The reasons of the Christian religion the first part, of godliness, proving by natural…

§. 20. XX. The enemy of Souls doth (against his will) give man a four-fold reason to judge, that there is a life of Reward and Punishment hereafter: viz. 1. By Compacts with Witches. 2. By Apparitions. 3. By Satanical Possessions. 4. By all kind of subtle importunate temptations, (which evidence themselves.)

§. 20. XX. The enemy of Souls doth (against his will) give man a four-fold reason to judge, that there is a life of Reward and Punishment hereafter: viz. 1. By Compacts with Witches. 2. By Apparitions. 3. By Satanical Possessions. 4. By all kind of subtil importunate temptations, (which evidence themselves.)

1. Though some are very incredulous about Witches, yet to a full enquiry the evidence is past question, that multitudes of such there be. Though many are wronged, and some may be thought so foolish or melancholy, as not to know what they say against themselves; yet against such numerous and various instances, these exceptions do but confirm the general truth, that such there are. I have said so much of them in ^*two other Writings, that I shall now say no more but this: That those Judges ordinarily condemn ⟨p. 148⟩them to die, who themselves have been most incredulous of such things: that so great numbers were condemned in Suffolk, ²Norfolk, and Essex, about twenty years ago, that left the business past all doubt to the Judges, Auditors, and Reverend Ministers, (yet living) who were purposely sent with them for the fuller inquisition. That the testimonies are so numerous and beyond exception, recorded in the many Volumes written on this subject, by the Malleus Maleficorum, Bodin, Remigius, and other Judges who condemned them, that I owe no man any further proof, than to desire him to read the foresaid Writings: wherein he shall find Men and Women, Gentlemen, Scholars, Doctors of Divinity, of several qualities and tempers, all confessedly guilty, and put to death for this odious sin. And he shall find what compacts they made with the Devil, promising him their Souls or their service, and renouncing their Covenant with God. All which doth more than intimate, that men have Souls to save or lose, and that there is an Enemy of Souls who is most solicitous to destroy them; or else to what end would all this be? When people are in wrath and malice, desirous of revenge or in great discontents, or too eagerly desirous after overhasty knowledge in any needless speculation, the Devil hath the advantage to appear to them, and offer them his help, and draw them into some contract with him (implicit at least, if not explicit) I have my self been too incredulous of these things, till cogent evidence constrained my belief. Though it belong not to us to give account, why Satan doth it, or why upon no more, or why God permitteth it, yet that so it is in point of fact, it cannot be rationally denied. And therefore we have so much sensible evidence, that there is a happiness and misery after this life, which the Devil believeth, though Atheists do not.