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THat there are Witches, and such Persons as from contracts with the Devil have undertook, and seem∣ingly performed some strange things; (though denyed by some Sensual men of this Age, whose Interest it is, there should be neither Heaven nor Hell, and who have therefore proceeded from the denial of the Soul, to the denial of Spirits, and from thence even to the denial of the Existence of God himself) is yet deducible from several reasons.
1st. And first from the most An∣cient and veracious Authority of the Word of God, in its forbidding such Diabolical practices, as in the first place. Deut. 18. 10, 11, 12. There shall not be found among you any one, that maketh his Son or his Daughter to pass through the Fire, or that useth Divination, or an Observer of times, or an Inchanter, or a Witch,
Or a Charmer, or a Consulter with Familiar Spirits, or a Wizard, or a Necromancer.
For all that do these things are an abomination to the Lord: and because of these abominations, the Lord thy God doth drive them out before thee.
From which words, it not only ap∣pears that there were those that wor∣shiped Idols, that gave themselves to Diabolical Arts; but also that for these Abominations the Lord cast them out of the Land, and introduced his own people the Israelites, strictly charging them, that they abstain from
such unlawful practices. For the Am∣monites caused their Children to pass through the fire, not (as some have sup∣posed) to kill them, or burn them: but only to pay a kind of Adoration to that Element. For (as Heurnius saith) Ignem in Vr, Chaldaeorum urbe, Abra∣hami Patriâ adorandum ponit, gravi poenâ in pertinaces promulgatâ. Where yet there is no mention made of burn∣ing or killing. For who can believe, that Solomon Murthered little Chil∣dren, or cast them into the Fire, be∣cause the Scripture saith of him, Cole∣bat Solomon Astharten, Deam Sidoni∣orum, & Moloch, Idolum Ammonita∣rum. And yet this unhappy Custom hath so spread it selfever since through∣out the whole world, that even in America, the Brasilians do the same, as Iohannes Lerius in Nav. Bras. re∣ports of them. And among Christians also Mothers did yearly cause their Children to pass over the Fire of Saint Iohn; which Custom, though con∣demned
by a Council held at Constan∣tinople, and proved by Theodoret to have been derived from this Custom; is yet retained and practised amongst those of the Romish-Church. But to leave ob∣servations, and return to our intended Business.
We find in the History of the Bible, the names and practices of certain Witches and Sorcerers, as particularly we have the names of those two so famous or ra∣ther infamous Sorcerers of Egypt. 2 Tim. 3. 8. Dan. 2. 2. We read that Ne∣buchadnezzar had Dreamed certain Dreams, at which he was much per∣plexed, and very desirous to know the Interpretation of them; he gave Com∣mandment to call the Magicians and the Astrologers, and the Sorcerers, and the Chaldeans, for to shew the King his Dreams. So we have also accounts of other Witches, as Balaam, of Ieza∣bel and her Witchcrafts. 2 Kings 9. 22. of Manasses, who to the rest of his wickedness, caused his Children to
pass through the fire in the Valley of the Son of Hinnom: Also he observed times, and used Inchantments, and used Witchcraft, and dealt with a Familiar Spirit, and Wizards. So have we Relations of the Sorcery of Simon Magus both in Holy Writ, and other Authors of good Credit, as Act. 8. 9. Eusebius his Eccles. Hist. which Historian tells us how he came to Rome in the days of Nero, and how strangely he Bewitched the people from the true Belief by his Magical Inchantments, till undertaking to flie in the Air, God was pleas'd, at the Prayers of Saint Peter, to throw him down, in which fall he lost both his Life, and Reputation.
To these Proofs we may add, the Practices of several Witches mention∣ed in the Word of God, as Exod. 7. Isaiah. 47. 9. Ezeck. 21. 21. and this we read of those that went to them. 1 Sam. 28. 7. For so goes the story of Saul, when he said to his ser∣vants,
Seek me a woman that hath a Familiar Spirit, that I may go to her, and enquire of her. And his servants said to him, Behold, there is a woman which hath a Familiar Spirit at Endor. And Saul disguised himself, and put on other raiment, and he went, and two men with him, and they came to the woman by night. So also did Balack send to Balaam to Curse his enemies. All these things were done, contrary to the practice of good Iosiah, who, as the Sacred Records report, put away the workers with Familiar Spirits, and the Wi∣zards, 2 Kings. 23. 24. These are such evident Proofs, that it is to me a wonder that any one, who believes the Scriptures, can offer to deny the existence of Witches, though there were no Demonstrations in these our days, to evidence this so palpable a Truth.