men, Witches of Oratours, and examine what they tell us in the light of the Text and impartial Reason.
The Text saith, Aaron cast down his Rod before Pharaoh, and before his Servants, and it became a Serpent, v. 10. and v. 11. 12. The Magicians of Ægypt, they also did in like manner with their Enchantments. For they cast down every man his Rod and they became Serpents, but Aaron's Rod swallowed up their Rods. Now, say the Witch-Advocates, the Magicians were Jugglers; they did not in like manner, they did not cast down their Rods, but made conveyance of them, they were not Serpents but Pictures. Which are plain contradictions to the Text, arbitrary Figments, that have no ground. And if Men may feign what they will, and put what borrowed sense they please upon plain Relations of Fact, all History will be a Nose of Wax, and be easily shaped as the Interpreter has a mind to have it.
Secondly, If this were so, and the Serpents were but Artificial Pictures; 'tis strange, that neither Pharaoh, nor his Servants should perceive the difference between the Carved and Painted Serpents and the real ones; except they suppose also that Pharaoh contrived the business in a dark Room on purpose, as the Author of The Doctrine of Devils seems to intimate. And 'tis stranger yet, that neither Moses nor Aaron that was concerned to detect the Imposture that was so gross and thick, should not discern it, of if they did, 'tis as strange, that they should keep the Jugglers counsel, and say nothing of it.
Thirdly, Aarons Serpents are said to have swallowed up those of the Magicians. What, did they swallow the Wiars and Pictures? It seems they were very artificially done indeed, that the true Serpents mistook them for real ones, as the Birds once did the Painted Grapes. But it would be more wonderful yet, if all were but the Oratory of the Magicians, for then the Serpents are their Words and Rhetorick.
Fourthly, Moses and Aaron turned the Rivers into Blood, v. 20. and the Magicians of Ægypt did so with their Enchantments, v. 22. They caused Frogs to come up, and to cover the Land, Ch. 8. v. 6. and the Magicians did so, and brought up Frogs on the Land of Ægypt, v. 7. Now how did the Jugglers do this, with Painting and Fucussing; or how, by Legerdemain and Slight of Hand were the Waters made Blood, and the Frogs brought up out of the Rivers on the Land? To turn a little Water into the appearance of Blood, was not the thing that was like to what Moses and Aaron did, and to shew an Artificial Frog, Two or Three was not bringing up of Frogs on the Land of Ægypt, which implies, multitudes that covered the ground. So that
