know not the extent of their powers.) And to bring up the Frogs from the Lakes and the Rivers, was no hard thing for them to effect, though impossible for the Magicians to do by Tricks of Juggling. We see the sence of the History is plain, and easie in our way, but forced, harsh, contradictious, and most absurd in the Interpretation of the Hag-Advocates.
To make the Inference from these Magicians to my point, yet more plain and demonstrative, I shall further take notice, that if we do not suppose a confederacy, and formal compact between them and the Spirits they act by, it must at least be granted that those Magicians had a way to obliege them to act, either by Words or Ceremonies, which they have bound themselves to attend in order to further familiarity with the persons that so employ them, and at last to explicit Compacts: And even this is sufficient for what I would infer.
I have thus dispatcht a great Argument briefly, and yet I hope fully; Mr. Webster is after his manner very volumnious about it. But all he hath said in Five or Six Leaves in Folio to the purpose, is in those few Lines I have recited. All the rest is sensless, rambling impertinence, amusing his Readers with Actives, and Passives, Macassaphims, Hartumminms, Talismans, wonderful Cures, and the vertues of Plants, telling Stories, and citing scraps from this Man, and from that, all which serve only for Ostentation, and the Deception of the injudicious, but signifie nothing to any purpose of Reasoning.
SECT. XIV.
The other grand Instance of Confederacy with Evil Spirits, in the Witch of Endor, whom Saul consulted. A brief and plain Narration of the Story.
I Come to another grand Instance, viz. that of the Witch of Endor. The Story of her is related, 1 Sam. 28. and is briefly thus Samuel was dead v.3. and the Philistines gathered themselves against Saul, and pitcht in Gilboa, v. 4. Saul on this was much afraid, v. 5, and enquired of the Lord, but had no answer from him, v. 6. Upon this he bid his Servants find him
