Memorable providences relating to witchcrafts and possessions a faithful account of many wonderful and…

When some poor people fell into the hands of a Pilate, our Saviour saw cause to preach a Sermon about Repentance thereupon: What less than a Sermon can be called for when some poor Children have lately fallen into the hands of a Devil? tho' thanks be to our David, the Lambs are like to be delivered from the Hellish Monsters to which they were become a Prey. And this may seem the rather convenient, because the godly Father of the Children has desired it. For which cause the Text before us may be proper to be insisted on.

When some poor people fell into the hands of a Pilate, our Saviour saw cause to preach a Sermon about Repentance thereupon: What less than a Sermon can be call'd for when some poor Children have lately fall'n into the hands of a Divel? tho' thanks be to our David, the Lambs are like to be delivered from the Hellish Monsters to which they were become a Prey. And this may seem the rather convenient, because the godly Father of the Children has desir'd it. For which cause the Text before us may be proper to be insisted on.

The Great GOD had three several times declared that the Nation of the Amalekites was to be destroyed and extirpated forevermore. King Saul was now employed in an Expedition against them, to accomplish that Prediction, and to execute the Vengeance of Heaven upon the present Generation of them, not only for their own Cruelty and Villainy, but also for the Wickedness of their Ancestors four hundred years before. The Sovereign God had Anathematized every living thing among them, and ordered that both Man ⟨p. 3⟩and Beast should fall in the day of Slaughter. The Army, on I know not what pretence, did not observe this Commission, for which reason Samuel is now sent unto their Leader with dismal Rebukes and heavy Tidings for his Disobedience. In the Text before us, the Prophet aggravates the Sin of Saul, 1. By Describing of the Sin. The right Name is here put upon it; and it is called Rebellion against God. 2. By Comparing of the Sin. It is resembled unto Witchcraft it self: not an Equality, but a Similitude between them is intended. It is not affirmed to be as a great an Evil, but as true an Evil as Witchcraft is. That Witchcraft was a Sin far from venial, must be owned by Saul, who had lately scoured all the Witches out of Israel: It is now said, Such a Fault is thine. The following Expression carries on the same sense; and the meaning of that is, That they who adored and Idol, (for so I would rather translate the word here rendered Iniquity) or they who consulted at Teraphim, which was a sort of little Image from whence Daemons gave Answers to Enquirers; even these are not more unquestionable Sinners than those that add Stubbornness to Rebellion against the Lord.