N00531:52
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.
I have in another Book given an account concerning Eliz. Knap, of Groton, who complained that a Woman as eminent for Piety, as any in that Town, did appear to her, and afflict her. But afterwards she was satisfied that that person never did her any harm, but that the Devil abused them both. About two years ago, a bewitched person in Chelmsford, in her Fits, complained that a worthy good man a near relation of hers, did afflict her. So did she likewise complain of another person in that Town, of known Integrity and Piety.
I have in another Book given an account concerning Eliz. Knap, of Groton, who complained that a Woman as eminent for Piety, as any in that Town, did appear to her, and afflict her. But afterwards she was satisfied that that person never did her any harm, but that the Devil abused them both. About two years ago, a bewitched person in Chelmsford, in her Fitts, complained that a worthy good man a near relation of hers, did afflict her. So did she likewise complain of another person in that Town, of known Integrity and Piety.
I have my self known several of whom I ought to think that they are now in Heaven, considering that they were of good Conversation, and reputed Pious by those that had the greatest Intimacy with them, of whom nevertheless, some complained that their Shapes appeared to them, and threatened them. Nor is this answered by saying, we do not know but those persons might be Witches. We are bound by the Rule of Charity to think otherwise. And they that censure any, merely because much a sad Affliction as their being falsely represented by Satan, has befallen them, do not do as they would be done by. I bless the Lord, it was never the portion allotted to me, nor to any Relation of mine to be thus abused. But no man knoweth what may happen to him, since There be just Men ⟨p. 34⟩unto whom it happeneth according to the work of the Wicked. Eccles. 8. 14. But what needs more to be said, since there is one amongst ourselves whom no man, that knows him, can think him to be a Wizard, whom yet some bewitched persons complained of, that they are in his Shape Tormented. And the Devils have of late, accused some Eminent Persons.