N00296:155
An essay for the recording of illustrious providences
An essay for the recording of illustrious providences: wherein, an account is given of many remarkable and very memorable events, which have happened in this last age; especially in New-England. / By Increase Mather, teacher of a church at Boston in New-England. ; [Six lines of Scripture texts]
Boston: printed by Samuel Green, 1684
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.
Inasmuch as things which are preternatural, and not accomplished without diabolical operation, do more rarely happen, it is pity but that they should be observed. Several Accidents of that kind have happened in New-England; which I shall here faithfully Relate so far as I have been able to come unto the knowledge of them.
INasmuch as things which are praeternatural, and not accomplished without diabolical operation, do more rarely happen, it is pity but that they should be observed. Several Accidents of that kind have hapned in New-England; which I shall here faithfully Relate so far as I have been able to come unto the knowledge of them.
Very Remarkable was that Providence wherein Ann Cole of Hartford in New-England was concerned. She was, and is accounted a person of real Piety and Integrity, ⟨p. 136⟩Nevertheless, in the Year 1662. then living in her Fathers House (who has likewise been esteemed a godly Man) She was taken with very strange Fits, wherein her Tongue was improved by a Daemon to express things which she her self knew nothing of. Sometimes the Discourse would hold for a considerable time. The general purpose of which was, that such and such persons (who were named in the Discourse which passed from her) were consulting how they might carry on mischievous designs against her and several others, mentioning sundry ways they should take for that end, particularly that they would afflict her Body, spoil her Name, &c. The general answer made amongst the Daemons, was, She runs to the Rock. This having been continued some hours, the Daemons said, Let us confound her Language, that she may tell no more tales. She uttered matters unintelligible. And then the Discourse passed into a Dutch-tone (a Dutch Family then lived in the Town) and therein an account was given of some afflictions that had befallen divers; amongst others, what had befallen a Woman that lived next Neighbour to the Dutch Family, whose Arms had been strangely pinched in the night, declaring by whom, and for what cause that course had been taken ⟨p. 137⟩