Chap. V. Jupposed Witchcraft .

CHAP. V.

That these things now in question are but barely supposed, andwere yet never rationally nor sufficiently proved : And thatthe Allegations brought to prove them by are tveah^, fri-volous , and absolutely invalid. With a full Confutationof all the four Farticulars.

H Aving in the preceding Chapter proved that the Scripturesand found Reason, are the proper Mediums to decide thesedifficulties by , x and also laid down the necessary qualifications re-quisite in an Author or Witness that would evidence these thingsas matters of fact:: We (hall here once again repeat the four Parti-culars, which we are about to confute, which are these. i. Thatthe Devil doth not make a visible or corporeal League and Cove-nant with the supposed Witches. 2. That he doth not fuck upontheir bodies. 3. That he hath not carnal Copulation with them.

4. That they are not really changed into Cats, Dogs, Wolves, orthe like. And these four Particulars we affirm were never mattersof fact, nor ev^r had a being, except only in the fancy as meer Chi-mera's , nor that they ever were or can be proved to have beenbrought to pass or acted ; and de non apparentibus , non exzjien-

tibus eadem cji ratio , faith the great Maxime of our Law. But inthe first place let us hear what the Patrons of this wretched andexecrable opinion have to fay to prove that they are matters offact, or were ever acted or performed. And first we have Mr. Glan-vil arguing at this rate : " All Histories are full of the exploits -p ag .^" of those instruments of darkness; and the testimony of all ages,

" not only of the rude and barbarous, but of the most civilized and" polisht World, brings tidings of their strange performances. We" have tire attestation of thousands of eye and ear-witnesses, and" those not of the easily deceivable vulgar only, but of grave and" and wise difcerners; and that when no interest could oblige them" to agree together in a common lye: I fay we have the light of" all these circumstances to confirm us in the belief of things done” b y persons of despicable power and knowledge, beyond the reach, of Art and ordinary Nature. Standing publick Records havebeen kept of these well-attested Relations, and Epocha’s made of" those unwonted, events. Laws in many Nations have been ena-” cted against those vile practices; those among the jews and our’’ own are notorious; such Gases have been often determined nearUs j by wise and reverend Judges, upon clear convictive Evi-, dence, and thousands in our own Nation have suffered death for" their vile compacts with Apostate Spirits. And a little after hefaith • " And 1 think those that can believe all Histories are R<f

” ntances;