ThestrongestmindsinbothbranchesoftheProtestantChurchinGreatBritaindevotedthemselvestomaintainingthesuperstition。
Thenewerscientificmodesofthought，andespeciallythenewideasregardingtheheavens，revealedfirstbyCopernicusandGalileoandlaterbyNewton，Huygens，andHalley，weregraduallydissipatingthewholedomainofthePrinceofthePoweroftheAir；butfromfirsttolastalonglineofeminentdivines，AnglicanandCalvinistic，strovetoresistthenewthought。OntheAnglicanside，intheseventeenthcentury，MericCasaubon，DoctorofDivinityandahighdignitaryofCanterbury，——HenryMore，inmanyrespectsthemosteminentscholarintheChurch，——Cudworth，byfarthemosteminentphilosopher，andDr。
JosephGlanvil，themostcogentofallwritersinfavourofwitchcraft，supportedtheorthodoxsuperstitionintreatisesofgreatpower；andSirMatthewHale，thegreatestjuristoftheperiod，condemningtwowomentobeburnedforwitchcraft，declaredthathebasedhisjudgmentonthedirecttestimonyofHolyScripture。OntheCalvinisticsidewerethegreatnamesofRichardBaxter，whoapplaudedsomeoftheworstcrueltiesinEngland，andofIncreaseandCottonMather，whostimulatedtheworstinAmerica；andthesemarshalledinbehalfofthiscruelsuperstitionalonglineofeminentdivines，themostearnestofall，perhaps，beingJohnWesley。
NorwastheLutheranChurchinSwedenandtheotherScandinaviancountriesbehinditssisterchurches，eitherinpersecutingwitchcraftorinrepressingdoubtsregardingthedoctrinewhichsupportedit。
Butinspiteofallthesegreatauthoritiesineveryland，inspiteofsuchsummarypunishmentsasthoseofFlade，Loos，andBekker，andinspiteofthevirtualexclusionfromchurchprefermentofallwhodoubtedtheolddoctrine，thenewscientificviewoftheheavenswasdevelopedmoreandmore；thephysicalsciencesweremoreandmorecultivated；thenewscientificatmosphereingeneralmoreandmoreprevailed；andattheendoftheseventeenthcenturythisvastgrowthofsuperstitionbegantowitheranddroop。Montaigne，Bayle，andVoltaireinFrance，ThomasiusinGermany，CalefinNewEngland，andBeccariainItaly，didmuchalsotocreateanintellectualandmoralatmospherefataltoit。
Andhereitshouldbestated，tothehonouroftheChurchofEngland，thatseveralofherdivinesshowedgreatcourageinopposingthedominantdoctrine。SuchmenasHarsnet，ArchbishopofYork，andMorton，BishopofLichfield，whothrewalltheirinfluenceagainstwitch-findingcrueltiesevenearlyintheseventeenthcentury，deservelastinggratitude。ButespeciallyshouldhonourbepaidtotheyoungermenintheChurch，whowroteatlengthagainstthewholesystem：suchmenasWagstaffeandWebsterandHutchinson，whointhehumblerranksoftheclergystoodmanfullyfortruth，withthecertaintythatbysodoingtheyweremakingtheirownpromotionimpossible。
Bythebeginningoftheeighteenthcenturythedoctrinewasevidentlydyingout。Wheretorturehadbeenabolished，orevenmademilder，“weather-makers“nolongerconfessed，andthefundamentalproofsinwhichthesystemwasrootedwereevidentlyslippingaway。EventhegreattheologianFromundus，attheUniversityofLouvain，theoracleofhisage，whohaddemonstratedthefutilityoftheCopernicantheory，hadforeseenthisandmadetheinevitableattemptatcompromise，declaringthatdevils，thoughOFTEN，arenotALWAYSorevenforthemostpartthecausesofthunder。ThelearnedJesuitCasparSchott，whosePhysicaCuriosawasoneofthemostpopularbooksoftheseventeenthcentury，alsoventuredtomakethesamemildstatement。Butevensuchconcessionsbysuchgreatchampionsoforthodoxydidnotpreventfranticeffortsinvariousquarterstobringtheworldbackundertheolddogma：aslateas1743therewaspublishedinCatholicGermanyamanualbyFatherVincentofBerg，inwhichthesuperstitionwastaughttoitsfullestextent，withthedeclarationthatitwasissuedfortheuseofpriestsundertheexpresssanctionofthetheologicalprofessorsoftheUniversityofCologne；andtwenty-fiveyearslater，in1768，wefindinProtestantEnglandJohnWesleystandingfirmlyforwitchcraft，andutteringhisfamousdeclaration，“ThegivingupofwitchcraftisineffectthegivingupoftheBible。”ThelatestnotabledemonstrationinScotlandwasmadeaslateas1773，when“thedivinesoftheAssociatedPresbytery“passedaresolutiondeclaringtheirbeliefinwitchcraft，anddeploringthegeneralscepticismregardingit。[259]
