SECT. XVIII.
Convincing Arguments brought, to prove that Saul saw Samuel, which frustrates the Figment of two Rooms.
After all, if he really saw the Apparition, the Figment of the two Rooms is gone, or at least signifie nothing to their purpose; this the Text intimates plainly. She said, An old Man cometh up, and he is covered with a Mantle; and it follows, And Saul perceived that it was Samuel, and he stooped with Face to the ground, and bowed himself, v. 14.
He perceived it was Samuel, he perceived it, saith Mr. Webster, by the Description of the Woman. But she had only said, An old Man cometh up, covered with a Mantle: This is but a very general Description, why must that needs notifie Samuel; Could the Devil represent no other old Man in a Mantle, or could none of the Dead appear so but Samuel only? By these Words alone, Saul could not certainly perceive that it was her but he perceived this so, that he could not but know and acknowledge it, as the Hebrew Word seems to imply. I say this Word [perceived] implies more than bare seeing. 'Tis that and somewhat else, viz. that he saw him so, as to be convinced that it was he indeed: the Judgment was added to the Sense. So that Mr. Webster's Objection, that the Word [saw] it was Samuel, is of no weight, he [perceived] implies, that he saw it so as to be assured. If the saying of the Woman had been all, the assurance had been none at all, and Saul could not have perceived or understood any certainty of the thing from it.
But Secondly, It appears yet farther, that his perceiving did imply seeing; for, he stooped with his Face to the ground, and bowed himself: Now what did Saul make this respectful Reverence to, if he saw nothing? Was it to Samuel in his Fancy? Mr. Webster saith, Surely in rational consequence it could be nothing else, p. 171. This is something an unusual Courtesie to bare Ideas and Imaginations. But Mr. Webster gives a Reason: All that the Woman had done and said, being undeniable Lyes and Cheats, this also in just right and reason must be judged to be so also. Which is assuming the thing to be proved.
