An essay for the recording of illustrious providences

As for the moving and procuring cause of ⟨p. 220⟩such Apparitions, commonly it is by reason of some sin not discoverable in any other way. Either some act of injustice done, or it may be some Murder committed. Platina, Nauclerus, and others relate, that Pope Benedict. 8. did after his death appear sitting upon a black Horse before a Bishop of his acquaintance, declaring the reason to be, in that he had in his life time nefariously consumed a great sum of Money, which belonged to the Poor. And there are fresh Examples to this purpose lately published in the second Edition of Mr. Glanvils Sadducismus Triumphatus. He there speaks of a Man in Guilford, unto whom belonged some Copy-hold Land, which was to descend to his Children, he dying, leaving no Child born, his Brother took possession of the Estate. So it happened that the deceased Man's Wife conceived with Child but a little before her Husbands death, which after she perceived, by the Advice of her Neighbours, she told her Brother in Law how matters were circumstanced; he railed upon her, calling her Whore, and said he would not be fooled out of his Estate so. The poor Woman went home troubled, that not only her Child should lose the Land, but which was worse, that she should be thought an Whore. In due time she was Delivered ⟨p. 221⟩of a Son. Some time after which, as her Brother in Law was going out of the Field, his dead Brother (the Father of the injured Child) appeared to him at the Stile, and bid him give up the Land to the Child, for it was his Right. The Brother being greatly affrighted at this Spectre, ran away, and not long after came to his Sister, saying, she had sent the Devil to him, and bid her take the Land; and her Son is now possessed of it.

As for the moving and procuring cause of ⟨p. 220⟩such Apparitions, commonly it is by reason of some sin not discoverable in any other way. Either some act of injustice done, or it may be some Murder committed. Platina, Nauclerus, and others relate, that Pope Benedict. 8. did after his death appear sitting upon a black Horse before a Bishop of his acquaintance, declaring the reason to be, in that he had in his life time nefariously consumed a great sum of Money, which belonged to the Poor. And there are fresh Examples to this purpose lately published in the second Edition of Mr. Glanvils Sadducismus Triumphatus. He there speaks of a Man in Guilford, unto whom belonged some Copy-hold Land, which was to descend to his Children, he dying, leaving no Child born, his Brother took possession of the Estate. So it hapned that the deceased Man's Wife conceived with Child but a little before her Husbands death, which after she perceived, by the Advice of her Neighbours, she told her Brother in Law how matters were circumstanced; he railed upon her, calling her Whore, and said he would not be fooled out of his Estate so. The poor Woman went home troubled, that not only her Child should lose the Land, but which was worse, that she should be thought an Whore. In due time she was Delivered