N00530:343
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.
V. To Distrust Gods Providence and Protection, is one of the worst Things, into which the Devil by hi• Temptations would be hurrying of us. He would fai•• have driven our Lord unto a Suspicion of Gods care about Him; sa•d the Devil, You may Die for Lack of Bread, if you do not Look better after your self, than God is like to do for you. It is an usual Thing for Persons to despair of Gods Fatherly Care Concerning them; they torture themselves with distracting and amazing Fears that they shall come to want before they die▪ Ye•, they even say with Jonah, in Chap. 2.4. I am cast out of the Sight of God; He won't look after me! Be i• i• the Devil that is the Author of all such Melancholy ⟨p. 17⟩Suggestions in the minds of men. It is a Thought that often raises a Fever in the Hearts of Married Persons, when Charges grow upon them; God will never be able in the way of my Calling, to feed and clothe all my Little Folks. It is a Thought with which Aged Persons are often tormented, Th• God has all my Days hitherto supplied me, yet I shall be pinched with Straits before I come to my Journeys end. 'Tis a malicious Devil that raises these Evil Surmisings in the Hearts of men. And sometimes a Distemper of Body affords a Lodging for the Devil, from whence he shoots the cruel Bombs of such Fiery Thoughts into the minds of many other persons. With such Thoughts does the Devil choose to persecute us; because thereby we come to Forfeit what we Question. We Question the Care of God, and so we Forfeit it, until perhaps the Devil do utterly Drown us in Perdition. Our God says, Trust in the Lord, and do good, and verily thou shalt be fed. But the Devil says, Don't you Trust in God; Be afraid that you shall not be fed; and thus he hinders men from the Doing of Good.
V. To Distrust Gods Providence and Protection, is one of the worst Things, into which the Devil by hi• Temptations would be hurrying of us. He would fai•• have driven our Lord unto a Suspicion of Gods care about Him; sad the Devil, You may Dy for Lack of Bread, if you do not Look better after your self, than God is like to do for you. It is an usual Thing for Persons to despai of Gods Fatherly Care Concerning them; they torture themselves with distracting and amazing Fears that they shall come to want efore they dy Ye, they e'vn say with Jonas, in Chap. 2.4. I am cast out of the Sight of God; He won't look after me! Be i i the Devil that is the Author of all such Melancholly