As late as 1668 it was asserted by an eminent English Writer, a Member of the Royal Society,[23] that "_Atheism_ is begun in _Saducism_. And those that dare not bluntly say, _There_ is NO GOD, content themselves, (for a fair _Step_, and _Introduction_) to deny there are SPIRITS, or WITCHES. Which Sort of _Infidels_, though they are not ordinary among the _meer vulgar_, yet are they numerous in a little higher Rank of _Understandings_. And those that know anything of the World, know, that most of the looser _Gentry_, and the small Pretenders to _Philosophy_ and _Wit_, are generally Deriders of the _Belief_ of _Witches_, and _Apparitions_." Hence there were but two Horns to the Dilemma in which every one found himself--he must believe in Witchcraft and all the other degrading Attendants on that Belief, or he must be viewed and scorned as an Atheist, and as an Unbeliever in everything that was good! It was difficult for People to distinguish between Miracles and Witchcraft, especially when the most learned Men,[24] in Order to make the Miracle of the Ascent of the Saviour appear reasonable, argued that "He went as far towards Heaven as he could on Foot, even to the Top of Mount Olivet." And when Elijah was to fast forty Days, "that there might be no Waste of miraculous Power, God would have him eat a double Meal before entering upon the Term of fasting!" With such wretched Absurdities were the Minds of People of that Time enslaved. The Superstitions of the Greeks and Romans were not greater. And although there is a steady Progress in intellectual Improvement, and a Time is believed to be approaching when the World will be as free from the Cheats and Impostures of the present Day, as some of the present Day are of those of previous Ages; yet it is in a Measure discouraging, when we see the Thousands ensnared by such transparent Jugglery as that which has peopled the Salt Lake Regions, and drawn other Thousands in our Midst to witness Feats that never did nor never will happen, except in the deluded Brains of those who desire to be thus deluded. [Decoration] FOOTNOTES: [1] A Jesuit of Loraine. His Book was a "Magical Disquisition." [2] In three Volumes, royal Octavo, Glasgow, 1856-9. [3] This Part of this Introduction was written not long before the Southern Rebellion began. [4] _The Mysterie of Witchcraft_, P. 363. [5] Ibid, 211. [6] _Anatomy of Melancholy_, 221, Edition in Folio, 1651. [7] Strype's _Annals_, I, P. 8. [8] _Epistle to Sir Roger Manwood_, P. 1. [9] _Epistle to Sir Roger Manwood_, Chap. i, Pp. 1 and 2. [10] Scot, _Discoverie_, Chap. ii, P. 4. [11] _Discourse of Devils and Spirits_, P. 543; annexed to the _Discoverie of Witchcraft_. [12] See _Gent. Magz._, XLIX, P. 449; Vol. VII, P. 556. [13] Nashe's _Lenten Stuff_, 1599, as quoted by Reed, in his _Shakespeare_, Vol. X, Pp. 5, 11. [14] King James's _Works_, as published by James, Bishop of Winton, Folio, 1616, P. 91.