N00620:207
Angelographia, or A discourse concerning the nature and power of the holy angels, and…
Angelographia, or A discourse concerning the nature and power of the holy angels, and the great benefit which the true fearers of God receive by their ministry: delivered in several sermons: : to which is added, a sermon concerning the sin and misery of the fallen angels: also, a disquisition concerning angelical-apparitions. / By Increase Mather, president of Harvard College, in Cambridge, and preacher of the Gospel at Boston, in New-England. ; [Two lines from Hebrews]Angelographia, or A discourse concerning the nature and power of the holy angels, and the great benefit which the true fearers of God receive by their ministry: delivered in several sermons: : to which is added, a sermon concerning the sin and misery of the fallen angels: also, a disquisition concerning angelical-apparitions. / By Increase Mather, praesident of Harvard Colledge, in Cambridge, and preacher of the Gospel at Boston, in New-England. ; [Two lines from Hebrews]
printed by B. Green & J. Allen for Samuel Phillips, 1696
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.
If the Apparitions are frequent, and the Spirits that come▪ use familiar converse, it is much to be feared, that they are not from Heaven, but from Hell. For if we search the Scriptures, we shall find, that when Holy Angels appeared, they soon delivered the Message which they were sent about, and then disappeared, and came no more. The same Angel seldom came more than two or three times (most commonly but once) to the same person. Twice did the Angel appear to Manoah's Wife, but the Angel of the Lord did no more appear to Manoah, and to his Wife. Judg. 13.21. When therefore Angels shall be daily Visitants▪ and continue so to be from one week, and from one month to another, the persons concerned have just cause to suspect, that they are imposed on by deceitful Daemons, pretending to be Angels of ⟨p. 16⟩light. Where is there an instance in all the Bible of a good Angel that became a Familiar to any man or woman? Again, if what the Spirits reveal, does admit of a double & doubtful interpretation, it is a sign, that they are Spirits of the same nature with those that spoke in the Oracle at Delphos of old This amongst other things gave just ground to suspect, that the pious young Woman Christina Poniatovia (of whom we shall have Occasion to speak more afterwards) was deluded by Satan, when she thought her self favoured with Angelical and Divine Revelations. The Spirit told her, that King F. should be exalted, and F. be made low. But he would not tell, who was meant by F. whether King Frederic or Ferdinand. What was this better then, Ajo te Aeacidae Romanos vincere posse? or then, Ibis, redibis, nunquam, per bella peribis. Good Angels do not hide themselves in the dark under ambiguities, but declare their messages clearly. If therefore the Spirits that appear under the notion of Angels from Heaven, shall leave those that desire a Resolution of their doubts from them, just as wise as they found them, it is much to be doubted that they are deceiving Spirits. Again, Ecstasies attended with abreptions of mind, give just cause to suspect the Apparitions and Revelations. The followers of Montanus, pretended to prophesy, but when the spirit of Prophesy came upon ehem they would be in Ecstasies. Now both Jerome and Chrysostom mention that as a sign of their being no Prophets divinely inspired.