.NDI.MjIzMTY

an Evidence supposed to be in the Testimony = which is throwly to be Weighed, & if it doe not infallibly prove the Crime against the person accused, it ought not to determine him guilty of it for so righteous men [crossed out: a, corrected from "man"; e added with a caret] may be condemned unjustly. In case of witchcraft wee know that the Divel [capital D over small d] is the imediate agent in the mischeif 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 tryall by the Sight and Touch. The principal plea to Justife the convictive evidence of [written over 'again'] those is fetched from the consideration of the wisdome and Justice of God in Governing the works which they suppose would fail if such things were permitted to befall an inocent person. but it is certain that too resolute conclusions drawn from Hence, are bold usurpations upon spotless _soveraignty,_ & tho some things if suffered to be common would subvert this government & disband yea ruine Humane Society; yet God doth sometime suffer such things.