N00296:352
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.
When he had delivered his Message, that which spake within him to denounce wrath against them, and declare that Fire and Brimstone would fall upon them, as it did upon Sodom and Gomorrah, if they did not obey; and so he returned to his own house. Where upon the Floor of a low room, he stood about three or four hours. All that while he was acted in a very unusual manner, sometimes the Spirit within forced him to Sing, sometimes to Bark like a Dog. When his Brother and Sister who followed him were very importunate with him to resist it, it bid him to kill them, making use of these words, These my Enemies which would not that I should Reign over them, bring them and slay them before my face. It made him to utter with great readiness; many places of Scripture, which he had no knowledge of before. The drift of what was spoken, was to persuade him to comply with the Quakers, and it named some which lived in the Neighbouring Towns. About three or four hours being thus spent, he came to himself, and was able to give a perfect account of what had befallen him.
When he had delivered his Message, that which spake within him to denounce wrath against them, and declare that Fire and Brimstone would fall upon them, as it did upon Sodom and Gomorrah, if they did not obey; and so he returned to his own house. Where upon the Floor of a low room, he stoodabout three or four hours. All that while he was acted in a very unusual manner, sometimes the Spirit within forced him to Sing, sometimes to Bark like a Dog. When his Brother and Sister who followed him were very importunate with him to resist it, it bid him to kill them, making use of these words, These my Enemies which would not that I should Reign over them, bring them and slay them before my face. It made him to utter with great readiness; many places of Scripture, which he had no knowledge of before. The drift of what was spoken, was to perswade him to comply with the Quakers, and it named some which lived in the Neighbouring Towns. About three or four hours being thus spent, he came to himself, and was able to give a perfect account of what had befallen him.
Several nights after, the same trouble returned upon him. His Wife was tortured with extraordinary pains; the Children ⟨p. 351⟩