[42] No Paging thus far in the Original.
[43] John Wilson, the first Minister of Boston. He died August 7th
1667, aged 78. See the _Biographical Dictionaries_, Eliot and Allen.
[Decoration]
[5] ENCHANTMENTS ENCOUNTER'D.
§ I. IT was as long ago, as the Year 1637, that a Faithful Minister of
the Church of _England_, whose Name was Mr. _Edward Symons_,[44] did in
a Sermon afterwards Printed, thus express himself; 'At _New-England_
now the Sun of Comfort begins to appear, and the glorious Day-Star to
show it self;--_Sed Venient Annis Sæculæ Seris_, there will come Times
in after Ages, when the _Clouds will overshadow and darken the Sky
there_. Many now promise to themselves nothing but successive Happiness
there, which for a time through God's Mercy they may enjoy; and I pray
God, they may a long time; but in this World there is no Happiness
perpetual.' An _Observation_, or I had almost said, an _Inspiration_,
very dismally now verify'd upon us! It has been affirm'd by some who
best knew _New-England_, That the World will do _New-England_ a great
piece of Injustice, if it acknowledge not a measure of Religion,
Loyalty, Honesty, and Industry, in the People there, beyond what is
to be found with any other People for the Number of them.[45] When I
did a few years ago, publish a Book, which mentioned a few memorable
Witchcrafts, committed in this country; the excellent _Baxter_, graced
the Second Edition of that Book, with a kind Preface, wherein he sees
cause to say, _If any are Scandalized, that_ New-England, _a place
of as serious Piety, as any I can hear of, under Heaven, should be
troubled so much with Witches; I think, 'tis no wonder: Where will
the Devil show most Malice, but where he is hated, and hateth most:_
And I hope, the Country will still deserve and answer the Charity so
expressed by that Reverend Man of God.[46] Whosoever travels over
this Wilderness, will see it richly bespangled with Evangelical
Churches, whose Pastors are holy, able, and painful Overseers of
their Flocks, lively Preachers, and vertuous Livers; and such as
in their several Neighbourly Associations, have had their Meetings
whereat Ecclesiastical Matters of common Concernment are considered:
_Churches_, whose Communicants have been seriously examined about
their Experiences of Regeneration, as well as about their Knowledge,
and Belief, and blameless Conversation, before their Admission to the
Sacred Communion; although others of less but hopeful Attainments in
Christianity are not ordinarily deny'd Baptism for themselves and
theirs; Churches, which are shye of using any thing in the Worship of
God, for which they cannot see a Warrant of God; but with whom yet
the Names of _Congregational_, _Presbyterian_, _Episcopalian_, or
_Antipædobaptist_, are swallowed up in that of _Christian;_ Persons
of all those Perswasions being taken into our [6] Fellowship, when
visible Goodliness has recommended them:[47] Churches, which usually do
within themselves manage their own Discipline, under the Conduct of
their Elders; but yet call in the help of _Synods_ upon Emergencies,
or Aggrievances; _Churches_, Lastly, wherein Multitudes are growing
ripe for Heaven every day; and as fast as these are taken off, others
are daily rising up. And by the Presence and Power of the Divine
Institutions thus maintained in the Country. We are still so happy,
that I suppose there is no Land in the Universe more free from the
debauching, and the debasing Vices of Ungodliness. The Body of the
People are hitherto so disposed, that _Swearing_, _Sabbath-breaking_,
_Whoring_, _Drunkenness_, and the like, do not make a Gentleman,
but a Monster, or a Goblin, in the vulgar Estimation.[48] All this
notwithstanding, we must humbly confess to our God, that we are
miserably degenerated from the first Love of our Predecessors; however
we boast our selves a little, when Men would go to trample upon us, and
we venture to say, _Wherein soever any is bold (we speak foolishly)
we are bold also_.[49] The first Planters of these Colonies were a
chosen Generation of Men, who were first so pure, as to disrelish
many things which they thought wanted Reformation elsewhere; and yet
withal so peaceable, that they embraced a voluntary Exile in a squalid,
horrid, _American_ Desart,[50] rather than to live in Contentions
with their Brethren. Those good Men imagined that they should leave
their Posterity in a place, where they should never see the Inroads
of Profanity, or Superstition: And a famous Person returning hence,
could in a Sermon before the Parliament profess, _I have been seven
Years in a Country, where I never saw one Man drunk, or heard one Oath
sworn, or beheld one Beggar in the Streets all the while_.[51] Such
great Persons as _Budæus_, and others, who mistook Sir _Thomas Moor's_
UTOPIA, for a Country really existent, and stirr'd up some Divines
charitably to undertake a Voyage thither, might now have certainly
found a Truth in their Mistake; _New-England_ was a true _Utopia_.
