An Historical Essay Concerning Witchcraft. With Observations upon Matters Of Fact: tending to clear the Texts of the Sacred Sciptures, and confute the vulgar Errors about that Point. And Also Two Sermons: One in Proof of the Christian Religion; The other concerning the Good and Evil Angels. by Hutchinson, Francis - MDCCXVIII. [1718].

London:: Printed for R. Knaplock and D. Midwinter,, MDCCXVIII. [1718].. First edition.. 8vo.. xv, [4], 270, [2]p. Contemporary calf rebacked gilt title label to spine some minor rubbing to edge corners. Lacks blank free endpapers. Wanting half-title [not uncommon]. General title present and text complete. With scarce advert leaf at end. Some minor foxing to outer edges no affect. N1 small hole at bottom margin no affect repaired. Final leaf with minor ink stain to bottom margin of old owners signature. Overall a nice first edition copy of this important landmark work on witchcraft. Affordably priced. Hutchinson (1660-1739) Bishop of Down and Connor and whiggish Anglican "...was careful to uphold the possibility of the spirit world, declaring that 'sober belief' in spirits was 'part of every good Christian's faith'; but he insisted that such convictions were altogether different from 'the fantastick doctrines that support the vulgar opinion of witchcraft'...Hutchinson rehearsed the old sceptical arguments of Wier, Scot, Webster and Bekker; but he also addressed the psychology of witch-belief as social panic. While never denying the hypothetical possibility of witchcraft, and carefully appending two sermons against Sadducceeism--one affirming Christ's miracles, the other the reality of angels -- he shrewdly noted that witchcraft festered most in superstitious Catholic countries, and ventured that the powder-kegs of witch panics were inflammatory books and vainglorious witch-finders." [Witchcraft and Magic in Europe, 1999. Volume 3]. Chapter 5 is on the 'Witchcrafts at Salem, Boston, and Andover in New-England. 'A skeptical work analyzing historical accounts of witchcraft in the light of reason. Robbins in his "Encyclopedia of Witchcraft and Demonology" calls Hutchinson the 'man who gave the coup de grace to the witch delusion in EnglandÕ. Notestein wrote that it `levelled a final and deadly blow at the dying superstition.'" ESTC: T99484. Lowndes II, 1150. B.M. Gen.Cat.: 109, 824. Cornell Cat., p.297. Sabin 34063.