A50177:47
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.
S 5. I would most importunately in the first place, entreat every man to maintain an Holy Jealousy over his own Soul, at this Time, and think, May not the Devil make me, tho' ignorantly, & unwillingly, to be an Instrument of doing something that he would have to be done? For my part I freely own my Suspicion, Lest something of Enchantment, have reached more Persons and Spirits among us, then we are well aware of. But then, let us more generally Agree to maintain a kind Opinion, one of another. That Charity ⟨image 15⟩without which, even our Giving our Bodies to be Burned, would Profit Nothing, uses to proceed by this Rule, It is kind, it is not easily provoked, it is thinks no Evil, it believes all things, hopes all things. But if we disregard this Rule, of Charity, we shall indeed give our Body Politic to be Burned. I have heard it affirmed, That in the Late Great Flood upon Connecticut, those Creatures which could not but have Quarrelled at another Time, yet now being driven together, very Agreeably stood by one another. I am sure we shall be worse than Brutish, if we fly upon one another, at a Time when the Floods of Belial make us afraid. On the one Side, [alas, my Pen, must thou write the word, Side, in the Business?] there are very worthy men, who having been called by God, when and where this Witchcraft, first Appeared upon the Stage, to Encounter it, are earnestly desirous to have it Sifted unto the Bottom of it. And, I pray, which of us all, that should live under the continual Impressions, of the Tortures, Outcries, and Havocs, which Devils confessedly Commissioned by Witches, make among their distressed Neighbours, would not have a Bias that way, beyond other men? Persons this way disposed, have been men eminent for Wisdom and Virtue, and men acted by a noble principle of Conscience: Had not Conscience of Duty to God, prevailed above other Considerations with them, they would not for all they are worth in the world, have meddled in this Thorny Business, Have there been any Disputed Methods used, in Discovering the Works of Darkness? It may be none, but what have had great Precedents in other parts of the world: which may, tho' not altogether Justify, yet much Alleviate a mistake in us, if there should happen to be found any such mistake, in so Dark a matter.
S 5. I would most importunately in the first place, entreat every man to maintain an Holy Jealousy over his own Soul, at this Time, and think, May not the Devil make me, tho' ignorantly, & unwillingly, to be an Instrument of doing something that he would have to be done? For my part I freely own my Suspicion, Lest something of Enchantment, have reach'd more Persons and Spirits among us, then we are well aware of. But then, let us more generally Agree to maintain a kind Opinion, one of another. That Charity