Modest Inquiry into the Nature of Witchcraft, Chapter 18
CHAPTER XVIII.
I Shall conclude this Diſcourſe with ſome Application of the whole.
1. We may hence ſee ground to fear, that there hath been a great deal of innocent blood ſhed in the Chriſtian World, by proceeding upon unſafe principles, in condemning perſons for Maleſick Witchcraft.
2. That there have been great ſinful neglects in ſparing others, who by their divinings about things future, or diſcovering things ſecret, as ſtollen Goods, &c or by their informing of perſons and things abſent at a great diſtance, have implored the aſſiſtance of a familiar ſpirit, yet coloured over with ſpecious pretences, and have drawn people to enquire of them: A ſin frequently forbidden in Scripture, as Lev. 19 31 & 20.6. Iſa. 8.19, 20. and yet let alone, and in many parts of the World, have been countenanced in their diabolical skill and profeſſion; becauſe they ſerve the intereſt of thoſe that have a vain curioſity, to pry into things God hath forbidden, and concealed from diſcovery by lawful means. And of others that by their inchantments, have raiſed miſts, ſtrange ſights, and the like; to beget admiration, and pleaſe Spectators, &c. When as theſe divinations and operations are the Witchcraft more condemned in Scripture than the other.
3. But to come nigher home, we have cauſe to be humbled for the miſtakes & errors which have been in theſe Colonies, in their Proceedings againſt perſons for this crime, above fourty years ago and downwards, upon inſufficient preſumptions and preſidents of our Nation, whence they came. I do not ſay, that all thoſe were innocent, that ſuffered in thoſe times upon this account. But that ſuch grounds were then laid down to proceed upon, which were too ſlender to evidence the crime they were brought to prove; and thereby a foundation laid to lead into error thoſe that came after. May we not ſay in this matter, as it is, Pſal. 106 6. We have ſinned with our fathers? And as, Lam 5.7. Our fathers have ſinned and are not, and we have born their iniquities? And whether this be not one of the ſins the Lord hath been many years contending with us for, is worthy our ſerious enquiry. If the Lord puniſhed Iſrael with famine three years for a ſin of miſguided zeal fourty years before that, committed by the breach of a Covenant made four hundred years before that: 2 Sam. 21.1, 2. Why may not the Lord viſit upon us the miſguided zeal of our Predeceſſors about Witchcraft above fourty years ago, even when that Generation is gathered to their Fathers.
4. But I would come yet nearer to our own times, and bewail the errors and miſtakes that have been in the year 1692. In the apprehending too many we may believe were innocent, and executing of ſome, I fear, not to have been condemned; by following ſuch traditions of our fathers, maxime of the Common Law, &, Preſidents and Principles, which now we may ſee weighed in the balance of the Sanctuary, are found too light. I heartily concur with that direction for our publick prayers, emitted December 17. 1696 by our General Aſſembly, in an order for a general Faſt, viz. That God would ſhew us what we know not, and help us wherein we have done amiſs, to do ſo no more: And eſpecially that whatever miſtakes on either hand, have been fallen into, either by the body of this people, or any order of men, referring to the late tragedy raiſed among us by Satan and his Inſtruments, through the awful Judgment of God: He would humble us therefore, and pardon all the errors of his Servants & People, that deſire to love his Name, and be attoned to his land. I am abundantly ſatisfyed that thoſe who were moſt concerned to act and judge in thoſe matters, did not willingly depart from the rules of righteouſneſs. But ſuch was the darkneſs of that day, the tortures and lamentations of the afflicted, and the power of former preſidents, that we walked in the clouds, and could not ſee our way. And we have moſt cauſe to be humbled for error on that hand, which cannot be retrieved. So that we muſt beſeech the Lord, that if any innocent blood hath been ſhed, in the hour of temptation, the Lord will not lay it to our charge, but be merciful to his people whom he hath redeemed, Deut. 21.8. And that in the day when he ſhall viſit, he will not viſit this ſin upon our land, but blot it out, and waſh it away with the blood of Jeſus Chriſt.
5. I would humbly propoſe whether it be not expedient, that ſome what more ſhould be publickly done then yet hath, for clearing the good name and reputation of ſome that have ſuffered upon this account, againſt whom the evidence of their guilt was more ſlender, and the grounds for charity for them more convincing. And this (in order to our obtaining from the Lord farther reconciliation to our land,) & that none of their ſurviving relations, may ſuffer reproach upon that account. I have both read and heard of ſeveral in England, that have been executed for Capital crimes, and afterwards upon ſence of an error in the proceſs againſt them, have been reſtored in blood and honour by ſome publick act. My Lord Cook relates a ſtory. A man going to correct a Girle his Neice, for ſome offence, in an upper room, the Girle ſtrove to ſave her ſelf till her noſe bled, and wiping it with a chath, threw the bloody cloath out at the window, and cryed Murder; and then ran down ſtaires, got away and bid her ſelf. Her Uncle was proſecuted by her friends upon ſuſpicion of Murdering her, becauſe ſhe could not be found. He declared that ſhe made her eſcape as above ſaid. Then time was allowed him to bring her forth, but he could not hear of her within the time, and fearing be ſhould dy if ſhe could not be found, procures another Girle very like her, to appear in Court, and declare ſhe was his Neice that had been miſſing: But her relations examine this counterfeit, until they find her out, and ſhe confeſſeth ſhe was ſuborned and counterfeited th… true Neice. Upon theſe preſumptions the man was found guilty of Murdering his Neice, and thereupon ex…cuted. And after his execution his true Neice comes abroad & ſhews her ſelf alive and well. Then all that ſaw it were convinced of the Uncles innocency, and vanity of ſuch preſumptions. The Printing & Publiſhing of this relation Vindicates the good name of the Uncle, from the imputation of the crime of Murder. And this is one end of this preſent diſcourſe, to take off (ſo far as a diſcourſe of this nature can) infamy from the names and memory of ſuch ſufferers in this kind, as do not deſerve the ſame.
