out a Woman that had a Familiar Spirit, that he might enquire of her. They told him of one at Endor, v. 7. He disguised himself, and with two Men by night went to her, desired her to divine unto him by her Familiar Spirit, and to bring up him whom he should name, v. 8. The Woman first excused her self minding him how dangerous such a business might be to her, since Saul had cut off those that had Familiar Spirits, and the Wizzards out of the Land. So that she was afraid that this Proposition of his was a snare for her Life, v. 9. But Saul assured her by swearing, that no harm should come to her for this thing, v. 10.
She then askt him whom she should bring up, and he said bring me up Samuel, v. 11. Samuel accordingly begins to appear, and when the Woman saw him, she cried with a loud voice being much surprized, it seems, to see Samuel in food earnest, whom she probably expected not, but some Familiar in his likeness. By this she knew Saul, v. 12. He heartens her again, and asks whom she saw. She answers, she saw Gods Ascending out of the Earth, and usual Hebraism, the Plural for the Singular Number, Gods to wit, a Spirit, v. 13. Saul asks what Form he was of, she answered, an Old Man cometh up and he is covered with a Mantle. Then Saul perceived it was Samuel, and he bowed himself to the ground, v. 14.
Samuel, ask't why he had disquieted him to bring him up? He declares the distress he was in, and his desire to know what he was to do, v. 15. Samuel reproves him, and declares his Fate, viz. That the Lord had rent the Kingdom from him, and given it to David, v. 17. That the Israelites should be delivered into the hands of the Philistines, and that Saul and his Sons should to morrow be with him, viz. in the state of the Dead, as eventually it was, v. 19. This is the History, and one would think it speaks very plainly, but nothing is plain to prejudice. The Patrons of Witches labour hard to avoid this evidence, and I shall propose and consider their shifts and slights of answering.
