magic words, characters, or ceremonies, whereby evil spirits, tempests, &c. are supposed to be raised, or driven away. The Roman priests pretend to expel devils, by preparing holy water in a particular manner, and sprinkling it over the possessed, with a number of conjurations and exorcisms.

Some authors make the difference between conjuration and witchcraft to consist in this; that the former effects its end by prayers and invocation of God's Conjuration name, &c., to compel the devil to do what is desired; so that the conjuror is supposed to be at war with the devil, and that evil spirit to act merely out of curiosity; whereas the latter attains its end by an immediate application to the devil himself: and the devil's complaisance is supposed to be the consequence of some compact between them, so that the devil and the witch have a good understanding together. Both these, again, differ from enchantment and sorcery; in that these latter operate secretly and slowly by spells, charms, &c., without ever calling on the devil, or having any conference with him.