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diff --git a/28513-8.txt b/28513-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..75a78ed --- /dev/null +++ b/28513-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,8569 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Wonders of the Invisible World, by +Cotton Mather and Increase Mather + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Wonders of the Invisible World + Being an Account of the Tryals of Several Witches Lately + Executed in New-England, to which is added A Farther Account + of the Tryals of the New-England Witches + +Author: Cotton Mather + Increase Mather + +Release Date: April 6, 2009 [EBook #28513] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE WONDERS OF THE INVISIBLE WORLD *** + + + + +Produced by Julie Barkley, S.D., and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + +------------------------------------------------------------------------ + +Transcriber's Note: Italicized text is indicated with _underscores_. +Upright text used within italicized passages for emphasis is indicated +with +plus signs+. Blackletter text in the original is shown here within +\back slashes\. Greek has been transliterated and is shown as #word#. + +Inconsistent or archaic spelling, punctuation, and capitalization have +been retained as printed. The spacing of chapters and sections matches +that of the physical book, and no attempt has been made to match the +Table of Contents. A few obvious misprints, such as missing letters or +spaces, have been corrected. They are listed at the end of this +document, along with more detailed notes about this transcription. + +------------------------------------------------------------------------ + + + + + Library of Old Authors. + + + + + [Illustration: Cotton Mather.] + + + + + THE WONDERS OF THE + INVISIBLE WORLD. + + BEING AN ACCOUNT OF THE TRYALS OF SEVERAL + WITCHES LATELY EXECUTED IN + NEW-ENGLAND. + + BY COTTON MATHER, D.D. + + + TO WHICH IS ADDED + + A FARTHER ACCOUNT OF THE TRYALS OF THE + NEW-ENGLAND WITCHES. + + BY INCREASE MATHER, D.D. + PRESIDENT OF HARVARD COLLEGE. + + + LONDON: + JOHN RUSSELL SMITH, + SOHO SQUARE. + 1862. + + + + +INTRODUCTION. + + +The two very rare works reprinted in the present volume, written by two +of the most celebrated of the early American divines, relate to one of +the most extraordinary cases of popular delusion that modern times have +witnessed. It was a delusion, moreover, to which men of learning and +piety lent themselves, and thus became the means of increasing it. The +scene of this affair was the puritanical colony of New England, since +better known as Massachusetts, the colonists of which appear to have +carried with them, in an exaggerated form, the superstitious feelings +with regard to witchcraft which then prevailed in the mother country. In +the spring of 1692 an alarm of witchcraft was raised in the family of +the minister of Salem, and some black servants were charged with the +supposed crime. Once started, the alarm spread rapidly, and in a very +short time a great number of people fell under suspicion, and many were +thrown into prison on very frivolous grounds, supported, as such charges +usually were, by very unworthy witnesses. The new governor of the +colony, Sir William Phipps, arrived from England in the middle of May, +and he seems to have been carried away by the excitement, and authorized +judicial prosecutions. The trials began at the commencement of June; and +the first victim, a woman named Bridget Bishop, was hanged. Governor +Phipps, embarrassed by this extraordinary state of things, called in the +assistance of the clergy of Boston. + +There was at this time in Boston a distinguished family of puritanical +ministers of the name of Mather. Richard Mather, an English +non-conformist divine, had emigrated to America in 1636, and settled at +Dorchester, where, in 1639, he had a son born, who was named, in +accordance with the peculiar nomenclature of the puritans, Increase +Mather. This son distinguished himself much by his acquirements as a +scholar and a theologian, became established as a minister in Boston, +and in 1685 was elected president of Harvard College. His son, born at +Boston in 1663, and called from the name of his mother's family, Cotton +Mather, became more remarkable than his father for his scholarship, +gained also a distinguished position in Harvard College, and was also, +at the time of which we are speaking, a minister of the gospel in +Boston. Cotton Mather had adopted all the most extreme notions of the +puritanical party with regard to witchcraft, and he had recently had an +opportunity of displaying them. In the summer of the year 1688, the +children of a mason of Boston named John Goodwin were suddenly seized +with fits and strange afflictions, which were at once ascribed to +witchcraft, and an Irish washerwoman named Glover, employed by the +family, was suspected of being the witch. Cotton Mather was called in +to witness the sufferings of Goodwin's children; and he took home with +him one of them, a little girl, who had first displayed these symptoms, +in order to examine her with more care. The result was, that the Irish +woman was brought to a trial, found guilty, and hanged; and Cotton +Mather published next year an account of the case, under the title of +"Late Memorable Providences, relating to Witchcraft and Possession," +which displays a very extraordinary amount of credulity, and an equally +great want of anything like sound judgment. This work, no doubt, spread +the alarm of witchcraft through the whole colony, and had some influence +on the events which followed. It may be supposed that the panic which +had now arisen in Salem was not likely to be appeased by the +interference of Cotton Mather and his father. + +The execution of the washerwoman, Bridget Bishop, had greatly increased +the excitement; and people in a more respectable position began to be +accused. On the 19th of July five more persons were executed, and five +more experienced the same fate on the 19th of August. Among the latter +was Mr. George Borroughs, a minister of the gospel, whose principal +crime appears to have been a disbelief in witchcraft itself. His fate +excited considerable sympathy, which, however, was checked by Cotton +Mather, who was present at the place of execution on horseback, and +addressed the crowd, assuring them that Borroughs was an impostor. Many +people, however, had now become alarmed at the proceedings of the +prosecutors, and among those executed with Borroughs was a man named +John Willard, who had been employed to arrest the persons charged by +the accusers, and who had been accused himself, because, from +conscientious motives, he refused to arrest any more. He attempted to +save himself by flight; but he was pursued and overtaken. Eight more of +the unfortunate victims of this delusion were hanged on the 22nd of +September, making in all nineteen who had thus suffered, besides one +who, in accordance with the old criminal law practice, had been pressed +to death for refusing to plead. The excitement had indeed risen to such +a pitch that two dogs accused of witchcraft were put to death. + +A certain degree of reaction, however, appeared to be taking place, and +the magistrates who had conducted the proceedings began to be alarmed, +and to have some doubts of the wisdom of their proceedings. Cotton +Mather was called upon by the governor to employ his pen in justifying +what had been done; and the result was, the book which stands first in +the present volume, "The Wonders of the Invisible World;" in which the +author gives an account of seven of the trials at Salem, compares the +doings of the witches in New England with those in other parts of the +world, and adds an elaborate dissertation on witchcraft in general. This +book was published at Boston, Massachusetts, in the month of October, +1692. Other circumstances, however, contributed to throw discredit on +the proceedings of the court, though the witch mania was at the same +time spreading throughout the whole colony. In this same month of +October, the wife of Mr. Hale, minister of Beverley, was accused, +although no person of sense and respectability had the slightest doubt +of her innocence; and her husband had been a zealous promoter of the +prosecutions. This accusation brought a new light on the mind of Mr. +Hale, who became convinced of the injustice in which he had been made an +accomplice; but the other ministers who took the lead in the proceedings +were less willing to believe in their own error; and equally convinced +of the innocence of Mrs. Hale, they raised a question of conscience, +whether the devil could not assume the shape of an innocent and pious +person, as well as of a wicked person, for the purpose of afflicting his +victims. The assistance of Increase Mather, the president or principal +of Harvard College, was now called in, and he published the book which +is also reprinted in the present volume: "A Further Account of the +Tryals of the New England Witches.... To which is added Cases of +Conscience concerning Witchcrafts and Evil Spirits personating Men." It +will be seen that the greater part of the "Cases of Conscience" is given +to the discussion of the question just alluded to, which Increase Mather +unhesitatingly decides in the affirmative. The scene of agitation was +now removed from Salem to Andover, where a great number of persons were +accused of witchcraft and thrown into prison, until a justice of the +peace named Bradstreet, to whom the accusers applied for warrants, +refused to grant any more. Hereupon they cried out upon Bradstreet, and +declared that he had killed nine persons by means of witchcraft; and he +was so much alarmed that he fled from the place. The accusers aimed at +people in higher positions in society, until at last they had the +audacity to cry out upon the lady of governor Phipps himself, and thus +lost whatever countenance he had given to their proceedings out of +respect to the two Mathers. Other people of character, when they were +attacked by the accusers, took energetic measures in self-defence. A +gentleman of Boston, when "cried out upon," obtained a writ of arrest +against his accusers on a charge of defamation, and laid the damages at +a thousand pounds. The accusers themselves now took fright, and many who +had made confessions retracted them, while the accusations themselves +fell into discredit. When governor Phipps was recalled in April, 1693, +and left for England, the witchcraft agitation had nearly subsided, and +people in general had become convinced of their error and lamented it. + +But Cotton Mather and his father persisted obstinately in the opinions +they had published, and looked upon the reactionary feeling as a triumph +of Satan and his kingdom. In the course of the year they had an +opportunity of reasserting their belief in the doings of the witches of +Salem. A girl of Boston, named Margaret Rule, was seized with +convulsions, in the course of which she pretended to see the "shapes" or +spectres of people exactly as they were alleged to have been seen by the +witch-accusers at Salem and Andover. This occurred on the 10th of +September, 1693; and she was immediately visited by Cotton Mather, who +examined her, and declared his conviction of the truth of her +statements. Had it depended only upon him, a new and no doubt equally +bitter persecution of witches would have been raised in Boston; but an +influential merchant of that town, named Robert Calef, took the matter +up in a different spirit, and also examined Margaret Rule, and satisfied +himself that the whole was a delusion or imposture. Calef wrote a +rational account of the events of these two years, 1692 and 1693, +exposing the delusion, and controverting the opinions of the two Mathers +on the subject of witchcraft, which was published under the title of +"More Wonders of the Invisible World; or the Wonders of the Invisible +world displayed in five parts. An Account of the Sufferings of Margaret +Rule collected by Robert Calef, merchant of Boston in New England." The +partisans of the Mathers displayed their hostility to this book by +publicly burning it; and the Mathers themselves kept up the feeling so +strongly that years afterwards, when Samuel Mather, the son of Cotton, +wrote his father's life, he says sneeringly of Calef: "There was a +certain disbeliever in Witchcraft who wrote against this book" (his +father's 'Wonders of the Invisible World'), "but as the man is dead, his +book died long before him." Calef died in 1720. + +The witchcraft delusion had, however, been sufficiently dispelled to +prevent the recurrence of any other such persecutions; and those who +still insisted on their truth were restrained to the comparatively +harmless publication and defence of their opinions. The people of Salem +were humbled and repentant. They deserted their minister, Mr. Paris, +with whom the persecution had begun, and were not satisfied until they +had driven him away from the place. Their remorse continued through +several years, and most of the people concerned in the judicial +proceedings proclaimed their regret. The jurors signed a paper +expressing their repentance, and pleading that they had laboured under a +delusion. What ought to have been considered still more conclusive, +many of those who had confessed themselves witches, and had been +instrumental in accusing others, retracted all they had said, and +confessed that they had acted under the influence of terror. Yet the +vanity of superior intelligence and knowledge was so great in the two +Mathers that they resisted all conviction. In his _Magnalia_, an +ecclesiastical history of New England, published in 1700, Cotton Mather +repeats his original view of the doings of Satan in Salem, showing no +regret for the part he had taken in this affair, and making no +retraction of any of his opinions. Still later, in 1723, he repeats them +again in the same strain in the chapter of the "Remarkables" of his +father entitled "Troubles from the Invisible World." His father, +Increase Mather, had died in that same year at an advanced age, being in +his eighty-fifth year. Cotton Mather died on the 13th of February, 1728. + +Whatever we may think of the credulity of these two ecclesiastics, there +can be no ground for charging them with acting otherwise than +conscientiously, and they had claims on the gratitude of their +countrymen sufficient to overbalance their error of judgment on this +occasion. Their books relating to the terrible witchcraft delusion at +Salem have now become very rare in the original editions, and their +interest, as remarkable monuments of the history of superstition, make +them well worthy of a reprint. + + + + +THE CONTENTS. + + + THE WONDERS OF THE INVISIBLE WORLD:-- Page + + The Author's Defence 3 + + Letter from Mr. _William Stoughton_ 6 + + Enchantments encountered 9 + + An Abstract of Mr. _Perkins's_ Way for the Discovery + of Witches 30 + + The Sum of Mr. _Gaules_ Judgment about the Detection of + Witches 33 + + A DISCOURSE ON THE WONDERS OF THE INVISIBLE WORLD 38 + + An Hortatory and Necessary Address, to a Country now + Extraordinarily Alarum'd by the Wrath of the Devil 79 + + A Narrative of an Apparition which a Gentleman in Boston + had of his Brother, just then murthered in London 107 + + A Modern Instance of Witches discovered and condemned + in a Tryal, before that celebrated Judge, Sir Matthew + Hale 111 + + The Tryal of _G. B._ at a Court of Oyer and Terminer, held + in Salem, 1692 120 + + The Tryal of _Bridget Bishop_, alias _Oliver_, at the Court + of Oyer and Terminer, held at Salem, June 2, 1692 129 + + The Tryal of _Susanna Martin_, at the Court of Oyer and + Terminer, held by Adjournment at Salem, June 29, 1692 138 + + The Tryal of _Elizabeth How_, at the Court of Oyer and + Terminer, held by Adjournment at Salem, June 30, 1692 149 + + The Tryal of _Martha Carrier_, at the Court of Oyer and + Terminer, held by Adjournment at Salem, August 2, 1692 154 + + A Relation of a Few of the Matchless Curiosities which the + Witchcraft presented 159 + + The First Curiositie 159 + + The Second Curiositie 161 + + The Third Curiositie 164 + + The Fourth Curiositie 165 + + Testimony of Mr. _William Stoughton_ and Mr. _Samuel Sewall_ 167 + + Extracts from Dr. _Horneck_ showing the Similarity in the + Circumstances attending the Witchcraft in New-England + and that in Sweedland 167 + + Matter omitted in the Tryals 172 + + THE DEVIL DISCOVERED 172 + + Case proposed, What are those Usual Methods of Temptation + with which the Powers of Darkness do assault the + Children of Men? 174 + + Remarks upon the Three Remarkable Assaults of Temptations + which the Devil visibly made upon our Lord 175 + + The First Temptation 175 + + The Second Temptation 183 + + The Third Temptation 192 + + A FURTHER ACCOUNT OF THE TRYALS OF THE NEW-ENGLAND + WITCHES:-- + + A True Narrative, collected by _Deodat Lawson_, relating to + Sundry Persons afflicted by Witchcraft, from the 19th + of March to the 5th of April, 1692 201 + + Remarks of Things more than Ordinary about the Afflicted + Persons 211 + + Remarks concerning the Accused 212 + + A Further Account of the Tryals of the New-England + Witches, sent in a Letter from thence, to a Gentleman + in London 214 + + CASES OF CONSCIENCE CONCERNING EVIL SPIRITS PERSONATING + MEN, ETC.:-- + + An Address to the Christian Reader by Fourteen Influential + Gentlemen 221 + + CASES OF CONSCIENCE CONCERNING WITCHCRAFTS 225 + + The First Case proposed, Whether or not may Satan appear in + the Shape of an Innocent and Pious, as well as of a + Nocent and Wicked Person, to afflict such as suffer by + Diabolical Molestation? 225 + + The Affirmative proved from Six Arguments:-- + + 1. From Several Scriptures 225 + + 2. Because it is possible for the Devil, in the Shape of + Innocent Persons, to do other Mischiefs, proved by + many Instances 234 + + 3. Because if Satan may not represent an Innocent Person + as afflicting others, it must be either because he + wants will or power to do this, or because God will + never permit him so to do it; either of which may + be affirmed 237 + + 4. It is certain, both from Scripture and History, that + Magicians by their Inchantments and Hellish Conjurations + may cause a False Representation of Persons + and Things 243 + + 5. From the concurring Judgment of many Learned and + Judicious Men 250 + + 6. Our own Experience has confirmed the Truth of what + we affirm 253 + + The Second Case considered, _viz._ If one bewitched be cast + down with the look or cast of the Eye of another Person, + and after that recovered again by a Touch from + the same Person, is not this an infallible Proof that the + party accused and complained of is in Covenant with + the Devil? 255 + + _Answer._ This may be Ground of Suspicion and Examination, + but not of Conviction 255 + + The Judgment of Mr. _Bernard_ and of Dr. _Cotta_ produced 256 + + Several Things offered against the Infallibility of this + Proof:-- + + 1. 'Tis possible that the Persons in question may be + possessed with Evil Spirits. Signs of such 258 + + 2. Falling down with the Cast of the Eye proceeds not + from a natural, but an arbitrary Cause 260 + + 3. That of the bewitched Persons being recovered with a + Touch is various and fallible 262 + + 4. There are that question the Lawfulness of the Experiment 264 + + 5. The Testimony of Bewitched or Possessed Persons is + no Evidence as to what they see concerning others, + and therefore not as to themselves 266 + + 6. Bewitched Persons have sometimes been struck down + with the Look of Dogs 267 + + 7. If this were an Infallible Proof, there would be + difficulty in discovering Witches 268 + + 8. Nothing can be produced out of the Word of God to + shew, that this is any Proof of Witchcraft 268 + + 9. Antipathies in Nature have Strange and Unaccountable + Effects 268 + + The Third Case considered, Whether there are any Discoveries + of Witchcraft, which Jurors and Judges may + with a safe Conscience proceed upon to the Conviction + and Condemnation of the Persons under Suspicion? 269 + + Two things premised:-- + + 1. That the Evidence in the Crime of Witchcraft ought + to be as clear as in any other Crimes of a Capital + Nature 269 + + 2. That there have been ways of Trying Witches long + used, which God never approved of. More particularly + that of casting the Suspected Party into the + Water, to try whether they will Sink or Swim. The + Vanity and great Sin which is in that way of Purgation + evinced by Six Reasons 270 + + That there are Proofs for the Conviction of Witches, which + Jurors may with a safe Conscience proceed upon, proved + from Scripture 275 + + That a Free and Voluntary Confession is a sufficient Ground + of Conviction 276 + + That the Testimony of confessing Witches against others, is + not so clear an Evidence as against themselves 279 + + That if two Credible Persons shall affirm upon Oath that they + have seen the Person accused doing Things, which none + but such as have familiarity with the Devil, ever did + or can do, that's a sufficient ground of Conviction: + and that this has often happened 282 + + Mr. _Perkins_ his Solemn Caution to Jurors 283 + + Postscript 285 + + + + + _The Wonders of the Invisible World:_ + + Being an Account of the + TRYALS + OF + \Several Witches\, + Lately Excuted in + NEW-ENGLAND: + + And of several remarkable Curiosities therein Occurring. + + Together with, + + I. Observations upon the Nature, the Number, and the Operations + of the Devils. + + II. A short Narrative of a late outrage committed by a knot of + Witches in _Swede-Land_, very much resembling, and so far + explaining, that under which _New-England_ has laboured. + + III. Some Councels directing a due Improvement of the Terrible things + lately done by the unusual and amazing Range of _Evil-Spirits_ + in _New-England_. + + IV. A brief Discourse upon those _Temptations_ which are the more + ordinary Devices of Satan. + + + By _COTTON MATHER_. + + Published by the Special Command of his EXCELLENCY the Govenour of the + Province of the _Massachusetts-Bay_ in _New-England_. + + Printed first, at _Bostun_ in _New-England_; and Reprinted at _London_, + for _John Dunton_, at the _Raven_ in the _Poultry_. 1693. + + + + +THE AUTHOR'S DEFENCE. + + +'Tis, as I remember, the Learned _Scribonius_, who reports, That one of +his Acquaintance, devoutly making his Prayers on the behalf of a Person +molested by _Evil Spirits_, received from those _Evil Spirits_ an +horrible Blow over the Face: And I may my self expect not few or small +Buffetings from Evil Spirits, for the Endeavours wherewith I am now +going to encounter them. I am far from insensible, that at this +extraordinary Time of the _Devils coming down in great Wrath upon us_, +there are too many Tongues and Hearts thereby _set on fire of Hell_; +that the various Opinions about the Witchcrafts which of later time have +troubled us, are maintained by some with so much cloudy Fury, as if they +could never be sufficiently stated, unless written in the Liquor +wherewith Witches use to write their Covenants; and that he who becomes +an Author at such a time, had need be _fenced with Iron, and the Staff +of a Spear_. The unaccountable Frowardness, Asperity, Untreatableness, +and Inconsistency of many Persons, every Day gives a visible Exposition +of that passage, _An evil spirit from the Lord came upon Saul;_ and +Illustration of that Story, _There met him two possessed with Devils, +exceeding fierce, so that no man might pass by that way._ To send abroad +a Book, among such Readers, were a very unadvised thing, if a Man had +not such Reasons to give, as I can bring, for such an Undertaking. +Briefly, I hope it cannot be said, _They are all so:_ No, I hope the +Body of this People, are yet in such a Temper, as to be capable of +applying their Thoughts, to make a _Right Use_ of the stupendous and +prodigious Things that are happening among us: And because I was +concern'd, when I saw that no abler Hand emitted any Essays to engage +the Minds of this People, in such holy, pious, fruitful Improvements, as +God would have to be made of his amazing Dispensations now upon us. +THEREFORE it is, that One of the Least among the Children of +_New-England_, has here done, what is done. None, but _the Father, who +sees in secret_, knows the Heart-breaking Exercises, wherewith I have +composed what is now going to be exposed, lest I should in any one thing +miss of doing my designed Service for his Glory, and for his People; but +I am now somewhat comfortably assured of his favourable acceptance; and, +_I will not fear; what can a Satan do unto me!_ + +Having performed something of what God required, in labouring to suit +his Words unto his Works, at this Day among us, and therewithal handled +a Theme that has been sometimes counted not unworthy the Pen, even of a +King, it will easily be perceived, that some subordinate Ends have been +considered in these Endeavours. + +I have indeed set myself to countermine the whole PLOT of the Devil, +against _New-England_, in every Branch of it, as far as one of my +_darkness_, can comprehend such a _Work of Darkness_. I may add, that I +have herein also aimed at the Information and Satisfaction of Good Men +in another Country, a thousand Leagues off, where I have, it may be, +more, or however, more considerable Friends, than in my own: And I do +what I can to have that Country, now, as well as always, in the best +Terms with my own. But while I am doing these things, I have been driven +a little to do something likewise for myself; I mean, by taking off the +false Reports, and hard Censures about my Opinion in these Matters, the +_Parter's Portions_ which my _pursuit of Peace_ has procured me among +the _Keen_. My hitherto _unvaried Thoughts_ are here published; and I +believe, they will be owned by most of the Ministers of God in these +Colonies; nor can amends be well made me, for the wrong done me, by +other sorts of _Representations_. + + * * * * * + +In fine: For the Dogmatical part of my Discourse, I want no Defence; for +the Historical part of it, I have a Very Great One; the +Lieutenant-Governour of _New-England_ having perused it, has done me the +Honour of giving me a Shield, under the Umbrage whereof I now dare to +walk abroad. + + + + +REVEREND AND DEAR SIR, + +_You very much gratify'd me, as well as put a kind Respect upon me, when +you put into my hands, your elaborate and most seasonable Discourse, +entituled, +The Wonders of the Invisible World+. And having now perused +so fruitful and happy a Composure, upon such a Subject, at this Juncture +of Time; and considering the place that I hold in the Court of +Oyer+ +and +Terminer+, still labouring and proceeding in the Trial of the +Persons accused and convicted for Witchcraft, I find that I am more +nearly and highly concerned than as a meer ordinary Reader, to express +my Obligation and Thankfulness to you for so great Pains; and cannot but +hold myself many ways bound, even to the utmost of what is proper for +me, in my present publick Capacity, to declare my +singular Approbation+ +thereof. Such is your Design, most plainly expressed throughout the +whole; such your Zeal for God, your Enmity to Satan and his Kingdom, +your Faithfulness and Compassion to this poor People; such the Vigour, +but yet great Temper of your Spirit; such your Instruction and Counsel, +your +Care of Truth+, your Wisdom and Dexterity in allaying and +moderating that among us, which needs it; such your clear discerning of +Divine Providences and Periods, now running on apace towards their +Glorious Issues in the World; and finally, such your good News of +The +Shortness of the Devil's Time+, that all Good Men must needs desire, the +making of this your Discourse publick to the World; and will greatly +rejoyce, that the +Spirit of the Lord+ has thus enabled you to +lift up +a Standard+ against the Infernal Enemy, that hath been +coming in like a +Flood upon us+. I do therefore make it my particular and earnest Request +unto you, that as soon as may be, you will commit the same unto the ++Press+ accordingly. I am,_ + + Your assured Friend, + + WILLIAM STOUGHTON. + + +I live by _Neighbours_ that force me to produce these undeserved Lines. +But now, as when Mr. _Wilson_ beholding a great Muster of Souldiers, had +it by a Gentleman then present, said unto him, _Sir, I'll tell you a +great Thing: Here is a mighty Body of People; and there is not +Seven+ +of them all, but what loves Mr. +Wilson+._ That gracious Man presently +and pleasantly reply'd: _Sir, I'll tell you as good a thing as that; +here is a mighty Body of People, and there is not so much as +One+ among +them all, but Mr. +Wilson+ loves him._ Somewhat so: 'Tis possible, that +among this Body of People, there may be few that love the Writer of this +Book; but give me leave to boast so far, there is not one among all this +Body of People, whom this _Mather_ would not study to serve, as well as +to love. With such a _Spirit of Love_, is the Book now before us +written: I appeal to all _this World_; and if _this_ World will deny me +the Right of acknowledging so much, I appeal to the _other_, that it is +_not written with an Evil Spirit_: for which cause I shall not wonder, +if _Evil Spirits_ be exasperated by what is written, as the _Sadduces_ +doubtless were with what was discoursed in the Days of our Saviour. I +only demand the _Justice_, that others _read_ it, with the same Spirit +wherewith I _writ_ it. + + + + +ENCHANTMENTS ENCOUNTERED. + + +SECTION I. + +It was as long ago as the Year 1637, that a Faithful Minister of the +Church of _England_, whose Name was Mr. _Edward Symons_, did in a Sermon +afterwards Printed, thus express himself; 'At _New-England_ now the Sun +of Comfort begins to appear, and the glorious Day-Star to show it +self;--_Sed Venient Annis Sæculæ Seris_, there will come Times in after +Ages, when the _Clouds will over-shadow and darken the Sky there_. Many +now promise to themselves nothing but successive Happiness there, which +for a time through God's Mercy they may enjoy; and I pray God, they may +a long time; but in this World there is no Happiness perpetual.' An +_Observation_, or I had almost said, an _Inspiration_, very dismally now +verify'd upon us! It has been affirm'd by some who best knew +_New-England_, That the World will do _New-England_ a great piece of +Injustice, if it acknowledge not a measure of Religion, Loyalty, +Honesty, and Industry, in the People there, beyond what is to be found +with any other People for the Number of them. When I did a few years +ago, publish a Book, which mentioned a few memorable Witchcrafts, +committed in this country; the excellent _Baxter_, graced the Second +Edition of that Book, with a kind Preface, wherein he sees cause to say, +_If any are Scandalized, that +New-England+, a place of as serious +Piety, as any I can hear of, under Heaven, should be troubled so much +with Witches; I think, 'tis no wonder: Where will the Devil show most +Malice, but where he is hated, and hateth most:_ And I hope, the Country +will still deserve and answer the Charity so expressed by that Reverend +Man of God. Whosoever travels over this Wilderness, will see it richly +bespangled with Evangelical Churches, whose Pastors are holy, able, and +painful Overseers of their Flocks, lively Preachers, and vertuous +Livers; and such as in their several Neighbourly Associations, have had +their Meetings whereat Ecclesiastical Matters of common Concernment are +considered: _Churches_, whose Communicants have been seriously examined +about their Experiences of Regeneration, as well as about their +Knowledge, and Belief, and blameless Conversation, before their +admission to the Sacred Communion; although others of less but hopeful +Attainments in Christianity are not ordinarily deny'd Baptism for +themselves and theirs; Churches, which are shye of using any thing in +the Worship of God, for which they cannot see a Warrant of God; but with +whom yet the Names of _Congregational_, _Presbyterian_, _Episcopalian_, +or _Antipædobaptist_, are swallowed up in that of _Christian_; Persons +of all those Perswasions being taken into our Fellowship, when visible +Goodliness has recommended them: Churches, which usually do within +themselves manage their own Discipline, under the Conduct of their +Elders; but yet call in the help of _Synods_ upon Emergencies, or +Aggrievances: _Churches_, Lastly, wherein Multitudes are growing ripe +for Heaven every day; and as fast as these are taken off, others are +daily rising up. And by the Presence and Power of the Divine +Institutions thus maintained in the Country, We are still so happy, that +I suppose there is no Land in the Universe more free from the +debauching, and the debasing Vices of Ungodliness. The Body of the +People are hitherto so disposed, that _Swearing_, _Sabbath-breaking_, +_Whoring_, _Drunkenness_, and the like, do not make a Gentleman, but a +Monster, or a Goblin, in the vulgar Estimation. All this +notwithstanding, we must humbly confess to our God, that we are +miserably degenerated from the first Love of our Predecessors; however +we boast our selves a little, when Men would go to trample upon us, and +we venture to say, _Wherein soever any is bold (we speak foolishly) we +are bold also._ The first Planters of these Colonies were a chosen +Generation of Men, who were first so pure, as to disrelish many things +which they thought wanted Reformation elsewhere; and yet withal so +peaceable, that they embraced a voluntary Exile in a squalid, horrid, +_American_ Desart, rather than to live in Contentions with their +Brethren. Those good Men imagined that they should leave their Posterity +in a place, where they should never see the Inroads of Profanity, or +Superstition: And a famous Person returning hence, could in a Sermon +before the Parliament, profess, _I have now been seven Years in a +Country, where I never Saw one Man drunk, or heard one Oath sworn, or +beheld one Beggar in the Streets all the while._ Such great Persons as +_Budæus_, and others, who mistook Sir _Thomas Moor's_ UTOPIA, for a +Country really existent, and stirr'd up some Divines charitably to +undertake a Voyage thither, might now have certainly found a Truth in +their Mistake; _New-England_ was a true _Utopia_. But, alas, the +Children and Servants of those old Planters must needs afford many, +degenerate Plants, and there is now risen up a Number of People, +otherwise inclined than our _Joshua's_, and the Elders that out-liv'd +them. Those two things our holy Progenitors, and our happy Advantages +make Omissions of Duty, and such Spiritual Disorders as the whole World +abroad is overwhelmed with, to be as provoking in us, as the most +flagitious Wickednesses committed in other places; and the Ministers of +God are accordingly severe in their Testimonies: But in short, those +Interests of the Gospel, which were the Errand of our Fathers into these +Ends of the Earth, have been too much neglected and postponed, and the +Attainments of an handsome Education, have been too much undervalued, by +Multitudes that have not fallen into Exorbitances of Wickedness; and +some, especially of our young Ones, when they have got abroad from under +the Restraints here laid upon them, have become extravagantly and +abominably Vicious. Hence 'tis, that the Happiness of _New-England_ has +been but for a time, as it was foretold, and not for a long time, as has +been desir'd for us. A Variety of Calamity has long follow'd this +Plantation; and we have all the Reason imaginable to ascribe it unto the +Rebuke of Heaven upon us for our manifold _Apostasies_; we make no +right use of our Disasters: If we do not, _Remember whence we are +fallen, and repent, and do the first Works._ But yet our Afflictions may +come under a further Consideration with us: There is a further Cause of +our Afflictions, whose due must be given him. + + +§ II. The _New-Englanders_ are a People of God settled in those, which +were once the _Devil's_ Territories; and it may easily be supposed that +the _Devil_ was exceedingly disturbed, when he perceived such a People +here accomplishing the Promise of old made unto our Blessed Jesus, _That +He should have the Utmost parts of the Earth for his Possession._ There +was not a greater Uproar among the _Ephesians_, when the Gospel was +first brought among them, than there was among, _The Powers of the Air_ +(after whom those _Ephesians_ walked) when first the _Silver Trumpets_ +of the Gospel here made the _Joyful Sound_. The Devil thus Irritated, +immediately try'd all sorts of Methods to overturn this poor Plantation: +and so much of the Church, as was _Fled into this Wilderness_, +immediately found, _The Serpent cast out of his Mouth a Flood for the +carrying of it away._ I believe, that never were more _Satanical +Devices_ used for the Unsetling of any People under the Sun, than what +have been Employ'd for the Extirpation of the _Vine_ which God has here +_Planted_, _Casting out the Heathen, and preparing a Room before it, and +causing it to take deep Root, and fill the Land, so that it sent its +Boughs unto the +Atlantic+ Sea +Eastward+, and its Branches unto the ++Connecticut+ River +Westward+, and the Hills were covered with the +shadow thereof._ But, All those Attempts of Hell, have hitherto been +Abortive, many an _Ebenezer_ has been Erected unto the Praise of God, by +his Poor People here; and, _Having obtained Help from God, we continue +to this Day._ Wherefore the Devil is now making one Attempt more upon +us; an Attempt more Difficult, more Surprizing, more snarl'd with +unintelligible Circumstances than any that we have hitherto Encountred; +an Attempt so _Critical_, that if we get well through, we shall soon +Enjoy _Halcyon_ Days with all the _Vultures_ of Hell _Trodden under our +Feet_. He has wanted his _Incarnate Legions_ to Persecute us, as the +People of God have in the other Hemisphere been Persecuted: he has +therefore drawn forth his more _Spiritual_ ones to make an Attacque upon +us. We have been advised by some Credible Christians yet alive, that a +Malefactor, accused of _Witchcraft_ as well as _Murder_, and Executed in +this place more than Forty Years ago, did then give Notice of, _An +Horrible PLOT against the Country by WITCHCRAFT, and a Foundation +of WITCHCRAFT then laid, which if it were not seasonally discovered, +would probably Blow up, and pull down all the Churches in the Country._ +And we have now with Horror seen the _Discovery_ of such a _Witchcraft_! +An Army of _Devils_ is horribly broke in upon the place which is the +_Center_, and after a sort, the _First-born_ of our _English_ +Settlements: and the Houses of the Good People there are fill'd with the +doleful Shrieks of their Children and Servants, Tormented by Invisible +Hands, with Tortures altogether preternatural. After the Mischiefs there +Endeavoured, and since in part Conquered, the terrible Plague, of _Evil +Angels_, hath made its Progress into some other places, where other +Persons have been in like manner Diabolically handled. These our poor +Afflicted Neighbours, quickly after they become _Infected_ and +_Infested_ with these _Dæmons_, arrive to a Capacity of Discerning those +which they conceive the _Shapes_ of their Troublers; and notwithstanding +the Great and Just Suspicion, that the _Dæmons_ might Impose the +_Shapes_ of Innocent Persons in their _Spectral Exhibitions_ upon the +Sufferers, (which may perhaps prove no small part of the _Witch-Plot_ in +the issue) yet many of the Persons thus Represented, being Examined, +several of them have been Convicted of a very Damnable _Witchcraft_: +yea, more than One _Twenty_ have _Confessed_, that they have Signed unto +a _Book_, which the Devil show'd them, and Engaged in his Hellish Design +of _Bewitching_, and _Ruining_ our Land. _We_ know not, at least _I_ +know not, how far the _Delusions_ of Satan may be Interwoven into some +Circumstances of the _Confessions_; but one would think, all the Rules +of Understanding Humane Affairs are at an end, if after so many most +Voluntary Harmonious _Confessions_, made by Intelligent Persons of all +Ages, in sundry Towns, at several Times, we must not Believe the _main +strokes_ wherein those _Confessions_ all agree: especially when we have +a thousand preternatural Things every day before our eyes, wherein the +_Confessors_ do acknowledge their Concernment, and give Demonstration of +their being so Concerned. If the Devils now can strike the minds of men +with any _Poisons_ of so fine a Composition and Operation, that Scores +of Innocent People shall Unite, in _Confessions_ of a Crime, which we +see actually committed, it is a thing prodigious, beyond the Wonders of +the former Ages, and it threatens no less than a sort of a Dissolution +upon the World. Now, by these _Confessions_ 'tis Agreed, _That_ the +Devil has made a dreadful Knot of _Witches_ in the Country, and by the +help of _Witches_ has dreadfully increased that Knot: _That_ these +_Witches_ have driven a Trade of Commissioning their _Confederate +Spirits_, to do all sorts of Mischiefs to the Neighbours, whereupon +there have ensued such Mischievous consequences upon the Bodies and +Estates of the Neighbourhood, as could not otherwise be accounted for: +yea, _That_ at prodigious _Witch-Meetings_, the Wretches have proceeded +so far, as to Concert and Consult the Methods of Rooting out the +Christian Religion from this Country, and setting up instead of it, +perhaps a more gross _Diabolesm_, than ever the World saw before. And +yet it will be a thing little short of _Miracle_, if in so _spread_ a +Business as this, the Devil should not get in some of his Juggles, to +confound the Discovery of all the rest. + + +§ III. Doubtless, the Thoughts of many will receive a great Scandal +against _New-England_, from the Number of Persons that have been +Accused, or Suspected, for _Witchcraft_, in this Country: But it were +easie to offer many things, that may Answer and Abate the Scandal. If +the Holy God should any where permit the Devils to hook two or three +wicked _Scholars_ into _Witchcraft_, and then by their Assistance to +Range with their _Poisonous Insinuations_ among Ignorant, Envious, +Discontented People, till they have cunningly decoy'd them into some +sudden _Act_, whereby the Toyls of Hell shall be perhaps inextricably +cast over them: what Country in the World would not afford _Witches_, +numerous to a Prodigy? Accordingly, The Kingdoms of _Sweden_, _Denmark_, +_Scotland_, yea and _England_ it self, as well as the Province of +_New-England_, have had their Storms of _Witchcrafts_ breaking upon +them, which have made most Lamentable Devastations: which also I wish, +may be _The Last_. And it is not uneasie to be imagined, That God has +not brought out all the _Witchcrafts_ in many other Lands with such a +speedy, dreadful, destroying _Jealousie_, as burns forth upon such _High +Treasons_, committed here in _A Land of Uprightness_: Transgressors may +more quickly here than elsewhere become a Prey to the Vengeance of Him, +_Who has Eyes like a Flame of Fire_, and, _who walks in the midst of the +Golden Candlesticks_. Moreover, There are many parts of the World, who +if they do upon this Occasion insult over this People of God, need only +to be told the Story of what happen'd at _Loim_, in the Dutchy of +_Gulic_, where a Popish Curate having ineffectually try'd many Charms to +Eject the Devil out of a Damsel there possessed, he passionately bid the +Devil come out of her into himself; but the Devil answered him, _Quid +mihi Opus, est eum tentare, quem Novissimo die, Jure Optimo, sum +possessurus?_ That is, _What need I meddle with one whom I am sure to +have, and hold at the Last-day as my own for ever!_ + +But besides all this, give me leave to add, it is to be hoped, That +among the Persons represented by the _Spectres_ which now afflict our +Neighbours, there will be found _some_ that never explicitly contracted +with any of the _Evil Angels_. The Witches have not only intimated, but +some of them acknowledged, That they have plotted the Representations +of _Innocent Persons_, to cover and shelter themselves in their +Witchcrafts; now, altho' our good God has hitherto generally preserved +us from the Abuse therein design'd by the Devils for us, yet who of us +can exactly state, _How far our God may for our Chastisement permit the +Devil to proceed in such an Abuse?_ It was the Result of a Discourse, +lately held at a Meeting of some very Pious and Learned Ministers among +us, _That the Devils may sometimes have a permission to Represent an +Innocent Person, as Tormenting such as are under Diabolical +Molestations: But that such things are Rare and Extraordinary; +especially when such matters come before Civil Judicature._ The Opinion +expressed with so much Caution and Judgment, seems to be the prevailing +Sense of many others, who are men Eminently Cautious and Judicious; and +have both _Argument_ and _History_ to Countenance them in it. It is +_Rare and Extraordinary_, for an Honest _Naboth_ to have his Life it +self Sworn away by two _Children of Belial_, and yet no Infringement +hereby made on the Rectoral Righteousness of our Eternal Soveraign, +whose _Judgments are a Great Deep_, and who _gives none Account of His +matters_. Thus, although the Appearance of Innocent Persons in _Spectral +Exhibitions_ afflicting the Neighbour-hood, be a thing _Rare and +Extraordinary_; yet who can be sure, that the great _Belial_ of Hell +must needs be always _Yoked_ up from this piece of Mischief? The best +man that ever lived has been called a _Witch_: and why may not this too +usual and unhappy Symptom of A _Witch_, even a Spectral Representation, +befall a person that shall be none of the worst? Is it not possible? The +_Laplanders_ will tell us 'tis possible: for Persons to be unwittingly +attended with officious _Dæmons_, bequeathed unto them, and impos'd upon +them, by Relations that have been _Witches_. _Quæry_, also, Whether at a +Time, when the Devil with his Witches are engag'd in a War upon a +people, some certain steps of ours, in such a War, may not be follow'd +with our appearing so and so for a while among them in the Visions of +our afflicted _Forlorns_! And, Who can certainly say, what other Degrees +or Methods of sinning, besides that of a _Diabolical Compact_, may give +the Devils advantage to act in the Shape of them that have miscarried? +Besides what may happen for a while, to try the _Patience_ of the +Vertuous. May not some that have been ready upon feeble grounds +uncharitably to Censure and Reproach other people, be punished for it by +_Spectres_ for a while exposing them to Censure and Reproach? And +furthermore, I pray, that it may be considered, Whether a World of +Magical Tricks often used in the World, may not insensibly oblige +_Devils_ to wait upon the Superstitious Users of them. A Witty Writer +against _Sadducism_ has this Observation, That persons who never made +any express Contract with _Apostate Spirits_, yet may Act strange Things +by _Diabolick Aids_, which they procure by the use of those wicked +_Forms_ and _Arts_, that the Devil first imparted unto his Confederates. +And he adds, _We know not but the Laws of the Dark Kingdom may Enjoyn a +particular Attendance upon all those that practice their Mysteries, +whether they know them to be theirs or no._ Some of them that have been +cry'd out upon as imploying _Evil Spirits_ to hurt our Land, have been +known to be most bloody _Fortune-Tellers_; and some of them have +confessed, That when they told _Fortunes_, they would pretend the Rules +of _Chiromancy_ and the like Ignorant Sciences, but indeed they had no +Rule (they said) but this, _The things were then Darted into their +minds._ _Darted!_ Ye Wretches; By whom, I pray? Surely by none but the +_Devils_; who, tho' perhaps they did not exactly _Foreknow_ all the thus +Predicted Contingencies; yet having once _Foretold_ them, they stood +bound in Honour now to use their Interest, which alas, in _This World_, +is very great, for the Accomplishment of their own Predictions. There +are others, that have used most wicked _Sorceries_ to gratifie their +unlawful Curiosities, or to prevent Inconveniencies in Man and Beast; +_Sorceries_, which I will not _Name_, lest I should by Naming, _Teach_ +them. Now, some _Devil_ is evermore Invited into the Service of the +Person that shall Practise these _Witchcrafts_; and if they have gone on +Impenitently in these Communions with any _Devil_, the _Devil_ may +perhaps become at last a _Familiar_ to them, and so assume their +_Livery_, that they cannot shake him off in any way, but that One, which +I would most heartily prescribe unto them, Namely, That of a deep and +long _Repentance_. Should these _Impieties_ have been committed in such +a place as _New-England_, for my part I should not wonder, if when +_Devils_ are Exposing the _Grosser_ Witches among us, God permit them to +bring in these _Lesser_ ones with the rest for their perpetual +Humiliation. In the Issue therefore, may it not be found, that +_New-England_ is not so stock'd with _Rattle Snakes_, as was imagined. + + +§ IV. But I do not believe, that the progress of _Witchcraft_ among us, +is all the Plot which the Devil is managing in the _Witchcraft_ now upon +us. It is judged, That the Devil rais'd the Storm, whereof we read in +the Eighth Chapter of _Matthew_, on purpose to over-set the little +Vessel wherein the Disciples of Our Lord were Embarqued with Him. And it +may be fear'd, that in the _Horrible Tempest_ which is now upon +ourselves, the design of the Devil is to sink that Happy Settlement of +Government, wherewith Almighty God has graciously enclined Their +Majesties to favour us. We are blessed with a GOVERNOUR, than whom no +man can be more willing to serve Their Majesties, or this their +Province: He is continually venturing his _All_ to do it: and were not +the Interests of his Prince dearer to him than his own, he could not but +soon be weary of the _Helm_, whereat he sits. We are under the Influence +of a LIEUTENANT GOVERNOUR, who not only by being admirably accomplished +both with Natural and Acquired Endowments, is fitted for the Service of +Their Majesties, but also with an unspotted Fidelity applies himself to +that Service. Our COUNCELLOURS are some of our most Eminent Persons, and +as Loyal Subjects to the Crown, as hearty lovers of their Country. Our +Constitution also is attended with singular Priviledges; All which +Things are by the Devil exceedingly _Envy'd_ unto us; And the Devil will +doubtless take this occasion for the raising of such complaints and +clamours, as may be of pernicious consequence unto some part of our +present Settlement, if he can so far _Impose_. But that which most of +all Threatens us, in our present Circumstances, is the +_Misunderstanding_, and so the _Animosity_, whereinto the _Witchcraft_ +now Raging, has Enchanted us. The Embroiling, first, of our _Spirits_, +and then of our _Affairs_, is evidently as considerable a Branch of the +Hellish Intrigue which now vexes us as any one Thing whatsoever. The +Devil has made us like a _Troubled Sea_, and the _Mire_ and _Mud_ begins +now also to heave up apace. Even Good and Wise Men suffer themselves to +fall into their _Paroxysms_; and the Shake which the Devil is now giving +us, fetches up the _Dirt_ which before lay still at the bottom of our +sinful Hearts. If we allow the Mad Dogs of Hell to poyson us by biting +us, we shall imagine that we see nothing but such things about us, and +like such things fly upon all that we see. Were it not for what is IN +US, for my part, I should not fear a thousand Legions of Devils: 'tis by +our Quarrels that we spoil our Prayers; and if our humble, zealous, and +united Prayers are once hindred: Alas, the _Philistines_ of Hell have +cut our Locks for us; they will then blind us, mock us, ruine us: In +truth, I cannot altogether blame it, if People are a little transported, +when they conceive all the secular Interests of themselves and their +Families at the Stake; and yet at the sight of these Heartburnings, I +cannot forbear the Exclamation of the Sweet-spirited _Austin_, in his +Pacificatory Epistle to _Jerom_, on the Contest with _Ruffin_, _O misera +& miseranda Conditio!_ O Condition, truly miserable! But what shall be +done to cure these Distractions? It is wonderfully necessary, that some +healing Attempts be made at this time: And I must needs confess (if I +may speak so much) like a _Nazianzen_, I am so desirous of a share in +them, that if, being thrown overboard, were needful to allay the +_Storm_, I should think Dying, a Trifle to be undergone, for so great a +Blessedness. + + +§ V. I would most importunately in the first place, entreat every Man to +maintain an holy Jealousie over his Soul at this time, and think; May +not the Devil make me, though ignorantly and unwillingly, to be an +Instrument of doing something that he would have to be done? For my +part, I freely own my Suspicion, lest something of Enchantment, have +reach'd more Persons and Spirits among us, than we are well aware of. +But then, let us more generally agree to maintain a kind Opinion one of +another. That Charity without which, even our giving our Bodies to be +burned would profit nothing, uses to proceed by this Rule; It is kind, +it is not easily provok'd, it thinks no Evil, it believes all things, +hopes all things. But if we disregard this Rule of Charity, we shall +indeed give our Body Politick to be burned. I have heard it affirmed, +That in the late great Flood upon _Connecticut_, those Creatures which +could not but have quarrelled at another time, yet now being driven +together very agreeably stood by one another. I am sure we shall be +worse than _Brutes_ if we fly upon one another at a time when the Floods +of Belial make us afraid. On the one side; [Alas, my Pen, must thou +write the word, _Side_ in the Business?] There are very worthy Men, who +having been call'd by God, when and where this Witchcraft first appeared +upon the Stage to encounter it, are earnestly desirous to have it sifted +unto the bottom of it. And I pray, which of us all that should live +under the continual Impressions of the Tortures, Outcries, and Havocks +which Devils confessedly Commissioned by Witches make among their +distressed Neighbours, would not have a Biass that way beyond other Men? +Persons this way disposed have been Men eminent for Wisdom and Vertue, +and Men acted by a noble Principle of Conscience: Had not Conscience (of +Duty to God) prevailed above other Considerations with them, they would +not for all they are worth in the World have medled in this Thorny +business. Have there been any disputed Methods used in discovering the +Works of Darkness? It may be none but what have had great Presedents in +other parts of the World; which may, though not altogether justifie, yet +much alleviate a Mistake in us if there should happen to be found any +such mistake in so dark a Matter. They have done what they have done, with +multiplied Addresses to God for his Guidance, and have not been +insensible how much they have exposed themselves in what they have done. +Yea, they would gladly contrive and receive an expedient, how the +shedding of Blood, might be spared, by the Recovery of Witches, not gone +beyond the Reach of Pardon. And after all, they invite all good Men, in +Terms to this purpose, 'Being amazed at the Number and Quality of those +accused of late, we do not know but Satan by his Wiles may have +enwrapped some innocent Persons; and therefore should earnestly and +humbly desire the most Critical Enquiry upon the place, to find out the +Falacy; that there may be none of the Servants of the Lord, with the +Worshippers of _Baal_.' I may also add, That whereas, if once a Witch do +ingeniously confess among us, no more _Spectres_ do in their Shapes +after this, trouble the Vicinage; if any guilty Creatures will +accordingly to so good purpose confess their Crime to any Minister of +God, and get out of the Snare of the Devil, as no Minister will discover +such a Conscientious Confession, so I believe none in the Authority +will press him to discover it; but rejoyc'd in a Soul sav'd from Death. +On the other side [if I must again use the word _Side_, which yet I hope +to live to blot out] there are very worthy Men, who are not a little +dissatisfied at the Proceedings in the Prosecution of this Witchcraft. +And why? Not because they would have any such abominable thing, defended +from the Strokes of Impartial Justice. No, those Reverend Persons who +gave in this Advice unto the Honourable Council; 'That Presumptions, +whereupon Persons may be Committed, and much more Convictions, whereupon +Persons may be Condemned, as guilty of Witchcrafts, ought certainly to +be more considerable, than barely the Accused Persons being represented +by a _Spectre_ unto the Afflicted; Nor are Alterations made in the +Sufferers, by a Look or Touch of the Accused, to be esteemed an +infallible Evidence of Guilt; but frequently liable to be abused by the +Devils Legerdemains': I say, those very Men of God most conscientiously +Subjoined this Article to that Advice,--'Nevertheless we cannot but +humbly recommend unto the Government, the speedy and vigorous +Prosecution of such as have rendred themselves Obnoxious; according to +the best Directions given in the Laws of God, and the wholsome Statutes +of the _English_ Nation for the Detection of Witchcraft.' Only 'tis a +most commendable Cautiousness, in those gracious Men, to be very shye +lest the Devil get so far into our Faith, as that for the sake of many +Truths which we find he tells us, we come at length to believe any Lyes, +wherewith he may abuse us: whereupon, what a Desolation of Names would +soon ensue, besides a thousand other pernicious Consequences? and lest +there should be any such Principles taken up, as when put into Practice +must unavoidably cause the _Righteous to perish with the Wicked_; or +procure the Bloodshed of any Persons, like the _Gibeonites_, whom some +learned Men suppose to be under a false Notion of Witches, by _Saul_ +exterminated. + +They would have all due steps taken for the Extinction of Witches; but +they would fain have them to be sure ones; nor is it from any thing, but +the real and hearty goodness of such Men, that they are loth to surmise +ill of other Men, till there be the fullest Evidence for the surmises. +As for the Honourable Judges that have been hitherto in the Commission, +they are above my Consideration: wherefore I will only say thus much of +them, That such of them as I have the Honour of a Personal Acquaintance +with, are Men of an excellent Spirit; and as at first they went about +the work for which they were Commission'd, with a very great aversion, +so they have still been under Heart-breaking Sollicitudes, how they +might therein best serve both God and Man? In fine, Have there been +faults on any side fallen into? Surely, they have at worst been but the +faults of a well-meaning Ignorance. On every side then, why should not +we endeavour with amicable Correspondencies, to help one another out of +the Snares wherein the Devil would involve us? To wrangle the Devil out +of the Country, will be truly a New Experiment: Alas! we are not aware +of the Devil, if we do not think, that he aims at inflaming us one +against another; and shall we suffer our selves to be Devil-ridden? or +by any unadvisableness contribute unto the Widening of our Breaches? + +To say no more, there is a published and credible Relation; which +affirms, That very lately in a part of _England_, where some of the +Neighbourhood were quarrelling, a _Raven_ from the Top of a Tree very +articulately and unaccountably cry'd out, _Read the Third of Colossians +and the Fifteenth!