nes, ut quae non sunt, sic tamen, quasi sint,
conspicienda hominibus exhibeant._ _Lactantius_ Lib. 2. _Instit._
Cap. 15. _Diabolus Consulitur, cum iis mediis utimur aliquid
Cognoscendi, quae a Diabolo sunt introducta._ _Ames Cas. Cons._ L. 4.
Cap. 23.

Printed at _Boston_, and Re-printed at _London_, for \John Dunton\, at
the _Raven_ in the _Poultrey_. 1693.

CHRISTIAN READER.

_So Odious and Abominable is the Name of a Witch, to the Civilized, much
more the Religious part of Mankind, that it is apt to grow up into a
Scandal for any, so much as to enter some sober cautions against the
over hasty suspecting, or too precipitant Judging of Persons on this
account. But certainly, the more execrable the Crime is, the more
critical care is to be used in the exposing of the Names, Liberties, and
Lives of Men (especially of a Godly Conversation) to the imputation of
it. The awful hand of God now upon us, in letting loose of evil Angels
among us to perpetrate such horrid Mischiefs, and suffering of Hell's
Instruments to do such fearful things as have been scarce heard of; hath
put serious persons into deep Musings, and upon curious Enquiries what
is to be done for the detecting and defeating of this tremendous design
of the grand Adversary: And, tho' all that fear God are agreed, +That no
evil is to be done, that good may come of it+; yet hath the Devil
obtained not a little of his design, in the divisions of Reuben, about
the application of this Rule._

_That there are Devils and Witches, the Scripture asserts, and
experience confirms, That they are common enemies of Mankind, and set
upon mischief, is not to be doubted: That the Devil can (by Divine
Permission) and often doth vex men in Body and Estate, without the
Instrumentality of Witches, is undeniable: That he often hath, and
delights to have the concurrence of Witches, and their consent in
harming men, is consonant to his native Malice to Man, and too
lamentably exemplified: That Witches, when detected and convinced, ought
to be exterminated and cut off, we have God's warrant for, +Exod. 22.18.+
Only the same God who hath said, +thou shalt not suffer a Witch to
live+; hath also said, +at the Mouth of two Witnesses, or three
Witnesses shall he that is worthy of Death, be put to Death: But at the
Mouth of one Witness, he shall not be put to Death+, +Deut. 17.6.+ Much
debate is made about what is sufficient Conviction, and some have (in
their