神明裁判用各种方法考验当事人，通常有水、火的考验。例如把被告人捆起来投入水中，淹死为有罪，没有淹死为无罪（见彩图）；或者令被告人或双方当事人将手伸入沸水锅中捞取某种东西，或者让他们手拿烧红的铁器走一段路，看其手是否被烫伤或烫伤包扎一段时间后是否痊愈，以决定其是否有罪。
英国历史上的“文书审”起源于“神明裁判”，其强调的是司法的形式或程序公正。
In British history, the Trial by Charters originated from the Trial by Ordeals, and its emphasis was the formal or procedural justice.
由于没有能够受理并解决争议的上帝代言人，神明裁判就此消亡，取而代之的是陪审团裁判。
Since no representative of the Almighty to whom the settlement of the question had been submitted was available, trial by ordeal vanished, to be replaced with trial by jury.
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