is (as Mr.
_Gaul_ observes[83]) the Opinion of some learned Protestants, that
_Saul_ in his Zeal did over do: And that under the Pretext[84] of
Witches he slew the _Gibeonites_, for which that Judgment followed, _2
Sam. 21.1._ _Neither_ (saith Mr. _Gaule_) _want we the storied Examples
of God's Judgments upon those that defamed, prosecuted and executed them
for Witches, that indeed were none._ But we have in the Scripture the
Example of a better Man than _Saul_ to encourage us to make enquiry
after Wizzards and Witches in order to their Conviction and Execution.
This did the rarest King that ever lived caused to be done, _viz._
_Josiah_, _2 Kings 23.24._ _The Workers with familiar Spirits and the
Wizzards, that were spied in the Land of +Judah+, did +Josiah+ put away,
that he might perform the Words of the Law._ It seems there were some
that sought to hide those Workers of Iniquity, but that incomparable
King spied them out, and rid the Land and the World of them.

_Q._ But then the Enquiry is, _What is sufficient Proof?_

_A._ This Case has been with great Judgment answered by several Divines
of our own, particularly by Mr. _Perkins_, and Mr. _Bernard_; also Mr.
_John Gaul_ a worthy Minister at _Staughton_, in the County of
_Huntington_, has published a very Judicious Discourse, called, _Select
Cases of Conscience touching Witches and Witchcrafts_, Printed at
_London_ A.D. 1646. wherein he does with great Prudence and Evidence of
Scripture light handle this and other Cases: Such Jurors as can obtain
those Books, I would advise them to read, and seriously as in the fear
of God to consider them, and so far as they keep to the Law and to the
Testimony, and speak according to that Word, receive the Light which is
in them. But the Books being now rare to be had, let me express my
Concurrence with them in these two particulars.

1. _That a free and voluntary Confession of the Crime made by the Person
suspected and accused after Examination, is a sufficient Ground of
Conviction._

Indeed, If Persons are Distracted, or under the Power of _Phrenetick
Melancholy_, that alters the Case; but the Jurors that examine them, and
their Neighbours that know them, may easily determine that Case; or if
Confession be extorted,[85] the Evidence is not so clear and convictive;
but if any Persons out of Remorse of Conscience, or from a Touch of God
in their Spirits, confess and shew their Deeds, as the Converted
Magicians in _Ephesus_ di