N00296:288
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.
For 1. They that obtain Health in this way have it from the Devil. The Witch cannot recover them, but by the Devils help. Hence as it is unlawful to entreat Witches to ⟨p. 266⟩heal bewitched persons, because they cannot do this, but by Satan, so is it very sinful by scratching, or burnings, or detention of ••in, &c. to endeavour to constrain them to unbewitch any; for this is to put them upon seeking to the Devil. The Witch does neither inflict not remove the disease, but by the assistance of the Devil; therefore either to desire or force thereunto, is to make use of the Devils help. The person this recovered cannot say, The Lord was my Healer, but the Devil was my Healer. Certainly it were better for a Man to remain sick all his days, yea? (as Chrysostom speaks) he had better die than go to the Devil for health.
For 1. They that obtain Health in this way have it from the Devil. The Witch cannot recover them, but by the Devils help. Hence as it is unlawful to entreat Witches to ⟨p. 266⟩heal bewitched persons, because they cannot do this, but by Satan, so is it very sinful by scratching, or burnings, or detention of ••in, &c. to endeavour to constrain them to unbewitch any; for this is to put them upon seeking to the Devil. The Witch does neither inflict not remove the disease, but by the assistance of the Devil; therefore either to desire or force thereunto, is to make use of the Devils help. The person this recovered cannot say, The Lord was my Healer, but the Devil was my Healer. Certainly it were better for a Man to remain sick all his dayes, ye? (as Chrys•stom speaks) he had better die than go to the Devil for health.
Hence 2. Men and Women have by such practices as these mentioned, black commerce and communion with the Devil. They do (though ignorantly) concern and involve themselves in that Covenant which the Devil has made with his devoted and accursed Vassals. For, whereas it is pleaded, that if the thing bewitched be thrown into the fire, or the Urine of the sick stopped in a Bottle, or an Horse-shoe nailed before the door, then by virtue of the compact which is between the Devil and his Witches, their power of doing more hurt ceaseth; they that shall for such an end so practise, have fellowship with