Cases of conscience concerning evil spirits personating men, witchcrafts, infallible proofs of guilt in…

To proceed, Is it not usual for Persons after their Death to appear unto the Living. But it do's not therefore follow, that the Great God will not suffer this to be. For both in former and latter Ages, Examples thereof have not been wanting. No longer since, than the last Winter, there was much Discourse in London concerning a Gentlewoman, unto whom her Dead Son (and another whom she knew not) had appeared. Being then in London, I was willing to satisfy my self, by enquiring into the Truth of what was reported. And on Feb. 23. 1691. my Brother (who is now a Pastor ⟨p. 20⟩to a Congregation in that City) and I Discoursed the Gentlewoman spoken of. She told us, that a Son of hers, who had been a very civil young man, but more airy in his Temper than was pleasing to his serious Mother, being Dead, she was much concerned in her Thoughts about his Condition in the other World. But a Fortnight after his Death, he Appeared to her, saying, Mother, you are solicitous about my eternal Welfare. Trouble your self no more, for I am happy, and so vanished. Should there be a continual Intercourse between the Visible and the Invisible World, it would breed Confusion. But from thence to infer, that the Great Ruler of the Universe will never permit any thing of this nature to be, is an inconsequent Conclusion. It is not usual for Devils to be permitted to come and violently carry away persons through the Air, several Miles from their Habitations. Nevertheless, this was done in Sweedland about Twenty Years ago, by means of a cursed Knot of Witches there. And a Learned Physician now living, giveth an Account of several Children, who by Diabolical Frauds were Stolen from their Parents, and others left in their room: And of two, that in the night-time a Line was by Invi••b•• Hands put about their necks, with which they had been Strangled, but that some near them happily prevented it. V. Germ. Ephem. Ann• 1689. pag. 51. 516.

To proceed, Is it not usual for Persons after their Death to appear unto the Living. But it do's not therefore follow, that the Great God will not suffer this to be. For both in former and latter Ages, Examples thereof have not been wanting. No longer since, than the last Winter, there was much Discourse in London concerning a Gentlewoman, unto whom her Dead Son (and another whom she knew not) had appeared. Being then in London, I was willing to satisfy my self, by enquiring into the Truth of what was reported. And on Feb. 23. 1691. my Brother (who is now a Pastor