N00620:237
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.
5▪ In case they predict some future events, which happen to come to pass accordingly, we may not from that sole consideration conclude them to be good Angels. Deut. 13.1, 2, 3. Cicero in his Book of divination, relates that the Oracle of Apollo predicted that Cypsalus the Tyrant should reign at Corinth hundreds of years before it came to pass. An Augur when Rome was in building, from the flying of Twelve Vultars, presaged the continuance of that City would be 1200. years, which some learned men suppose was accomplished A. D▪ 455. When Gensericus burnt the City of Room 1200. years after it was first built. What shall we think of Thomas Lermouth the famous Scotch Wizard, who predicted Bruce his succession to the Crown, and the union of the two Kingdoms of England & Scotland in the ninth degree of the Bruce's blood? Daemon• have seldom (though sometimes) ventured to foretell events remotely distant: but very often they have predicted things near at hand, which they might easily do […] a greater insight into the immediate causes of ⟨p. 43⟩things then men have. It was no difficult thing for the Daemon that appeared in the likeness of Samuel to Prophesy the ruin of Sauls Family. All these things considered it is evident that when an Angel appears, the best Saint on earth may easily be mistaken as to some circumstances attending that Apparition. We see this in the Apostle John who thought the Angel that came to him, had bin the Lord himself, otherwise he would not have fallen down at his feet to have worshipped him, for which his Error that Holy Angel reproved him, Rev. 22.8, 9. Of which see Mr. Phillipot in his new System of the Revelation. p. 281. &c.