[259]ForCarpzovandhissuccessors，seeauthoritiesalreadygiven。ThebestaccountofJames’sshareintheextortionofconfessionsmaybefoundinthecollectionofCuriousTractspublishedatEdinburghin1820。SeealsoKingJames’sownDemonologie，andPitcairn’sCriminalTrialsofScotland，vol。i，partii，pp。213-223。ForCasaubon，seehisCredulityandIncredulityinThingsNatural，pp。66，67。ForGlanvil，More，Casaubon，Baxter，Wesley，andothersnamed，seeLecky，asabove。
AstoIncreaseMather，inhissermons，alreadycited，onTheVoiceofGodinStormyWinds，Boston，1704，hesays：“whentherearegreattempests，theAngelsoftentimeshaveaHandtherein……Yea，andsometimes，byDivinePermission，EvilAngelshaveaHandinsuchStormsandTempestsasareveryhurtfultoMenontheEarth。”Yet“forthemostpart，suchStormsaresentbytheProvidenceofGodasaSignofHisDispleasurefortheSinsofMen。”andsometimes“asPrognosticksandterribleWarningsofGreatJudgementsnotfaroff。”FromtheheightofhiseruditionMatherthusrebukesthetimidvoiceofscientificscepticism：
“TherearesomewhowouldbeesteemedtheWitsoftheWorld，thatridiculethoseasSuperstitiousandWeakPersons，whichlookuponDreadfulTempestsasProdromousofotherJudgements。
Nevertheless，themostLearnedandJudiciousWriters，notonlyoftheGentiles，butamongstChristians，haveEmbracedsuchaPersuasion；theirSentimentsthereinbeingConfirmedbytheExperienceofmanyAges。”Foranothercuriousturngiventothistheory，withreferencetosanitaryscience，seeDeodatLawson’sfamoussermonatSalem，in1692，onChrist’sFidelityaShieldagainstSatan’sMalignity，p。21ofthesecondedition。ForCottonMather，seehisbiographybyBarrettWendell，pp。91，92；
alsothechapteronDiabolismandHysteriainthiswork。ForFromundus，seehisMeteorologicaLondon，1656，lib。iii，c。9，andlib。ii，c。3。ForSchott，seehisPhysicaCuriosaeditionofWurzburg，1667，p。1249。ForFatherVincentofBerg，seehisEnchiridiumquadripartitumCologne，1743。Besidesbenedictionsandexorcismsforallemergencies，itcontainsfulldirectionsforthemanufactureofAgnesDei，andofanothersacredpanaceacalled“Heiligthum。”notlesseffectiveagainstevilpowers，——
givesformulaetobewornforprotectionagainstthedevil，——
suggestsalistofsignsbywhichdiabolicalpossessionmayberecognised，andprescribesthequestiontobeaskedbypriestsintheexaminationofwitches。ForWesley，seehisJournalfor1768。ThewholecitationisgiveninLecky。
IV。FRANKLIN’SLIGHTNING-ROD。
ButinthemidstoftheseeffortsbyCatholicslikeFatherVincentandbyProtestantslikeJohnWesleytosavetheoldsacredtheory，itreceiveditsdeath-blow。In1752FranklinmadehisexperimentswiththekiteonthebanksoftheSchuylkill；
and，atthemomentwhenhedrewtheelectricsparkfromthecloud，thewholetremendousfabricoftheologicalmeteorologyrearedbythefathers，thepopes，themedievaldoctors，andthelonglineofgreattheologians，CatholicandProtestant，collapsed；the“PrinceofthePoweroftheAir“tumbledfromhisseat；thegreatdoctrinewhichhadsolongafflictedtheearthwasprostratedforever。
TheexperimentofFranklinwasrepeatedinvariouspartsofEurope，but，atfirst，theChurchseemedcarefultotakenonoticeofit。TheoldchurchformulasagainstthePrinceofthePoweroftheAirwerestillused，butthetheologicaltheory，especiallyintheProtestantChurch，begantogrowmilder。FouryearsafterFranklin’sdiscoveryPastorKarlKoken，memberoftheConsistoryandofficialpreachertotheCityCouncilofHildesheim，wasmovedbyagreathailstormtopreachandpublishasermononTheRevelationofGodinWeather。Of“thePrinceofthePoweroftheAir“hesaysnothing；thetheoryofdiabolicalagencyhethrowsoverboardaltogether；hiswholeattemptistosavetheolderandmoreharmlesstheory，thatthestormisthevoiceofGod。Heinsiststhat，sinceChristtoldNicodemusthatmen“knownotwhencethewindcometh。”itcannotbeofmerenaturalorigin，butissentdirectlybyGodhimself，asDavidintimatesinthePsalm，“outofHissecretplaces。”Astothehailstorm，helaysgreatstressupontheplagueofhailsentbytheAlmightyuponEgypt，andclinchesallbyinsistingthatGodshowedatMountSinaihispurposetostartlethebodybeforeimpressingtheconscience。
