son, why they may not be sent in Messages to Earth, as well as those of the Angelical Order? They are nearer allied to our Natures, and upon that account more intimately concern'd in our affairs; and the Example of returning Lazarus is evidence of the thing de facto. Besides which, that it was the real Samuel they think made probable by the opinion of Jesus the Son of Syrac, Eccles. XLVI. 19, 20. who saith of him, That after his death he prophesied and shewed the King his end: which also is likely from the circumstance of the Womans astonishment, and crying out when she saw him, intimating her surprize, in that the power of God had over-ruled her Enchantments, and sent another than she expected. And they conceive there is no more incongruity in supposing God should send Samuel to rebuke Saul for this his last Folly, and to predict his instant ruin, than in his interposing Elias to the Messengers of Ahazias when he sent to Beelzebub. Now if it were the real Samuel, as the Letter expresseth, (and the obvious sence is to be followed when there is no cogent reason to decline it) he was not raised by the power of the Witches Enchantments, but came on that occasion on a Divine Errand. But yet attempts and endeavours to raise her Familiar Spirit, (though at that time over-ruled) are arguments that it hath been her custom to do so, Or if it were as the other side concludes, the Devil in the shape of Samuel, her diabolical Confederacy is yet more palpable.
SECT. II.
I Have now done with SCOT and his Presumptions; and am apt to fancy, that there is nothing more needful to be said to discover the Discoverer. But there is an Author infinitely more valuable, that calls me to consider him, 'Tis the great Episcopius, who tho' he grants a sort of Witches and Magicians; yet denies Compacts. His Authority, I confess, is considerable, but let us weigh his Reasons.
His First is, That there is no example of any of the prophane Nations that were in such Compact; whence he would infer, that there are no express Covenants with evil Spirits in particular Instances. But I think that both Proposition and Consequence are very obnoxious and defective. For that there were