But, alas, the Children and Servants of those old Planters must needs
afford many degenerate Plants, and there is now risen up a Number of
People, otherwise inclined than our _Joshua's_, and the Elders that
out-liv'd them. Those two things our holy Progenitors, and our happy
Advantages make Omissions of Duty, and such Spiritual Disorders as the
whole World abroad is overwhelmed with, to be as provoking in us, as
the most flagitious Wickednesses committed in other places; and the
Ministers of God are accordingly severe in their Testimonies: But in
short, those Interests of the Gospel, which were the Errand of our
Fathers into these Ends of the Earth, have been too much neglected and
postponed, and the Attainments of an handsome Education, have been too
much undervalued, by Multitudes that have not fallen into Exorbitances
of Wickedness; and some, especially of our young Ones, when they have
got abroad from under the Restraints here laid upon them, have become
extravagantly and abominably Vicious. Hence 'tis, that the Happiness
of _New-England_ has been but for a time, as it was foretold, and not
for a long time, as has been desir'd for us. A Variety of Calamity has
long follow'd this Plantation; and we have all the Reason imaginable
to ascribe it unto the Rebuke of Heaven upon us for our manifold
_Apostasies;_ we make no right use of our Disasters: If we do not,
_Remember whence we are fallen, and repent, and do the first Works_.
But yet our Afflictions may come under a further Consideration with us:
There is a further Cause of our Afflictions, whose due must be given
him.
[7] § II. The _New-Englanders_ are a People of God settled in those,
which were once the _Devil's_ Territories; and it may easily be
supposed that the _Devil_ was exceedingly disturbed, when he perceived
such a People here accomplishing the Promise of old made unto our
Blessed Jesus, _That He should have the Utmost parts of the Earth
for his Possession_.[52] There was not a greater Uproar among the
_Ephesians_, when the Gospel was first brought among them, than there
was among, _The Powers of the Air_ (after whom those _Ephesians_
walked) when first the _Silver Trumpets_ of the Gospel here made the
_Joyful Sound_. The Devil thus Irritated, immediately try'd all sorts
of Methods to overturn this poor Plantation: and so much of the Church,
as was _Fled into this Wilderness_, immediately found, _The Serpent
cast out of his Mouth a Flood for the carrying of it away._ I believe,
that never were more _Satanical Devices_ used for the Unsetling of any
People under the Sun, than what have been Employ'd for the Extirpation
of the _Vine_ which God has here _Planted, Casting out the Heathen, and
preparing a Room before it, and causing it to take deep Root, and fill
the Land, so that it sent its Boughs unto the_ Atlantic _Sea_ Eastward,
_and its Branches unto the_ Connecticut _River_ Westward, _and the
Hills were covered with the shadow thereof_. But, All those Attempts
of Hell, have hitherto been Abortive, many an _Ebenezer_ has been
Erected unto the Praise of God, by his Poor People here; and, _Having
obtained Help from God, we continue to this Day_. Wherefore the Devil
is now making one Attempt more upon us; an Attempt more Difficult,
more Surprizing, more snarl'd with unintelligible Circumstances than
any that we have hitherto Encountred;[53] an Attempt so _Critical_,
that if we get well through, we shall soon Enjoy _Halcyon_ Days with
all the _Vultures_ of Hell _Trodden under our Feet_. He has wanted his
_Incarnate Legions_ to Persecute us, as the People of God have in the
other Hemisphere been Persecuted: he has therefore drawn forth his more
_Spiritual_ ones to make an Attacque upon us. We have been advised
by some Credible Christians yet alive, that a Malefactor, accused of
_Witchcraft_ as well as _Murder_, and Executed in this place more than
Forty Years ago, did then give Notice of, _An Horrible_ PLOT _against
the Country_ by WITCHCRAFT, _and a Foundation of_ WITCHCRAFT _then
laid, which if it were not seasonably discovered, would prbably Blow
up, and pull down all the Churches in the Country_.[54] And we have
