narrated with references to times, persons, places, and things well known; yet, for the reader's further satisfaction, the truth of the Narrative is, in this Edition, ATTESTED by a sufficient number of wit

nesses.

Endeavouring to avoid the weakness of credulity, the wickedness of infidelity, and the perverseness of scepticism, the writer entered on the examination, as he ought, with an unbiassed mind. His chief objects of enquiry were the real nature of the case, and how it should be relieved. Being guided chiefly, if not entirely, by the plain word of God and common sense, his investigation terminated in success and satisfaction. The principle circumstances and reasons which led him to his conclusion, and the experiments made to bring opinions to the severest test, with their unequivocal results, are fairly laid before the reader, that he also may judge for himself. What more can reason ask, or integrity perform?

Though the principle on which the writer has "solved the phenomenon," is too evident to admit of any substitution, and he is fully satisfied that his conclusion is legitimately drawn from premises that fully authorise it, and substantiated with all the kind and strength of evidence which the nature of the case requires; yet he does not expect that his book will do more than the book of God has done; that is, convince and satisfy every reader. But he would suggest the propriety and necessity of reading the whole account. in order to form an honest or a correct opinion of it."Blame not before thou hast examined the truth."

About the same time this affair happened, some notorious cases of witchcraft were noised abroad; they were of long continuance, stubbornly evincing: demoniac infliction; and the public were respect

STANFORD LIBRAR

INTRODUCTION.

WHETHER theories are pliable, or not, facts are

stubborn things; and, when well attested, they have authority to demand assent, in proportion to their evidence, interest, and importance; or, to leave unbelief and contradiction without excuse.

The doctrine of spiritual influence has been, of late, much controverted: infidelity has been greatly interested to bring it into contempt; and some christians, who know not what they do, when they thus yield up one of the strong holds of religion to the enemy, have complaisantly given their countenance to the infidel side of the question; and, instead of fairly examining the subject, or being satisfied with what God has said, they have gravely sneered, or lightly ridiculed the existence of apparitions, witches, and demoniacs. They have been terrified with foolish stories, or faithful narratives of such things; and, like the school boy, "Whistling aloud to bear his conrage up," they have made a noise to overcome their fears, instead of reasoning as men, or believing as christians. There is a God; and they that know his name will put their trust under the shadow of his wings. There is a Jesus; and he that believes in him may B

trample death and hell beneath his feet. "It is pre-supposed," saith the learned, pious Baxter, in his Xn. Direct: p. 86., "that there is a devil. He that

believeth not this, doth prove it to others, by showing how grossly the devil can befool him: apparitions, witchcrafts, and temptations are full proofs of it to the sense; besides what scripture saith." But the holy scripture has been wrested, and faithful testimony lias been scouted, because the sentiment was unpleasant, and the truth was unwelcome: "What we don't wish, we can soon disbelieve." If truth is not beloved, some excuse will be found for rejecting it. All men were not convinced by the testimony and miracles of "God manifest in the flesh." The scribes and pharisees had their own opinions, their own prejudices; they closed fast the lids of unbelief on the eyes of their understanding, and after a profusion of evidence wasted on their wilful blindness, they clamoured for more, and said, Master, we would see a sign from thee." The "Sun of righteousness" was contradicted and blasphemed, yet he bore his faithful testimony till he set in blood. He hath left an example, that his servants may tread in his steps. Satan deserves to be exposed, and Jesus is worthy to be glorified. I shall strive to do justice to both in the following pages.

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"We have a tongue for God," says Bishop Hall, "when we praise him; for ourselves when we pray and confess; for our brethren, when we speak the truth for their information; which, if we hold back in unrighteousness, we yield unto that dumb devil."

Satan is an old fabricator of counterfeit philosophy. Moses informs us how he introduced sin, death, and hell among us, under pretence of making our first parents wise enough to live without God. He employed then a subtile beast; he now employs more subtile men. They preach his doctrine, and effect his pirpose, while they deny his influence. Let them persuade us that there is no devil; or, that he has no

power to harm us; and they know that we shall soon be persuaded to believe, that we need no Saviour; and then to renounce christianity altogether, or to retain nothing of it but its name. He that conceals

a murderer, and sooths his neighbour to carelessness, is accessary to the crimes committed by the assassin which he labours to hide. The God of truth has warned us of a dreadful banditti of evil spirits, headed by our adversary the devil, who, Jesus Christ being witness, was a murderer from the beginning; with great subtilty, malice, and power, they strive to accomplish our ruin. Christ has engaged himself in our cause, and become the Captain of our Salvation.

In the days of our fathers, the advocates of christianity, venerable divines and learned men, ornaments of the church and of the state, confronted infidelity with well attested accounts of what evil spirits had done. Their opponents could not reason against, could not disprove the facts: but, they could laugh at them. Laughter is the infidel's logic; and the badges of his philosophy are banter and jest. If any christians will be so very complaisant to their adversaries, as to join with them to ridicule that evidence for evil spiritual agency which they cannot confute, they have only to persevere on the same principle, in order to reject the Spirit of God, and finally to secure the destruction of their own.

Let not serious christians wonder, that in these days of struggling infidelity, God should permit the enemy to show himself, and to be detected. This display of Satan's presence and malice, may serve to contradict the lies of Atheists, who deny his existence, while they are under his influence; and to open the eyes of drowsy christians, who are crying peace and safety, while the powers of darkness are contriving to bring upon them swift destruction. The old enemy is still the serpent in the grass, lurking to bruise the heel of the traveller to eternity, and watching to enter in at the open mouth, or to twine round