A50177:44
The wonders of the invisible world observations as well historical as theological upon the…
The wonders of the invisible world observations as well historical as theological upon the nature, the number and the operations of the devils : accompanied with I. Some accounts of the grievous [sic] molestations by daemons and witchcrafts ... and the trials of some eminent malefactors ... II. Some councils directing a due improvement of the terrible things lately done by the unusual and amazing range of evil spirits ... III. Some conjectures upon the great events likely to befall the world in general and New England in particular ... IV. A short narrative of a late outrage committed by a knot of witches in Swedeland ... V. The devil discovered, in a brief discourse upon those temptations which are the more ordinary devices of the wicked one / by Cotton Mather.The wonders of the invisible world observations as well historical as theological upon the nature, the number and the operations of the devils : accompany'd with I. Some accounts of the greievous [sic] molestations by daemons and witchcrafts ... and the trials of some eminent malefactors ... II. Some councils directing a due improvement of the terrible things lately done by the unusual and amazing range of evil spirits ... III. Some conjectures upon the great events likely to befall the world in general and New England in particular ... IV. A short narrative of a late outrage committed by a knot of witches in Swedeland ... V. The devil discovered, in a brief discourse upon those temptations which are the more ordinary devices of the wicked one / by Cotton Mather.
Boston: printed by Benjamin Harris, 1693
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.
A Witty Writer against Sadducism, has this Observation, That persons, who never made any Express Contract with Apostate Spirits, yet may Act strange Things by Diabolic Aids, which they procure by the use of those wicked Forms and Arts, that the Devil first Imparted unto his Confederates. And he adds, We know not, but the Laws of the Dark Kingdom, may Enjoin a particular Attendance upon all those that practise their Mysteries, whether they know them to be theirs or no. Some of them that have been Cried out upon, as Employing ⟨image 14⟩Evil Spirits to Hurt our Land, have been known to be most bloody Fortune-Tellers; and some of them have Confessed, That when they told Fortunes, they would pretend the Rules of Chiromancy and the like Ignorant Sciences, but indeed, they had no Rule (they said) but this, The Things were then Darted into their Minds. Darted! Ye Wretches; By whom, I pray. Surely, by none but the Devils; who, tho' perhaps they did not exactly Foreknow all the thus Predicted Contingencies; yet having once Foretold them, they stood bound in Honour now, to use their Interest, which alas, in This World, is very great, for the Accomplishment of their own Predictions. There are others, that have used most wicked Sorceries to gratify their unlawful Curiosities, or to prevent Inconveniences in Man and Beast; Sorceries; which I will not Name, lest I should by Naming, Teach them. Now, some Devil is overmore Invited into the Service of the Person that shall practise these Witchcrafts; and if they have gone on Impenitently in these Communions with any Devil, the Devil may perhaps become at last a Familiar to them, and so assume their Livery, that they cannot shake him off in any way, but that One, which I would most heartily prescribe unto them, Namely, That of a deep and long Repentance. Should these Impieties, have been committed in such a place as New-England, for my part I should not wonder, if when Devils are Exposing the Gres•er Witches among us, God permit them, to bring in these Les•er ones with the rest, for their perpetual Humiliation. In the Issue therefore, may it not be found, that New-England is not so Stocked with Rattle Snakes, as was imagined?
A Witty Writer against Sadducism, has this Observation, That persons, who never made any Express Contract with Apostate Spirits, yet may Act strange Things by Diabolick Aids, which they procure by the use of those wicked Forms and Arts, that the Devil first Imparted unto his Confederates. And he adds, We know not, but the Laws of the Dark Kingdom, may Enjoyn a particular Attendence upon all those that practise their Mysteries, whether they know them to be theirs or no. Some of them that have been Cry'd out upon, as Employing