N00530:30
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.
They have done, what they have done, with multiplied Addresses to God, for his guidance, ⟨image ?⟩and have not been Insensible how much they ha•• exposed themselves in what they have done. Yea, the• would gladly contrive, and receive, an expedient, how ti• Shedding of Blood, might be spared, by the Recovery […] Witches, not gone beyond the reach of Pardon And after all, They invite all Good men, in Terms to this purpose, B••ing amazed, at the Number, and Quality of those Accused, […] Late, we do not know, but Satan, by his Wi••s, may ha•• Enwrapped some Innocent persons, and therefore should Earnestly and Humbly desire, the most Critical Enquiry upon th• place, to find out the Fallacy; that there may be non• of th• Servants of the Lord, with the Worshippers of Baal. may also add, That whereas, if once a Witch do ingenuously confess among us, no more Spectres do in thei• Shapes after this, Trouble the Vi•inage; if any Guilty Creatures will accordingly to so good purpose Confe•• their Crime to any Minister of God, and get out o• the Snare of the Devil, as no Minister will discover such a Conscientious Confession, so I believe none in the Authority▪ will press him to Discover it; but Rejoice in▪ A Soul saved from Death ▪ On the other Side [if I must again use the word, Side, which yet I hope, to Live, to blot out] there are very worthy men, who are not a Little Dissatisfied at the Proceedings in the Prosecution of this Witchcraft. And why? Not because they would have any such Abominable Thing Defended from the Strokes of Impartial Justice. No, those Reverend Persons who gave in this Advice unto the Honourable Council, That Presumptions, whereupon Persons may be Committed, and much more Convictions, whereupon Persons may be Condemned, as Guilty of Witchcrafts, ought certainly to be more Considerable, than barely the Accused Persons being represented by a Spre, unto the Afflicted; Nor are Alteration