6. Here it may be ſuitable for us to enquire, What the Lord ſpeaks to us by ſuch a ſtupendeous providence, in his letting looſe Satan upon us in this unuſual way? Anſ. 1. We may ſay of this, as our Saviour ſaid of his waſhing his diſciples ſeat, Joh. 13. What I do thou knowest not now, but thou ſhalt know hereafter. The Judgements of the Lo… are a great deep, Pſal. 36.6. How unſearchable are his judgments, and his ways paſt finding out? 2. Yet ſomewhat of his counſel at preſent for our inſtruction may be known, by comparing the Word and works of God together.
1. As when Joſh…a the high Prieſt though an holy choſen man of God, ſtood before the Angel, Satan stood at his right hand to reſist him, or to be his adverſary: And the advantage Satan had was by the filthy garments Joſhua was cloth…d with before the Angels: That is, ſome iniquity which yet was not paſſed away, Zech, 3.1, 3, 4. So we may ſay here were among Gods own Children filthy garments. The ſins of Lukewarmneſs, loſs of our firſt love, unprofitableneſs under the Goſpel, ſlumbering & deeping in the wiſe, as well as fooliſh Virgin…, worldlineſs, pride, carnal ſecurity, and many other ſins. By theſe and ſuch like ſins the accuſer of the Brethren got advantage to ſtand at our right hand (the place of an Accuſer in Courts of Juſtice) and there accuſe us and reſiſt us.
2. When the Egyptians refuſed to let Iſrael go to ſacrifice and keep a feaſt to the Lord in the Wilderneſs: The Lord caſt upon the fierceneſs of his wrath, by ſending Evil Angels among them, Pſal. 78.49. Egypts ſins were (1.) Coveteouſneſs, they would not let Iſrael go, becauſe they gained by their labours. (2.) Contempt of God and his Inſtituted Worſhip, and Ordinances. They did not count them of ſuch concernment, that Iſrael ſhould go into the Wilderneſs to obſerve them. Both theſe ſins have too much increaſed in our Land. (1.) Coveteouſneſs, an inordinate love of the World gave Satan advantage upon us. (2.) Contempt of Gods Worſhip and Inſtituted Ordinances. The Errand of our Fathers into this Wilderneſs, was to Sacrifice to the Lord; that is, to worſhip God in purity of heart and life, and to wait upon the Lord, walking in the faith and order of the Goſpel in Church fellowſhip; that they might enjoy Chriſt in all his Ordinances. But theſe things have been greatly neglected and deſpiſed by many born, or bred up in the Land. We have much forgotten what our Fathers came into the Wilderneſs to ſee. The ſealing Ordinances of the Covenant of Grace in Church-Communion have been much ſlighted and neglected; and the fury of this Storm raiſed by Satan hath fallen very heavily upon many that lived under theſe neglects. The Lord ſends Evil Angels to awaken and puniſh our negligence: And to my knowledge ſome have been hereby excited to enter into the Chamber of Gods Ordinances, to hide themſelves, until the indignation be over paſt.
3. David when he removed the Ark from Kirjathjearim, had the Ark put into a new Cart, which ſhould have been carried by the Kohathites. Numb. 3 31. And David thought this was right, until the Lord ſlew Uzza for touching the Ark: But then he looked more exactly into to the will of God; and confeſſeth that the Lord made a breach upon them, becauſe they ſought him not after the due order, 1 Chron. 13.5, 7, 9, 10. & 15.11, 12, 13. Had not the Lord made that breach upon them, they had perſiſted ſecurely in their error. So I may ſay in this caſe. In the proſecution of Witchcraft, we ſought not the Lord after the due order; but have proceeded after the methods uſed in former times and other places, until the Lord in this tremendous way made a breach upon us. And hereby we are made ſenſible that the methods formerly uſed are not ſufficient to prove the guilt of ſuch a crime. And this I conceive was one end of the Lords letting Satan looſe to torment and accuſe ſo many; that hereby we may ſearch out the truth more exactly. For had it not been for this dreadful diſpenſation, many would have lived and dyed in that error, which they are now convinced of.
4. The Lord delivered into the hand of Satan, the Eſtate, Children, and Body of Job, for the tryal of Jobs faith and patience, and proof of his perfection and uprightneſs. So the Lord hath delivered into Satans hand mens Children and Bodies, yea names and eſtates into Satans hand for the tryal of their faith and patience, and farther manifeſtation of the ſincerity of their profeſſions.
