which was a thing absolutely not in her power, as I shall undeniably prove afterwards. And notwithstanding the stories of _Eusebius_, and the strong endeavours of Doctor _Hamond_ to make it good, that _Simon Magus_ was a person that had peculiar and corporeal converse with the Devil, and by that league and converse could perform strange and wonderful things; yet was he but a notorious Impostor, as appeareth by two reasons. 1. The Text saith, _that he gave out that himself was some great one_, that is, that he had great skill, and was able to perform wonderful things. This sheweth his presumption and pretence, the certain badge of a Deceiver and Cheater. 2. But could do little, except some petty jugling Tricks of Leger-de-main, confederacy, and the like; _because he wondred, or was amazed, beholding the Miracles and signs which were done, and those were, that unclean Spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: And many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed_. Now if he had been any great Magician, or could have performed any great things, he could not have so much wondred at those things that _Philip_ wrought: or if he could have flown in the air, as _Eusebius_ (or those that have foisted such incredible lyes into his Writings) pretendeth, then he need not have been so amazed at the miracles and signs that the Apostles wrought, nor to have offered to have bought the gift of bestowing the Holy Ghost, but only because he was a notorious Dissembler and Impostor. And if he had been in league with the Devil, surely he might have cast forth Devils by the power of _Beelzebub_ the Prince of Devils: all which do plainly conclude him to be an absolute Cheater and Impostor. And the story of _Bel_ and the _Dragon_ (though but an Apocryphal piece, yet very ancient, and of sufficient credit as to matter of fact) doth evidently demonstrate, that these sort of people were abominable Cheaters and Impostors, and were not endowed with any supernatural power, nor had assistance of any visible Demon, but only the Devil of deceit and cousenage in their own breasts, and so were, as _Cardan_ saith, _Carnales Dæmones ipsis Dæmonibus callidiores_. [Sidenote: _Instit. p. 3. p. 45._]