_ Were I my self to chuse what sort of Bird I would be +transformed into, I would say, _O that I had wings like a Dove!_ +Nevertheless, I will for once do the Office, which as it seems, Heaven +sent that Raven upon; even to beg, _That the Peace of God may Rule in +our Hearts._ + + +§ VI. 'Tis necessary that we unite in every thing: but there are +especially two Things wherein our Union must carry us along together. We +are to unite in our Endeavours to deliver our distressed Neighbours, +from the horrible Annoyances and Molestations with which a dreadful +Witchcraft is now persecuting of them. To have an hand in any thing, +that may stifle or obstruct a Regular Detection of that Witchcraft, is +what we may well with an holy fear avoid. Their Majesties good Subjects +must not every day be torn to pieces by horrid Witches, and those bloody +Felons, be left wholly unprosecuted. The Witchcraft is a business that +will not be sham'd, without plunging us into sore Plagues, and of long +continuance. But then we are to unite in such Methods for this +deliverance, as may be unquestionably safe, lest _the latter end be +worse than the beginning_. And here, what shall I say? I will venture to +say thus much, That we are safe, when we make just as much use of all +Advice from the invisible World, as God sends it for. It is a safe +Principle, That when God Almighty permits any Spirits from the unseen +Regions, to visit us with surprizing Informations, there is then +something to be enquired after; we are then to enquire of one another, +What Cause there is for such things? The peculiar Government of God, +over the unbodied Intelligences, is a sufficient Foundation for this +Principle. When there has been a Murder committed, an Apparition of the +slain Party accusing of any Man, altho' such Apparitions have oftner +spoke true than false, is not enough to Convict the Man as guilty of +that Murder; but yet it is a sufficient occasion for Magistrates to make +a particular Enquiry, whether such a Man have afforded any ground for +such an Accusation. Even so a Spectre exactly resembling such or such a +Person, when the Neighbourhood are tormented by such Spectres, may +reasonably make Magistrates inquisitive whether the Person so +represented have done or said any thing that may argue their confederacy +with Evil Spirits, altho' it may be defective enough in point of +Conviction; especially at a time, when 'tis possible, some over-powerful +Conjurer may have got the skill of thus exhibiting the Shapes of all +sorts of Persons, on purpose to stop the Prosecution of the Wretches, +whom due Enquiries thus provoked, might have made obnoxious unto +Justice. + +_Quære_, Whether if God would have us to proceed any further than bare +_Enquiry_, upon what Reports there may come against any Man, from the +World of _Spirits_, he will not by his Providence at the same time have +brought into our hands, these more evident and sensible things, +whereupon a man is to be esteemed a Criminal. But I will venture to say +this further, that it will be safe to account the Names as well as the +Lives of our Neighbors; two considerable things to be brought under a +Judicial Process, until it be found by Humane Observations that the +Peace of Mankind is thereby disturbed. We are Humane Creatures, and we +are safe while we say, they must be Humane Witnesses, who also have in +the particular Act of Seeing, or Hearing, which enables them to be +Witnesses, had no more than Humane Assistances, that are to turn the +Scale when Laws are to be executed. And upon this Head I will further +add: A wise and a just Magistrate, may so far give way to a common +Stream of Dissatisfaction, as to forbear acting up to the heighth of his +own Perswasion, about what may be judged convictive of a Crime, whose +Nature shall be so abstruse and obscure, as to raise much Disputation. +Tho' he may not do what he should leave undone, yet he may leave undone +something that else he could do, when the Publick Safety makes an +_Exigency_. + + +§ VII. I was going to make one Venture more; that is, to offer some safe +Rules, for the finding out of the Witches, which are at this day our +accursed Troublers: but this were a Venture too _Presumptuous_ and +_Icarian_ for me to make; I leave that unto those Excellent and +Judicious Persons, with whom I am not worthy to be numbred: All that I +shall do, shall be to lay before my Readers, a brief _Synopsis_ of what +has been written on that Subject, by a Triumvirate of as Eminent Persons +as have ever handled it. I will begin with, + + + + +AN ABSTRACT OF MR. PERKINS'S WAY FOR + +THE DISCOVERY OF WITCHES. + + +I. _There are +Presumptions+, which do at least probably and +conjecturally note one to be a +Witch+. These give occasion to Examine, +yet they are no sufficient Causes of Conviction._ + +II. _If any Man or Woman be notoriously defamed for a +Witch+, this +yields a strong Suspition. Yet the Judge ought carefully to look, that +the Report be made by +Men+ of Honesty and Credit._ + +III. _If a +Fellow-Witch+, or +Magician+, give Testimony of any Person +to be a +Witch+; this indeed is not sufficient for Condemnation; but it +is a fit Presumption to cause a strait Examination._ + +IV. _If after Cursing there follow Death, or at least some mischief: +for +Witches+ are wont to practise their mischievous Facts, by Cursing +and Banning: This also is a sufficient matter of Examination, tho' not +of Conviction._ + +V. _If after Enmity, Quarrelling, or Threatning, a present mischief does +follow; that also is a great Presumption._ + +VI. _If the Party suspected be the Son or Daughter, the man-servant or +maid-servant, the Familiar Friend, near Neighbor, or old Companion, of a +known and convicted Witch; this may be likewise a Presumption; for +Witchcraft is an Art that may be learned, and conveyed from man to +man._ + +VII. _Some add this for a Presumption: If the Party suspected be found +to have the Devil's mark; for it is commonly thought, when the Devil +makes his Covenant with them, he alwaies leaves his mark behind them, +whereby he knows them for his own:--a mark whereof no evident Reason in +Nature can be given._ + +VIII. _Lastly, If the party examined be Unconstant, or contrary to +himself, in his deliberate Answers, it argueth a Guilty Conscience, +which stops the freedom of Utterance. And yet there are causes of +Astonishment, which may befal the Good, as well as the Bad._ + +IX. _But then there is a +Conviction+, discovering the +Witch+, which +must proceed from just and sufficient proofs, and not from bare +presumptions._ + +X. _Scratching of the suspected party, and Recovery thereupon, with +several other such weak Proofs; as also, the fleeting of the suspected +Party, thrown upon the Water; these Proofs are so far from being +sufficient, that some of them are, after a sort, practices of +Witchcraft._ + +XI. _The Testimony of some Wizzard, tho' offering to shew the Witches +Face in a Glass: This, I grant, may be a good Presumption, to cause a +strait Examination; but a sufficient Proof of Conviction it cannot be. +If the Devil tell the Grand Jury, that the person in question is a +Witch, and offers withal to confirm the same by Oath, should the Inquest +receive his Oath or Accusation to condemn the man? Assuredly no. And +yet, that is as much as the Testimony of another Wizzard, who only by +the Devil's help reveals the Witch._ + +XII. _If a man, being dangerously sick, and like to dye, upon +Suspicion, will take it on his Death, that such a one hath bewitched +him, it is an Allegation of the same nature, which may move the Judge to +examine the Party, but it is of no moment for Conviction._ + +XIII. _Among the sufficient means of Conviction, the first is, the free +and voluntary Confession of the Crime, made by the party suspected and +accused, after Examination. I say not, that a bare confession is +sufficient, but a Confession after due Examination, taken upon pregnant +presumptions. What needs now more witness or further Enquiry?_ + +XIV. _There is a second sufficient Conviction, by the Testimony of two +Witnesses, of good and honest Report, avouching before the Magistrate, +upon their own Knowledge, these two things: either that the party +accused hath made a League with the Devil, or hath done some known +practice of witchcraft. And, +all Arguments that do necessarily prove +either of these+, being brought by two sufficient Witnesses, are of +force fully to convince the party suspected._ + +XV. _If it can be proved, that the party suspected hath called upon the ++Devil+, or desired his Help, this is a pregnant proof of a League +formerly made between them._ + +XVI. _If it can be proved, that the party hath entertained a Familiar +Spirit, and had Conference with it, in the likeness of some visible +Creatures; here is Evidence of witchcraft._ + +XVII. _If the witnesses affirm upon Oath, that the suspected person hath +done any action or work which necessarily infers a Covenant made, as, +that he hath used Enchantments, divined things before they come to pass, +and that peremptorily, raised Tempests, caused the Form of a dead man +to appear; it proveth sufficiently, that he or she is a +Witch+._ This is +the Substance of Mr. _Perkins_. + + + + +Take next the Sum of Mr. _Gaules_ Judgment about the Detection of +Witches. '1. Some Tokens for the Trial of Witches, are altogether +unwarrantable. Such are the old Paganish Sign, the Witches _Long Eyes_; +the Tradition of Witches not weeping; the casting of the Witch into the +Water, with Thumbs and Toes ty'd a-cross. And many more such Marks, +which if they are to know a Witch by, certainly 'tis no other Witch, but +the User of them. 2. There are some Tokens for the Trial of Witches, +more probable, and yet not so certain as to afford Conviction. Such are +strong and long Suspicion: Suspected Ancestors, some appearance of Fact, +the Corps bleeding upon the Witches touch, the Testimony of the Party +bewitched, the supposed Witches unusual Bodily marks, the Witches usual +Cursing and Banning, the Witches lewd and naughty kind of Life. 3. Some +Signs there are of a Witch, more certain and infallible. As, _firstly_, +Declining of Judicature, or faultering, faulty, unconstant, and contrary +Answers, upon judicial and deliberate examination. _Secondly_, When upon +due Enquiry into a person's Faith and Manners, there are found _all_ or +_most_ of the Causes which produce Witchcraft, namely, _God_ forsaking, +_Satan_ invading, particular _Sins_ disposing; and lastly, a compact +compleating all. _Thirdly_, The Witches free Confession, together with +full Evidence of the Fact. _Confession_ without _Fact_ may be a meer +Delusion, and _Fact_ without _Confession_ may be a meer Accident. +_4thly_, The semblable Gestures and Actions of suspected Witches, with +the comparable Expressions of Affections, which in all Witches have been +observ'd and found very much alike. _Fifthly_, The Testimony of the +Party bewitched, whether pining or dying, together with the joynt Oaths +of sufficient persons, that have seen certain prodigious Pranks or +Feats, wrought by the Party accused. 4. Among the most unhappy +circumstances to convict a Witch, one is, a maligning and oppugning the +Word, Work, and Worship of God, and by any extraordinary sign seeking to +seduce any from it. See _Deut. 13.1, 2._, _Mat. 24.24._, _Act. 13.8, 10._, +_2 Tim. 3.8._ Do but mark well the places, and for this very Property +(of thus opposing and perverting) they are all there concluded arrant +and absolute Witches. 5. It is not requisite, that so _palpable Evidence +of Conviction_ should here come in, as in other more sensible matters; +'tis enough, if there be but so much _circumstantial_ Proof or Evidence, +as the Substance, Matter, and Nature of such an abstruse Mystery of +Iniquity will well admit. [_I suppose he means, that whereas in other +Crimes we look for more direct proofs, in this there is a greater use of +consequential ones._] But I could heartily wish, that the Juries were +empanell'd of the most eminent Physicians, Lawyers, and Divines that a +Country could afford. In the mean time 'tis not to be called a +Toleration, if Witches escape, where Conviction is wanting.' To this +purpose our _Gaule_. + +I will transcribe a little from one Author more, 'tis the Judicious +_Bernard_ of _Batcomb_, who in his _Guide to grand Jurymen_, after he +has mention'd several things that are shrewd Presumptions of a Witch, +proceeds to such things as are the _Convictions_ of such an one. And he +says, '_A witch in league with the +Devil+ is convicted by these +Evidences;_ I. By a witches _Mark_; which is upon the Baser sort of +Witches; and this, by the Devils either Sucking or Touching of them. +_Tertullian_ says, _It is the Devils custome to mark his._ And note, +That this mark is _Insensible_, and being prick'd it will not Bleed. +Sometimes, its like a _Teate_; sometimes but a _Blewish Spot_; sometimes +a _Red_ one; and sometimes the _flesh Sunk_: but the Witches do +sometimes cover them. II. By the Witches _Words_. As when they have been +heard calling on, speaking to, or Talking of their _Familiars_; or, when +they have been heard _Telling_ of _Hurt_ they have done to man or beast: +Or when they have been heard _Threatning_ of such Hurt; Or if they have +been heard Relating their _Transportations_. III. By the Witches +_Deeds_. As when they have been _seen_ with their Spirits, or seen +secretly Feeding any of their _Imps_. Or, when there can be found their +Pictures, Poppets, and other Hellish Compositions. IV. By the Witches +_Extasies_: With the Delight whereof, Witches are so taken, that they +will hardly conceal the same: Or, however at some time or other, they +may be found in them. V. By one or more _Fellow-Witches_, Confessing +their own Witchcraft, and bearing Witness against others; if they can +make good the Truth of their Witness, and give sufficient proof of it. +As, that they have seen them with their Spirits or, that they have +Received Spirits from them; or that they can tell, when they used +Witchery-Tricks to Do Harm; or, that they told them what Harm they had +done; or that they can show the mark upon them; or, that they have been +together in their Meetings; and such like. VI. By some _Witness of God_ +Himself, happening upon the Execrable Curses of Witches upon themselves, +Praying of God to show some Token, if they be Guilty. VII. By the +Witches own _Confession_, of Giving their Souls to the Devil. It is no +Rare thing, for Witches to Confess.' + +They are Considerable Things, which I have thus Recited; and yet it must +be with _Open Eyes_, kept upon _Open Rules_, that we are to follow these +things, + +_S._ 8. But _Juries_ are not the only Instruments to be imploy'd in such +a Work; all _Christians_ are to be concerned with daily and fervent +_Prayers_, for the assisting of it. In the Days of _Athanasius_, the +Devils were found unable to stand before, that Prayer, however then used +perhaps with too much of Ceremony, _Let God Arise, Let his Enemies be +Scattered. Let them also that Hate Him, flee before Him._ + +O that instead of letting our Hearts _Rise_ against one another, our +Prayers might _Rise_ unto an high pitch of Importunity, for such a +_Rising_ of the Lord! Especially, Let them that are _Suffering_ by +_Witchcraft_, be sure to _stay_ and _pray_, and _Beseech the Lord +thrice_, even as much as ever they can, before they complain of any +Neighbour for afflicting them. Let them also that are _accused_ of +_Witchcraft_, set themselves to _Fast_ and _Pray_, and so shake off the +_Dæmons_ that would like _Vipers_ fasten upon them; and get the _Waters +of Jealousie_ made profitable to them. + +And Now, _O Thou Hope of +New-England+, and the Saviour thereof in the +Time of Trouble; Do thou look mercifully down upon us, & Rescue us, out +of the Trouble which at this time do's threaten to swallow us up. Let +Satan be shortly bruised under our Feet, and Let the Covenanted Vassals +of Satan, which have Traiterously brought him in upon us, be Gloriously +Conquered, by thy Powerful and Gracious Presence in the midst of us. +Abhor us not, O God, but cleanse us, but heal us, but save us, for the +sake of thy Glory. Enwrapped in our Salvations. By thy Spirit, Lift up a +standard against our infernal adversaries, Let us quickly find thee +making of us glad, according to the Days wherein we have been afflicted. +Accept of all our Endeavours to glorify thee, in the Fires that are upon +us; and among the rest, Let these my poor and weak essays, composed with +what Tears, what Cares, what Prayers, thou +only+ knowest, not want the +Acceptance of the Lord._ + + + + +A DISCOURSE ON THE WONDERS OF + +THE INVISIBLE WORLD. + + UTTERED (IN PART) ON AUG. 4, 1692. + + Ecclesiastical History has Reported it unto us, That a Renowned + Martyr at the Stake, seeing the Book of the REVELATION thrown + by his no less Profane than Bloody Persecutors, to be Burn'd in + the same Fire with himself, he cryed out, _O Beata Apocalypsis; + quam bene mecum agitur, qui tecum Comburar!_ BLESSED REVELATION! + said he, _How Blessed am I in this Fire, while I have Thee + to bear me Company._ As for our selves this Day, 'tis a Fire of sore + Affliction and Confusion, wherein we are Embroiled; but it is no + inconsiderable Advantage unto us, that we have the Company of + this Glorious and Sacred Book the REVELATION to assist us in our + Exercises. From that Book there is one Text, which I would + single out at this time to lay before you; 'tis that in + + REVEL. XII. 12. + + _Wo to the Inhabitants of the Earth, and of the Sea; for the Devil is + come down unto you, having great Wrath; because he knoweth, that + he hath but a short time._ + + +The Text is Like the Cloudy and Fiery Pillar, vouchsafed unto _Israel_, +in the Wilderness of old; there is a very _dark side_ of it in the +Intimation, that, _The Devil is come down having great Wrath;_ but it +has also a _bright side_, when it assures us, that, _He has but a short +time;_ Unto the Contemplation of _both_, I do this Day Invite you. + +We have in our Hands a Letter from our Ascended Lord in Heaven, to +Advise us of his being still alive, and of his Purpose e're long, to +give us a Visit, wherein we shall see our Living _Redeemer_, _stand at +the latter day upon the Earth_. 'Tis the last Advice that we have had +from Heaven, for now sixteen Hundred years; and the scope of it, is, to +represent how the Lord Jesus Christ having begun to set up his Kingdom +in the World, by the preaching of the Gospel, he would from time to time +utterly break to pieces all Powers that should make Head against it, +until, _The Kingdoms of this World are become the Kingdomes of our Lord, +and of his Christ, and he shall Reign for ever and ever._ 'Tis a +Commentary on what had been written by _Daniel_, about, _The fourth +Monarchy_; with some Touches upon, _The Fifth_; wherein, _The greatness +of the Kingdom under the whole Heaven, shall be given to the people of +the Saints of the most High:_ And altho' it have, as 'tis expressed by +one of the Ancients, _Tot Sacramenta quot verba_, a Mystery in every +Syllable, yet it is not altogether to be neglected with such a Despair, +as that, _I cannot Read, for the Book is Sealed._ It is a REVELATION, +and a singular, and notable _Blessing_ is pronounc'd upon them that +humbly study it. + +The Divine Oracles, have with a most admirable Artifice and Carefulness, +drawn, as the very pious _Beverley_, has laboriously Evinced, an exact +LINE OF TIME, from the first Sabbath at the _Creation_ of the World, +unto the great Sabbatism at the _Restitution_ of all Things. In that +famous _Line of Time_, from the Decree for the Restoring of _Jerusalem_, +after the _Babylonish_ Captivity, there seem to remain a matter of _Two +Thousand and Three Hundred Years_, unto that _New Jerusalem_, whereto +the Church is to be advanced, when the Mystical _Babylon_ shall be +_fallen_. At the Resurrection of our Lord, there were seventeen or +eighteen Hundred of those Years, yet upon the Line, to run unto, _The +rest which remains for the People of God_; and this Remnant in the _Line +of Time_, is here in our _Apocalypse_, variously Embossed, Adorned, and +Signalized with such Distinguishing Events, if we mind them, will help +us escape that Censure, _Can ye not Discern the Signs of the Times?_ + +The Apostle _John_, for the View of these Things, had laid before him, +as I conceive, a _Book_, with leaves, or folds; which _Volumn_ was +written both on the _Backside_, and on the _Inside_, and Roll'd up in a +Cylindriacal Form, under seven _Labels_, fastned with so many _Seals_. +The first _Seal_ being opened, and the first _Label_ removed, under the +first _Label_ the Apostle saw what he saw, of a first _Rider_ +Pourtray'd, and so on, till the last _Seal_ was broken up; each of the +Sculptures being enlarged with agreeable _Visions_ and _Voices_, to +illustrate it. The Book being now Unrolled, there were _Trumpets_, with +wonderful Concomitants, Exhibited successively on the Expanding +_Backside_ of it. Whereupon the Book was _Eaten_, as it were to be +Hidden, from Interpretations; till afterwards, in the _Inside_ of it, +the Kingdom of Anti-christ came to be Exposed. Thus, the Judgments of +God on the _Roman Empire_, first unto the Downfal of _Paganism_, and +then, unto the Downfal of _Popery_, which is but Revived _Paganism_, are +in these Displayes, with Lively Colours and Features made sensible unto +us. + +Accordingly, in the Twelfth Chapter of this Book, we have an August +Preface, to the Description of that Horrid _Kingdom_, which our Lord +Christ refused, but Antichrist accepted, from the Devils Hands; a +Kingdom, which for _Twelve Hundred and Sixty_ Years together, was to be +a continual oppression upon the People of God, and opposition unto his +Interests; until the Arrival of that Illustrious Day, wherein, _The +Kingdom shall be the Lords, and he shall be Governour among the +Nations._ The Chapter is (as an Excellent Person calls it) an +_Extravasated Account_ of the Circumstances, which befell the _Primitive +Church_, during the first Four or Five Hundred Years of Christianity: It +shows us the Face of the Church, first in _Rome_ Heathenish, and then in +_Rome_ Converted, before the _Man of Sin_ was yet come to _Mans Estate_. +Our Text contains the Acclamations made upon the most Glorious +Revolution that ever yet happened upon the Roman Empire; namely, That +wherein the Travailing Church brought forth a Christian Emperour. This +was a most Eminent _Victory_ over the Devil, and _Resemblance_ of the +State, wherein the World, ere long shall see, _The Kingdom of our God, +and the Power of his Christ_. It is here noted, + +First, As a matter of _Triumph_. 'Tis said, _Rejoyce, ye Heavens, and ye +that dwell in them._ The Saints in both Worlds, took the Comfort of this +Revolution; the Devout Ones that had outlived the late Persecutions, +were filled with Transporting Joys, when they saw the _Christian_ +become the _Imperial_ Religion, and when they saw Good Men come to give +Law unto the rest of Mankind; the Deceased Ones also, whose Blood had +been Sacrificed in the Ten Persecutions, doubtless made the Light +Regions to ring with _Hallelujahs_ unto God, when there were brought +unto them, the Tidings of the Advances now given to the _Christian_ +Religion, for which they had suffered _Martyrdom_. + +Secondly, As a matter of _Horror_. 'Tis said, _Wo to the Inhabiters of +the Earth and of the Sea._ The _Earth_ still means the _False Church_, +the _Sea_ means the _Wide World_, in Prophetical Phrasæology. There was +yet left a vast party of Men that were Enemies to the Christian +Religion, in the power of it; a vast party left for the Devil to work +upon: Unto these is a _Wo_ denounced; and why so? 'Tis added, _For the +Devil is come down unto you, having great Wrath, because he knows, that +he has but a short time._ These were, it seems, to have some desperate +and peculiar Attempts of the Devil made upon them. In the mean time, we +may Entertain this for our Doctrine, + +_Great Wo proceeds from the Great WRATH, with which the DEVIL, towards +the end of his TIME, will make a DESCENT upon a miserable World._ + +I have now Published a most awful and solemn Warning for our selves at +this day; which has four _Propositions_, comprehended in it. + +_Proposition I._ That there is a _Devil_, is a thing Doubted by none but +such as are under the Influences of the _Devil_. For any to deny the +Being of a _Devil_ must be from an Ignorance or Profaneness, worse than +_Diabolical_. _A Devil._ What is _that_? We have a Definition of the +Monster, in _Eph. 6.12._ _A Spiritual Wickedness_, that is, _A wicked +Spirit_. A Devil is a _Fallen Angel_, an Angel _Fallen_ from the Fear +and Love of God, and from all Celestial Glories; but _Fallen_ to all +manner of Wretchedness and Cursedness. He was once in that Order of +Heavenly Creatures, which God in the Beginning made _Ministering +Spirits_, for his own peculiar Service and Honour, in the management of +the Universe; but we may now write that Epitaph upon him, _How art thou +fallen from Heaven! thou hast said in thine Heart, I will Exalt my +Throne above the Stars of God; but thou art brought down to Hell!_ A +Devil is a _Spiritual_ and _Rational_ Substance, by his _Apostacy_ from +God, inclined unto all that is Vicious, and for that _Apostacy_ confined +unto the Atmosphere of this Earth, _in Chains under Darkness, unto the +Judgment of the Great Day_. This is a _Devil_; and the _Experience_ of +Mankind as well as the _Testimony_ of Scripture, does abundantly prove +the Existence of such a Devil. + +About this _Devil_, there are many things, whereof we may reasonably and +profitably be Inquisitive; such things, I mean, as are in our Bibles +Reveal'd unto us; according to which if we do not speak, on so _dark_ a +Subject, but according to our own uncertain, and perhaps humoursome +Conjectures, _There is no Light in us._ I will carry you with me, but +unto one Paragraph of the Bible, to be informed of three Things, +relating to the _Devil_; 'tis the Story of the _Gadaren Energumen_, in +the fifth Chapter of _Mark_. + +First, then, 'Tis to be granted; the _Devils_ are so many, that some +Thousands, can sometimes at once apply themselves to vex one Child of +Man. It is said, in _Mark 5.15._ _He that was Possessed with the Devil, +had the Legion._ Dreadful to be spoken! A _Legion_ consisted of Twelve +Thousand Five Hundred People: And we see that in one Man or two, so many +_Devils_ can be spared for a Garrison. As the Prophet cryed out, +_Multitudes, Multitudes, in the Valley of Decision!_ So I say, _There +are multitudes, multitudes, in the valley of Destruction, where the +Devils are!_ When we speak of, _The Devil_, 'tis, _A name of Multitude_; +it means not _One_ Individual Devil, so Potent and Scient, as perhaps a +_Manichee_ would imagine; but it means a _Kind_, which a _Multitude_ +belongs unto. Alas, the _Devils_, they swarm about us, like the _Frogs +of Egypt_, in the most Retired of our Chambers. Are we at our _Boards_? +There will be Devils to Tempt us unto Sensuality: Are we in our _Beds_? +There will be Devils to Tempt us unto Carnality; Are we in our _Shops_? +There will be Devils to Tempt us into Dishonesty. Yea, Tho' we get into +the Church of God, there will be Devils to Haunt us in the very _Temple_ +it self, and there tempt us to manifold Misbehaviours. I am verily +perswaded, That there are very few Humane Affairs whereinto some Devils +are not Insinuated; There is not so much as a _Journey_ intended, but +_Satan_ will have an hand in _hindering_ or _furthering_ of it. + +Secondly, 'Tis to be supposed, That there is a sort of Arbitrary, even +Military _Government_, among the _Devils_. This is intimated, when in +_Mar. 5.9._ _The unclean Spirit said, My Name is Legion:_ they are such +a Discipline as _Legions_ use to be. Hence we read about, _The Prince +of the power of the Air_: Our _Air_ has a _power_? or an Army of Devils +in the _High Places_ of it; and these Devils have a _Prince_ over them, +who is _King over the Children of Pride_. 'Tis probable, That the Devil, +who was the Ringleader of that mutinous and rebellious Crew, which first +shook off the Authority of God, is now the General of those Hellish +Armies; Our Lord, that Conquered him, has told us the Name of him; 'tis +_Belzebub_; 'tis he that is _the Devil_, and the rest are _his Angels_, +or his Souldiers. Think on vast Regiments of cruel and bloody _French +Dragoons_, with an _Intendant_ over them, overrunning a pillaged +Neighbourhood, and you will think a little, what the Constitution among +the _Devils_ is. + +Thirdly, 'tis to be supposed, that some _Devils_ are more peculiarly +_Commission'd_, and perhaps _Qualify'd_, for some Countries, while +others are for others. This is intimated when in _Mar. 5.10._ The Devils +_besought_ our Lord much, _that he would not send them away out of the +Countrey_. Why was that? But in all probability, because _these Devils_ +were more able to _do the works of the Devil_, in such a Countrey, than +in another. It is not likely that every Devil does know every +_Language_; or that every Devil can do every _Mischief_. 'Tis possible, +that the _Experience_, or, if I may call it so, the _Education_ of all +Devils is not alike, and that there may be some difference in their +_Abilities_. If one might make an Inference from what the Devils _do_, +to what they _are_, One cannot forbear dreaming, that there are +_degrees_ of Devils. Who can allow, that such Trifling _Dæmons_, as that +of _Mascon_, or those that once infested our _New berry_, are of so much +Grandeur, as those _Dæmons_, whose Games are mighty Kingdoms? Yea, 'tis +certain, that all Devils do not make a like Figure in the _Invisible +World_. Nor does it look agreeably, That the _Dæmons_, which were the +Familiars of such a Man as the old _Apollonius_, differ not from those +baser Goblins that chuse to Nest in the filthy and loathsom Rags of a +beastly Sorceress. Accordingly, why may not some Devils be more +accomplished for what is to be done in such and such places, when others +must be _detach'd_ for other Territories? Each Devil, as he sees his +advantage, cries out, _Let me be in this Countrey, rather than another._ + +But _Enough_, if not _too much_, of these things. + +_Proposition II._ There is a Devilish _Wrath_ against _Mankind_, with +which the _Devil_ is for _God's sake_ Inspired. The Devil is himself +broiling under the intollerable and interminable _Wrath_ of God; and a +fiery _Wrath_ at God, is, that which the Devil is for that cause +Enflamed. Methinks I see the posture of the Devils in _Isa. 8.21._ _They +fret themselves, and Curse their God, and look upward._ The first and +chief _Wrath_ of the Devil, is at the Almighty God himself; he knows, +_The God that made him, will not have mercy on him, and the God that +formed him, will shew him no favour;_ and so he can have no _Kindness_ +for that God, who has no _Mercy_, nor _Favour_ for him. Hence 'tis, that +he cannot bear the _Name_ of God should be acknowledged in the World: +Every Acknowledgement paid unto _God_, is a fresh drop of the burning +Brimstone falling upon the Devil; he does make his Insolent, tho +Impotent Batteries, even upon the _Throne_ of God himself: and foolishly +affects to have himself exalted unto that _Glorious High Throne_, by +all people, as he sometimes is, by Execrable _Witches_. This horrible +Dragon does not only with his Tayl strike at the _Stars of God_, but at +the God himself, who made the _Stars_, being desirous to out-shine them +all. God and the Devil are sworn Enemies to each other; the Terms +between them, are those, in _Zech. 11.18._ _My Soul loathed them, and +their Soul also abhorred me._ And from this Furious _wrath_, or +Displeasure and Prejudice at God, proceeds the Devils _wrath_ at us, the +poor Children of Men. Our doing the _Service_ of God, is one thing that +exposes us to the _wrath_ of the Devil. We are the _High Priests_ of the +World; when all Creatures are called upon, _Praise ye the Lord_, they +bring to us those demanded _Praises_ of God, saying, _do you offer them +for us._ Hence 'tis, that the Devil has a Quarrel with us, as he had +with the _High-Priest_ in the Vision of Old. Our bearing the Image of +God is another thing that brings the _wrath_ of the Devil upon us. As a +_Tyger_, thro his Hatred at man will tear the very Picture of him, if it +come in his way; such a _Tyger_ the Devil is; because God said of old, +_Let us make Man in our Image_, the Devil is ever saying, _Let us pull +this man to pieces_. But the envious _Pride_ of the Devil, is one thing +more that gives an Edge unto his Furious _Wrath_ against us. The Apostle +has given us an hint, as if _Pride_ had been the _Condemnation of the +Devil_. 'Tis not unlikely, that the Devil's _Affectation_ to be above +that Condition which he might learn that Mankind was to be preferr'd +unto, might be the occasion of his taking up Arms against the _Immortal +King_. However, the Devil now sees _Man_ lying in the Bosom of God, but +_himself_ damned in the bottom of Hell; and this enrages him +exceedingly; _O_, says he, _I cannot bear it, that man should not be as +miserable as my self._ + +_Proposition III._ The _Devil_, in the prosecution, and the execution of +his _wrath_ upon them, often gets a _Liberty_ to make a _Descent_ upon +the Children of men. When the Devil _does hurt_ unto us, he _comes down_ +unto us; for the Rendezvouze of the _Infernal Troops_, is indeed in the +_supernal parts_ of our Air. But as 'tis said, _A sparrow of the Air +does not fall down without the will of God;_ so I may say, _Not a Devil +in the Air, can come down without the leave of God._ Of this we have a +famous Instance in that Arabian Prince, of whom the Devil was not able +so much as to _Touch_ any thing, till the most high God gave him a +permission, to _go down_. The Devil stands with all the Instruments of +death, aiming at us, and begging of the Lord, as that King ask'd for the +Hood-wink'd _Syrians_ of old, _Shall I smite 'em, shall I smite 'em?_ He +cannot strike a blow, till the Lord say, _Go down and smite_, but +sometimes he _does_ obtain from the _high possessor of Heaven and +Earth_, a License for the doing of it. The Devil sometimes does make +most rueful Havock among us; but still we may say to him, as our Lord +said unto a great Servant of his, _Thou couldest have no power against +me, except it were given thee from above._ The Devil is called in _1 +Pet. 5.8._ _Your Adversary_. This is a Law-term; and it notes _An +Adversary at Law_. The Devil cannot come at us, except in some sence +according to _Law_; but sometimes he does procure sad things to be +inflicted, according to the _Law_ of the eternal King upon us. The Devil +first _goes up_ as an _Accuser_ against us. He is therefore styled _The +Accuser_; and it is on this account, that his proper Name does belong +unto him. There is a Court somewhere kept; a Court of Spirits, where the +Devil enters all sorts of Complaints against us all; he charges us with +manifold _sins_ against the Lord our God: _There_ he loads us with heavy +_Imputations_ of Hypocrysie, Iniquity, Disobedience; whereupon he urges, +_Lord, let 'em now have the death, which is their wages, paid unto 'em!_ +If our _Advocate_ in the Heavens do not now take off his Libels; the +Devil, then, with a Concession of God, _comes down_, as a _destroyer_ +upon us. Having first been an _Attorney_, to bespeak that the Judgments +of Heaven may be ordered for us, he then also pleads, that he may be the +_Executioner_ of those Judgments; and the God of Heaven sometimes after +a sort, signs a Warrant, for this _destroying Angel_, to do what has +been _desired_ to be done for the _destroying of men_. But such a +_permission_ from God, for the Devil to _come down_, and _break in_ upon +mankind, oftentimes must be accompany'd with a _Commission_ from some +wretches of mankind it self. Every man is, as 'tis hinted in _Gen. 4.9._ +_His brother's keeper_. We are to _keep_ one another from the Inroads of +the Devil, by mutual and cordial Wishes of prosperity to one another. +When ungodly people give their _Consents_ in _witchcrafts_ diabolically +performed, for the Devil to annoy their Neighbours, he finds a breach +made in the Hedge about us, whereat he Rushes in upon us, with grievous +molestations. Yea, when the impious people, that never saw the Devil, do +but utter their _Curses_ against their Neighbours, those are so many +_watch words_, whereby the Mastives of Hell are animated presently to +fall upon us. 'Tis thus, that the Devil gets _leave_ to worry us. + +_Proposition IV._ Most horrible _woes_ come to be inflicted upon +Mankind, when the _Devil_ does in _great wrath_, make a _descent_ upon +them. The _Devil_ is a _Do-Evil_, and wholly set upon mischief. When our +Lord once was going to _Muzzel_ him, that he might not mischief others, +he cry'd out, _Art thou come to torment me?_ He is, it seems, himself +_Tormented_, if he be but _Restrained_ from the tormenting of Men. If +upon the sounding of the Three last _Apocalyptical Angels_, it was an +outcry made in Heaven, _Wo, wo, wo, to the inhabitants of the Earth by +reason of the voice of the Trumpet._ I am sure, a _descent_ made by the +Angel of _death_, would give cause for the like Exclamation: _Wo to the +world, by reason of the wrath of the Devil!_ what a _woful_ plight, +mankind would by the descent of the Devil be brought into, may be +gathered from the _woful_ pains, and wounds, and hideous desolations +which the Devil brings upon them, with whom he has with a _bodily +Possession_ made a Seisure. You may both in Sacred and Profane History, +read many a direful Account of the _woes_, which they that are possessed +by the Devil, do undergo: And from thence conclude, _What must the +Children of Men hope from such a Devil!_ Moreover, the _Tyrannical +Ceremonies_, whereto the Devil uses to subjugate such _Woful_ Nations or +Orders of Men, as are more Entirely under his Dominion, do declare what +_woful_ Work the Devil would make where he comes. The very Devotions of +those forlorn _Pagans_, to whom the Devil is a Leader, are most bloody +_Penances_; and what _Woes_ indeed must we expect from such a Devil of +a _Moloch_, as relishes no Sacrifices like those of Humane Heart-blood, +and unto whom there is no Musick like the bitter, dying, doleful Groans, +ejaculated by the Roasting Children of Men. + +Furthermore, the servile, abject, needy circumstances wherein the Devil +keeps the Slaves, that are under his more sensible Vassalage, do suggest +unto us, how _woful_ the Devil would render all our Lives. We that live +in a Province, which affords unto us all that may be necessary or +comfortable for us, found the Province fill'd with vast Herds of +Salvages, that never saw so much as a _Knife_, or a _Nail_, or a +_Board_, or a Grain of _Salt_, in all their Days. No better would the +Devil have the World provided for. Nor should we, or any else, have one +convenient thing about us, but be as indigent as _usually_ our most +_Ragged Witches_ are; if _the Devil's Malice_ were not over-ruled by a +_compassionate God_, who _preserves Man and Beast_. Hence 'tis, that +_the Devil_, even like a _Dragon_, keeping a Guard upon such _Fruits_ as +would _refresh_ a languishing World, has hindred Mankind for many Ages, +from hitting those _useful Inventions_, which yet _were so obvious_ and +_facil_, that it is every bodies wonder, they were no sooner hit upon. +The _bemisted World_, must jog on for thousands of Years, without the +knowledg of _the Loadstone_, till a _Neapolitan_ stumbled upon it, about +_three hundred years_ ago. Nor must the World be _blest_ with such a +_matchless Engine_ of _Learning_ and _Vertue_, as that of _Printing_, +till about _the middle of the Fifteenth Century_. Nor could _One Old +Man, all over the Face of the whole Earth_, have the _benefit_ of such a +_Little_, tho most _needful_ thing, as a pair of _Spectacles_, till a +_Dutch-Man_, a _little while_ ago accommodated us. + +Indeed, as the Devil does begrutch us all manner of _Good_, so he does +annoy us with all manner of _Wo_, as often as he finds himself capable +of doing it. But shall we mention some of the _special woes_ with which +the Devil does usually infest the World! Briefly then; _Plagues_ are +some of those _woes_ with which the Devil troubles us. It is said of the +_Israelites_, in _1 Cor. 10.10._ _They were destroyed of the destroyer._ +That is, they had the _Plague_ among them. 'Tis the _Destroyer_, or _the +Devil_, that scatters _Plagues_ about the World. Pestilential and +Contagious Diseases, 'tis the Devil who does oftentimes invade us with +them. 'Tis no uneasy thing for the Devil to impregnate the Air about us, +with such Malignant _Salts_, as meeting with _the Salt_ of our +_Microcosm_, shall immediately cast us into that Fermentation and +Putrefaction, which will utterly dissolve all the Vital Tyes within us; +Ev'n as an _Aqua-Fortis_, made with a conjunction of _Nitre_ and +_Vitriol_, Corrodes what it Seizes upon. And when the Devil has raised +those _Arsenical Fumes_, which become _Venemous Quivers_ full of +_Terrible Arrows_, how easily can he shoot the deleterious _Miasms_ into +those Juices or Bowels of Mens Bodies, which will soon Enflame them with +a Mortal Fire! Hence come such _Plagues_, as that _Beesom of +Destruction_, which within our memory swept away such a Throng of People +from one _English_ City in one Visitation; And hence those Infectious +Fevers, which are but so many _Disguised Plagues_ among us, causing +Epidemical Desolations. Again, _Wars_ are also some of those _Woes_, +with which the Devil causes our Trouble. It is said in _Rev. 12.17._ +_The Dragon was Wrath, and he went to make War;_ and there is in truth +scarce any _War_, but what is of the _Dragon's_ kindling. The Devil is +that _Vulcan_, out of whose Forge come the instruments of our _Wars_, +and it is he that finds us Employments for those Instruments. We read +concerning _Dæmoniacks_, or People in whom the Devil was, that they +would cut and wound themselves; and so, when the Devil is in Men, he +puts 'em upon dealing in that barbarous fashion with one another. _Wars_ +do often furnish him with some Thousands of Souls in one Morning from +one Acre of Ground; and for the sake of such _Thyestæan_ Banquets, he +will push us upon as many _Wars_ as he can. + +Once more, why may not _Storms_ be reckoned among those _Woes_, with +which the Devil does disturb us? It is not improbable that _Natural +Storms_ on the World are often of the Devils raising. We are told in +_Job 1.11, 12, 19._ that the Devil made a _Storm_, which hurricano'd the +House of _Job_, upon the Heads of them that were Feasting in it. +_Paracelsus_ could have informed the Devil, if he had not been informed, +as besure he was before, That if much _Aluminious_ matter, with _Salt +Petre_ not throughly prepared, be mixed, they will send up a cloud of +Smoke, which _will_ come down in Rain. But undoubtedly the _Devil_ +understands as _well_ the way to make a _Tempest_ as to turn the _Winds_ +at the _Solicitation_ of a _Laplander_; whence perhaps it is, that +Thunders are observed oftner to break upon _Churches_ than upon any +other _Buildings_; and besides many a Man, yea many a Ship, yea, many a +Town has miscarried, when the Devil has been permitted from above to +make an horrible Tempest. However that the Devil has raised many +_Metaphorical Storms_ upon the Church, is a thing, than which there is +nothing more notorious. It was said unto Believers in _Rev. 2.10._ _The +Devil shall cast some of you into Prison._ The Devil was he that at +first set _Cain upon Abel_ to butcher him, as the Apostle seems to +suggest, for his Faith in God, as a _Rewarder_. And in how many +_Persecutions_, as well as _Heresies_ has the Devil been ever since +Engaging all the Children of _Cain_! That Serpent the Devil has acted +his cursed Seed in unwearied endeavours to have them, _Of whom the World +is not worthy_, treated as those who are _not worthy to live in the +World_. By the impulse of the Devil, 'tis that first the old _Heathens_, +and then the mad _Arians_ were _pricking Briars_ to the true Servants of +God; and that the _Papists_ that came after them, have out done them all +for Slaughters, upon those that have been _accounted as the Sheep for +the Slaughters_. The late _French_ Persecution is perhaps the horriblest +that ever was in the World: And as the Devil of _Mascon_ seems before to +have meant it in his out-cries upon _the Miseries preparing for the poor +Hugonots_! Thus it has been all acted by a singular Fury of the old +Dragon inspiring of his Emissaries. + +But in reality, _Spiritual Woes_ are the _principal Woes_ among all +those that the Devil would have us undone withal. _Sins_ are the worst +of _Woes_, and the Devil seeks nothing so much as to plunge us into +Sins. When men do commit a Crime for which they are to be Indicted, they +are usually _mov'd by the Instigation of the Devil_. The Devil will put +_ill men upon being worse_. Was it not he that said in _1 King. 22.22._ +_I will go forth, and be a lying Spirit in the Mouth of all the +Prophets?_ Even so the Devil becomes an _Unclean Spirit_, _a Drinking +Spirit_, _a Swearing Spirit_, _a Worldly Spirit_, _a Passionate Spirit_, +_a Revengeful Spirit_, and the like in the Hearts of those that are +already too much of such a Spirit; and thus they become improv'd in +Sinfulness. Yea, the Devil will put _good men upon doing ill_. Thus we +read in _1 Chron. 21.1._ _Satan provoked David to number Israel._ And so +the _Devil provokes_ men that are Eminent in Holiness unto such things +as may become eminently Pernicious; he _provokes_ them especially unto +_Pride_, and unto many unsuitable Emulations. There are likewise most +lamentable Impressions which the _Devil_ makes upon the _Souls of Men_ +by way of punishment upon them for their _Sins_. 'Tis thus when an +Offended God puts the Souls of Men over into the Hands of that Officer +_who has the power of Death, that is, the Devil_. It is the woful Misery +of Unbelievers in _2 Cor. 4.4._ _The god of this World has blinded their +minds._ And thus it may be said of those woful Wretches whom the _Devil_ +is a God unto, _the Devil so muffles them that they cannot see the +things of their peace._ And _the Devil so hardens them, that nothing +will awaken their cares about their Souls:_ How come so many to be +_Seared_ in their Sins? 'Tis the Devil that with a red hot Iron fetcht +from his Hell does _cauterise_ them. Thus 'tis, till perhaps at last +they come to have a _Wounded Conscience_ in them, and the Devil has +often a share in their Torturing and confounding Anguishes. The _Devil_ +who Terrified _Cain_, and _Saul_, and _Judas_ into Desperation, still +becomes a _King of Terrors_ to many Sinners, and frights them from +laying hold on the Mercy of God in the Lord Jesus Christ. In these +regards, _Wo to us, when the Devil comes down upon us._ + +_Proposition V._ Toward the _End_ of his _Time_ the _Descent_ of the +Devil in _Wrath_ upon the World will produce more _woful Effects_, than +what have been _in former Ages_. The dying Dragon, will bite more +cruelly and sting more bloodily than ever he did before: The Death-pangs +of the Devil will make him to be more of a _Devil_ than ever he was; and +the Furnace of this _Nebuchadnezzar_ will be heated _seven times_ +hotter, just before its putting out. + +We are in the first place to apprehend that there is a time fixed and +stated by God for the Devil to enjoy a dominion over our sinful and +therefore woful World. The _Devil_ once exclaimed in _Mat. 8.29._ +_Jesus, thou Son of God, art thou come hither to Torment us before our +Time?_ It is plain, that until the second coming of our Lord the _Devil_ +must have a time of plagueing the World, which he was afraid would have +Expired at his first. The _Devil_ is _by the wrath of God the Prince of +this World_; and the time of his Reign is to continue until the time +when our Lord himself shall _take to himself his great Power and Reign_. +Then 'tis that the _Devil_ shall hear the Son of God swearing with loud +Thunders against him, _Thy time shall now be no more!_ Then shall the +_Devil_ with his Angels receive their doom, which will be, _depart into +the everlasting Fire prepared for you._ + +We are also to apprehend, that in the _mean time_, the Devil can give a +shrewd guess, when he draws near to the _End of his Time_. When he saw +Christianity enthron'd among the _Romans_, it is here said, in our _Rev. +12.12._ _He knows he hath but a short time._ And how does he _know_ it? +Why _Reason_ will make the Devil to _know_ that God won't suffer him to +have _the Everlasting Dominion_; and that when God has once begun to +rescue the World out of his hands, he'll go through with it, until _the +Captives of the mighty shall be taken away and the prey of the terrible +shall be delivered._ But the Devil will have _Scripture_ also, to make +him _know_, that when his Antichristian _Vicar_, the _seven-headed +Beast_ on the _seven-hilled_ City, shall have spent his determined +years, he with his _Vicar_ must unavoidably go down into the _bottomless +Pit_. It is not improbable, that the Devil often hears the _Scripture_ +expounded in our Congregations; yea that we never assemble without a +_Satan_ among us. As there are some Divines, who do with more +uncertainty conjecture, from a certain place in the Epistle to the +_Ephesians_, That the Angels do sometimes come into our Churches, to +gain some advantage from our Ministry. But be sure our _Demonstrable +Interpretations_ may give Repeated Notices to the Devil, _That his time +is almost out;_ and what the Preacher says unto the _Young Man_, _Know +thou, that God will bring thee into Judgment!_ THAT may our Sermons tell +unto the _Old Wretch_, _Know thou, that thy Judgment is at hand._ + +But we must now, likewise, apprehend, that in _such a time_, the _woes_ +of the World will be heightened, beyond what they were at _any time_ yet +from the foundation of the World. Hence 'tis, that the Apostle has +forewarned us, in _2 Tim. 3.1._ _this know, that in the last days, +perillous times shall come._ Truly, when the Devil _knows_, that he is +got into his _Last days_, he will make _perillous times_ for us; the +times will grow more full of _Devils_, and therefore more full of +_Perils_, than ever they were before. Of this, if we would _know_, what +cause is to be assigned; It is not only, because the Devil grows more +_able_, and more _eager_ to vex the World; but also, and chiefly, +because the World is more _worthy_ to be vexed by the Devil, than ever +heretofore. The _Sins_ of men in this Generation, will be more _mighty +Sins_, than those of the former Ages; men will be more Accurate and +Exquisite and Refined in the arts of _Sinning_, than they use to be. And +besides, their own sins, the sins of all the former Ages will also lie +upon the sinners of this generation. Do we ask why the _mischievous +powers of darkness_ are to prevail more in our days, than they did in +those that are past and gone! 'Tis because that men by sinning over +again the sins of the former days, have a _Fellowship with all those +unfruitful works of darkness_. As 'twas said in _Matth. 23.36._ _All +these things shall come upon this generation;_ so, the men of the last +Generation, will find themselves involved in the gulf of all that went +before them. Of Sinners 'tis said, _They heap up wrath;_ and the sinners +of the Last Generations do not only add unto the _heap_ of sin that has +been pileing up ever since the Fall of man, but they Interest themselves +in every sin of that enormous heap. There has been a _Cry_ of all former +ages going up to God, _That the Devil may come down!_ and the sinners of +the Last Generations, do sharpen and louden that _cry_, till the thing +do come to pass, as Destructively as Irremediably. From whence it +follows, that the Thrice Holy God, with his Holy Angels, will now after +a sort more _abandon_ the World, than in the former ages. The roaring +Impieties of _the old World_, at last gave mankind such a distast in the +Heart of the Just God, that he came to say, _It Repents me that I have +made such a Creature!_ And however, it may be but a witty Fancy, in a +late Learned Writer, that the _Earth_ before the Flood was nearer to the +Sun, than it is at this Day; and that Gods Hurling down the _Earth_ to a +further distance from the _Sun_, were the cause of that Flood; yet we +may fitly enough say, that men perished by a _Rejection_ from the God of +Heaven. Thus the enhanc'd Impieties of this _our World_, will Exasperate +the Displeasure of God, at such a rate, as that he will more _cast us +off_, than heretofore; until at last, he do with a more than ordinary +Indignation say, _Go Devils; do you take them, and make them beyond all +former measures miserable!