are as opposite as their Spirit and Genius. And now, Can the Sun borrow its Light from the bottomless Abyss? Can Heat and Warmth flow in upon World from the Regions of Snow and Ice? Can Fire freeze and Water burn? Can Natures, so infinitely contrary, communicate, and jump in Projects that are destructive to each others known Interests? Is there any Balsom in the Cockatrices Egg? or, Can the Spirit of Life flow from the Venome of the Asp? Will the Prince of Darkness strengthen the Arm that is stretcht out to pluck his Usurpt Scepter, and his Spoils from him? And will he lend his Legions to assist the Armies of his Enemy against him? No, these are impossible Supposals, no intelligent Being will industriously and knowingly contribute to the contradiction of its own Principles, the Defeature of its Purposes, and the ruin of its own dearest Interests. There is no fear then that our Faith should receive prejudice from the Acknowledgment of the Being of Witches, and power of evil Spirits, since 'tis not the doing wonderful things that is the only Evidence that the Holy JESUS was from God, and his Doctrine true; but the conjunction of other Circumstances, the holiess of his Life, the reasonableness of his Religion, and the excellency of his Designs added credit to his Works, and strengthend the great Conclusion, That he could be no other than the Son of God, and Saviour of the World. But besides, I say,
(2) That since infinite Wisdom and Goodness rules the World, it cannot be conceiv'd, that they should give up the greatest part of Men to unavoidable deception. And if evil Angels by their Confederates are permitted to perform such astonishing things, as seem so evidently to carry God's Seal and Power with them, for the confirmation of Falshoods, and gaining credit to Impostures, without any counter-Evidence to disabuse the World; Mankind is exposed to sad and fatal delusions. And to say that Providence will suffer us to be deceived in things of the greatest concernment, when we use the best of our care and endeavours to prevent it, is to speak hard things of God; and in effect to affirm, That he hath nothing to do in the Government of the World, or doth not concern himself in the Affairs of poor forlorn Men. And if the Providence and Goodness of God be not a security unto us against such Deceptions, we cannot be assured, but that we are always abused by those mischievous Agents, in the Objects of plain Sense, and in all the matters of our daily converses. If ONE that pretends he is immediately sent from God, to overthrow the ancient Fabrick of Established Wor-
