Concerning Witchcrafts

men; for this reason Satan may be permitted to scourge them in this way. Or, it may be they have misrepresented and abused others, for which cause the Holy God may justly give Satan leave to falsely represent them.

Have we not known some who have bitterly censured all those complained of by bewitched persons, saying it was impossible for them not to be guilty? Soon after this, they themselves or some close relatives of theirs—to the lasting disgrace original: "Infamy" of their families—have been accused in the same manner and impersonated by the Devil. Such tremendous rebukes on a few should make all men careful about how they join with Satan in condemning the innocent.

Argument 2: Because it is possible for the Devil to do other mischiefs while in the shape of an innocent person. As for those who acknowledge that Satan may impersonate a pious person, but not to do mischief, their opinion has been proven wrong original: "confuted" by more than a few unhappy instances. Mr. Clark referring to Samuel Clarke, a 17th-century biographer and author of A General Martyrologie and Examples. speaks of a man who had been an atheist or a Sadducee In this context, a person who denies the existence of spirits or the resurrection of the dead., not believing that there are any devils or any world invisible to us. This man was converted, but as a punishment for his previous lack of faith original: "Infidelity", evil angels often appeared to him in the shape of his most intimate friends and would sometimes lead original: "seduce" him into great difficulties original: "inconveniences". It has been noted elsewhere and just now that a demon in the shape of the excellent Mr. Dury John Dury (1596–1680), a prominent Scottish Protestant minister and diplomat. appeared to the Turkish Chaous original: "Chaous"; an envoy or messenger from the Ottoman Sultan, often spelled chiaus or çavuş. in the year 1658.

original: "(u) Examples vol. 1. p. 510. (w.) Socrates, Church History, Book 7, Chapter 38."