An essay for the recording of illustrious providences

If Dives could not bring Lazarus his Soul out of Abraham's Bosom, how the Witch of Endor should be able to bring Samuel's Soul from thence I know not. Lyra (and from him others) pretends that God then interposed and sent real Samuel ⟨p. 212⟩as he unexpectedly appeared to Balaam, when employed about his Magical impostures. But I dare not believe that the Holy God, or the true Samuel would seem so far to countenance Necromancy or Psychomancy as this would be, should the Soul of Samuel really return into the World, when a Witch called for him, Saul desiring that it might be so. This Opinion establisheth Necromancy, the main Principal upon which that cursed and lying Art is built, being this, that it is possible for men to cause the Souls of dead persons to be brought back again. This seeming Samuel did not at all ascribe his appearance to the extraordinary Providence of God, but rather to the Devil, since he complained that Saul had by the Witch disquieted him. The appearing Samuel was seen ascending out of the Earth, whenas the true Samuel would rather have appeared as descending from Heaven. Moreover the words of the Witches, Samuel, when he said, tomorrow thou and thy Sons shall be with me, 1 Sam.29.18. are hardly consistent with truth. Nor is it likely, that the true Samuel would Preach nothing but Desperation to Saul, without so much as once exhorting him in a way of Repentance, to endeavour that his peace might be made with that God whom he had provoked by his sins, V. P. Martyr. in ⟨p. 213⟩1Sam.28. P.161,162. and Voet. de Spectris Page 1006. This Instance then, doth sufficiently prove that Satan may appear in the shape of an holy Man. Some acknowledge that he may do so as to persons that are dead, but that he cannot personate good and innocent Men who are still living. It is by some reported, that Mr. Cotton did once deliver such a notion. Nothing is more frequent, then for the judgment of worthy Men to be misrepresented after they are gone, and not capable of clearing themselves. I know Mr. Cotton was a Man of great reading, and of deep Judgment. I shall therefore rather suppose that they who relate Mr. Cotton's Opinion, did themselves mistake him, then believe that a Man so learned and wise, would express himself, as some say he did. Sure I am, that Authentic Historians mention Examples to the contrary.