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

Here was Food for Faith, and great encouragement still to hope and quietly wait for the Salvation of the Lord; the Ministers still counselling and encouraging me to labour to be found in Gods way, committing my case to him, and not to use any way not allowed in Gods Word. It was a thing not a little comfortable to us, to see that the people of God was so much concerned about our lamentable condition, remembering us at all times in their prayers, which I did look at as a token for good; but you must think it was a time of sore Temptation with us, for many did say; (yea, and some good people too) were it their case, that they would try some Tricks, that should give ease to their Children: But I thought for us to forsake the counsel of good old men, and to take the counsel of the young ones, it might ensnare our Souls, though for the present it might offer some relief to our Bodies; which was a thing I greatly feared; and my Children were not at any time free for doing any such thing. It was a time of sore affliction, but it was mixed with abundance of mercy, for my heart was many a time made glad in the house of Prayer. The Neighbourhood pitied us; and were very helpful to us: Moreover, though my Children were thus in every Limb and Joint tormented by those Children of the Devil, they also using their ⟨p. 50⟩tongues at their pleasure, sometimes one way, sometimes another; yet the Lord did herein prevent them, that they could not make them speak wicked words, though they did many times hinder them from speaking good ones; had they in these Fits blasphemed the Name of the Holy God, this you may think would have been an heart-breaking thing to us the poor Parents; but God in his mercy prevented them, a thing worth taking notice of. Likewise they slept well a nights: And the Ministers did often visit us, and pray with us, and for us; and their love and pity was so great, their Prayers so earnest and constant, that I could not but admire at it. Mr. Mather particularly; now his bowels so yearned towards us in this sad condition, that he not only pray's with us, and for us, but he taketh one of my Children home to his own house; which indeed was but a troublesome guest, for such an one that had so much work lying upon his hands and heart: He took much pains in this great Service, to pull this Child, and her Brother and Sister out of the hand of the Devil.

Here was Food for Faith, and great encouragement still to hope and quietly wait for the Salvation of the Lord; the Ministers still counselling and encouraging me to labour to be found in Gods way, committing my case to him, and not to use any way not allowed in Gods Word. It was a thing not a little comfortable to us, to see that the people of God was so much concerned about our lamentable condition, remembring us at all times in their prayers, which I did look at as a token for good; but you must think it was a time of sore Temptation with us, for many did say; (yea, and some good people too) were it their case, that they would try some Tricks, that should give ease to their Children: But I thought for us to forsake the counsel of good old men, and to take the counsel of the young ones, it might ensnare our Souls, though for the present it might offer some relief to our Bodies; which was a thing I greatly feared; and my Children were not at any time free for doing any such thing. It was a time of sore affliction, but it was mixed with abundance of mercy, for my heart was many a time made glad in the house of Prayer. The Neighbourhood pitied us; and were very helpful to us: Moreover, though my Children were thus in every Limb and Joynt tormented by those Children of the Devil, they also using their