A50139:81
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.
Two more of my Children are smitten down, oh! the Cries, the Shrieks, the Tortures of these poor Children! Doctors cannot help, Parents weep and lament over them, but cannot ease them. Now I considering my affliction to be more than ordinary, it did certainly call for more than ordinary Prayer. I acquainted Mr. Allen, Mr. Moodey, Mr. Willard, and Mr. C. Mather, the four Ministers of the Town with it, and Mr. Morton of Charlestown; earnestly desiring them, that they, with some other praying people of God, would meet at my house, and there be earnest with God, on the behalf of us and our Children; which they (I thank them for it) readily attended with great fervency of Spirit; but as for my part, my heart was ready to sink to hear and see those doleful-Sights. Now I thought that I had greatly neglected my duty to my Children, ⟨p. 48⟩in not admonishing and instructing of them; and that God was hereby calling my sins to mind, to slay my Children, Then I pondered of that place in Numb. 23. 23. Surely there is no Enchantment against Jacob, neither is there any Divination against Israel. And now I thought I had broke Covenant with God, not only in one respect but in many, but it pleased the Lord to bring that to mind in Heb. 8. 12. For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their Sins & Iniquities will I remember no more. The Consideration how the Lord did deal with Job, and his Patience and the End the Lord made with him was some support to me. I thought also, on what David said, that He had sinned, but what have these poor Lambs done? But yet in the midst of my tumultuous Thoughts within me, it was Gods Comforts that did delight my soul. That in the 18 of Luke, and the Beginning, Where Christ spake the Parable for that end, that men ought always to pray and not faint. This, with many other places bore up my spirit. I thought with Jonah that I would yet again Look towards God's holy Temple; the Lord Jesus Christ. And I did greatly desire to find the Son of God with me in this Furnace of Affliction, knowing thereby that no harm shall befall me. But now this solemn day of Prayer and Fasting being at an End, there was an Eminent Answer of it: for one of my Children was delivered, and one of the wicked instruments ⟨p. 49⟩of the Devil discovered, and her own mouth condemned her, and so accordingly Executed.