N00530:25
The wonders of the invisible world. Observations as well historical as theological, upon the…
The wonders of the invisible world. Observations as well historical as theological, upon the nature, the number, and the operations of the devils. : Accompanied with, I. Some accounts of the grievous molestations, by daemons and witchcrafts, which have lately annoyed the country; and the trials of some eminent malefactors executed upon occasion thereof: with several remarkable curiosities therein occurring. II. Some councils, directing a due improvement of the terrible things, lately done, by the unusual & amazing range of evil spirits, in our neighbourhood: & the methods to prevent the wrongs which those evil angels may intend against all sorts of people among us; especially in accusations of the innocent. III. Some conjectures upon the great events, likely to befall, the world in general, and New-England in particular; as also upon the advances of the time, when we shall see better days. IV. A short narrative of a late outrage committed by a knot of witches in Swedeland, very much resembling, and so far explaining, that under which our parts of America have laboured! V. The Devil discovered: in a brief discourse upon those temptations, which are the more ordinary devices of the Wicked One. / By Cotton Mather.The wonders of the invisible world. Observations as well historical as theological, upon the nature, the number, and the operations of the devils. : Accompany'd with, I. Some accounts of the grievous molestations, by daemons and witchcrafts, which have lately annoy'd the countrey; and the trials of some eminent malefactors executed upon occasion thereof: with several remarkable curiosities therein occurring. II. Some councils, directing a due improvement of the terrible things, lately done, by the unusual & amazing range of evil spirits, in our neighbourhood: & the methods to prevent the wrongs which those evil angels may intend against all sorts of people among us; especially in accusations of the innocent. III. Some conjectures upon the great events, likely to befall, the world in general, and New-England in particular; as also upon the advances of the time, when we shall see better dayes. IV. A short narrative of a late outrage committed by a knot of witches in Swedeland, very much resembling, and so far explaining, that under which our parts of America have laboured! V. The Devil discovered: in a brief discourse upon those temptations, which are the more ordinary devices of the Wicked One. / By Cotton Mather.
Boston : printed, and sold by Benjamin Harris, 1693 i.e., 1692
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.
Quaere, also, Whether at a Time, when the Devils with his Witches are engaged in an actual War upon a people, some certain steps of ours, in such a War, may not be followed with our appearing so and so for a while among them in the Visions of our afflicted Forlorns! And, Who can certainly say, what other Degrees, & Methods of sinning, besides that of a Diabolical Compact, may give the Devils advantage, to act in the Shape of them that have miscarried? Besides what may happen for a while, to try the Patience of the Virtuous. May not some that have been ready upon feeble grounds uncharitably to Censure and Reproach other people, be punished for it by Spectres for a while exposing them to Censure and Reproach? And furthermore, I pray, that it may be considered, Whether a World of Magical Tricks often used in the World, may not insensibly oblige Devils to wait upon the Superstitious Users of them. A Witty Writer against Sadducism, has this Observation, That persons, who never made any Express Contract with Apostate Spirits, yet may Act strange Things by Diabolic Aids, which they procure by the use of those wicked Forms and Arts, that the Devil first Imparted unto his Confederates. And he adds, We know not, but the Laws of the Dark Kingdom, may Enjoin a particular Attendance upon all those that practise their Mysteries, whether they know them to be theirs or no. Some of them that have been Cried out upon, as Employing ⟨image ?⟩Evil Spirits to Hurt our Land, have been known to be most bloody Fortune-Tellers; and some of them have Confessed, That when they told Fortunes, they would pretend the Rules of Chiromancy and the like Ignorant Sciences, but indeed, they had no Rule (they said) but this, The Things were then Darted into their Minds. Darted! Ye Wretches; By whom, I pray. Surely, by none but the Devils; who, tho' perhaps they did not exactly Foreknow all the thus Predicted Contingencies; yet having once Foretold them, they stood bound in Honour now, to use their Interest, which alas, in This World, is very great, for the Accomplishment of their own Predictions. There are others, that have used most wicked Sorceri•s to gratify their unlawful Curiosities, or to prevent Inconveniences in Man and Beast; Sorceries; which I will not Name, lest I should by Naming, Teach them.
Quaere, also, Whether at a Time, when the Devils with his Witches are engag'd in an actual War upon a people, some certain steps of ours, in such a War, may not be follow'd with our appearing so and so for a while among them in the Visions of our afflicted Forlorns! And, Who can certainly say, what other Degrees, & Methods of sinning, besides that of a Diabolical Compact, may give the Devils advantage, to act in the Shape of them that have miscarried? Besides what may happen for a while, to try the Patience of the Virtuous. May not some that have been rady upon feeble grounds uncharitably to Censure and Reproach other people, be punished for it by Spectres for a while exposing them to Censure and Reproach? And furthermore, I pray, that it may be considered, Whether a World of Magical Tricks often used in the World, may not insensibly oblige Devils to wait upon the Superstitious Users of them. A Witty Writer against Sadducism, has this Observation, That persons, who never made any Express Contract with Apostate Spirits, yet may Act strange Things by Diabolick Aids, which they procure by the use of those wicked Forms and Arts, that the Devil first Imparted unto his Confederates. And he adds, We know not, but the Laws of the Dark Kingdom, may Enjoyn a particular Attendence upon all those that practise their Mysteries, whether they know them to be theirs or no. Some of them that have been Cry'd out upon, as Employing