N00530:82
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
A Discourse: ON The Wonders of the Invisible World. › Proposition 5: Proposition V.
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.
But we must now, likewise, Apprehend, that in such a time, The Woes of the world, will be heightened, beyond what they were at any Time yet from the foundation of the world. Hence 'tis, that the Apostle has forewarned us, in 2. Tim. 3.1. this know, that in the last days, perilous times shall come. Truly, when the Devil knows, that he is got into his Last days, he will make Perilous Times for us; the times will grow more full of Devils, and therefore more full of Perils, than ever they were before. Of this if we ⟨p. 24⟩would Know, what cause is to be assigned; It is no• only, because the Devil grows more Able and mor• Eager to Vex the world; but also, and chiefly, Because the world is more worthy to be Vexed by th• Devil, than ever heretofore. The Sins of men in thi• Generation, will be more mighty Sins, than those of the Former Ages; men will be more Accurate & Exquisite, & Refined in the Arts of Sinning, than they […] be. And besides, their own sins, the sins of all the Forme• Ages will also lie upon the sinners of this generation Do we ask why the mischievous powers of darkness are to prevail more in our days, than they did in those that are past & gone! Tis because that men by sinning over again the sins of the Former days, have a Fellowship with all those unfruitful works of darkness. As 'twas said in Math. 23.36. All these things shall come upon this generation; so, the men of the Last generation, will find themselves involved in the guilt of all that went before them. Of Sinners tis said, They Heap up Wrath; and the sinners of the Last generations do not only add unto the Heap of sin that has been pil•ing up, ever since the Fall of man, but they Interest themselves in every sin of that enormous Heap. There has been a Cry of sin in all Former Ages going up to God, That the Devil may come down! and the sinners of the Last generations, do sharpen and louden that cry, till the thing do come to pass, as Destructively as I• remediably. From whence it follows, that the Thrice Holy God, with His Holy Angels, will now after a sort more Abandon the World, than in the former Ages. The Roaring Impieties of the Old World,