nious Men of the opposite Belief to me in the Question. Yea, it is accounted a piece of Wit to laugh at the Belief of Witches as silly Credulity. And some Men value themselves upon it, and pride them in their supposed Sagacity of seeing the Cheat that imposeth on so great a part of Believing Mankind. And the Stories of Witches and Apparitions afford a great deal of Subject for Wit, which it is pity that a witty Man should lose.
Secondly, I own that some of those who deny Witches have no design against, nor a disinclination to Religion, but believe Spirits, and a Life to come, as other sober Christians do, and so are neither Atheists, Sadduces and Hobbists.
Thirdly, I allow that the great Body of Mankind is very credulous, and in this matter so, that they so believe vain impossible things in relation to it. That carnal Copulation with the Devil, and real Transmutation of Men and Women into other Creatures are such. That people are apt to impute the extraordinaries of Art, or Nature to Witchcraft, and that their Credulity is often abused by subtle and designed Knaves through these. That there are Ten thousand silly lying Stories of Witchcraft and Apparitions among the vulgar. That infinite such have been occasioned by Cheats and Popish Superstitions, and many invented and contrived by the Knavery of Popish Priests.
Fourthly, I grant that Melancholy and Imagination have very great force, and can beget strange persuasions. And that many Stories of Witchcraft and Apparitions have been but Melancholy fancies.
Fifthly, I know and yield, that there are many strange natural Diseases that have odd Symptomes, and produce wonderful and astonishing effects beyond the usual course of Nature, and that such are sometimes falsly ascribed to Witchcraft.
Sixthly, I own, the Popish Inquisitours, and other Witch-finders have done much wrong, that they have