now with Horror seen the _Discovery_ of such a _Witchcraft!_ An Army
of _Devils_ is horribly broke in upon the place which is the _Center_,
and after a sort, the _First-born_ of our _English_ Settlements:
and the Houses of the Good People there are fill'd with the doleful
Shrieks of their Children and Servants, Tormented by Invisible Hands,
with Tortures altogether preternatural. After the Mischiefs there
Endeavoured, and since in part Conquered, the terrible Plague, of
_Evil Angels_, hath made its Progress into some other places, where
other Persons have been in like manner Diabolically handled. These our
poor Afflicted Neighbours, quickly after they become _Infected_ and
_Infested_ with these _Dæmons_, arrive to a Capacity of Discerning
those which they conceive the _Shapes_ of their Troublers; and
notwithstanding the Great and Just Suspicion, that the _Dæmons_ might
Impose the _Shapes_ of Innocent Persons in their _Spectral Exhibitions_
upon the Sufferers, (which may perhaps prove no small part of the
_Witch-Plot_ in the issue) yet many of the Persons thus Represented,
being Examined, several of them have been Convicted of a very Damnable
_Witchcraft:_ yea, more than One _Twenty_ have _Confessed_, that they
have Signed unto a _Book_, which the Devil show'd them, and Engaged in
his Hellish Design of _Bewitching_, and _Ruining_ our Land. _We_ [8]
know not, at least I know not, how far the _Delusions_ of Satan may
be Interwoven into some Circumstances of the _Confessions;_ but one
would think, all the Rules of Understanding Humane Affayrs are at an
end, if after so many most Voluntary Harmonious _Confessions_, made by
Intelligent Persons of all Ages, in sundry Towns, at several Times,
we must not Believe the _main strokes_ wherein those _Confessions_
all agree: especially when we have a thousand preternatural Things
every day before our eyes, wherein the _Confessors_ do acknowledge
their Concernment, and give Demonstration of their being so Concerned.
If the Devils now can strike the minds of men with any _Poisons_ of
so fine a Composition and Operation, that Scores of Innocent People
shall Unite, in _Confessions_ of a Crime, which we see actually
committed, it is a thing prodigious, beyond the Wonders of the former
Ages, and it threatens no less than a sort of a Dissolution upon the
World. Now, by these _Confessions_ 'tis Agreed, _That_ the Devil has
made a dreadful Knot of _Witches_ in the Country, and by the help of
_Witches_ has dreadfully increased that Knot: _That_ these _Witches_
have driven a Trade of Commissioning their _Confederate Spirits_, to
do all sorts of Mischiefs to the Neighbours, whereupon there have
ensued such Mischievous consequences upon the Bodies and Estates of the
Neighbourhood, as could not otherwise be accounted for: yea, _That_ at
prodigious _Witch-Meetings_, the Wretches have proceeded so far, as to
Concert and Consult the Methods of Rooting out the Christian Religion
from this Country, and setting up instead of it, perhaps a more gross
_Diabolism_, than ever the World saw before. And yet it will be a thing
little short of _Miracle_, if in so _spread_ a Business as this, the
Devil should not get in some of his Juggles, to confound the Discovery
of all the rest.[55]
§ III. Doubtless, the Thoughts of many will receive a great Scandal
against _New-England_, from the Number of Persons that have been
Accused, or Suspected, for _Witchcraft_, in this Country: But it were
easie to offer many things, that may Answer and Abate the Scandal. If
the Holy God should any where permit the Devils to hook two or three
wicked _Scholars_ into _Witchcraft_, and then by their Assistance to
Range with their _Poisonous Insinuations_ among Ignorant, Envious,
Discontented People, till they have cunningly decoy'd them into some
sudden _Act_, whereby the Toyls of Hell shall be perhaps inextricably
cast over them: what Country in the World would not afford _Witches_,
numerous to a Prodigy? Accordingly, The Kingdoms of _Sweden_,
_Denmark_, _Scotland_, yea and _England_ it self, as well as the
Province of _New-England_,[56] have had their Storms of _Witchcrafts_