Whilethetheoryofdiabolicalagencyinstormswasthusdroopinganddying，veryshrewdeffortsweremadeatcompromise。Thefirstoftheseattemptswehavealreadynoted，intheefforttoexplaintheefficacyofbellsinstormsbytheirsimpleuseinstirringthefaithfultoprayer，andintheconcessionmadebysundrytheologians，andevenbythegreatLordBaconhimself，thatchurchbellsmight，underthesanctionofProvidence，dispersestormsbyagitatingtheair。Thisgainedgroundsomewhat，thoughitwasresistedbyoneeminentChurchauthority，whoansweredshrewdlythat，inthatcase，cannonwouldbeevenmorepiousinstruments。Stillanotherargumentusedintryingtosavethispartofthetheologicaltheorywasthatthebellswereconsecratedinstrumentsforthispurpose，“likethehornsatwhoseblowingthewallsofJerichofell。”[260]
[260]ForKoken，seehisOffenbarungGottesinWetter，Hildesheim，c1756；andfortheanswertoBacon，seeGretser’sDeBenedictionibus，lib。ii，cap。46。
Butthesecompromiseswereoflittleavail。In1766FatherSterzingerattackedtheverygroundworkofthewholediabolictheory。Hewas，ofcourse，bitterlyassailed，insulted，andhated；buttheChurchthoughtitbestnottocondemnhim。Moreandmorethe“PrinceofthePoweroftheAir“retreatedbeforethelightning-rodofFranklin。TheolderChurch，whileclingingtotheoldtheory，wasfinallyobligedtoconfessthesupremacyofFranklin’stheorypractically；forhislightning-roddidwhatexorcisms，andholywater，andprocessions，andtheAgnusDei，andtheringingofchurchbells，andtherack，andtheburningofwitches，hadfailedtodo。Thiswasclearlyseen，evenbythepoorestpeasantsineasternFrance，whentheyobservedthatthegrandspireofStrasburgCathedral，whichneitherthesacrednessoftheplace，northebellswithinit，northeholywaterandrelicsbeneathit，couldprotectfromfrequentinjuriesbylightning，wasonceandforallprotectedbyFranklin’srod。
ThencameintothemindsofmultitudestheanswertothequestionwhichhadsolongexercisedtheleadingtheologiansofEuropeandAmerica，namely，“WhyshouldtheAlmightystrikehisownconsecratedtemples，orsufferSatantostrikethem？”
Yeteventhispracticalsolutionofthequestionwasnotreceivedwithoutopposition。
InAmericatheearthquakeof1755waswidelyascribed，especiallyinMassachusetts，toFranklin’srod。TheRev。ThomasPrince，pastoroftheOldSouthChurch，publishedasermononthesubject，andintheappendixexpressedtheopinionthatthefrequencyofearthquakesmaybeduetotheerectionof“ironpointsinventedbythesagaciousMr。Franklin。”Hegoesontoarguethat“inBostonaremoreerectedthananywhereelseinNewEngland，andBostonseemstobemoredreadfullyshaken。Oh！
thereisnogettingoutofthemightyhandofGod。”
Threeyearslater，JohnAdams，speakingofaconversationwithArbuthnot，aBostonphysician，says：“Hebegantoprateuponthepresumptionofphilosophyinerectingironrodstodrawthelightningfromtheclouds。Herailedandfoamedagainstthepointsandthepresumptionthaterectedthem。HetalkedofpresuminguponGod，asPeterattemptedtowalkuponthewater，andofattemptingtocontroltheartilleryofheaven。”
Aslateas1770religiousscruplesregardinglightning-rodswerestillfelt，thetheorybeingthat，asthunderandlightningweretokensoftheDivinedispleasure，itwasimpietytopreventtheirdoingtheirfullwork。Fortunately，Prof。JohnWinthrop，ofHarvard，showedhimselfwiseinthis，asinsomanyotherthings：
inalectureonearthquakesheopposedthedominanttheology；
andastoargumentsagainstFranklin’srods，hedeclared，“Itisasmuchourdutytosecureourselvesagainsttheeffectsoflightningasagainstthoseofrain，snow，andwindbythemeansGodhasputintoourhands。”
Still，forsomeyearstheologicalsentimenthadtoberegardedcarefully。InPhiladelphia，apopularlectureronscienceforsometimeafterFranklin’sdiscoverythoughtitbestinadvertisinghislecturestoexplainthat“theerectionoflightning-rodsisnotchargeablewithpresumptionnorinconsistentwithanyoftheprincipleseitherofnaturalorrevealedreligion。”[261]
[261]RegardingoppositiontoFranklin’srodsinAmerica，seePrince’ssermon，especiallyp。23；alsoQuincy，HistoryofHarvardUniversity，vol。ii，p。219；alsoWorksofJohnAdams，vol。ii，pp。51，52；alsoParton’sLifeofFranklin，vol。i，p。