A Further Account of the Tryals of the New-England
Witches:—
A True Narrative, collected by Deodat Lawson, relating to
Sundry Persons afflicted by Witchcraft, from the 19th
of March to the 5th of April, 1692 [201]
Remarks of Things more than Ordinary about the Afflicted
Persons [211]
The First Case proposed, Whether or not may Satan appear in
the Shape of an Innocent and Pious, as well as of a
Nocent and Wicked Person, to afflict such as suffer by
Diabolical Molestation? [225]
Because it is possible for the Devil, in the Shape of
Innocent Persons, to do other Mischiefs, proved by
many Instances [234]
Because if Satan may not represent an Innocent Person
as afflicting others, it must be either because he
wants will or power to do this, or because God will
never permit him so to do it; either of which may
be affirmed [237]
It is certain, both from Scripture and History, that
Magicians by their Inchantments and Hellish Conjurations
may cause a False Representation of Persons
and Things [243]
From the concurring Judgment of many Learned and
Judicious Men [250]
Our own Experience has confirmed the Truth of what
we affirm [253]
The Second Case considered, viz. If one bewitched be cast
down with the look or cast of the Eye of another Person,
and after that recovered again by a Touch from
the same Person, is not this an infallible Proof that the
party accused and complained of is in Covenant with
the Devil? [255]
Answer. This may be Ground of Suspicion and Examination,
but not of Conviction [255]
The Judgment of Mr. Bernard and of Dr. Cotta produced
[256]
Several Things offered against the Infallibility of this
Proof:—
'Tis possible that the Persons in question may be possessed
with Evil Spirits. Signs of such [258]
Falling down with the Cast of the Eye proceeds not
from a natural, but an arbitrary Cause [260]
That of the bewitched Persons being recovered with a
Touch is various and fallible [262]
There are that question the Lawfulness of the Experiment
[264]
The Testimony of Bewitched or Possessed Persons is
no Evidence as to what they see concerning others,
and therefore not as to themselves [266]
Bewitched Persons have sometimes been struck down
with the Look of Dogs [267]
If this were an Infallible Proof, there would be difficulty
in discovering Witches [268]
Nothing can be produced out of the Word of God to
shew, that this is any Proof of Witchcraft [268]
Antipathies in Nature have Strange and Unaccountable
Effects [268]
The Third Case considered, Whether there are any Discoveries
of Witchcraft, which Jurors and Judges may
with a safe Conscience proceed upon to the Conviction
and Condemnation of the Persons under Suspicion?
[269]
Two things premised:—
That the Evidence in the Crime of Witchcraft ought
to be as clear as in any other Crimes of a Capital
Nature [269]
That there have been ways of Trying Witches long
used, which God never approved of. More particularly
that of casting the Suspected Party into the
Water, to try whether they will Sink or Swim. The
Vanity and great Sin which is in that way of Purgation
evinced by Six Reasons [270]
That there are Proofs for the Conviction of Witches, which
Jurors may with a safe Conscience proceed upon, proved
from Scripture [275]
That a Free and Voluntary Confession is a sufficient Ground
of Conviction [276]
That the Testimony of confessing Witches against others, is
not so clear an Evidence as against themselves [279]
That if two Credible Persons shall affirm upon Oath that they
have seen the Person accused doing Things, which none
but such as have familiarity with the Devil, ever did
or can do, that's a sufficient ground of Conviction:
and that this has often happened [282]
