N00531:26
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.
that the Devil may by Divine Permission appear in the shape of Innocent and Pious Persons. Nevertheless, it is evident from another Scripture, viz. that in, 2 Cor 11. 1•. For Satan himself is transformed into an Angel of Light. He seems to be what he is not, and makes others seem to be what they are not. He represents evil men as good, & good men as evil. The Angels of Heaven (who are the Angels of Light) love truth and Righteousness, the Devil will seem to do so to. And does therefore sometimes lay before men excellent good principles and exhort them (as he did Theodore maill•t) to practise many things, which by the Law of Righteousness they are obliged unto, and hereby he does more effectually deceive. Is it not strange, that he has sometimes intimated to his most devoted servants, that if they would have familiar Conversation with him, they must be careful to keep themselves from enormous Sins, and pray constantly for Divine Protection? But so has he transformed himself into an Angel of Light, as (p)Boissardus showeth. He has frequently appeared to men pretending to be a good Angel, so to Anatolius of old; and the late instances of (q)Dr Dee & Kellet are famously known. How many deluded Enthusiasts both in former and latter times have bin imposed on by ⟨p. 7⟩Satan's appearing visibly to them, pretending to be a good Angel. And moreover, he may be said to transform himself into an Angel of Light because of his appearing in the Form of Holy Men who are the Children of Light, yea in the Shape and Habit of Eminent Ministers of God. So did he appear to Mr Earl of Colchester in the Likeness of Mr Liddal an Holy man of God and to the Turkish Chaous Baptized at London Anno 1658 pretending to be Mr D•ry an excellent Minister of Christ. And how often has he pretended to be the Apostle Paul Or Peter or some other celebrated Saint? Ecclesiastical Histories abound with Instances of this nature. Yea, sometimes he has transfigured himself into the Form of Christ. It is reported that he appeared to (r)St Martin Gloriously arrayed as if he had been Christ. So likewise to