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I answer that we have always a reason of fuspension when we doubt, because we are fallible; but we have also always a reason of not suspending, because we love pleasure. The fear of error may restrain us on the one hand, and the defire of pleasure excite us on the other. We may yield to either; and so have still a reason for acting; but not a neceffary reason, since either may determine us. If by a false precipitated judgment we think unlawful pleasure best, then we fin. If by a just diffidence of ourselves, we examine, and then renounce this pleasure, we are virtuous. All those who are criminal, think at the instant of commission, all things considered, fin a lesser evil, than the pain they would suffer, and the dangers they would incur, by not finning; that is, they think by a precipitate judgment that fin is better than fuffering; and hence it is that all moral evil was derived at first from error. But before they followed this judgment, and let themselves be blinded and hurried on by paffion, they had a real power to examine.

3. Some will say that lapsed beings are not capable at all times of comparing, examining, and judging; because their understanding may be so darkened, their will so precipitated, and the capacity of the mind fo filled with the present object, that they cannot stop their bent to pleasure, nor fee objects in their true light. This we grant; the original corruption of our nature has very much diminished freedom, but it has not entirely destroyed it. We are born enflaved to sensuality, and captivated by false self-love; but what is wanting to nature may be supplied by a constant application to the divine source of life, light and love. This superior, supernatural force is refused to none. Universal grace "enlightens every man that comes into the world." Its diffusive rays, like those of the fun, may be seen by all those that do not shut their eyes, or hide themselves in a cavern, immersed in sense, or are fo habituated to all the impressions of vice and paffion, passion, that they never turn their intellectual views and defires to this divine light, nor implore its succours. Thus they contract inveterate habits of evil, and then by cowardice they call impoffible, what is only very difficult; and deny that they can vanquish their passions, because they will not be at the pains to combat them.

A Relation of Witchcraft discovered in the Village of Mohra in Sweden.

T

HE news of this Witchcraft coming to the King's ear, his Majesty was pleased to appoint Commissioners, fome of the Clergy and some of the Laity, to make a journey to the town aforesaid, and to examine the whole business; and accordingly, the examination was ordered to be on the thirteenth of August; and the Commissioners met on the twelfth instant, in the said village, at the Parson's house; to whom, both the Minister, and several people of fashion, complained, with tears in their eyes, of the miferable condition they were in; and therefore begged of them to think of some way whereby they might be delivered from that calamity. The inhabitants of the village added, with great lamentations, That though their children had told all, and themselves sought God very earnestly by prayer, yet they were carried away. And therefore begged of the Lords Commissioners, to root out this hellish crew, that they might regain their former rest and quietness.

That day, that is, the thirteenth of August, being the last humiliation-day instituted by authority, for the removing of this judgment, the Commiffioners went to Church; where there appeared a considerable assembly both of young and old. There were two fermons preached, in which the miferable

miferable case of those people, that suffered themselves to be deluded by the devil, was laid open.

The public worship being over, all the people of the town were called together, near three thousand of them. Silence being commanded, the King's commission was read in the hearing of them all; and they were charged, under very great penalties, to conceal nothing of what they knew, and to say nothing but the truth. They all promised obedience; the guilty feignedly; but the guiltless weeping and crying bitterly.

On the 14th of August, the Commissioners met again. Examination being made, there were no less than threescore and ten in the village, three and twenty of which, confefling their crimes, were condemned to die; one pretending the was with child, and the rest denying and pleading not guilty, were fent to Fahluna, where most of them were afterwards executed.

Fifteen children likewise confeffing, that they were engaged in this witchery, died as the rest; and thirty-fix of them, between nine and fixteen years of age, who had been less guilty, were forced to run the gantlet. The whole number of the seduced children were three hundred.

The children being asked, Whether they were sure that they were carried away by the devil? They all declared they were; begging of the Commissioners, that they might be freed from that intolerable slavery.

Hereupon the witches themselves were asked, Whether the confeffions of these children were true? And admonished to confefs the truth, that they might turn away from the devil, unto the living God. At first, most of them very stiffly denied it. After this the children were examined, every one by himself, to fee if their confessions did agree; and the Commiffioners found, that all of them, except fome

very little ones, punctually agreed.

VOL. VIIL.

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The confeffion which the witches made in Elfdale, to the Judges, agreed with the confession they made at Mohra; and the chief things they confeffed, confifted in these three points: Firft, Whither they used to go? Secondly, What kind of a place it was they went to, called by them Blockula; where the witches and the devil used to meet? Thirdly, What mifchief they had either done, or designed there? : First, Of their journey to Blockula. The contents of their confeffion were as follows:

We, of the province of Elfdale, do confess, that we used to go to a gravel-pit, which lies hard by a cross way, and there we put on a vest over our heads, and then danced round; and after this ran to the cross-way, and called the devil thrice, first with a still voice, the second time somewhat louder, and the third time very loud. Whereupon, immediately he used to appear, but in different habits; but, for the most part, we saw him in a grey coat, and red and blue stockings.

Then he asked us, If we would ferve him with foul and body? If we were content to do so, he fet us on a beast, and carried us to a green meadow where Blockula lies.

Those that were of the town of Mohra, made, in a manner, the fame declaration. Being asked, Whether they were fure of a real perfonal transportation? and whether they were awake when it was done? they all answered in the affirmative.

Being asked, how they could go through chimnies, and broken panes of glass? They said, the devil first removed all that hindered them in their flight.

Others were asked, how they were able to carry fo many children with them? They answered, That when the children were afleep, they came into the chamber, and laid hold of them, and asked, if they would go to a feast with them? To which fome answered, Yes; others No; yet they were all forced to go. They only gave the children a shirt, a

coat,

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coat, and doublet, which was either red or blue; and so they set them upon a beast of the devil's providing, and then they rode away.

What the manner of their journey was, God alone knows: this much was made out, that if the children did, at any time, name the names of those, either men or women, that had been with them that had carried them away, they were again carried by force, either to Blockula or the cross-way, and there beaten, insomuch, that some of them died of it.

A little girl of Elfdale confefssed, that, naming the name of Jesus, as she was carried away, she fell suddenly upon the ground, and got a great hole in her fide; which the devil presently healed up again, and away he carried her: and to this day, the girl confesses, the had exceeding great pain in her side. Another boy confessed too, that one day he was carried away with his mistress; and to perform the journey. he took his father's horse out of the meadow, where it was feeding, and upon his return, his mistress let the horse go into her own ground.

[To be continued.]

Of Judge JEFFERIES, on the Trial of Mr. RICHARD
BAXTER, in the Court of King's-Bench.

IN

N the beginning of the year 1685, Mr. Baxter was com. mitted to the King's-Bench prifon, by a warrant from the Lord Chief Justice Jefferies, for his Paraphrafe on the New Teftament.

On the 6th of May, he appeared in the Court of King'sBench. On the 14th, he pleaded, Not guilty; and on the 18th, Mr. Baxter being much indisposed, and defiring farther time, the Chief Justice answered, "I will not give him a minute's time more to fave his life."-" We have had, says

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