breaking upon them, which have made most Lamentable Devastations: which
also I wish, may be _The Last_. And it is not uneasie to be imagined,
that God has not brought out all the _Witchcrafts_ in many other Lands
with such a speedy, dreadful, destroying _Jealousie_, as burns forth
upon such _High Treasons_, committed here in _A Land of Uprightness:_
Transgressors may more quickly here than elsewhere become a Prey to
the Vengeance of Him, _Who has Eyes like a Flame of Fire_, and, _who
walks in the midst of the Golden Candlesticks_. Moreover, There are
many parts of the World, who if they do upon this Occasion insult over
this People of God, need only to be told the Story of what happen'd
at _Loim_, in the Duchy of _Gulic_, where a Popish Curate having
ineffectually try'd many Charms to Eject the Devil out of a Damsel
there possessed, he passionately bid the Devil come out of her into
himself; but the Devil answered him, _Quid mihi Opus, est eum tentare,
quem Novissimo die, Jure Optimo, sum possessurus?_ That is, _What need
I meddle with one whom I am sure to have, and hold at the Last-day as
my own for ever!_
[9] But besides all this, give me leave to add, it is to be hoped, That
among the Persons represented by the _Spectres_ which now afflict our
Neighbours, there will be found _some_ that never explicitly contracted
with any of the _Evil Angels_. The Witches have not only intimated, but
some of them acknowledged, That they have plotted the Representations
of _Innocent Persons_, to cover and shelter themselves in their
Witchcrafts; now, altho' our good God has hitherto generally preserved
us from the Abuse therein design'd by the Devils for us, yet who of us
can exactly state, _How far our God may for our Chastisement permit the
Devil to proceed in such an Abuse?_ It was the Result of a Discourse,
lately held at a Meeting of some very Pious and Learned Ministers among
us, _That the Devils may sometimes have a permission to Represent
an Innocent Person, as Tormenting such as are under Diabolical
Molestations: But that such things are Rare and Extraordinary;
especially when such matters come before Civil Judicature._[57] The
Opinion expressed with so much Caution and Judgment, seems to be the
prevailing Sense of many others, who are men Eminently Cautious and
Judicious; and have both _Argument_ and _History_ to Countenance them
in it. It is _Rare and Extraordinary_, for an Honest _Naboth_ to have
his Life it self Sworn away by two _Children of Belial_, and yet no
Infringement hereby made on the Rectoral Righteousness of our Eternal
Soveraign, whose _Judgments are a Great Deep_, and who _gives none
Account of His matters_.[58] Thus, although the Appearance of Innocent
Persons in _Spectral Exhibitions_ afflicting the Neighbourhood, be a
thing _Rare and Extraordinary;_ yet who can be sure, that the great
_Belial_ of Hell must needs be always _Yoked_ up from this piece of
Mischief? The best man that ever lived has been called a _Witch:_ and
why may not this too usual and unhappy Symptom of A _Witch_, even a
Spectral Representation, befall a person that shall be none of the
worst? Is it not possible? The _Laplanders_ will tell us 'tis possible:
for Persons to be unwittingly attended with officious _Dæmons_,
bequeathed unto them, and impos'd upon them, by Relations that have
been _Witches_.[59] _Quæry_, also, Whether at a Time, when the Devil
with his Witches are engag'd in a War upon a people, some certain steps
of ours, in such a War, may not be follow'd with our appearing so and
so for a while among them in the Visions of our afflicted _Forlorns!_
And, Who can certainly say, what other Degrees or Methods of sinning,
besides that of a _Diabolical Compact_, may give the Devils advantage
to act in the Shape of them that have miscarried? Besides what may
happen for a while, to try the _Patience_ of the Vertuous. May not some
that have been ready upon feeble grounds uncharitably to Censure and
Reproach other people, be punished for it by _Spectres_ for a while
exposing them to Censure and Reproach? And furthermore, I pray, that
it may be considered, Whether a World of Magical Tricks often used
