[ontemplationi. LIB. XIV. profitable knowledge, harh been the hereditary difeafe ofthe fonnes of Adam and A Eve; How many have perifhed to know that w?ich bath procured their perifhing ~ I How ambmous fl10uld we be ro know rhofe tbmgs,rhe knowledge whereofis eternal! Life! ' Many a lewd office are they put to,which fcrve wicked ma!lers; One while Sa11ls fervanrs are fent to kill innocentDavid; anoth<r while ro lhed the bloud of Gods Prie!ls; and now they mu!l goe feek for a Wirch: It is no fmall happine!fe to attend them,from whom we may receive precepts and examples ofverrue. HadSa•l been good he had needed no difguife; Hone!lactions never flmnethe doers; Now that he goeth about a linfull buline!fe, he chanoeth himfelfc · he feeks the fl1elter of the night, he takes but two followers with him; It is ~rue that if Saul had come in the port ofa King; the Witch had as much di!fembled ht; B oondirion,asnow hedi!fembleth his; yet it was not onely delire to fpetd, but guiltindfe that thus alrred his habit; fuch is the power ofconfcience, that even thofe who are mo!l affected to evill, yer are alhamed tdbe thought fuch as they delire to be. S-.t needed another face ro fit that tongue,which llrould fay,(Conjecture to me bythe familiarfpirir,and bring me up whom I lhlll name unrothee;) An obdurate heart can give way to any thing. Notwith!landing the peremproryedict of Sa11l, there are !\ill Witches in Ifrael ; neither good Laws,norcarefull executions can purge theChurch from Makfaaors; There will !lill be fome thlt will jeopard their heads upon the grotfe!l fins; No Gardeu can be focurioufly tended, that there lhould not be one W«d loft in it; C Yet (o farrecon good Srarures, and due inflictions ofpunilhments upon oftenders prevaile,that mifchievous perfonsare gladto pull in their heads,and dare not do ill, but indifguife and darkne!fe. It is no fmall advantageof juftice,thatit aflrights fin, ifir cannot be expelled; As contrarily wofull isrhe condition ofthat place, where is a publikeprofeffion ofwickedne!fe, . TheWitch was no le!fe crafrythenwicked1 lhehad before (as is like)bribed Officers to efcape-enditement,to lurk in fecrecy;and now lhe will not work her feares wirhoutfecuriry ; her fufpition projetls thewor!l; (Whmfort foekejl thotm take"'' in afoart, to cattfe mtto di'?) Oh vain Sotcere!fe, that could be wary to avoid the plmifhmentofS<ttl, careldfe to avoid the judgem,nt ofGod;Could we fore-think what our fin would coil us, we dur!l nor, but be innocent: This is a good and fea- D fonable anfwer for us, ro makeunto Satan,when he follicites us to evill (Wherefore fttkePthD" totdie me in a[nare,to cauft me to die?) Nothing is more furethc:n this intention in the tempter, then this event inthe i!fue; Oh that we could butfo much feare·rhe erernall paines, as we doe the remporary,and be but fo carefull to fave our foules from torment,as our bodies. No fooner bath Sat~! fworne her fafery, then lheaddre!feth her to her Sorcery; Hope ofimpunity drawes on fm with boldne!fe ; were it nor for the delufions of falfe promifes,Saran fl1.0uld have no Clients. Could Sau/ be fo ignorant,as to think that Magick had power over Gods deceafed Sainrs to raife thorn up; yea, to call them down from their re!l~Time was,when S••l was among the Prophets;And yet now, that he is in the impure lodge ofDivds,how fenlldfe heis,ro fay,B!ing mt up E Samuel? Iris no rare thing to lofe evenour wit and judgement together With graces; How ju!llyare they given r-o fottilhnelfe,rhat have given thelllfdves overrolin ~ The Sorcereffe (it !<ernes) exercifing her conjurations in aroome apart, is informed by her familiar, who it was that fer her on work; lhee can therefore finde time,in the mid!l ofher Exorcifmes,to bind rho alfurance ofher own fafery,by expo!lulation (She cryedwith alottd voice,why hajlthou dmiv td mejor thou art S•ul ?) The very n;me ofSau/ was anaccufation; Yet is he fo farre from !lriking his brea!l, I that doubting le!l this feare ofthe Witch, fllou\d interrupt the defired work, he encourages her, whom he fl10uld have condemned ; (Bt '"' ajfraid;) He that had I more Clufe ro feare, forhis own: fake,in an expetlation ~f Juft judgement, cheares up her that feared norlung but h1mfelfe; How •ll dorh 1t become us to g•ve that ' counfell
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