.NDI.MjIzNzA

[illegible] Scripture, [illegible] example of a better man [illegible] Saul, [crossed out word] encourage us to make enquiry after wizards & witches in order to their [illegible] & execution. This did [illegible] king y't ever lived caused to be done, int. Josiah 2,.K.23:24. [underlined: The [underlined: workers {w'th} familiar spirits & {y'e} wizzards {y't} were spied] [underlined: in {y'e} land of Judah, did Josiah put away if 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] incomparable 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 [illegible] of our owne; particularly by Mr. [underlined: Perkins], & Mr. [underlined: Bernard]. Also Mr. [underlined: Jnl. Gale] a worthy minister of [underlined: Staughton] in [y'e] County of [underlined: Huntington], has published a very 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 [illegible] of Scripture = right hand to this & other cases such jurors as can obtain those books I would advise them to read & seriously as [illegible] 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 which is in them. But the books being now not easy to be obtained, let mee express my concurrence with them in these two particulars. [underlined: That a free & Voluntary confessed of Confessed of {y'e} Crime made by {y'e} party suspected & accused after Examination is a sufficient ground of Conviction]. Indeed is persons are distracted or under [y'e] Power of [phrenetic?] Melancholy [y't] abhors [y'e] Case; but [y'e] Jurors [y't] Examin, & their Neighbours [illegible] know them may easily determin that Case, or if Confessions be [illegible] extorted if evidence is not so cleer & [illegible] But if any person out of Remorse of Conscience or from a touch of God their Spirit confesses and show their Deeds, as the converted

[Margin note: [illegible] Lib:4:]