N00620:236
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.
But at his third appearing, he told the young man that they must change the day of their keeping the Sabbath, from the first day to the last day of the week, withal adding, that whereas there had been on Saturday two Suns seen in the Heavens, that was sent as a sign that Saturday should be kept as an Holy Day. The news of these Apparitions became public all •he Country over, and many ignorant people (notwithstanding they were Protestants) put great faith in them, especially as to that of the new Holy-day. But the Ministers charging their people to adhere to the infallible Word of God, and not to regard visions, in a while all vanished, and every one was satisfied, that this Shining Spirit was no other than a White Devil. The account of this matter was published by Lucas Jacobson Provost of the Churches in those Islands. Also R. B. has inserted •t in his Book, Entitled, The Kingdom of Darkness, p. • ▪11. &c. It is moreover certain▪ that Evil Angels may pretend a great kindness for those who are the faithful and eminent Servants of God, that so they may either draw them into the snares of temptation, or bring a blast o• their reputation. There was a Maid possessed with a Spirit, which would discover hidden things, and yet this Spirit did cry up the most Eminent Ministers in the World, as the true Servants of God. He said concerning Paul & Silas, These men are the Servants of the most •igh God, which show unto us the way of Salvation. Act. 16.17. some have thought, that Evil Spirits cannot exalt Christ. It is true, that the Blessed Name of Jesus is ⟨p. 42⟩hateful and dreadful to them. Nevertheless, to serve a design of their own, they will extol him. Some Authors write of those who having had familiar Spirits, would speak highly of Christ, whenas thereby they intended him whom they had devoted themselves unto, who (not without the highest Blasphemy) called himself Christ, and would be worshipped above all that is called God. We know from the sacred and infallible Oracle, that a man who was possessed with many unclean Spirits, when the Master-devil in him beheld Christ, he fell down before him, & said, Jesus thou Son of God most high, I beseech thee torment me not.