An essay for the recording of illustrious providences

1. The Argument by many insisted on from the Scripture is irrefragable. Therein Witch-crafts are forbidden. And we often read in the Scripture of Metaphorical Bewitchings, Nahum 3.4. Gal. 3.1. which Similitudes are undoubtedly taken from things that have a real existence in rerum nature. Yea, the Scripture makes particular mention of many that used those cursed Arts and Familiarities ⟨p. 181⟩with the Devil, e. g. Jannes, and Jambres, Balaam, Manasseh, Simon, Elymas. Nor is the Relation which the Scripture giveth of the Witch of Endor, and the reasons from thence deduced, to prove the being of Witches, sufficiently confuted by any of our late Witch-Advocate. Though (as one speaketh) some men to elude the Argument from that instance, play more Hocus-Pocus tricks in the Explication of that passage than the Witch her self did in the raising deceased Samuel. It is a poor evasion in those who think to escape the dint of this Argument, by pretending that the Witches and Familiar Spirits spoken of in the Scripture, were only Jugglers, or men that by Legerdemain would do strange feats of activity. The Divine Law requires that such Witches should be cut off by the Sword of Justice; which may not be affirmed of every one that shall without any confederacy with the Devil play tricks of Legerdemain.

1. The Argument by many insisted on from the Scripture is irrefragable. Therein Witch-crafts are forbidden. And we often read in the Scripture of Metaphorical Bewitchings, Noehum 3.4. Gal. 3.1. which Similitudes are undoubtedly taken from things that have a real existence in rerum nature. Yea, the Scripture makes particular mention of many that used those cursed Arts and Familiarities ⟨p. 181⟩with the Devil, e. g. Jannes, and Jambres, Balaam, Manasseh, Simon, Elymas. Nor is the Relation which the Scripture giveth of the Witch of Endor, and the reasons from thence deduced, to prove the being of Witches, sufficiently confuted by any of our late Witch-Advocate. Though (as one speaketh) some men to elude the Argument from that instance, play more Hocus-Pocus tricks in the Explication of that passage than the Witch her self did in the raising deceased Samuel. It is a poor evasion in those who think to escape the dint of this Argument, by pretending that the Witches and Familiar Spirits spoken of in the Scripture, were only Juglers, or men that by Legerdemain would do strange feats of activity. The Divine Law requires that such Witches should be cut off by the Sword of Justice; which may not be affirmed of every one that shall without any confoederacy with the Devil play tricks of Legerdemain.