of his, as afflicting those that are bewitched or possessed, then it is
either because he wants Will, or Power to do this, or because God will
never permit him thus to do._ No man but a Sadduce doubts of the ill
will of Devils; nothing is more pleasing to the Malice of those wicked
Spirits than to see Innocency wronged: And the Power of the Enemy is
such, as that having once obtained a Divine Concession to use his Art,
he can do this and much more than this amounts unto: We know by
Scripture-Revelation, that the Sorcerers of _Egypt_ caused many untrue
and delusive [23]Representations before _Pharaoh_ and his Servants.
_Exod. 7.11, 22._ and _8.7._ And we read of the working of Satan in all
Power and Signs, and lying Wonders. _2 Thess. 2.9._ His Heart is beyond
what the wisest of Men may pretend unto: He has perfect skill in
Opticks, and can therefore cause that to be visible to one, which is not
so to another, and things also to appear far otherwise then they are: He
has likewise the Art of Limning in the Perfection of it, and knows what
may be done by Colours. It is an odd passage[24] which I find in the
_Acta Eruditorum_, printed by _Lipsick_, that about Thirty-two Years
ago an indigent Merchant in _France_ was instructed by a _Daemon_, that
with Water of _Borax_ he might colour Taffities, so as to cause them to
glister and look very gay: He searcheth into the Nature, Causes, and
Reasons of things, whereby he is able to produce wonderful effects. So
that if he does not form the Shape of an innocent Person as afflicting
others, it is not from want of either will or power. They that affirm,
that God never did, nor ever will permit him thus to do, alledge that it
is inconsistent with the Righteousness and Providence of God, in
governing Humane Affairs thus to suffer Men to be imposed on: It must be
acknowledged[25] that the Divine Providence has taken care, that the
greatest part of Mankind shall not be left to unavoidable Deception, so
as to be always abused by the mischievous Agents of Hell, in the Objects
of plain Sence: But yet it is not for sinful and silly Mortals to
prescribe Rules to the most High in his Government of the World, or to
direct him how far he may permit Satan to use his power: I am apt to
think that there are some amongst us, who if they had lived in _Job's_
days, and seen the Devil tormenting of him, and heard him complaining of
being scared with Dreams, and terrified with Night-visions, they would
have joined with his uncharitable Friends in censuring him as a most
guilty Person: But we should consider, that the most high God doth
sometimes deal with Men in a way of absolute Sovereignty, performing the
thing which is appointed for them, and many such things are with him: If
he does destroy the _perfect with the wicked, and laugh at the tryal of
the innocent_, (_Job 9.22, 23._) Who shall enter into his Councils! who
has given him a Charge over the Earth! or who has disposed the whole
World! Men are not able to give an account of his ordinary Works, much
less of his secret Counsels, and the dark Dispensations of his
Providence: They do but darken Counsel by Words without Knowledge when
they undertake it: If we are not able to see how this or that can stand
with the Righteousness of him that governs the World, shall we say that
the Almighty will pervert Judgment? or that he that governs the Earth
hateth Right? Shall we condemn him that is most just? But whereas 'tis
objected; where is Providence? And how shall Men live on the Earth, if
the Devil may be permitted to use such Power? I demand, where was
Providence, when Satan had Power to cause Sons of _Belial_ to lye and
swear away the Life of innocent _Naboth_, laying such Crimes to his
charge as he was never guilty of? And what an Hour of Darkness was it?
How far was the Power of Hell permitted to prevail, when Christ the Son
of God was accused, condemned, and hanged for a Crime that he never was
guilty of? That was the strangest Providence that has happened since the
World began, and yet in the Issue the most glorious: We must therefore
distinguish between what does ordinarily come to pass by the Providence
of God, and things which are extraordinary: It is not an usual thing for
a _Naboth_ to have his Life taken from him by false Accusations, or for
an _Athanasius_ or a _Susanna_ to be charged, and perhaps brought before
Courts of Judicature for Crimes of which they were altogether innocent.
