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

Answ. 1. Commonly, these Apparitions do expressly refer to some sin or duty which are regardable in order to a further Life. Sometimes they come to terrify Murderers or other great Offenders: and sometimes the Devil hath killed men outright: ⟨p. 150⟩(which yet were no more painful than another death, if it fetched not their souls into a greater misery) sometimes they are used to tempt people to sin, to witchcraft, to revenge, to idolatry and superstition (to which use they are common among many of the Indians): And all this intimateth some further hurt which sin doth men after this present life; which they take not here for their pain, but their pleasure. 2. Many of these Apparitions say, that they are the souls of such and such persons that have lived here: If it be so, then the question is granted. And whether it be so, I suppose is to us uncertain: For why a condemned Soul may not appear as well as Satan, notwithstanding that both of them are in that state of misery which is called Hell, I yet could never hear any sure proof. But (because this is uncertain) 3. At least it showeth us, that these evil Spirits are near us, and able to molest us, and therefore are ordinarily restrained, and that their natures are not as to any elevation so distant from ours, but that a converse there may be; and therefore that it is very probable, that when the souls of the Wicked are separated from their bodies, they shall be such as they, or have more converse with them; and that the good Spirits shall be the companions of the souls of men that here were not far unlike themselves. When we perceive that we live among such invisible Spirits, it is the easier to believe that we shall live with such of them hereafter, as we are most like.

Answ. 1. Commonly, these Apparitions do expresly referr to some sin or duty which are regardable in order to a further Life. Sometimes they come to terrifie Murderers or other great Offenders: and sometimes the Devil hath killed men outright: ⟨p. 150⟩(which yet were no more painfull than another death, if it fetcht not their souls into a greater misery) sometimes they are used to tempt people to sin, to witchcraft, to revenge, to idolatry and superstition (to which use they are common among many of the Indians): And all this intimateth some further hurt which sin doth men after this present life; which they take not here for their pain, but their pleasure. 2. Many of these Apparitions say, that they are the souls of such and such persons that have lived here: If it be so, then the question is granted. And whether it be so, I suppose is to us uncertain: For why a condemned Soul may not appear as well as Satan, notwithstanding that both of them are in that state of misery which is called Hell, I yet could never hear any sure proof. But (because this is uncertain) 3. At least it sheweth us, that these evil Spirits are neer us, and able to molest us, and therefore are ordinarily restrained, and that their natures are not as to any elevation so distant from ours, but that a converse there may be; and therefore that it is very probable, that when the souls of the Wicked are separated from their bodies, they shall be such as they, or have more converse with them; and that the good Spirits shall be the companions of the souls of men that here were not far unlike themselves. When we perceive that we live among such invisible Spirits, it is the easier to believe that we shall live with such of them hereafter, as we are most like.