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As for a Judgment of the Elders in [underlined: New England] so farr as I can learn they do generally concurr with Mr [underlined: Perkins] & Mr [underlined: Bernard]. This I know, that at a meeting of Ministers at Cambridge, August 1.1692 where were present Seven elders besides the President of the Colledge, this Question there discours'd on was, whither the Devils may not Sometimes have a permission to represent an innocent person as tormenting such as are under Diabolicall molestations. The answer [w, superscript ch = which] they all concurred in was in these words, vis. [underlined: That {illegible} Devils may sometimes have a permission to represent an Innocent person as tormenting such as are under Diabolicall molestations, but that such things are rare & extraordinary, especially when such matters come before civil judicature]. And that some of the most Eminent ministers in the Land [w, superscript o = who] were not at that meeting are of [illegible] same judgment I am assured. And I am also sure that in cases of this nature, the Priests lips should keep knowledge, & they should seek the Law at his mouth. Mat. 2.7.

[Margin note: ** About two years ago, a bewitched person in {underlined: Chelmsford} complained {illegible: tanzer?} relation of hers (a worthy good man) & another person of known piety appeared to her and afflicted her.

Argum. 6. Our own experience hath confirmed [illegible] of [w, superscript t = what] we affirm. I have in another book given an account concerning [underlined: Eliz. Knap] of [underlined: Groton] who complained that a woman as Eminent for piety as any that town did appear to her & afflict her. but afterwards she was satisfied that that person never did her any harm but that the Devil abused them both. **I have myself known several of [w, superscript m = whom] I ought to think [possible shorthand for "that"] they are now in heaven considering they were of good conversations & reputed pious by those [w, superscript o = who] had the greatest intimacy [w, superscript th = with] them of whom nevertheless some complained that their shapes appeared to them & threatened them. Nor is this answered by saying, we do not know but those persons might be witches. Nor are bound by the rule of charity to think otherwise. And they [illegible] confurr any merely because such a sad affliction as their being false represented by Satan hath befaln them, do not do as they would be done by. I bless the Lord it never [illegible] the portion allotted to me nor to any relation of mine to be thus abused. but no man knoweth [w, superscript t = what] may happen to him since [underlined: there be just men unto whom it hapneth according to the work of the wicked]. Eccles. 8.14. but [w, superscript t = what] needs more to be said since there is one among our selves whom no man that knows him can think him to be a wizard, yet some bewitched persons complain [possible shorthand for "that"] they are in this shape tormented.