But if we therefore conclude, that such a thing as this can never happen
in the World, we shall offend against the Generation of the Just: It is
not ordinary for Devils to be permitted to reveal the secret Sins of
Men; yet this has been done more than once or twice: Nor is it ordinary
for _Daemons_ to steal Money out of Mens Pockets, and Purses, or Wine and
Cyder out of their Cellars. Yet some such Instances have there been
amongst our selves. It is not usual for Providence to permit the Devil
to come from Hell and to throw Fire on the tops of Houses, and to cause
a whole Town to be burnt to Ashes thereby; there would (it must be
confessed) be no living in the World, if evil Angels should be permitted
to do thus when they had a mind to it; nevertheless, Authors worthy of
Credit, tell us, that this has sometimes happened. Both _Erasmus_[26]
and _Cardanus_ write that the Town of _Schiltach_ in _Germany_, was in
the Month of _April_, 1533. set on fire by a Devil, and burnt to the
ground in an Hour's space: 'Tis also reported by _Sigibert_, _Aventinus_
and others, that some Cottages and Barns in a Town called _Bingus_ were
fired by a wicked _Genius_; that spiteful _Daemon_ said it was for the
Impieties of such a Man whom he named, that he was sent to molest them:
The poor Man to satisfie his Neighbours, who were ready to Stone him,
carried an hot Iron in his Hand, but receiving no hurt thereby, he was
judged to be innocent. It is not ordinary for a Devil upon the dying
Curse of a Servant, to have a Commission from Heaven to tear and torment
a bloody cruel Master; yet such a thing may possibly come to pass. There
is a fearful Story to this purpose, in the account of the _Bucuneers_
of _America_,[27] wherein my Author relates that a Servant, who was
_Spirited_ or _Kidnapt_ (as they call it) into _America_, falling into
the Hands of a Tyrannical Master, he ran away from him, but being taken
and brought back, the hard-hearted Tyrant lashed him on his naked Back,
until his Body ran in an entire stream of Blood; to make the Torment of
this miserable Creature intolerable, he anointed his Wounds with Juice
of Lemon mingled with Salt and Pepper, being ground small together, with
which torture the miserable Wretch gave up the Ghost, with these dying
Words, _I beseech the Almighty God, Creator of Heaven and Earth, that he
permit a wicked Spirit, to make thee feel as many Torments before thy
Death, as thou hast caused me to feel before mine:_ Scarce four days
were past after this horrible Fact, when the Almighty Judge gave
Permission to the Father of Wickedness to possess the Body of that cruel
Master, and to make him lacerate his own Flesh until he died, belike
surrendring his Ghost into the Hands of the infernal Spirit, who had
tormented his Body: But of this Tragical Story enough.
To proceed, Is it not usual for Persons after their Death to appear unto
the Living: But it does not therefore follow, that the great God will
not suffer this to be: For both in former and latter Ages, Examples
thereof have not been wanting: No longer since than the last Winter,
there was much discourse in _London_ concerning a Gentlewoman, unto whom
her dead Son (and another whom she knew not) had appeared: Being then
in _London_, I was willing to satisfie my self, by enquiring into the
Truth of what was reported; and on _Febr. 23. 1691._ my Brother (who is
now a Pastor to a Congregation in that City) and I discoursed the
Gentlewoman spoken of; she told us, that a Son of hers, who had been a
very civil young Man, but more airy in his Temper than was pleasing to
his serious Mother, being dead, she was much concerned in her Thoughts
about his Condition in the other World; but a Fortnight after his Death
he appeared to her, saying, _Mother you are solicitous about my
Spiritual Welfare; trouble your self no more, for I am happy_, and so
vanished; should there be a continual Intercourse between the Visible
and Invisible World, it would breed Confusion. But from thence to infer,
that the great Ruler of the Universe will never permit any thing of this
nature to be, is an inconsequent Conclusion; it is not usual for Devils
to be permitted to come and violently carry away persons through the
Air, several miles from their Habitations: Nevertheless, this was done
in _Sweedland_ about twenty Years ago, by means of a cursed Knot of
Witches there. And a learned Physician now living, giveth an account of
several Children, who by Diabolical Frauds were stollen from their
Parents, and others left in their room: And of two, that in the
night-time a Line was by invisible Hands put about their Necks, with
which they had been strangled, but that some near them happily prevented
it. _V. Germ. Ephem. Anno 1689._ pag. 51. 516.
Let me further add here; It has very seldom been known, that Satan has
Personated innocent Men doing an ill thing, but Providence has found
out some way for their Vindication; either they have been able to prove
that they were in another place when that Fact was done, or the like. So
that perhaps there never was an Instance of any innocent Person
Condemned in any Court of Judicature on Earth, only through Satans
deluding and imposing on the Imaginations of Men, when nevertheless, the
Witnesses, Juries, and Judges, were all to be excused from blame.
Arg. 4. _It is certain both from Scripture and History, that Magicians
by their Inchantments and Hellish Conjurations, may cause a false
Representation of Persons and Things._ An inchanted eye shall see such
things as others cannot discern; it is a thing too well known to be
denied, that some by rubbing their eyes with a bewitched Water, have
immediately thereupon seen that which others could not discern; and
there are Persons in the World, who have a strange _Spectral sight_. Mr.
