have largely shewn that this was the Doctrine of the greatest Philosophers, and most Ancient and Learned Fathers. And agreeable it is to the Holy Scripture and highest Reason and Philosophy, as I may have another occasion to shew. Now Samuel appeared here to Saul in this his more pure Aerial or Ætherial Body, which he could form into such an appearance and habit as he had in the Terrestrial.
Against the Opinion of Samuel's Soul appearing, Mr. Webster urgeth cogent Arguments, as still he calleth his; they are all manifest, cogent, irrefragable, unanswerable, even then when they are scace sense. He prefaceth to them, by an intimation, that the Doctrine is Popish maintained, he saith, it is by the Popish party. His hard words use to be his strongest Arguments. But this is only to raise odium and prejudice to the opinion. For there are Papists and Protestants on both sides of this Question. As also Rabbins and Fathers have divided upon it. Some of the last sort, and those perhaps of the greatest and most considerable having been for it, as R. Eleazer, R. Saadias, The Writers of the Midrash, Josephus also, Origen, Augustine, Basil, Ambrose, &c. as some others have been against it. So that, I suppose, a Man may freely and without offence declare his Judgment, though it happen to be different from Mr. Webster's.
SECT. XXIV.
Three Arguments of Mr. Webster against the appearing of the Soul of Samuel proposed and answered.
Wherefore to his Arguments, First he could not, saith he, come whether God would or no. Right! Secondly, He would not run on as Errand without God's consent. No doubt. Thirdly that God did not command him, he saith, is most certain. Here I must stop. How doth that appear to be so certain? Why! they never were imployed in Ministries here below, because never created for any such end or purpose, p. 173. They were never employed in Ministries here below! What thinks he of the Souls of Moses and Elias, at the transfiguration on the Mount? were not they then employed in a Ministry here below, or were they only Phantasms? or glorifyed Bodies with-