in the World, may not insensibly oblige _Devils_ to wait upon the
Superstitious Users of them. A Witty Writer against _Sadducism_ has
this Observation, That persons who never made any express Contract with
_Apostate Spirits_, yet may Act strange Things by _Diabolick Aids_,
which they procure by the use of those wicked _Forms_ and _Arts_, that
the Devil first imparted unto his Confederates. And he adds, _We know
not but the Laws of the Dark Kingdom may Enjoyn a particular Attendance
upon all those that practice their Mysteries, whether they know them
to be theirs or no_. Some of them that have been cry'd out upon as
_Employing Evil Spirits_ to hurt our Land, have been known to be most
bloody _Fortune-Tellers;_ and some of them have confessed, That when
they told _Fortunes_, they would pretend the Rules of _Chiromancy_
and the like Ignorant Sciences, but indeed they had no Rule (they
said) [10] but this, _The things were then Darted into their minds_.
_Darted!_ Ye Wretches;[60] By whom, I pray? Surely by none but the
_Devils;_ who, tho' perhaps they did not exactly _Foreknow_ all the
thus Predicted Contingencies; yet having once _Foretold_ them, they
stood bound in Honour now to use their Interest, which alas, in _This
World_, is very great, for the Accomplishment of their own Predictions.
There are others, that have used most wicked _Sorceries_ to gratifie
their unlawful Curiosities, or to prevent Inconveniencies in Man and
Beast; _Sorceries_, which I will not _Name_, lest I should by naming,
_Teach them_.[61] Now, some _Devil_ is evermore Invited into the
Service of the Person that shall Practise these _Witchcrafts;_ and if
they have gone on Impenitently in these Communions with any _Devil_,
the _Devil_ may perhaps become at last a _Familiar_ to them, and so
assume their _Livery_, that they cannot shake him off in any way, but
that One, which I would most heartily prescribe unto them, Namely, That
of a deep and long _Repentance_. Should these _Impieties_ have been
committed in such a place as _New-England_, for my part I should not
wonder, if when _Devils_ are Exposing the _Grosser_ Witches among us,
God permit them to bring in these _Lesser_ ones with the rest for their
perpetual Humiliation. In the Issue therefore, may it not be found,
that _New-England_ is not so stock'd with _Rattle Snakes_, as was
imagined.[62]
§ IV. But I do not believe, that the progress of _Witchcraft_ among us,
is all the Plot which the Devil is managing in the _Witchcraft_ now
upon us. It is judged, That the Devil rais'd the Storm, whereof we read
in the Eighth Chapter of _Matthew_, on purpose to over-set the little
Vessel wherein the Disciples of Our Lord were Embarqued with Him. And
it may be fear'd, that in the _Horrible Tempest_ which is now upon
ourselves, the design of the Devil is to sink that Happy Settlement
of Government, wherewith Almighty God has graciously enclined Their
Majesties to favour us.[63] We are blessed with a GOVERNOUR, than whom
no man can be more willing to serve Their Majesties, or this their
Province: He is continually venturing his _All_ to do it: and were
not the Interests of his Prince dearer to him than his own, he could
not but soon be weary of the _Helm_, whereat he sits. We are under
the Influence of a LIEUTENANT GOVERNOUR,[64] who not only by being
admirably accomplished both with Natural and Acquired Endowments, is
fitted for the Service of Their Majesties, but also with an unspotted
Fidelity applies himself to that Service. Our COUNCELLOURS are some
of our most Eminent Persons, and as Loyal Subjects to the Crown,
as hearty lovers of their Country.[65] Our Constitution also is
attended with singular Priviledges; All which Things are by the Devil
exceedingly _Envy'd_ unto us. And the Devil will doubtless take this
occasion for the raising of such complaints and clamours, as may be
of pernicious consequence unto some part of our present Settlement,
if he can so far _Impose_. But that which most of all Threatens us,
in our present Circumstances, is the _Misunderstanding_, and so the
_Animosity_, whereunto the _Witchcraft_ now Raging, has Enchanted us.