_ + +If Lastly, We are inquisitive after Instances of those aggravated +_woes_, with which the Devil will towards the _End_ of his _Time_ +assault us; let it be remembred, That all the Extremities which were +foretold by the _Trumpets_ and _Vials_ in the Apocalyptick Schemes of +these things, to come upon the World, were the _woes_ to come from the +_wrath_ of the Devil, upon the _shortning_ of his _Time_. The horrendous +desolations that have come upon mankind, by the Irruptions of the old +_Barbarians_ upon the _Roman_ World, and then of the _Saracens_, and +since, of the _Turks_, were such _woes_ as men had never seen before. +The Infandous _Blindness_ and _Vileness_ which then came upon mankind, +and the Monstrous _Croisadoes_ which thereupon carried the _Roman_ World +by Millions together unto the Shambles; were also such _woes_ as had +never yet had a Parallel. And yet these were some of the things here +intended, when it was said, _Wo! For the Devil is come down in great +Wrath, having but a short time._ + +But besides all these things, and besides the increase of _Plagues_ and +_Wars_, and _Storms_, and _Internal Maladies_ now in our days, there are +especially two most extraordinary _Woes_, one would fear, will in these +days become very ordinary. One _Woe_ that may be look'd for is, A +frequent Repetition of _Earthquakes_, and this perhaps by the energy of +the Devil in the _Earth_. The Devil will be clap't up, as a Prisoner in +or near the Bowels of the earth, when once that _Conflagration_ shall be +dispatched, which will make, _The New Earth wherein shall dwell +Righteousness;_ and that _Conflagration_ will doubtless be much +promoted, by the Subterraneous _Fires_, which are a cause of the +_Earthquakes_ in our Dayes. Accordingly, we read, _Great Earthquakes in +divers places_, enumerated among the Tokens of the _Time_ approaching, +when the Devil shall have no longer _Time_. I suspect, That we shall now +be visited with more Usual and yet more Fatal _Earthquakes_, than were +our Ancestors; in asmuch as the _Fires_ that are shortly to _Burn unto +the Lowest Hell, and set on Fire the Foundations of the Mountains_, will +now get more Head than they use to do; and it is not impossible, that +the Devil, who is ere long to be punished in those _Fires_, may +aforehand augment his Desert of it, by having an hand in using some of +those _Fires_, for our Detriment. Learned Men have made no scruple to +charge the Devil with it; _Deo permittente, Terræ motus causat._ The +Devil surely, was a party in the _Earthquake_, whereby the Vengeance of +God, in one black Night sunk Twelve considerable Cities of _Asia_, in +the Reign of _Tiberious_. But there will be more such _Catastrophes_ in +our Dayes; _Italy_ has lately been _Shaking_, till its _Earthquakes_ +have brought Ruines at once upon more than thirty Towns; but it will +within a little while, _shake_ again, and _shake_ till the Fire of God +have made an Entire _Etna_ of it. And behold, This very Morning, when I +was intending to utter among you such Things as these, we are cast into +an _Heartquake_ by Tidings of an _Earthquake_ that has lately happened +at _Jamaica_: an horrible _Earthquake_, whereby the _Tyrus_ of the +English _America_, was at once pull'd into the Jaws of the Gaping and +Groaning Earth, and many Hundreds of the Inhabitants buried alive. The +Lord sanctifie so dismal a Dispensation of his Providence, unto all the +_American_ Plantations! But be assured, my Neighbours, the _Earthquakes_ +are not over yet! We have not yet seen _the last_. And then, Another +_Wo_ that may be Look'd for is, The Devils being now let Loose in +_preternatural Operations_ more than formerly; and perhaps in +_Possessions_ and _Obsessions_ that shall be very marvellous. You are +not Ignorant, That just before our Lords _First Coming_, there were most +observable Outrages committed by the Devil upon the Children of Men: And +I am suspicious, That there will again be an unusual Range of the Devil +among us, a little before the _Second Coming_ of our Lord, which will +be, to give the last stroke, in _Destroying the works of the Devil_. The +_Evening Wolves_ will be much abroad, when we are near the _Evening_ of +the World. The Devil is going to be Dislodged of the _Air_, where his +present Quarters are; God will with flashes of hot _Lightning_ upon +him, cause him to _fall as Lightning_ from his Ancient Habitations: And +the _Raised Saints_ will there have a _New Heaven_, which We _expect +according to the Promise of God_. Now a little before this thing, you be +like to see the Devil more _sensible_ and _visibly_ Busy upon _Earth_ +perhaps, than ever he was before. You shall oftner hear about +_Apparitions_ of the Devil, and about poor people strangely Bewitched, +_Possessed_ and _Obsessed_, by Infernal Fiends. When our Lord is going +to set up His Kingdom, in the most _sensible_ and _visible_ manner, that +ever was, and in a manner answering _the Transfiguration_ in _the +Mount_, it is a Thousand to One, but _the Devil_ will in sundry _parts +of the world_, assay _the like_ for Himself, with a most Apish +Imitation: and Men, at least in _some_ Corners of the World, and perhaps +in _such_ as God may have some special Designs upon, will to their Cost, +be more Familiarized _with the World of Spirits_, than they had been +formerly. + +So that, in fine, if just before _the End_, when _the times of the Jews_ +were to be finished, a man then ran about every where, crying, _Wo to +the Nation! Wo to the City! Wo to the Temple! Wo! Wo! Wo!_ Much more may +the descent of the Devil, just before his _End_, when also _the times of +the Gentiles_ will be finished, cause us to cry out, _Wo! Wo! Wo! +because of the black things that threaten us!_ + +But it is now Time to make our Improvement of what has been said. And, +first, we shall entertain our selves with a few _Corollaries_, deduced +from what has been thus asserted. + + +_Corollary I._ + +What cause have we to bless God, for our preservation from the _Devils +wrath_, in this which may too reasonably be called the _Devils World_! +While we are in _this present evil world_, We are continually surrounded +with swarms of those Devils, who make this _present world_, become so +_evil_. What a wonder of Mercy is it, that no _Devil_ could ever yet +make a prey of us! We can set our foot no where but we shall tread in +the midst of most Hellish _Rattle-Snakes_; and one of those +_Rattle-Snakes_ once thro' the mouth of a Man, on whom he had Seized, +hissed out such a Truth as this, _If God would let me loose upon you, I +should find enough in the Best of you all, to make you all mine._ What +shall I say? The _Wilderness_ thro' which we are passing to the +_Promised Land_, is all over fill'd with _Fiery flying serpents_. But, +blessed be God; None of them have hitherto so fastned upon us, as to +confound us utterly! All our way to Heaven, lies by the _Dens of Lions_, +and the _Mounts of Leopards_; there are incredible Droves of Devils in +our way. But have we safely got on our way thus far? O let us be +thankful to our Eternal preserver for it. It is said in _Psal. 76.10._ +_Surely the wrath of Man shall praise thee, and the Remainder of wrath +shalt thou restrain;_ But _surely_ it becomes us to praise God, in that +we have yet sustain'd no more Damage by the _wrath of the Devil_, and in +that he has restrain'd that Overwhelming _wrath_. We are poor, +Travellers in a World, which is as well the Devils _Field_, as the +Devils _Gaol_; a World in every Nook whereof, the Devil is encamped, +with _Bands of Robbers_, to pester all that have their _Face looking +Zion-ward_: And are we all this while preserved from the undoing Snares +of the _Devil_? it is, _Thou, O keeper of Israel, that hast hitherto +been our Keeper!_ And therefore, _Bless the Lord, O my soul, Bless his +Holy Name, who has redeemed thy Life from the Destroyer!_ + + +_Corollary II._ + +We may see the rise of those multiply'd, magnify'd, and +Singularly-stinged Afflictions, with which _aged_, or _dying_ Saints +frequently have their _Death_ Prefaced, and their _Age_ embittered. When +the Saints of God are going to leave the World, it is usually a more +_Stormy World_ with them, than ever it was; and they find more _Vanity_, +and more _Vexation_ in the world than ever they did before. It is true, +_That many are the afflictions of the Righteous;_ but a little before +they bid adieu to all those many _Afflictions_, they often have greater, +harder, Sorer, Loads thereof laid upon them, than they had yet endured. +It is true, _That thro' much Tribulation we must enter in the Kingdom of +God;_ but a little before our _Entrance_ thereinto, our _Tribulation_ +may have some sharper accents of Sorrow, than ever were yet upon it. And +what is the cause of this? It is indeed the _Faithfulness of our God +unto us_, that we should find the _Earth_ more full of _Thorns_ and +_Briars_ than ever, just before he fetches us from _Earth_ to _Heaven_; +that so we may go away the more willingly, the more easily, and with +less Convulsion, at his calling for us. O there are _ugly Ties_, by +which we are fastned unto this world; but God will by _Thorns and +Briars_ tear those _Ties_ asunder. But, _is not the Hand of Joab here?_ +Sure, There is the _wrath_ of the _Devil_ also in it. A little before we +step into Heaven, the _Devil_ thinks with himself, _My time to abuse +that Saint is now but short; what Mischief I am to do that Saint, must +be done quickly, if at all; he'l shortly be out of my Reach for ever._ +And for this cause he will now fly upon us with the Fiercest Efforts and +Furies of his _Wrath_. It was allowed unto the _Serpent_, in _Gen. 2.15._ +_To Bruise the Heel_. Why, at the _Heel_, or at the _Close_, of our +Lives, the _Serpent_ will be nibbling, more than ever in our Lives +before: and it is, _Because now he has but a short time._ He knows, That +we shall very shortly be, _Where the wicked cease from Troubling, and +where the Weary are at Rest;_ wherefore that _Wicked_ one will now +_Trouble_ us, more than ever he did, and we shall have so much +_Disrest_, as will make us more _weary_ than ever we were, of things +here below. + + +_Corollary III._ + +What a Reasonable Thing then is it, that they whose _Time_ is but +_short_, should make as great _Use_ of their _Time_, as ever they can! +pray, let us learn some _good_, even from the _wicked One_ himself. It +has been advised, _Be wise as Serpents:_ why, there is a piece of +_Wisdom_, whereto that old _Serpent_, the Devil himself, may be our +Moniter. When the Devil perceives his _Time_ is but _short_, it puts him +upon _Great Wrath_. But how should it be with _us_, when we perceive +that our _Time_ is but _short_? why, it should put us upon _Great Work_. +The motive which makes the Devil to be more full of _wrath_; should make +us more full of _warmth_, more full of _watch_, and more full of _All +Diligence to make our Vocation, and Election sure_. Our _Pace_ in our +Journey _Heaven-ward_, must be Quickened, if our _space_ for that +Journey be shortned, even as _Israel_ went further the _two last_ years +of their Journey _Canaan-ward_, than they did in 38 years before. The +Apostle brings this, as a _spur_ to the Devotions of Christians, in _1 +Cor. 7.29._ _This I say, Brethren, the time is short._ Even so, I _say_ +this; some things I lay before you, which I do only _think_, or _guess_, +but here is a thing which I venture to _say_ with all the freedom +imaginable. You have now a _Time_ to _Get_ good, even a _Time_ to make +sure of _Grace and Glory, and every good thing_, by true Repentance: +But, _This I say, the time is but short._ You have now _Time_ to _Do_ +good, even to _serve out your generation_, as by the _Will_, so for the +_Praise_ of God; but, _This I say, the time is but short._ And what I +say thus to _All_ People, I say to _Old_ People, with a peculiar +Vehemency: Sirs, It cannot be long before your _Time_ is out; there are +but a few sands left in the glass of your _Time_: And it is of all +things the saddest, for a man to say, _My Time is done, but my work +undone!_ O then, _To work_ as fast as you can; and of Soul-work, and +Church-work, dispatch as much as ever you can. Say to all _Hindrances_, +as the gracious _Jeremiah Burrows_ would sometimes to _Visitants_: +_You'll excuse me if I ask you to be short with me, for my work is +great, and my time is but short._ Methinks every _time_ we hear a Clock, +or see a Watch, we have an admonition given us, that our _Time_ is upon +the _wing_, and it will all be gone within a little while. I remember I +have read of a famous man, who having a _Clock-watch_ long lying by him, +out of Kilture in his Trunk, it unaccountably struck Eleven just before +he died. Why, there are many of you, for whom I am to do that office +this day: I am to tell you _You are come to your +Eleventh+ hour;_ there +is no more than a _twelfth part_ at most, of your life yet behind. But +if we neglect our business, till our _short Time_ shall be reduced into +_none_, then, _woe to us, for the great wrath of God will send us down +from whence there is no Redemption._ + + +_Corollary IV._ + +How welcome should a _Death in the Lord_ be unto them that belong not +unto the Devil, but unto the Lord! While we are sojourning in this +World, we are in what may upon too many accounts be called _The Devils +Country_: We are where the Devil may come upon us in _great wrath_ +continually. The day when God shall take us out of this World, will be, +_The day when the Lord will deliver us from the hand of all our Enemies, +and from the hand of Satan_. In such a day, why should not our song be +that of the Psalmist, _Blessed be my Rock, and let the God of my +Salvation be exalted!_ While we are here, we are in _the valley of the +shadow of death_; and what is it that makes it so? 'Tis because the +_wild Beasts of Hell_ are lurking on every side of us, and every minute +ready to salley forth upon us. But our _Death_ will fetch us out of that +_Valley_, and carry us where we shall be _for ever with the Lord_. We +are now under the daily _Buffetings_ of the Devil, and he does molest us +with such _Fiery Darts_, as cause us even to cry out, _I am weary of my +Life._ Yea, but are we as _willing to die_, as, _weary of Life_? Our +Death will then soon set us where we cannot be reach'd by the _Fist of +Wickedness_; and where the _Perfect cannot be shotten at_. It is said in +_Rev. 14.13._ _Blessed are the Dead which die in the Lord, they rest +from their labours._ But we may say, _Blessed are the Dead in the Lord, +inasmuch as they rest from the Devils!_ Our _dying_ will be but our +_taking wing_: When attended with a Convoy of winged Angels, we shall be +convey'd into that Heaven, from whence the Devil having been thrown he +shall never more come thither after us. What if God should now say to +us, as to _Moses_, _Go up and die!_ As long as we _go up_, when we +_die_, let us receive the Message with a joyful Soul; we shall soon be +there, where the Devil can't _come down_ upon us. If the _God of our +Life_ should now send that Order to us, which he gave to _Hezekiah_, +_Set thy house in order, for thou shalt die, and not live;_ we need not +be cast into such deadly Agonies thereupon, as _Hezekiah_ was: We are +but going to that _House_, the Golden Doors whereof, cannot be entred by +the Devil that here did use to persecute us. Methinks I see the Departed +_Spirit_ of a Believer, triumphantly carried thro' the Devils +_Territories_, in such a stately and Fiery Chariot, as the +_Spiritualizing Body of Elias_ had; methink I see the Devil, with whole +Flocks of _Harpies_, grinning at this Child of God, but unable to fasten +any of their griping Talons upon him: And then, upon the utmost edge of +our _Atmosphære_, methinks I overhear the holy Soul, with a most +heavenly Gallantry, deriding the defeated Fiend, and saying, _Ah! Satan! +Return to thy Dungeons again; I am going where thou canst not come for +ever!_ O 'tis a brave thing so to die! and especially so to die, _in our +time_. For, tho' when we call to mind, _That the Devils time is now but +short_, it may almost make us wish to _live_ unto the _end_ of it; and +to say with the Psalmist, _Because the Lord will shortly appear in his +Glory, to build up Zion. O my God! Take me not away in the midst of my +days._ Yet when we bear in mind, _that the Devils Wrath is now most +great_, it would make one willing to be _out of the way_. Inasmuch as +now is the time for the doing of those things in the prospect whereof +_Balaam_ long ago cry'd out _Who shall live when such things are done!_ +We should not be inordinately loth to _die_ at such a time. In a word, +the _Times_ are so _bad_, that we may well count it, as _good_ a _time_ +to die in, as ever we saw. + + +_Corollary V._ + +Good News for the _Israel_ of God, and particularly for his _New-English +Israel_. If the Devils _Time_ were above a _thousand years ago_, +pronounced _short_, what may we suppose it now in _our_ Time? Surely we +are not a _thousand years_ distant from those happy _thousand years_ of +rest and peace, and [which is better] _Holiness_ reserved for the People +of God in the latter days; and if we are not a _thousand years_ yet +short of that Golden Age, there is cause to think, that we are not an +_hundred_. That the blessed _Thousand years_ are not yet begun, is +abundantly clear from this, _We do not see the Devil bound;_ No, the +Devil was never more let _loose_ than in our Days; and it is very much +that any should imagine otherwise: But the same thing that proves the +_Thousand Years_ of prosperity for the Church of God, under the whole +Heaven, to be not yet _begun_, does also prove, that it is not very _far +off_; and that is the prodigious _wrath_ with which the Devil does in +our days Persecute, yea, desolate the World. Let us cast our Eyes almost +where we will, and we shall see the _Devils_ domineering at such a rate +as may justly fill us with astonishment; it is questionable whether +_Iniquity_ ever were so rampant, or whether _Calamity_ were ever so +pungent, as in this Lamentable _time_; We may truly say, _'Tis the Hour +and the Power of Darkness._ But, tho the _wrath_ be so _great_, the +_time_ is but _short_: when we are perplexed with the _wrath_ of the +Devil, the _Word_ of our God at the same time unto us, is that in _Rom. +16.20._ _The God of Peace shall bruise Satan under your feet Shortly._ +Shortly, didst thou say, dearest Lord! O gladsome word! Amen, _Even so, +come Lord! Lord Jesus, come quickly! We shall never be rid of this +troublesome Devil, till thou do come to Chain him up!_ + +But because the people of God, would willingly be told _whereabouts_ we +are, with reference to the _wrath and the time_ of the Devil, you shall +give me leave humbly to set before you a few _Conjectures_. + + +_The first Conjecture._ + +The Devils _Eldest Son_ seems to be towards the _End_ of his last +_Half-time_; and if it be so, the Devils _Whole-time_, cannot but be +very near its _End_. It is a very scandalous thing that any +_Protestant_, should be at a loss where to find _the Anti-Christ_. But, +we have a sufficient assurance, that the Duration of _Anti-Christ_, is +to be but for a _Time_, and for _Times_, and for _Half a time_; that is +for _Twelve hundred and Sixty Years_. And indeed, those _Twelve Hundred +and Sixty Years_, were the very Spott of _Time_ left for the _Devil_, +and meant when 'tis here said, _He has but a short time._ Now, I should +have an _easie time_ of it, if I were never put upon an _Harder Task_, +than to produce what might render it extreamly probable, that Antichrist +entred his last _Half-time_, or the last _Hundred_ and _Fourscore_ years +of his Reign, _at_ or soon _after_ the celebrated _Reformation_ which +began at the year 1517 in the former century. Indeed, it is very +agreeable to see how Antichrist then lost _Half_ of his Empire; and how +that _half_ which then became _Reformed_, have been upon many accounts +little more than _Half-reformed_. But by this computation, we must needs +be within a very few years of such a _Mortification_ to befal the See of +_Rome_, as that Antichrist, who has lately been planting (what proves no +more lasting than) a _Tabernacle in the Glorious Holy Mountain between +the Seas_, must quickly, _Come to his End and none shall help him_. So +then, within a very little while, we shall see the Devil stript of the +grand, yea, the last, _Vehicle_, wherein he will be capable to abuse our +World. The _Fires_, with which, _That Beast_ is to be consumed, will so +singe the Wings of the _Devil_ too, that he shall no more set the +Affairs of _this_ world on _Fire_. Yea, they shall both go into the same +_Fire_, to be _tormented for ever and ever_. + + +_The Second Conjecture._ + +That which is, perhaps, the greatest Effect of the _Devils Wrath_, seems +to be in a manner at an _end_: and this would make one hope that the +_Devils time_ cannot be far from its _end_. It is in Persecution, that +the _wrath_ of the Devil uses to break forth, with its greatest fury. +Now there want not probabilities, that the _last Persecution_ intended +for the Church of God, before the Advent of our Lord, has been upon it. +When we see the _second Woe passing away_, we have a fair signal given +unto us, _That the last slaughter of our Lord's Witnesses is over;_ and +then what Quickly follows? The next thing is, _The Kingdoms of this +World, are become the Kingdoms of Our Lord, and of His Christ:_ and then +_down_ goes the Kingdom of the Devil, so that he cannot any more _come +down_ upon us. Now, the Irrecoverable and Irretrievable Humiliations +that have lately befallen the _Turkish Power_, are but so many +Declarations of the _second Woe passing away_. And the dealings of God +with the _European_ parts of the world, at this day, do further +strengthen this our expectation. We _do_ see, _at this hour a great +Earth-quake all Europe over_: and we _shall_ see, that this _great +Earth-quake_, and these great Commotions, will but contribute unto the +advancement of our Lords hitherto-depressed Interests. 'Tis also to be +remark'd that, a disposition to recognize the _Empire_ of God over the +_Conscience_ of man, does now prevail more in the world than formerly; +and God from on High more touches the Hearts of Princes and Rulers with +an averseness to Persecution. 'Tis particularly the unspeakable +happiness of the English Nation, to be under the Influences of that +excellent Queen, who could say, _In as much as a man cannot make himself +believe what he will, why should we Persecute men for not believing as +we do! I wish I could see all good men of one mind; but in the mean time +I pray, let them however love one another._ Words worthy to be written +in Letters of Gold! and by _us_ the more to be considered, because to +one of _Ours_ did that royal Person express Her self so excellently, so +obligingly. When the late King _James_ published his Declaration for +_Liberty of Conscience_, a worthy Divine in the Church of _England_, +then studying the _Revelation_, saw cause upon _Revelational_ Grounds, +to declare himself in such words as these, _Whatsoever others may intend +or design by this Liberty of Conscience, I cannot believe, that it will +ever be recalled in +England+, as long as the World stands._ And you +know how miraculously the _Earth-quake_ which then immediately came upon +the Kingdom, has established that _Liberty_! But that which exceeds all +the tendencies this way, is, the dispensation of God at this Day, +towards the blessed _Vaudois_. Those renowned _Waldenses_, which were a +sort of _Root_ unto all Protestant Churches, were never dissipated, by +all the Persecutions of many Ages, till within these few years, the +_French_ King and the Duke of _Savoy_ leagued for their dissipation. But +just _Three years and a half after_ the _scattering_ of that holy +people, to the surprise of all the World, _Spirit of life from God_ is +come into them; and having with a thousand Miracles repossessed +themselves of their antient Seats, their hot _Persecutor_ is become +their great _Protector_. Whereupon the reflection of the worthy person, +that writes the story is, _The Churches of +Piemont+, being the Root of +the Protestant Churches, they have been the first established; the +Churches of other places, being but the Branches, shall be established +in due time, God will deliver them speedily, He has already delivered +the Mother, and He will not long leave the Daughter behind: He will +finish what he has gloriously begun!_ + + +_The Third Conjecture._ + +There is a _little room_ for hope, that the _great wrath_ of the Devil, +will not prove the present ruine of our poor _New-England_ in +particular. I believe, there never was a poor Plantation, more pursued +by the _wrath_ of the _Devil_, than our poor _New-England_; and that +which makes our condition very much the more deplorable is, that the +_wrath_ of the _great God_ Himself, at the same time also presses hard +upon us. It was a rousing _alarm_ to the Devil, when a great Company of +English _Protestants_ and _Puritans_, came to erect Evangelical +Churches, in a corner of the World, where he had reign'd without any +controul for many Ages; and it is a vexing _Eye-sore_ to the Devil, that +our Lord Christ should be known, and own'd, and preached in this +_howling Wilderness_. Wherefor he has left no _Stone unturned_, that so +he might undermine his Plantation, and force us out of our Country. + +First, The Indian _Powawes_, used all their Sorceries to molest the +first Planters here; but God said unto them, _Touch them not!_ Then, +_Seducing Spirits_ came to _root_ in this Vineyard, but God so rated +them off, that they have not prevail'd much farther than the Edges of +our Land. After this, we have had a continual _blast_ upon some of our +principal Grain, annually diminishing a vast part of our _ordinary +Food_. Herewithal, wasting _Sicknesses_, especially Burning and Mortal +Agues, have Shot the Arrows of Death in at our Windows. Next, we have +had many Adversaries of our own Language, who have been perpetually +assaying to deprive us of those _English Liberties_, in the +encouragement whereof these Territories have been settled. As if this +had not been enough; The _Tawnies_ among whom we came, have watered our +Soil with the Blood of many Hundreds of our Inhabitants. Desolating +_Fires_ also have many times laid the chief Treasure of the whole +Province in Ashes. As for _Losses_ by Sea, _they_ have been multiply'd +upon us: and particularly in the present _French War_, the whole English +Nation have observ'd that no part of the Nation has proportionably had +so many Vessels taken, as our poor _New-England_. Besides all which, now +at last the Devils are (if I may so speak) _in Person_ come down upon us +with such a _Wrath_, as is justly _much_, and will quickly be _more_, +the Astonishment of the World. Alas, I may sigh over _this_ Wilderness, +as _Moses_ did over _his_, in _Psal. 90.7, 9._ _We are consumed by thine +Anger, and by thy Wrath we are troubled: All our days are passed away in +thy Wrath._ And I may add this unto it, _The Wrath of the Devil too has +been troubling and spending of us, all our days._ + +But what will become of this poor _New-England_ after all? Shall we +sink, expire, perish, before the _short time_ of the Devil shall be +finished? I must confess, That when I consider the lamentable +_Unfruitfulness_ of men, among us, under as powerful and perspicuous +Dispensations of the Gospel, as are in the World; and when I consider +the declining state of the _Power of Godliness_ in our Churches, with +the most horrible Indisposition that perhaps ever was, to recover out of +this declension; I cannot but _Fear_ lest it comes to this, and lest an +_Asiatic_ Removal of Candlesticks come upon us. But upon some other +Accounts, I would fain _hope_ otherwise; and I will give _you_ +therefore the opportunity to try what Inferences may be drawn from these +probable Prognostications. + +I say, _First_, That surely, _America's_ Fate, must at the long run +include _New-Englands_ in it. What was the design of our God, in +bringing over so many _Europæans_ hither of later years? Of what use or +state will _America_ be, when the _Kingdom of God_ shall come? If it +must all be the Devils propriety, while the _saved Nations_ of the other +Hæmisphere shall be _Walking in the Light of the New Jerusalem_, Our +_New-England_ has then, 'tis likely, done all that it was erected for. +But if God have a purpose to make here a seat for any of _those glorious +things which are spoken of thee, O thou City of God_; then even thou, _O +New-England_, art within a very little while of better days than ever +yet have dawn'd upon thee. + +I say, _Secondly_, That tho' there be very _Threatning_ Symptoms on +_America_, yet there are some _hopeful_ ones. I confess, when one thinks +upon the crying Barbarities with which the most of those _Europæans_ +that have Peopled this New world, became the Masters of it; it looks but +_Ominously_. When one also thinks how much the way of living in many +parts of _America_, is utterly inconsistent with the very Essentials of +_Christianity_; yea, how much Injury and Violence is therein done to +_Humanity_ it self; it is enough to damp the Hopes of the most Sanguine +Complexion. And the _Frown_ of Heaven which has hitherto been upon +Attempts of better Gospellizing the Plantations, considered, will but +increase the _Damp_. Nevertheless, on the other side, what shall be said +of all the _Promises_, That _our Lord Jesus Christ shall have the +uttermost parts of the Earth for his Possession?_ and of all the +_Prophecies_, That _All the ends of the Earth shall remember and turn +unto the Lord?_ Or does it look _agreeably_, That such a rich quarter of +the World, equal in some regards to all the rest, should never be out of +the _Devils_ hands, from the first Inhabitation unto the last +Dissolution of it? No sure; why may not the _last_ be the _first_? and +the _Sun of Righteousness_ come to shine _brightest_, in Climates which +it rose _latest_ upon! + +I say, _Thirdly_, That _as_ it fares with _Old England_, so it will be +most likely to fare with _New-England_. For which cause, by the way, +there may be more of the Divine Favour in the present Circumstances of +our dependence on _England_, than we are well aware of. This is very +sure, if matters _go ill_ with our _Mother_, her poor American +_Daughter_ here, must feel it; nor could our former Happy Settlement +have hindred our sympathy in that Unhappiness. But if matters _go Well_ +in the Three Kingdoms; as long as God shall bless the English Nation, +with Rulers that shall encourage _Piety_, _Honesty_, _Industry_, in +their Subjects, and that shall cast a Benign Aspect upon the Interests +of our Glorious Gospel, _Abroad_ as well as at _Home_; so long, +_New-England_ will at least keep its head above water: and so much the +more, for our comfortable Settlement in such a Form as we are now cast +into. Unless there should be any singular, destroying, _Topical +Plagues_, whereby an offended God should at last make us _Rise_; But, +_Alas, O Lord, what other Hive hast thou provided for us!_ + +I say, _Fourthly_, That the _Elder England_ will certainly and speedily +be Visited with the _ancient loving kindness_ of God. When one sees, how +strangely the Curse of our _Joshua_, has fallen upon the Persons and +Houses of them that have attempted the Rebuilding of the _Old_ Romish +_Jericho_, which has there been so far demolished, they cannot but say, +That the _Reformation_ there, shall not only be maintained, but also +pursued, proceeded, perfected; and that God will shortly there have a +_New Jerusalem_. Or, Let a Man in his thoughts run over but the series +of amazing Providences towards the English Nation for the last _Thirty +Years_: Let him reflect, how many _Plots_ for the ruine of the Nation, +have been strangely discovered? yea, how very unaccountably those very +_Persons_, yea, I may also say, and those very _Methods_ which were +intended for the tools of that ruine, have become the instruments or +occasions of Deliverances? A man cannot but say upon these Reflections, +as the Wife of _Manoah_ once prudently expressed her self, _If the Lord +were pleased to have Destroyed us, He would not have shew'd us all these +things._ Indeed, It is not unlikely, that the Enemies of the English +Nation, may yet provoke such a _Shake_ unto it, as may perhaps exceed +any that has hitherto been undergone: the Lord prevent the Machinations +of his Adversaries! But that _shake_ will usher in the most _glorious +Times_ that ever arose upon the English _Horizon_. As for the _French_ +Cloud which hangs over _England_, tho' it be like to Rain showers of +_Blood_ upon a Nation, where the _Blood_ of the Blessed Jesus has been +too much treated as an _Unholy Thing_; yet I believe God will shortly +scatter it: and my belief is grounded upon a bottom that will bear it. +If that overgrown _French Leviathan_ should accomplish any thing like a +Conquest of _England_, what could there be to hinder him from the +Universal Empire of the _West_? But the _Visions_ of the Western World, +in the _Views_ both of _Daniel_ and of _John_, do assure us, that +whatever Monarch, shall while the _Papacy_ continues go to swallow up +the _Ten Kings_ which received _their Power_ upon the Fall of the +Western Empire, he must miscarry in the Attempt. The _French Phaetons_ +Epitaph seems written in that, _Sure Word of Prophecy_. + +[Since the making of this Conjecture, there are arriv'd unto us, the +News of a Victory obtain'd by the _English_ over the _French_, which +further confirms our Conjecture; and causes us to sing, _Pharaohs +Chariots, and his Hosts, has the Lord cast down into the Sea; Thy +right-hand has dashed in pieces the Enemy!_] + +Now, _In the Salvation of_ England, the Plantations cannot but +_Rejoyce_, and _New-England_ also will _be Glad_. + +But so much for our _Corollaries_, I hasten to the main thing designed +for your entertainment. And that is, + + + + +AN HORTATORY AND NECESSARY ADDRESS, + +TO A COUNTRY NOW EXTRAORDINARILY ALARUM'D + +BY THE WRATH OF THE DEVIL. + +TIS THIS, + + +Let us now make a good and a right use of the prodigious _descent_ which +the _Devil_ in _Great Wrath_ is at this day making upon our Land. Upon +the Death of a Great Man once, an Orator call'd the Town together, +crying out, _Concurrite Cives, Dilapsa sunt vestra Moenia!_ that is, +_Come together, Neighbours, your Town-Walls are fallen down!_ But such +is the descent of the Devil at this day upon our selves, that I may +truly tell you, _The Walls of the whole World are broken down!_ The +usual _Walls_ of defence about mankind have such a Gap made in them, +that the very _Devils_ are broke in upon us, to seduce the _Souls_, +torment the _Bodies_, sully the _Credits_, and consume the _Estates_ of +our Neighbours, with Impressions both as _real_ and as _furious_, as if +the _Invisible_ World were becoming _Incarnate_, on purpose for the +vexing of us. And what use ought now to be made of so tremendous a +dispensation? We are engaged in a _Fast_ this day; but shall we try to +fetch _Meat out of the Eater_, and make the _Lion_ to afford some _Hony_ +for our _Souls_? + +That the Devil is _come down unto us with great Wrath_, we find, we +feel, we now deplore. In many ways, for many years hath the Devil been +assaying to Extirpate the Kingdom of our Lord Jesus here. _New-England_ +may complain of the Devil, as in _Psal. 129.1, 2._ _Many a time have they +afflicted me, from my Youth, may +New-England+ now say; many a time have +they afflicted me from my Youth; yet they have not prevailed against +me._ But now there is a more than ordinary _affliction_, with which the +_Devil_ is Galling of us: and such an one as is indeed Unparallelable. +The things confessed by _Witches_, and the things endured by _Others_, +laid together, amount unto this account of our _Affliction_. The +_Devil_, Exhibiting himself ordinarily as a small _Black man_, has +decoy'd a fearful knot of proud, froward, ignorant, envious and +malicious creatures, to lift themselves in his horrid Service, by +entring their Names in a _Book_ by him tendred unto them. These +_Witches_, whereof above a Score have now _Confessed, and shown their +Deeds_, and some are now tormented by the Devils, for _Confessing_, have +met in Hellish _Randezvouzes_, wherein the Confessors do say, they have +had their diabolical Sacraments, imitating the _Baptism_ and the +_Supper_ of our Lord. In these hellish meetings, these Monsters have +associated themselves to do no less a thing than, _To destroy the +Kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ, in these parts of the World;_ and in +order hereunto, First they each of them have their _Spectres_, or +Devils, commission'd by them, & representing of them, to be the Engines +of their Malice. By these wicked _Spectres_, they seize poor people +about the Country, with various & bloudy _Torments_; and of those +evidently Preternatural torments there are some have dy'd. They have +bewitched some, even so far as to make _Self-destroyers_: and others +are in many Towns here and there languishing under their _Evil hands_. +The people thus afflicted, are miserably scratched and bitten, so that +the Marks are most visible to all the World, but the causes utterly +invisible; and the same Invisible Furies do most visibly stick Pins into +the bodies of the afflicted, and _scale_ them, and hideously distort, +and disjoint all their members, besides a thousand other sorts of +Plagues beyond these of any natural diseases which they give unto them. +Yea, they sometimes drag the poor people out of their chambers, and +carry them over Trees and Hills, for divers miles together. A large part +of the persons tortured by these Diabolical _Spectres_, are horribly +tempted by them, sometimes with fair promises, and sometimes with hard +threatnings, but always with felt miseries, to sign the _Devils Laws_ in +a Spectral Book laid before them; which two or three of these poor +Sufferers, being by their tiresome sufferings overcome to do, they have +immediately been released from all their miseries and they appear'd in +_Spectre_ then to Torture those that were before their Fellow-Sufferers. +The _Witches_ which by their covenant with the Devil, are become Owners +of _Spectres_, are oftentimes by their own _Spectres_ required and +compelled to give their consent, for the molestation of some, which they +had no mind otherwise to fall upon; and cruel depredations are then made +upon the Vicinage. In the Prosecution of these Witchcrafts, among a +thousand other unaccountable things, the _Spectres_ have an odd faculty +of cloathing the most substantial and corporeal Instruments of Torture, +with Invisibility, while the wounds thereby given have been the most +palpable things in the World; so that the Sufferers assaulted with +Instruments of Iron, wholly unseen to the standers by, though, to their +cost, seen by themselves, have, upon snatching, wrested the Instruments +out of the _Spectres_ hands, and every one has then immediately not only +_beheld_, but _handled_, an Iron Instrument taken by a Devil from a +Neighbour. These wicked _Spectres_ have proceeded so far, as to steal +several quantities of Mony from divers people, part of which Money, has, +before sufficient Spectators, been dropt out of the Air into the Hands +of the Sufferers, while the _Spectres_ have been urging them to +subscribe their _Covenant with Death_. In such extravagant ways have +these Wretches propounded, the _Dragooning_ of as many as they can, in +their own Combination, and the _Destroying_ of others, with lingring, +spreading, deadly diseases; till our Countrey should at last become too +hot for us. Among the Ghastly Instances of the _success_ which those +Bloody Witches have had, we have seen even some of their own Children, +so dedicated unto the Devil, that in their Infancy, it is found, the +_Imps_ have sucked them, and rendred them Venemous to a Prodigy. We have +also seen the Devils first batteries upon the Town, where the first +Church of our Lord in this Colony was gathered, producing those +distractions, which have almost ruin'd the Town. We have seen likewise +the _Plague_ reaching afterwards into other Towns far and near, where +the Houses of good Men have the Devils filling of them with terrible +Vexations! + +This is the Descent, which, it seems, the Devil has now made upon us. +But that which makes this Descent the more formidable, is; The +_multitude_ and _quality_ of Persons accused of an interest in this +_Witchcraft_, by the Efficacy of the _Spectres_ which take their Name +and shape upon them; causing very many good and wise Men to fear, That +many _innocent_, yea, and some _vertuous_ persons, are by the Devils in +this matter, imposed upon; That the Devils have obtain'd the power, to +take on them the likeness of harmless people, and in that likeness to +afflict other people, and be so abused by Præstigious _Dæmons_, that +upon their look or touch, the afflicted shall be odly affected. +Arguments from the _Providence of God_, on the one side, and from our +_Charity_ towards _Man_ on the other side, have made this now to become +a most agitated Controversie among us. There is an _Agony_ produced in +the Minds of Men, lest the Devil should sham us with _Devices_, of +perhaps a finer Thred, than was ever yet practised upon the World. The +whole business is become hereupon so _Snarled_, and the determination of +the Question one way or another, so _dismal_, that our Honourable Judges +have a Room for _Jehoshaphat's_ Exclamation, _We know not what to do!_ +They have used, as Judges have heretofore done, the _Spectral +Evidences_, to introduce their further Enquiries into the _Lives_ of the +persons accused; and they have thereupon, by the wonderful Providence of +God, been so strengthened with _other evidences_, that some of the +_Witch Gang_ have been fairly Executed. But what shall be done, as to +those against whom the _evidence_ is chiefly founded in the _dark +world_? Here they do solemnly demand our Addresses to the _Father of +Lights_, on their behalf. But in the mean time, the Devil improves the +_Darkness_ of this Affair, to push us into a _Blind Mans Buffet_, and we +are even ready to be _sinfully_, yea, hotly, and madly, mauling one +another in the _dark_. + +The consequence of these things, every _considerate_ Man trembles at; +and the more, because the frequent cheats of Passion, and Rumour, do +precipitate so many, that I wish I could say, The most were +_considerate_. + +But that which carries on the formidableness of our Trials, unto that +which may be called, _A wrath unto the uttermost_, is this: It is not +without the _wrath_ of the Almighty _God_ himself, that the _Devil_ is +permitted thus to come down upon us in _wrath_. It was said, in _Isa. +9.19._ _Through the wrath of the Lord of Hosts, the Land is darkned._ +Our Land is _darkned_ indeed; since the _Powers of Darkness_ are turned +in upon us: 'tis a _dark time_, yea a black night indeed, now the +_Ty-dogs_ of the Pit are abroad among us: but, _It is through the wrath +of the Lord of Hosts!_ Inasmuch as the _Fire-brands_ of _Hell_ it self +are used for the scorching of us, with cause enough may we cry out, +_What means the heat of this anger?_ Blessed Lord! Are all the other +Instruments of thy Vengeance, too good for the chastisement of such +transgressors as we are? Must the very _Devils_ be sent out of _Their +own place_, to be our Troublers: Must we be lash'd with _Scorpions_, +fetch'd from the _Place of Torment_? Must this _Wilderness_ be made a +Receptacle for the _Dragons of the Wilderness_? If a _Lapland_ should +nourish in it vast numbers, the successors of the old _Biarmi_, who can +with looks or words bewitch other people, or sell Winds to Marriners, +and have their _Familiar Spirits_ which they bequeath to their Children +when they die, and by their Enchanted Kettle-Drums can learn things done +a Thousand Leagues off; If a _Swedeland_ should afford a Village, where +some scores of Haggs, may not only have their Meetings with _Familiar +Spirits_, but also by their Enchantments drag many scores of poor +children out of their Bed-chambers, to be spoiled at those Meetings; +This, were not altogether a matter of so much wonder! But that +_New-England_ should this way be harassed! They are not _Chaldeans_, +that _Bitter and Hasty Nation_, but they are, _Bitter and Burning +Devils_; They are not _Swarthy Indians_, but they are _Sooty Devils_; +that are let loose upon us. Ah, Poor _New-England_! Must the plague of +_Old Ægypt_ come upon thee? Whereof we read in _Psal. 78.49._ _He cast +upon them the fierceness of his Anger, Wrath, and Indignation, and +Trouble, by sending Evil Angels among them._ What, O what must next be +looked for? Must that which is there next mentioned, be next +encountered? _He spared not their soul from death, but gave their life +over to the Pestilence._ For my part, when I consider what _Melancthon_ +says, in one of his Epistles, _That these Diabolical Spectacles are +often Prodigies;_ and when I consider, how often people have been by +_Spectres_ called upon, just before their Deaths; I am verily afraid, +lest some wasting _Mortality_ be among the things, which this Plague is +the _Forerunner_ of. I pray God prevent it! + +But now, _What shall we do?_ + +_I._ Let the Devils _coming down_ in _great wrath_ upon us, cause us to +_come down_ in _great grief_ before the Lord. We may truly and sadly +say, _We are brought very low!_ _Low_ indeed, when the Serpents of the +dust, are crawling and coyling about us, and Insulting over us. May we +not say, _We are in the very belly of Hell_, when _Hell_ it self is +feeding upon us? But how _Low_ is that! O let us then most penitently +lay our selves very _Low_ before the God of Heaven, who has thus Abased +us. When a Truculent _Nero_, a _Devil_ of a Man, was turned in upon the +World, it was said, in _1 Pet. 5.6._ _Humble your selves under the mighty +hand of God._ How much more now ought we to _humble our selves_ under +that _Mighty Hand_ of that God who indeed has the _Devil_ in a _Chain_, +but has horribly lengthened out the _Chain_! When the old people of God +heard any _Blasphemies_, tearing of his Ever-Blessed Name to pieces, +they were to _Rend their Cloaths_ at what they heard. I am sure that we +have cause to _Rend our Hearts_ this Day, when we see what an High +Treason has been committed against the most high God, by the Witchcrafts +in our Neighbourhood. We may say; and shall we not be _humbled_ when we +say it? _We have seen an horrible thing done in our Land!_ O 'tis a most +humbling thing, to think, that ever there should be such an abomination +among us, as for a crue of humane race, to renounce their _Maker_, and +to unite with the _Devil_, for the troubling of mankind, and for People +to be, (as is by some confess'd) _Baptized_ by a _Fiend_ using this form +upon them, _Thou art mine, and I have a full power over thee!_ +afterwards communicating in an Hellish _Bread_ and _Wine_, by that Fiend +administred unto them. It was said in _Deut. 18.10, 11, 12._ _There shall +not be found among you an Inchanter, or a Witch, or a Charmer, or a +Consulter with Familiar Spirits, or a Wizzard, or a Necromancer; For all +that do these things are an Abomination to the Lord, and because of +these Abominations, the Lord thy God doth drive them out before thee._ +That _New-England_ now should have these _Abominations_ in it, yea, that +some of no mean _Profession_, should be found guilty of them: Alas, what +_Humiliations_ are we all hereby oblig'd unto? O 'tis a _Defiled Land_, +wherein we live; Let us be humbled for these _Defiling Abominations_, +lest we be driven out of our Land. It's a very _humbling_ thing to +think, what reproaches will be cast upon us, for this matter, among _The +Daughters of the Philistines_. Indeed, enough might easily be said for +the vindication of _this_ Country from the _Singularity_ of this matter, +by ripping up, what has been discovered in _others_. _Great Brittain_ +alone, and this also in our days of _Greatest Light_, has had that in +it, which may divert the Calumnies of an ill-natured World, from +centring here. They are words of the Devout Bishop _Hall_, _Satans +prevalency in this Age, is most clear in the marvellous Number of +Witches, abounding in all places. Now Hundreds are discovered in one +Shire; and, if Fame Deceives us not, in a Village of Fourteen Houses in +the North, are found so many of this Damned Brood. Yea, and those of +both Sexes, who have Professed much Knowledge, Holiness, and Devotion, +are drawn into this Damnable Practice._ I suppose the Doctor in the +first of those Passages, may refer to what happened in the Year 1645. +When so many Vassals of the Devil were Detected, that there were +_Thirty_ try'd at one time, whereas about _fourteen_ were Hang'd, and an +Hundred more detained in the Prisons of _Suffolk_ and _Essex_. Among +other things which many of these Acknowledged, one was, That they were +to undergo certain _Punishments_, if they did not such and such _Hurts_, +as were appointed them. And, among the rest that were then Executed, +there was an Old Parson, called _Lowis_, who confessed, That he had a +couple of _Imps_, whereof _one_ was always putting him upon the doing of +Mischief; Once particularly, that _Imp_ calling for his Consent so to +do, went immediately and Sunk a _Ship_, then under Sail. I pray, let not +_New-England_ become of an Unsavoury and a Sulphurous Resentment in the +Opinion of the World abroad, for the Doleful things which are now fallen +out among us, while there are such _Histories_ of other places abroad in +the World. Nevertheless, I am sure that _we_, the People of +_New-England_, have cause enough to _Humble_ our selves under our most +_Humbling_ Circumstances. We must no more be _Haughty, because of the +Lords Holy Mountain among us_; No it becomes us rather to be, _Humble, +because we have been such an Habitation of Unholy Devils_! + +_II._ Since the Devil is _come down in great wrath_ upon us, let not us +in our _great wrath_ against one another provide a _Lodging_ for him. It +was a most wholesome caution, in _Eph. 4.26, 27._ _Let not the Sun go +down upon your wrath: Neither give place to the Devil._ The Devil is +come down to see what _Quarter_ he shall find among us: And if his +coming down, do now fill us with _wrath_ against one another, and if +between the cause of the _Sufferers_ on one hand, and the cause of the +_Suspected_ on t'other, we carry things to such extreams of _Passion_ as +are now gaining upon us, the Devil will Bless himself, to find such a +convenient _Lodging_ as we shall therein afford unto him. And it may be +that the _wrath_ which we have had against one another has had more than +a little influence upon the coming down of the Devil in that _wrath_ +which now amazes us. Have not many of us been _Devils_ one unto another +for Slanderings, for Backbitings, for Animosities? For _this_, among +other causes, perhaps, God has permitted the Devils to be worrying, as +they now are, among us. But it is high time to leave off all _Devilism_, +when the _Devil_ himself is falling upon us: And it is _no time_ for us +to be Censuring and Reviling one another, with a _Devilish wrath_, when +the _wrath_ of the _Devil_ is annoying of us. The way for us to out-wit +the Devil, in the _Wiles_ with which he now _Vexes_ us, would be for us +to joyn as one man in our cries to God, for the Directing, and Issuing +of this Thorny Business; but if we do not _Lift up_ our Hands to +Heaven, _without Wrath_, we cannot then do it _without Doubt_, of +speeding in it. I am ashamed when I read French Authors giving this +Character of Englishmen [_Ils se haissent Les uns les autres, & sont en +Division Continuelle._] _They hate one another, and are always +Quarrelling one with another._ And I shall be much more ashamed, if it +become the Character of _New-Englanders_; which is indeed what the Devil +would have. _Satan_ would make us _bruise_ one another, by breaking of +the _Peace_ among us; but O let us disappoint him. We read of a thing +that sometimes happens to the _Devil_, when he is foaming with his +_Wrath_, in _Mar. 12.43._ _The unclean Spirit seeks rest, and finds none._ +But we give _rest_ unto the Devil, by _wrath_ one against another. If we +would lay aside all fierceness, and keenness, in the disputes which the +Devil has raised among us; and if we would use to one another none but +the _soft Answers, which turn away wrath_: I should hope that we might +light upon such Counsels, as would quickly Extricate us out of our +_Labyrinths_. But the old _Incendiary_ of the world, is come from Hell, +with _Sparks_ of Hell-Fire flashing on every side of him; and we make +our selves _Tynder_ to the Sparks. When the Emperour _Henry_ III. kept +the Feast of _Pentecost_, at the City _Mentz_, there arose a dissension +among some of the people there, which came from words to blows, and at +last it passed on to the shedding of Blood. After the Tumult was over, +when they came to that clause in their Devotions, _Thou hast made this +day Glorious;_ the Devil to the unexpressible Terrour of that vast +Assembly, made the Temple Ring with that Outcry _But I have made this +Day Quarrelsome!_ We are truly come into a day, which by being well +managed might be very _Glorious_, for the exterminating of those +_Accursed things_, which have hitherto been the Clogs of our Prosperity; +but if we make this day _Quarrelsome_, thro' any _Raging Confidences_, +Alas, O Lord, _my Flesh Trembles for Fear of thee, and I am afraid of +thy Judgments._ _Erasmus_, among other Historians, tells us, that at a +Town in _Germany_, a Witch or Devil, appeared on the Top of a Chimney, +Threatning to set the Town on _Fire_: And at length, Scattering a Pot of +Ashes abroad, the Town was presently and horribly Burnt unto the Ground. +Methinks, I see the _Spectres_, from the Top of the Chimneys to the +Northward, threatning to scatter _Fire_, about the Countrey; but let us +quench that _Fire_, by the most amicable Correspondencies: Lest, as the +_Spectres_, have, they say, already most Literally burnt some of our +Dwellings there do come forth a further _Fire_ from the _Brambles_ of +Hell, which may more terribly _Devour_ us. Let us not be like a +_Troubled House_, altho' we are so much haunted by the _Devils_. Let our +_Long suffering_ be a well-placed piece of _Armour_, about us, against +the _Fiery Darts_ of the wicked ones. History informs us, That so long +ago, as the year, 858, a certain Pestilent and Malignant sort of a +_Dæmon_, molested _Caumont_ in _Germany_ with all sorts of methods to +stir up strife among the Citizens. He uttered Prophecies, he detected +Villanies, he branded people with all kind of Infamies. He incensed the +Neighbourhood against one Man particularly, as the cause of all the +mischiefs: who yet proved himself innocent. He threw stones at the +Inhabitants, and at length burnt their Habitations, till the Commission +of the _Dæmon_ could go no further. I say, Let us be well aware lest +such _Dæmons_ do _Come hither also_. + +_III._ Inasmuch as the Devil is come down in _Great Wrath_, we had need +Labour, with all the Care and Speed we can to Divert the _Great Wrath_ +of Heaven from coming at the same time upon us. The God of Heaven has +with long and loud Admonitions, been calling us to _a Reformation of our +Provoking Evils_, as the only way to avoid that _Wrath_ of His, which +does not only _Threaten_ but _Consume_ us. 'Tis because we have been +Deaf to those _Calls_ that we are now by a provoked God, laid open to +the _Wrath_ of the Devil himself. It is said in _Pr. 16.17._ _When a mans +ways please the Lord, he maketh even his Enemies to be at peace with +him._ The Devil is our grand _Enemy_; and tho' we would not be at peace +_with_ him, yet we would be at peace from him, that is, we would have +him unable to disquiet our _peace_. But inasmuch as the _wrath_ which we +endure from this _Enemy_, will allow us no _peace_, we may be sure, _our +ways have not pleased the Lord._ It is because we have _broken the +hedge_ of Gods _Precepts_, that the hedge of Gods _Providence_ is not so +entire as it uses to be about us; but _Serpents_ are _biting_ of us. O +let us then set our selves to make our _peace_ with our God, whom we +have _displeased_ by our iniquities: and let us not imagine that we can +encounter the _Wrath_ of the Devil, while there is the _Wrath_ of God +Almighty to set that Mastiff upon us. REFORMATION! REFORMATION! has been +the repeated _Cry_ of all the Judgments that have hitherto been upon us; +because we have been as _deaf Adders_ thereunto, the _Adders_ of the +Infernal Pit are now hissing about us. At length, as it was of old said, +_Luke 16.30._ _If one went unto them from the dead, they will repent;_ +even so, there are some come unto us from the _Damned_. The great God +has loosed the Bars of the Pit, so that many _damned Spirits_ are come +in among us, to make us _repent_ of our Misdemeanours. The means which +the Lord had formerly employ'd for our _awakening_, were such, that he +might well have said, _What could I have done more?