_Glanvil_[28] speaks of a Dutchman that could see Ghosts which others
could perceive nothing of. There are in _Spain_ a sort of men whom they
call _Zahurs_, these can see into the Bowels of the Earth; they are able
to discover Minerals and hidden Treasures; nevertheless, they have their
extraordinary sight only on _Tuesdays_ and _Fridays_, and not on the
other days of the Week. _Delrio_ saith, that when he was at _Madrid_,
_Anno Dom. 1575._ he saw some of these strange sighted Creatures. Mr.
_George Sinclare_, in his Book Entituled, _Satans Invisible World
discovered_,[29] has these Words, 'I am undoubtedly informed, that men
and women in the High-lands can discern Fatality approaching others, by
seeing them in the Waters or with Winding Sheets about them. And that
others can lecture in a Sheeps shoulder-bone a Death within the Parish
seven or eight Days before it come. It is not improbable but that such
Preternatural Knowledge comes first by a Compact with the Devil, and is
derived downward by Succession to their Posterity: Many such I suppose
are Innocent, and have this sight against their Will and Inclination.'
Thus Mr. _Sinclare_, I concur with his supposal, that such Knowledge is
originally from Satan, and perhaps the Effect of some old Inchantment.
There are some at this day in the World, that if they come into a House
where one of the Family will die within a Fortnight, the smell of a dead
Corpse offends them to such a degree, as that they cannot stay in that
House. It is reported that near unto the Abby of St. _Maurice_ in
_Burgundy_[30] there is a Fishpond in which are Fishes put according to
the number of the Monks of that place; if any one of them happened to be
sick, there is a Fish seen to Float and Swim above Water half dead, and
if the Monk shall die, the Fish a few days before dieth. In some parts
in _Wales_ Death-lights or Corps Candles (as they call them) are seen in
the night time going from the House where some body will shortly die,
and passing in to the Church-yard. Of this, my Honoured and never to be
forgotten Friend Mr. _Richard Baxter_,[31] has given an Account in his
Book about Witchcrafts lately Published: what to make of such things,
except they be the effects of some old Inchantment, I know not; nor what
Natural Reason to assign for that which I find amongst the Observations
of the _Imperial Academy_ for the Year 1687, _viz._ That in an Orchard
where are choice _Damascen_ Plumbs, the Master of the Family being sick
of a _Quartan Ague_, whilst he continued very ill, four of his
Plumb-trees instead of Damascens brought forth a vile sort of yellow
Plumbs: but recovering Health, the next Year the Tree did (as formerly)
bear Damascens again; but when after that he fell into a fatal Dropsie,
on those Trees were seen not Damascens, but another sort of Fruit. The
same Author[32] gives Instances of which he had the certain knowledge,
concerning Apple-trees and Pear-trees, that the Fruit of them would on a
sudden wither as if they had been baked in an Oven, when the owners of
them were mortally sick. It is no less strange that in the Illustrious
Electoral[33] House of _Brandenburg_ before the Death of some one of the
Family Feminine Spectres appeared: [34]and often in the Houses of Great
men, Voices and Visions from the Invisible World have been the
Harbingers of Death. When any Heir in the Worshipful Family of the
_Breertons_ in _Cheshire_ is near his Death, there are seen in a Pool
adjoyning, Bodies of Trees swimming for certain days together, on which
Learned _Cambden_[35] has this note, _These and such like things are
done either by the Holy Tutelar Angels of Men, or else by the Devils,
who by Gods Permission mightily shew their Power in this Inferiour
World._ As for Mr. _Sinclare's_ Notion that some Persons may have a
_second Sight_, (as 'tis termed) and yet be themselves Innocent, I am
satisfied that he judgeth right; for this is common amongst the
_Laplanders_, who are horribly addicted to Magical Incantations: They
bequeath their _Daemons_ to their Children as a Legacy, by whom they are
often assisted (like Bewitched Persons as they are) to see and do things
beyond the Power of Nature. An Historian who deserves Credit,
relates,[36] that a certain _Laplander_ gave him a true and particular
Account of what had happened to him in his Journey to _Lapland_; and
further complained to him with Tears, that things at great distance were
represented to him, and how much he desired to be Delivered from that
Diabolical Sight, but could not; this doubtless was caused by some
Inchantment. But to proceed to what I intend; the Eyes of Persons by
reason of Inchanting Charms, may not only see what others do not, but be
under such power of Fascination, as that things which are not, shall
appear to them as real: The Apostle speaks of _Bewitched Eyes_, _Gal.
3.1._ and we know from Scripture, that the Imaginations of men have by
Inchantments been imposed upon; and Histories abound with very strange
Instances of this Nature: The old Witch _Circe_ by an Inchanted Cup
caused _Ulysses_ his Companions to imagine themselves to be turned into
Swine; and how many Witches have been themselves so bewitched by the
Devil, as really to believe that they were transformed into Wolves, or
Dogs, or Cats. It is reported of _Simon Magus_,[37] that by his
Sorceries he would so impose on the Imaginations of People, as that they
thought he had really changed himself into another sort of Creature.