The Embroiling, first, of our _Spirits_, and then of our _Affairs_,
is evidently as considerable a Branch of the Hellish Intrigue which
now vexes us as any one Thing whatever. The Devil has made us like a
_Troubled Sea_, and the _Mire_ and _Mud_ begins now also to heave up
apace. Even Good and Wise Men suffer themselves to fall into their
_Paroxysms;_ and the Shake which the Devil is now giving us, fetches up
the _Dirt_ which before lay still at the bottom of our sinful Hearts.
If we allow the Mad Dogs of Hell to poyson us by biting us, [11] we
shall imagine that we see nothing but such things about us, and like
such things fly upon all that we see. Were it not for what is IN US,
for my part, I should not fear a thousand Legions of Devils: 'tis by
our Quarrels that we spoil our Prayers; and if our humble, zealous,
and united Prayers are once hindred: Alas, the _Philistines_ of Hell
have cut our Locks for us; they will then blind us, mock us, ruine
us: In truth, I cannot altogether blame it, if People are a little
transported, when they conceive all the secular Interests of themselves
and their Families at the Stake; and yet at the sight of these
Heartburnings, I cannot forbear the Exclamation of the Sweet-spirited
_Austin_, in his Pacificatory Epistle to _Jerom_, on the Contest
with _Ruffin_, _O misera & miseranda Conditio!_ O Condition, truly
miserable! But what shall be done to cure these Distractions? It is
wonderfully necessary, that some healing Attempts be made at this time:
And I must needs confess (if I may speak so much) like a _Nazianzen_,
I am so desirous of a share in them, that if, being thrown overboard,
were needful to allay the _Storm_, I should think Dying, a Trifle to be
undergone, for so great a Blessedness.[66]
§ V. I would most importunately in the first place, entreat every Man
to maintain an holy Jealousie over his own Soul at this time, and
think; May not the Devil make me, though ignorantly and unwillingly,
to be an Instrument of doing something that he would have to be done?
For my part, I freely own my Suspicion, lest something of Enchantment,
have reach'd more Persons and Spirits among us, than we are well aware
of. But then, let us more generally agree to maintain a kind Opinion
one of another. That Charity without which, even our giving our Bodies
to be burned would profit nothing, uses to proceed by this Rule; It is
kind, it is not easily provok'd, it thinks no Evil, it believes all
things, hopes all things. But if we disregard this Rule of Charity,
we shall indeed give our Body Politick to be burned.[67] I have heard
it affirmed, That in the late great Flood upon _Connecticut_, those
Creatures which could not but have quarrelled at another time, yet now
being driven together very agreeably stood by one another.[68] I am
sure we shall be worse than _Bruitish_ if we fly upon one another at a
time when the Floods of Belial make us afraid. On the one side; [Alas,
my Pen, must thou write the word, _Side_ in the Business?] There are
very worthy Men, who, having been call'd by God, when and where this
Witchcraft first appeared upon the Stage to encounter it, are earnestly
desirous to have it sifted unto the bottom of it. And I pray, which
of us all that should live under the continual Impressions of the
Tortures, Outcries, and Havocks which Devils confessedly Commissioned
by Witches make among their distressed Neighbours, would not have a
Biass that way beyond other Men? Persons this way disposed have been
Men eminent for Wisdom and Vertue, and Men acted by a noble Principle
of Conscience. Had not Conscience (of Duty to God) prevailed above
other Considerations with them, they would not for all they are worth
in the World have medled in this Thorny business. Have there been any
disputed Methods used in discovering the Works of Darkness? It may be
none but what have had great Precedents in other parts of the World;
which may, though not altogether justifie, yet much alleviate a Mistake
in us if there should happen to be found any such mistake in so dark
a Matter.[69] They have done what they have done, with multiplied
Addresses to God for his Guidance, and have not been insensible how
[12] much they have exposed themselves in what they have done. Yea,
