Memorable providences relating to witchcrafts and possessions a faithful account of many wonderful and…

SECT. XXIX. Devotion was now, as formerly the terriblest of all the provocations that could be given her. I could by no means bring her to own, That she desired the mercies of God and the prayers of good men. I would have obtained a Sign of such a Desire, by her Listing ⟨p. 35⟩up of her hand; but she stirred it not: I then listed up her hand my self, and though the standers by thought a more insignificant thing could not be propounded, I said, Child, If you desire those things, let your hand fall, when I take mine away: I took my hand away, and hers continued strangely and stiffly stretched out, so that for some time, she could not take it down. During these two days we had Prayers oftener in our Family than at other times; and this was her usual Behaviour at them. The man that prayed, usually began with Reading the Word of God; which once as he was going to do, she called to him, Read of Mary Magdalen, out of whom the Lord cast seven Devils, During the time of Reading, she would be laid as one fast asleep; but when Prayer was begun, the Devils would still throw her on the Floor, at the feet of him, that prayed. There would she lye and Whistle and sing and roar, to drown the voice of the Prayer; but that being a little too audible for Them, they would shut close her Mouth and her ears, and yet make such odd noises in her Throat as that she her self could not hear our Cries to God for her. She'd also fetch very terrible Blows with her Fist, and Kicks with her Foot at the man that prayed; but still (for he had bid that none should hinder her) her Fist and Foot, would always recoil, when they came within a few hairs breadths of him just as if Rebounding ⟨p. 36⟩against a Wall; so that she touched him not, but then would beg hard of other people to strike him, and particularly she entreated them to take the Tongs and smite him; Which not being done, she cried out of him, He has wounded me in the Head. But before Prayer was out, she would be laid for Dead, wholly senseless and (unless to a severe Trial) Breathless; with her Belly swelled like a Drum, and sometimes with croaking Noises in it; thus would she lie, most exactly with the stiffness and posture of one that had been two Days laid out for Dead. Once lying thus, as he that was praying, was alluding to the words of the Canaanitess, and saying, Lord, have mercy on a Daughter vexed with a Devil;

SECT. XXIX. Devotion was now, as formerly the terriblest of all the provocations that could be given her. I could by no means bring her to own, That she desired the mercies of God and the prayers of good men. I would have obtained a Sign of such a Desire, by her Listing