may well be) and thence they conclude, that all pretended Apparitions are Fancies or Impostures. By why do not such arguers conclude, that there was never a Cut-purse in London, because they have lived there many years without being met with by any of those Practices? Certainly he that denies Apparitions upon the confidence of this Negative against the vast heap of Positive assurances, is credulous in believing there was ever any Highway-man in the World, if he himself was never Robb'd. And the Trials of Assizes and Attestations of those that have (if he will be just) ought to move his Assent no more in this case, than in that of Witches and Apparitions, which have the very same evidence.
But as to the quiet of Mr. Mompesson's house when the Courtiers were there, it may be remembred and considered, that the disturbance was not constant, but intermitted sometimes several days, sometimes weeks. So that the intermission at that time might be accidental, or perhaps the Dæmon was not willing to give so publick a Testimony of those Transactions, which possibly might convince those, who he had rather should continue in the unbelief of his existence. But however it were, this circumstance will afford but a very slender inference against the credit of the story, except among those who are willing to take any thing for an Argument against things which they have an interest not to acknowledge.
I have thus related the sum of the story, and noted some circumstances that assure the truth of it. I confess the passages recited are not so dreadful, tragical and amazing, as there are some in story of this kind yet; are they never the less probable or true, for being not so prodigious and astonishing. And they are strange enough to prove themselves effects of some invisible extraordinary Agents, and so demonstrate that there are Spirits, who sometimes sensibly intermeddle in our affairs. And I think they do it with clearness of evidence. for these things were not done long ago, or at far distance, in an ignorant age, or among a barbarous people, they were not seen by two or three only of the Melancholick or Superstitious, and reported by those that made them serve the advantage and interest of a party. They were not the passages of a Day or Night, nor the vanishing glances of an Apparition; but these Transactions were near and late, publick, frequent, and of divers years continuance, witnessed by multitudes of competent and unbyassed Attestors, and acted in a searching incredulous Age: Arguments enough one would think to convince any modest and capable reason.
