The Displaying of Supposed Witchcraft, chapter 8: Of the Woman of Endor that pretended to raise up Samuel (part 1 of 3)

CHAP. VIII. Of the Woman of Endor that pretended to raise up Samuel, and of some other places in the Scriptures, not handled yet, and of some other objections.

COncerning the Woman of Endor, that our English and many other Translators have falsly rendered a Witch, or a Woman that had a familiar Spirit, we have spoken sufficiently, where we treated of the signification of the word Ob. And there have shewed plainly, that she is only called the Mistriss of the bottle, or of the Oracle, and that what she there did, or pretended to do, was only by Ventriloquy, or casting her self into a feigned Trance lay groveling upon the earth with her face downwards, and so changing her voice did mutter and murmur, and peep and chirp like a bird coming forth of the shell, or that she spake in some hollow Cave or Vault, through some Pipe, or in a Bottle, and so amused and deceived poor timerous and despairing Saul, or had a confederate apparelled like Samuel to play his part, and that it was neither Samuels Body, Soul, nor no Ghost or Devil, but only the cunning and Imposture of the Woman alone, or assisted with a confederate. And though this might be amply satisfactory to all sound and serious judgments, especially if hereunto be added what Mr. Scot, Mr. Ady, Mr. Wagstaff, and the learned Authors of the Dialogue of Spirits and Devils have written upon this subject: yet because we have promised before to speak something of the History and matter of fact, and that Mr. Glanvil a Minister of our English Church hath of late espoused the quarrel, we shall confute his arguments and clear the case as fully as in reason can be required, and that in these particulars following.

1. The certain and infallible prophecies of Samuel so punctually coming to pass according as he foretold them, for it is said: And Samuel grew, and the Lord was with him, and did let none of his words sall to the ground; were manifestly known to all Israel, as in the case of the destruction of Eli, and his house, and by the overthrow of the Philistines at Eben-ezer, and in the anointing of Saul to be King, and in the case of sending Thunder and Lightning in Harvest time, and such like. And as these were publickly known unto all Israel, and they had seen, and tryed what infallible certainty followed upon them, so it was as generally known, that Samuel had told Saul that God had rejected him from being King over Israel, and that he had anointed David to be King in his stead; and therefore any rational Man, that knew these things, and also saw that David prospered in all things that he did, and that it was quite otherwise with Saul, might certainly know that the Kingdome would be transferred from him unto David, and so there needed neither spirit nor Devil be fetched up to predict this, being sufficiently known unto all, of which also the Woman at Endor could not be ignorant as a thing of concern to her, especially in the point of her practise which was meer couzenage and Imposture. And therefore Mr. Glanvils argument concludes nothing, where he saith: And this Samuel truly foretold his approaching fate, viz. That Israel should be delivered with him into the hands of the Philistines, and that on the morrow he, and his Sons should be in the state of the dead, which doubtless is meant by the expression that [they should be with him:] which contingent particulars, how could the couzener, and her confederate foretel, if there were nothing in it extraordinary and preternatural? To answer which we say, that there was no contingent particular that was foretold, but Mr. Glanvil might have foretold it, if he had been there, and known but that which was publickly divulged in Israel, without incurring the danger of being reputed a Witch or a Diviner.

1. Because Samuels prophecies were certainly known to come to pass, and he had openly declared, that the Kingdom should be rent from Saul, and given to David. 2. She or her confederate might have guessed as much, because of the extream fear and consternation that Saul was in, for heartless and fearful Generals seldom or never win Battels. 3. Because that he confessed that God had forsaken him, and when he saw the hoast of the Philistines, he was afraid and his heart greatly trembled, and those that God doth forsake cannot prosper. 4. The word to morrow in the Hebrew doth not precisely denote the day following, but the time to come, so that how true soever Mr. Glanvil may think it, there was but a piece of ambiguous Equivocation in it, for it cannot be made out that it was fought the very next day, neither were all Sauls Sons slain with him, at that very time. 5. And if nothing must be supplied but meerly what is totidem verbis in the Text (as he urgeth against Mr. Scot) then how will it be proved, that the Phrase (to morrow thou and thy Sons shall be with me) is to be understood of the state of the dead, seeing the words (if literally to be taken) do imply a locality, not a state or condition? 6. But if it be supposed to be the Devil, how comes he to know contingencies so certainly? It is a thing that is easily affirmed, but was never yet sufficiently proved. For if it be said he gathered it from the Prophecie of Samuel, so might the Witch have done without any assistance of a Devil. 7. And if he take it to be Samuels Soul (as he seems to hold) how come departed Souls to know, and foresee what contingent effects are to fall out here below? Where reads he or finds any such Divinity except in Popish Authors? But he may consult the Text: Doubtless thou art our Father, though Abraham be ignorant of us, and Israel acknowledge us not.

