N00530:354
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.
VI. Presumptuous and Unwarrantable Trials of the Blessed God, are some of those things whereinto the Devil would fain hook us with his Temptations. This ⟨p. 26⟩was that which the Devil would have brought our Lord unto, even, A Tempting of the Lord our God. It is the charge of our God upon us, in Deut. 6.16. Thou shalt not Tempt the Lord thy God. But that which the Devil Tries, is, to put us upon Trying in a sinful way, whether God be such a God as indeed He is. 'Tis true, as to the Ways of Obedience, our God says unto us, Prove me, in th•se ways; Try, Whether I won't be as Good as my Word. But then, there are ways of Presumption, wherein the Devil would have us to Try, what a God it is, With whom we have to do. The Devil would have us to Try the Purpose of God, about our selves or others; but how? By going to the Devil himself; by Consulting Astrologers, or Fortune-tellers, or perhaps, by letting the Bible fall open, to see what is the first Sentence we light upon. The Devil would have […] Try the Mercy of God; But how? By •unning into Dangers, which we have no call unto. He would have us Try the Power of God; But how? By Looking for Good Things, without the use of Means for the getting of them. He would have us Try the Justi•e of God; but how? By venturing upon Sin, in a Corner, with an Imagination that God will never bring us out. He would have us Try the Promise of God; but how? By Limiting the Lord, unto such or such a way of Manifesting Himself, or else believing of nothing at all. He would have us Try the Threatening of God; but how? By going on Impenitently in those things, for which the Wrath of God comes upon the Children of Disobedience. Thus would the Devil have us, to affront the Majesty of Heaven every day.
VI. Presumptuous and Unwarrantable Trials of the Blessed God, are some of those things whereinto the Devil would fain hook us with his Temptations. This ⟨p. 26⟩was that which the Devil would have brought our Lord unto, even, A Tempting of the Lord our God. It is the charge of our God upon us, in