_ and yet after all, +he has done _more_, in some regards, than was ever done for the +awakening of any People in the World. The things now done to awaken our +Enquiries after our _provoking Evils_, and our endeavours to Reform +those Evils, are most _extraordinary_ things; for which cause I would +freely speak it, if we now do not some _extraordinary_ things in +returning to God; we are the most _incurable_, and I wish it be not +quickly said, the most _miserable_ People under the Sun. Believe me, +'tis a time for all people to do something _extraordinary, in searching +and trying of their ways, and in turning to the Lord_. It is at an +_extraordinary_ rate of _Circumspection_ and _Spiritual mindedness_, +that we should all now maintain a _walk with God_. At such a time as +this ought _Magistrates_ to do something _extraordinary_ in promoting of +what is laudable, and in restraining and chastising of _Evil Doers_. At +such a time as this ought _Ministers_ to do something _extraordinary_ in +pulling the Souls of men out of the _Snares_ of the Devil, not only by +publick Preaching, but by personal Visits and Counsels, _from house to +house_. At such a time as this ought _Churches_ to do something +_extraordinary_, in _renewing_ of their Covenants, and in _remembring_, +and _reviving_ the Obligations of what they have renewed. Some admirable +Designs about the _Reformation_ of Manners, have lately been on foot in +the English Nation, in pursuance of the most excellent Admonitions which +have been given for it, by the Letters of Their Majesties. Besides the +vigorous Agreements of the _Justices_ here and there in the Kingdom, +assisted by godly Gentlemen and Informers, to Execute the _Laws_ upon +prophane Offenders; there has been started a _Proposal_ for the +well-affected people in every Parish, to enter into orderly _Societies_, +whereof every Member shall bind himself, not only to _avoid_ +Prophaneness in himself, but also according unto to their Place, to do +their utmost in first _Reproving_; and, if it must be so, then +_Exposing_, and so _Punishing_, as the Law directs, for others that +shall be guilty. It has been observed, that the English Nation has had +some of its greatest Successes, upon some special and signal _Actions_ +this way; and a discouragement given under Legal Proceedings of this +kind, must needs be very exercising to the _Wise that observe these +things_. But, O why should not _New-England_ be the most forward part of +the English Nation in such _Reformations_? Methinks I hear the Lord from +Heaven saying over us, _O that my People had hearkened unto me; then I +should soon have subdued the Devils, as well as their other Enemies!_ +There have been some feeble Essays towards _Reformation_ of late in our +_Churches_; but, I pray what comes of them? Do we stay till the _Storm_ +of his _Wrath_ be over? Nay, let us be doing what we can, as fast as we +can, to divert the _Storm_. The Devils having broke in upon our World, +there is great asking, _Who is it that has brought them in?_ And many +do by _Spectral_ Exhibitions come to be _cry'd out_ upon. I hope in Gods +time it will be found, that among those that are thus _cry'd out_ upon, +there are persons yet _Clear from the great Transgression_; but indeed, +all the _Unreformed_ among us, may justly be _cry'd out_ upon, as having +too much of an hand in letting of the Devils into our Borders; 'tis +_our_ Worldliness, _our_ Formality, _our_ Sensuality, and _our_ Iniquity +that has help'd this letting of the Devils in. O let us then at last, +_consider our ways_. 'Tis a strange passage recorded by Mr. _Clark_ in +the Life of his Father, That the People of his Parish, refusing to be +Reclaimed from their _Sabbath breaking_, by all the zealous Testimonies +which that good Man bore against it; at last, on a night after the +people had retired home from a Revelling Prophanation of the _Lords +Day_, there was heard a great Noise, with rattling of Chains up and down +the Town, and an horrid Scent of Brimstone fill'd the Neighbourhood. +Upon which the _guilty Consciences_ of the Wretches told them, the Devil +was come to fetch them away; and it so terrifi'd them, that an Eminent +_Reformation_ follow'd the Sermons which that Man of God Preached +thereupon. Behold, Sinners, behold and _wonder_, lest you _perish_: the +very _Devils_ are walking about our Streets, with lengthened _Chains_, +making a dreadful Noise in our Ears, and _Brimstone_ even without a +Metaphor, is making an hellish and horrid stench in our Nostrils. I pray +leave off all those things whereof your _guilty Consciences_ may now +accuse you, lest these Devils do yet more direfully fall upon you. +_Reformation_ is at this time our only _Preservation_. + +_IV._ When the Devil is come down in _great Wrath_, let every _great +Vice_ which may have a more particular tendency to make us a Prey unto +that _Wrath_, come into a due discredit with us. It is the general +Concession of all men, who are not become too _Unreasonable_ for common +Conversation, that the Invitation of _Witchcrafts_ is the thing that has +now introduced the Devil into the midst of us. I say then, let not only +all _Witchcrafts_ be duly abominated with us, but also let us be duly +watchful against all the _Steps_ leading thereunto. There are lesser +_Sorceries_ which they say, are too frequent in our Land. As it was said +in _2 King. 17.9._ _The Children of +Israel+ did secretly those things +that were not right, against the Lord their God._ So 'tis to be feared, +the Children of _New-England_ have _secretly_ done many things that have +been pleasing to the Devil. They say, that in some Towns it has been an +usual thing for People to cure Hurts with _Spells_, or to use detestable +Conjurations, with _Sieves_, _Keys_, and _Pease_, and _Nails_, and +_Horse-shoes_, and I know not what other Implements, to learn the things +for which they have a forbidden, and an impious _Curiosity_. 'Tis in the +Devils Name, that such things are done; and in Gods Name I do this day +charge them, as vile Impieties. By these Courses 'tis, that People play +upon _The Hole of the Asp_, till that cruelly venemous _Asp_ has pull'd +many of them into the deep _Hole_ of _Witchcraft_ it self. It has been +acknowledged by some who have sunk the deepest into this _horrible Pit_, +that they began at these little _Witchcrafts_; on which 'tis pity but +the Laws of the English Nation, whereby the incorrigible repetition of +those _Tricks_, is made _Felony_, were severely Executed. From the like +sinful _Curiosity_ it is, that the Prognostications of _Judicial +Astrology_, are so injudiciously regarded by multitudes among us; and +altho' the Jugling _Astrologers_ do scarce ever hit right, except it be +in such _Weighty Judgments_, forsooth, as that many _Old Men_ will die +such a year, and that there will be many _Losses_ felt by some that +venture to Sea, and that there will be much _Lying_ and _Cheating_ in +the World; yet their foolish Admirers will not be perswaded but that the +Innocent _Stars_ have been concern'd in these Events. It is a disgrace +to the English Nation, that the Pamphlets of such idle, futil, trifling +_Stargazers_ are so much considered; and the Countenance hereby given to +a Study, wherein at last, all is done by _Impulse_, if any thing be done +to any purpose at all, is not a little perillous to the Souls of Men. It +is (_a Science_, I dare not call it, but) a _Juggle_, whereof the +Learned _Hall_ well says, _It is presumptuous and unwarrantable, and +cry'd ever down by Councils and Fathers, as unlawful, as that which lies +in the mid-way between Magick and Imposture, and partakes not a little +of both._ Men consult the Aspects of Planets, whose Northern or Southern +motions receive denominations from a _Cælestial Dragon_, till the +_Infernal Dragon_ at length insinuate into them, with a _Poison_ of +_Witchcraft_ that can't be cured. Has there not also been a world of +_discontent_ in our Borders? 'Tis no wonder, that the _fiery Serpents_ +are so Stinging of us; We have been a most _Murmuring Generation_. It is +not Irrational, to ascribe the late Stupendious growth of _Witches_ +among us, partly to the bitter _discontents_, which Affliction and +Poverty has fill'd us with: it is inconceivable, what advantage the +Devil gains over men, by _discontent_. Moreover, the Sin of _Unbelief_ +may be reckoned as perhaps the chief _Crime_ of our Land. We are told, +_God swears in wrath, against them that believe not;_ and what follows +then but this, _That the Devil comes unto them in wrath?_ Never were the +offers of the _Gospel_, more freely tendered, or more basely despised, +among any People under the whole Cope of Heaven, than in this _N. E._ +Seems it at all marvellous unto us, that the _Devil_ should get such +footing in our Country? Why, 'tis because the _Saviour_ has been +slighted here, perhaps more than any where. The Blessed Lord Jesus +Christ has been profering to us, _Grace, and Glory, and every good +thing_, and been alluring of us to Accept of Him, with such Terms as +these, _Undone Sinner, I am All; Art thou willing that I should be thy +All?_ But, as a proof of that Contempt which this Unbelief has cast upon +these proffers, I would seriously ask of the so many Hundreds above a +Thousand People within these Walls; which of you all, O how few of you, +can indeed say, _Christ is mine, and I am his, and he is the Beloved of +my Soul?_ I would only say thus much: When the precious and glorious +Jesus, is Entreating of us to Receive _Him_, in all His _Offices_, with +all His _Benefits_; the Devil minds what Respect we pay unto that +Heavenly Lord; if we _Refuse Him that speaks from Heaven_, then he that, +_Comes from Hell_, does with a sort of claim set in, and cry out, _Lord, +since this Wretch is not willing that thou shouldst have him, I pray, +let me have him._ And thus, by the just vengeance of Heaven, the Devil +becomes a _Master_, a _Prince_, a _God_, unto the miserable Unbelievers: +but O what are many of them then hurried unto! All of these Evil +Things, do I now set before you, as _Branded_ with the Mark of the Devil +upon them. + +_V._ With _Great Regard_, with _Great Pity_, should we Lay to Heart the +Condition of those, who are cast into Affliction, by the _Great Wrath_ +of the Devil. There is a Number of our Good Neighbours, and some of them +very particularly noted for Goodness and Vertue, of whom we may say, +_Lord, They are vexed with Devils._ Their Tortures being primarily +Inflicted on their _Spirits_, may indeed cause the Impressions thereof +upon their Bodies to be the less _Durable_, tho' rather the more +_Sensible_: but they Endure Horrible Things, and many have been actually +Murdered. Hard _Censures_ now bestow'd upon these poor Sufferers, cannot +but be very Displeasing unto our Lord, who, as He said, about some that +had been Butchered by a _Pilate_, in _Luc. 13.2, 3._ _Think ye that these +were Sinners above others, because they suffered such Things? I tell you +No, But except ye Repent, ye shall all likewise Perish:_ Even so, he now +says, _Think ye that they who now suffer by the Devil, have been greater +Sinners than their Neighbours?_ No, Do you Repent of your _own Sins_, +Lest the Devil come to fall foul of _you_, as he has done to _them_. And +if this be so, How _Rash_ a thing would it be, if such of the poor +Sufferers, as carry it with a Becoming Piety, Seriousness, and +Humiliation under their present Suffering, should be unjustly +_Censured_; or have their very _Calamity_ imputed unto them as a +_Crime_? It is an easie thing, for us to fall into the Fault of, _Adding +Affliction to the Afflicted_, and of, _Talking to the Grief of those +that are already wounded_. Nor can it be wisdom to slight the Dangers of +such a Fault. In the mean time, We have no Bowels in us, if we do not +Compassionate the Distressed County of _Essex_, now crying to all these +Colonies, _Have pity on me, O ye my Friends, Have pity on me, for the +Hand of the Lord has Touched me, and the Wrath of the Devil has been +therewithal turned upon me._ But indeed, if an hearty _pity_ be due to +any, I am sure, the Difficulties which attend our Honourable _Judges_, +do demand no Inconsiderable share in that _Pity_. What a Difficult, what +an Arduous Task, have those Worthy Personages now upon their Hands? To +carry the _Knife_ so exactly, that on the one side, there may be no +Innocent Blood Shed, by too unseeing a _Zeal for the Children of +Israel_; and that on the other side, there may be no Shelter given to +those Diabolical _Works of Darkness_, without the Removal whereof we +never shall have _Peace_; or to those _Furies_ whereof several have +kill'd _more people_ perhaps than would serve to make a Village: _Hic +Labor, Hoc Opus est!_ O what need have we, to be concerned, that the +Sins of our _Israel_, may not provoke the God of Heaven to leave his +_Davids_, unto a wrong Step, in a matter of such Consequence, as is now +before them! Our Disingenuous, Uncharitable, Unchristian Reproaching of +such _Faithful Men_, after all, _The Prayers and Supplications, with +strong Crying and Tears_, with which we are daily plying the Throne of +Grace, that they may be kept, from what _They Fear_, is none of the way +for our preventing of what _We Fear_. Nor all this while, ought our +_Pity_ to forget such _Accused_ ones, as call for indeed our most +Compassionate _Pity_, till there be fuller Evidences that they are less +worthy of it. If _Satan_ have any where maliciously brought upon the +_Stage_, those that have hitherto had a just and good stock of +Reputation, for their just and good Living, among us; If the _Evil One_ +have obtained a permission to _Appear_, in the Figure of such as we have +cause to think, have hitherto _Abstained_, even from the _Appearance of +Evil_: It is in Truth, such an Invasion upon _Mankind_, as may well +Raise an Horror in us all: But, O what Compassions are due to such as +may come under such Misrepresentations, of the _Great Accuser_! Who of +us can say, what may be shewn in the _Glasses_ of the Great _Lying +Spirit_? Altho' the _Usual Providence_ of God [we praise Him!] keeps us +from such a Mishap; yet where have we an _Absolute Promise_, that we +shall every one always be kept from it? As long as _Charity_ is bound to +Think _no Evil_, it will not Hurt us that are _Private Persons_, to +forbear the _Judgment_ which belongs not unto us. Let it rather be our +Wish, May the Lord help them to Learn the _Lessons_, for which they are +now put unto so hard a School. + +_VI._ With a _Great Zeal_, we should lay hold on the _Covenant_ of God, +that we may secure _Us_ and _Ours_, from the _Great Wrath_, with which +the Devil Rages. Let us come into the _Covenant of Grace_, and then we +shall not be hook'd into a _Covenant with the Devil_, nor be altogether +unfurnished with Armour, against the Wretches that are in that +_Covenant_. The way to come under the Saving Influences of the _New +Covenant_, is, to close with the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the +All-sufficient _Mediator_ of it: Let us therefore do, _that_, by +Resigning up our selves unto the Saving, Teaching, and Ruling Hands of +this Blessed _Mediator_. Then we shall be, what we read in _Jude 1._ +_Preserved in Christ Jesus_: That is, as the _Destroying Angel_, could +not meddle with such as had been distinguished, by the Blood of the +_Passeover_ on their Houses: Thus the Blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, +Sprinkled on our Souls, will _Preserve_ us from the Devil. The _Birds of +prey_ (and indeed the _Devils_ most literally in the shape of great +_Birds_!) are flying about. Would we find a Covert from these +_Vultures_? Let us then Hear our Lord Jesus from Heaven Clocquing unto +us, _O that you would be gathered under my wings!_ Well; When this is +done, Then let us own the _Covenant_, which we are now come into, by +joining our selves to a Particular _Church_, walking in the Order of the +Gospel; at the doing whereof, according to that _Covenant_ of God, We +give up Our selves unto the Lord, and in Him unto One Another. While +others have had their Names Entred in the _Devils Book_; let our Names +be found in the _Church Book_, and let us be _Written among the Living +in Jerusalem_. By no means let, _Church work_ sink and fail in the midst +of us; but let the Tragical Accidents which now happen, exceedingly +Quicken that _work_. So many of the _Rising Generation_, utterly +forgetting the Errand of our Fathers to build Churches in this +Wilderness, and so many of our _Cottages_ being allow'd to Live, where +they do not, and perhaps cannot, wait upon God with the Churches of His +People; 'tis as likely as any one thing to procure the swarmings of +_Witch crafts_ among us. But it becomes us, with a like Ardour, to bring +our poor _Children_ with us, as we shall do, when we come our selves, +into the _Covenant_ of God. It would break an heart of Stone, to have +seen, what I have lately seen; Even poor Children of several Ages, even +from seven to twenty, more or less, _Confessing_ their Familiarity with +Devils; but at the same time, in Doleful bitter Lamentations, that made +a little Pourtraiture of _Hell_ it self, Expostulating with their +execrable Parents, for _Devoting_ them to the Devil in their Infancy, +and so _Entailing_ of Devillism upon them! Now, as the Psalmist could +say, _My Zeal hath consumed me, because my Enemies have forgotten thy +words:_ Even so, let the Nefarious wickedness of those that have +Explicitly dedicated their Children to the Devil, even with Devilish +Symbols, of such a Dedication, Provoke our _Zeal_ to have our Children, +Sincerely, Signally, and openly _Consecrated_ unto God; with an +_Education_ afterwards assuring and confirming that Consecration. + +_VII._ Let our _Prayer_ go up with great Faith, against the Devil, that +comes down in great Wrath. Such is the Antipathy of the Devil to our +_Prayer_, that he cannot bear to stay long where much of it is: Indeed +it is _Diaboli Flagellum_, as well as, _Miseriæ Remedium_; the Devil +will soon be Scourg'd out of the Lord's Temple, by a _Whip_, made and +used, with the _effectual fervent Prayer of Righteous Men_. When the +Devil by Afflicting of us, drives us to our Prayers, he is _The Fool +making a Whip for his own Back_. Our Lord said of the Devil in _Matt. +17.21._ _This Kind goes not out, but by Prayer and Fasting._ But, +_Prayer and Fasting_ will soon make the Devil be gone. Here are _Charms_ +indeed! Sacred and Blessed _Charms_, which the Devil cannot stand +before. A Promise of God, being well managed in the _Hands_ of them that +are much upon their Knees, will so resist the Devil, that he will _Flee +from us_. At every other Weapon the Devils will be too hard for us; the +_Spiritual Wickednesses in High Places_, have manifestly the Upper hand +of us; that _Old Serpent_ will be too old for us, too cunning, too +subtil; they will soon _out wit_ us, if we think to Encounter them with +any _Wit_ of our own. But when we come to _Prayers_, Incessant and +Vehement _Prayers_ before the Lord, there we shall be too hard for them. +When well-directed _Prayers_, that great Artillery of Heaven, are +brought into the Field, _There_ methinks I see, _There are these workers +of Iniquity fallen, all of them!_ And who can tell, how much the most +_Obscure Christian_ among you all, may do towards the Deliverance of our +Land from the Molestations which the Devil is now giving to us. I have +Read, That on a day of Prayer kept by some good People for and with a +Possessed Person, the Devil at last flew out of the Window, and +referring to a Devout, plain, mean Woman then in the Room, he cry'd out, +_O the Woman behind the Door! 'Tis that Woman that forces me away!_ Thus +the Devil that now troubles us, may be forced within a while to forsake +us; and it shall be said, _He was driven away by the Prayers of some +Obscure and Retired Souls, which the World has taken but little notice +of!_ The Great God is about a _Great Work_ at this day among us: Now, +there is extream Hazard, lest the Devil by Compulsion must submit to +that _Great Work_, may also by _Permission_, come to Confound that +_Work_; both in the Detections of some, and in the Confessions of +others, whose Ungodly deeds may be brought forth, by a _Great Work_ of +God; there is great Hazard lest the Devil intertwist some of his +Delusions. 'Tis PRAYER, I say, 'tis PRAYER, that must carry us well +through the strange things that are now upon us. Only that Prayer must +then be the Prayer of Faith: O where is our Faith in him, Who _hath +spoiled these Principalities and Powers, on his Cross, Triumphing over +them_! + +_VIII._ Lastly, Shake off, every Soul, shake off the _hard Yoak_ of the +Devil. Where 'tis said, _The whole World lyes in Wickedness;_ 'tis by +some of the Ancients rendred, _The whole World lyes in the Devil._ The +Devil is a Prince, yea, the Devil is a God unto all the Unregenerate; +and alas, there is _A whole World of them_. Desolate Sinners, consider +what an horrid Lord it is that you are Enslav'd unto; and Oh shake off +your Slavery to such a Lord. Instead of _him_, now make your Choice of +the Eternal God in Jesus Christ; Chuse him with a most unalterable +Resolution, and unto him say, with _Thomas_, _My Lord, and my God!_ Say +with the Church, _Lord, other Lords have had the Dominion over us, but +now thou alone shalt be our Lord for ever._ Then instead of your +Perishing under the wrath of the Devils, God will fetch you to a place +among those that fill up the Room of the Devils, left by their Fall from +the Ethereal Regions. It was a most awful Speech made by the Devil, +Possessing a young Woman, at a Village in _Germany_, _By the command of +God, I am come to Torment the Body of this young Woman, tho I cannot +hurt her Soul; and it is that I may warn Men, to take heed of sinning +against God._ _Indeed_ (said he) _'tis very sore against my will that I +do it; but the command of God forces me to declare what I do; however I +know that at the Last Day, I shall have more Souls than God himself._ +So spoke that horrible Devil! But O that none of our Souls may be found +among the Prizes of the Devil, in the Day of God! O that what the Devil +has been forced to declare, of his Kingdom among us, may prejudice our +Hearts against him for ever! + +My Text says, _The Devil is come down in great Wrath, for he has but a +short time._ Yea, but if you do not by a speedy and through Conversion +to God, escape the Wrath of the Devil, you will your selves go down, +where the Devil is to be, and you will there be sweltring under the +Devils Wrath, not for a _short Time_, but, _World without end_; not for +a _Short Time_, but for _Infinite Millions of Ages_. The smoak of your +Torment under that Wrath, will _Ascend for ever and ever_! Indeed, the +Devil's time for his Wrath upon you in this World, can be but short, but +his time for you to do his Work, or, which is all one, to delay your +turning to God, that is a _Long Time_. When the Devil was going to be +Dispossessed of a Man, he Roar'd out, _Am I to be Tormented before my +time?_ You will _Torment_ the Devil, if you Rescue your Souls out of his +hands, by true Repentance: If once you begin to look that way, he'll Cry +out, _O this is before my Time, I must have more Time, yet in the +Service of such a guilty Soul._ But, I beseech you, let us join thus to +torment the Devil, in an holy Revenge upon him, for all the Injuries +which he has done unto us; let us tell him, _Satan, thy time with me is +but short, Nay, thy time with me shall be no more; I am unutterably +sorry that it has been so much; Depart from me thou Evil-Doer, that +would'st have me to be an Evil Doer like thy self; I will now for ever +keep the Commandments of that God, in whom I Live and Move, and have my +Being!_ The Devil has plaid a fine Game for himself indeed, if by his +troubling of our Land, the Souls of many People should come to _think +upon their ways, till even they turn their Feet into the Testimonies of +the Lord_. Now that the Devil may be thus outshot in his own Bow, is the +desire of all that love the Salvation of God among us, as well as of +him, who has thus Addressed you. _Amen._ + + * * * * * + +Having thus discoursed on the _Wonders of the Invisible World_, I shall +now, with God's help, go on to relate some Remarkable and Memorable +Instances of _Wonders_ which that _World_ has given to ourselves. And +altho the chief Entertainment which my Readers do expect, and shall +receive, will be a true History of what has occurred, respecting the +WITCHCRAFTS wherewith we are at this day Persecuted; yet I shall choose +to usher in the mention of those things, with + + + + +A NARRATIVE OF AN APPARITION WHICH + +A GENTLEMAN IN BOSTON, HAD OF HIS BROTHER, + +JUST THEN MURTHERED IN LONDON. + + +It was on the Second of _May_ in the Year 1687, that a most ingenious, +accomplished and well-disposed Gentleman, Mr. _Joseph Beacon_, by Name, +about Five a Clock in the Morning, as he lay, whether Sleeping or Waking +he could not say, (but judged the latter of them) had a View of his +Brother then at _London_, altho he was now himself at Our _Boston_, +distanced from him a thousand Leagues. This his Brother appear'd unto +him, in the Morning about Five a Clock at _Boston_, having on him a +_Bengal_ Gown, which he usually wore, with a Napkin tyed about his Head; +his Countenance was very Pale, Gastly, Deadly, and he had a bloody Wound +on one side of his Fore-head. _Brother!_ says the Affrighted _Joseph_. +_Brother!_ Answered the Apparition. Said _Joseph_, _What's the matter +Brother? How came you here!_ The Apparition replied, _Brother, I have +been most barbarously and injuriously Butchered, by a Debauched Drunken +Fellow, to whom I never did any wrong in my Life._ Whereupon he gave a +particular Description of the Murderer; adding, _Brother, This Fellow +changing his Name, is attempting to come over unto +New-England+, in ++Foy+, or +Wild+; I would pray you on the first Arrival of either of +these, to get an Order from the Governor, to Seize the Person, whom I +have now described; and then do you Indict him for the Murder of me your +Brother: I'll stand by you and prove the Indictment._ And so he +Vanished. Mr. _Beacon_ was extreamly astonished at what he had seen and +hear'd; and the People of the Family not only observed an extraordinary +Alteration upon him, for the Week following, but have also given me +under their Hands a full Testimony, that he then gave them an Account of +this Apparition. + +All this while, Mr. _Beacon_ had no advice of any thing amiss attending +his Brother then in _England_; but about the latter end of _June_ +following, he understood by the common ways of Communication, that the +_April_ before, his Brother going in haste by Night to call a Coach for +a Lady, met a Fellow then in Drink, with his _Doxy_ in his Hand: Some +way or other the Fellow thought himself Affronted with the hasty passage +of this _Beacon_, and immediately ran into the Fire-side of a +Neighbouring Tavern, from whence he fetch'd out a Fire-fork, wherewith +he grievously wounded _Beacon_ in the Skull; even in that very part +where the Apparition show'd his Wound. Of this Wound he Languished until +he Dyed on the Second of _May_, about five of the Clock in the Morning +at _London_. The Murderer it seems was endeavouring to Escape, as the +Apparition affirm'd, but the Friends of the Deceased _Beacon_, Seized +him; and Prosecuting him at Law, he found the help of such Friends as +brought him off without the loss of his Life; since which, there has no +more been heard of the Business. + +This History I received of Mr. _Joseph Beacon_ himself; who a little +before his own Pious and hopeful Death, which follow'd not long after, +gave me the Story written and signed with his own Hand, and attested +with the Circumstances I have already mentioned. + + * * * * * + +But I shall no longer detain my Reader, from his expected Entertainment, +in a brief account of the Tryals which have passed upon some of the +Malefactors lately Executed at _Salem_, for the _Witchcrafts_ whereof +they stood Convicted. For my own part, I was not present at any of them; +nor ever had I any Personal prejudice at the Persons thus brought upon +the Stage; much less at the Surviving Relations of those Persons, with +and for whom I would be as hearty a Mourner as any Man living in the +World: _The Lord Comfort them!_ But having received a Command so to do, +I can do no other than shortly relate the chief _Matters of Fact_, which +occurr'd in the Tryals of some that were Executed, in an Abridgment +Collected out of the _Court-Papers_, on this occasion put into my hands. +You are to take the _Truth_, just as it was; and the Truth will hurt no +good Man. There might have been more of these, if my Book would not +thereby have swollen too big; and if some other worthy hands did not +perhaps intend something further in these _Collections_; for which cause +I have only singled out Four or Five, which may serve to illustrate the +way of Dealing, wherein _Witchcrafts_ use to be concerned; and I report +matters not as an _Advocate_, but as an _Historian_. + +They were some of the Gracious Words inserted in the Advice, which many +of the Neighbouring Ministers, did this Summer humbly lay before our +Honorable Judges, _We cannot but with all thankfulness, acknowledge the +success which the Merciful God has given unto the Sedulous and Assiduous +endeavours of Our Honourable Rulers, to detect the abominable +Witchcrafts which have been committed in the Country; Humbly Praying, +that the discovery of those mysterious and mischievous wickednesses, may +be Perfected._ If in the midst of the many Dissatisfactions among us, +the Publication of these Tryals, may promote such a Pious Thankfulness +unto God, for Justice being so far executed among us, I shall Rejoice +that God is Glorified; and pray, that no wrong steps of ours may ever +sully any of his Glorious Works. But we will begin with, + + + + +A MODERN INSTANCE OF WITCHES, + +DISCOVERED AND CONDEMNED IN A TRYAL, + +BEFORE THAT CELEBRATED JUDGE, + +SIR MATTHEW HALE. + + +It may cast some Light upon the Dark things now in _America_, if we just +give a glance upon the _like things_ lately happening in _Europe_. We +may see the _Witchcrafts_ here most exactly resemble the _Witchcrafts_ +there; and we may learn what sort of Devils do trouble the World. + +The Venerable _Baxter_ very truly says, _Judge +Hale+ was a Person, than +whom, no Man was more Backward to Condemn a Witch, without full +Evidence._ + +Now, one of the latest Printed Accounts about a _Tryal of Witches_, is +of what was before him, and it ran on this wise. [Printed in the Year +1682.] And it is here the rather mentioned, because it was a Tryal, much +considered by the Judges of _New England_. + +_I._ _Rose Cullender_ and _Amy Duny_, were severally Indicted, for +Bewitching _Elizabeth Durent_, _Ann Durent_, _Jane Bocking_, _Susan +Chandler_, _William Durent_, _Elizabeth_ and _Deborah Pacy_. And the +Evidence whereon they were Convicted, stood upon divers particular +Circumstances. + +_II._ _Ann Durent_, _Susan Chandler_, and _Elizabeth Pacy_, when they +came into the Hall, to give Instructions for the drawing the Bills of +Indictments, they fell into strange and violent Fits, so that they were +unable to give in their Depositions, not only then, but also during the +whole Assizes. _William Durent_ being an Infant, his Mother Swore, That +_Amy Duny_ looking after her Child one Day in her absence, did at her +return confess, that she had _given suck to the Child_: (tho' she were +an Old Woman:) Whereat, when _Durent_ expressed her displeasure, _Duny_ +went away with Discontents and Menaces. + +The Night after, the Child fell into strange and sad Fits, wherein it +continued for Divers Weeks. One Doctor _Jacob_ advised her to hang up +the Childs Blanket, in the Chimney Corner all Day, and at Night, when +she went to put the Child into it, if she found any Thing in it then to +throw it without fear into the Fire. Accordingly, at Night, there fell a +great Toad out of the Blanket, which ran up and down the Hearth. A Boy +catch't it, and held it in the Fire with the Tongs: where it made an +horrible Noise, and Flash'd like to Gun-Powder, with a report like that +of a Pistol: Whereupon the Toad was no more to be seen. The next Day a +Kinswoman of _Duny's_, told the Deponent, that her Aunt was all +grievously scorch'd with the Fire, and the Deponent going to her House, +found her in such a Condition. _Duny_ told her, she might thank her for +it; but she should live to see some of her Children Dead, and her self +upon Crutches. But after the Burning of the Toad, this Child Recovered. + +This Deponent further Testifi'd, That Her Daughter _Elizabeth_, being +about the Age of Ten Years, was taken in like manner, as her first Child +was, and in her Fits complained much of _Amy Duny_, and said, that she +did appear to Her, and afflict her in such manner as the former. One +Day she found _Amy Duny_ in her House, and thrusting her out of Doors, +_Duny_ said, _You need not be so Angry, your Child won't live long._ And +within three Days the Child Died. The Deponent added, that she was Her +self, not long after taken with such a Lameness, in both her Legs, that +she was forced to go upon Crutches; and she was now in Court upon them. +[It was Remarkable, that immediately upon the Juries bringing in _Duny_ +Guilty, _Durent_ was restored unto the use of her Limbs, and went home +without her Crutches.] + +_III._ As for _Elizabeth_ and _Deborah Pacy_, one Aged Eleven Years, the +other Nine; the elder, being in Court, was made utterly senseless, +during all the time of the Trial: or at least speechless. By the +direction of the Judg, _Duny_ was privately brought to _Elizabeth Pacy_, +and she touched her Hand: whereupon the Child, without so much as seeing +her, suddenly leap'd up and flew upon the Prisoner; the younger was too +ill, to be brought unto the Assizes. But _Samuel Pacy_, their Father, +testifi'd, that his Daughter _Deborah_ was taken with a sudden Lameness; +and upon the grumbling of _Amy Duny_, for being denied something, where +this Child was then sitting, the Child was taken with an extream pain in +her stomach, like the pricking of Pins; and shrieking at a dreadful +manner, like a Whelp, rather than a Rational Creature. The Physicians +could not conjecture the cause of the Distemper; but _Amy Duny_ being a +Woman of ill Fame, and the Child in Fits crying out of _Amy Duny_, as +affrighting her with the Apparition of her Person, the Deponent +suspected her, and procured her to be set in the stocks. While she was +there, she said in the hearing of Two Witnesses, _Mr. +Pacy+ keeps a +great stir about his Child, but let him stay till he has done as much by +his Children, as I have done by mine:_ And being Asked, What she had +done to her Children, she Answered, _She had been fain to open her +Childs Mouth with a Tap to give it Victuals._ The Deponent added, that +within Two Days, the Fits of his Daughters were such, that they could +not preserve either Life or Breath, without the help of a Tap. And that +the Children Cry'd out of _Amy Duny_, and of _Rose Cullender_, as +afflicting them with their Apparitions. + +_IV._ The Fits of the Children were various. They would sometimes be +Lame on one side; sometimes on t'other. Sometimes very sore; sometimes +restored unto their Limbs, and then Deaf, or Blind, or Dumb, for a long +while together. Upon the Recovery of their Speech, they would Cough +extreamly; and with much Flegm, they would bring up Crooked Pins; and +one time, a Two-penny Nail, with a very broad Head. Commonly at the end +of every Fit, they would cast up a Pin. When the Children Read, they +could not pronounce the Name of, _Lord_, or _Jesus_, or _Christ_, but +would fall into Fits; and say, Amy Duny _says_, _I must not use that +Name._ When they came to the Name of _Satan_, or _Devil_, they would +clap their Fingers on the Book, crying out, _This bites, but it makes me +speak right well!_ The Children in their Fits would often Cry out, +_There stands_ Amy Duny, or _Rose Cullender_; and they would afterwards +relate, _That these Witches appearing before them, threatned them, that +if they told what they saw or heard, they would Torment them ten times +more than ever they did before._ + +_V._ _Margaret Arnold_, the Sister of Mr. _Pacy_, Testifi'd unto the +like Sufferings being upon the Children, at her House, whither her +Brother had Removed them. And that sometimes, the Children (_only_) +would see things like Mice, run about the House; and one of them +suddenly snap'd one with the Tongs, and threw it into the Fire, where it +screeched out like a Rat. At another time, a thing like a Bee, flew at +the Face of the younger Child; the Child fell into a Fit; and at last +Vomited up a _Two-penny Nail_, with a Broad Head; affirming, _That the +Bee brought this Nail, and forced it into her Mouth._ The Child would in +like manner be assaulted with Flies, which brought Crooked Pins, unto +her, and made her first swallow them, and then Vomit them. She one Day +caught an Invisible _Mouse_, and throwing it into the Fire, it Flash'd +like to Gun-Powder. None besides the Child saw the _Mouse_, but every +one saw the _Flash_. She also declared, out of her Fits, that in them, +_Amy Duny_ much tempted her to destroy her self. + +_VI._ As for _Ann Durent_, her Father Testified, That upon a Discontent +of _Rose Cullender_, his Daughter was taken with much Illness in her +Stomach and great and sore Pains, like the Pricking of Pins: and then +Swooning Fits, from which Recovering, she declared, _She had seen the +Apparition of +Rose Cullender+, Threatning to Torment her._ She likewise +Vomited up diverse Pins. The Maid was Present at Court, but when +_Cullender_ look'd upon her, she fell into such Fits, as made her +utterly unable to declare any thing. + +_Ann Baldwin_ deposed the same. + +_VII._ _Jane Bocking_, was too weak to be at the Assizes. But her Mother +Testifi'd, that her Daughter having formerly been Afflicted with +Swooning Fits, and Recovered of them; was now taken with a great Pain in +her Stomach; and New Swooning Fits. That she took little Food, but every +Day Vomited Crooked Pins. In her first Fits, she would Extend her Arms, +and use Postures, as if she catched at something, and when her Clutched +Hands were forced open, they would find several Pins diversely Crooked, +unaccountably lodged there. She would also maintain a Discourse with +some that were Invisibly present, when casting abroad her Arms, she +would often say, _I will not have it!_ but at last say, _Then I will +have it!_ and closing her Hand, which when they presently after opened, +a Lath-Nail was found in it. But her great Complaints were of being +Visited by the shapes of _Amy Duny_, and _Rose Cullender_. + +_VIII._ As for _Susan Chandler_, her Mother Testified, That being at the +search of _Rose Cullender_, they found on her Belly a thing like a Teat, +of an Inch long; which the _said Rose_ ascribed to a strain. But near +her Privy-parts, they found Three more, that were smaller than the +former. At the end of the long Teat, there was a little Hole, which +appeared, as if newly Sucked; and upon straining it, a white Milky +matter issued out. The Deponent further said, That her Daughter being +one Day concerned at _Rose Cullenders_ taking her by the Hand, she fell +very sick, and at Night cry'd out, _That +Rose Cullender+ would come to +Bed unto her._ Her Fits grew violent, and in the Intervals of them, she +declared, _That she saw +Rose Cullender+ in them, and once having of a +great Dog with her._ She also Vomited up Crooked Pins; and when she was +brought into Court, she fell into her Fits. She Recovered her self in +some Time, and was asked by the Court, whether she was in a Condition to +take an Oath, and give Evidence. She said, she could; but having been +Sworn, she fell into her Fits again, and, _Burn her! Burn her!_ were all +the words that she could obtain power to speak. Her Father likewise gave +the same Testimony with her Mother; as to all but the Search. + +_IX._ Here was the Sum of the Evidence: Which Mr. Serjeant _Keeling_, +thought not sufficient to Convict the Prisoners. For admitting the +Children were Bewitched, yet, said he, it can never be Apply'd unto the +Prisoners, upon the Imagination only of the Parties Afflicted; inasmuch +as no person whatsoever could then be in Safety. + +Dr. _Brown_, a very Learned Person then present, gave his Opinion, that +these Persons were Bewitched. He added, That in _Denmark_, there had +been lately a great Discovery of Witches; who used the very same way of +Afflicting people, by Conveying Pins and Nails into them. His Opinion +was, that the Devil in Witchcrafts, did Work upon the Bodies of Men and +Women, upon a _Natural Foundation_; and that he did Extraordinarily +afflict them, with such Distempers as their Bodies were most subject +unto. + +_X._ The Experiment about the _Usefulness_, yea, or _Lawfulness_ whereof +Good Men have sometimes disputed, was divers Times made, That tho' the +Afflicted were utterly deprived of all sense in their Fits, yet upon the +_Touch_ of the Accused, they would so screech out, and fly up, as not +upon any other persons. And yet it was also found that once upon the +touch of an innocent person, the like effect follow'd, which put the +whole Court unto a stand: altho' a small Reason was at length attempted +to be given for it. + +_XI._ However, to strengthen the Credit of what had been already +produced against the Prisoners, One _John Soam_ Testifi'd, That bringing +home his Hay in Three Carts, one of the Carts wrenched the Window of +_Rose Cullenders_ House, whereupon she flew out, with violent +Threatenings against the Deponent. The other Two Carts, passed by Twice, +Loaded, that Day afterwards; but the Cart which touched _Cullenders_ +House, was Twice or Thrice that Day overturned. Having again Loaded it, +as they brought it thro' the Gate which Leads out of the Field, the Cart +stuck so fast in the Gates Head, that they could not possibly get it +thro', but were forced to cut down the Post of the Gate, to make the +Cart pass thro', altho' they could not perceive that the Cart did of +either side touch the Gate-Post. They afterwards, did with much +Difficulty get it home to the Yard; but could not for their Lives get +the Cart near the place, where they should unload. They were fain to +unload at a great Distance; and when they were Tired, the Noses of them +that came to Assist them, would burst forth a Bleeding; so they were +fain to give over till next morning; and then they unloaded without any +difficulty. + +_XII._ _Robert Sherringham_ also Testifi'd, That the Axle-Tree of his +Cart, happening in passing, to break some part of _Rose Cullenders_ +House, in her Anger at it, she vehemently threatned him, _His Horses +should suffer for it._ And within a short time, all his Four Horses +dy'd; after which he sustained many other Losses in the sudden Dying of +his Cattle. He was also taken with a Lameness in his Limbs; and so vexed +with Lice of an extraordinary Number and Bigness, that no Art could +hinder the Swarming of them, till he burnt up two Suits of Apparel. + +_XIII._ As for _Amy Duny_, 'twas Testifi'd by one _Richard Spencer_ that +he heard her say, _The Devil would not let her Rest; until she were +Revenged on the Wife of +Cornelius Sandswel+._ And that _Sandswel_ +testifi'd, that her Poultry dy'd suddenly, upon _Amy Dunys_ threatning +of them; and that her Husbands Chimney fell, quickly after _Duny_ had +spoken of such a disaster. And a Firkin of Fish could not be kept from +falling into the Water, upon suspicious words of _Duny's_. + +_XIV._ The Judg told the Jury, they were to inquire now, first, whether +these Children were Bewitched; and secondly, Whether the Prisoners at +the Bar were guilty of it. He made no doubt, there were such Creatures +as Witches; for the Scriptures affirmed it; and the Wisdom of all +Nations had provided Laws against such persons. He pray'd the God of +Heaven to direct their Hearts in the weighty thing they had in hand; +for, _To Condemn the Innocent, and let the Guilty go free, were both an +Abomination to the Lord._ + +The Jury in half an hour brought them in _Guilty_ upon their several +Indictments, which were Nineteen in Number. + +The next Morning, the Children with their Parents, came to the Lodgings +of the Lord Chief Justice, and were in as good health as ever in their +Lives; being Restored within half an Hour after the Witches were +Convicted. + +The Witches were Executed; and _Confessed_ nothing; which indeed will +not be wondred by them, who Consider and Entertain the Judgment of a +Judicious Writer, _That the Unpardonable Sin, is most usually Committed +by Professors of the Christian Religion, falling into Witchcraft._ + +We will now proceed unto several of the like Tryals among our selves. + + + + +I. + +THE TRYAL OF G. B. AT A COURT OF + +OYER AND TERMINER, + +HELD IN SALEM, 1692. + + +Glad should I have been, if I had never known the Name of this Man; or +never had this occasion to mention so much as the first Letters of his +Name. But the Government requiring some Account of his Trial to be +inserted in this Book, it becomes me with all Obedience to submit unto +the Order. + +I. This _G. B._ Was Indicted for Witch-craft, and in the prosecution of +the Charge against him, he was Accused by five or six of the Bewitched, +as the Author of their Miseries; he was Accused by Eight of the +Confessing Witches, as being an head Actor at some of their Hellish +Randezvouzes, and one who had the promise of being a King in Satan's +Kingdom, now going to be Erected: He was accused by Nine Persons for +extraordinary Lifting, and such feats of Strength, as could not be done +without a Diabolical Assistance. And for other such things he was +Accused, until about thirty Testimonies were brought in against him; nor +were these judg'd the half of what might have been considered for his +Conviction: However they were enough to fix the Character of a Witch +upon him according to the Rules of Reasoning, by the Judicious _Gaule_, +in that Case directed. + +II. The Court being sensible, that the Testimonies of the Parties +Bewitched, use to have a Room among the _Suspicions_ or _Presumptions_, +brought in against one Indicted for Witch-craft; there were now heard +the Testimonies of several Persons, who were most notoriously Bewitched, +and every day Tortured by Invisible Hands, and these now all charged the +Spectres of _G. B._ to have a share in their Torments. At the Examination +of this _G. B._ the Bewitched People were grievously harrassed with +Preternatural Mischiefs, which could not possibly be Dissembled; and +they still ascribed it unto the endeavours of _G. B._ to Kill them. And +now upon the Tryal of one of the Bewitched Persons, testified, that in +her Agonies, a little black Hair'd Man came to her, saying his Name was +_B._ and bidding her set her hand to a Book which he shewed unto her; +and bragging that he was a _Conjurer_, above the ordinary Rank of +Witches; That he often Persecuted her with the offer of that Book, +saying, _She should be well, and need fear nobody, if she would but Sign +it;_ But he inflicted cruel Pains and Hurts upon her, because of her +denying so to do. The Testimonies of the other Sufferers concurred with +these; and it was remarkable, that whereas _Biting_ was one of the ways +which the Witches used for the vexing of the Sufferers; when they cry'd +out of _G. B._ Biting them, the print of the Teeth would be seen on the +Flesh of the Complainers, and just such a Set of Teeth as _G. B's_ would +then appear upon them, which could be distinguished from those of some +other Mens. Others of them testified, That in their Torments, _G. B._ +tempted them to go unto a Sacrament, unto which they perceived him with +a Sound of Trumpet, Summoning of other Witches, who quickly after the +Sound, would come from all Quarters unto the Rendezvouz. One of them +falling into a kind of Trance, affirmed, that _G. B._ had carried her +away into a very high Mountain, where he shewed her mighty and glorious +Kingdoms, and said, _He would give them all to her, if she would write +in his Book;_ but she told him, _They were none of his to give;_ and +refused the Motions; enduring of much Misery for that refusal. + +It cost the Court a wonderful deal of Trouble, to hear the Testimonies +of the Sufferers; for when they were going to give in their Depositions, +they would for a long time be taken with Fits, that made them uncapable +of saying any thing. The Chief Judg asked the Prisoner, who he thought +hindred these Witnesses from giving their _Testimonies_? And he +answered, _He supposed it was the Devil._ That Honourable Person +replied, _How comes the Devil then to be so loath to have any Testimony +born against you?_ Which cast him into very great Confusion. + +III. It has been a frequent thing for the Bewitched People to be +entertained with Apparitions of _Ghosts_ of Murdered People, at the same +time that the _Spectres_ of the Witches trouble them. These Ghosts do +always affright the Beholders more than all the other spectral +Representations; and when they exhibit themselves, they cry out, of +being Murthered by the Witch-crafts or other Violences of the Persons +who are then in Spectre present. It is further considered, that once or +twice, these _Apparitions_ have been seen by others, at the very same +time they have shewn themselves to the Bewitched; and seldom have there +been these _Apparitions_, but when something unusual or suspected, have +attended the Death of the Party thus Appearing. Some that have been +accused by these _Apparitions_ accosting of the Bewitched People, who +had never heard a word of any such Persons ever being in the World, have +upon a fair Examination, freely and fully confessed the Murthers of +those very Persons, altho' these also did not know how the Apparitions +had complained of them. Accordingly several of the Bewitched, had given +in their Testimony, that they had been troubled with the Apparitions of +two Women, who said, that they were _G. B's_ two Wives, and that he had +been the Death of them; and that the Magistrates must be told of it, +before whom if _B._ upon his Tryal denied it, they did not know but that +they should appear again in Court. Now, _G. B._ had been Infamous for the +Barbarous usage of his two late Wives, all the Country over. Moreover, +it was testified, the Spectre of _G. B._ threatning of the Sufferers, +told them, he had Killed (besides others) Mrs. _Lawson_ and her Daughter +_Ann_. And it was noted, that these were the Vertuous Wife and Daughter +of one at whom this _G. B._ might have a prejudice for his being +serviceable at _Salem Village_, from whence himself had in ill Terms +removed some Years before: And that when they dy'd, which was long +since, there were some odd Circumstances about them, which made some of +the Attendents there suspect something of Witch-craft, tho none Imagined +from what Quarter it should come. + +Well, _G. B._ being now upon his Tryal, one of the Bewitched Persons was +cast into Horror at the Ghost of _B's_ two Deceased Wives then appearing +before him, and crying for _Vengeance_ against him. Hereupon several of +the Bewitched Persons were successively called in, who all not knowing +what the former had seen and said, concurred in their Horror of the +Apparition, which they affirmed that he had before him. But he, tho much +appalled, utterly deny'd that he discerned any thing of it; nor was it +any part of his _Conviction_. + +IV. Judicious Writers have assigned it a great place in the Conviction +of _Witches_, _when Persons are Impeached by other notorious Witches, to +be as ill as themselves; especially, if the Persons have been much noted +for neglecting the Worship of God_. Now, as there might have been +Testimonies enough of _G. B's_ Antipathy to _Prayer_, and the other +Ordinances of God, tho by his Profession, singularly Obliged thereunto; +so, there now came in against the Prisoner, the Testimonies of several +Persons, who confessed their own having been horrible _Witches_, and +ever since their Confessions, had been themselves terribly Tortured by +the Devils and other Witches, even like the other Sufferers; and therein +undergone the Pains of many _Deaths_ for their Confessions. + +These now testified, that _G. B._ had been at Witch-meetings with them; +and that he was the Person who had Seduc'd, and Compell'd them into the +snares of Witchcraft; That he promised them _Fine Cloaths_, for doing +it; that he brought Poppets to them, and Thorns to stick into those +Poppets, for the Afflicting of other People; and that he exhorted them +with the rest of the Crew, to Bewitch all _Salem Village_, but besure to +do it Gradually, if they would prevail in what they did. + +When the _Lancashire Witches_ were Condemn'd I don't remember that there +was any considerable further Evidence, than that of the Bewitched, and +than that of some that confessed. We see so much already against _G. B._ +But this being indeed not enough, there were other things to render what +had been already produced _credible_. + +V. A famous Divine recites this among the Convictions of a Witch; _The +Testimony of the party Bewitched, whether Pining or Dying; together with +the joint Oaths of sufficient Persons that have seen certain Prodigious +Pranks or Feats wrought by the Party Accused._ Now, God had been pleased +so to leave this _G. B._ that he had ensnared himself by several +Instances, which he had formerly given of a Preternatural Strength, and +which were now produced against him. He was a very Puny Man, yet he had +often done things beyond the strength of a Giant. A Gun of about seven +foot Barrel, and so heavy that strong Men could not steadily hold it out +with both hands; there were several Testimonies, given in by Persons of +Credit and Honor, that he made nothing of taking up such a Gun behind +the Lock, with but one hand, and holding it out like a Pistol, at +Arms-end. _G. B._ in his Vindication, was so foolish as to say, That +_an +Indian+ was there, and held it out at the same time:_ Whereas none +of the Spectators ever saw any such _Indian_; but they supposed, the +_Black Man_, (as the Witches call the Devil; and they generally say he +resembles an _Indian_) might give him that Assistance. There was +Evidence likewise brought in, that he made nothing of taking up whole +Barrels fill'd with _Malasses_ or _Cider_, in very disadvantageous +Postures, and Carrying of them through the difficultest Places out of a +Canoo to the Shore. + +Yea, there were two Testimonies, that _G. B._ with only putting the Fore +Finger of his Right hand into the Muzzle of an heavy Gun, a +Fowling-piece of about six or seven foot Barrel, did lift up the Gun, +and hold it out at Arms-end; a Gun which the Deponents thought strong +Men could not with both hands lift up, and hold out at the But-end, as +is usual. Indeed, one of these Witnesses was over-perswaded by some +Persons, to be out of the way upon _G. B's_ Tryal; but he came +afterwards with Sorrow for his withdraw, and gave in his Testimony: Nor +were either of these Witnesses made use of as Evidences in the Trial. + +VI. There came in several Testimonies relating to the Domestick Affairs +of _G. B._ which had a very hard Aspect upon him; and not only prov'd him +a very ill Man; but also confirmed the belief of the Character, which +had been already fastned on him. + +'Twas testified, that keeping his two Successive Wives in a strange kind +of Slavery, he would when he came home from abroad, pretend to tell the +Talk which any had with them; That he has brought them to the point of +Death, by his harsh Dealings with his Wives, and then made the People +about him, to promise that in case Death should happen, they would say +nothing of it; That he used all means to make his Wives Write, Sign, +Seal, and Swear a Covenant, never to reveal any of his Secrets; That his +Wives had privately complained unto the Neighbours about frightful +Apparitions of Evil Spirits, with which their House was sometimes +infested; and that many such things have been whispered among the +Neighbourhood. There were also some other Testimonies relating to the +Death of People whereby the Consciences of an Impartial Jury were +convinced that _G. B._ had Bewitched the Persons mentioned in the +Complaints. But I am forced to omit several passages, in this as well as +in all the succeeding Tryals, because the Scribes who took notice of +them, have not supplyed me. + +VII. One Mr. _Ruck_, Brother-in-Law to this _G. B._ testified, that +_G. B._ and himself, and his Sister, who was _G. B's_ Wife, going out for +two or three Miles to gather Straw-berries, _Ruck_ with his Sister, the +Wife of _G. B._ Rode home very Softly, with _G. B._ on Foot in their +Company, _G. B._ stept aside a little into the Bushes; whereupon they +halted and Halloo'd for him. He not answering, they went away homewards, +with a quickened pace, without expectation of seeing him in a +considerable while; and yet when they were got near home, to their +Astonishment, they found him on foot with them, having a Basket of +Straw-berries. _G. B._ immediately then fell to Chiding his Wife, on the +account of what she had been speaking to her Brother, of him, on the +Road: which when they wondred at, he said, _He knew their thoughts._ +_Ruck_ being startled at that, made some Reply, intimating, that the +Devil himself did not know so far; but _G. B._ answered, _My God makes +known your Thoughts unto me._ The Prisoner now at the Bar had nothing to +answer, unto what was thus witnessed against him, that was worth +considering. Only he said, _Ruck, and his Wife left a Man with him, when +they left him._ Which _Ruck_ now affirm'd to be false; and when the +Court asked _G. B._ _What the Man's Name was?