N00296:355
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.
Thine is the Kingdom, Thine is the Kingdom; which he repeated (as was judged) above an hundred times. Sometimes he was forced into extreme Laughter, sometimes into Singing, his hands were usually employed in beating his Breast. All of them who stood by, could discern unusual heavings in his Body. This Distemper did continue towards the morning of the next day, and then the voice within him signified to him that it would leave him, bidding him get upon his Knees ⟨p. 355⟩in order to that end, which he did, and then presently he had a perfect command of himself.
Thine is the Kingdome, Thine is the Kingdom; which he repeated (as was judged) above an hundred times. Sometimes he was forced into extream Laughter, sometimes into Singing, his hands were usually imployed in beating his Breast. All of them who stood by, could discern unusual heavings in his Body. This Distemper did continue towards the morning of the next day, and then the voice within him signified to him that it would leave him, bidding him get upon his Knees ⟨p. 355⟩in order to that end, which he did, and then presently he had a perfect command of himself.
When Dr. Templar came to him, he gave a sober account of all the passages of the day before, having a distinct remembrance of what the Spirit forced him to do, and what was spoken to him by those that stood by. In particular he told the Doctor that he was compelled to give him that disturbance in Prayer, before-mentioned; the Spirit using his Limbs and Tongue, as it pleased, contrary to the inclination of his own mind.
Upon the Thursday following, the Spirit began to rage after its former manner, as Dr. Templar was at Prayer with him, it was very discernible how it wrought upon his Body, forced him to grate his Teeth, and draw his Mouth awry. He told the Minister after he had done, that it bid him to denounce woe against him. It pleased God upon continuance in prayer with him, at last to release him of all his trouble, and so far to make it advantageous to him and to his Wife, and some others, which were too much biassed with the Principles of the Quakers, that now they have a perfect dislike of that way, and do diligently attend upon […] public Worship of God.