2. That this Woman was a meer dissembling and lying cheater, and used nothing but Imposture, is manifest from these reasons. 1. Because that she was but of the same Crew and Stamp that Manasseh, and Ahab set up, is most plain, but they were meer Impostors and deceivers pretending to divine for other persons, and in other matters, but could not foresee their own destruction, and therefore in probability she was of the same practice. 2. Because she falsly faigned that she knew not Saul, of whom she could not be ignorant, he being so publickly known, and seen, and was taller by the head and shoulders than any man in Israel. 3. If she had not known that it had been Saul, when he came to her at the first, she would never have relyed upon his oath when he swore by Jehovah, for there was none but the King that could protect her from destruction. 4. She must needs be a most notorious dissembling cheater, because she pretended to call up any, for she said: whom shall I bring up unto thee? which is most certainly false, she had no such universal power, no nor all the Devils in Hell, if they had all assisted her. 5. She did plainly dissemble, for the Text saith, and when the woman saw Samuel she cried out with a loud voice; now if she saw Samuel (whom she could not but know) why did she answer to Saul, when he asked, what sawest thou? She answered, I saw gods ascending out of the earth. Let Mr. Glanvil, and all men judge if this be not gross and palpable lying, Gods is plural, but Samuel was but one.

3. As it is manifest that this Woman was an active deceiver, and one that intended to cheat and couzen, so it is as plain that Saul was in a condition fit to be deluded, and imposed upon, even by those that had been less cunning and skilful than she was in the craft of cheating, which is apparent from these reasons. 1. The Spirit of the Lord was departed from him, and consequently, Wisdom, Prudence and Discretion, and so that which should have guided his Will, Affections and Actions in the right way, had totally left him. And when these are gone, what is man, but a fit instrument to undergo and suffer even the worst and lowest of delusions and abuses? 2. The Spirit of the Lord had not only left him, but an evil Spirit from the Lord was come upon him that vexed and terrified him. And to what madness, folly and wickedness is not he subject to, who is led by the Spirit of lies and darkness? 3. The Lord had openly declared, that because he had rejected the word of the Lord, therefore the Lord had rejected him from being King over Israel, and that the Kingdom should be rent from him, and given to one more worthy than him. Now what despondency of mind, what torture and vexation of Spirit must needs be in him, that having been a King, is thus threatned to have his Kingdom rent from him and given to another, is easy to be imagined. 4. He must needs be under a most fearful consternation of mind not only because of these things named, but especially having before in his dangers and straights received counsel and advice from the Lord, though he now inquired of the Lord, yet the Lord answered him neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by Prophets. The Lord answered him not by dreams; for the union and converse that had been betwixt him and the Lord before, was now broken by reason of his Sins and Rebellion. Neither did the Lord answer him by Urim, for the Urim was not in the possession then of Saul, but of David, Chap. 23. 6, 9. Neither did the Lord answer him by Prophets, for Samuel had left him, after his last denouncing judgment against him, and came no more at him until his death. 5. He must needs be in a most fearful case, and a fit subject for the most weak and simple Imposture of the World, because the Philistines were upon him with a potent and numerous Army, and he able to gather but few and weak forces, the best and most of the people being revolted from him, and were in their affections, or persons with and for David. And from hence may easily be collected, how facile a thing it was to delude, and deceive Saul, even by those that had far less craft than this Woman, who doubtless was devilish cunning in her couzening tricks.

4. There is much question who was the Penman of this first Book of Samuel, but whosoever it was (for we cannot determine it) it cannot be rationally supposed that he had the Story of this transaction betwixt Saul and the Woman from Divine Revelation, for then doubtless it would not have been left so ambiguous and doubtful, but the whole truth, both of the matter, manner and circumstances, would in all probability have been fully set down: and have been declared whether it were a miracle wrought by God, a delusive apparition of Satan, the Soul of Samuel, or the Imposture of the Woman, the certainty of which had been mainly profitable and expedient for the people of God and his Church to have known. And if the Penman had it from the relation of Saul or either or both of his Servants, then it must needs have been according to their deluded imaginations and their deceived apprehensions, as is most rational to believe that it was; or if he had it from the Woman, or those of her family, (which is not rationally probable) then it is sure to have been represented for the most advantage, and credit of the Womans skill and cunning. But the most learned persons do judge it to be related, meerly according to the deceived opinion and apprehension of Saul.