_ his Countenance was much +altered; nor could he say, who 'twas. But the Court began to think, that +he then step'd aside, only that by the assistance of the _Black Man_, he +might put on his _Invisibility_, and in that _Fascinating Mist_, +gratifie his own Jealous Humour, to hear what they said of him. Which +trick of rendring themselves _Invisible_, our Witches do in their +Confessions pretend, that they sometimes are Masters of; and it is the +more credible, because there is Demonstration, that they often render +many other things utterly _Invisible_. + +VIII. _Faltring, faulty, unconstant, and contrary Answers upon judicial +and deliberate Examination_, are counted some unlucky Symptoms of Guilt, +in all Crimes, especially in Witchcrafts. Now there never was a Prisoner +more eminent for them, than _G. B._ both at his Examination and on his +Trial. His _Tergiversations_, _Contradictions_, and _Falshoods_, were +very sensible: he had little to say, but that he had heard some things +that he could not prove, Reflecting upon the Reputation of some of the +Witnesses. Only he gave in a Paper to the Jury; wherein, altho' he had +many times before, granted, not only that there are _Witches_, but +also, that the present Sufferings of the Country are the effects of +_horrible Witchcrafts_, yet he now goes to evince it, _That there +neither are, nor ever were Witches, that having made a Compact with the +Devil, can send a Devil to Torment other people at a distance._ This +Paper was Transcribed out of _Ady_; which the Court presently knew, as +soon as they heard it. But he said, he had taken none of it out of any +Book; for which, his Evasion afterwards, was, That a Gentleman gave him +the Discourse in a Manuscript, from whence he Transcribed it. + +IX. The Jury brought him in _Guilty_: But when he came to Die, he +utterly deni'd the Fact, whereof he had been thus convicted. + + + + +II. + +THE TRYAL OF BRIDGET BISHOP, ALIAS + +OLIVER, AT THE COURT OF OYER AND TERMINER, + +HELD AT SALEM, JUNE 2. 1692. + + +I. + +She was Indicted for Bewitching of several Persons in the Neighbourhood, +the Indictment being drawn up, according to the _Form_ in such Cases +usual. And pleading, _Not Guilty_, there were brought in several +persons, who had long undergone many kinds of Miseries, which were +preternaturally inflicted, and generally ascribed unto an _horrible +Witchcraft_. There was little occasion to prove the _Witchcraft_, it +being evident and notorious to all beholders. Now to fix the +_Witchcraft_ on the Prisoner at the Bar, the first thing used, was the +Testimony of the _Bewitched_; whereof several testifi'd, That the +_Shape_ of the Prisoner did oftentimes very grievously Pinch them, Choak +them, Bite them, and Afflict them; urging them to write their Names in a +_Book_, which the said Spectre called, _Ours_. One of them did further +testifie, that it was the _Shape_ of this Prisoner, with another, which +one day took her from her Wheel, and carrying her to the Riverside, +threatned there to Drown her, if she did not Sign to the _Book_ +mentioned: which yet she refused. Others of them did also testifie, that +the said _Shape_ did in her Threats brag to them that she had been the +Death of sundry Persons, then by her named; that she had _Ridden_ a Man +then likewise named. Another testifi'd, the Apparition of _Ghosts_ unto +the Spectre of _Bishop_, crying out, _You Murdered us!_ About the Truth +whereof, there was in the Matter of Fact but too much suspicion. + +II. It was testifi'd, That at the Examination of the Prisoner before the +Magistrates, the Bewitched were extreamly tortured. If she did but cast +her Eyes on them, they were presently struck down; and this in such a +manner as there could be no Collusion in the Business. But upon the +Touch of her Hand upon them, when they lay in their Swoons, they would +immediately Revive; and not upon the Touch of any ones else. Moreover, +Upon some Special Actions of her Body, as the shaking of her Head, or +the turning of her Eyes, they presently and painfully fell into the like +postures. And many of the like Accidents now fell out, while she was at +the Bar. One at the same time testifying, That she said, _She could not +be troubled to see the afflicted thus tormented._ + +III. There was Testimony likewise brought in, that a Man striking once +at the place, where a bewitched person said, the _Shape_ of this +_Bishop_ stood, the bewitched cried out, _That he had tore her Coat_, in +the place then particularly specifi'd; and the Woman's Coat was found to +be Torn in that very place. + +IV. One _Deliverance Hobbs_, who had confessed her being a Witch, was +now tormented by the Spectres, for her Confession. And she now +testifi'd, That this _Bishop_ tempted her to Sign the _Book_ again, and +to deny what she had confess'd. She affirm'd, That it was the Shape of +this Prisoner, which whipped her with Iron Rods, to compel her +thereunto. And she affirmed, that this _Bishop_ was at a General Meeting +of the Witches, in a Field at _Salem_-Village, and there partook of a +Diabolical Sacrament in Bread and Wine then administred. + +V. To render it further unquestionable, that the Prisoner at the Bar, +was the Person truly charged in THIS _Witchcraft_, there were produced +many Evidences of OTHER _Witchcrafts_, by her perpetrated. For Instance, +_John Cook_ testifi'd, That about five or six Years ago, one Morning, +about Sun-Rise, he was in his Chamber assaulted by the _Shape_ of this +Prisoner: which look'd on him, grinn'd at him, and very much hurt him +with a Blow on the side of the Head: and that on the same day, about +Noon, the same _Shape_ walked in the Room where he was, and an Apple +strangely flew out of his Hand, into the Lap of his Mother, six or eight +Foot from him. + +VI. _Samuel Gray_ testifi'd, That about fourteen Years ago, he wak'd on +a Night, and saw the Room where he lay full of Light; and that he then +saw plainly a Woman between the Cradle, and the Bed-side, which look'd +upon him. He rose, and it vanished; tho' he found the Doors all fast. +Looking out at the Entry-door, he saw the same Woman, in the same Garb +again; and said, _In God's Name, what do you come for?_ He went to Bed, +and had the same Woman again assaulting him. The Child in the Cradle +gave a great Screech, and the Woman disappeared. It was long before the +Child could be quieted; and tho' it were a very likely thriving Child, +yet from this time it pined away, and, after divers Months, died in a +sad Condition. He knew not _Bishop_, nor her Name; but when he saw her +after this, he knew by her Countenance, and Apparel, and all +Circumstances, that it was the Apparition of this _Bishop_, which had +thus troubled him. + +VII. _John Bly_ and his Wife testifi'd, That he bought a Sow of _Edward +Bishop_, the Husband of the Prisoner; and was to pay the Price agreed, +unto another person. This Prisoner being angry that she was thus hindred +from fingring the Mony, quarrell'd with _Bly_. Soon after which, the Sow +was taken with strange Fits; Jumping, Leaping, and Knocking her Head +against the Fence; she seem'd Blind and Deaf, and would neither Eat nor +be Suck'd. Whereupon a Neighbour said, she believed the Creature was +_Over-looked_; and sundry other Circumstances concurred, which made the +Deponents believe that _Bishop_ had bewitched it. + +VIII. _Richard Coman_ testifi'd, That eight Years ago, as he lay awake +in his Bed, with a Light burning in the Room, he was annoy'd with the +Apparition of this _Bishop_, and of two more that were strangers to him, +who came and oppressed him so, that he could neither stir himself, nor +wake any one else, and that he was the Night after, molested again in +the like manner; the said _Bishop_, taking him by the Throat, and +pulling him almost out of the Bed. His Kinsman offered for this cause to +lodge with him; and that Night, as they were awake, discoursing +together, this _Coman_ was once more visited by the Guests which had +formerly been so troublesom; his Kinsman being at the same time struck +speechless, and unable to move Hand or Foot. He had laid his Sword by +him, which these unhappy Spectres did strive much to wrest from him; +only he held too fast for them. He then grew able to call the People of +his House; but altho' they heard him, yet they had not power to speak or +stir; until at last, one of the People crying out, _What's the matter?_ +The Spectres all vanished. + +IX. _Samuel Shattock_ testify'd, That in the Year, 1680, this _Bridget +Bishop_, often came to his House upon such frivolous and foolish +Errands, that they suspected she came indeed with a purpose of mischief. +Presently, whereupon, his eldest Child, which was of as promising Health +and Sense, as any Child of its Age, began to droop exceedingly; and the +oftner that _Bishop_ came to the House, the worse grew the Child. As the +Child would be standing at the Door, he would be thrown and bruised +against the Stones, by an invisible Hand, and in like sort knock his +Face against the sides of the House, and bruise it after a miserable +manner. Afterwards this _Bishop_ would bring him things to Dye, whereof +he could not imagin any use; and when she paid him a piece of Mony, the +Purse and Mony were unaccountably conveyed out of a lock'd Box, and +never seen any more. The Child was immediately, hereupon, taken with +terrible Fits, whereof his Friends thought he would have dyed: Indeed he +did almost nothing but Cry and Sleep for several Months together; and at +length his Understanding was utterly taken away. Among other Symptoms of +an Inchantment upon him, one was, That there was a Board in the Garden, +whereon he would walk; and all the Invitations in the World could never +fetch him off. About 17 or 18 years after, there came a Stranger to +_Shattock's_ House, who seeing the Child, said, _This poor Child is +Bewitched; and you have a Neighbour living not far off, who is a Witch._ +He added, _Your Neighbour has had a falling out with your Wife; and she +said, in her Heart, your Wife is a proud Woman, and she would bring down +her Pride in this Child._ He then remembred, that _Bishop_ had parted +from his Wife in muttering and menacing Terms, a little before the Child +was taken Ill. The abovesaid Stranger would needs carry the bewitched +Boy with him, to _Bishop's_ House, on pretence of buying a pot of Cyder. +The Woman entertained him in furious manner; and flew also upon the Boy, +scratching his Face till the Blood came; and saying, _Thou Rogue, what +dost thou bring this Fellow here to plague me?_ Now it seems the Man had +said, before he went, That he would fetch Blood of _her_. Ever after the +Boy was follow'd with grievous Fits, which the Doctors themselves +generally ascribed unto _Witchcraft_; and wherein he would be thrown +still into the _Fire_ or the _Water_, if he were not constantly look'd +after; and it was verily believed that _Bishop_ was the cause of it. + +X. _John Louder_ testify'd, That upon some little Controversy with +_Bishop_ about her Fowls, going well to Bed, he did awake in the Night +by Moonlight, and did see clearly the likeness of this Woman grievously +oppressing him; in which miserable condition she held him, unable to +help himself, till near Day. He told _Bishop_ of this; but she deny'd +it, and threatned him very much. Quickly after this, being at home on a +Lords day, with the doors shut about him, he saw a black Pig approach +him; at which, he going to kick, it vanished away. Immediately after, +sitting down, he saw a black Thing jump in at the Window, and come and +stand before him. The Body was like that of a Monkey, the Feet like a +Cocks, but the Face much like a Mans. He being so extreamly affrighted, +that he could not speak; this Monster spoke to him, and said, _I am a +Messenger sent unto you, for I understand that you are in some Trouble +of Mind, and if you will be ruled by me, you shall want for nothing in +this World._ Whereupon he endeavoured to clap his Hands upon it; but he +could feel no substance; and it jumped out of the Window again; but +immediately came in by the Porch, tho' the Doors were shut, and said, +_You had better take my Counsel!_ He then struck at it with a Stick, but +struck only the Ground, and broke the Stick: The Arm with which he +struck was presently Disenabled, and it vanished away. He presently went +out at the Back-door, and spied this _Bishop_, in her Orchard, going +toward her House; but he had not power to set one foot forward unto +her. Whereupon, returning into the House, he was immediately accosted by +the Monster he had seen before; which Goblin was now going to fly at +him; whereat he cry'd out, _The whole Armour of God be between me and +you!_ So it sprang back, and flew over the Apple-tree; shaking many +Apples off the Tree, in its flying over. At its leap, it flung Dirt with +its Feet against the Stomack of the Man; whereon he was then struck +Dumb, and so continued for three Days together. Upon the producing of +this Testimony, _Bishop_ deny'd that she knew this Deponent: Yet their +two Orchards joined; and they had often had their little Quarrels for +some years together. + +XI. _William Stacy_ testify'd, That receiving Mony of this _Bishop_, for +work done by him; he was gone but a matter of three Rods from her, and +looking for his Mony, found it unaccountably gone from him. Some time +after, _Bishop_ asked him, whether her Father would grind her Grist for +her? He demanded why? She reply'd, _Because Folks count me a Witch._ He +answered, _No question but he will grind it for you._ Being then gone +about six Rods from her, with a small Load in his Cart, suddenly the +Off-wheel stump'd, and sunk down into an hole, upon plain Ground; so +that the Deponent was forced to get help for the recovering of the +Wheel: But stepping back to look for the hole, which might give him this +Disaster, there was none at all to be found. Some time after, he was +waked in the Night; but it seem'd as light as day; and he perfectly saw +the shape of this _Bishop_ in the Room, troubling of him; but upon her +going out, all was dark again. He charg'd _Bishop_ afterwards with it, +and she deny'd it not; but was very angry. Quickly after, this Deponent +having been threatned by _Bishop_, as he was in a dark Night going to +the Barn, he was very suddenly taken or lifted from the Ground, and +thrown against a Stone-wall: After that, he was again hoisted up and +thrown down a Bank, at the end of his House. After this again, passing +by this _Bishop_, his Horse with a small Load, striving to draw, all his +Gears flew to pieces, and the Cart fell down; and this Deponent going +then to lift a Bag of Corn, of about two Bushels, could not budge it +with all his Might. + +Many other Pranks of this _Bishop's_ this Deponent was ready to testify. +He also testify'd, That he verily believ'd, the said _Bishop_ was the +Instrument of his Daughter _Priscilla's_ Death; of which suspicion, +pregnant Reasons were assigned. + +XII. To crown all, _John Bly_ and _William Bly_ testify'd, That being +employ'd by _Bridget Bishop_, to help to take down the Cellar-wall of +the old House wherein she formerly lived, they did in holes of the said +old Wall, find several _Poppets_, made up of Rags and Hogs-bristles, +with headless Pins in them, the Points being outward; whereof she could +give no Account unto the Court, that was reasonable or tolerable. + +XIII. One thing that made against the Prisoner was, her being evidently +convicted of _gross Lying_ in the Court, several times, while she was +making her Plea; but besides this, a Jury of Women found a preternatural +Teat upon her Body: But upon a second search, within 3 or 4 hours, +there was no such thing to be seen. There was also an Account of other +People whom this Woman had Afflicted; and there might have been many +more, if they had been enquired for; but there was no need of them. + +XIV. There was one very strange thing more, with which the Court was +newly entertained. As this Woman was under a Guard, passing by the great +and spacious Meeting-house of _Salem_, she gave a look towards the +House: And immediately a _Dæmon_ invisibly entring the Meeting-house, +tore down a part of it; so that tho' there was no Person to be seen +there, yet the People, at the noise, running in, found a Board, which +was strongly fastned with several Nails, transported unto another +quarter of the House. + + + + +III. + +THE TRYAL OF SUSANNA MARTIN, AT THE + +COURT OF OYER AND TERMINER, HELD BY ADJOURNMENT + +AT SALEM, JUNE 29. 1692. + + +I. + +_Susanna Martin_, pleading _Not Guilty_ to the Indictment of +_Witchcraft_, brought in against her, there were produced the Evidences +of many Persons very sensibly and grievously Bewitched; who all +complained of the Prisoner at the Bar, as the Person whom they believed +the cause of their Miseries. And now, as well as in the other Trials, +there was an extraordinary Endeavour by _Witchcrafts_, with Cruel and +frequent Fits, to hinder the poor Sufferers from giving in their +Complaints, which the Court was forced with much Patience to obtain, by +much waiting and watching for it. + +II. There was now also an account given of what passed at her first +Examination before the Magistrates. The Cast of her _Eye_, then striking +the afflicted People to the Ground, whether they saw that Cast or no; +there were these among other Passages between the Magistrates and the +Examinate. + +_Magistrate._ Pray, what ails these People? + +_Martin._ I don't know. + +_Magistrate._ But what do you think ails them? + +_Martin._ I don't desire to spend my Judgment upon it. + +_Magistrate._ Don't you think they are bewitch'd? + +_Martin._ No, I do not think they are. + +_Magistrate._ Tell us your Thoughts about them then. + +_Martin._ No, my thoughts are my own, when they are in, but when they +are out they are anothers. Their Master.---- + +_Magistrate._ Their Master? who do you think is their Master? + +_Martin._ If they be dealing in the Black Art, you may know as well as +I. + +_Magistrate._ Well, what have you done towards this? + +_Martin._ Nothing at all. + +_Magistrate._ Why, 'tis you or your Appearance. + +_Martin._ I cannot help it. + +_Magistrate._ Is it not _your_ Master? How comes your Appearance to hurt +these? + +_Martin._ How do I know? He that appeared in the Shape of _Samuel_, a +glorified Saint, may appear in any ones Shape. + +It was then also noted in her, as in others like her, that if the +Afflicted went to approach her, they were flung down to the Ground. And, +when she was asked the reason of it, she said, _I cannot tell; it may +be, the Devil bears me more Malice than another._ + +III. The Court accounted themselves, alarum'd by these Things, to +enquire further into the Conversation of the Prisoner; and see what +there might occur, to render these Accusations further credible. +Whereupon, _John Allen_ of _Salisbury_, testify'd, That he refusing, +because of the weakness of his Oxen, to Cart some Staves at the request +of this _Martin_, she was displeased at it; and said, _It had been as +good that he had; for his Oxen should never do him much more Service._ +Whereupon, this Deponent said, _Dost thou threaten me, thou old Witch? +I'l throw thee into the Brook:_ Which to avoid, she flew over the +Bridge, and escaped. But, as he was going home, one of his Oxen tired, +so that he was forced to Unyoke him, that he might get him home. He then +put his Oxen, with many more, upon _Salisbury_ Beach, where Cattle did +use to get _Flesh_. In a few days, all the Oxen upon the Beach were +found by their Tracks, to have run unto the Mouth of _Merrimack-River_, +and not returned; but the next day they were found come ashore upon +_Plum-Island_. They that sought them, used all imaginable gentleness, +but they would still run away with a violence, that seemed wholly +Diabolical, till they came near the mouth of _Merrimack-River_; when +they ran right into the Sea, swimming as far as they could be seen. One +of them then swam back again, with a swiftness, amazing to the +Beholders, who stood ready to receive him, and help up his tired +Carcass: But the Beast ran furiously up into the Island, and from +thence, thorough the Marshes, up into _Newbury_ Town, and so up into the +Woods; and there after a while found near _Amesbury_. So that, of +fourteen good Oxen, there was only this saved: The rest were all cast +up, some in one place, and some in another, Drowned. + +IV. _John Atkinson_ testifi'd, That he exchanged a Cow with a Son of +_Susanna Martin's_, whereat she muttered, and was unwilling he should +have it. Going to receive this Cow, tho he Hamstring'd her, and Halter'd +her, she, of a Tame Creature, grew so mad, that they could scarce get +her along. She broke all the Ropes that were fastned unto her, and +though she were ty'd fast unto a Tree, yet she made her escape, and gave +them such further trouble, as they could ascribe to no cause but +Witchcraft. + +V. _Bernard Peache_ testifi'd, That being in Bed, on the Lord's-day +Night, he heard a scrabbling at the Window, whereat he then saw _Susanna +Martin_ come in, and jump down upon the Floor. She took hold of this +Deponent's Feet, and drawing his Body up into an Heap, she lay upon him +near Two Hours; in all which time he could neither speak nor stir. At +length, when he could begin to move, he laid hold on her Hand, and +pulling it up to his Mouth, he bit three of her Fingers, as he judged, +unto the Bone. Whereupon she went from the Chamber, down the Stairs, out +at the Door. This Deponent thereupon called unto the People of the +House, to advise them of what passed; and he himself did follow her. +The People saw her not; but there being a Bucket at the Left-hand of the +Door, there was a drop of Blood found upon it; and several more drops of +Blood upon the Snow newly fallen abroad: There was likewise the print of +her 2 Feet just without the Threshold; but no more sign of any Footing +further off. + +At another time this Deponent was desired by the Prisoner, to come unto +an Husking of Corn, at her House; and she said, _If he did not come, it +were better that he did!_ He went not; but the Night following, _Susanna +Martin_, as he judged, and another came towards him. One of them said, +_Here he is!_ but he having a Quarter-staff, made a Blow at them. The +Roof of the Barn, broke his Blow; but following them to the Window, he +made another Blow at them, and struck them down; yet they got up, and +got out, and he saw no more of them. + +About this time, there was a Rumour about the Town, that _Martin_ had a +Broken Head; but the Deponent could say nothing to that. + +The said _Peache_ also testifi'd the Bewitching the Cattle to Death, +upon Martin's Discontents. + +VI. _Robert Downer_ testified, That this Prisoner being some Years ago +prosecuted at Court for a Witch, he then said unto her, _He believed she +was a Witch._ Whereat she being dissatisfied, said, _That some She-Devil +would shortly fetch him away!_ Which words were heard by others, as well +as himself. The Night following, as he lay in his Bed, there came in at +the Window, the likeness of a _Cat_, which flew upon him, took fast hold +of his Throat, lay on him a considerable while, and almost killed him. +At length he remembred what _Susanna Martin_ had threatned the Day +before; and with much striving he cried out, _Avoid, thou She-Devil! In +the Name of God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, Avoid!_ +Whereupon it left him, leap'd on the Floor, and flew out at the Window. + +And there also came in several Testimonies, that before ever _Downer_ +spoke a word of this Accident, _Susanna Martin_ and her Family had +related, _How this +Downer+ had been handled_! + +VII. _John Kembal_ testified, that _Susanna Martin_, upon a Causeless +Disgust, had threatned him, about a certain Cow of his, _That she should +never do him any more Good:_ and it came to pass accordingly. For soon +after the Cow was found stark dead on the dry Ground, without any +Distemper to be discerned upon her. Upon which he was followed with a +strange Death upon more of his Cattle, whereof he lost in one Spring to +the Value of Thirty Pounds. But the said _John Kembal_ had a further +Testimony to give in against the Prisoner which was truly admirable. + +Being desirous to furnish himself with a Dog, he applied himself to buy +one of this _Martin_, who had a Bitch with Whelps in her House. But she +not letting him have his choice, he said, he would supply himself then +at one _Blezdels_. Having mark'd a Puppy, which he lik'd at _Blezdels_, +he met _George Martin_, the Husband of the Prisoner, going by, who asked +him, _Whether he would not have one of his Wife's Puppies?_ and he +answered, _No._ The same Day, one _Edmond Eliot_, being at _Martin's_ +House, heard _George Martin_ relate, where this _Kembal_ had been, and +what he had said. Whereupon _Susanna Martin_ replied, _If I live, +I'll give him Puppies enough!_ Within a few days after, this _Kembal_, +coming out of the Woods, there arose a little Black Cloud in the N. W. +and _Kembal_ immediately felt a force upon him, which made him not able +to avoid running upon the stumps of Trees, that were before him, albeit +he had a broad, plain Cart-way, before him; but tho' he had his Ax also +on his Shoulder to endanger him in his Falls, he could not forbear going +out of his way to tumble over them. When he came below the Meeting +House, there appeared unto him, a little thing like a _Puppy_, of a +Darkish Colour; and it shot backwards and forwards between his Legs. He +had the Courage to use all possible Endeavours of Cutting it with his +Ax; but he could not Hit it: the Puppy gave a jump from him, and went, +as to him it seem'd into the Ground. Going a little further, there +appeared unto him a Black Puppy, somewhat bigger than the first, but as +Black as a Cole. Its Motions were quicker than those of his Ax; it flew +at his Belly, and away; then at his Throat; so, over his Shoulder one +way, and then over his Shoulder another way. His Heart now began to fail +him, and he thought the Dog would have tore his Throat out. But he +recovered himself, and called upon God in his Distress; and naming the +Name of JESUS CHRIST, it vanished away at once. The Deponent spoke not +one Word of these Accidents, for fear of affrighting his Wife. But the +next Morning, _Edmond Eliot_, going into _Martin's_ House, this Woman +asked him where Kembal was? He replied, _At home, a Bed, for ought he +knew._ She returned, _They say, he was frighted last Night._ Eliot +asked, _With what?_ She answered, _With Puppies._ _Eliot_ asked, _Where +she heard of it, for he had heard nothing of it?_ She rejoined, _About +the Town._ Altho' _Kembal_ had mentioned the Matter to no Creature +living. + +VIII. _William Brown_ testifi'd, That Heaven having blessed him with a +most Pious and Prudent Wife, this Wife of his, one day met with _Susanna +Martin_; but when she approach'd just unto her, _Martin_ vanished out of +sight, and left her extreamly affrighted. After which time, the said +_Martin_ often appear'd unto her, giving her no little trouble; and when +she did come, she was visited with Birds, that sorely peck'd and prick'd +her; and sometimes, a Bunch, like a Pullet's Egg, would rise in her +Throat, ready to choak her, till she cry'd out, _Witch, you shan't choak +me!_ While this good Woman was in this extremity, the Church appointed a +Day of Prayer, on her behalf; whereupon her Trouble ceas'd; she saw not +_Martin_ as formerly; and the Church, instead of their Fast, gave Thanks +for her Deliverance. But a considerable while after, she being Summoned +to give in some Evidence at the Court, against this _Martin_, quickly +thereupon, this _Martin_ came behind her, while she was milking her Cow, +and said unto her, _For thy defaming her at Court, I'll make thee the +miserablest Creature in the World._ Soon after which, she fell into a +strange kind of distemper, and became horribly frantick, and uncapable +of any reasonable Action; the Physicians declaring, that her Distemper +was preternatural, and that some Devil had certainly bewitched her; and +in that condition she now remained. + +IX. _Sarah Atkinson_ testify'd, That _Susanna Martin_ came from +_Amesbury_ to their House at _Newbury_, in an extraordinary Season, +when it was not fit for any to Travel. She came (as she said, unto +_Atkinson_) all that long way on Foot. She brag'd and shew'd how dry she +was; nor could it be perceived that so much as the Soles of her Shoes +were wet. _Atkinson_ was amazed at it; and professed, that she should +her self have been wet up to the knees, if she had then came so far; but +_Martin_ reply'd, _She scorn'd to be Drabbled!_ It was noted, that this +Testimony upon her Trial, cast her in a very singular Confusion. + +X. _John Pressy_ testify'd, That being one Evening very unaccountably +Bewildred, near a Field of _Martins_, and several times, as one under an +Enchantment, returning to the place he had left, at length he saw a +marvellous Light, about the bigness of an Half-bushel, near two Rod, out +of the way. He went, and struck at it with a Stick, and laid it on with +all his might. He gave it near forty blows; and felt it a palpable +substance. But going from it, his Heels were struck up, and he was laid +with his Back on the Ground, sliding, as he thought, into a Pit; from +whence he recover'd by taking hold on the Bush; altho' afterwards he +could find no such Pit in the place. Having, after his Recovery, gone +five or six Rod, he saw _Susanna Martin_ standing on his Left-hand, as +the Light had done before; but they changed no words with one another. +He could scarce find his House in his Return; but at length he got home +extreamly affrighted. The next day, it was upon Enquiry understood, that +_Martin_ was in a miserable condition by pains and hurts that were upon +her. + +It was further testify'd by this Deponent, That after he had given in +some Evidence against _Susanna Martin_, many years ago, she gave him +foul words about it; and said, _He should never prosper more;_ +particularly, _That he should never have more than two Cows; that tho' +he was never so likely to have more, yet he should never have them._ And +that from that very day to this, namely for twenty years together, he +could never exceed that number; but some strange thing or other still +prevented his having any more. + +XI. _Jervis Ring_ testify'd, That about seven years ago, he was +oftentimes and grievously oppressed in the Night, but saw not who +troubled him; until at last he Lying perfectly Awake, plainly saw +_Susanna Martin_ approach him. She came to him, and forceably bit him by +the Finger; so that the Print of the bite is now, so long after, to be +seen upon him. + +XII. But besides all of these Evidences, there was a most wonderful +Account of one _Joseph Ring_, produced on this occasion. + +This Man has been strangely carried about by _Dæmons_, from one +_Witch-meeting_ to another, for near two years together; and for one +quarter of this time, they have made him, and keep him Dumb, tho' he is +now again able to speak. There was one _T. H._ who having, as 'tis +judged, a design of engaging this _Joseph Ring_ in a snare of Devillism, +contrived a while, to bring this _Ring_ two Shillings in Debt unto him. + +Afterwards, this poor Man would be visited with unknown shapes, and this +_T. H._ sometimes among them; which would force him away with them, unto +unknown Places, where he saw Meetings, Feastings, Dancings; and after +his return, wherein they hurried him along through the Air, he gave +Demonstrations to the Neighbours, that he had indeed been so +transported. When he was brought unto these hellish Meetings, one of the +first Things they still did unto him, was to give him a knock on the +Back, whereupon he was ever as if bound with Chains, uncapable of +stirring out of the place, till they should release him. He related, +that there often came to him a Man, who presented him a _Book_, whereto +he would have him set his Hand; promising to him, that he should then +have even what he would; and presenting him with all the delectable +Things, Persons, and Places, that he could imagin. But he refusing to +subscribe, the business would end with dreadful Shapes, Noises and +Screeches, which almost scared him out of his Wits. Once with the Book, +there was a Pen offered him, and an Ink-horn with Liquor in it, that +seemed like Blood: But he never toucht it. + +This Man did now affirm, That he saw the Prisoner at several of those +hellish Randezvouzes. + +Note, this Woman was one of the most impudent, scurrilous, wicked +Creatures in the World; and she did now throughout her whole Tryal, +discover her self to be such an one. Yet when she was asked, what she +had to say for her self? Her chief Plea was, _That she had lead a most +virtuous and holy Life._ + + + + +IV. + +THE TRYAL OF ELIZABETH HOW, AT THE + +COURT OF OYER AND TERMINER, HELD BY ADJOURNMENT + +AT SALEM, JUNE 30. 1692. + + +I. + +_Elizabeth How_ pleading _Not Guilty_ to the Indictment of Witchcrafts, +then charged upon her; the Court, according to the usual Proceedings of +the Courts in _England_, in such Cases, began with hearing the +Depositions of several afflicted People, who were grievously tortured by +sensible and evident _Witchcrafts_, and all complained of the Prisoner, +as the cause of their Trouble. It was also found that the Sufferers were +not able to bear her _Look_, as likewise, that in their greatest Swoons, +they distinguished her _Touch_ from other Peoples, being thereby raised +out of them. + +And there was other Testimony of People to whom the shape of this _How_, +gave trouble nine or ten years ago. + +II. It has been a most usual thing for the bewitched Persons, at the +same time that the _Spectres_, representing the _Witches_, troubled +them, to be visited with Apparitions of _Ghosts_, pretending to have +been Murdered by the _Witches_ then represented. And sometimes the +Confessions of the Witches afterwards acknowledged those very Murders, +which these _Apparitions_ charged upon them; altho' they had never heard +what Informations had been given by the Sufferers. + +There were such Apparitions of Ghosts testified by some of the present +Sufferers; and the Ghosts affirmed, that this _How_ had Murdered them: +Which things were _fear'd_ but not _prov'd_. + +III. This _How_ had made some Attempts of joyning to the Church at +_Ipswich_, several years ago; but she was denyed an admission into that +Holy Society, partly through a suspicion of Witchcraft, then urged +against her. And there now came in Testimony, of preternatural +Mischiefs, presently befalling some that had been Instrumental to debar +her from the Communion whereupon she was intruding. + +IV. There was a particular Deposition of _Joseph Stafford_, That his +Wife had conceived an extream Aversion to this _How_, on the Reports of +her Witchcrafts: But _How_ one day, taking her by the Hand, and saying, +_I believe you are not ignorant of the great Scandal that I lye under, +by an evil Report raised upon me._ She immediately, unreasonably and +unperswadeably, even like one Enchanted, began to take this Woman's +part. _How_ being soon after propounded, as desiring an Admission to the +Table of the Lord, some of the pious Brethren were unsatisfy'd about +her. The Elders appointed a Meeting to hear Matters objected against +her; and no Arguments in the World could hinder this Goodwife _Stafford_ +from going to the Lecture. She did indeed promise, with much ado, that +she would not go to the Church-meeting, yet she could not refrain going +thither also. _How's_ Affairs there were so canvased, that she came off +rather _Guilty_ than _Cleared_; nevertheless Goodwife _Stafford_ could +not forbear taking her by the Hand, and saying, _Tho' you are Condemned +before Men, you are Justify'd before God._ She was quickly taken in a +very strange manner, Ranting, Raving, Raging and crying out, _Goody ++How+ must come into the Church; she is a precious Saint; and tho' she +be condemned before Men, she is Justify'd before God._ So she continued +for the space of two or three Hours; and then fell into a Trance. But +coming to her self, she cry'd out, _Ha! I was mistaken;_ and afterwards +again repeated, _Ha! I was mistaken!_ Being asked by a stander by, +_Wherein?_ she replyed, _I thought Goody +How+ had been a precious Saint +of God, but now I see she is a Witch: She has bewitched me, and my +Child, and we shall never be well, till there be a Testimony for her, +that she may be taken into the Church._ And _How_ said afterwards, that +she was very sorry to see _Stafford_ at the Church-meeting mentioned. +_Stafford_, after this, declared herself to be afflicted by the Shape of +_How_; and from that Shape she endured many Miseries. + +V. _John How_, Brother to the Husband of the Prisoner testified, that he +refusing to accompany the Prisoner unto her Examination, as was by her +desired, immediately some of his Cattle were Bewitched to Death, leaping +three or four foot high, turning about, speaking, falling, and dying at +once; and going to cut off an Ear, for an use, that might as well +perhaps have been omitted, the Hand wherein he held his Knife was taken +very numb, and so it remained, and full of Pain, for several Days, being +not well at this very Time. And he suspected the Prisoner for the Author +of it. + +VI. _Nehemiah Abbot_ testify'd, that unusual and mischievous Accidents +would befal his Cattle, whenever he had any Difference with this +Prisoner. Once, particularly, she wished his Ox choaked; and within a +little while that Ox was choaked with a Turnep in his Throat. At another +Time, refusing to lend his Horse, at the Request of her Daughter, the +Horse was in a preternatural manner abused. And several other odd things +of that kind were testified. + +VII. There came in Testimony, that one Good-wife _Sherwin_, upon some +Difference with _How_, was Bewitched; and that she dyed, charging this +_How_ with having an Hand in her Death. And that other People had their +Barrels of Drink unaccountably mischieved, spoil'd and spilt, upon their +displeasing of her. + +The things in themselves were trivial, but there being such a Course of +them, it made them the more considered. Among others, _Martha Wood_, +gave her Testimony, That a little after her Father had been employed in +gathering an account of _How's_ Conversation, they once and again lost +great Quantities of Drink out of their Vessels, in such a manner, as +they could ascribe to nothing but Witchcraft. As also, That _How_ giving +her some Apples, when she had eaten of them, she was taken with a very +strange kind of Amaze, insomuch that she knew not what she said or did. + +VIII. There was likewise a Cluster of Depositions, That one _Isaac +Cummings_ refusing to lend his Mare unto the Husband of this _How_, the +Mare was within a Day or two taken in a strange condition: The Beast +seemed much abused, being bruised as if she had been running over the +Rocks, and marked where the Bridle went, as if burnt with a red hot +Bridle. Moreover, one using a Pipe of Tobacco for the Cure of the +Beast, a blue Flame issued out of her, took hold of her Hair, and not +only spread and burnt on her, but it also flew upwards towards the Roof +of the Barn, and had like to have set the Barn on Fire: And the Mare +dyed very suddenly. + +IX. _Timothy Pearley_ and his Wife, testifyd, Not only unaccountable +Mischiefs befel their Cattle, upon their having of Differences with this +Prisoner: but also that they had a Daughter destroyed by Witchcrafts; +which Daughter still charged _How_ as the Cause of her Affliction. And +it was noted, that she would be struck down whenever _How_ were spoken +of. She was often endeavoured to be thrown into the Fire, and into the +Water, in her strange Fits: Tho' her Father had corrected her for +charging _How_ with bewitching her, yet (as was testified by others +also) she said, She was sure of it, and must dye standing to it. +Accordingly she charged _How_ to the very Death; and said, _Tho' How +could afflict and torment her Body, yet she could not hurt her Soul:_ +And, _That the Truth of this matter would appear, when she should be +dead and gone._ + +X. _Francis Lane_ testified, That being hired by the Husband of this +_How_ to get him a parcel of Posts and Rails, this _Lane_ hired _John +Pearly_ to assist him. This Prisoner then told _Lane_, That she believed +the Posts and Rails would not do, because _John Pearly_ helped him; but +that if he had got them alone, without _John Pearly's_ help, they might +have done well enough. When _James How_ came to receive his Posts and +Rails of _Lane_, _How_ taking them up by the Ends, they, tho' good and +sound, yet unaccountably broke off, so that _Lane_ was forced to get +thirty or forty more. And this Prisoner being informed of it, she said, +She told him so before, because _Pearly_ helped about them. + +XI. Afterwards there came in the Confessions of several other (penitent) +Witches, which affirmed this _How_ to be one of those, who with them had +been baptized by the Devil in the River, at _Newbury_-Falls: before +which he made them there kneel down by the Brink of the River and +worshiped him. + + + + +V. + +THE TRIAL OF MARTHA CARRIER, AT THE + +COURT OF OYER AND TERMINER, HELD BY ADJOURNMENT + +AT SALEM, AUGUST 2. 1692. + + +I. + +_Martha Carrier_ was Indicted for the bewitching certain Persons, +according to the Form usual in such Cases, pleading _Not Guilty_, to her +Indictment; there were first brought in a considerable number of the +bewitched Persons; who not only made the Court sensible of an horrid +Witchcraft committed upon them, but also deposed, That it was _Martha +Carrier_, or her Shape, that grievously tormented them, by Biting, +Pricking, Pinching and Choaking of them. It was further deposed, That +while this _Carrier_ was on her Examination, before the Magistrates, the +Poor People were so tortured that every one expected their Death upon +the very spot, but that upon the binding of _Carrier_ they were eased. +Moreover the Look of _Carrier_ then laid the Afflicted People for dead; +and her Touch, if her Eye at the same time were off them, raised them +again: Which Things were also now seen upon her Tryal. And it was +testified, That upon the mention of some having their Necks twisted +almost round, by the Shape of this _Carrier_, she replyed, _Its no +matter though their Necks had been twisted quite off._ + +II. Before the Trial of this Prisoner, several of her own Children had +frankly and fully confessed, not only that they were Witches themselves, +but that this their Mother had made them so. This Confession they made +with great Shews of Repentance, and with much Demonstration of Truth. +They related Place, Time, Occasion; they gave an account of Journeys, +Meetings and Mischiefs by them performed, and were very credible in what +they said. Nevertheless, this Evidence was not produced against the +Prisoner at the Bar, inasmuch as there was other Evidence enough to +proceed upon. + +III. _Benjamin Abbot_ gave his Testimony, That last March was a +twelvemonth, this _Carrier_ was very angry with him, upon laying out +some Land, near her Husband's: Her Expressions in this Anger, were, +_That she would stick as close to +Abbot+ as the Bark stuck to the Tree; +and that he should repent of it afore seven Years came to an End, so as +Doctor +Prescot+ should never cure him._ These Words were heard by +others besides _Abbot_ himself; who also heard her say, _She would hold +his Nose as close to the Grindstone as ever it was held since his Name +was +Abbot+._ Presently after this, he was taken with a Swelling in his +Foot, and then with a Pain in his Side, and exceedingly tormented. It +bred into a Sore, which was launced by Doctor _Prescot_, and several +Gallons of Corruption ran out of it. For six Weeks it continued very +bad, and then another Sore bred in the Groin, which was also lanced by +Doctor _Prescot_. Another Sore then bred in his Groin, which was +likewise cut, and put him to very great Misery: He was brought unto +Death's Door, and so remained until _Carrier_ was taken, and carried +away by the Constable, from which very Day he began to mend, and so grew +better every Day, and is well ever since. + +_Sarah Abbot_ also, his Wife, testified, That her Husband was not only +all this while Afflicted in his Body, but also that strange +extraordinary and unaccountable Calamities befel his Cattel; their Death +being such as they could guess at no Natural Reason for. + +IV. _Allin Toothaker_ testify'd, That _Richard_, the son of _Martha +Carrier_, having some difference with him, pull'd him down by the Hair +of the Head. When he Rose again, he was going to strike at _Richard +Carrier_; but fell down flat on his Back to the ground, and had not +power to stir hand or foot, until he told _Carrier_ he yielded; and then +he saw the shape of _Martha Carrier_, go off his breast. + +This _Toothaker_, had Received a wound in the _Wars_; and he now +testify'd, that _Martha Carrier_ told him, _He should never be Cured._ +Just afore the Apprehending of _Carrier_, he could thrust a knitting +Needle into his wound, four inches deep; but presently after her being +siezed, he was throughly healed. + +He further testify'd, that when _Carrier_ and he sometimes were at +variance, she would clap her hands at him, and say, _He should get +nothing by it;_ whereupon he several times lost his Cattle, by strange +Deaths, whereof no natural causes could be given. + +V. _John Rogger_ also testifyed, That upon the threatning words of this +malicious _Carrier_, his Cattle would be strangely bewitched; as was +more particularly then described. + +VI. _Samuel Preston_ testify'd, that about two years ago, having some +difference with _Martha Carrier_, he lost a _Cow_ in a strange +Preternatural unusual manner; and about a month after this, the said +_Carrier_, having again some difference with him, she told him; _He had +lately lost a Cow, and it should not be long before he lost another;_ +which accordingly came to pass; for he had a thriving and well-kept +_Cow_, which without any known cause quickly fell down and dy'd. + +VII. _Phebe Chandler_ testify'd, that about a Fortnight before the +apprehension of _Martha Carrier_, on a Lords-day, while the Psalm was +singing in the _Church_, this _Carrier_ then took her by the shoulder +and shaking her, asked her, _where she lived_: she made her no Answer, +although as _Carrier_, who lived next door to her Fathers House, could +not in reason but know who she was. Quickly after this, as she was at +several times crossing the Fields, she heard a voice, that she took to +be _Martha Carriers_, and it seem'd as if it was over her head. The +voice told her, _she should within two or three days be poisoned._ +Accordingly, within such a little time, one half of her right hand, +became greatly swollen, and very painful; as also part of her Face; +whereof she can give no account how it came. It continued very bad for +some dayes; and several times since, she has had a great pain in her +breast; and been so siezed on her leggs, that she has hardly been able +to go. She added, that lately, going well to the House of God, +_Richard_, the son of _Martha Carrier_, look'd very earnestly upon her, +and immediately her hand, which had formerly been poisoned, as is +abovesaid, began to pain her greatly, and she had a strange Burning at +her stomach; but was then struck deaf, so that she could not hear any of +the prayer, or singing, till the two or three last words of the Psalm. + +VIII. One _Foster_, who confessed her own share in the Witchcraft for +which the Prisoner stood indicted, affirm'd, that she had seen the +prisoner at some of their _Witch-meetings_, and that it was this +_Carrier_, who perswaded her to be a Witch. She confessed, that the +Devil carry'd them on a pole, to a Witch-meeting; but the pole broke, +and she hanging about _Carriers_ neck, they both fell down, and she then +received an hurt by the Fall, whereof she was not at this very time +recovered. + +IX. One _Lacy_, who likewise confessed her share in this Witchcraft, now +testify'd, that she and the prisoner were once Bodily present at a +_Witch-meeting_ in _Salem Village_; and that she knew the prisoner to be +a Witch, and to have been at a Diabolical sacrament, and that the +prisoner was the undoing of her, and her Children, by enticing them into +the snare of the Devil. + +X. Another _Lacy_, who also confessed her share in this Witchcraft, now +testify'd, that the prisoner was at the _Witch-meeting_, in _Salem +Village_, where they had Bread and Wine Administred unto them. + +XI. In the time of this prisoners Trial, one _Susanna Sheldon_, in open +Court had her hands Unaccountably ty'd together with a Wheel-band, so +fast that without cutting, it could not be loosed: It was done by a +_Spectre_; and the Sufferer affirm'd, it was the _Prisoners_. + + * * * * * + +_Memorandum._ This Rampant Hag, _Martha Carrier_, was the person, of +whom the Confessions of the Witches, and of her own Children among the +rest, agreed, That the Devil had promised her, she should be _Queen of +Heb_. + + + + +Having thus far done the Service imposed upon me; I will further pursue +it, by relating a few of those Matchless CURIOSITIES, with which the +_Witchcraft_ now upon us, has entertained us. And I shall Report nothing +but with Good Authority, and what I would invite all my Readers to +examine, while 'tis yet Fresh and New, that if there be found any +mistake, it may be as willingly _Retracted_, as it was unwillingly +_Committed_. + + +THE FIRST CURIOSITIE. + +I. 'Tis very Remarkable to see what an Impious and Impudent _imitation_ +of Divine Things, is Apishly affected by the Devil, in several of those +matters, whereof the Confessions of our _Witches_, and the Afflictions +of our _Sufferers_ have informed us. + +That Reverend and Excellent Person, Mr. _John Higginson_, in my +Conversation with him, Once invited me to this Reflection; that the +Indians which came from far to settle about _Mexico_, were in their +Progress to that Settlement, under a Conduct of the _Devil_, very +strangely Emulating what the Blessed God gave to _Israel_ in the +Wilderness. + +_Acosta_, is our Author for it, that the Devil in their Idol +_Vitzlipultzli_, governed that mighty Nation. 'He commanded them to +leave their Country, promising to make them _Lords_ over all the +Provinces possessed by _Six_ other Nations of Indians, and give them a +Land abounding with all precious things. They went forth, carrying their +Idol with them, in a Coffer of _Reeds_, supported by Four of their +Principal _Priests_; with whom he still _Discoursed_ in secret, +Revealing to them the Successes, and Accidents of their way. He advised +them, when to _March_, and where to _Stay_, and without his Commandment +they moved not. The first thing they did, where-ever they came, was to +Erect a _Tabernacle_, for their false god; which they set always in the +midst of their Camp, and they placed the _Ark_ upon an _Alter_. When +they, Tired with pains, talked of, _proceeding no further_ in their +Journey, than a certain pleasant Stage, whereto they were arrived, this +Devil in one Night, horribly kill'd them that had started this Talk, by +pulling out their Hearts. And so they passed on till they came to +_Mexico_.' + +The Devil which _then_ thus imitated what was in the Church of the _Old +Testament_, now among _Us_ would Imitate the Affairs of the Church in +the _New_. The _Witches_ do say, that they form themselves much after +the manner of _Congregational Churches_; and that they have a _Baptism_ +and a _Supper_, and _Officers_ among them, abominably Resembling those +of our Lord. + +But there are many more of these Bloody _Imitations_, if the Confessions +of the _Witches_ are to be Received; which I confess, ought to be but +with very much Caution. + +What is their stricking down with a fierce _Look_? What is their making +of the Afflicted _Rise_, with a touch of their _Hand_? What is their +Transportation thro' the _Air_? What is their Travelling _in Spirit_, +while their Body is cast into a Trance? What is their causing of +_Cattle_ to run mad and perish? What is their Entring their Names in a +_Book_? What is their coming together from all parts, at the Sound of a +_Trumpet_? What is their Appearing sometimes Cloathed with _Light_ or +_Fire_ upon them? What is their Covering of themselves and their +Instruments with _Invisibility_? But a Blasphemous Imitation of certain +Things recorded about our Saviour or His Prophets, or the Saints in the +Kingdom of God. + + +A SECOND CURIOSITIE. + +II. In all the _Witchcraft_ which now Grievously Vexes us, I know not +whether anything be more Unaccountable, than the Trick which the Witches +have to render themselves, and their Tools _Invisible_. _Witchcraft_ +seems to be the Skill of Applying the _Plastic Spirit_ of the World, +unto some unlawful purposes, by means of a Confederacy with _Evil +Spirits_. Yet one would wonder how the _Evil Spirits_ themselves can do +some things; especially at _Invisibilizing_ of the Grossest Bodies. I +can tell the Name of an Ancient Author, who pretends to show the _way_, +how a man may come to walk about _Invisible_, and I can tell the Name +of another Ancient Author, who pretends to Explode that way. But I will +not speak too plainly Lest I should unawares Poison some of my +_Readers_, as the pious _Hemingius_ did one of his _Pupils_, when he +only by way of Diversion recited a _Spell_, which, they had said, would +cure _Agues_. This much I will say; The notion of procuring +_Invisibility_, by any _Natural Expedient_, yet known, is, I Believe, a +meer PLINYISM; How far it may be obtained by a _Magical Sacrament_, is +best known to the Dangerous Knaves that have try'd it. But our _Witches_ +do seem to have got the knack: and this is one of the Things, that make +me think, _Witchcraft_ will not be fully understood, until the day when +there shall not be one Witch in the World. + +There are certain people very _Dogmatical_ about these matters; but I'll +give them only these three Bones to pick. + +First, One of our bewitched people, was cruelly assaulted by a +_Spectre_, that, she said, ran at her with a _spindle_: tho' no body +else in the Room, could see either the _Spectre_ or the _spindle_. At +last, in her miseries, giving a snatch at the _Spectre_, she pull'd the +_spindle_ away, and it was no sooner got into her hand, but the other +people then present, beheld, that it was indeed a Real, Proper, Iron +_spindle_, belonging they knew to whom; which when they lock'd up very +safe, it was nevertheless by _Demons_ unaccountably stole away, to do +further mischief. + +Secondly, Another of our bewitched people, was haunted with a most +abusive _Spectre_, which came to her, she said, with a _sheet_ about +her. After she had undergone a deal of Teaze, from the Annoyance of the +_Spectre_, she gave a violent snatch at the sheet, that was upon it; +wherefrom she tore a corner, which in her hand immediately became +_Visible_ to a Roomful of Spectators; a palpable Corner of a Sheet. Her +Father, who was now holding her, catch'd that he might keep what his +Daughter had so strangely siezed, but the unseen _Spectre_ had like to +have pull'd his hand off, by endeavouring to wrest it from him; however +he still held it, and I suppose has it, still to show; it being but a +few hours ago, namely about the beginning of this _October_, that this +Accident happened; in the family of one _Pitman_, at _Manchester_. + +Thirdly, A young man, delaying to procure Testimonials for his Parents, +who being under confinement on suspicion of _Witchcraft_, required him +to do that service for them, was quickly pursued with odd +Inconveniences. But once above the Rest, an Officer going to put his +_Brand_ on the Horns of some _Cows_, belonging to these people, which +tho' he had siez'd for some of their debts, yet he was willing to leave +in their possession, for the subsistance of the poor Family; this young +man help'd in holding the Cows to be thus branded. The three first +_Cows_ he held well enough; but when the hot Brand was clap'd upon the +Fourth, he _winc'd_ and _shrunk_ at such a Rate, as that he could hold +the Cow no longer. Being afterwards Examined about it, he confessed, +that at that very instant when the _Brand_ entered the _Cow's Horn_, +exactly the like burning _Brand_ was clap'd upon his own Thigh; where he +has exposed the lasting marks of it, unto such as asked to see them. + +Unriddle these Things,--_Et Eris mihi magnus Apollo._ + + +A THIRD CURIOSITIE. + +III. If a Drop of _Innocent Blood_ should be shed, in the Prosecution of +the _Witchcrafts_ among us, how unhappy are we! For which cause, I +cannot express my self in better terms, than those of a most Worthy +Person, who lives near the present Center of these things. _The Mind of ++God+ in these matters, is to be carefully lookt into, with due +Circumspection, that Satan deceive us not with his Devices, who +transforms himself into an Angel of Light, and may pretend justice and +yet intend mischief._ But on the other side, if the storm of Justice do +now fall only on the Heads of those guilty _Witches_ and _Wretches_ +which have defiled our Land, _How Happy!