N00530:351
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.
IV. The devil will make a deceitful and unfaithful use of the Scriptures to make his Temptations forcible. When •he Devil Solicited our Lord, unto an evil thing, he quoted the Ninety first Psalm unto him, tho' indeed he fallaciously clipped it, and maimed it, of one clause very material in […]. O never do's the Devil make such dangerous Passes at •s, as when he does wrest our own Sword out of our Hands, and push That upon us. We have to defend us, that Weapon in Eph. 6.16. The Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God; but when the Devil has that very Weapon to fight us with, he makes terrible work of it. When the Devil would poison men with false Doctrines, he'll quote Scriptures for them; a Quaker himself, will have the First Chapter of John always in his mouth. When the Devil would persuade men to vile Actions, he'll quote Scriptures for them; he'll encourage men to go on in Sin, by showing them, where 'tis said, The Lord is Ready to Pardon. I say this, The One Story of Davids Fall, in the Scripture, has been made by the Devil, an Engine for the Damnation of many millions. The Devil will fright men from doing those things, that are, The Things of their Peace; but How? He'll turn a Scripture into a Scare-•row for them. The Devil will fright them from all ⟨p. 24⟩constant Prayer to God, by quoting that Scripture, The Sacrifice of the Wicked, is an Abomination to the Lord; the Devil will fright them from the Holy Supper of God, by quoting that Scripture, He that Eats and Drinks unworthily, Eats and Drinks Damnation to himself. And thus the Devil will by some Abused Scripture, Terrify the Children of God; the Scripture is written, as we are told, For our Comfort; but it is quoted by the Devil, For our Terror. How many Godly Souls have been cast into sinful Doubts and Fears, by the Devils foolish glosses upon that Scripture, He that Doubts is Damned; and that, The Fearful shall have their portion in the Burning Lake: The Devil sometimes has played the Preacher, but I say, Be•are all silly Souls, when such a Fool is Preaching.
IV. The devil will make a deceitful and unfaithful use of the Scriptures to make his Temptations forceable. When he Devil Sollicited our Lord, unto an evil thing, he quoed the Ninety first Psalm unto him, tho' indeed he fallaciusly clip'd it, and maim'd it, of one clause very material in . O never do's the Devil make such dangerous Passes at s, as when he does wrest our own Sword out of our Hands, and push That upon us. We have to defend us, that Weapon in