_Opollonius_ of _Tyana_ could out do _Simon_ with his Magick: The great
_Bohemian_ Conjurer _Zyto_[38] by his Inchantments, caused certain
Persons whom he had a mind to try his Art upon, to imagine that their
Hands were turned into the Feet of an Ox, or into the Hoofs of a Horse,
so that they could not reach to the Dishes before them to take any thing
thence; he sold Wisps of Straw to a Butcher who bought them for Swine;
that many such prestigious Pranks were played, by the unhappy _Faustus_,
is attested by _Camerarius_, _Wyerus_, _Voetius_, _Lavater_, and
_Lonicer_.
There is newly Published a Book (mentioned in the _Acta Eruditorum_)
wherein the Author [39](_Wiechard Valvassor_) relates, that a _Venetian_
Jew instructed him (only he would not attend his Instructions) how to
make a Magical Glass which should represent any Person or thing
according as he should desire. If a Magician by an Inchanted Glass can
do this, he may as well by the help of a Daemon cause false _Idaeas_ of
Persons and Things to be impressed on the Imaginations of bewitched
Persons; the Blood and Spirits of a Man, that is bitten with a Mad-Dog,
are so envenomed, as that strange Impressions are thereby made on his
Imagination: let him be brought into a Room where there is a
Looking-Glass, and he will (if put upon it) not only say but swear that
he sees a Dog, tho' in truth there is no Dog it may be within 20 Miles
of him; and is it not then possible for the Dogs of Hell to poyson the
Imaginations of miserable Creatures, so as that they shall believe and
swear that such Persons hurt them as never did so? I have heard of an
Inchanted Pin, that has caused the Condemnation and Death of many scores
of innocent Persons. There was a notorious _Witchfinder_ in _Scotland_,
that undertook by a Pin, to make an infallible Discovery of suspected
Persons, whether they were Witches or not, if when the Pin was run an
Inch or two into the Body of the accused Party no Blood appeared, nor
any sense of Pain, then he declared them to be Witches; by means hereof
my Author tells me no less then 300 persons were Condemned for Witches
in that Kingdom. This Bloody Jugler after he had done enough in
_Scotland_, came to the Town of _Berwick_ upon _Tweed_; an honest Man
now living in _New-England_ assureth me, that he saw the Man thrust a
great Brass Pin two Inches into the Body of one, that some would in that
way try whether there was Witchcraft in the Case or no: the accused
Party was not in the least sensible of what was done, and therefore in
danger of receiving the Punishment justly due for Witchcraft; only it so
happened, that Collonel _Fenwick_ (that worthy Gentleman, who many years
since lived in _New-England_) was then the Military Governour in that
Town; he sent for the Mayor and Magistrates advising them to be careful
and cautious in their proceedings; for he told them, it might be an
Inchanted Pin, which the Witchfinder made use of: Whereupon the
Magistrates of the place ordered that he should make his Experiment
with some other Pin as they should appoint: But that he would by no
means be induced unto, which was a sufficient Discovery of the Knavery
and Witchery of the Witchfinder. There is a strange Diabolical Energy
goeth along with _Incantations_. If _Balak_ had not known that he would
not have sent for _Balaam_, to see whether he could inchant the Children
of _Israel_. The Scripture intimates that Inchantments will keep a
Serpent from biting, _Eccles. 10.11._ A Witch in _Sweedland_ confessed,
that the Devil gave her a wooden Knife; and that if she did but touch
any living thing with that Knife, it would die immediately: And that
there is a wonderful Power of the Devil attending things inchanted, we
have confirmed by a prodigious Instance in Major _Weir_, a _Scotch_ Man:
That wretched Man was a perfect Prodigy; a Man of great Parts; esteemed
a Saint, yet lived in secret Uncleanness with his own Sister for thirty
four Years together: After his wickedness was discovered, he did not
seem to be troubled at any of his Crimes, excepting that he had caused a
poor Woman to be publickly whipped, because she reported that she had
seen him committing Bestiality; which thing was true, only the Woman
could not prove it. This horrid Creature, if he had his _Inchanted
Staff_ in his Hand could pray to admiration, and do extraordinary
things, as is more amply related in the Postscript to Mr. _Sinclares_
his Book before mentioned: But if he had not his Inchanted Rod to lean
upon, he could not transform himself into an Angel of Light: But by all
these things we may conclude, that it is not impossible, but that a
guilty Conjurer, that so he may render himself the less suspected, may
by his Magical Art and Inchantment, cause innocent Persons to be
represented as afflicting those whom the Devil and himself are the
Tormentors of.
Arg. 5. _The Truth we affirm is so evident, as that many Learned and
Judicious Men have freely subscribed unto it._