are not perfectly abstracted from all Body and Matter, besides the reverence we owe to the wisest Antiquity, there are several considerable Arguments I could alledge to render it probable. Which things supposed, the Devil's fucking the Sorceress is no great wonder, nor difficult to be accounted for. Or perhaps (3) this may be only a diabolical Sacrament and Ceremony to confirm the hellish Covenant. To which I add, (4) That which to me seems most probable, viz. That the Familiar doth not only fuck the Witch, but in the action infuseth some poysonous ferment into her, which gives her Imagination and Spirits a Magical Tincture, whereby they become mischievously influential; and the Word venefica, intimates some such Matter. Now that the Imagination hath a mighty power in Operation, is seen in the just now mention'd Signatures and Diseases that it causeth; and that the Fancy is modified by the Qualities of the Blood and Spirits, is too evident to need Proof. Which things supposed, 'tis plain to conceive that the evil Spirit having breathed some vile vapour into the Body of the Witch, it may taint her Blood and Spirits with a noxious Quality, by which her infected Imagination, heightned by Melancholly and this worse cause, may do much hurt upon Bodies that are impressible by such Influences. And 'tis very likely that this ferment disposeth the Imagination of the Sorceress to cause the mention'd άφουρεοία, or separation of the Soul from the Body, and may perhaps keep the Body in fit temper for its re-entry, as also it may facilitate Transformation, which, it may be, could not be effected by ordinary and unassisted Imagination.
Thus we see, 'tis not so desperate to form an Apprehension of the manner of these odd performances; and though they are not done the way I have describ'd, yet what I have said may help us to a conceit of the possibility, which sufficeth for my purpose. And though the Hypothesis I have gone upon will seem as unlikely to some, as the things they attempt to explain are to others; yet I must desire their leave to suggest, that most things seem improbable (especially to the conceited and opinionative) at first proposal; and many great Truths are strange and odd, till custome and acquaintance have reconciled them to our Fancies. And I'll presume to add on this occasion, (tho' I love not to be confident in affirming) that there is none of the Platonical supposals I have used, but what I could make appear to be fair and reasonable to the capable and unprejudic'd.