5. But to come more near the stress of the business, though Mr. Glanvil confidently say, that Mr. Scots Tenent, that the Woman was in one room and Saul in another, when the feat was acted, is but a pretty knack and contrivance, and but an invention without ground, and not as much as intimated in the History: Yet we must soberly averr, that nothing is more plain in the Text, than either that they were in diverse rooms, or that Saul saw nothing at all, but what he had was from her relation, or the acting of a confederate, and this we shall prove by these undeniable reasons. 1. After Saul had pacified the pretended fears of the Woman, who falsly counterfeited that she knew not Saul, who was taller by the head and shoulders than any man in Israel, the next thing we hear of in the Text is, and when the Woman saw Samuel: Now if they were both in the same room, and Samuel a visible object, how comes it to pass that Saul saw him not? for if they were both in one room, and Samuel visible, how is it that he did not or could not see him? were his corporal eyes as blind, as the eyes of his understanding? surely not. What fiction or invention must salve this? surely Mr. Glanvil must pump to find it out. 2. The next thing is, that when the Woman saw (for blind Saul saw nothing) Samuel, she cried with a loud voice, magna voce, or (as the Hebrew hath it) in magn[…] voce. And (I pray you) if they had been both in one room, or near together, what need she to have cried with a great voice, might not an ordinary tone have made him to have heard her? What was he deaf as well as blind? Or it might be it was the more to amuse and amaze the wretched and deluded King, or to shew the wonderfulness of the apparition she feigned that astonishment, the more to magnifie her skill and cunning. Well, admit these were so, yet however it is manifest, notwithstanding her great voice, that as yet Saul saw nothing, but stood waiting like a drown'd Puppet to hear what would be the issue, for all he understood was from her cunning and lying relation. And so either thus far it is manifest that they were in distinct rooms, or there was nothing that he could see. 3. The next thing is, he saith, be not afraid, what sawest thou? that is, though I be Saul, yet be not afraid, I have sworn, and thou shalt receive no harm, but what sawest thou? As who should say, I see nothing as yet at all, but I suppose thou hast seen something; for otherwise his question doth not agree with the words the Woman spake before. But however it is manifest that as yet he saw nothing, and therefore rationally it must be supposed that they were in distinct rooms, or that there was nothing visible, that he could see. Further, his question is not in the present tense but of the time past, what sawest thou? or what hast thou seen? which could not be congruously spoken, if they had been both in one room, but however do undeniably conclude that as yet he saw nothing at all. 4. The next is the Womans lying and forged answer, thereby to magnifie her own craft, and the more to amuse and astonish poor deluded Saul, saying; Behold I saw gods ascending out of the earth. Well, it is still apparent that as Saul could not before see Samuel, now he neither seeth these Gods she telleth him of, nor any such thing: So that all that he apprehended was from her forged Stories, for he saw nothing as yet, either because he was not in the same room with her, or that there was no visible apparition. 5. Then he maketh another absurd question, like a distracted Man in the house of Bethlem, saying, what form is he of? when his question should have been, what forms are they of? for she spoke of Gods which are plural, and more than one, but he asketh in the singular, what form is he of. By all which it is manifest, that he yet saw nothing at all. For when we plainly see a thing, we do not usually ask others what form it is of, because our eyes can inform us of that. So that he saw nothing, either because he was not in the same room, or that there appeared nothing that was visible. 6. Now after all these ambigous lies, and delatory cheats, the crafty quean doth begin to come more near, to give satisfaction to the blinded expectation of Saul, who all this while stood gaping to see the appearance of Samuel, and so she tells him (who was fit to believe any thing, though never so absurd, or impossible) behold an old man comes up, and he is covered with a mantle. In the beginning of the action, the Text saith, and when the woman saw Samuel, she cried out, then she said, she saw gods ascending out of the earth, and now after all this discourse and expence of time Samuel is but coming up, all was lies and delayes the more to blind and delude the poor credulous King. But yet thus far it is plain that Saul saw nothing at all, and so must needs all this while, either be in another room, or else for certain there was no apparition visible, and all the satisfaction that he had, was from the lying stories the Woman told him. Now let Mr. Glanvil consider and answer, whether it be not only intimated, but clearly holden forth in the Text that either they were in two distinct rooms, or that nothing visible did appear before Saul. 7. Now after all this the Text saith, and Saul perceived that it was Samuel, the Hebrew word doth signifie to know or to perceive, and relates to the understanding: but how did he know, or perceive that it was Samuel? not by the sight of his eyes, for we have made it plain that he was either in another room, or that no visible apparition presented it self before his eyes, but he only perceived it by the description of the crafty Woman, who knew well enough what habit or garments Samuel wore in his life time, as one that was the most publickly known Man in Israel: and therefore the subtil and crafty quean, knowing that Saul only required Samuel to be brought up and no other, doth at the last frame her tale agreeable to Sauls desire, and so describes him an old Man, covered with a mantle, and such an one Saul had known him to be, while he was living. But if Saul had seen any such thing as the shape or form of Samuel, then the Hebrew Verb thrice used in that action, that properly signifieth to see with the eyes, would have been used in this place (as well as when it relateth what she saw) and not the verb for knowing or perceiving that relateth to the mind, and Samuel he saw not, but only believed the lies she told him. For otherwise it would have been, And Saul saw Samuel, and not, Saul perceived that it was Samuel, which he could not do but only by her relation, and forged tales. 8. The last thing in this action, is, that Saul stooped with his face to the ground, and bowed himself: now to what did he stoop and bow, seeing he had seen nothing with his own eyes, neither knew any thing that appeared, but as the Woman told him? Could it be to any thing but to an imaginary Samuel and such an one as she had described, whom he conceited in his Phantasie to be Samuel himself? Surely in rational consequence it could be nothing else. For all that she had done and said before, being undeniably lies and cheats, this also in just and right reason, must be judged to be so also. So that it was either the Woman, that being in another room, did change and alter her voice, and so plaid the part of Samuel, or else that she had a confederate knave, whom she turned out to act the part of dead Samuel.