Infidelity, we are beholden to them if they believe either Angel or Spirit, Resurrection of the Body, or Immortality of Souls. These things hang together in a Chain of connexion, at least in these Mens Hypothesis; and 'tis but an happy Chance if he that hath lost one Link holds another. So that the Vitals of Religion being so much interested in this subject, it will not be an unneccessary Employment particularly to Discourse it.
And in order to the proof, that there have been, and are unlawful Confederacies with evil Spirits, by virtue of which the Hellish accomplices perform things above their natural Powers. I must premise, that this being matter of Fact, is only capable of the Evidence of Authority and Sense; and by both these the being of Witches and Diabolical Contracts is most abundantly confirm'd. All Histories are full of the Exploits of those Instruments of Darkness and the Testimony of all Ages, not only of the rude and barbarous, but of the most civilized and polished World, brings Tidings of their strange Performances. We have the attestation of Thousands of Eye and Ear-witnesses, and those not of the easily deceivable Vulgar only, but of wise and grave Discerners; and that when no interest could oblige them to agree together in a common Lie. I say we have the Light of all these Circumstances to confirm us in the belief of things done by Persons of despicable Power and Knowledge, beyond the reach of Art and ordinary Nature. Standing publick Records have been kept of these well attested Relations, and Epocha's made of those unwonted Events. Laws in many Nations have been enacted against those vile Practices; those among the Jews and our own are notorious; such Cases have been often determined near us, by Wise and Reverend Judges, upon clear and convictive Evidence; and Thousands in our own Nation have suffer'd Death for their vile Compacts with Apostate-Spirits. All these I might largely prove in their particular Instances, but that 'tis not needful, since those that deny the being of Witches, do it not out of Ignorance of these Heads of Argument, of which probably they have heard a thousand times; but from an Apprehension that such a belief is absurd, and the things impossible. And upon these presumptions they contemn all Demonstrations of this Nature, and are hardned against Conviction. And I think those that can believe all Histories are Romances; that all the wiser World have agreed together to juggle Mankind into a common belief of unground-
