N00296:285
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.
3. It is also true that Music is of great efficacy against Melancholy discomposures. This notwithstanding, there is no reason to conclude with Mendozo, Bodin, and others, that Music is so hateful to the Devil, as that ⟨p. 264⟩he is necessitated to depart when the pleasant sound is made. If that were so, how comes it to pass that appearing Daemons do sometimes depart with a melodious sound? or that in the Conventicles of Witches there is Music heard? But La Torr has notably confuted such Imaginations. Indeed the sweetness and delightfulness of Music has a natural power to lenify Melancholy passions. They say that Pythagoras by Music restored a Frantic Man to his Wits again. Thus was Saul's pensive Spirit refreshed by David's pleasant Harp, and when he was refreshed and well, the Evil Spirit which took advantage of his former pensiveness, upon his alacrity departed from him. So that it remains still a truth, that corporeal things have no direct Physical influence upon Infernal Spirits, and that therefore for men to think that they shall drive away Daemons by any such means is folly and Superstition. I shall add no more in Answer to the first Quaere proposed.
3. It is also true that Musick is of great effi•a•y against Melancholly discomposures. This notwithstanding, there is no reason to conclude with Mendozo, Bodin, and others, that M•sick is so hateful to the Devil, as that ⟨p. 264⟩he is necessitated to depart when the pleasant sound is made. If that were so, how comes it to pass that appearing Daemons do sometimes depart with a melodious sound? or that in the Conventicles of Witches there is Musick heard? But La Torr has notably confuted such Imaginations. Indeed the sweetness and delightfulness of Musick has a natural power to lenifie Melancholly passions. They say that Pythagoras by Musick restored a Frantick Man to his Wits again. Thus was Saul's pensive Spirit refreshed by David's pleasant Harp, and when he was refreshed and well, the Evil Spirit which took advantage of his former pensiveness, upon his alacrity departed from him. So that it remains still a truth, that corporeal things have no direct Physical influence upon Infernal Spirits, and that therefore for men to think that they shall drive away Daemons by any such means is folly and Superstition. I shall add no more in Answer to the first Quaere proposed.