_ + +The Execution of some that have lately Dyed, has been immediately +attended, with a strange Deliverance of some, that had lain for many +years, in a most sad Condition, under, they knew not whose _evil hands_. +As I am abundantly satisfy'd, That many of the Self-Murders committed +here, have been the effects of a Cruel and Bloody _Witchcraft_, letting +fly _Demons_ upon the miserable _Seneca's_; thus, it has been admirable +unto me to see, how a Devilish _Witchcraft_, sending Devils upon them, +has driven many poor people to _Despair_, and persecuted their minds, +with such Buzzes of _Atheism_ and _Blasphemy_, as has made them even run +_distracted with Terrors_: And some long _Bow'd down_ under such a +_spirit of Infirmity_, have been marvelously Recovered upon the death of +the Witches. + +One _Whetford_ particularly ten years ago, challenging of _Bridget +Bishop_ (whose Trial you have had) with steeling of a Spoon, _Bishop_ +threatned her very direfully: presently after this, was _Whetford_ in +the Night, and in her Bed, visited by _Bishop_, with one _Parker_, who +making the Room light at their coming in, there discoursed of several +mischiefs they would inflict upon her. At last they pull'd her out, and +carried her unto the Sea-side, there to _drown_, her; but she calling +upon God, they left her, tho' not without Expressions of their Fury. +From that very time, this poor _Whetford_ was utterly spoilt, and grew a +Tempted, Froward, Crazed sort of a Woman; a vexation to her self, and +all about her; and many ways unreasonable. In this Distraction she lay, +till those women were Apprehended, by the Authority; _then_ she began to +mend; and upon their Execution, was presently and perfectly Recovered, +from the ten years madness that had been upon her. + + +A FOURTH CURIOSITIE. + +IV. 'Tis a thousand pitties, that we should permit our Eyes, to be so +_Blood-shot_ with passions, as to loose the sight of many wonderful +things, wherein the Wisdom and Justice of God, would be Glorify'd. Some +of those things, are the frequent \Apparitions\ of Ghosts, whereby many +Old \Murders\ among us, come to be considered. And, among many instances +of this kind, I will single out one, which concerned a poor man, lately +_Prest_ unto Death, because of his Refusing to _Plead_ for his Life. I +shall make an Extract of a Letter, which was written to my Honourable +Friend, _Samuel Sewal_, Esq.; by Mr. _Putman_, to this purpose; + +'The Last Night my Daughter _Ann_, was grievously Tormented by Witches, +Threatning that she should be _Pressed_ to Death, before _Giles Cory_. +But thro' the Goodness of a Gracious God, she had at last a little +Respite. Whereupon there appeared unto her (she said) a man in a Winding +Sheet, who told her that _Giles Cory_ had Murdered him, by _Pressing_ +him to Death with his Feet; but that the Devil there appeared unto him, +and Covenanted with him, and promised him, _He should not be Hanged._ +The Apparition said, God Hardned his heart; that he should not hearken +to the Advice of the Court, and so Dy an easy Death; because as it said, +_It must be done to him as he has done to me._ The Apparition also said, +That _Giles Cory_, was carry'd to the Court for this, and that the Jury +had found the Murder, and that her Father knew the man, and the thing +was done before she was born. Now Sir, This is not a little strange to +us; that no body should Remember these things, all the while that _Giles +Cory_ was in Prison, and so often before the Court. For all people now +Remember very well, (and the Records of the Court also mention it,) That +about Seventeen Years ago, _Giles Cory_ kept a man in his House, that +was almost a Natural Fool: which Man Dy'd suddenly. A Jury was +impannel'd upon him, among whom was Dr. _Zorobbabel Endicot_; who found +the man bruised to Death, and having clodders of Blood about his Heart. +The Jury, whereof several are yet alive brought in the man Murdered; but +as if some Enchantment had hindred the Prosecution of the Matter, the +Court Proceeded not against _Giles Cory_, tho' it cost him a great deal +of Mony to get off.' Thus the Story. + + + + +_The Reverend and Worthy Author, having at the Direction of His +EXCELLENCY the Governour, so far Obliged the Publick, as to give some +Account of the Sufferings brought upon the Countrey by +Witchcraft+; and +of the Tryals which have passed upon several Executed for the Same:_ + +_Upon Perusal thereof, We find the Matters of Fact and Evidence, Truly +reported. And a Prospect given, of the +Methods of Conviction+, used in +the Proceedings of the Court at +Salem+_ + + Boston Octob. 11. William Stoughton + 1692. Samuel Sewall. + + + + +But is _New-England_, the only Christian Countrey, that hath undergone +such Diabolical Molestations? No, there are other Good people, that have +in this way been harassed; but none in circumstances more like to +_Ours_, than the people of God, in _Sweedland_. The story is a very +Famous one; and it comes to Speak English by the Acute Pen of the +Excellent and Renowned Dr. _Horneck_. I shall only single out a few of +the more Memorable passages therein Occurring; and where it agrees with +what happened among ourselves, my Reader shall understand, by my +inserting a Word of every such thing in \Black Letter\. + +I. It was in the Year 1669. and 1670. That at _Mohra_ in _Sweedland_, +the \Devils\ by the help of \Witches\, committed a most horrible outrage. +Among other Instances of Hellish Tyranny there exercised. One was, that +Hundreds of their Children, were usually in the Night fetcht from their +Lodgings, to a Diabolical Rendezvouz, at a place they called, +_Blockula_, where the Monsters that so Spirited them, \Tempted\ them all +manner of Ways to \Associate\ with them. Yea, such was the perillous +Growth of this _Witchcraft_, that Persons of Quality began to send their +Children into other Countries to avoid it. + +II. The Inhabitants had earnestly sought God by \Prayer\; and \Yet\ +their Affliction \Continued\. Whereupon \Judges\ had a Special +\Commission\ to find and root out the Hellish Crew; and the rather, +because another County in the Kingdom, which had been so molested, was +delivered upon the Execution of the _Witches_. + +III. The \Examination\, was begun with a Day of \Humiliation\; appointed +by Authority. Whereupon the Commissioners \Consulting\, how they might +resist such a Dangerous Flood, the \Suffering Children\, were first +Examined; and tho' they were Questioned \One\ by \One\ apart, yet their +\Declarations All Agreed\. The \Witches\ Accus'd in these Declarations, +were then Examined; and tho' at first they obstinately \Denied\, yet at +length many of them ingeniously \Confessed\ the Truth of what the +children had said; owning with Tears, that the \Devil\, whom they call'd +_Locyta_, had \Stopt\ their \Mouths\; but he being now \Gone\ from them, +they could \No Longer Conceal\ the Business. The things by them +\Acknowledged\, most wonderfully \Agreed\ with what other Witches, in +other places had confessed. + +IV. They confessed, that they did use to \Call upon\ the \Devil\, who +thereupon would \Carry\ them away, over the Tops of Houses, to a Green +Meadow, where they gave themselves unto him. Only one of them said, +That sometimes the _Devil_ only took away her \Strength\, leaving her +\Body\ on the ground; but she went at other times in \Body\ too. + +V. Their manner was to come into the \Chambers\ of people, and fetch away +their children upon Beasts, of the Devils providing: promising \Fine +Cloaths\ and other Fine Things unto them, to inveagle them. They said, +they never had power to do thus, till of late; but now the Devil did +\Plague\ and \Beat\ them, if they did not gratifie him, in this piece of +Mischief. They said, they made use of all sorts of \Instruments\ in their +Journeys! Of \Men\, of \Beasts\, of \Posts\; the _Men_ they commonly laid +asleep at the place, whereto they rode them; and if the children +mentioned the \Names\ of them that stole them away, they were miserably +\Scurged\ for it, until some of them were killed. The \Judges\ found the +marks of the Lashes on some of them; but the Witches said, \They would +Quickly vanish\. Moreover the Children would be in \strange Fits\, after +they were brought Home from these Transportations. + +VI. The \First Thing\, they said, they were to do at _Blockula_, was to +give themselves unto the Devil, and \Vow\ that they would serve him. +Hereupon, they \cut their Fingers\, and with \Blood\ writ their \Names\ +in his \Book\. And he also caused them to be \Baptised\ by such +\Priests\, as he had, in this Horrid company. In \some\ of them, the +\Mark\ of the \cut Finger\ was to be found; they said, that the Devil +gave \Meat\ and \Drink\, as to _Them_, so to the Children they brought +with them: that afterwards their Custom was to _Dance_ before him; and +_swear_ and _curse_ most horribly; they said, that the Devil show'd them +a great, Frightful, Cruel _Dragon_, telling them, \If they confessed any +Thing\, he would let loose that Great Devil upon them; they added, that +the Devil had a \Church\, and that when the \Judges\ were coming, he +told them, \he would kill them all\; and that some of them had +\Attempted to Murder the Judges\, but \could not\. + +VII. Some of the \Children\, talked much of a \White Angel\, which did +use to \Forbid\ them, what the Devil had bid them to do, and \Assure\ +them that these doings would \Not last long\; but that what had been +done was permitted for the wickedness of the People. This \White Angel\, +would sometimes rescue the Children, from \Going in\, with the Witches. + +VIII. The Witches confessed many mischiefs done by them, declaring with +what kind of \Enchanted Tools\, they did their Mischiefs. They sought +especially to \kill the Minister\ of _Elfdale_, but could not. But some of +them said, that such as they wounded, would \Be recovered\, upon or before +their Execution. + +IX. The \Judges\ would fain have seen them show some of their \Tricks\; +but they Unanimously declared, that, \Since they had confessed\, all, +they found all their \Witchcraft\ gone; and the Devil then Appeared very +Terrible unto them, threatning with an \Iron Fork\, to thrust them into +a Burning Pit, if they persisted in their Confession. + +X. There were discovered no less than _threescore and ten_ Witches in +One Village, \three and twenty\ of which \freely confessing\ their Crimes, +were condemned to dy. The rest, (\One\ pretending she was with Child) were +sent to _Fahluna_, where most of them were afterwards executed. Fifteen +Children, which confessed themselves engaged in this Witchery, dyed as +the rest. Six and Thirty of them between _nine_ and _sixteen_ years of +Age, who had been less guilty, were forced to run the Gantlet, and be +lashed on their hands once a Week, for a year together; twenty more who +had less inclination to these Infernal enterprises, were lashed with +Rods upon their Hands for three Sundays together, at the Church door; +the number of the seduced Children, was about three hundred. This +course, together with \Prayers\, in all the Churches thro' the Kingdom, +issued in the deliverance of the Country. + +XI. The most Accomplished Dr. _Horneck_ inserts a most wise caution, in +his preface to this Narrative, says he, _there is no Public Calamity, +but some ill people, will serve themselves of the sad providence, and +make use of it for their own ends; as +Thieves+ when an house or town is +on fire, will steal what they can._ And he mentions a Remarkable Story +of a young Woman, at _Stockholm_, in the year 1676, Who accused her own +Mother of being a Witch; and swore positively, that she had carried her +away in the Night; the poor Woman was burnt upon it: professing her +innocency to the last. But tho' she had been an Ill Woman, yet it +afterwards prov'd that she was not _such_ an one; for her Daughter came +to the Judges, with hideous Lamentations, Confessing, That she had +wronged her Mother, out of a wicked spite against her; whereupon the +Judges gave order for her Execution too. + +But, so much of these things; And, now, _Lord, make these Labours of thy +Servant, Profitable to thy People._ + + + + +MATTER OMITTED IN THE TRIALS. + + +Nineteen Witches have been Executed at _New-England_, one of them was a +Minister, and two Ministers more are Accus'd. There is a hundred Witches +more in Prison, which broke Prison, and about two Hundred more are +Accus'd, some Men of great Estates in _Boston_, have been accus'd for +_Witchcraft_. Those Hundred now in Prison accus'd for Witches, were +Committed by fifty of themselves being _Witches_, some of _Boston_, but +most about _Salem_, and the Towns Adjacent. Mr. _Increase Mather_ has +Published a Book about _Witchcraft_, occasioned by the late Trials of +Witches, which will be speedily printed in _London_ by _John Dunton_. + + + + +THE DEVIL DISCOVERED. + +2 Cor. II. 11. _We are not Ignorant of His DEVICES._ + + +Our Blessed Saviour has blessed us, with a counsil, as Wholsome and as +Needful as any that can be given us, in _Math. 26.41._ _Watch and Pray, +that yee Enter not into Temptation._ As there is a Tempting _Flesh_, and +a Tempting _World_, which would seduce us from Our Obedience to the Laws +of God, so there is a Busy _Devil_, who is by way of Eminency called, +_The Tempter_; because by him, the Temptations of the _Flesh_ and the +_World_ are managed. + +It is not _One Devil_ alone, that has Cunning or Power enough to apply +the Multitudes of _Temptations_, whereby Mankind is daily diverted from +the Service of God; No, the _High Places_ of Our Air, are Swarming full +of those _Wicked Spirits_, whose Temptations trouble us; they are so +many, that it seems no less than a _Legion_, or more than twelve +thousands may be spared, for the Vexation of one miserable man. But +because those Apostate Angels, are all _United_, under one Infernal +Monarch, in the Designs of Mischief, 'tis in the Singular Number, that +they are spoken of. Now, the _Devil_, whose Malice and Envy, prompts him +to do what he can, that we may be as unhappy as himself, do's ordinarily +use more _Fraud_, than _Force_, in his assaulting of us; he that +assail'd our First Parents, in a _Serpent_, will still _Act Like a +Serpent_, rather than a _Lion_, in prosecuting of his wicked purposes +upon us, and for us to guard against the _Wiles_ of the _Wicked One_, is +one of the greatest cares, with which our God ha's charged us. + +We are all of us liable to various _Temptations_ every day, whereby if +we are carried aside from the strait _Paths of Righteousness_, we get +all sorts of wounds unto our selves. Of _Temptations_, I may say, as the +Wise Man said, of _Mortality_; _there is no discharge from that war._ The +_Devils_ fell hard upon both _Adams_, nor may any among the Children of +both, imagine to be excused. The _Son_ of God Himself, had this _Dog_ of +Hell, barking at Him; and much more may the Children of _Men_, look to +be thus Visited; indeed, there is hardly any _Temptation_, but what is, +_Common to Man_. When I was considering, how to spend one Hour in +Raising a most Effectual and Profitable _Breast-work_, against the +inroads of this Enemy, I perceived it would be done, by a short answer +to this. + + + + +CASE. + +_What are those Usual +Methods+ of +Temptation+, with which the Powers +of Darkness do assault the Children of Men?_ + + +The _Corinthians_, having upon the Apostles Direction, Excommunicated +one of their Society, who had married his Mother-in-law, & this, as it +is thought, while his own Father was Living too; the Apostle encourages +them to Re-admit that man, upon his very deep and sharp _Repentance_. He +gives divers Reasons of his propounding this unto them; whereof one is, +_Lest Satan should get advantage of them_; for, had the man miscarried, +under any Rigour of the Sentence continued upon him, after his +_Repentance_, 'tis well if the Church itself had not quickly fallen to +pieces thereupon; besure, the Success of the Gospel had been more than a +little Incommoded. The Apostle upon this Occasion, intimates, That +_Satan_ has his _Devices_; by which word are meant, Artifices or +Contrivances used for the _Deceiving_ of those that are Treated with +them well, But what shall _we do_ that we may come to this _Corinthian +Attainment_, _We are not Ignorant of Satan's Devices?_ [_Non cuivis +homini Contingit!_] + +Truly, the Devil has _Mille Nocendi Artes_; and it will be impossible +for us, to run over all the _Stratagems_ and _Policies_ of our +Adversary. I shall only attempt a few Observations upon the +_Temptations_ of our Lord Jesus Christ: who was _Tempted in all things +like unto us, except in our Sins_. When we read the _Temptations_ of +our Lord Jesus Christ, in the Fourth Chapter of _Matthew_ There, Thence, +you will understand, what was once counted so difficult; Even, _The way +of a Serpent upon the Rock_. There are certain Ancient and Famous +_Methods_ which the Devil in his _Temptations_, does mostly accustome +himself unto; which is not so much from any Barrenness, or Sluggishness +in the Devil, but because he has had the Encouragement of a, _Probatum +est_, upon those horrid Methods. How did the Devil assault the First +_Adam_? It was with Temptations drawn from _Pleasure_, and _Profit_, and +_Honour_, which, as the Apostle notes, in _1 Joh. 2.16._ are, _All that is +in the World_. With the very same temptations it was, that he fell upon +the Second _Adam_ too. Now, in those _Temptations_, you will see the +more _Usual Methods_, whereby the _Devil_ would be Ensnaring of us; and +I beseech you to attend unto the following Admonitions, as those +_Warnings_ of God, which the Lives of your souls depend upon your taking +of. + +There were especially Three _Remarkable_ Assaults of _Temptations_, +which the _Devil_ it seems, visibly made upon our Lord; after he had +been more invisibly for Forty dayes together _Tempting_ of that Holy +One; and we may make a few distinct _Remarks_ upon them all. + + +§ The first of our Lords three Temptations is thus related, in _Mat. 4.3._ +_He was an Hungry; and when the Tempter came to him, he said, If thou be +the Son of God, Command that these Stones be made Bread._ + +From whence, take these _Remarks_. + +I. The Devil will ordinarily make our _Conditions_, to be the +Advantages of his _Temptations_. When our Lord was _Hungry_, then +_Bread! Bread!_ shall be all the Cry of his Temptation; the Devil puts +him upon a wrong step, for the getting of _Bread_. There is no +Condition, but what has indeed some _Hunger_ accompanying of it; and the +Devil marks what it is, that we are _Hungry_ for. One mans Condition +makes him _Hunger_ for Preferments, or Employments, another mans makes +him _Hunger_ for Cash or Land, or Trade; another mans makes him _Hunger_ +for Merriments, or Diversions: And the Condition of every Afflicted Man, +makes him _Hunger_ with Impatience for Deliverance. Now the Devil will +be sure to suit his Perswasions with our _Conditions_. When he has our +_Condition_ to speak with him, & for him, then thinks he, _I am sure +this man will now hearken to my Proposals!_ Hence, if men are in +_Prosperity_, the Devil will tempt them to Forgetfulness of God; if they +are in _Adversity_, he will tempt them to Murmuring at God; in all the +expressions of those impieties. Wise _Agur_ was aware of this; in _Prov. +30.9._ says he, if a man be _Full_, he shall be tempted, _to deny God, +and say, who is the Lord?_ if a man be Poor, he shall be tempted, _to +steal, and take the Name of God in vain._ The Devil will talk suitably; +if you ponder your Conditions, you may expect you shall be tempted +agreeably thereunto. + +II. The Devil does often manage his _temptations_, by urging of our +_Necessities_. Our Lord, was thus by the Devil bawl'd upon; _You want +Bread, and you'll starve, if in my way you get it not._ The Devil will +show some forbidden thing unto us, and plead concerning it, as of +_Bread_ we use to say, _it must be had._ _Necessity_ has a wonderful +compulsion in it. You may see what _Necessity_ will do, if you read in +_Deut. 28.56._ _the tender and the delicate Woman among you, her eye shall +be evil towards the Children that she shall bear, for she shall eat them +for want of all things._ The Devil will perswade us that there is a +_Necessity_ of our doing what he does propound unto us; and then tho' +the _Laws_ of God about us were so many _Walls_ of Stone, yet we shall +break through them all. That little inconvenience, of our coming to beg +our _Bread_, O what a fearful Representation does the Devil make of it! +and when once the Devil scares us to think of a sinful thing, _it must +be done_, we soon come to think, _it may be done_. When the Devil has +frighted us into an Apprehension, that it is a _Needful_ thing which we +are prompted unto, he presently Engages all the Faculties of our Souls, +to prove, that it may be a _Lawful_ one; the Devil told _Esau_, _You'll +dye if you don't sell your Birthright;_ the Devil told _Aaron_, _You'll +pull all the people about your ears, if you do not countenance their +superstitions;_ and then they comply'd immediately. Yea, sometimes if +the Devil do but Feign a Necessity, he does thereby _Gain_ the Hearts of +Men; he did but feign a Need, when he told _Saul_, _the Cattel must be +spared, and the sacrifice must be precipitated_, & he does but feign a +Need, when he tells many a man, _if you do no servile work on the ++Sabbath-day+, and if you don't Rob God of his evening, you'll never +subsist in the world._ All the denials of God, in the world, use to be +from this Fallacy impos'd upon us. It never can be necessary for us to +violate any Negative Commandment in the Law of our God; where God says, +_thou shalt not_, we cannot upon any pretence reply, I _must_. But the +Devil will put a most formidable and astonishing face of necessity upon +many of those _Abominable things, which are hateful to the soul of God_. +He'll say nothing to us about, the one thing needful; but the petite and +the sorry _Need-nots_ of this world, he'll set off with most bloody +Colours of _Necessity_. He will not say, _'tis necessary for you to +maintain the Favour of your God, and secure the +welfare of your Soul+;_ +but he'll say, _'tis necessary for you to keep in with your Neighbours; +and that you and yours may have a good Living among them._ + +III. The Devil does insinuate his most Horrible _Temptations_, with +pretence, of much _Friendship_ and _Kindness_ for us. He seemed very +unwilling that our Lord should want any thing that might be comfortable +for him; but, he was a _Devil_ still! The _Devil_ flatters our Mother +_Eve_, as if he was desirous to make her more Happy than her Maker did; +but there was the _Devil_ in that flattery. _Sub Amici fallere +Nomen_,----to Salute men with profers to do all manner of Service for +them; and at the same time to Stab them as _Joab_ did _Abner_ of old; +this is just like the _Devil_, and the _Devil_ truly has many Children +that Imitate him in it. Some very Affectionate Things were spoken once +unto our Lord; _Lord, be it far from thee, that thou shouldest suffer +any Trouble!_ But our Lords Answer was, in _Mat. 16.23._ _Get thee behind +me Satan._ The Devil will say to a man, _I would have thee to Consult +thy own Interest, and I would have Trouble to be far from thee._ He +speaks these _Fair Things_, by the Mouths of our professed Friends unto +us, as he did by the Tongue of a Speckled Snake unto our Deluded +Parents at the first. But all this while, 'tis a Direction that has been +wisely given us; _When he speaks fair, Believe him not, for there are +seven Abominations in his Heart._ + +IV. Things in themselves _Allowable_ and _Convenient_, are oftentimes +turned into sore _Temptations_ by the Devil. He press'd our Lord unto +the making of _Bread_; Why, that very thing was afterwards done by our +Lord, in the Miracles of the _Loaves_; and yet it is now a motion of the +_Devil_, _Pray, make thy self a Little Bread._ The Devil will frequently +put men by, from the doing of a _seasonable Duty_; but how? Truly by +putting us upon another _Duty_, which may be at that juncture a most +_Unseasonable_ Thing. It is said in _Eccl. 8.5._ _A Wise Mans heart +discerns both Time and Judgment._ The _Ill-Timing_ of good Things, is +One of the chief Intregues, which the Devil has to Prosecute. The Devil +himself, will Egg us on to many a _Duty_; and why so? But because at +that very Time a more proper and Useful Duty, will have a _Supersedeas_ +given thereunto. And, thus there are many Things, whereof we can say, +though no more than this, yet so much as this, _They are Lawful ones_, +by which Lawful Things----_Perimus Omnes._ Where shall we find that the +Devil has laid our most fatal Snares? Truly, our Snares are on the +_Bed_, where it is _Lawful_ for us to Sleep; at the _Board_, where it is +_Lawful_ for us to Sit; in the _Cup_, where 'tis _Lawful_ to Drink; and +in the _Shops_, where we have _Lawful_ Business to do. The _Devil_ will +decoy us, unto the utmost Edge of the _Liberty_ that is _Lawful_ for us; +and then one Little push, hurries us into a Transgression against the +Lord. And the _Devil_ by Inviting us to a _Lawful_ thing, at a wrong +time for it, Layes us under further Entanglement of Guilt before God. +'Tis _Lawful_ for People to use Recreations; but in the Evening of the +Lords Day, or the Morning of any Day, how Ensnaring are they! The +_Devil_ then too commonly bears part in the Sport. If _Promiscuous +Dancing_ were Lawful; though almost all the Christian Churches in the +World, have made a Scandal of it; yet for Persons to go presently from a +_Sermon_ to a _Dance_, is to do a thing, which Doubtless the _Devil_ +makes good Earnings of. + +V. To _distrust_ Gods Providence and Protection, is one of the worst +things, into which the Devil by his _Temptations_ would be hurrying of +us. He would fain have driven our Lord unto a Suspicion of Gods care +about Him, said the Devil, _You may dy for lack of Bread, if you do not +look better after your self, than God is like to do for you._ It is an +usual thing for Persons to dispair of Gods _Fatherly Care_ Concerning +them; they torture themselves with distracting and amazing Fears, that +they shall come to want before they dy; Yea, they even say with _Jonas_, +in _Chap. 2.4._ _I am cast out of the sight of God;_ He wont look after +me! But it is the Devil that is the Author of all such Melancholly +Suggestions in the minds of men. It is a thought that often raises a +Feaver in the Hearts of _Married_ Persons, when Charges grow upon them; +_God will never be able in the way of my Calling, to feed and cloath all +my Little Folks._ It is a Thought with which _Aged_ persons are often +tormented, _Tho' God has all my dayes hitherto supplied me, yet I shall +be pinched with Straits before I come to my Journeys end._ 'Tis a +malicious Devil that raises these _Evil surmisings_ in the hearts of +Men. And sometimes a distemper of Body affords a Lodging for the Devil, +from whence he shoots the cruel Bombs of such _Fiery Thoughts_ into the +minds of many other persons. With such thoughts does the Devil choose to +persecute us; because thereby we come to _Forfeit_ what we _Question_. +We _Question_ the Care of God, and so we _Forfeit_ it, until perhaps the +Devil do utterly _drown us in Perdition_. Our God says, _Trust in the +Lord, and do good, and verily thou shall be fed._ But the Devil says, +_don't you trust in God; be afraid that you shall not be fed;_ and thus +he hinders men from the _doing of Good_. + +VI. There is nothing more Frequent in the _Temptations_ of the Devil, +then for our _Adoption_ to be doubted, because of our _Affliction_. When +our Lord was in his Penury, then says the Devil, _If thou be the Son of +God;_ he now makes an _If_, of it; _What? the Son of God, and not be +able to Command a Bit of Bread!_ Thus, when we are in very Afflictive +Circumstances, this will be the Devils Inference, _Thou art not a Child +of God._ The Bible says in _Heb. 12.7._ _If you are Chastened, it is a +shrow'd sign that you can't be Children._ Since he can't Rob us of our +_Grace_, he would Rob us of our _Joy_; and therefore having Accused us +unto God, he then Accuses God unto us. When _Israel_ was weak and faint +in the Wilderness, then did _Amalek_ set upon them; just so does the +Devil set upon the people of God, when their Losses, their Crosses, +their Exercises have Enfeebled their Souls within them; and what says +the Devil? E'en the same that was mutter'd in the Ear of the Afflicted +_Job_, _Is not this the Uprightness of thy Ways? Remember, I pray thee, +who ever perished, being Innocent? If thou wert a Child of God, He would +never follow thee, with such Testimonies of his Indignation._ This is +the _Logic_ of the Devil; and he thus interrupts that patience, and that +Chearfulness wherewith we should _suffer the will of God_. + +VII. To dispute the Divine Original and Authority of _Gods Word_, is not +the least of those _Temptations_ with which the Devil troubles us. God +from Heaven, had newly said unto our Lord, _this is my Beloved Son_; but +now the Devil would have him to make a dispute of it, _If thou be the +son of God._ The Devil durst not be so Impudent, and Brasen fac'd, as to +bid men use _Pharaohs_ Language, _Who is the Lord, that I should obey +his voice?_ But he will whisper into our Ears, what he did unto our +Mother _Eve_ of old, _It is not the Lord that hath spoken what you call +his Word._ The Devil would have men say unto the _Scripture_, what they +said unto the _Prophet_, in _Jer. 43.2._ _Thou speakest falsely; the Lord +our God hath not sent thee to speak what thou sayst unto us;_ & he would +fain have secret & cursed Misgivings in our hearts, _that things are not +altogether so as the Scripture has represented them._ The Devil would +with all his heart make one huge Bonefire of all the Bibles in the +world; & he has got Millions of persecutors to _assist him in the +suppression of that miraculous book_. _It was the +devil+ once in the +tongue of a Papist_, that cry'd out, _A plague on this bible; this 'tis +that does all our mischief._ But because he can't _Suppress_ this Book, +he sets himself, to _Disgrace_ it all that he can. Altho' the Scripture +carries its _own Evidence_ with it, and be all over, so pure, so great, +so true, and so powerful, that it is impossible it should proceed from +any but God alone; yet the Devil would gladly bring some Discredit upon +it, as if it were but some _Humane Contrivance_; Of nothing, is the +Devil more desirous, than this; That we should not count, _Christ_ so +precious, _Heaven_ so Glorious, _Hell_ so Dreadful, and _Sin_ so odious, +as the Scripture has declared it. + + +§. The Second of our Lords Three Temptations, is related after this +manner, in _Mat. 4.5, 6._ _Then the Devil taketh him up, into the Holy +City, and setteth him upon a Pinacle of the Temple; and saith unto him, +if thou be the Son of God, cast thy self down; for it is written, He +shall give his Angels charge concerning thee, and in their Hands, they +shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy Foot against a +Stone._ + +From whence take these _Remarks_. + +I. The places of the greatest _Holiness_ will not secure us from +Annoyance by the _Temptations_ of the Devil, to the greatest wickedness. +When our Lord was in the Holy City, the Devil fell upon him there. +Indeed, there is now no proper _Holiness_ of _Places_ in our Days; the +Signs and Means of Gods more special Presence are not under the Gospel, +ty'd unto any certain _places_: Nevertheless there are _places_, where +we use to enjoy much of God; and where, altho' God visit not the +_Persons_ for the sake of the _Places_, yet he visits the _Places_ for +the sake of the _Persons_. But, I am to tell you that the Devil will +visit those _Places_ and best _Persons_ there. No _Place_, that I know +of, has got such a _Spell_ upon it, as will always keep the Devil out. +The _Meeting-House_ wherein we Assemble for the Worship of God, is +fill'd with many Holy People, and many Holy Concerns continually; but if +our Eyes were so refined as the Servant of the Prophet had his of old, I +suppose we should now see a Throng of _Devils_ in this very place. The +Apostle has intimated, that Angels come in among us; there are Angels it +seems that hark, how I _Preach_, and how you _Hear_, at this Hour. And +our own sad Experience is enough to intimate, That the _Devils_ are +likewise Rendevouzing here. It is Reported, in _Job 1.5._ _When the Sons +of God came to present themselves before the Lord, Satan came also among +them._ When we are in our Church-Assemblies, O how many _Devils_, do you +imagine, croud in among us! There is a _Devil_ that rocks one to Sleep, +there is a _Devil_ that makes another to be thinking of, he scarce knows +what himself; and there is a _Devil_, that makes another, to be pleasing +himself with wanton and wicked Speculations. It is also possible, that +we have our _Closets_, or our _Studies_, gloriously perfumed with +Devotions every day; but alas, can we shut the Devil out of them? No, +Let us go where we will, we shall still find a Devil nigh unto us. Only, +when we come to Heaven, we shall be out of his reach for ever; _O thou +foul Devil; we are going where thou canst not come!_ He was hissed out +of _Paradise_, and shall never enter it any more. Yea, more than so, +when the _New Jerusalem_ comes down into the _High Places_ of our Air, +from whence the Devil shall then be banished, there shall be no Devil +within the Walls of that Holy City. _Amen, Even so Lord Jesus, Come +quickly._ + +II. Any other acknowledgments of the Lord Jesus Christ, will be +permitted by the Temptations of the Devil, provided those +Acknowledgments of him, which are _True_ and _Full_, may be thereby +prevented. What was it, that the Devil hurried our Lord Jesus Christ +unto the Top of the _Temple_ for? Surely it could not meerly be to find +_Precipices_; any part of the Wilderness would have afforded _Them_. No, +it was rather to have _Spectators_. And why so, Why, the carnal Jews had +an Expectation among them; that _Elias_ was to fly from Heaven to the +Temple; and the Devil seems willing, that our Lord should be cry'd up +for _Elias_, among the giddy multitude; or any thing in the World, tho +never so considerable otherwise, rather than to be received as the +Christ of God. The Devil will allow his Followers to think very highly +of the Lord Jesus Christ; O but he is very lothe to have them think, +_All_. We read in _Col. 1.19._ _It has pleased the Father, that in Him +there should all Fullness dwell._ But it is pleasing to the Devil that +we deny something of the Immense _Fullness_, which is in our Lord. The +Devil would confess to our Lord, _Thou art the Holy One of God!_ but +then he claps in, _Thou art Jesus of Nazareth;_ which was to conceal our +Lords being _Jesus of Bethlehem_, and so his being, _The True Messiah_. +All the _Heresies_, and all the Persecutions, that ever plagued the +Church of God, have still been, to strike at some _Glory_ of our Lord +Jesus Christ. A CHRIST Entirely Acknowledged, will save the Souls of +them that so Acknowledge Him; but, says the Devil, _Whatever tides I +must not give way to that._ As they say, the Devil makes Witches unable +to utter all the _Lords Prayer_, or some such System of Religion, +without some Deprevations of it; thus the Devil will consent that we may +make a very large Confession of the Lord Jesus Christ; only he will have +us to deprave it, at least in some one Important Article. Some one +Honour, some one Office, and some one _Ordinance_ of the Lord Jesus +Christ, must be always left unacknowledged, by those that will do as the +Devil would have them. + +III. _High Stations_ in the Church of God, lay men open to violent and +peculiar _Temptations_ of the Devil. When our Lord was upon the +_Pinacle_, that is not the _Fane_, or _Spire_, but the _Battlements_ of +the _Temple_, there did the Devil pester him, with singular +Molestations, and he therein seems to intend an Entanglement for the +Jews, as well as for our Lord. Believe me they that stand High, cannot +stand safe. The Devil is a _Nimrod_, a mighty Hunter; and common or +little Game, will not serve his Turn: he is a _Leviathan_, of whom we +may say, as in _Job. 41.34._ _He beholds all high things._ Men of high +Attainments, and Men of high Employments, in the Church of God, must +look, like _Peter_ to be more _Sifted_, and like _Paul_, to be more +_Buffeted_ than other Men. _Ferunt Summos Fulmina Montes._----The Devil +can raise a Storm, when God permitteth it, but as for those Men that +stand near Heaven, the Devil will attack them with his most cruel storms +of Thunder and Lightening. It was said, _let him that standeth take +heed;_ but we may say, _They that stand most high, have cause to take +most heed._ The Devil is a _Goliah_; and when he finds a _Champion_, +he'l be sure most fiercely to Combate such a Man. He is for, _Killing +many Birds with one stone_; and he knows that he shall hinder a world +of _Good_, and produce a world of _Ill_, if once he can bring a Man +Eminently Stationed into his Toyls. Hence 'tis that the _Ministers_ of +God, are more dogg'd by the Devil, than other persons are. Especially +such _Ministers_, as more in the highest Orb of Serviceableness; and +most of all such _Ministers_ as have spent many years in Laudable +Endeavours to be serviceable; Those Ministers are the _Stars_ of Heaven, +at which the _Tayl_ of the _Dragon_, will give the most sweeping and +most stinging strokes; the Devil will find that for them, that shall +make them _Walk softly_ all their Days. These are the Men, that have +creepled, and vexed the Devil more than other Men; for which the Devil +has an old Quarrel with them. O Neighbours, little do you think, what +black Days of Mourning, and Fasting, and Praying before the Lord, a +Raging Devil does fill the lives of such _Men of God_ withall. + +IV. The Devil will make a deceitful and unfaithful use of the +_Scriptures_ to make his _Temptations_ forceable. When the Devil +Solicited our Lord, unto an evil thing, he quoted the _Ninty First_ +Psalm unto him, tho' indeed he fallaciously clip'd it, and maim'd it, of +one clause very material in it. O never does the Devil make such +dangerous Passes at us, as when he does wrest our _own Sword_ out of our +Hands, and push _That_ upon us. We have to defend us, that Weapon in +_Eph. 6.16._ _The Sword of the Spirit, which, is the word of God_; but +when the Devil has that very Weapon to fight us with, he makes terrible +work of it. When the Devil would poyson men with false _Doctrines_, he'l +quote Scriptures for them; a _Quaker_ himself, will have the First +Chapter of _John_ always in his mouth. When the Devil would perswade men +to vile _Actions_, he'l quote Scriptures for them; he'l encourage men to +go on in Sin, by showing them, where 'tis said, _The Lord is ready to +Pardon._ I say this, The one story of _Davids_ Fall, in the Scripture, +has been made by the Devil an Engine for the Damnation of many Millions. +The Devil will fright men from doing those things, that are, _the Things +of their Peace_; but How? He'l turn a _Scripture_ into a _Scare-crow_ +for them. The Devil will fright them from all constant Prayer to God, by +quoting that Scripture, _The Sacrifice of the Wicked, is an Abomination +to the Lord;_ the Devil will fright them from the Holy Supper of God, by +quoting that Scripture, _He that Eats and Drinks unworthily, Eats and +Drinks damnation to himself._ And thus the Devil will by some abused +Scripture, Terrifie the Children of God; the Scripture is written as we +are told, _For our Comfort_; but it is quoted by the Devil, _for our +terror_. How many Godly Souls have been cast into sinful Doubts and +Fears, by the Devils foolish glosses upon that Scripture, _He that +doubts is Damned;_ and that, _the fearful shall have their portion in +the burning Lake;_ The Devil sometimes has play'd the _Preacher_, but I +say, _Beware all silly Souls when such a fool is Preaching._ + +V. Grievous and Pulling Hurries to _Self-Murder_ are none of the +smallest outrages, which the Devil in his _Temptations_ commits upon us. +Why, did the Devil say to our Lord, _Cast thy self down_, but in hopes +that our Lord would have broke his Bones, in the fall? The Devil is an +_Old Murtherer_; and he loves to _Murder_ men; but no _Murder_ gives +him so much satisfaction, as that which at his instigation, men +perpetrate upon themselves. We see that such as are _Bewitched_ and +_Possessed_ by the Devil, do quickly lay violent hands upon themselves, +if they be not watched continually, and we see that when persons have +begun that _Unnatural_ business of _killing themselves_, there is a +_Preternatural_ Stupendious Prodigious Assistance, by the Devil given +thereunto. When people are going to Harm themselves, we call upon them, +like those to the Jailor, in _Acts 16.28._ _Do thy self no harm!_ And we +have this Argument for it, _It is the Devil that is dragging of you to +this mischief; but will you believe, will you obey such an one as the +Devil is?_ What was it that made _Judas_ to strangle himself? We read it +was when the _Devil was in him_. I suppose there are few +_self-murderers_, but what are first very strangely fallen into the +Devils hands; and possibly, 'tis by some Extraordinary _Discontent_, +against God, or _back-sliding_ from him, that the Devil first entred +into those disturbed Souls. Indeed, some very great Saints of God, have +sometimes had hideous Royls raised by the Devil in their minds; untill +they have e'en cry'd out with _Job_, _I choose strangling rather than +Life;_ and sometimes the ill Humours or Vapours in the Bodies of such +Good Men, do so harbour the Devil that they have this woful motion every +day thence made unto them; _You must Kill your self! you must! you +must!_ But it is rarely any other than a _Saul_, an _Abimelek_, an +_Achitophel_, or a _Judas_; rarely any other, than a very Reprobate, +whom the Devil can drive, while the man is _Compos Mentis_, to +Consummate such a Villany. Yea, no Child of God, in his Right Senses +can go so far in this impiety, as to be left without all Time and Room +for true _Repentance_ of the Crime; 'tis _thus_ done, by none but those +that go to the Devil. A _self-murder_, acted by one that is upon other +accounts a Reasonable man, is but such an attempt of Revenge upon the +God that made him, as none but one full of the Devil can be guilty of. +If any of you are Dragoon'd by the Devil, unto the murdering of your +selves, my Advice to you is, _Disclose it_, _Reveal it_, _make it known +immediately_. One that Cut his own Throat among us, Expired crying out, +_O that I had told! O that I had told._ You may spoil the Devil, if +you'l _Tell_ what he is a doing of. + +VI. Presumptuous and Unwarrantable _Trials_ of the Blessed God, are some +of those things whereinto the Devil would fain hook us with his +_Temptations_. This was that which the Devil would have brought our Lord +unto, even, _A tempting of the Lord our God_. It is the charge of our +God upon us, in _Deut. 6.16._ _Thou shalt not Tempt the Lord thy God._ +But that which the Devil _Tries_, is, to put us upon _Trying_ in a +sinful way, whether God be such a God as indeed he is. 'Tis true as to +the ways of Obedience, our God says unto us, _Prove me, in those ways; +Try, whether I won't be as good as my Word._ But then there are ways of +_Presumption_, wherein the Devil would have us to trie, what a God it +is, _With whom we have to do_. The Devil would have us to trie the +Purpose of God, about our selves or others; but how? By going to the +_Devil_ himself; by Consulting _Astrologers_, or _Fortune Tellers_; or +perhaps by letting the Bible fall open, to see what is the first +Sentence we light upon. The Devil would have us trie the Mercy of God, +but how? By running into _Dangers_, which we have no call unto. He would +have us trie the Power of God; but how? By looking for good things, +without the use of Means for the getting of them. He would have us trie +the Justice of God; but how? By venturing upon Sin in a _Corner_, with +an Imagination that God will never bring us out. He would have us trie +the Promise of God; but how? By _Limiting_ the Lord, unto such or such a +way of manifesting Himself, or else believing of nothing at all. He +would have us trie the Threatning of God; but how? By going on +impenitently in those things, for which the _Wrath of God comes upon the +Children of Disobedience_. Thus would the Devil have us to affront the +Majesty of Heaven every day. + +VII. The _Temptations_ of the Devil, aim at puffing and bloating of us +up, with _Pride_; as much perhaps as any one iniquity. The Devil would +have had Our Lord make a _Vain glorious_ Discovery of himself unto the +World, by _Flying in the air_, so as no mortal can. _Hoc Ithacus +velit_--the Devil would have us to soar aloft, and not only to be above +other men, but also to _know_ that we are so, _Pride_ is the Devils own +sin; and he affects especially to be, _The King over the Children of +Pride_, it is a caution in _1 Tim. 3.6._ A Pastor must not be _A Novice_; +_Lest being lifted up with Pride, He fall into the condemnation of the +Devil._ (_Summo ac Pio cum Tremore Hunc Textum Legamus nos Ministri +Juvenes!_) Accordingly, the Devil would have us to be inordinately taken +and moved with what _Excellencies_ our God has bestowed upon us. If our +_Estates_ rise, he would have us rise in our Spirits too. If we have +been blessed with Beauty, with Breeding, with Honour, with Success, with +Attire, with Spiritual Priviledges, or with Praise-worthy Performances; +Now says the Devil, _Think thy self better than other Men._ Yea, the +Devil would have us arrogate unto our selves, those _Excellencies_ which +really we never were owners of; and _Boast of a false Gift_. He would +have us moreover to Thirst after Applause among others that may see Our +_Excellencies_! and be impatient if we are not accounted _some-body_. He +would have us furthermore, to aspire after such a _Figure_, as God has +never yet seen fitting for us; and croud into some _High Chair_ that +becomes us not. Thus would the Devil Elevate us into the _Air_, above +our Neighbours; and why so? 'Tis that we may be punished with such +_Falls_, as may make us cry out with _David_, _O my Bones are broken +with my Falls!_ The Devil can't endure to see men lying in the _Dust_; +because there is no falling thence. He is a _Fallen Spirit_ himself, and +it pleases him to see the _Falls_ of men. + + +§. The Third of Our Lords Three Temptations, is related in such Terms as +these. _Matth. 4.8, 9._ _Again the Devil taketh him up, into an exceeding +High Mountain, and sheweth him all the Kingdoms of the world, and the +glory of them: and saith unto him, all these things will I give thee, if +thou wilt fall down and Worship me._ From whence take these Remarks. + +I. The Devil in his _Temptations_ will set the Delight of this world +before us; but he'll set a fair, and a false _Varnish_ upon those +Delights. They were some unknown _Perspectives_, which the Devil had, +both for the Refracting of the _Medium_, and for the Magnifying of the +Object, whereby he gave our Lord at once a prospect of the whole Roman +Empire; but what was it? It was the _World_, and the _Glory_ of it; he +says not a word of the _World_, and the _Trouble_ of it. No sure; not a +word of that; the Devil will not have his Hook so barely expos'd unto +us. The Devil sets off the Delights of Sin, which he offers unto us, +with a stretched and raised Rhetorick; but he will not own, _That in the +midst of our Laughter, our Heart shall be sorrowful;_ and _That the end +of our Mirth shall be Heaviness._ There is but one Glass in the +Spectacles, with which the Devil would have us to read, those passages +in _Eccles. 11.9._ _Rejoyce, O young Man in thy youth, and let thy Heart +chear thee in the Dayes of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thy Heart, +and in the sight of thine Eyes._ Thus far the Devil would have us to +Read; and he'll make many a fine Comment upon it; he'll tell us, That if +we'll follow the Courses of the World, we shall swim in all the Delights +of the World. But he is not willing you should Read out the next words; +_But know thou, that for all these things God shall bring thee into +Judgment._ O he's loth we should be aware of the dreadful Issues, and +Reckonings that our Worldly Delights will be attended with. He sets +before us, _The Pleasures of Sin_; but he will not say, _These are but +for a Season._ He sets before us, _The sweet Waters of Stealth_; but he +will not say, _There is Death in the Pot._ He is a _Mountebank_, that +will bestow nothing but Romantic Praises upon all that he makes us the +Offers of. + +II. There are most Hellish _Blasphemies_ often buzz'd by the +_Temptations_ of the Devil, into the minds of the best Men alive. What a +most Execrable Thing was here laid before our Lord Himself: Even, To own +the _Devil as God_! a thing that can't be uttered, without unutterable +Horror of Soul. The best man on earth, may have such _Fiery Darts_ from +Hell shot into his mind. One that was acted by the _Devil_, had the +impudence to propound this unto such a good man as _Job_, _Curse God_. And +the Devil pleases himself, by chusing the Hearts of good men, with his +base Injections, _That there is no God_, or, _That God is not a +Righteous God_; and a thousand more such things, too Devilish to be +mentioned. A good man is extreamly grieved at it, when he hears a +_Blasphemy_ from the mouth of another man; said the Psalmist, in _Psal. +44.15, 16._ _My Confusion is continually before me, for the voice of him +that Blasphemeth._ But much more when a good man finds a _Blasphemy_ in +his own Heart; O it throws him into most Fevourish Agonies of Soul. For +this cause, a mischievous Devil, will _Flie blow_ the Heart of such a +man, with such Blasphemous Thoughts, as make him crie out, _Lord I am +e'n weary of my life._ Yea, the Devil serves the man just as the +Mistress of _Joseph_ dealt with him; he importunes the man to think +wickedly from Day to Day; and if the man refuse, he cries out at last, +_Behold, what wicked thoughts this man has lodging in him._ Sayst thou +so? _Satan!_ No, they are Baits of thy own; and at thy Door alone shall +they be laid for ever. + +III. There is a sort of Witchcrafts in those things, whereto the +Temptations of the Devil would inveigle us. To worship the Devil is +Witchcraft, and under that notion was our Lord urged unto sin. We are +told in _1 Sam. 15.23._ _Rebellion is as the sin of Witchcraft:_ When +the Devil would have us to sin, he would have us to do the things which +the forlorn Witches use to do. Perhaps there are few persons, ever +allured by the Devil unto an Explicit Covenant with himself. If any +among ourselves be so, my councel is, that you hunt the Devil from you, +with such words as the Psalmist had, _Be gone, Depart from me, ye evil +Doers, for I will keep the Commandments of my God._ But alas, the most +of men, are by the Devil put upon doing the things that are Analogous to +the worst usages of Witches. The Devil says to the sinner, _Despise thy +Baptism, and all the Bond of it, and all the Good of it._ The Devil says +to the sinner, _Come, cast off the Authority of God, and refuse the +Salvation of Christ for ever._ Yea, the Devil who is called, _The God of +this World_, would have us to take Him for Our God, and rather Hear Him, +Trust Him, Serve Him, than the God that formed us. + +IV. The _Temptations_ of the Devil do Tug and Pull for nothing more, +than that the Rulers of the World may yield Homage unto him. Our Lord +has had this by his Father Engag'd unto him, _That he shall one day be +Governour of the Nations._ The Devil doe's extreamly dread the approach +of that Illustrious time, when _The Kingdom of God shall come and his +Will be done, as in Heaven, and on Earth._ For this cause it was that he +was desirous, Our Lord should rather have accepted of him, that Kingdom, +which _Antichrist_ afterwards accepted of him, for the Establishment of +_Devil-worship_, in the World. I may tell you, The Devil is mighty +unwilling, that there should be one _Godly Magistrate_ upon the face of +the Earth. Such is the influence of _Government_, that the Devil will +every where stickle mightily, to have that siding with him. What +_Rulers_ would the Devil have, to command all mankind, if he might have +his will? Even, such as are called in _Psal. 94.20._ _The throne of +iniquity, which frames mischief by a Law_; such as will promote Vice, by +both Connivance, and Example; and such as will oppress all that shall be +_Holy, and Just, and Good_. All men have cause therefore to be jealous, +what Use the Devil may make of them, with reference to the Affairs of +Government; but Rulers may most of all think, that the Lord Jesus from +Heaven calls upon them, _Satan has desired that he might Sift you, and +have you; O Look to it, what side you take._ + +Thus have you in the Temptations of our Lord, seen the principal of +those Devices, which the Devil has to Entrap our Souls. But what shall +we now do, that we may be fortified against those Devices? O that we +might be well furnished with the _Whole Armour of God_! But me thinks, +there were some things attending the Temptations of our Lord, which +would especially Recommend those few Hints unto us for our Guard. + +First, If you are not fond of Temptation, be not fond of Needless, or +Too much Retirement. Where was it, that the Devil fell upon our Lord? it +was when he was Alone in the Wilderness. We should all have our Times to +be Alone every Day; and if the Devil go to scare us out of our +Chambers, with such a Bugbear, as that he'll appear to us, yet stay in +spite of his teeth, stay to finish your Devotions; he Lyes, he dare not +shew his head. But on the other-side by being too solitary, we may lay +our selves too much open to the Devil; You know who says, _Wo to him +that is alone._ + +Secondly, Let an _Oracle_ of God be your defence against a _Temptation_ +of _Hell_. How did our Lord silence the _Devil_? It was with an, _It is +written!_ And _all_ his Three Citations were from that one Book of +_Deuteronomy_. What a _full_ Armoury then have we, in _all_ the sacred +Pages that lie before us? Whatever the Words of the _Devil_ are, drown +them with the words of the _Great God_. Say, _It is Written_ The +_Belshazzar_ of _Hell_ will Tremble and Withdraw, if you show these +_Hand-Writings_ of the Lord. + +Lastly, Since the Lord Jesus Christ has conquered all the _Temptations_ +of the Devil, Flie to that Lord, Crie to that Lord, that He would give +you a share in his Happy Victory. It was for Us that our Lord overcome +the Devil: and when he did but say, _Satan, Get hence_, away presently +the Tygre flew: Does the Devil molest Us? Then let us Repair to our +Lord, who says, _I know how to succour the Tempted._ Said the +_Psalmist_, _Psal. 61.2._ _Lead me to the Rock that is higher than I._ A +Woman in this Land being under the Possession of Devils, the Devils +within her, audibly spoke of diverse Harms they would inflict upon her; +but still they made this answer, _Ah! She Runs to the Rock! She Runs to +the Rock!_ and that hindered all. O this _Running to the Rock_; 'tis +the best Preservation in the World; the _Vultures_ of _Hell_ cannot prey +upon the _Doves_ in the _Clefts_ of that _Rock_. May our God now lead us +thereunto. + + + + + A FURTHER + ACCOUNT + OF THE + TRYALS + OF THE + \New-England Witches\. + + WITH THE + OBSERVATIONS + Of a Person who was upon the Place several + Days when the suspected Witches were + first taken into Examination. + + To which is added, + + \Cases of Conscience\ + Concerning Witchcrafts and Evil Spirits Personating + Men. + + Written at the Request of the Ministers of _New-England_. + + By _Increase Mather_, President of _Harvard_ Colledge. + + \Licensed and Entred according to Order.\ + + _London_: Printed for \J. Dunton\, at the _Raven_ in the _Poultrey_. + 1693. Of whom may be had the _Third Edition_ of Mr. _Cotton + Mather's First Account_ of the Tryals of the _New-England_ + Witches, Printed on the same size with this _Last Account_, that + they may bind up together. + + + + + A TRUE NARRATIVE of some Remarkable + Passages relating to sundry Persons afflicted + by _Witchcraft_ at _Salem_ Village in _New-England_, + which happened from the _19th._ of _March_ + to the _5th._ of _April_, 1692. + +COLLECTED BY DEODAT LAWSON. + + +On the Nineteenth day of _March_ last I went to _Salem_ Village, and +lodged at _Nathaniel Ingersol's_ near to the Minister Mr. _P.'s_ House, +and presently after I came into my Lodging, Capt. _Walcut's_ Daughter +_Mary_ came to Lieut. _Ingersol's_ and spake to me; but suddenly after, +as she stood by the Door, was bitten, so that she cried out of her +Wrist, and looking on it with a Candle, we saw apparently the marks of +Teeth, both upper and lower set, on each side of her Wrist. + +In the beginning of the Evening I went to give Mr. _P._ a Visit. When I +was there, his Kinswoman, _Abigail Williams_, (about 12 Years of Age) +had a grievous fit; she was at first hurried with violence to and fro in +the Room (though Mrs. _Ingersol_ endeavoured to hold her) sometimes +making as if she would fly, stretching up her Arms as high as she could, +and crying, _Whish, Whish, Whish_, several times; presently after she +said, there was Goodw. _N._ and said, _Do you not see her? Why there she +stands!