they would gladly contrive and receive an expedient, how the shedding
of Blood, might be spared, by the Recovery of Witches, not gone
beyond the Reach of Pardon. And after all, they invite all good Men,
in terms to this purpose, 'Being amazed at the Number and Quality of
those accused of late, we do not know but Satan by his Wiles may have
enwrapped some innocent Persons; and therefore should earnestly and
humbly desire the most Critical Enquiry upon the place, to find out
the Falacy; that there may be none of the Servants of the Lord, with
the worshippers of _Baal_.' I may also add, That whereas, if once a
Witch do ingeniously confess among us, no more _Spectres_ do in their
Shapes after this, trouble the Vicinage; if any guilty Creatures will
accordingly to so good purpose confess their Crime to any Minister
of God, and get out of the Snare of the Devil, as no Minister will
discover such a Conscientious Confession, so I believe none in the
Authority will press him to discover it; but rejoyc'd in a Soul sav'd
from Death. On the other side [if I must again use the word _Side_,
which yet I hope to live to blot out] there are very worthy Men, who
are not a little dissatisfied at the Proceedings in the Prosecution
of this Witchcraft. And why? Not because they would have any such
abominable thing, defended from the Strokes of Impartial Justice. No,
those Reverend Persons who gave in this Advice unto the Honourable
Council; 'That Presumptions, whereupon Persons may be Committed, and
much more Convictions, whereupon Persons may be Condemned, as guilty of
Witchcrafts, ought certainly to be more considerable than barely the
Accused Persons being represented by a _Spectre_ unto the Afflicted;
Nor are Alterations made in the Sufferers, by a Look or Touch of the
Accused, to be esteemed an infallible Evidence of Guilt; but frequently
liable to be abused by the Devils Legerdemains:' I say, those very
Men of God most conscientiously Subjoined this Article to that
Advice,--'Nevertheless we cannot but humbly recommend unto unto the
Government, the speedy and vigorous Prosecution of such as have rendred
themselves Obnoxious; according to the best Directions given in the
Laws of God, and the wholsome Statutes of the _English_ Nation for the
Detection of Witchcraft.' Only 'tis a most commendable Cautiousness,
in those gracious Men, to be very shye lest the Devil get so far into
our Faith, as that for the sake of many Truths which we find he tells
us, we come at length to believe any Lyes, wherewith he may abuse
us: whereupon, what a Desolation of Names would soon ensue, besides a
thousand other pernicious Consequences? and lest there should be any
such Principles taken up, as when put into Practice must unavoidably
cause the _Righteous to perish with the Wicked;_ or procure the
Bloodshed of any Persons, like the _Gibeonites_, whom some learned Men
suppose to be under a false Notion of Witches, by _Saul_ exterminated.
They would have all due steps taken for the Extinction of Witches; but
they would fain have them to be sure ones; nor is it from any thing,
but the real and hearty goodness of such Men, that they are loth to
surmise ill of other Men, till there be the fullest Evidence for the
surmises. As for the Honourable Judges that have been hitherto in the
Commission, they are above my Consideration: wherefore I will only say
thus much of them, That such of them as I have the Honour of a Personal
Acquaintance with, are Men of an excellent Spirit; and as at first
they went about the work for which they were Commission'd, with [13]
a very great aversion, so they have still been under Heart-breaking
Solicitudes, how they might therein best serve both God and Man? In
fine, Have there been faults on any side fallen into? Surely, they have
at worst been but the faults of a well-meaning Ignorance. On every side
then, why should not we endeavour with amicable Correspondencies, to
help one another out of the Snares wherein the Devil would involve
us? To wrangle the Devil out of the Country, will be truly a New
Experiment: Alas! we are not aware of the Devil, if we do not think,
that he aims at inflaming us one against another; and shall we suffer
our selves to be Devil-ridden? or by any unadvisableness contribute
unto the Widening of our Breaches?
