A50139:73
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
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.
SECT. XXXI. I was not unsensible, that it might be an easy thing to be too bold, and go too far, in making of Experiments. Nor was I so unphilosophical as not to discern many opportunities of Giving and Solving many Problems which the pneumatic Discipline is concerned in I confess I have Learned much more than I fought, and I have bin informed of some things relating to the invisible World, which as I did not think it lawful to ask, so I do not think it proper to tell; yet I will give a Touch upon one Problem commonly Discoursed of; that is,
SECT. XXXI. I was not unsensible, that it might be an easie thing to be too bold, and go too far, in making of Experiments. Nor was I so unphilosophical as not to discern many opportunityes of Giving and Solving many Problemes which the pneumatic Discipline is concerned in I confess I have Learn'd much more than I fought, and I have bin informed of some things relating to the invisible World, which as I did not think it lawful to ask, so I do not think it proper to tell; yet I will give a Touch upon one Problem commonly Discoursed of; that is,
Whether the Devils know our Thoughts, or no?
I will not give the Reader my Opinion of it, but only my Experiment. That they do not, was conjectured from this: We could cheat them when we spoke one thing, and meant another. This was found when the Children were to be undressed. The Devils would still in waves beyond the Force of any Imposture, wonderfully twist the part that was to be undressed, so that there was no coming at it. But, if we said, untie his neckcloth, and the parties bidden, at the same time, understood our intent to be, untie his Shoo! The Neckcloth, and not the shoo, has ⟨p. 39⟩been made strangely inaccessible. But on the other side; That they do, may be conjectured from This. I called the young Woman at my House by her Name, intending to mention unto her some Religious Expedient whereby she might, as I thought much relieve her self; presently her Neck was broke, and I continued watching my Opportunity to say what I designed. I could not get her to come out of her Fit, until I had laid aside my purpose of speaking what I thought, and then she revived immediately. Moreover a young Gentleman visiting of me at my Study to ask my advice about curing the Atheism & Blasphemy which he complained, his Thoughts were more than ordinarily then infested with; after some Discourse I carried him down to see this Girl who was then molested with her unseen Fiends; but when he came, she treated him very coarsely and rudely, asking him What she came to the house for? and seemed very angry at his being there, urging him to be gone with a very impetuous Importunity. Perhaps all Devils are not alike sagacious.