A50139:150
Memorable providences relating to witchcrafts and possessions a faithful account of many wonderful and…
Memorable providences relating to witchcrafts and possessions a faithful account of many wonderful and surprising things that have befallen several bewitched and possessed person in New-England, particularly a narrative of the marvellous trouble and relief experienced by a pious family in Boston, very lately and sadly molested with evil spirits : whereunto is added a discourse delivered unto a congregation in Boston on the occasion of that illustrious providence : as also a discourse delivered unto the same congregation on the occasion of an horrible self-murder committed in the town : with an appendix in vindication of a chapter in a late book of remarkable providences from the calumnies of a Quaker at Pen-silvania / written by Cotton Mather ... and recommended by the ministers of Boston and Charleston.Memorable providences relating to witchcrafts and possessions a faithful account of many wonderful and surprising things that have befallen several bewitched and possesed person in New-England, particularly a narrative of the marvellous trouble and releef experienced by a pious family in Boston, very lately and sadly molested with evil spirits : whereunto is added a discourse delivered unto a congregation in Boston on the occasion of that illustrious providence : as also a discourse delivered unto the same congregation on the occasion of an horrible self-murder committed in the town : with an appendix in vindication of a chapter in a late book of remarkable providences from the calumnies of a Quaker at Pen-silvania / written by Cotton Mather ... and recommended by the ministers of Boston and Charleston.
Boston: printed by R.P., 1689
Discourses › A Discourse on the Power and Malice of the DEVILS
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Secondly, The Devils are our Adversaries as Destroyers. They plead and pray as so many Attorneys, that a Judgment may be granted against us all; and then they petition that they too may be the Executioners of it. Tis illustrated in Job. 1. 11. and 2. 5. Satan urges upon God against Job, put forth thine hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh. They would fain have all manner of Miseries to be inflicted on us; and they try all they can to gain Opportunities for doing their part that we may be miserable. A Devil is called a destroying Angel. They are Devils usually that ⟨p. 6⟩are the Instruments of Divine Vengeance on the world. If it be asked, Why the devils are our Adversaries? There is a double Reason to be Assigned of it. One Reason of it is,
Secondly, The Devils are our Adversaries as Destroyers. They plead and pray as so many Attourneys, that a Iudgment may be granted against us all; and then they petition that they too may be the Executioners of it. Tis illustrated in Iob. 1. 11. and 2. 5. Satan urges upon God against Iob, put forth thine hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh. They would fain have all manner of Miseries to be inflicted on us; and they try all they can to gain Opportunities for doing their part that we may be miserable. A Devil is called a destroying Angel. They are Devils usually that ⟨p. 6⟩are the Instruments of Divine Vengeance on the world. If it be asked, Why the devils are our Adversaries? There is a double Reason to be Assigned of it. One Reason of it is,
Their Hatred of God. The Devils have shaken off the Law, and the Rule of God; and they cannot hear that the Name of God should be acknowledged in the world. GOD and the Devils are sworn enemies to each other; and the Lord may say of them as in Zeb. 11. 8. My soul loathed them, and their soul also abhorred me. Now the poor Children of men, both do the Service of God, and have the Image of God. We do the Service of God. Man is the Priest of the whole visible Creation. Tis by our Thoughts, tis by our Words, that all things else pay their Homage un- the Lord. The Devil, that would be in the Throne of God, would ruin us, that God may no more have the Honour of a Father, or the Fear of a Master in the world. We also have the Image of God. In our Nature there is much, in our Virtue there is more of God's Likeness. The Devil is a Tiger; they report of that wild beast, it will tear the picture of a man, when it cannot reach the person of a man. There is a lively shadow, as it were, of God, upon us; and this the Tigres of Hell cannot endure.