13. If the object of Benevolence be in miferable circumflances, it is then ufually filed Pity and Compaffion and this is one of the tenderest affections which belong to human nature. If the object be inferior, our inclination to relieve it, is called Mercy and Charity; if poor, it is called Bounty and Liberality.

If the object of Friendship be in Mifery, it gains the name of Sympathy, whereby the lover expreffes an inward sense of the pains and forrows which his friends fuftain: though perhaps this might as well be brought in under the paffion of Sorrow, unless we extend the word Sympathy to fignify our communion in all the joys and forrows, and all the concerns of our friends.

Malevolence or Ill-will implies a defire of fome evil to fall upon the hated object. Whether the hated object be fuperior, inferior, or equal, it may be called Ill-will: if it extend to parents, mafters, and good magiftrates, it becomes a spirit of Rebellion if it arife against God, it grows up to Impiety. If our Ill-will exprefs itself towards an object in miferable circumftances, it is called Cruelty and Inhumanity, or Hardheartedness. If our Hatred arifes to a high degree, it is called Malignity and Malice; a moft hateful temper in the fight of God and men, and one of the chief parts of the image of the devil.

[To be continued.]

With

བཞེས་ནས་བྱ

[With my latest breath will I bear my teftimony againft giving up to Infidels, one great proof of the invifible world. I mean, that of Witchcraft and Apparitions, confirmed by the teftimony of all ages. I do not think any unprejudiced men can doubt of the truth of the following Narrative. The truth of it was in the laft Century acknowledged by all Europe: against which the unaccountableness of it, is no objection, to thofe who are convinced of the littleness of their own knowledge.]

A true Relation of the chief things which an evil Spirit did and faid at Mafcon, in Burgundy.

To the Rev. and learned Friend Dr. Peter du Moulin.

Sir,

THO

HOUGH I suppose you will look upon my fending you Monfieur Pereaud's French book, as a minding you of the promise you were the other day pleased to make me of putting it into an English dress, yet I hope you will do me the right to believe that if the subject were not extraordinary, I should think it injurious to the public, and to you, to be ac-ceffary to your turning translator of another's books, that hath already manifefted, in feveral languages, how able you are to write excellent ones of your

own.

I must freely confefs to you, that the powerful inclinations which my course of life and ftudies hath given me to backwardness of affent, and the many fictions which are wont to blemish the relation where fpirits and witches are concerned, would make me very backward to contribute any thing to your publishing, or any man's believing a flory less ftrange than this of Monfieur Perreaud.

But

A RELATION OF WHAT AN EVIL SPIRIT, &c. 367

But the conversation I had with that pious Author, during my stay at Geneva, and the present he was pleased to make me of this Treatife before it was printed, in a place where I had opportunities to enquire both after the writer, and fome paffages of the book, did at length overcome in me (as to this narrative) all my fettled indifpofedness to believe strange things. And fince I find that you have received an account both of Monfieur Perreaud himself, and feveral things relating to this book from that excellent perfon your father: I have no reason to doubt, but that as your skill in the tongues will bring it the greatest advantages that it can receive from a tranflator's pen: fo the reputation which your and your learned father's, name will give it, will prove as effectual as any thing of that nature can be, to make wary readers believe. even the amazing paffages of it.

I am, Sir, your affectionate Friend and humble Servant,
ROBERT BOYLE.

To the honourable and moft eminent in Goodness and Learning, Mr. Robert Boyle,

Sir,

IN

N obedience to the charge which you have been pleased to lay upon me, I have translated this admirable story, worthy to be known of all men, and of fingular ufe to convince the Atheists of thefe times; most of which perfuade themselves that there is no fuch thing in the world as any fpiritual, immaterial fubftance. And fome of them will fay, what most of them think, that if they could have any certainty that there are Devils, they would believe alfo that there is a God. Satan, to confirm these in their unbelief, will fearce once in an age difcover himself in vifible or audible manany ner, but either to the rudeft poor people, and the most bestial natures in fome remote barren heath, or if in the converse

For

with fome whose wit is of a form somewhat higher, it is only in fecret conference; that the confeffions of the firft may be afcribed to the fumes of melancholy; and the profeffion of the other fort may be imputed to imposture. And the truth is, that the Devil doth moft harm where he is leaft feen, heard, and fufpected. Wherefore I verily believe that he hath not in many ages done more wrong to his kingdom, than in dif clofing himself fo plainly as he did in the paffages here related. For thereby he hath left no fhift for the unbelief of reasoning Atheists. Many relations are extent of manifeftations of Dæmons: the most certain are the hiftory of the Gospel, how the devils (pake aloud out of possessed bodies in the presence of great multitudes, conftrained by the presence of their Sovereign and their Judge. But no hiftory, either facred or profane, related fuch a public, continued, and unde. niable manifeftation of the wicked Spirit, as this doth. this familiar converfation of the Devil was not with magicians, but with godly men: and it was not in a corner, or in a defert, but in the midst of a great city, in a houfe where there was daily a great refort to hear him fpeak, and where men of contrary religions met together: whofe pronencfs to caft a difgrace upon the diffenting parties did occafion the examining, and the full confirming of the truth thereof, both by the Magiftrates, and by the Diocefian of the place. All these particulars, and many more have been related to my father, when he was Prefident of a National Synod in thofe parts, by the man that was most concerned in them, the author of this book, a religious well poised and venerable Divine, who (if he be alive ftill) is above eighty years of age. He writ this relation when it was fresh in his memory; yet did not publifh it till forty-one years after, in the year 1653; being compelled to it by the various and falfe relations of that story which were scattered abroad. His behaviour in all these pasfages was prudent, courageous and godly; he always refifted the Devil in his feveral poftures, whether of an angel of light,

or

or an open enemy of God. He was tempted by the evil Spirit fometimes to curiofity, fometimes to covetousness, fometimes to fear, and fometimes to jefling and merriment: but the good man was always alike, grave, conflant, and fe rious in rebuking Satan, and ufing the weapons of righteoufness against him, on the right hand and on the left. And he was not disappointed of his truft in God; for in all the time God permitted not that flirring devil to do him any harm, or to any belonging to him, either in their perfons or goods, and at the end of a hundred days, God difpoffeffed the Devil of his ufurped hold. My labour in tranflating thefe few sheets is fo inconfiderable, that I would not have put iny name to it, but that you thought, Sir, my knowledge of the Truth of this hiftory, by the relation of my father, would be fome confirmation of it. I have it at the fecond-hand, yet from a fure hand. But yourself, Sir, had from the Author a more immediate information, which being prefixt before this narrative, gives it a free and uncontrolable pafs, to be admitted into the belief of the most fevere and judicious readers. Neither will they have a lefs opinion of the utility than truth of this relation, when they fee that a perfon fo high in learning, fo deep in judgment, fo real in godlinefs, fo exemplary in good works; hath judged it to be of principal ufe for the convincing of unbelievers, and the confirming of thofe that are in the faith: thereby alfo I fhall reap this benefit to myfelf, that the world fhall know I am honoured with your commands, and that I delight to approve myfelf, Sir, your most humble and obedient Servant and true honourer,

PETER DU MOULIN.

A Relation of the chief things which an evil Spirit did and

THE

faid, &c.

HE fourteenth day of September, in the year 1612, I went with one of the Elders of the Church of Mafcon, to a meeting held at Couches; five days after, we returned. VOL. V.

Y y

Being