N00531:111
Cases of conscience concerning evil spirits personating men, witchcrafts, infallible proofs of guilt in…
Cases of conscience concerning evil spirits personating men, witchcrafts, infallible proofs of guilt in such as are accused with that crime. All considered according to the Scriptures, history, experience, and the judgment of many learned men. / By Increase Mather, president of Harvard College, at Cambridge, and teacher of a church at Boston in New-England. ; [Six lines of quotations]
Boston printed, : and sold by Benjamin Harris at the London Coffee-House., 1693
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.
Nor is there designed any Reflection on those Worthy Persons who have been concerned in the late Proceedings at Salem. They are wise and good men, and have acted with all Fidelity according to their Light, and have out of tenderness declined the doing of some things, which in their own Judgments they were satisfied about. Having ⟨image ?⟩therefore so arduous a case before them, Pi•ty and Prayers rather than Censures are their due. On which Account I am glad that there is Published to the World (by my Son) a […] of […] Trials of some who were lately Executed, whereby I hope the thinking part of mankind will be satisfied, that there was more than that which is called Spectre […] for the Conviction of the persons Con•••n•d. I was not my self present at any of the Trials, excepting one, viz that of George Burre•g•s; had I been one of his Judges, I could not have acquitted him. For several persons did upon Oath Testify, that they saw him do such things as no man that has not a Devil to be his Familiar could perform. And the Judges affirm that they have not Convicted any one merely on the account of what Spectres have said, or of what has been Represented to the Eyes or Imaginations of sick bewitched persons. If what is here exposed to public view, may be a means to prevent it for the future, I shall not repent of my Labour in this Undertaking. I have been prevailed with so far as I am able to discern the Truth in these dark cases, to declare my Sentiments, with the Arguments which are of weight with me, hoping that what is written may be of some use to discover the Depths of Satan; and to prevent innocent ones having their Lives Endangered, or their Reputations Ruined, by being through the subtlety and Power of the Devils, in consideration with the Ignorance and Weakness of men, involved amongst th• guilty. It becomes those of my profession to be very tender in cases of Blood, and to imitate our Lord and Ma••er, Who came not to destroy the Lives of men, but to save them.
Nor is there designed any Reflection on those Worthy Persons who have been concerned in the late Proceedings at Salem. They are wise and good men, and have acted with all Fidelity according to their Light, and have out of tenderness declined the doing of some things, which in their own Judgments they were satisfied about. Having