CHAP. VIII.
Of the Witch of Endor, and whether she accomplished the raising of Samuel truly, or by deceipt; the opinion of some Divines hereupon.
* 1.1THe Woman of Endor is comprised under this word Ob; for she is called Pythonissa. It is written in 1 Sam. 28. that she raised up Samuel from death; and the other words of the text are strongly placed, to inforce his very resurrection. The mind and opinion of Jesus Sirach evidently appeareth to be, that Samuel in person was raised out from his grave, as if you read Eccl. 46.19, 20. you shall plainly perceive. Howbeit, he disputeth not there, whether the story be true or false, but only citeth certain verses of 1 Sam. 28. simply ac∣cording to the letter, perswading to manners and the imitation of our vertuous predecessors, and repeating the examples of divers excellent men, namely, of Samuel; even as the text it self urgeth the matter, according to the deceived mind and imagination of Saul, and his Servants: And therefore in truth, Sirach spake there according to the opinion of Saul, which so supposed; otherwise it is neither Heresie nor Treason to say he was deceived.
He that weigheth well that place, and looketh it advisedly, shall see that Sa∣muel was not raised from the dead, but that it was an illusion or cosenage practi∣sed by the Witch:* 1.2 For the souls of the righteous are in the hands of God: accor∣ding to that which Chrysostom saith, Souls in a certain place expecting judgement, and cannot remove from thence. Neither is it Gods will, that the living should be taught by the dead. Which things are confirmed and approved by the ex∣ample of Lazarus and Dives; where it appeareth, according to Deut. 18. that he will not have the living taught by the dead, but will have us stick to his Word, wherein his will and testament is declared. Indeed Lyra and Dionysius incline greatly to the latter. And Lyra saith, That as when Balaam would have raised a Devil, God interposed himself; so did he in this case bring up Samuel, when the Witch would have raised her Devil: which is a probable interpretation. But yet they dare not stand to that opinion,* 1.3 least they should impeach S. Augustines credit, who, they confess, remained in judgement and opinion, without contradiction of the Church, that Samuel was not raised; for he saith directly, That Samuel him∣self was not called up. And indeed, if he were raised, it was either willingly, or per force; if it were willingly, his sin had been equal with the Witches.
And Peter Martyr, me thinks, saith more to the purpose, in these words, to wit, This must have been done by Gods good will, or per force of art magick: it could not be done by his good will, because he forbad it; nor by art, because Witches have no power over the godly. Where it is answered by some, that the commandement was only to prohibit the Jews to aske counsel of the dead, and so no fault in Samuel to give counsel: We may as well excuse our Neighbours wife, for consenting to our filthy desires, because it is only written in the Decalogue, Thou shalt not desire thy neighbours wife. But, indeed, Samuel was directly forbidden to answer Saul before he dyed; and therefore it was not likely that God would appoint him when he was dead, to do it.