ed Fables; that the sound Senses of Multitudes together may deceive them, and Laws are built upon Chimæras; that the gravest and wisest Judges have been Murderers, and the Sagest Persons Fools, or deigning Impostors. I say, those that can believe this heap of Absurdities, are either more credulous than those whose Credulity they reprehend; or else have some extraordinary Evidence of their Persuasion, viz. That 'tis absurd and impossible there should be a Witch or Apparition. And I am confident, were those little Appearances remov'd, which Men have form'd in their Fancies against the Belief of such things, their own Evidence would make its way to Mens Assent, without any more Arguments than what they know already to enforce it. There is nothing then necessary to be done, in order to the establishing the Belief I would reconcile to Mens Minds, but to endeavour the removal of those Prejudices they have received against it; the chief of which I shall particularly deal with. And I begin with that bold Assertion.
SECT. II.
Obj. I. THE Notion of a Spirit is impossible and contradictious, and consequently so is that of Witches, the belief of which is founded on that Doctrine.
TO which Objection, I Answer First, If the Notion of a Spirit be absurd, as is pretended, that of a God and a Soul distinct from Matter, and immortal, are likewise absurdities; and then, that the World was jumbled into this elegant and orderly Fabrick by Chance; and that our Souls are only parts of Matter that came together we know not whence nor how, and shall again shortly be dissolv'd into those loose Atoms that compound them; that all our Conceptions are but the thrusting of one part of Matter against another; and the Ideas of our Minds meer blind and casual Motions. These, and a Thousand more the grossest Impossibilities and Absurdities (consequents of this Proposition, That the Notion of a Spirit is absurd) will be sad Certainties and Demonstrations, And with such Assertors I would cease to Dis-
