Talk:.NDI.MjIzMTY

an evidence supposed to be in the testimony which is thoroughly to be weighed, and if it does not infallibly prove the crime against the person accused, it ought not to determine him guilty of it for so righteous men may be condemned unjustly. In case of witchcraft we know that the Devil is the immediate agent in the mischief done, the consent or compact of the witch is the thing to be demonstrated. Among many arguments to evince this that which is most under present debate, is that which refers to something vulgarly called spectre evidence and a certain sort of ordeal or trial by the sight and touch. The principal plea to justify the convictive evidence of these is fetched from the consideration of the wisdom and justice of God in governing the works which they suppose would fail if such things were permitted to befall an innocent person. But it is certain that too resolute conclusions drawn from hence, are bold usurpations upon spotless sovereignty, and though some things if suffered to be common would subvert this Government and disband and ruin human society; yet God does sometimes suffer such things.