Hence there were but two Horns to the Dilemma in which every one found himself—he must believe in Witchcraft and all the other degrading Attendants on that Belief, or he must be viewed and scorned as an Atheist, and as an Unbeliever in everything that was good!
It was difficult for People to distinguish between Miracles and Witchcraft, especially when the most learned Men,[24] in Order to make the Miracle of the Ascent of the Saviour appear reasonable, argued that "He went as far towards Heaven as he could on Foot, even to the Top of Mount Olivet." And when Elijah was to fast forty Days, "that there might be no Waste of miraculous Power, God would have him eat a double Meal before entering upon the Term of fasting!" With such wretched Absurdities were the Minds of People of that Time enslaved. The Superstitions of the Greeks and Romans were not greater. And although there is a steady Progress in intellectual Improvement, and a Time is believed to be approaching when the World will be as free from the Cheats and Impostures of the present Day, as some of the present Day are of those of previous Ages; yet it is in a Measure discouraging, when we see the Thousands ensnared by such transparent Jugglery as that which has peopled the Salt Lake Regions, and drawn other Thousands in our Midst to witness Feats that never did nor never will happen, except in the deluded Brains of those who desire to be thus deluded.
FOOTNOTES:
[1] A Jesuit of Loraine. His Book was a "Magical Disquisition."
[2] In three Volumes, royal Octavo, Glasgow, 1856-9.
[3] This Part of this Introduction was written not long before the Southern Rebellion began.
[4] The Mysterie of Witchcraft, P. 363.
[5] Ibid, 211.
[6] Anatomy of Melancholy, 221, Edition in Folio, 1651.