that it speaks sometimes agreeably to the deceived Apprehensions of Men; but when it is so, there is something in the Context or Nature of the thing that leads us to make this Judgment. And if we rashly suppose whenever we have a Mind to it, that the Scripture speaks according to deceived Opinion; we may by this Rule make it say any thing. The plain Letter, and most obvious Sense is always to be followed, where there is no cogent Reason to the contrary, and I shall shew by and by, that there is none to decline it here.
According to the obvious plain Sense, the Words are Interpreted, Enclesiastick. 46. And after his Death, (speaking of Samuel) he Prophesied, and shewed the King his end. And the circumstances of the Story, which I have already considered, seem to me very plainly to determine the Sense this way. Thus doth the surprize of the Woman, who cried out with astonishment upon the sight of the Prophet, whom she was affrighted to see. Her knowing it was Saul by the Apparition, which she could not have done by the Devil's appearing in his likeness. The Expression that Saul perceived that it was Samuel, he did not only fancy or think so. The Divine and Majestick words he spake, so becoming the true Samuel, and so unlike the Words of an evil Spirit. And the Prediction of Events so contingent as the loss of the Battle, and the death of the King and his Sons.
SECT. XXII.
The needlessness and impertinency of Mr. Webster's Confutation of Samuel's appearing with his Body out of the Grave.
Now there are several Evasions, whereby some endeavour to shift off this Evidence. But if we will deal plainly and sincerely, we must, I think, acknowledge the force of the Arguments, which I have briefly and nakedly proposed.
But all this Mr. Webster pretends to confute thus. It was not Samuel's Body with his Soul joined, nor his Soul that appeared in his wonted Shape and Habit, p. 172, 173.