_ And she said, Goodw. _N._ offered her THE BOOK, but she was +resolved she would not take it, saying often, _I wont, I wont, I wont +take it, I do not know what Book it is: I am sure it is none of God's +Book, it is the Devil's Book for ought I know._ After that, she ran to +the Fire, and begun to throw Fire-brands about the House, and run +against the Back, as if she would run up Chimney, and, as they said, she +had attempted to go into the Fire in other Fits. + +On Lords Day, the Twentieth of _March_, there were sundry of the +afflicted Persons at Meeting, as Mrs. _Pope_, and Goodwife _Bibber_, +_Abigail Williams_, _Mary Walcut_, _Mary Lewes_, and Doctor _Grigg's_ +Maid. There was also at Meeting, Goodwife _C._ (who was afterward +Examined on suspicion of being a _Witch_:) They had several sore Fits in +the time of Publick Worship, which did something interrupt me in my +first Prayer, being so unusual. After _Psalm_ was sung _Abigail +Williams_ said to me, _Now stand up, and name your Text!_ And after it +was read, she said, _It is a long Text._ In the beginning of Sermon, +Mrs. _Pope_, a Woman afflicted, said to me, _Now there is enough of +that._ And in the Afternoon, _Abigail Williams_, upon my referring to my +_Doctrine_, said to me, _I know no Doctrine you had, If you did name +one, I have forgot it._ + +In Sermon time, when Goodwife _C._ was present in the Meeting-House, +_Ab. W._ called out, _Look where Goodwife C. sits on the Beam suckling +her Yellow Bird betwixt her fingers!_ _Ann Putman_, another Girle +afflicted, said, _There was a Yellow Bird sat on my Hat as it hung on +the Pin in the Pulpit;_ but those that were by, restrained her from +speaking loud about it. + +On _Monday_ the _21st._ of _March_, the Magistrates of _Salem_ appointed +to come to Examination of Goodwife _C._ And about Twelve of the Clock +they went into the Meeting-House, which was thronged with Spectators. +Mr. _Noyes_ began with a very pertinent and pathetical _Prayer_; and +Goodwife _C._ being called to answer to what was alledged against her, +she desired to go to _Prayer_, which was much wondred at, in the +presence of so many hundred People: The Magistrates told her, they would +not admit it; they came not there to hear her Pray, but to Examine her, +in what was Alledged against her. The Worshipful Mr. _Hathorne_ asked +her, _Why she afflicted those Children?_ She said, she did not Afflict +them. He asked her, who did then? She said, _I do not know; How should I +know?_ The Number of the Afflicted Persons were about that time Ten, +_viz._ Four Married Women, Mrs. _Pope_, Mrs. _Putman_, Goodwife +_Bibber_, and an Ancient Woman, named _Goodall_; three Maids, _Mary +Walcut_, _Mercy Lewes_, at _Thomas Putman's_, and a Maid at _Dr. +Griggs's_; there were three Girls from 9 to 12 Years of Age, each of +them, or thereabouts, _viz._ _Elizabeth Parris_, _Abigail Williams_, and +_Ann Putman_; these were most of them at Goodwife _C.'s_ Examination, +and did vehemently Accuse her in the Assembly of Afflicting them, by +_Biting_, _Pinching_, _Strangling_, _&c._ And that they in their Fits +see her Likeness coming to them, and bringing a _Book_ to them; she +said, she had no _Book_; they affirmed, she had a _Yellow Bird_, that +used to suck betwixt her Fingers, and being asked about it, if she had +any _Familiar Spirit_, that attended her? she said, _She had no +Familiarity with any such thing._ She was a _Gospel Woman_: Which Title +she called her self by; and the Afflicted Persons told her, Ah! she was +_A Gospel Witch_. _Ann Putman_ did there affirm, that one day when +Lieutenant _Fuller_ was at Prayer at her Father's House, she saw the +shape of Goodwife _C._ and she thought Goodwife _N._ Praying at the same +time to the Devil; she was not sure it was Goodwife _N._ she thought it +was; but very sure she saw the shape of Goodwife _C._ The said _C._ +said, they were poor distracted Children, and no heed to be given to +what they said. Mr. _Hathorne_ and Mr. _Noyes_ replyed, It was the +Judgment of all that were present, they were _Bewitched_, and only she +the Accused Person said, they were _Distracted_. It was observed several +times, that if she did but bite her under lip in time of Examination, +the Persons afflicted were bitten on their Arms and Wrists, and produced +the _Marks_ before the Magistrates, Ministers, and others. And being +watched for that, if she did but _Pinch_ her Fingers, or _Grasp_ one +Hand hard in another, they were Pinched, and produced the _Marks_ before +the Magistrates, and Spectators. After that, it was observed, that if +she did but lean her _Breast_ against the Seat in the Meeting-House, +(being the _Bar_ at which she stood), they were afflicted. Particularly +Mrs. _Pope_ complained of grievous Torment in her _Bowels_, as if they +were torn out. She vehemently accused the said _C._ as the Instrument, +and first threw her Muff at her; but that flying not home, she got off +her _shoe_, and hit Goodwife _C._ on the Head with it. After these +Postures were watched, if the said _C._ did but stir her Feet, they were +afflicted in their _Feet_, and stamped fearfully. The afflicted Persons +asked her, why she did not go to the Company of Witches which were +before the Meeting-House Mustering? Did she not hear the _Drum_ beat? +They accused her of having Familiarity with the _Devil_, in the time of +Examination, in the shape of a Black _Man_ whispering in her Ear; they +affirmed, that her _Yellow Bird_ sucked betwixt her Fingers in the +Assembly; and Order being given to see if there were any sign, the Girl +that saw it, said, it was too late now; she had removed a _Pin_, and put +it on her _Head_; which was found _there_ sticking upright. + +They told her, she had Covenanted with the _Devil_ for ten Years, six of +them were gone, and four more to come. She was required by the +Magistrates to answer that Question in the Catechism, _How many persons +be there in the God-head?_ She answered it but oddly, yet was there no +great thing to be gathered from it; she denied all that was charged upon +her, and said, _They could not prove a Witch;_ she was that Afternoon +Committed to _Salem_ Prison; and after she was in Custody, she did not +so appear to them, and afflict them as before. + +On Wednesday the _23d._ of _March_, I went to _Thomas Putman's_, on +purpose to see his Wife: I found her lying on the Bed, having had a sore +Fit a little before; she spake to me, and said, she was glad to see me; +her Husband and she both desired me to Pray with her while she was +sensible; which I did, though the Apparition said, _I should not go to +Prayer._ At the first beginning she attended; but after a little time, +was taken with a Fit; yet continued silent, and seemed to be _Asleep_: +When Prayer was done, her Husband going to her, found her in a _Fit_; he +took her off the Bed, to set her on his Knees, but at first she was so +stiff, she could not be bended; but she afterwards sat down, but quickly +began to strive violently with her _Arms_ and _Leggs_; she then began to +Complain of, and as it were to Converse Personally with, Goodwife _N._ +saying, _Goodwife N. Be gone! Be gone! Be gone! are you not ashamed, a +Woman of your Profession, to afflict a poor Creature so? What hurt did I +ever do you in my life? You have but two Years to live, and then the +Devil will torment your Soul; for this your Name is blotted out of God's +Book, and it shall never be put in God's Book again; be gone for shame, +are you not afraid of that which is coming upon you? I know, I know what +will make you afraid; the wrath of an Angry God, I am sure that will +make you afraid; be gone, do not torment me, I know what you would have_ +(we judged she meant, _her Soul_) _but it is out of your reach; it is +cloathed with the white Robes of Christ's Righteousness._ After this, +she seemed to dispute with the Apparition about a particular _Text_ of +Scripture. The Apparition seemed to deny it; (the Womans Eyes being fast +closed all this time) she said, _She was sure there was such a Text_, +and she would tell it; and then the Shape would be gone, for, said she, +_I am sure you cannot stand before that Text!_ Then she was sorely +Afflicted, her Mouth drawn on one side, and her Body strained for about +a Minute, and then said, _I will tell, I will tell; it is, it is, it +is_, three or four times, and then was afflicted to hinder her from +telling, at last she broke forth, and said, _It is the third Chapter of +the Revelations._ I did something scruple the reading it, and did let my +scruple appear, lest Satan should make any Superstitiously to improve +the Word of the Eternal God. However, tho' not versed in these things, I +judged I might do it this once for an Experiment. I began to _read_, and +before I had near read through the first Verse, she opened her Eyes, and +was well; this Fit continued near half an hour. Her Husband and the +Spectators told me, she had often been so relieved by reading Texts that +she named, something pertinent to her Case; as _Isa. 40.1._ _Isa. 49.1._ +_Isa. 50.1._ and several others. + +On Thursday the Twenty-Fourth of _March_, (being in course the +Lecture-Day at the Village,) Goodwife. _N._ was brought before the +Magistrates Mr. _Hathorne_ and Mr. _Corwin_, about Ten of the Clock in +the Forenoon, to be Examined in the Meeting-House, the Reverend Mr. +_Hale_ begun with Prayer, and the Warrant being read, she was required +to give Answer, _Why she afflicted those persons?_ She pleaded her own +Innocency with earnestness. _Thomas Putman's_ Wife, _Abigail Williams_, +and _Thomas Putman's_ Daughter accused her that she appeared to them, +and afflicted them in their Fits; but some of the others said, that they +had seen her, but knew not that ever she had hurt them; amongst which +was _Mary Walcut_, who was presently after she had so declared bitten, +and cryed out of her in the Meeting-House, producing the _Marks_ of +_Teeth_ on her wrist. It was so disposed, that I had not leisure to +attend the whole time of Examination, but both Magistrates and Ministers +told me, that the things alledged by the afflicted, and defences made by +her, were much after the same manner as the former was. And her motions +did produce like effects, as to _Biting_, _Pinching_, _Brusing_, +_Tormenting_, at their _Breasts_, by her _Leaning_, and when bended +back, were as if their Backs were broken. The afflicted Persons said, +the _Black Man_ whispered to her in the Assembly, and therefore she +could not hear what the Magistrates said unto her. They said also, that +she did then ride by the Meeting-House, behind the _Black Man_. _Thomas +Putman's_ Wife had a grievous Fit in the time of Examination, to the +very great impairing of her strength, and wasting of her spirits, +insomuch as she could hardly move hand or foot when she was carried out. +Others also were there grievously afflicted, so that there was once such +a hideous scrietch and noise (which I heard as I walked at a little +distance from the Meeting-House) as did amaze me, and some that were +within, told me the whole Assembly was struck with Consternation, and +they were afraid, that those that sate next to them were under the +Influence of _Witchcraft_. This Woman also was that day committed to +_Salem_ Prison. The Magistrates and Ministers also did inform me, that +they apprehended a Child of _Sarah G._ and examined it, being between 4 +and 5 years of Age. And as to matter of Fact, they did unanimously +affirm, that when this _Child_ did but cast its Eye upon the afflicted +Persons, they were tormented; and they held her _Head_, and yet so many +as her _Eye_ could fix upon were afflicted. Which they did several times +make careful Observation of: The afflicted complained, they had often +been _Bitten_ by this Child, and produced the marks of _a small set of +teeth_ accordingly; this was also committed to _Salem_ Prison, the Child +looked _hail, and well_ as other Children. I saw it at Lieut. +_Ingersol's_. After the Commitment of Goodw. _N._ _Tho. Putman's_ Wife +was much better, and had no violent Fits at all from that _24th._ of +March, to the _5th._ of _April_. Some others also said they had not seen +her so frequently appear to them, to hurt them. + +On the _25th._ of _March_ (as Capt. _Stephen Sewal_ of _Salem_ did +afterwards inform me) _Eliz. Paris_ had sore Fits at his House, which +much troubled _himself, and his Wife_, so as he told me they were almost +discouraged. She related, that the great _Black Man_ came to her, and +told her, if she would be ruled by him, she should have whatsoever she +desired, and go to a _Golden City_. She relating this to Mrs. _Sewal_, +she told the Child, it was the _Devil_, and he was a _Lyar from the +Beginning_, and bid her tell him so, if he came again: which she did +accordingly, at the next coming to her, in her Fits. + +On the _26th._ of _March_, Mr. _Hathorne_, Mr. _Corwin_, and Mr. +_Higison_, were at the Prison-Keeper's House to Examine the Child, and +it told them there, it had a little _Snake_ that used to suck on the +lowest Joynt of its Fore-Finger; and when they enquired where, pointing +to other places, it told them, not there, but _there_, pointing on the +lowest Joint of the Fore-Finger, where they observed a deep Red Spot, +about the bigness of a _Flea-bite_; they asked who gave it that _Snake_? +whether the great Black Man? It said no, its Mother gave it. + +The 31 of _March_ there was a _Publick Fast_ kept at _Salem_ on account +of these Afflicted Persons. And _Abigail Williams_ said, that the +Witches had a _Sacrament_ that day at an house in the Village, and that +they had _Red Bread_ and _Red Drink_. The first of _April_, _Mercy +Lewis_, _Thomas Putman's_ Maid, in her Fit, said, they did eat _Red +Bread_, like _Man's Flesh_, and would have had her eat some, but she +would not; but turned away her head, and spit at them, and said, _I will +not Eat, I will not Drink, it is Blood, &c._, she said, _That is not the +Bread of Life; that is not the Water of Life; Christ gives the Bread of +Life; I will have none of it!_ The first of _April_ also _Mercy Lewis_ +aforesaid saw in her Fit a _White Man_, and was with him in a glorious +Place, which had no _Candles_ nor _Sun_, yet was full of Light and +_Brightness_; where was a great Multitude in White glittering Robes, and +they Sung the Song in the fifth of _Revelation_, the 9th verse, and the +110 _Psalm_, and the 149 _Psalm_; and said with her self, _How long +shall I stay here! let me be along with you:_ She was loth to leave this +place, and grieved that she could tarry no longer. This _white Man_ hath +appeared several times to some of them, and given them notice how long +it should be before they had another Fit, which was sometimes a day, or +day and half, or more or less, it hath fallen out accordingly. + +The 3d of _April_, the Lord's-day, being Sacrament-day, at the Village, +_Goodw. C._ upon Mr. _Parris's_ naming his Text, _John 6.70._ _One of +them is a Devil_, the said _Goodw. C._ went immediately out of the +Meeting-House, and flung the Door after her violently, to the amazement +of the Congregation. She was afterwards seen by some in their Fits, who +said, _O +Goodw. C.+ I did not think to see you here!_ (and being at +their _Red bread and drink_) said to her, _Is this a time to receive the +Sacrament, you ran away on the Lord's-Day, and scorned to receive it in +the Meeting-House, and, Is this a time to receive it? I wonder at you!_ +This is the sum of what I either saw my self, or did receive Information +from persons of undoubted Reputation and Credit. + + + + +REMARKS OF THINGS MORE THAN ORDINARY ABOUT THE + +AFFLICTED PERSONS. + + +1. They are in their Fits tempted to be _Witches_, are shewed the List +of the Names of others, and are tortured, because they will not yeild to +Subscribe, or meddle with, or touch the BOOK, and are promised to have +present Belief if they would do it. + +2. They did in the Assembly mutually _Cure_ each other, even with a +_Touch_ of their Hand, when Strangled, and otherwise Tortured; and would +endeavour to get to their Afflicted, to relieve them. + +3. They did also foretel when anothers Fit was a-coming, and would say, +_Look to her!_ she will have a Fit presently, which fell out +accordingly, as many can bear witness, that heard and saw it. + +4. That at the same time, when the _Accused_ Person was present, the +_Afflicted Persons_ saw her Likeness in other places of the +Meeting-House, suckling her _Familiar_, sometimes in one place and +posture, and sometimes in another. + +5. That their Motions in their Fits are _Preternatural_, both as to the +manner, which is so strange as a well person could not Screw their Body +into; and as to the violence also it is preternatural being much beyond +the Ordinary force of the same person when they are in their right mind. + +6. The _eyes_ of some of them in their fits are exceeding fast closed, +and if you ask a question they can give no answer, and I do believe they +cannot hear at that time, yet do they plainely converse with the +Appearances, as if they did discourse with real persons. + +7. They are utterly pressed against any persons _Praying_ with them, and +told by the appearances, they shall not go to _Prayer_, so _Tho. +Putman's_ wife was told, _I should not Pray;_ but she said, _I should:_ +and after I had done, reasoned with the _Appearance_, _Did not I say he +should go to Prayer._ + +8. The forementioned _Mary W._ being a little better at ease, the +Afflicted persons said, _she had signed the Book_; and that was the +reason she was better. Told me by _Edward Putman_. + + + + +REMARKS CONCERNING THE ACCUSED. + + +1. For introduction to the discovery of those that afflicted them, It is +reported Mr. _Parris's_ Indian Man, and Woman, made a Cake of _Rye +Meal_, and the Childrens water, baked it in the Ashes, and gave it to a +Dog, since which they have discovered, and seen particular persons +hurting of them. + +2. In Time of Examination, they seemed little affected, though all the +Spectators were much grieved to see it. + +3. _Natural_ Actions in them produced _Preternatural_ actions in the +Afflicted, so that they are their own _Image_ without any _Poppits_ of +Wax or otherwise. + +4. That they are accused to have a Company about 23 or 24 and they did +_Muster in Armes_, as it seemed to the Afflicted Persons. + +5. Since they were confined, the Persons have not been so much Afflicted +with their appearing to them, _Biteing_ or _Pinching_ of them &c. + +6. They are reported by the Afflicted Persons to keep dayes of _Fast_ +and dayes of _Thanksgiving_, and _Sacraments_; Satan endeavours to +Transforme himself to an _Angel of Light_, and to make his Kingdom and +Administrations to resemble those of our Lord Jesus Christ. + +7. Satan Rages Principally amongst the Visible Subjects of Christ's +Kingdom and makes use (at least in appearance) of some of them to +Afflict others; that _Christ's Kingdom, may be divided against it self_, +and so be weakened. + +8. Several things used in _England_ at Tryal of Witches, to the Number +of 14 or 15 which are wont to pass instead of, or in Concurrence with +_Witnesses_, at least 6 or 7 of them are found in these accused: see +_Keebles Statutes_. + +9. Some of the most solid Afflicted Persons do affirme the same things +concerning _seeing_ the accused _out_ of their Fitts as well as _in_ +them. + +10. The Witches had a _Fast_, and told one of the Afflicted Girles, she +must not _Eat_, because it was _Fast Day_, she said, she _would_: they +told her they would _Choake_ her then; which when she did eat, was +endeavoured. + + + + +A FURTHER ACCOUNT OF THE TRYALS OF + +THE NEW-ENGLAND WITCHES, SENT IN A LETTER FROM + +THENCE, TO A GENTLEMAN IN LONDON. + + +Here were in _Salem_, _June 10, 1692_, about 40 persons that were +afflicted with horrible torments by _Evil Spirits_, and the afflicted +have accused 60 or 70 as Witches, for that they have _Spectral +appearances_ of them, tho the Persons are absent when they are +tormented. When these Witches were Tryed, several of them confessed a +contract with the Devil, by signing his Book, and did express much +sorrow for the same, declaring also thir _Confederate Witches_, and said +the Tempters of them desired 'em to sign the _Devils Book_, who +tormented them till they did it. There were at the time of +_Examination_, before many hundreds of Witnesses, strange Pranks play'd; +such as the taking Pins out of the Clothes of the afflicted, and +thrusting them into their flesh, many of which were taken out again by +the _Judges_ own hands. Thorns also in like kind were thrust into their +flesh; the accusers were sometimes _struck dumb, deaf, blind_, and +sometimes lay as if they were dead for a while, and all foreseen and +declared by the afflicted just before it 'twas done. Of the afflicted +there were two Girls, about _12 or 13 years of age_, who saw all that +was done, and were therefore called the _Visionary Girls_; they would +say, _Now he, or she, or they, are going to bite or pinch the Indian_; +and all there present in Court saw the visible marks on the _Indians_ +arms; they would also cry out, _Now look, look, they are going to bind +such an ones Legs_, and all present saw the same person spoken of, fall +with her Legs twisted in an extraordinary manner; Now say they, we shall +all fall, and immediately 7 or 8 of the afflicted fell down, with +_terrible shrieks and Out-crys_; at the time when one of the Witches was +_sentenc'd, and pinnion'd_ with a Cord, at the same time was the +afflicted _Indian_ Servant going home, (being about 2 or 3 miles out of +town,) and had both his Wrists at the same instant bound about with a +like Cord, in the same manner as she was when she was sentenc'd, but +with that violence, that the Cord entred into his flesh, not to be +untied, nor hardly cut----Many _Murders_ are suppos'd to be in this way +committed; for these Girls, and others of the afflicted, say, _they see +Coffins, and bodies in Shrowds_, rising up, and looking on the accused, +crying, _Vengeance, Vengeance on the Murderers_----Many other strange +things were transacted before the Court in the time of their +Examination; and especially one thing which I had like to have forgot, +which is this, One of the accus'd, whilst the rest were under +Examination, was drawn up by a Rope to the Roof of the house where he +was, and would have been choak'd in all probability, had not the Rope +been presently cut; the Rope hung at the Roof by some _invisible tye_, +for there was no hole where it went up; but after it was cut the +_remainder_ of it was found in the Chamber just above, lying by the very +place where it hung down. + +In _December 1692_, the Court sate again at _Salem_ in _New-England_, +and cleared about 40 persons suspected for Witches, and Condemned three. +The Evidence against these three was the same as formerly, so the +Warrant for their Execution was sent, and the _Graves digged_ for the +said three, and for about five more that had been Condemned at _Salem_ +formerly, but were Repreived by the Governour. + +In the beginning of _February 1693_, the Court sate at _Charles-Town_ +where the Judge exprest himself to this effect. + +_That who it was that obstructed the Execution of Justice, or hindred +those good proceedings they had made, he knew not, but thereby the +Kingdom of Satan was advanc'd_, &c. _and the Lord have mercy on this +Country:_ and so declined coming any more into Court. In his absence +_Mr. D----_ sate as Chief Judge 3 several days, in which time 5 or 6 +were clear'd by Proclamation, and almost as many by Trial; so that all +are acquitted. + +The most remarkable was an Old Woman named _Dayton_, of whom it was +said, _If any in the World were a Witch, she was one, and had been so +accounted 30 years._ I had the Curiosity to see her tried; she was a +decrepid Woman of about 80 years of age, and did not use many words in +her own defence. She was accused by about 30 Witnesses; but the matter +alledged against her was such as needed little apology, on her part not +one passionate word, or immoral action, or evil, was then objected +against her for 20 years past, only strange accidents falling out, after +some Christian admonition given by her, as saying, _God would not +prosper them, if they wrong'd the Widow._ Upon the whole, there was not +proved against her any thing worthy of Reproof, or just admonition, much +less so heinous a Charge. + +So that by the _Goodness_ of God we are once more out of present danger +of this _Hobgoblin Monster_; the standing Evidence used at _Salem_ were +called, but did not appear. + +There were others also at _Charles-town_ brought upon their _Tryals_, +who had formerly confess'd themselves to be Witches; but upon their +tryals deny'd it, and were all clear'd; So that at present there is no +_further prosecution of any_. + + + + + 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_ Colledge at _Cambridge_, + and Teacher of a Church at _Boston_ in _New England_. + + PROV. xxii. xxi. + + _----That thou mightest Answer the Words of Truth, to them + that send unto thee._ + + _Efficiunt Dæmones, ut quæ non sunt, sic tamen, quasi sint, + conspicienda hominibus exhibeant._ _Lactantius_ Lib. 2. _Instit._ + Cap. 15. _Diabolus Consulitur, cum iis mediis utimur aliquid + Cognoscendi, quæ a Diabolo sunt introducta._ _Ames Cas. Cons._ L. 4. + Cap. 23. + + Printed at _Boston_, and Re-printed at _London_, for \John Dunton\, at + the _Raven_ in the _Poultrey_. 1693. + + + + +CHRISTIAN READER. + + +_So Odious and Abominable is the Name of a Witch, to the Civilized, much +more the Religious part of Mankind, that it is apt to grow up into a +Scandal for any, so much as to enter some sober cautions against the +over hasty suspecting, or too precipitant Judging of Persons on this +account. But certainly, the more execrable the Crime is, the more +critical care is to be used in the exposing of the Names, Liberties, and +Lives of Men (especially of a Godly Conversation) to the imputation of +it. The awful hand of God now upon us, in letting loose of evil Angels +among us to perpetrate such horrid Mischiefs, and suffering of Hell's +Instruments to do such fearful things as have been scarce heard of; hath +put serious persons into deep Musings, and upon curious Enquiries what +is to be done for the detecting and defeating of this tremendous design +of the grand Adversary: And, tho' all that fear God are agreed, +That no +evil is to be done, that good may come of it+; yet hath the Devil +obtained not a little of his design, in the divisions of Reuben, about +the application of this Rule._ + +_That there are Devils and Witches, the Scripture asserts, and +experience confirms, That they are common enemies of Mankind, and set +upon mischief, is not to be doubted: That the Devil can (by Divine +Permission) and often doth vex men in Body and Estate, without the +Instrumentality of Witches, is undeniable: That he often hath, and +delights to have the concurrence of Witches, and their consent in +harming men, is consonant to his native Malice to Man, and too +lamentably exemplified: That Witches, when detected and convinced, ought +to be exterminated and cut off, we have God's warrant for, +Exod. 22.18.+ +Only the same God who hath said, +thou shalt not suffer a Witch to +live+; hath also said, +at the Mouth of two Witnesses, or three +Witnesses shall he that is worthy of Death, be put to Death: But at the +Mouth of one Witness, he shall not be put to Death+, +Deut. 17.6.+ Much +debate is made about what is sufficient Conviction, and some have (in +their Zeal) supposed that a less clear evidence ought to pass in this +than in other Cases, supposing that else it will be hard (if possible) +to bring such to condign Punishment, by reason of the close conveyances +that there are between the Devil and Witches; but this is a very +dangerous and unjustifiable tenet. Men serve God in doing their Duty, he +never intended that all persons guilty of Capital Crimes should be +discovered and punished by men in this Life, though they be never so +curious in searching after Iniquity. It is therefore exceeding necessary +that in such a day as this, men be informed what is Evidence and what is +not. It concerns men in point of Charity; for tho' the most shining +Professor may be secretly a most abominable Sinner, yet till he be +detected, our Charity is bound to Judge according to what appears: and +notwithstanding that a clear evidence must determine a case; yet +presumptions must be weighed against presumptions, and Charity is not to +be forgone as long as it has the most preponderating on its side. And it +is of no less necessity in point of Justice; there are not only +Testimonies required by God, which are to be credited according to the +Rules given in his Word referring to witnesses: But there is also an +Evidence supposed to be in the Testimony, which is throughly to be +weighed, and if it do not infallibly prove the Crime against the person +accused, it ought not to determine him guilty of it; for so a righteous +Man may be Condemned unjustly. In the case of Witchcrafts we know that +the Devil is the immediate Agent in the Mischief done, the consent or +compact of the Witch is the thing to be Demonstrated._ + +_Among many Arguments to evince this, that which is most under present +debate, is that which refers to something vulgarly called +Spectre +Evidence+, and a certain sort of Ordeal or trial by the sight and touch. +The principal Plea to justifie the convictive Evidence in these, is +fetcht from the Consideration of the Wisdom and Righteousness of God in +Governing the World, which they suppose would fail, if such things were +permitted to befal an innocent person; but it is certain, that too +resolute conclusions drawn from hence, are bold usurpations upon +spotless +Sovereignty+: and tho' some things if suffered to be common, +would subvert this Government, and disband, yea ruine Humane Society; +yet God doth sometimes suffer such things to evene, that we may thereby +know how much we are beholden to him, for that restraint which he lays +upon the Infernal Spirits, who would else reduce a World into a Chaos. +That the Resolutions of such Cases as these is proper for the Servants +of Christ in the Ministry cannot be denied; the seasonableness of doing +it now, will be justified by the Consideration of the necessity there is +at this time of a right Information of men's Judgments about these +things, and the danger of their being misinformed._ + +_The Reverend, Learned, and Judicious Author of the ensuing Cases, is +too well known to need our Commendation: All that we are concerned in, +is to +assert our hearty Consent to, and Concurrence with the substance +of what is contained in the following Discourse+: And, with our hearty +Request to God, that he would discover the depths of this Hellish +Design; direct in the whole management of this Affair; prevent the +taking any wrong steps in this dark way; and that he would in particular +Bless these faithful Endeavours of his Servant to that end, we Commend +it and you to his Divine Benediction._ + + William Hubbard. + Samuel Phillips. + Charles Morton. + James Allen. + Michael Wigglesworth. + Samuel Whiting, _Sen._ + Samuel Willard. + John Baily. + Jabez Fox. + Joseph Gerrish. + Samuel Angier. + John Wise. + Joseph Capen. + Nehemiah Walter. + + + + +CASES OF CONSCIENCE CONCERNING + +WITCHCRAFTS. + + +The First Case that I am desired to express my Judgment in, is this, +_Whether it is not Possible for the Devil to impose on the imaginations +of Persons Bewitched, and to cause them to Believe that an Innocent, yea +that a Pious person does torment them, when the Devil himself doth it; +or whether Satan may not appear in the Shape of an Innocent and Pious, +as well as of a Nocent and Wicked Person, to Afflict such as suffer by +Diabolical Molestations?_ + +The Answer to the Question must be Affirmative; Let the following +Arguments be duely weighed in the Ballance of the Sanctuary. + + +_Argu. 1._ There are several Scriptures from which we may infer the +Possibility of what is Affirmed. + +1. We find that the _Devil by the Instigation of the Witch at Endor +appeared in the Likeness of the Prophet Samuel_. I am not ignorant that +some have asserted that, which, if it were proved, would evert this +Argument, _viz._ that it was the true and not a delusive _Samuel_ which +the Witch brought to converse with _Saul_. Of this Opinion are some of +the Jewish Rabbies[1] and some Christian Doctors[2] and many late Popish +Authors[3] amongst whom _Cornel. a Lapide_ is most elaborate. But that +it was a _Dæmon_ representing _Samuel_ has been evinced by learned and +Orthodox Writers: especially [4]_Peter Martyr_, [5]_Balduinus +[6]Lavater_, and our incomparable _John Rainolde_. I shall not here +insist on the clearing of that, especially considering, that elsewhere I +have done it: only let me add, that the Witch said to _Saul_, _I see +Elohim_, i. e. _A God_; (for the whole Context shows, that a single +Person is intended) _Ascending out of the Earth_. _1 Sam. 28.13._ The +Devil would be Worshipped as a God, and _Saul_ now, that he was become a +_Necromancer_, must bow himself to him. Moreover, had it been the true +_Samuel_ from Heaven reprehending _Saul_, there is great Reason to +believe, that he would not only have reproved him for his sin, in not +executing Judgment on the _Amalekites_; as in Ver. 18. But for his +Wickedness in consulting with Familiar Spirits: For which Sin it was in +special that he died. _2 Chron. 10.13._ But in as much as there is not +one word to testify against that Abomination, we may conclude that it +was not real _Samuel_ that appeared to _Saul_: and if it were the Devil +in his likeness, the Argument seems very strong, that if the Devil may +appear in the form of a Saint in Glory, much more is it possible for him +to put on the likeness of the most Pious and Innocent Saint on Earth. +There are, who acknowledge that a _Dæmon_ may appear in the shape of a +Godly Person, _But not as doing Evil_. Whereas the Devil in _Samuel's_ +likeness told a pernicious Lye, when he said, _Thou hath disquieted me._ +It was not in the Power of _Saul_, nor of all the Devils in Hell, to +disquiet a Soul in Heaven, where _Samuel_ had been for Two years before +this Apparition. Nor did the _Spectre_ speak true, when he said, _Thou +and thy Sons shall be with me:_ Tho' _Saul_ himself at his Death went to +be with the Devil, his Son _Jonathan_ did not so. Besides, (which suits +with the matter in hand) the Devil in _Samuels_ shape confirmed +_Necromancy_ and _Cursed Witchery_. He that can in the likeness of +Saints encourage Witches to Familiarity with Hell, may possibly in the +likeness of a Saint afflict a Bewitched Person. But this we see from +Scripture, Satan may be permitted to do. + +And whereas it is objected, that the Devil may appear indeed in the form +of Dead Persons, but that he cannot represent such as are living; The +contrary is manifest. No Question had _Saul_ said to the Witch, bring me +_David_ who was then living, she could as easily have shown living +_David_ as dead _Samuel_, as easily as that great Conjurer of whom +[7]_Wierus_ speaks, brought the appearance of _Hector_ and _Achilles_, +and after that of _David_ before the Emperour _Maximilian_. + +And that evil Angels have sometimes appeared in the likeness of living +absent persons, is a thing abundantly confirmed by History. + +[8]_Austin_ tells us of one that went for resolution in some intricate +Questions to a Philosopher, of whom he could get no Answer; but in the +Night the Philosopher comes to him, and resolves all his Doubts. Not +long after, he demanded the reason why he could not answer him in the +Day as well as in the Night; The Philosopher professed he was not with +him in the Night, only acknowledged that he dreamed of his having such +conversation of his Friend, but he was all the time at home, and asleep. +_Paulus_ and _Palladius_ did both of them profess to _Austin_, that one +in his shape, had divers times, and in divers places appeared to them: +[9]_Thyreus_ mentions several Apparitions of absent living persons, +which happened in his time, and which he had the certain knowledge of. A +Man that is in one place cannot (_Autoprosopos_) at the same time be in +another. It remains then that such _Spectres_ are Prodigious and +Supernatural, and not without Diabolical Operation. It has been +Controverted among Learned Men, whether innocent Persons may not by the +malice and deluding Power of the Devil be represented as present amongst +Witches at their dark Assemblies. The mentioned _Thyreus_ says, that the +Devil may, and often does represent the forms of Innocent Persons out of +those Conventions, and that there is no Question to be made of it, but +as to his natural Power and Art he is able to make their shapes appear +amongst his own Servants, but he supposeth the Providence of God will +not suffer such an Injury to be done to an Innocent Person. With him +[10]_Delrio_, and _Spineus_ concur. But _Cumanus_ in his _Lucerna +Inquisitorum_ (a Book which I have not yet seen) defends the Affirmative +in this Question. _Bins Fieldius_ in his Treatise, concerning the +Confession of Witches, inclines to the Negative, only [11]he +acknowledges _Dei extraordinaria Permissione posse Innocentes sic +representari._ And he that shall assert, that Great and Holy God never +did nor ever will permit the Devil thus far to abuse an Innocent Person, +affirms more than he is able to prove. The story of _Germanus_ his +discovering a Diabolical illusion of this nature, concerning a great +number of Persons that seemed to be at a Feast when they were really at +home and asleep, is mentioned by many Authors. But the particulars +insisted on, do sufficiently evince the Truth of what we assert, _viz._ +That the Devil may by Divine Permission appear in the shape of Innocent +and Pious Persons. Nevertheless, It is evident from another Scripture, +_viz._ that in _2 Cor. 11.14._ _For Satan himself is transformed into an +Angel of Light._ He seems to be what he is not, and makes others seem to +be what they are not. He represents evil men as good, and good men as +evil. The Angels of Heaven, (who are the Angels of Light) love Truth and +Righteousness, the Devil will seem to do so too; and does therefore +sometimes lay before men excellent good Principles and exhort them (as +he did _Theodore Maillit_) to practise many things, which by the Law of +Righteousness they are obliged unto, and hereby he does more effectually +deceive. Is it not strange, that he has sometimes intimated to his most +devoted servants, that if they would have familiar Conversation with +him, they must be careful to keep themselves from enormous Sins, and +pray constantly for Divine Protection? But so has he transformed +himself into an Angel of Light, as [12]_Boissardus_ sheweth. He has +frequently appeared to Men pretending to be a good Angel, so to +_Anatolius_ of old; and the late instances of [13]Dr. _Dee_ and _Kellet_ +are famously known. How many deluded _Enthusiasts_ both in former and +latter times have been imposed on by Satans appearing visibly to them, +pretending to be a good Angel. And moreover, he may be said to transform +himself into an _Angel of Light_, because of his appearing in the Form +of _Holy Men_, who are the _Children of Light_, yea in the shape and +habit of Eminent Ministers of God. So did he appear to Mr. _Earl_ of +_Colchester_ in the likeness of Mr. _Liddal_ an Holy Man of God, and to +the _Turkish Chaous_ Baptized at _London_, _Anno 1658._ pretending to be +Mr. _Dury_ an Excellent Minister of Christ. And how often has he +pretended to be the Apostle _Paul_ or _Peter_ or some other celebrated +Saint? Ecclesiastical Histories abound with Instances of this nature. +Yea, sometimes he has transfigured himself into the Form of Christ. It +is reported that he appeared to [14]St. _Martin_ Gloriously arrayed, as +if he had been Christ. So likewise to [15]_Secundellus_, and to another +Saint, who suspecting it was Satan, transforming himself into an _Angel +of Light_ had this expression, _If I may see Christ in Heaven it is +enough, I desire not to see him in this World_; whereupon the _Spectre_ +vanished. It has been related of _Luther_, that after he had been +Fasting and Praying in his Study, the Devil come pretending to be +Christ, but _Luther_ saying, _away thou confounded Devil, I acknowledge +no Christ but what is in my Bible_, nothing more was seen. Thus then the +Devil is able (by Divine Permission) to Change himself into what form or +figure he pleaseth, + + _Omnia transformat sese in miracula rerum._ + +A Third Scripture to our purpose is that, in _Rev. 12.10._ where the +Devil is called the _Accuser of the Brethren_. Such is the malice and +impudence of the Devil, as that he does accuse good Men, and that before +God, and that not only of such Faults as they really are guilty of, he +accused _Joshua_ with his filthy Garments, when through his Indulgence +some of his Family had transgressed by unlawful Marriages, _Zach. 3.23._ +with _Ezra. 10.18._ but also with such Crimes, as they are altogether +free from. He represented the Primitive Christians as the vilest of men, +and as if at their Meetings they did commit the most nefandous Villanies +that ever were known; and that not only Innocent, but Eminently Pious +Persons should thro' the malice of the Devil be accused with the Crime +of Witchcraft, is no new thing. Such an Affliction did the Lord see meet +to exercise the great _Athanasius_ with[16] only the Divine Providence +did wonderfully vindicate him from that as well as from some other foul +Aspersions. The _Waldenses_ (altho' the Scriptures call them _Saints_, +_Rev. 13.7._) have been traduced by Satan and by the World as horrible +Witches; so have others in other places, only because they have done +extraordinary things by their Prayers: It is by many Authors related, +that a City in _France_ was molested with a Diabolical _Spectre_, which +the People were wont to call _Hugon_; near that place a number of +Protestants were wont to meet to serve God, whence the Professors of the +true reformed Religion were nic-named _Hugonots_, by the Papists, who +designed to render them before the World, as the Servants and +Worshippers of that _Dæmon_, that went under the name of _Hugon_. And +how often have I read in Books written by Jesuits, that _Luther_ was a +Wizard, and that he did himself confess that he had familiarity with +Satan! Most impudent Untruths! nor are these things to be wondered at, +since the Holy Son of God himself was reputed a _Magician_, and one that +had Familiarity with the greatest of Devils. The Blaspheming Pharisees +said, _he casts out the Devils thro' the Prince of Devils_, _Matth. 9.34._ +There is then not the best Saint on Earth (Man or Woman) that can assure +themselves that the Devil shall not cast such an Imputation upon them. +_It is enough for the Disciple that he be as his Master, and the Servant +as his Lord: If they have called the Master of the House Beelzebub, how +much more them of his Household_, _Matth. 10.25._ It is not for men to +determine how far the Holy God may permit the wicked one to proceed in +his Accusations. The sacred story of _Job_ giveth us to understand, that +the Lord whose ways are past finding out, does for wise and holy Ends +suffer Satan by immediate Operation, (and consequently by Witchcraft) +greatly to afflict innocent Persons, as in their Bodies and Estates, so +in their Reputations. I shall mention but one Scripture more to confirm +the Truth in hand: It is that in _Eccles. 9.2, 3._ where it is said, +_All things come alike to all, there is one event to the Righteous and +to the Wicked, as is the Good, so is the Sinner, this is an evil amongst +all things under the Sun, that there is one Event happeneth to all._ And +in _Eccles. 7.15._ 'tis said, _There is a just man that perisheth in his +Righteousness._ + +From hence we infer, that there is no outward Affliction whatsoever but +may befal a good Man; now to be represented by Satan as a Tormentor of +Bewitched or Possessed Persons, is a sore Affliction to a good man. To +be tormented by Satan is a sore Affliction, yet nothing but what befel +_Job_, and a Daughter of _Abraham_, whom we read of in the Gospel: To be +represented by Satan as tormenting others, is an Affliction like the +former; the Lord may bring such extraordinary Temptations on his own +Children, to afflict and humble them, for some Sin they have been guilty +of before him. A most wicked Person in St. _Ives_, got a Knife, and went +with it to a Ministers House, designing to stab him, but was +disappointed; afterwards Conscience being awakened, the Devil appears to +this Person in the Shape of that Minister, with a Knife in his hand +exhorting to Self-murder: Was not here a Punishment suitable to the Sin +which that Person had been guilty of? Perhaps some of those whom Satan +has represented as committing Witchcrafts, have been tampering with some +foolish and wicked Sorceries, tho' not to that degree, which is Criminal +and Capital by the Laws both of God and Men; for this Satan may be +permitted so to scourge them; or it may be, they have misrepresented and +abused others, for which cause the Holy God may justly give Satan leave +falsely to represent them. + +Have we not known some that have bitterly censured all that have been +complained of by bewitched Persons, saying it was impossible they should +not be guilty; soon upon which themselves or some near Relations of +theirs, have been to the lasting Infamy of their Families, accused after +the same manner, and Personated by the Devil! Such tremendous Rebukes on +a few, should make all men to be careful how they joyn with Satan in +Condemning the Innocent. + + +Arg. 2. _Because it is possible for the Devil in the Shape of an +innocent Person to do other mischiefs._ As for those who acknowledge +that Satan may personate a pious Person, but not to do mischief, their +Opinion has been confuted by more than a few unhappy Instances. Mr. +_Clark_[17] speaks of a Man that had been an Atheist, or a Sadduce, not +believing that there are any Devils or any (to us) invisible World; this +Man was converted, but as a Punishment of his Infidelity, evil Angels +did often appear to him in the Shape of his most intimate Friends, and +would sometimes seduce him into great Inconveniences. It has been +elsewhere, and but now noted, that a _Dæmon_ in the shape of excellent +Mr. _Dury_ appeared to the _Turkish Chaos_, _Anno. 1658._ to disswade +him from prosecuting his desires of Baptism into the Name of Christ: +Also to Mr. _Earle_ in the likeness of his Friends, to discourage him +from doing things lawful and good. A multitude of _Jews_ were once +deluded by a Person pretending to be _Moses_ from Heaven, and that if +they would follow him they should pass safe through the Sea (as did +their Fathers of old through the Red Sea) whereby great numbers of them +were deceived and perished in the Waters. [18]Learned and judicious Men +have concluded that this _Moses Creensis_ was a _Dæmon_, transforming +himself into _Moses_: And that the Devil has frequently appeared[19] in +the shape of famous Persons to the end that he might seduce Men into +Idolatry, (a Sin equal to that of Witchcraft) no Man that has made it +his Concern to enquire into things of this nature can be ignorant. Many +Examples of this kind are collected by Mr. _Bromhall_ in his _Treatise +of Spectres, and the cunning Devil, to strengthen Men in their +worshipping of Saints departed:_ And by Mr. _Bovet_ in his +_Pandemonium_. It is credibly reported that the Devil in the likeness of +a faithful Minister (as St. _Ives_ before mentioned, near _Boston_ in +_Lincolnshire_) came to one that was in trouble of Mind, telling her the +longer she lived, the worse it would be for her; and therefore advising +her to Self-murder: An eminent Person still living had the account of +this Matter from Mr. _Cotton_ (the famous Teacher of both _Bostons_.) He +was well acquainted with that Minister, who related to him the whole +Story, with all the Circumstances of it: For Mr. _Cotten_ was so +affected with the Report, as to take a Journey on purpose to the Town +where this happened, that so he might obtain a satisfactory account +about it, which he did. Some Authors say, that a _Dæmon_ appeared in the +form of _Sylvanus_ (_Hierom's_ Friend) attempting a dishonest thing, the +Devil thereby designing to blast the Reputation of a famous Bishop. I +have in another Book mentioned that celebrated Instance concerning an +honest Citizen in _Zurick_ (the Metropolis of _Helvetia_) in whose shape +the Devil appeared, committing an abominable Fact (not fit to be named) +very early in the Morning, seen by the Prefect of the City, and his +Servant; they were amazed to behold a Man of good Esteem for his +Conversation, perpetrating a thing so vile and abominable; but going +from the _Spectre_ in the Field, to the Citizen's House in the Town, +they found him at home, and in his Bed, nor had he been abroad that +Morning, which convinced them, that what they saw was an Illusion of the +Devil: This Passage is mentioned as a thing known and certain by +_Lavater_ in his Treatise of _Spectres_,[20] who was a most learned and +judicious Preacher in that City. Our _Juel_ saith of him, that he must +ingeniously confess, that he never understood _Solomon's Proverbs_ until +_Lavater_ expounded them to him: That Book of his _De Spectris_ hath +been published in _Latin_, High and Low _Dutch_, _French_, _Italian_. +The learned _Zanchy_[21] speaks highly of it, professing that he had +read it both with Pleasure and Profit. _Voetius_[22] takes notice of +that passage which we have quoted out of _Lavater_ as a thing memorable. + +Some Popish Authors argue, That the Devil cannot personate an innocent +Man as doing an act of Witchcraft, because then he might as well +represent them as committing Theft, Murder, _&c._ And if so, there would +be no living in the World: But I turn the Argument against them, he may +(as the mentioned Instances prove) personate honest Men as doing other +Evils; and no solid Reason can be given why he may not as well personate +them under the Notion of Witches, as under the Notion of Thieves, +Murderers, and Idolaters: As for the Objection, that then there would be +no living in the World, we shall consider it under the next Argument. + + +Arg. 3. _If Satan may not represent one that is not a Covenant Servant +of his, as afflicting those that are bewitched or possessed, then it is +either because he wants Will, or Power to do this, or because God will +never permit him thus to do._ No man but a Sadduce doubts of the ill +will of Devils; nothing is more pleasing to the Malice of those wicked +Spirits than to see Innocency wronged: And the Power of the Enemy is +such, as that having once obtained a Divine Concession to use his Art, +he can do this and much more than this amounts unto: We know by +Scripture-Revelation, that the Sorcerers of _Egypt_ caused many untrue +and delusive [23]Representations before _Pharaoh_ and his Servants. +_Exod. 7.11, 22._ and _8.7._ And we read of the working of Satan in all +Power and Signs, and lying Wonders. _2 Thess. 2.9._ His Heart is beyond +what the wisest of Men may pretend unto: He has perfect skill in +Opticks, and can therefore cause that to be visible to one, which is not +so to another, and things also to appear far otherwise then they are: He +has likewise the Art of Limning in the Perfection of it, and knows what +may be done by Colours. It is an odd passage[24] which I find in the +_Acta Eruditorum_, printed by _Lipsick_, that about Thirty-two Years +ago an indigent Merchant in _France_ was instructed by a _Dæmon_, that +with Water of _Borax_ he might colour Taffities, so as to cause them to +glister and look very gay: He searcheth into the Nature, Causes, and +Reasons of things, whereby he is able to produce wonderful effects. So +that if he does not form the Shape of an innocent Person as afflicting +others, it is not from want of either will or power. They that affirm, +that God never did, nor ever will permit him thus to do, alledge that it +is inconsistent with the Righteousness and Providence of God, in +governing Humane Affairs thus to suffer Men to be imposed on: It must be +acknowledged[25] that the Divine Providence has taken care, that the +greatest part of Mankind shall not be left to unavoidable Deception, so +as to be always abused by the mischievous Agents of Hell, in the Objects +of plain Sence: But yet it is not for sinful and silly Mortals to +prescribe Rules to the most High in his Government of the World, or to +direct him how far he may permit Satan to use his power: I am apt to +think that there are some amongst us, who if they had lived in _Job's_ +days, and seen the Devil tormenting of him, and heard him complaining of +being scared with Dreams, and terrified with Night-visions, they would +have joined with his uncharitable Friends in censuring him as a most +guilty Person: But we should consider, that the most high God doth +sometimes deal with Men in a way of absolute Sovereignty, performing the +thing which is appointed for them, and many such things are with him: If +he does destroy the _perfect with the wicked, and laugh at the tryal of +the innocent_, (_Job 9.22, 23._) Who shall enter into his Councils! who +has given him a Charge over the Earth! or who has disposed the whole +World! Men are not able to give an account of his ordinary Works, much +less of his secret Counsels, and the dark Dispensations of his +Providence: They do but darken Counsel by Words without Knowledge when +they undertake it: If we are not able to see how this or that can stand +with the Righteousness of him that governs the World, shall we say that +the Almighty will pervert Judgment? or that he that governs the Earth +hateth Right? Shall we condemn him that is most just? But whereas 'tis +objected; where is Providence? And how shall Men live on the Earth, if +the Devil may be permitted to use such Power? I demand, where was +Providence, when Satan had Power to cause Sons of _Belial_ to lye and +swear away the Life of innocent _Naboth_, laying such Crimes to his +charge as he was never guilty of? And what an Hour of Darkness was it? +How far was the Power of Hell permitted to prevail, when Christ the Son +of God was accused, condemned, and hanged for a Crime that he never was +guilty of? That was the strangest Providence that has happened since the +World began, and yet in the Issue the most glorious: We must therefore +distinguish between what does ordinarily come to pass by the Providence +of God, and things which are extraordinary: It is not an usual thing for +a _Naboth_ to have his Life taken from him by false Accusations, or for +an _Athanasius_ or a _Susanna_ to be charged, and perhaps brought before +Courts of Judicature for Crimes of which they were altogether innocent. + +But if we therefore conclude, that such a thing as this can never happen +in the World, we shall offend against the Generation of the Just: It is +not ordinary for Devils to be permitted to reveal the secret Sins of +Men; yet this has been done more than once or twice: Nor is it ordinary +for _Dæmons_ to steal Money out of Mens Pockets, and Purses, or Wine and +Cyder out of their Cellars. Yet some such Instances have there been +amongst our selves. It is not usual for Providence to permit the Devil +to come from Hell and to throw Fire on the tops of Houses, and to cause +a whole Town to be burnt to Ashes thereby; there would (it must be +confessed) be no living in the World, if evil Angels should be permitted +to do thus when they had a mind to it; nevertheless, Authors worthy of +Credit, tell us, that this has sometimes happened. Both _Erasmus_[26] +and _Cardanus_ write that the Town of _Schiltach_ in _Germany_, was in +the Month of _April_, 1533. set on fire by a Devil, and burnt to the +ground in an Hour's space: 'Tis also reported by _Sigibert_, _Aventinus_ +and others, that some Cottages and Barns in a Town called _Bingus_ were +fired by a wicked _Genius_; that spiteful _Dæmon_ said it was for the +Impieties of such a Man whom he named, that he was sent to molest them: +The poor Man to satisfie his Neighbours, who were ready to Stone him, +carried an hot Iron in his Hand, but receiving no hurt thereby, he was +judged to be innocent. It is not ordinary for a Devil upon the dying +Curse of a Servant, to have a Commission from Heaven to tear and torment +a bloody cruel Master; yet such a thing may possibly come to pass. There +is a fearful Story to this purpose, in the account of the _Bucuneers_ +of _America_,[27] wherein my Author relates that a Servant, who was +_Spirited_ or _Kidnapt_ (as they call it) into _America_, falling into +the Hands of a Tyrannical Master, he ran away from him, but being taken +and brought back, the hard-hearted Tyrant lashed him on his naked Back, +until his Body ran in an entire stream of Blood; to make the Torment of +this miserable Creature intolerable, he anointed his Wounds with Juice +of Lemon mingled with Salt and Pepper, being ground small together, with +which torture the miserable Wretch gave up the Ghost, with these dying +Words, _I beseech the Almighty God, Creator of Heaven and Earth, that he +permit a wicked Spirit, to make thee feel as many Torments before thy +Death, as thou hast caused me to feel before mine:_ Scarce four days +were past after this horrible Fact, when the Almighty Judge gave +Permission to the Father of Wickedness to possess the Body of that cruel +Master, and to make him lacerate his own Flesh until he died, belike +surrendring his Ghost into the Hands of the infernal Spirit, who had +tormented his Body: But of this Tragical Story enough. + +To proceed, Is it not usual for Persons after their Death to appear unto +the Living: But it does not therefore follow, that the great God will +not suffer this to be: For both in former and latter Ages, Examples +thereof have not been wanting: No longer since than the last Winter, +there was much discourse in _London_ concerning a Gentlewoman, unto whom +her dead Son (and another whom she knew not) had appeared: Being then +in _London_, I was willing to satisfie my self, by enquiring into the +Truth of what was reported; and on _Febr. 23. 