An essay for the recording of illustrious providences

There is another Case of Conscience which may here be enquired into, viz. Whether it be lawful to bind persons suspected for Witches, and so cast them into the Water, in order to making a discovery of their innocency or guiltiness; so as that if they keep above the Water, they shall be deemed as confederate with the Devil, but if they sink they are to be acquitted from the crime of Witchcraft. As for this way of purgation it cannot be denied but that some learned men have indulged it. King JAMES approveth of it, in his Discourse of Witch-craft B. 3. Chap.6. supposing that the water refuseth to receive Witches into its Bosom, because they have perfidiously violated their Covenant with God, confirmed by Water in Baptism. Kornmannus and Scribonius do upon the same ground justify this way of trial. But a worthy Casuist of our own, giveth a judicious Reply to this supposed, viz. that all Water is not the Water of Baptism, but that only which is used in the very act of Baptism. Moreover, according to this notion the Proba would serve only for such persons as have been Baptized, Wierus and Bodinus have ⟨p. 281⟩written against this Experiment. So hath Hemmingius; who saith, that it is both superstitious and ridiculous. Likewise, that Learned Physician John Heurnius has published a Treatise, which he calls, Responsum ad supremam curiam Hollandiae nullum esse aequae innatationem lamiarum indicium. That Book I have not seen, but I find it mentioned in Meursius his Athenae Batavae Amongst English Authors, Dr. Cot hath endeavoured to show the unlawfulness of using such a practice. Also Mr. Perkins is so far from approving of this probation by cold water, as that he rather inclines to think that the persons who put it in practice are themselves after a sort practisers of Witch-craft. That most Learned, Judicious, and Holy Man, Gisbertus V•etius in his forementioned Exercitation de Magia, P.573. endeavours to evince that the custom of trying Witches by casting them into the Water is unlawful, a Tempting of God, and indirect Magic. And that it is utterly unlawful, I am by the following Reasons convinced:

There is another Case of Conscience which may here be enquired into, viz. Whether it be lawful to bind persons suspected for Witches, and so cast them into the Water, in order to making a discovery of their innocency or guiltiness; so as that if they keep above the Water, they shall be deemed as confoederate with the Devil, but if they sink they are to be acquitted from the crime of Witchcraft. As for this way of purgation it cannot be denied but that some learned men have indulged it. King JAMES approveth of it, in his Discourse of Witch-craft B. 3. Chap.6. supposing that the water refurseth to receive Witches into its Bosom, because they have perfidiously violated their Covenant with God, confirmed by Water in Baptism. Kornmannus and Scribonius do upon the same ground justifie this way of tryal. But a worthy Casuist of our own, giveth a judicious Reply to this supposed, viz. that all Water is not the Water of Baptism, but that only which is used in the very act of Baptism. Moreover, according to this notion the Proba would serve only for such persons as have been Baptized, Wierus and Bodinus have