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as entirely imaginary, without contradicting the 

 holy fcriptures ? We mull therefore confefs, 

 that the infernal powers have fome agents upon 

 earth, hut that God has prefcribed very narrow 

 limits to their malignity; and if he fometimes 

 permits us to feel the effects of the power he hath 

 thought proper to fufrer them to poiiefs, it is only 

 in order to manifeft his juftice and mercy. 



Much the fame thing may be fakl of the jug- 

 glers of Canada, who proftft to have no commerce 

 but with, what they call, the benevolent genii, and 

 by whofe means they boaft of knowing what paffes 

 in the molt diftant countries, and in the remoteft 

 futurity 5 of being able to difcover the fource and 

 nature of the mo ft hidden difeafes, and of having 

 the fecret of curing them ; to difcern the part that 

 is to be taken, in the moft perplexed affairs ; to 

 explain the moft obfcure dreams ; to make the 

 moft difficult negociations prove fuccefsful ; and 

 laftly, to render the gods propitious to warriors 

 and hunters. Thefe pr tended good genii are like 

 all the gods of Paganifm, real devils, which re- 

 ceived that homage which is due to God alone, and 

 whofe illufions are ftill more dangerous than thofe 

 of the evil genii, as they contribute to retain their 

 adorers in their blind devotion. 



It is beyond all doubt, that amongft their agents 

 the moft audacious are aiways the moft refpected, 

 who with a very little addrefs,eafi!y perfuade nations 

 born and brought up in fu perflation. And al- 

 though they have feen with their own eyes the 

 birth of thofe impoftures, yet mould they enter- 

 tain a defire of afcribing to themfelves a fuperna- 

 tural birth, they find perfons credulous enough to 

 M 4 believe 