7. From that part of the diſcourſe which ſhews the power of Satan to torment the bodies, and diſturb the minds of thoſe, he is let looſe upon, Chap. 6. I would infer, that Satan may be ſuffered ſo to darken the minds of ſome pious Souls, as to cauſe them to deſtroy themſelves by drowning, hanging, or the like. And when he hath ſo far prevailed upon ſome, that formerly lived a Chriſtian life, but were under the prevalency of a diſtracting Melancholy at their latter end: We may have Charity that their Souls are Saved, notwithſtanding the ſad concluſion of their lives. I ſpeak not to excuſe any that having the free uſe of their reaſon willingly deſtroy themſelves, out of pride, diſcontent, impatience, &c. Achitophel who out of heigth of Spirit becauſe his Counſel was not followed, and to prevent Davids executing of him, for his rebellion and treaſon, deſtroyed himſelf, hath left his name to ſtink unto all generations. And Judas who for his unparalelled treachery in betraying his Maſter, and the Lord of life, was juſtly left to hange himſelf; and the rope breaking or ſlipping he fell down head long, or with his face down ward, ſo that he burſt aſunder in the midſt, and all his bowels guſhed out, Math. 27.5. with Act. 1.18. left by his ſin and puniſhment in the laſt act of his life the black character of a Son of perdition. But thoſe that being out of their right minds, and hurried by an evil Spirit, as perſons under a force to be their own executioners, are not always to be ranked with theſe.
8. Seeing we have been too fierce againſt ſuppoſed Malefick Witchcraft; …et us take heed we do not on the contrary become too …avourable to divining Witchcraft: And become like Saul who was too zealous againſt the Gibeonites, and at laſt turned to ſeek after one tha… had a familiar Spirit, to his own deſtruction. Let us not, if we can help it, ſuffer Satan to ſet up an enſuring office for ſtolen Goods. That after he hath brought the curſe of God into the houſe of the thief by tempting him to ſteal: he may not bring about the curſe into the houſes of them from whom the goods were ſtolen; by alluring them to go to the god of Ekron to enquire. That men may not give their Souls to the Devil in exchange, for his reſtoring to them thei… goods again, in ſuch a way of divination. The Lord grant it may be ſaid of New England, as is prophecyed of Judah, Mic. 5 12. I will cut off Witchcrafts out of thine hand, and thou ſhalt have no more ſoothſayers.
9. Another extream we muſt beware of, is, viz. Becauſe …u… fathers in the beginning times of this Land, did not ſee ſo far into theſe myſteries of iniquity, as hath been ſince diſcovered. Let us not unde…value the good foundations they laid for God and his people, and for us in Church and Civil Government. For Paul that eminent Apoſtle knew but in part; no wonder then, it our Fathers were imperfect men. In the pureſt times in Iſrael, there were ſome Clouds of ignorance over-ſhadowing of them. Abraham, David, and the beſt Patriarchs were generally ignorant of the ſin of Polygamy. And although Solomon far exceeded Nehemiah in wiſdom; yet Nehemiah ſaw farther into the evil of Marrying Outlandiſh Women, than that wiſeſt of Kings, and meer fallen men. Neb. 13.26. Joſiah kept the Paſſeover more exactly, than David, and all the Reforming Kings of Judah, 2 Chron. 35.18.
All the godly Judges and Kings of Judah were unacquainted with, and ſo negligent of the right obſervation of the feaſt of Tabernacles, until it came to Nehemiahs time: And he underſtood and revived an ordinance of God, that lay buried in oblivion, near about a thouſand years. Now he that ſhall reject all the good in doctrine and practice, which was maintained, profeſſed and practiced by ſo many Godly leaders, becauſe of ſome few errors found among them, will be found to fight againſt God. A dwarf upon a giants ſhoulders, can ſee farther than the giant.
It was a glorious enterprize of the beginners of theſe Colonies, to leave their native Country to propagate the Goſpel: And a very high pitch of faith, zeal, and courage that carryed them forth, to follow the Lord into this wilderneſs, into a land that was not ſown Then was New England holineſs to the Lord, and all that did devour them, or attempted ſo to do, did offend, and evil did come upon them. And the Lord did graciouſly remember this kindneſs of their Youth, and love of their Eſpouſals; In granting them many eminent tokens of his favour; by his preſence with them in his Ordinance…, for the Converſion of Souls, and edifying and comforting the hearts of his Servants: By ſignal anſwering their prayers in times of difficulty: By protecting them from their Enemies: By guiding of, and providing for them in a Deſart. And the Lord will ſtill remember this their kindneſs unto their Poſterity, unleſs that by their Apoſtaly from the Lord, they vex his Holy Spirit, to turn to be their Enemy: And thereby cut off the Entail of his Covenant Mercies; which God forbid. Oh that the Lord may be with us, as he was with our Fathers; and that he may not leave us, nor forſake us!
FINIS.
End of the text · John Hale, Modest Inquiry into the Nature of Witchcraft (1702)