A70086:137
A further account of the trials of the New-England witches with the observations of…A further account of the tryals of the New-England witches with the observations of…
A further account of the trials of the New-England witches with the observations of a person who was upon the place several days when the suspected witches were first taken into examination : to which is added, Cases of conscience concerning witchcrafts and evil spirits personating men / written at the request of the ministers of New-England by Increase Mather ...A further account of the tryals of the New-England witches with the observations of a person who was upon the place several days when the suspected witches were first taken into examination : to which is added, Cases of conscience concerning witchcrafts and evil spirits personating men / written at the request of the ministers of New-England by Increase Mather ...
London: printed for J. Dunton, 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.
The CONTENTS.
THE first Case proposed, whether not may Satan appear in the Shape of an Innocent and Pious, as well as of a Nocent and Wicked Person, to afflict such as suffer by Diabolical Molestation? The Affirmative proved from six Arguments. 1. From several Scriptures. Pag. 1. 2. Because it is possible for the Devil in the Shape of Innocent Persons to do other Mischiefs, proved by many Instances. p. 6. 3. Because if Satan may not represent an Innocent Person as afflicting others, it must be either because he wants will or power to do this, or because God will never permit him so to do it; either of which may be affirmed. p. 8. 4. It is certain both from Scripture and History, that Magicians by their Enchantments and Hellish Conjurations may cause a false Representation of Persons and Things. p. 12. 5. From the concurring Judgment of many Learned and Judicious Men. p. 16. 6. Our own Experience has confirmed the Truth of what we affirm. p. 18. The Second Case considered, viz. if one bewitched be cast down with the look or cast of the Eye of another Person, and after that recovered again by a Touch from the same Person, is not this an infallible Proof that the party accused and complained of is in Covenant with the Devil? p. 23. Answ. This may be Ground of Suspicion and Examination, but not of Conviction. p. 24. The Judgment of Mr. Bernard and of Dr. Cotta produced. p. 25, 27. ⟨image 29⟩Several things offered against the Infallibility of this Proof. 1. 'Tis possible that the persons in question may be possessed with Evil Spirits. Signs of such. Pag. 22. 2. Falling down with the cast of the Eye proceeds not from a natural but an arbitrary Cause. p. 23. 3. That of the bewitched Persons being recovered with a Touch is various and fallible. p. 24. 4. There are that question the Lawfulness of the Experiment. p. 25. 5. The Testimony of bewitched or possessed Persons is no Evidence as to what they see concerning others, and therefore not as to themselves. p. 27. 6. Bewitched Persons have sometimes been struck down with the Look of Dogs, ibid. 7. If this were an infallible proof, there would be difficulty in discovering Witches. 8. Nothing can be produced out of the Word of God to show, that this is any proof of Witchcraft, p. 28. 9. Antipathies in nature have strange and unaccountable effects.