N00531:99
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.
2If two credible Persons shall affirm upon Oath that they have […] the Party accused speaking such words, or doing things which none but such as have Familiarity ⟨p. 66⟩with the Devil ever did or can do, that's a sufficient Ground for Conviction.
2If two credible Persons shall affirm upon Oath that they have 〈…〉 the Party accused speaking such words, or doing things which none but such as have Familiarity ⟨p. 66⟩with the Devil ever did or can do, that's a sufficien• Ground for Conviction.
Some are ready to say, that Wizards are not so unwise as to do such things in the Sight or Hearing of others. But it is certain that they have very often been known to do so. How often have they been seen by others using Enchantments? Conjuring to raise Storms? And have been heard calling upon their Familiar Spirits? And have been known to use Spells and Charms? And to show in a Glass or in a Show-stone persons absent? And to reveal Secrets which could not be discovered but by the Devil? And have not men been seen to do things which are above humane strength that no man living could do, without Diabolical Assistances? C•audi• was seen by witnesses enough, to draw a Ship which no humane strength could move. Tuccia a Vestal Virgin was seen to carry water in a Sieve. The Devil never assists men to do supernatural things undesired. When therefore such like things shall be Testified against the accused party not by Spectres which are Devils in the Shape of persons either living or dead, but by real men or women who may be credited, it is proof enough that such an one has that Conversation and Correspondence with the Devil as that he or she, whoever they be, ought to be exterminated from amongst men. This notwithstanding, I will add; It were better that Ten Suspected itches should escape, than that one Innocent Person should be Condemned. That is an old saying and true, Prestat reum nontem absolvi,