To say no more, there is a published and credible Relation; which
affirms, That very lately in a part of _England_, where some of the
Neighbourhood were quarrelling, a _Raven_ from the Top of a Tree
very articulately and unaccountably cry'd out, _Read the Third of
Collossians and the Fifteenth!_ Were I my self to chuse what sort of
Bird I would be transformed into, I would say, _O that I had wings
like a Dove!_ Nevertheless, I will for once do the Office, which as it
seems, Heaven sent that Raven upon; even to beg, _That the Peace of God
may Rule in our Hearts_.
§ VI. 'Tis necessary that we unite in every thing: but there are
especially two Things wherein our Union must carry us along together.
We are to unite in our Endeavours to deliver our distressed Neighbours,
from the horrible Annoyances and Molestations with which a dreadful
Witchcraft is now persecuting of them. To have an hand in any thing,
that may stifle or obstruct a Regular Detection of that Witchcraft,
is what we may well with an holy fear avoid. Their Majesties good
Subjects must not every day be torn to pieces by horrid Witches, and
those bloody Felons, be left wholly unprosecuted. The Witchcraft is
a business that will not be sham'd, without plunging us into sore
Plagues, and of long continuance.[70] But then we are to unite in such
Methods for this deliverance, as may be unquestionably safe, lest _the
latter end be worse than the beginning_. And here, what shall I say? I
will venture to say thus much, That we are safe, when we make just as
much use of all Advice from the invisible World, as God sends it for.
It is a safe Principle, That when God Almighty permits any Spirits
from the unseen Regions, to visit us with surprizing Informations,
there is then something to be enquired after; we are then to enquire
of one another, What Cause there is for such things? The peculiar
Government of God, over the unbodied Intelligences, is a sufficient
Foundation for this Principle. When there has been a Murder committed,
an Apparition of the slain Party accusing of any Man, altho' such
Apparitions have oftner spoke true than false, is not enough to Convict
the Man as guilty of that Murder; but yet it is a sufficient occasion
for Magistrates to make a particular Enquiry, whether such a Man have
afforded any ground for such an Accusation. Even so a Spectre exactly
resembling such or such a Person, when the Neighbourhood are tormented
by such Spectres, may reasonably make Magistrates inquisitive whether
the Person so represented have done or said any thing that may argue
their confederacy with Evil Spirits, altho' it may be defective enough
in point of Conviction; especially at a time, when 'tis possible, some
over-powerful Conjurer may have got the skill of thus exhibiting the
Shapes of all sorts of Persons, on purpose to stop the Prosecution
of the Wretches, whom due Enquiries thus provoked, might have made
obnoxious unto Justice.
[14] _Quœre_, Whether if God would have us to proceed any further than
bare _Enquiry_, upon what Reports there may come against any Man, from
the World of _Spirits_, he will not by his Providence at the same time
have brought into our hands, these more evident and sensible things,
whereupon a man is to be esteemed a Criminal. But I will venture to
say this further, that it will be safe to account the Names as well
as the Lives of our Neighbors; two considerable things to be brought
under a Judicial Process, until it be found by Humane Observations that
the Peace of Mankind is thereby disturbed. We are Humane Creatures,
and we are safe while we say, they must be Humane Witnesses, who also
have in the particular Act of Seeing, or Hearing, which enables them
to be Witnesses, had no more than Humane Assistances, that are to
turn the Scale when Laws are to be executed. And upon this Head I
will further add: A wise and a just Magistrate, may so far give way
to a common Stream of Dissatisfaction, as to forbear acting up to the
heighth of his own Perswasion, about what may be judged convictive of a
Crime, whose Nature shall be so abstruse and obscure, as to raise much
Disputation. Tho' he may not do what he should leave undone, yet he may
leave undone something that else he could do, when the Publick Safety
makes an _Exigency_.
§ VII. I was going to make one Venture more; that is, to offer some
safe Rules, for the finding out of the Witches, which are at this day
our accursed Troublers: but this were a Venture too _Presumptuous_
and _Icarian_ for me to make; I leave that unto those Excellent and
Judicious Persons, with whom I am not worthy to be numbred: All that
I shall do, shall be to lay before my Readers, a brief _Synopsis_ of
what has been written on that Subject, by a Triumvirate of as Eminent
Persons as have ever handled it. I will begin with,