but a Cozener, and the whole transaction a Cheat and Imposture, manag'd by her self and a Confederate. And in order to the persuading this, he tells a fine Tale, viz. That she departed from Saul into her Closet, where doubtless, says he, she had a Familiar, some lewd crafty Priest, and made Saul stand at the Door like a Fool, to hear the cozening Answers. He saith, she there used the ordinary Words of Conjuration; and after them Samuel appears, whom he affirms to be no other than either the Witch her self, or her Confederate. By this pretty knack and contrivance he thinks he hath disabled the Relation from signifying to our purpose.
But the DISCOVERER might have considered, that all this is an Invention, and without Book. For there is no mention of the Witches Closet, or her retiring into another Room, or her Confederate, or her form of Conjuration: I say, nothing of all this, is as much as intimated in the History; and if we may take this large liberty in the Interpretation of Scripture, there is scarce a Story in the Bible but may be made a Fallacy, an Imposture, or any thing that we please. Nor is this fancy of his only Arbitrary, but indeed contrary to the Circumstances of the Text. For it says, Saul perceived it was Samuel, and bowed himself, and this Samuel truly foretold his approaching Fate, viz. That Israel should be delivered with him into the Hands of the Philistians; and that on the Morrow He and his Sons should be in the state of the Dead, which doubtless is meant by the Expression, that [they should be with him]. Which contingent particulars, how could the Cozener and her Confederate foretel, if there were nothing in it extraordinary and preternatural.
It hath indeed been a great dispute amongst Interpreters, whether the real Samuel was raised or the Devil in his likeness? Most later Writers suppose it to have been an evil Spirit, upon the supposition that good and happy Souls can never return hither from their Cœlestial abodes; and they are not certainly at the beck and call of an impious Hag. But then those of the other side urge, that the Piety of the Words that were spoke, and the seasonable reproof given to despairing Saul, are Indications sufficient that they come not from Hell; and especially they think the Prophesie of Circumstances very accidental to be an Argument that it was not utter'd by any of the infernal Predictors. And for the supposal that is the ground of that Interpretation, 'tis judged exceedingly precarious; for who saith that happy departed Souls were never employed in any ministeries here below? And those Dissenters are ready to ask a rea-
