That there are Devils and Witches, the Scripture asserts, and experience confirms, That they are common ⟨image ?⟩enemies of Mankind, and set upon mischief, is not to be doubted: That the Devil can (by Divine permission) and often doth vex men in Body and Estate, without the Instrumentality of Witches, is undeniable: That he often hath, and delights to have the Concurrence of Witches, and their consent in harming men, is consonant to his Native Malice to man, and too Lamentably exemplified: That Witches, when detected & convinced, ought to be exterminated and cut […] we have Gods warrant for; Exod. 22. 18. Only the same God who hath said, thou shalt not suffer a Witch to live; hath also said, at the Mouth of two witnesses, or three witnesses shall he that is worthy of Death, be put to Death: but at the Mouth of one witness, he shall not be put to Death. Deut. 17. 6. Much debate is made about […] is sufficient Conviction, and some have (in their Zeal) supposed that a less clear evidence ought to pass in this than in other cases, supposing that else it will be hard (if possible) to bring such to Condign Punishment, by Reason of the close Conveyances that there are between the Devil and Witches: but this is a very dangerous, and unjustifiable tenet. Men serve God in doing their Duty: he never intended that all Persons Guilty of Capital Crimes should be discovered and Punished by men in this Life, though they be […] so curious in searching after iniquity. It is therefore exceeding necessary that in such a day as this men be informed what is evidence, and what is not. It concerns men in point of Charity; for, though the most shining Professor may be secretly a most abominable ⟨image ?⟩sinner, yet till he be detected, our Charity is bound to Judge according to what appears: and notwithstanding that a clear evidence must determine a case; yet Presumptions must and ought to be weighed against presumptions, and Charity is not to be forgone as long as it •ath the most preponderating on its side. And it is of no less necessity in point of Justice; There are not only Testimonies required by God, which are to be Credited according to the Rules given in His Word referring to witnesses:
That there are Devils and Witches, the Scripture asserts, and experience confirms, That they are common ⟨image ?⟩enemies of Mankind, and set upon mischief, is not to be doubted: That the Devil can (by Divine permission) and often doth vex men in Body and Estate, without the Instrumentality of Witches, is undeniable: That he often hath, and delights to have the Concurrence of Witches, and their consent in harming men, is consonant to his Native Malice to man, and too Lamentably exemplified: That Witches, when detected & convinced, ought to be exterminated and cut 〈…〉 we have Gods warrant for; Exod. 22. 18. Only the same God who hath said, thou shalt not suffer a Witch to live; hath also said, at the Mouth of two witnesses, or three witnesses shall he that is worthy of Death, be put to Death: but at the Mouth of one witness, he shall not be put to Death. Deut. 17. 6. Much debate is made about 〈…〉 is sufficient Conviction, and some have (in their Zeal) supposed that a less clear evidence ought to pass in this than in other cases, supposing that else it will be hard (if possible) to bring such to Condign Punishment, by Reason of the close Conveyances that there are between the Devil and Witches: but this is a very dangerous, and unjustifiable tenet. Men serve God in doing their Duty: he never intended that all Persons Guilty of Capital Crimes should be discovered and Punished by men in this Life, though they be 〈…〉 so curious in searching after iniquity. It is therefore exceeding necessary that in such a day as this men be informed what is evidence, and what is not. It concerns men in point of Charity; for, though the most shining Professor may be secretly a most abomi•able ⟨image ?⟩sinner, yet till he be detected, our Charity is bound to Judge according to what appears: and notwithstanding that a cleer evidence must determine a case; yet Presumptions must and ought to be weighed against presumptions, and Charity is not to be forgone as long as it •ath the most preponderating on its side. And it is of no less necessity in point of Justice; There are not only Testimonies required by God, which are to be Credited according to the Rules given in His Word referring to witnesses:
