Page:Saducismus Triumphatus.djvu/72

14 this. Yea, some kinds of Fascination are perform'd in this grosser and more sensible way, as by striking, giving Apples, and the like, by which the contagious quality may be transmitted, as we see Diseases often are by the touch. Now in this way of conjecture, a good account may be given why Witches are most powerful upon Children and timorous Persons, viz. because their Spirits and Imaginations being weak and passsive, are not able to resist the fatal Invasion; whereas Men of bold Minds, who have plenty of strong and vigorous Spirits, are secure from the contagion; as in pestilential Airs clean Bodies are not so liable to Infection as other Tempers. Thus then we see 'tis likely enough, that very often the Sorceress her self doth the Mischief; and we know, de facto, that Providence doth not always secure us from one anothers Injuries; And yet I must confess, that many times also the evil Spirit is the mischievious Agent; tho' this Confession draw on me another Objection which I next propose.

Hen it may be said, that if wicked Spirits can hurt us by the direction, and at the desire of a Witch, one would think they should have the same power to do us Injury without Instigation or Compact; and if this be granted, 'tis a wonder that we are not always annoy'd and infected by them. O which I return; (1) That the Laws, Liberties, and Restraints of the Inhabitants of the other World are to us utterly unknown; and this way we can only argue our selves into Confessions of our Ignorance, which every Man must acknowledge, that is not as Immodest as Ignorant. It must be granted by all that own the Being, Power, and Malice of evil Spirits, that the security we enjoy is wonderful whether they act by Witches or not; and by what Laws they are kept from making us a Prey, to speak like Philosophers, we cannot tell; yea, why they should be permitted to tempt and ruin us in our Souls, and restrain'd from touching or hurting us in our Bodies, is a Mystery not easily accountable. But yet (2) tho' we acknowlege their Power to vex and torment us in our Bodies also; yet a Reason may be given, why