From these observations, I think, it cannot be reasonably supposed to be Samuel, the true Prophet of God. That there have been appearances of spectres I doubt not, but I cannot suppose for a moment, that they are the real souls of the departed, but either their guardian angels or infernal spirits, sent on errands we know nothing of in this lower world; but this I leave, and only remark that in this case of the wretched, despairing Saul, that Satan, with whom the Witch of Endor was very familiar, could easily transform himself into a grave old man, with a mantle, when the scriptures declare he can transform himself into an Angel of Light, which must be a greater work. It is evident he is now, and has been for many years, worshipped by Heathens, in many forms, witness the idols which are made and adored abroad, in which form, no doubt, Satan has often appeared to his familiars. As to his being called Samuel, many who have been possessed of the devil are called prophets, as well as many who are destitute of grace have been called christians; but what appears to stagger some of my friends the most is, how Satan could know future events, and predict them to Saul. But surely there was no such a great mystery in this, when it was well known the evil spirits, in the oracles of the heathen, and in others, have told future events. Besides, Satan well knew the numbers and strength of the enemies that came up against Saul’s army. No doubt Satan has much to do in a field of Battle. Likewise Satan well knew that God had left Saul, and could then easily tell that it must go bad with him and his armies. There wanted no conjurer to tell that, nor need Samuel come from heaven to predict it. Balaam, the wizard, who went several times to consult the devil about cursing the children of Israel, was obliged to turn Prophet, and foretold the coming of Christ, and the glories of his kingdom; the destruction of the enemies of the Church, and his own awful end, _I shall see him_, _but not now_—(that is, when he comes to judgment.) _I shall behold him_, _but not nigh_—(when he lifted up his eyes in hell). Besides, God often permits Satan, as the Prince of the Power of the Air, to foresee the ruin of men, as in the case of Ahab. See 1st. Kings, 22nd Chap. xx, xxii verses; and Satan, in a man, may predict his own ruin, or the ruin of others. This may be seen in the case of Haman, in the book of Esther, 6th Chap. xiii, xiv verses. But what was the prediction of the Devil in Samuel’s appearance? _Thou and thy sons shall be with me to-morrow_. If this was the Soul of the true Samuel, he never could have said this, for Saul could not associate with the Lord’s children in heaven, seeing he lived and died a murderer; nor could his son, Jonathan have been with him in heaven, seeing he was a lover of the truth, and a servant of the Lord; and though they both died in the same field, they could not go to the same place. So that this spectre’s prediction was wrong; and if it was supposed to be Samuel’s body brought up from the grave, and the Prophecy was, he should be in the grave to-morrow; neither was this true, for the battle was not fought for some days after, and it was a considerable time before Saul was buried in the grave, as you will find in the close of the 31st Chap. Besides, Samuel was buried at Ramah, and Saul was buried at Jabesh. Thus the prediction of the Devil was not true; nor did all Saul’s sons die together, for some lived along time after his death.