.NDI.MjIzNTk

the truth of the Gospel: but that such a gift-- should be annexed to the Touch of [crossed out word] wicked witches as an infallible Sign of their guilt is not easie to be beleived. It is a thing ever known that if a per= son possessed by an Evil Spirit is (as often it so happen) never so outragious whiles a good man is praying with and for the Afflicted, let him lay his hand on them and the Evil Spirit is Quiet. I hope this is no Evidence of any Covenant or voluntary Commu[=] nion between the good man that is praying and the Evil Spirit. No more doth that Case before us Evince any such Thing. 4. Ther are that question the Lawfullness of the Expe= riment. For if this healing power in the witch is not a Divine but a Diabolicall gift it may be dangerous to meddle too much with it. If the= witch may be ordered to touch the Afflicted persons in order to their healing or recovery out of a Sick fitt, why may not the deseased person be ordered to touch the witch for the same Cause? & if [scratched out letter] touch him why not to scratch [scratched out word] him and to fetch blood out of him which is but an harder kind of touch? But as for this Mr _Perkins_ doubts not to call it a _practice of witchcraft_. It is not safe to med= dle with any of the Divels Sacraments, or institu tions