, but was
disappointed; afterwards Conscience being awakened, the Devil appears to
this Person in the Shape of that Minister, with a Knife in his hand
exhorting to Self-murder: Was not here a Punishment suitable to the Sin
which that Person had been guilty of? Perhaps some of those whom Satan
has represented as committing Witchcrafts, have been tampering with some
foolish and wicked Sorceries, tho' not to that degree, which is Criminal
and Capital by the Laws both of God and Men; for this Satan may be
permitted so to scourge them; or it may be, they have misrepresented and
abused others, for which cause the Holy God may justly give Satan leave
falsely to represent them.
Have we not known some that have bitterly censured all that have been
complained of by bewitched Persons, saying it was impossible they should
not be guilty; soon upon which themselves or some near Relations of
theirs, have been to the lasting Infamy of their Families, accused after
the same manner, and Personated by the Devil! Such tremendous Rebukes on
a few, should make all men to be careful how they joyn with Satan in
Condemning the Innocent.
Arg. 2. _Because it is possible for the Devil in the Shape of an
innocent Person to do other mischiefs._ As for those who acknowledge
that Satan may personate a pious Person, but not to do mischief, their
Opinion has been confuted by more than a few unhappy Instances. Mr.
_Clark_[17] speaks of a Man that had been an Atheist, or a Sadduce, not
believing that there are any Devils or any (to us) invisible World; this
Man was converted, but as a Punishment of his Infidelity, evil Angels
did often appear to him in the Shape of his most intimate Friends, and
would sometimes seduce him into great Inconveniences. It has been
elsewhere, and but now noted, that a _Daemon_ in the shape of excellent
Mr. _Dury_ appeared to the _Turkish Chaos_, _Anno. 1658._ to disswade
him from prosecuting his desires of Baptism into the Name of Christ:
Also to Mr. _Earle_ in the likeness of his Friends, to discourage him
from doing things lawful and good. A multitude of _Jews_ were once
deluded by a Person pretending to be _Moses_ from Heaven, and that if
they would follow him they should pass safe through the Sea (as did
their Fathers of old through the Red Sea) whereby great numbers of them
were deceived and perished in the Waters. [18]Learned and judicious Men
have concluded that this _Moses Creensis_ was a _Daemon_, transforming
himself into _Moses_: And that the Devil has frequently appeared[19] in
the shape of famous Persons to the end that he might seduce Men into
Idolatry, (a Sin equal to that of Witchcraft) no Man that has made it
his Concern to enquire into things of this nature can be ignorant. Many
Examples of this kind are collected by Mr. _Bromhall_ in his _Treatise
of Spectres, and the cunning Devil, to strengthen Men in their
worshipping of Saints departed:_ And by Mr. _Bovet_ in his
_Pandemonium_. It is credibly reported that the Devil in the likeness of
a faithful Minister (as St. _Ives_ before mentioned, near _Boston_ in
_Lincolnshire_) came to one that was in trouble of Mind, telling her the
longer she lived, the worse it would be for her; and therefore advising
her to Self-murder: An eminent Person still living had the account of
this Matter from Mr. _Cotton_ (the famous Teacher of both _Bostons_.) He
was well acquainted with that Minister, who related to him the whole
Story, with all the Circumstances of it: For Mr. _Cotten_ was so
affected with the Report, as to take a Journey on purpose to the Town
where this happened, that so he might obtain a satisfactory account
about it, which he did. Some Authors say, that a _Daemon_ appeared in the
form of _Sylvanus_ (_Hierom's_ Friend) attempting a dishonest thing, the
Devil thereby designing to blast the Reputation of a famous Bishop. I
have in another Book mentioned that celebrated Instance concerning an
honest Citizen in _Zurick_ (the Metropolis of _Helvetia_) in whose shape
the Devil appeared, committing an abominable Fact (not fit to be named)
very early in the Morning, seen by the Prefect of the City, and his
Servant; they were amazed to behold a Man of good Esteem for his
Conversation, perpetrating a thing so vile and abominable; but going
from the _Spectre_ in the Field, to the Citizen's House in the Town,
they found him at home, and in his Bed, nor had he been abroad that
Morning, which convinced them, that what they saw was an Illusion of the
Devil: This Passage is mentioned as a thing known and certain by
_Lavater_ in his Treatise of _Spectres_,[20] who was a most learned and
judicious Preacher in that City. Our _Juel_ saith of him, that he must
ingeniously confess, that he never understood _Solomon's Proverbs_ until
_Lavater_ expounded them to him: That Book of his _De Spectris_ hath
been published in _Latin_, High and Low _Dutch_, _French_, _Italian_.
The learned _Zanchy_[21] speaks highly of it, professing that he had
read it both with Pleasure and Profit. _Voetius_[22] takes notice of
that passage which we have quoted out of _Lavater_ as a thing memorable.
Some Popish Authors argue, That the Devil cannot personate an innocent
Man as doing an act of Witchcraft, because then he might as well
represent them as committing Theft, Murder, _&c._ And if so, there would
be no living in the World: But I turn the Argument against them, he may
(as the mentioned Instances prove) personate honest Men as doing other
Evils; and no solid Reason can be given why he may not as well personate
them under the Notion of Witches, as under the Notion of Thieves,
Murderers, and Idolaters: As for the Objection, that then there would be
no living in the World, we shall consider it under the next Argument.