N00296:240
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.
Remigius (and from him others) write of a young Man whose Name was Theodore Maillot, unto whom a Daemon appearing, advised him to reform his life, to abstain from Drunkenness, Thefts, Uncleanness, and the like evils; and to Fast twice a Week, to be constant in attendance upon public worship, and to be very charitable to the Poor.
Remigius (and from him others) write of a young Man whose Name was Theodore Maillot, unto whom a Daemon appearing, advised him to reform his life, to abstain from Drunkenness, Therts, Uncleanness, and the like evils; and to Fast twice a Week, to be constant in attendance upon publick worship, and to be very charitable to the Poor.
The like pious Advice did another Daemon follow a certain Woman with, unto whom he ⟨p. 210⟩appeared. Could a good Angel have given better Counsel? but this was Satan's policy, hoping that thereby he should have gained an advantage to take silly Souls alive in his cruel Snare. Like as Thieves upon the Road will sometimes enter into Religious Discourse, that so their fellow-Travellers may have good thoughts of them, and be the more easily despoiled by them. And as the evil Spirit will speak good Words, so doth he sometimes appear in the likeness of good Men, to the end that he may the more effectually deceive and delude all such as shall be so unhappy as to entertain converses with him. No doubt but that he knows how to transform himself into the shape of not only an ordinary Saint, but of an Apostle, or holy Prophet of God, 2 Cor.11.13,14. This we may gather from the sacred History of dead Samuel's appearing to Saul. Some are of Opinion that real Samuel spake to Saul, his Soul being by Magical incantations returned into his Body, so divers of the Fathers and School-men; also Mendoza, Delrio, and other Popish Authors. Of late M. Glanvil and Dr. Windet, do in part favour that notion. But Tertullian, and the Author of the Quest. and Respons. which pass under the Name of Justin Martyr are of the judgement, that a lying Daemon appeared