.NDI.MjIzNzA

ye Scripture, ye example of a better man yn Saul, encourage us to make enquiry after wizzards & witches in order to their Convictio[n] & Execution. This did ye rarest king yt ever lived caused to be done, viz. Josiah 2,.K.23:24. [underlined: The [underlined: workers wth familiar spirits & {y'e} wizzards {y't} were spied] [underlined: in {y'e} land of Judah, did Josiah put away {y't} he might] [underlined: perform {y'e} words of {y'e} law]. It seems there were some [y't] sought to hide those workers of Iniquity, but [y't] inco[m]parable King [underlined: spied] them out, & did rid [y'e] land & [y'e] world of them. But [y'n y'e] enquiry is [underlined: What is sufficient proof]? This case hath bin [w'th] great Judgment answered by seve= rall Divines of our owne; particularly by Mr. [underlined: Perkins], & Mr. [underlined: Bernard]. Also Mr. [underlined: Jne. Gaule] a worthy minister of [underlined: Staughton] in [y'e] County of [underlined: Huntington], has published a verry judicious discourse, called [underlined: Select Cases of Conscience] [underlined: touching witches & witchcrafts], printed at London A.D. 1646. wherein he doth [w'th] great prudence & Evidence of Scripture light handle this & other cases such jurors as can obtain those books I would advise them to read & seriously as in yt feare of God to consider them. And so far as they keep to [y'e] Law & to [y'e] Testimony & speake according to [y'e] word, receive the Light w[hi]ch is in them. But the bookes being now not easy to be obtained, let mee express my concurrence w[i]th them in these two particulars. [underlined: That a free & Voluntary Confessio[n] of {y'e} Crime made by {y'e} party suspected & accused after Examination is a sufficient ground of Conviction]. Indeed if persons are distracted or under [y'e] Power of phrenetic Melancholly [y't] alters [y'e] Case; but [y'e] Jurors [y't] Examin, & their Neighbours yt know them may easily determin that Case, or if Confessions be (m) extorted if evidence is not so cleer & Convictive. But if any person out of Remorse of Conscience or from a touch of God on their Spirit confesse and shew their Deeds, as the converted

[Margin note: (m) Bodin [Dæ]monomania Lib:4:]