1691._ my Brother (who is +now a Pastor to a Congregation in that City) and I discoursed the +Gentlewoman spoken of; she told us, that a Son of hers, who had been a +very civil young Man, but more airy in his Temper than was pleasing to +his serious Mother, being dead, she was much concerned in her Thoughts +about his Condition in the other World; but a Fortnight after his Death +he appeared to her, saying, _Mother you are solicitous about my +Spiritual Welfare; trouble your self no more, for I am happy_, and so +vanished; should there be a continual Intercourse between the Visible +and Invisible World, it would breed Confusion. But from thence to infer, +that the great Ruler of the Universe will never permit any thing of this +nature to be, is an inconsequent Conclusion; it is not usual for Devils +to be permitted to come and violently carry away persons through the +Air, several miles from their Habitations: Nevertheless, this was done +in _Sweedland_ about twenty Years ago, by means of a cursed Knot of +Witches there. And a learned Physician now living, giveth an account of +several Children, who by Diabolical Frauds were stollen from their +Parents, and others left in their room: And of two, that in the +night-time a Line was by invisible Hands put about their Necks, with +which they had been strangled, but that some near them happily prevented +it. _V. Germ. Ephem. Anno 1689._ pag. 51. 516. + +Let me further add here; It has very seldom been known, that Satan has +Personated innocent Men doing an ill thing, but Providence has found +out some way for their Vindication; either they have been able to prove +that they were in another place when that Fact was done, or the like. So +that perhaps there never was an Instance of any innocent Person +Condemned in any Court of Judicature on Earth, only through Satans +deluding and imposing on the Imaginations of Men, when nevertheless, the +Witnesses, Juries, and Judges, were all to be excused from blame. + + +Arg. 4. _It is certain both from Scripture and History, that Magicians +by their Inchantments and Hellish Conjurations, may cause a false +Representation of Persons and Things._ An inchanted eye shall see such +things as others cannot discern; it is a thing too well known to be +denied, that some by rubbing their eyes with a bewitched Water, have +immediately thereupon seen that which others could not discern; and +there are Persons in the World, who have a strange _Spectral sight_. Mr. +_Glanvil_[28] speaks of a Dutchman that could see Ghosts which others +could perceive nothing of. There are in _Spain_ a sort of men whom they +call _Zahurs_, these can see into the Bowels of the Earth; they are able +to discover Minerals and hidden Treasures; nevertheless, they have their +extraordinary sight only on _Tuesdays_ and _Fridays_, and not on the +other days of the Week. _Delrio_ saith, that when he was at _Madrid_, +_Anno Dom. 1575._ he saw some of these strange sighted Creatures. Mr. +_George Sinclare_, in his Book Entituled, _Satans Invisible World +discovered_,[29] has these Words, 'I am undoubtedly informed, that men +and women in the High-lands can discern Fatality approaching others, by +seeing them in the Waters or with Winding Sheets about them. And that +others can lecture in a Sheeps shoulder-bone a Death within the Parish +seven or eight Days before it come. It is not improbable but that such +Preternatural Knowledge comes first by a Compact with the Devil, and is +derived downward by Succession to their Posterity: Many such I suppose +are Innocent, and have this sight against their Will and Inclination.' +Thus Mr. _Sinclare_, I concur with his supposal, that such Knowledge is +originally from Satan, and perhaps the Effect of some old Inchantment. +There are some at this day in the World, that if they come into a House +where one of the Family will die within a Fortnight, the smell of a dead +Corpse offends them to such a degree, as that they cannot stay in that +House. It is reported that near unto the Abby of St. _Maurice_ in +_Burgundy_[30] there is a Fishpond in which are Fishes put according to +the number of the Monks of that place; if any one of them happened to be +sick, there is a Fish seen to Float and Swim above Water half dead, and +if the Monk shall die, the Fish a few days before dieth. In some parts +in _Wales_ Death-lights or Corps Candles (as they call them) are seen in +the night time going from the House where some body will shortly die, +and passing in to the Church-yard. Of this, my Honoured and never to be +forgotten Friend Mr. _Richard Baxter_,[31] has given an Account in his +Book about Witchcrafts lately Published: what to make of such things, +except they be the effects of some old Inchantment, I know not; nor what +Natural Reason to assign for that which I find amongst the Observations +of the _Imperial Academy_ for the Year 1687, _viz._ That in an Orchard +where are choice _Damascen_ Plumbs, the Master of the Family being sick +of a _Quartan Ague_, whilst he continued very ill, four of his +Plumb-trees instead of Damascens brought forth a vile sort of yellow +Plumbs: but recovering Health, the next Year the Tree did (as formerly) +bear Damascens again; but when after that he fell into a fatal Dropsie, +on those Trees were seen not Damascens, but another sort of Fruit. The +same Author[32] gives Instances of which he had the certain knowledge, +concerning Apple-trees and Pear-trees, that the Fruit of them would on a +sudden wither as if they had been baked in an Oven, when the owners of +them were mortally sick. It is no less strange that in the Illustrious +Electoral[33] House of _Brandenburg_ before the Death of some one of the +Family Feminine Spectres appeared: [34]and often in the Houses of Great +men, Voices and Visions from the Invisible World have been the +Harbingers of Death. When any Heir in the Worshipful Family of the +_Breertons_ in _Cheshire_ is near his Death, there are seen in a Pool +adjoyning, Bodies of Trees swimming for certain days together, on which +Learned _Cambden_[35] has this note, _These and such like things are +done either by the Holy Tutelar Angels of Men, or else by the Devils, +who by Gods Permission mightily shew their Power in this Inferiour +World._ As for Mr. _Sinclare's_ Notion that some Persons may have a +_second Sight_, (as 'tis termed) and yet be themselves Innocent, I am +satisfied that he judgeth right; for this is common amongst the +_Laplanders_, who are horribly addicted to Magical Incantations: They +bequeath their _Dæmons_ to their Children as a Legacy, by whom they are +often assisted (like Bewitched Persons as they are) to see and do things +beyond the Power of Nature. An Historian who deserves Credit, +relates,[36] that a certain _Laplander_ gave him a true and particular +Account of what had happened to him in his Journey to _Lapland_; and +further complained to him with Tears, that things at great distance were +represented to him, and how much he desired to be Delivered from that +Diabolical Sight, but could not; this doubtless was caused by some +Inchantment. But to proceed to what I intend; the Eyes of Persons by +reason of Inchanting Charms, may not only see what others do not, but be +under such power of Fascination, as that things which are not, shall +appear to them as real: The Apostle speaks of _Bewitched Eyes_, _Gal. +3.1._ and we know from Scripture, that the Imaginations of men have by +Inchantments been imposed upon; and Histories abound with very strange +Instances of this Nature: The old Witch _Circe_ by an Inchanted Cup +caused _Ulysses_ his Companions to imagine themselves to be turned into +Swine; and how many Witches have been themselves so bewitched by the +Devil, as really to believe that they were transformed into Wolves, or +Dogs, or Cats. It is reported of _Simon Magus_,[37] that by his +Sorceries he would so impose on the Imaginations of People, as that they +thought he had really changed himself into another sort of Creature. +_Opollonius_ of _Tyana_ could out do _Simon_ with his Magick: The great +_Bohemian_ Conjurer _Zyto_[38] by his Inchantments, caused certain +Persons whom he had a mind to try his Art upon, to imagine that their +Hands were turned into the Feet of an Ox, or into the Hoofs of a Horse, +so that they could not reach to the Dishes before them to take any thing +thence; he sold Wisps of Straw to a Butcher who bought them for Swine; +that many such prestigious Pranks were played, by the unhappy _Faustus_, +is attested by _Camerarius_, _Wyerus_, _Voetius_, _Lavater_, and +_Lonicer_. + +There is newly Published a Book (mentioned in the _Acta Eruditorum_) +wherein the Author [39](_Wiechard Valvassor_) relates, that a _Venetian_ +Jew instructed him (only he would not attend his Instructions) how to +make a Magical Glass which should represent any Person or thing +according as he should desire. If a Magician by an Inchanted Glass can +do this, he may as well by the help of a Dæmon cause false _Idæas_ of +Persons and Things to be impressed on the Imaginations of bewitched +Persons; the Blood and Spirits of a Man, that is bitten with a Mad-Dog, +are so envenomed, as that strange Impressions are thereby made on his +Imagination: let him be brought into a Room where there is a +Looking-Glass, and he will (if put upon it) not only say but swear that +he sees a Dog, tho' in truth there is no Dog it may be within 20 Miles +of him; and is it not then possible for the Dogs of Hell to poyson the +Imaginations of miserable Creatures, so as that they shall believe and +swear that such Persons hurt them as never did so? I have heard of an +Inchanted Pin, that has caused the Condemnation and Death of many scores +of innocent Persons. There was a notorious _Witchfinder_ in _Scotland_, +that undertook by a Pin, to make an infallible Discovery of suspected +Persons, whether they were Witches or not, if when the Pin was run an +Inch or two into the Body of the accused Party no Blood appeared, nor +any sense of Pain, then he declared them to be Witches; by means hereof +my Author tells me no less then 300 persons were Condemned for Witches +in that Kingdom. This Bloody Jugler after he had done enough in +_Scotland_, came to the Town of _Berwick_ upon _Tweed_; an honest Man +now living in _New-England_ assureth me, that he saw the Man thrust a +great Brass Pin two Inches into the Body of one, that some would in that +way try whether there was Witchcraft in the Case or no: the accused +Party was not in the least sensible of what was done, and therefore in +danger of receiving the Punishment justly due for Witchcraft; only it so +happened, that Collonel _Fenwick_ (that worthy Gentleman, who many years +since lived in _New-England_) was then the Military Governour in that +Town; he sent for the Mayor and Magistrates advising them to be careful +and cautious in their proceedings; for he told them, it might be an +Inchanted Pin, which the Witchfinder made use of: Whereupon the +Magistrates of the place ordered that he should make his Experiment +with some other Pin as they should appoint: But that he would by no +means be induced unto, which was a sufficient Discovery of the Knavery +and Witchery of the Witchfinder. There is a strange Diabolical Energy +goeth along with _Incantations_. If _Balak_ had not known that he would +not have sent for _Balaam_, to see whether he could inchant the Children +of _Israel_. The Scripture intimates that Inchantments will keep a +Serpent from biting, _Eccles. 10.11._ A Witch in _Sweedland_ confessed, +that the Devil gave her a wooden Knife; and that if she did but touch +any living thing with that Knife, it would die immediately: And that +there is a wonderful Power of the Devil attending things inchanted, we +have confirmed by a prodigious Instance in Major _Weir_, a _Scotch_ Man: +That wretched Man was a perfect Prodigy; a Man of great Parts; esteemed +a Saint, yet lived in secret Uncleanness with his own Sister for thirty +four Years together: After his wickedness was discovered, he did not +seem to be troubled at any of his Crimes, excepting that he had caused a +poor Woman to be publickly whipped, because she reported that she had +seen him committing Bestiality; which thing was true, only the Woman +could not prove it. This horrid Creature, if he had his _Inchanted +Staff_ in his Hand could pray to admiration, and do extraordinary +things, as is more amply related in the Postscript to Mr. _Sinclares_ +his Book before mentioned: But if he had not his Inchanted Rod to lean +upon, he could not transform himself into an Angel of Light: But by all +these things we may conclude, that it is not impossible, but that a +guilty Conjurer, that so he may render himself the less suspected, may +by his Magical Art and Inchantment, cause innocent Persons to be +represented as afflicting those whom the Devil and himself are the +Tormentors of. + + +Arg. 5. _The Truth we affirm is so evident, as that many Learned and +Judicious Men have freely subscribed unto it._ + +The memorable Relation of the Devils assuming the shape of an innocent +Citizen in _Zurick_, is in the Judgment of that great Divine _Lud +Lavater_, of weighty Consideration: And he declares, that he does +therefore mention it, that so Judges might be cautelous in their +Proceedings in Cases of this nature, inasmuch as the Devil does often in +that way intangle innocent Persons, and bring them into great Troubles. +His Words are, [40]_Hanc Historiam ideo recito, ut Judices, in +hujusmodi, Casibus cauti sint: Diabolus enim hac via sæpe innocentibus +insidiatur._ He confirms what he saith by reciting a Passage out of +_Alertus Granzius_, who writes that the Devil was seen in the shape of a +Nobleman to come out of the Empress's Chamber: But to clear her +Innocency, she (according to the superstitious _Ordeals_ then in +fashion) walked blindfold over a great many of glowing hot Irons without +touching any of them. _Voetius_ in his [41]Disputation of _Spectres_ +proposeth that Question, whether the Devil may not untruly personate a +Godly Man, and answers in the Affirmative: And withal adds, that it is a +sufficient Argument (_ad hominem_) to answer the Papists with their own +Histories, which give Instances of Satan's appearing in the Figure of +Saints, nay of Christ himself. And in his Discourse concerning the +_Operations of Dæmons_[42] he has the like _Problem_, whether the Devil +may not possibly put on the shape of a true Believer, a real Saint, not +only of such as are dead, but still living, and answers, _Quidni?_ Why +not? It is true Popish _Casuists_[43] do generally incline to the +Negative in this Question: Nevertheless, the Instance of _Germanus_, who +saw a Company of honest People represented by the Devil, as if they had +been feasting together, when they were really asleep in their Beds, does +a little puzzle them, so as that they are necessitated to take up with +this Conclusion, [44]_That by an extraordinary Permission of God, +innocent Persons may be represented by Satan in the Nocturnal +Conventicles of Witches:_ And if so, much more as afflicting bewitched +Persons. _Delrio_ giveth an account of an innocent Monk, whose +Reputation was indangered by a _Dæmon's_ appearing in his shape. He +writes more like a Divine than Jesuits use to do, when he saith that, +[45]_It is not absolutely to be denied, but that the Devils may exhibite +the Forms of innocent Persons, if God permit it, who when he does permit +it, usually by some Providence discovers the Fraud of the Devils, that +so the Innocent may be vindicated, or if not, it is to bring them to +repentance for some Sin, or to try their Patience._ It is rare to see +such Words dropping from the Pen of a Jesuit: As for Protestant Writers, +I cannot call to mind one of any Note, that does deny the Possibility +of the Affirmative, in the Question before us. Dr. _Henkelius_ has +lately [46]published a learned and elaborate Discourse concerning the +right Method of curing such as are obsessed with _Cacodæmons_, in which +he asserts, that _Satan may possibly assume the Form of innocent and +pious Persons, that so he might thereby destroy their Reputations, and +expose them to undue Punishments._ As for our _English_ Divines, there +are not many greater _Casuists_ than Mr. _Perkins_; nor do I know any +one that has written on the Case of Witchcraft with more Judgment and +Clearness of Understanding: He has these Words,[47] "If a Man being +dangerously sick and like to die upon suspicion, will take it on his +death, that such an one has bewitched him, it is an allegation which may +move the Judge to examine the Party, but it is of no moment for +Conviction." The like is asserted by [48]Mr. _Cooper_, Mr. _Bernard_, +(once a famous Minister at _Batcomb_ in _Somerset_) his Book called _A +Guide to Grand Jury-men in Cases of Witchcraft_, is a solid and wise +Treatise. What his Judgment was in the Case now under debate, we may +see, _pag._ 209, 210. where his Words are these; "An Apparation of the +Party suspected, whom the Afflicted in their Fits seem to see, is a +great suspicion; yet this is but a presumption, tho' a strong one, +because these Apparitions are wrought by the Devil, who can represent to +the Phansie such as the Parties use to fear, in which his representation +he may well lye as in his other Witness: For if the Devil can represent +to the Witch a seeming _Samuel_, saying, I see Gods ascending out of the +Earth, to beguile _Saul_, may we not think he can represent a common +ordinary Person, Man or Woman unregenerate, tho' no Witch to the Phansie +of vain Persons, to deceive them and others that will give Credit to the +Devil." Thus Mr. _Bernard_. + +As for the Judgment of the Elders in _New-England_, so far as I can +learn, they do generally concur with Mr. _Perkins_, and Mr. _Bernard_. +This I know, that at a Meeting of Ministers at _Cambridge_, _August 1. +1692._ where were present seven elders besides the President of the +_Colledge_, the Question then discoursed on, was, _Whether the Devil may +not sometimes have a Permission to represent an innocent Person as +tormenting such as are under Diabolical Molestations?_ The Answer which +they all concurred in, was in these words, _viz._ _That the Devil may +sometimes have a Permission to represent an innocent Person as +tormenting such as are under Diabolical Molestations; but that such +things are rare and extraordinary, especially when such Matters come +before Civil Judicatures:_ And that some of the most eminent Ministers +in the Land, who were not at that Meeting are of the same Judgment, I am +assured: And I am also sure, that in Cases of this nature the _Priest's +Lips should keep Knowledge, and they should seek the Law at his Mouth_, +_Mal. 2.7._ + + +Arg. 6. _Our own Experience has confirmed the Truth of what we affirm._ + +I have in another Book given an account concerning _Elizabeth 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 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 +threatned 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, meerly because such a sad +Affliction as their being falsly 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 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 our selves +whom no Man that knows him, can think him to be a Wizzard, whom yet some +bewitched Persons complained of, that they are in his Shape tormented: +And the Devils have of late accused some eminent Persons. + +It is an awful thing which the Lord has done to convince some amongst us +of their Error: This then I declare and testifie, that to take away the +Life of any one, meerly because a _Spectre_ or Devil, in a bewitched or +possessed Person does accuse them, will bring the Guilt of innocent +Blood on the Land, where such a thing shall be done: Mercy forbid that +it should, (and I trust that as it has not it never will be so) in +_New-England_. What does such an Evidence amount unto more than this: +Either such an one did afflict such an one, or the Devil in his +likeness, or his Eyes were bewitched. + +The things which have been mentioned make way for, and bring us unto the +second Case, which is to come under our Consideration, _viz._ + +_If one bewitched is struck down at the Look or cast of the Eye of +another, and after that recovered again by a Touch from the same Person, +Is not this an infallible Proof, that the Person suspected and +complained of is in League with the Devil?_ + +_Answer;_ It must be owned that by such things as these Witchcrafts and +Witches have been discovered more than once or twice: And that an ill +Fame, or other Circumstances attending the suspected Party, this may be +a Ground for Examination; but this alone does not afford sufficient +Matter for Conviction: As _Spectres_ or _Devils_ appearing in the Shapes +of Men that have been murdered, declaring that they were murdered by +such Persons and in such a place, may give just occasion to the +Magistrate for Enquiry into the Matter: One great Witch-Advocate[49] +confesseth, that by this means Murders have been brought to light; yet +that alone, if other Circumstances did not concur, would not by the Law +of God take away the Life of any Man. If my Reader pleaseth, he shall +hear what old Mr. _Bernard_ of _Batcomb_ saith to a Case not unlike to +this, and the former: His Words are these,[50] 'The naming of the +suspected in their Fits, and also where they have been, and what they +have done here or there, as Mr. _Throgmorton's_ Children could do, and +that often and ever found true; this is a great Presumption: yet is this +but a Presumption, because this is only the Devils Testimony, who can +lie, and that more often than speak Truth. Christ would not allow his +Witness of him in a point most true; nor St. _Paul_ in the due Praises +of him and _Sylas_; his Witness then may not be received as sufficient +in case of ones Life: He may accuse an Innocent, as I shewed before in +Mr. _Edmund's_ giving over his Practice to find Stollen Goods; and Satan +we read would accuse _Job_ to God himself to be an Hypocrite, and to be +ready to be a Blasphemer, and he is called the Accuser of the Brethren. +Albeit, I cannot deny but this has very often proved true, yet seeing +the Devil is such an one as you heard, Christian Men should not take his +Witness, to give in Verdict upon Oath, and so swear that the Devil has +therein spoken the Truth; be it far from good men to confirm any Word of +the Devil by Oath, if it be not an evident Truth without the Devil's +Testimony, who in speaking the Truth, has a lying Intent, and speaks +some Truths of things done, which may be found to be so, that he may +wrap with them some pernicious Lye, which cannot be tried to be true, +but must rest upon his own testimony to ensnare the Blood of the +Innocent.' Thus Mr. _Bernard_ resolved the Case above sixty Years ago; +and truly in my Opinion like a Wise and Orthodox Divine, what he says, +reacheth both this and the former Case. Dr. _Cotta_ (a Learned +Physician) in his Book, about _The Tryal of Witchcraft, shewing the true +and right Method of the Discovery, with a Confutation of Erroneous ways_ +(which Book he dedicates to the Right Honourable Sir _Edward Cook_, Lord +Chief Justice of _England_,)[51] He discourses concerning _Exploration +of Witches by the touch of the Witch curing the touched bewitched_, and +sheweth the Fallibility and Vanity of that way of Tryal, tho' he had +often seen Persons bewitched in that way immediately delivered from the +present Fit or Agony which was upon them: But he taketh it to be a +Diabolical Miracle. He argueth thus,[52] 'No Man can doubt but that the +Vertue wherewith this touch was indued, is supernatural: If it be so, +How can man to whom nothing is simply possible that is not natural be +justly reputed an Agent therein? If he cannot be esteemed in himself any +possible or true Agent, then it remaineth that he can only be interested +therein as an Accessary in Consent, or as a Servant unto a Superior +Power: If that Superior Power be the Devil, the least reasonable doubt, +whether the Devil alone, or with the Consent or Contract of the +suspected Person has produced that wonderful effect; with what Religion +or Reason can any Man incline rather to credit the Devil's mouth in the +Bewitched, than to pity the Accused, and believe them against the +subtility of a deceitful Devil: If the Devil by Divine Permission may +cause supernatural Concomitances and Consequences to attend the natural +Actions of Men without their allowance, as is manifest in possessed +Persons, how is it reasonable and just that the Impositions of the Devil +should be imputed unto any Man: And (saith he) God forbid that the +Devil's Signs and Wonders, nay his Truths should become any legal +Allegations or Evidences in Law. We may therefore conclude it unjust, +that the forenamed miraculous Effect by the Devil wrought and imputed by +the Bewitched, should be esteemed an infallible mark against any Man, as +therefore convinced for that the Devil and the Bewitched have so +decyphered him!' Thus that Learned Man. But to the Case in hand, I have +several things to offer. + +1. _It is possible that the Persons in Question may be possessed with +Cacodæmons:_ That bewitched Persons are many times really possessed with +evil Spirits, is most certain. And as Mr. _Perkins_ observes, no Man can +prove but that Witchcraft might be the Cause of many of those +Possessions, which we read of in the Gospel: And that Devils have been +immitted into the Bodies of miserable Creatures by Magicians and +Witches, Histories and Experience do abundantly testifie. _Hierom_[53] +relates concerning a certain Virgin, that a young Man, whose Amours she +despised, prevailed with a Magician to send an evil Spirit into her, by +means whereof she was strangely besotted. 'Tis reported[54] of _Simon +Magus_, that after he had used an Hellish Sacrifice, to be revenged of +some that had called him a great Witch, he caused infernal Spirits to +enter into them. Many confessing Witches have acknowledged, that they +were the Cause of such and such Persons being possessed of evil Angels, +as [55]_Thyræus_ and others have observed: Now no Credit ought to be +given to what _Dæmons_ in such as are by them obsessed shall say. Our +Saviour by his own unerring Example has taught us not to receive the +Devil's Testimony in any thing. The Papists are justly condemned for +bringing Diabolical Testimony to confirm the Principles of their +Religion. _Peter Cotton_ the Jesuite[56] enquired of the Devil in a +possessed Person, what was the clearest Scripture to prove Purgatory. At +the time when _Luther_ died, all the possessed People in the +_Netherlands_ were quiet: The Devils in them, said the Reason was, +because _Luther_[57] had been a great Friend of theirs, and they owed +him that respect as to go as far as _Germany_ to attend his Funeral. +Another time when there was a talk of some Ministers of the Reformed +Religion, the Devils in the Obsessed laughed and said, they were not at +all afraid of them, for the _Calvinists_ and they were very good +Friends. The Jesuits insult with these Testimonies as if they were +Divine Oracles: But the Father of Lyes is never to be believed: He will +utter twenty great truths to make way for one lye: He will accuse twenty +Witches, if he can but thereby bring one innocent Person into trouble: +He mixeth Truths with Lyes, that so those truths giving credit unto +lyes, Men may believe both, and so be deceived: And whereas some say, +that the Persons in question are only bewitched and not possessed, let +it be considered that possessed Persons are called _Energumens_ from +#ERGOMAI# _Agitor_: They whose Bodies are preternaturally +agitated, so as to be in danger of being thrown into the Fire, or into +the Water, though they may be bewitched, are undoubtedly possessed with +_Dæmons_, _Mark 9.22, 25._ Learned Men[58] give it as a most certain +sign of Possession, when the afflicted Party can see and hear that which +no one else can discern any thing of, and when they can discover +[59]secret things, _Acts 6.16._ past, or future, [60]as a possessed +Person in _Germany_ foretold the War which broke out in the Year, 1546. +And when the Limbs of miserable Creatures, are bent and disjointed so as +could not possible be without a Luxation of Joints, were it not done by +a preternatural Hand, and yet no hurt raised thereby that argueth +Possession. Also, when Persons are by the Devil cast into Fits, in the +which they speak of things, that afterwards they have no remembrance +of,[61] or, if they are by cruel Devils tortured, so as to cause +horrendous Clamours in the distressed Sufferers, that's another sign of +Obsession by evil Spirits: If all these things concur in the Persons +concerning where the Question is, we may conclude them to be +_Dæmoniacks_: And if so, no _Juror_ can with a safe Conscience look on +the Testimony of such, as sufficient to take away the Life of any Man. + +2. _Falling down by the cast of an Eye proceeds not from a natural, but +an arbitrary Cause;_[62] not from any Poyson in the Eye of the Witch, +but from the Agency of some _Dæmon_: The opinion of Fascination by the +Eye is an old Fable, and (saith Mr. _Perkins_) as fond as old. +_Pliny_[63] speaks of a People that killed folks by looking on them; and +he adds, that they had two Apples in each Eye: and _Tully_ writes of +women who had two Apples in one Eye that always did mischief with their +meer looks; so _Ovid_, _Pupula duplex fulminat._ And _Plutarch_[64] +writes that some persons have such a Poyson in their Eyes, as that their +Friends and Familiars are Fascinated thereby; nay he speaks of one that +Bewitched himself sick by looking on his own Face in a Glass: Others +write of Fascination by a meer Prolation of Words; and for ought I know, +there may be as much Witchery in the Tongue as there is in the Eye. +_Sennertus_[65] has discovered the Superstition of these Fancies; Sight +does not proceed from an Emission of Rays from the Eye, but by a +reception of the visible Species; and if it be (as Philosophers +conclude) an innocent Action and not an Emission of optick Spirits, so +that sight as such, does receive something from the Object, and not act +upon it, the Notion of Fascination by the Eye is unphilosophical: It is +true, that sore Eyes will affect those that look upon them, _Dum +spectant Oculi Læsos, Leduntur & ipsi_, for which a natural Reason is +easily to be assigned; but if the Witches Eyes are thus infected with a +natural Contagion, Whence is it, that only Bewitched Persons are hurt +thereby? If the vulgar Error concerning the _Basilisks_ killing with +the Look of his Poysonful Eye were a Truth, whatever person that +Serpent cast his Eye upon would be poysoned. So if Witches had a +physical Venom in their Eyes, others as well as Fascinated Persons would +be sensible thereof; there is as much Truth in this fancy of Physical +Venom in the Eye of a Witch, as there is in what _Pliny_[66] and others +relate concerning the _Thibians_, _viz._ that they have two Apples in +one Eye, and the Effigies of an Horse in the other Eye; and that they +are a people that cannot be drowned. + +3. _As for that which concerns the Bewitched Persons being recovered out +of their Agonies by the Touch of the suspected Party, it is various and +fallible._ + +For sometimes the afflicted Person is made sick, (instead of being made +whole) by the Touch of the Accused; sometimes the Power of Imagination +is such, as that the Touch of a Person innocent and not accused shall +have the same effect. It is related in the Account of the Tryals of +Witches at _Bury_ in _Suffolk_ 1664, during the time[67] of the Tryal, +there were some Experiments made with the Persons afflicted, by bringing +the accused to touch them, and it was observed that by the least Touch +of one of the supposed Witches, they that were in their Fits, to all +mens Apprehension wholly deprived of all Sense and Understandings, would +suddenly shriek out and open their Hands. + +Mr. Serjeant _Keeling_ did not think that sufficient to Convict the +Prisoners, for admitting that the Children were in truth Bewitched, yet +(saith he) it cannot be applyed to the Prisoners upon the Imagination +only of the Parties afflicted; for if that might be allowed, no Person +whatsoever can be in safety, for perhaps they might fancy another Person +who might altogether be innocent in such matters: To avoid this Scruple +it was privately desired by the Judge, that some Gentlemen there in +Court would attend one of the distempered Persons in the farther part of +the Hall, whilst she was in her Fits, and then to send for one of the +Witches to try what would happen, which they did accordingly. One of +them was conveyed from the Bar, and brought to the Afflicted Maid. They +put an Apron before her Eyes, and then another person (not the Witch) +touched her, which produced the same effect, as the Touch of the Witch +did in the Court. Whereupon the Gentlemen returned much unsatisfied. +_Bodin_[68] relates, that a Witch who was Tryed at _Nants_, was +commanded by the Judges to touch a Bewitched person, a thing often +practised by the Judges of _Germany_ in the _Imperial Chamber_. The +Witch was extreamly unwilling, but being Compelled by the Judges, she +cryed out, _I am undone;_ and as soon as ever she touched the Afflicted +person, the Witch fell down dead, and the other recovered. That horrid +Witch of _Salisbury_, _Ann Bodenham_[69] who had been Servant to the +Notorious Conjurer Dr. _Lamb_, could not bear the sight of one that was +Bewitched by her. As soon as ever she saw the Afflicted Person, she ran +about shrieking, and crying, and roaring after an hideous manner, that +the Devil would tear her in pieces, if that person came near her. And +whilst the Witch was in such Torment, the Bewitched was at ease. By +these things we see, that the Laws and Customs of the Kingdom of +darkness, are not always and in all places the same. + +And it is good for men to concern themselves with them as little as may +be. + +I think there is weight in Dr. _Cotta's_[70] Argument, _viz._ + +_That the Gift of healing the Sick and Possessed, was a special Grace +and Favour of God, for the Confirmation of the Truth of the Gospel, but +that such a Gift should be annexed to the Touch of Wicked Witches, as an +infallible sign of their guilt, is not easie to be believed._ It is a +thing well known, that if a person possessed by an Evil Spirit, is (as +oft it so happens) never so outragious whilst a good man is Praying with +and for the Afflicted, let him lay his hand on them, and the Evil Spirit +is quiet. I hope this is no evidence of any Covenant, or voluntary +Communion between the Good Man that is Praying and the Evil Spirit; no +more does the Case before us evince any such thing. + +4. _There are that Question the Lawfulness of the Experiment._ For if +this healing power in the Witch is not a Divine but a Diabolical Gift, +it may be dangerous to meddle too much with it. If the Witch may be +ordered to touch afflicted Persons in order to their healing or recovery +out of a sick Fit, why may not the Diseased Person be as well ordered to +touch the Witch for the same cause? And if to touch him, why not to +scratch him and fetch Blood out of him, which is but an harder kind of +touch? But as for this Mr. _Perkins_ doubts not to call it a _Practice +of Witchcraft_. It is not safe to meddle with any of the Devils +Sacraments or Institutions; _For my own part, I should be loath to say +to a Man, that I knew or thought was a Witch, do you look on such a +Person, and see if you can Witch them into a Fit, and there is such an +afflicted Person do you take them by the Hand, and see if you can Witch +them well again. If it is by vertue of some Contract with the Devil that +witches have Power to do such things, it is hard to conceive how they +can be bid to do them, without being too much concerned in that Hellish +Covenant._ I take it to be (as elsewhere[71] I have expressed) a solid +Principle, which the Learned _Sennertus_ insists on, _viz._ _That they +who force another to do that which he cannot possibly do, but by vertue +of a Compact with the Devil, have themselves implicitely Communion with +the Diabolical Covenant._ The Devil is pleased and honoured when any of +his Institutions are made use of; this way of discovering Witches, is no +better than that of putting the Urine of the afflicted Person into a +Bottle, that so the Witch may be tormented and discovered: The Vanity +and Superstition of which practice I have formerly shewed, and testified +against. _There was a Conjurer his name was +Edward Drake+[72] who +taught a Man to use that Experiment for the Relief of his afflicted +Daughter, who found benefit thereby;_ But we ought not to practice +Witchcraft to discover Witches, nor may we make use of a _White healing +Witch_ (as they call them) to find out a _Black and Bloody one_. And how +did men first come to know that Witches would be discovered in such +ways as these, which have been mentioned? If Satan himself were the +first Discoverer (as there is reason to believe) the experiment must +needs have deceit in it. See Dr. Willet on _Exod. 7._ _Quest. 9._ And +such Experiments better become Pagans or Papists than Professors in +_New-England_; whereas 'tis pleaded, that such things are practised by +the Judges of the Imperial Chamber, I reply, that those Judges (as +_Bodin_ relates, _Lib. 3. Dæmon. Cap. 6._) have required suspected +Witches to pronounce over the afflicted persons, these words, _I bless +thee in the Name of the Father, &c._ upon which they have immediately +recovered; but is the dark day come upon us, that such Superstitions as +these shall be practised in _New-England_: The Lord Jesus forbid it. See +_Baldwin's_ Testimony against the Practice of the _Camera Imperialis_, +Cas. Consc. L. 3. c. 3. p. 634. + +5. _If the Testimony of a bewitched or possessed Person, is of validity +as to what they see done to themselves, then it is so as to others, whom +they see afflicted no less than themselves:_ But what they affirm +concerning others, is not to be taken for Evidence. Whence had they this +Supernatural Sight? It must needs be either from Heaven or from Hell: If +from Heaven, (as _Elisha's_ Servant, and _Balaam's_ Ass could discern +Angels) let their Testimony be received: But if they had this Knowledge +from Hell, tho' there may possibly be truth in what they affirm, they +are not legal Witnesses: For the Law of God allows of no Revelation from +any other Spirit but himself, _Isa. 8.19._ It is a Sin against God to +make use of the Devil's help to know that which cannot be otherwise +known: And I testifie against it, as a great Transgression, which may +justly provoke the Holy One of _Israel_, to let loose Devils on the +whole Land, _Luke 4.35._ See Mr. _Bernard's_ Guide to Juries in Cases of +Witchcraft, p. 136, 137, 138. And _Brockmand_, _Theol. de Angelis_, p. +227. Altho' the Devil's Accusations may be so far regarded as to cause +an enquiry into the truth of things, _Job 1.11, 12. & 2.5, 6._ yet not +so as to be an Evidence or Ground of Conviction: The Persons, concerning +whom the Question is, see things through Diabolical Mediums; on which +account their Evidence is not meer humane Testimony; and if it be in any +part Diabolical, it is not to be owned as Authentick; for the Devil's +Testimony ought not to be received neither in whole nor in part. + +6. I am told by credible Persons, who say it is certainly true, that a +bewitched Person has complained that she was cast into Fits by the Look +of a Dog; and that she was no more able to bear the sight of that Dog, +than of the Person whom she accused as bewitching her: And that +thereupon the Dog was shot to death: This Dog was no Devil; for then +they could not have killed him. I suppose no one will say that Dogs are +Witches: It remains then that the casting down with the Look is no +infallible sign of a Witch. + +7. It has always been said, that it is a difficult thing to find out +Witches: But if the Representation of such a Person as afflicting, or +the Look or Touch be an infallible proof of the guilt of Witchcraft in +the Persons complained of, 'tis the easiest thing in the World to +discover them; for it is done to our hand, and there needs no enquiry +into the Matter. + +8. _Let them say this is an infallible Proof, produce any Word out of +the Law of God which does in the least countenance that Assertion:_ The +Word of God instructs Jurors and Judges to proceed upon clear humane +Testimony, _Deut. 35.30._ But the Word no where giveth us the least +Intimation, that every one is a Witch, at whose look the bewitched +Person shall fall into Fits; nor yet that any other means should be used +for the discovery of Witches, than what may be used for the finding out +of Murderers, Adulterers, and other Criminals. + +9. Sometimes Antipathies in Nature have strange and unaccountable +Effects. I have read of a Man that at the sight of his own Son, who was +no Wizzard would fall into Fits. There are that find in their Natures an +averseness to some Persons whom they never saw before, of which they can +give no better an account than he in _Martial_, concerning _Sabidius_. + + _Non Amo te Sabidi, nec possum dicere quare._ + +That some Persons at the Sight of Bruit-Creatures, Cats, Spiders, _&c._ +nay, at the sight of Cheeses, Milk, Apples, will fall into Fits, is too +well known to be denied. _Pensingius_ in his Learned Discourse _De +Pulvere Sympathetico_, p. 128. saith, there was one in the City of +_Groning_ that could not bear the sight of a Swine's Head: And that he +knew another who was not able to look on the Picture thereof. _Amatus +Lusitanus_ speaks of one that at the sight of a Rose would swoon away: +This proveth that the falling into a Fit at the sight of another is not +always a sign of Witchcraft. It may proceed from Nature, and the Power +of Imagination. + +To conclude; Judicious _Casuists_[73] have determined, that to make use +of those _Media_ to come to the Knowledge of any Matter, which have no +such power in them by Nature, nor by Divine Institution is an Implicit +going to the Devil to make a discovery: Now there is no natural Power in +the Look or Touch of a Person to bewitch another; nor is this by Divine +Institution the means whereby Witchcraft is discovered: Therefore it is +an unwarrantable Practice. + +We proceed now to the third Case proposed to Consideration; If the +things which have been mentioned are not infallible Proofs of Guilt in +the accused Party, it is then Queried, _Whether there are any +Discoveries of this Crime, which Jurors and Judges may with a safe +Conscience proceed upon to the Conviction and Condemnation of the +Persons under Suspicion?_ + +Let me here premise Two things, + +1. The Evidence in this Crime ought to be as clear as in any other +Crimes of a Capital nature. The Word of God does no where intimate, that +a less clear Evidence, or that fewer or other Witnesses may be taken as +sufficient to convict a Man of Sorcery, which would not be enough to +convict him were he charged with another evil worthy of Death, _Numb. +35.30._ if we may not take the Oath of a distracted Person, or of a +possessed Person in a Case of Murder, Theft, Felony of any sort, then +neither may we do it in the Case of Witchcraft. + +2. Let me premise this also, that there have been ways of trying Witches +long used in many Nations, especially in the dark times of Paganism and +Popery, which the righteous God never approved of. But which (as +judicious Mr. _Perkins_ expresseth it in plain _English_) were invented +by the Devil, that so innocent Persons might be condemned, and some +notorious Witches escape: Yea, many Superstitious and Magical +experiments have been used to try Witches by: Of this sort is that of +scratching the Witch, or seething the Urine of the Bewitched Person, or +making a Witch-cake with that Urine: And that tryal of putting their +Hands into scalding Water, to see if it will not hurt them: And that of +sticking an Awl under the Seat of the suspected Party, yea, and that way +of discovering Witches by tying their Hands and Feet, and casting them +on the Water, to try whether they will sink or swim: I did publickly +bear my Testimony against this Superstition in a Book printed at +_Boston_ eight Years past. + +I hear that of late some in a Neighbour Colony have been playing with +this Diabolical invention: It is to be lamented, that in such a _Land of +Uprightness_ as _New-England_ once was, a Practice which Protestant +Writers generally condemn as sinful, and which the more sober and +learned Men amongst Papists themselves have not only judged unlawful, +but (to express it in their own terms) to be no less than a _Mortal +Sin_, should ever be heard of. Were it not that the coming of Christ to +judge the Earth draweth near, I should think that such Practices are an +unhappy Omen that the Devil and Pagans will get these dark Territories +into their Possession again: But that I may not be thought to have no +reason for my calling the impleaded Experiment into Question, I have +these things further to alledge against it. + +1. It has been rejected long agone, by Christian Nations as a thing +Superstitious and Diabolical: In _Italy_ and _Spain_ it is wholly +disused; and [74]in the _Low-Countries_, and in _France_, where the +Judges are Men of Learning. In some parts of _Germany_ old _Paganism_ +Customs are observed more than in other Countries, nevertheless all the +[75]_Academies_ throughout _Germany_ have disapproved of this way of +Purgation. + +2. The Devil is in it, all Superstition is from him; and when Secret +things, or latent Crimes, are discovered by superstitious Practices, +some Compact and Communion with the Devil is the Cause of it, as +_Austin_[76] has truly intimated; and so it is here; for if a Witch +cannot be drowned, this must proceed either from some natural Cause, +which it doth not, for it is against Nature for Humane Bodies, when +Hands and Feet are tied, not to sink under the Water: Besides, they that +plead for this Superstition, say that if Witches happen to be condemned +for some other Crime and not for Witchcraft, they will not swim like a +Cork above Water, which Cause sheweth that the Cause of this Natation is +not _Physical_: And if not, then either it must proceed from a Divine +Miracle to save a Witch from drowning; or lastly, it must be a +diabolical Wonder: This superstitious Experiment is commonly known by +the Name of, _The Vulgar Probation_, because it was never appointed by +any lawful Authority, but from the Suggestion of the Devil taken up by +the rude Rabble: And some [77]learned Men are of Opinion, that the first +_Explorator_ (_being a white Witch_) did explicitely covenant with the +Devil, that he should discover latent Crimes in this way: And that it is +by Virtue of that first Contract that the Devil goeth to work to keep +his Servants from sinking, when this Ceremony of his ordaining is used. +Moreover, we know that _Diabolus est Dei Simia_, the Devil seeks to +imitate Divine Miracles. We read in Ecclesiastical Story, that some of +the Martyrs when they were by Persecutors ordered to be drowned, prov'd +to be immersible: This Miracle would the Devil imitate in causing +Witches, who are his Martyrs, not to sink when they are cast into the +Waters. + +3. This way of Purgation is of the same nature with the old _Ordeals_ of +the Pagans. If Men were accused with any Crime, to clear their +innocency, they were to take an hot Iron into their Hands, or to suffer +scalding Water to be poured down their Throats, and if they received no +hurt thereby they were acquitted. This was the Devil's Invention, and +many times (as the Devil would have it) they that submitted to these +Tryals suffered no inconvenience. Nevertheless, it is astonishing to +think what innocent Blood has been shed in the World by means of this +_Satanical_ device. Witches have often (as [78]_Sprenger_ observes) +desired that they might stand or fall by this Tryal by hot Iron, and +sometimes come off well: Indeed, this _Ordeal_ was used in other Cases, +and not in Cases of Witchcraft only: And so was the _Vulgar +Probation_ by casting into the Water practiced upon Persons accused[79] +with other Crimes as well as that of Witchcraft: How it came to be +restrained to that of Witchcraft I cannot tell; it is as supernatural +for a Body whose Hands and Feet are tied to swim above the Water, as it +is for their Hands not to feel a red hot Iron. If the one of these +_Ordeals_ is lawful to be used, then so is the other too: But as for the +fiery _Ordeal_ it is rejected and exploded out of the World; for the +same reason then the tryal by Water should be so. + +4. It is a tempting of God when Men put the Innocency of their +Fellow-Creatures upon such tryals; to desire the Almighty to shew a +Miracle to clear the Innocent, or to convict the Guilty is a most +presumptuous tempting of him. Was it not a Miracle when _Peter_ was kept +from sinking under the Water by the Omnipotency of Christ? As for Satan, +we know that his Ambition is to make his Servants believe that his Power +is equal to God's, and that therefore he can preserve whom he pleaseth. +I have read[80] of certain Magicians, who were seen walking on the +Water: If then guilty Persons shall float on the Waters, either it is +the Devil that causes them to do so, (as no doubt it is) and what have +Men to do to set the Devil on work; or else it is a Divine Miracle, like +that of _Peter's_ not sinking, or that of the Iron that swam at the Word +of _Elisha_. And shall Men try whether God will work a Miracle to make a +discovery? If a Crime cannot be found out but by Miracle, it is not for +any Judge on Earth to usurp that Judgment which is reserved for the +Divine Throne. + +5. This pretended Gift of Immersibility attending Witches, is a most +fallible deceitful thing; for many a Witch has sunk under the Water. +_Godelmannus_[81] giveth an account of six notorious and clearly +convicted Witches, that when they were brought to their _vulgar +Probation_, sunk down under the Water like other Persons; _Althusius_ +affirms the like concerning others; in the _Bohemian_ History[82] it is +related, that _Uratslaus_ the King of _Bohemia_, extirpated Witches out +of his Kingdom, some of which he delivered to the Ax, others of them to +the Fire, and others of them he caused to be drowned: If Witches are +immersible, how came they to die by drowning in _Bohemia_? Besides, it +has sometimes been known that Persons who have floated on the Water when +the Hangman has made the Experiment on them, have sunk down like a +Stone, when others have made the tryal. + +6. The Reasons commonly alledged for this Superstition are of no moment: +It is said they hate the Water; whereas they have many times desired +that they might be cast on the Water in order to their purgation: It is +alledged, that Water is used in _Baptism_, therefore Witches swim: A +weak Phansie; all the Water in the World is not consecrated Water. +Cannot Witches eat Bread or drink Wine, notwithstanding those Elements +are made use of in the Blessed Sacrament: But (say some) the Devils by +sucking of them make them so light that the Water bears them; whereas +some Witches are twice as heavy as many an innocent Person: Well, but +then they are possessed with the Devil: Suppose so; Is the Devil afraid +if they should sink, that he should be drowned with them? But why then +were the _Gadarens_ Hogs drowned when the Devil was in them. + +These things being premised, I answer the Question affirmatively; _There +are Proofs for the Conviction of Witches which Jurors may with a safe +Conscience proceed upon, so as to bring them in guilty._ The Scripture +which saith, _Thou shalt not suffer a Witch to live_, clearly implies, +that some in the World may be known and proved to be Witches: For until +they be so, they may and must be suffered to live. Moreover we find in +Scripture, that some have been convicted and executed for Witches: For +_Saul cut off those that had familiar Spirits, and the Wizzards out of +the Land_, _1 Sam. 28.9._ + +It may be wondered that _Saul_ who did like him that said, _Flectere si +nequeo Superos Acheronta Movebo_, should cause the Wizzards in the Land +to be put to death. The _Jewish Rabbies_ say, the reason was, because +those Wizzards foretold that _David_ should be King. It is (as Mr. +_Gaul_ observes[83]) the Opinion of some learned Protestants, that +_Saul_ in his Zeal did over do: And that under the Pretext[84] of +Witches he slew the _Gibeonites_, for which that Judgment followed, _2 +Sam. 21.1._ _Neither_ (saith Mr. _Gaule_) _want we the storied Examples +of God's Judgments upon those that defamed, prosecuted and executed them +for Witches, that indeed were none._ But we have in the Scripture the +Example of a better Man than _Saul_ to encourage us to make enquiry +after Wizzards and Witches in order to their Conviction and Execution. +This did the rarest King that ever lived caused to be done, _viz._ +_Josiah_, _2 Kings 23.24._ _The Workers with familiar Spirits and the +Wizzards, that were spied in the Land of +Judah+, did +Josiah+ put away, +that he might perform the Words of the Law._ It seems there were some +that sought to hide those Workers of Iniquity, but that incomparable +King spied them out, and rid the Land and the World of them. + +_Q._ But then the Enquiry is, _What is sufficient Proof?_ + +_A._ This Case has been with great Judgment answered by several Divines +of our own, particularly by Mr. _Perkins_, and Mr. _Bernard_; also Mr. +_John Gaul_ a worthy Minister at _Staughton_, in the County of +_Huntington_, has published a very Judicious Discourse, called, _Select +Cases of Conscience touching Witches and Witchcrafts_, Printed at +_London_ A.D. 1646. wherein he does with great Prudence and Evidence of +Scripture light handle this and other Cases: Such Jurors as can obtain +those Books, I would advise them to read, and seriously as in the fear +of God to consider them, and so far as they keep to the Law and to the +Testimony, and speak according to that Word, receive the Light which is +in them. But the Books being now rare to be had, let me express my +Concurrence with them in these two particulars. + +1. _That a free and voluntary Confession of the Crime made by the Person +suspected and accused after Examination, is a sufficient Ground of +Conviction._ + +Indeed, If Persons are Distracted, or under the Power of _Phrenetick +Melancholy_, that alters the Case; but the Jurors that examine them, and +their Neighbours that know them, may easily determine that Case; or if +Confession be extorted,[85] the Evidence is not so clear and convictive; +but if any Persons out of Remorse of Conscience, or from a Touch of God +in their Spirits, confess and shew their Deeds, as the Converted +Magicians in _Ephesus_ did, _Acts 19.18, 19._ nothing can be more clear. +Suppose a Man to be suspected for Murder, or for committing a Rape, or +the like nefandous Wickedness, if he does freely confess the Accusation, +that's ground enough to Condemn him. The Scripture approveth of Judging +the wicked Servant out of his own Mouth, _Luke 19.22._ It is by some +objected, that Persons in Discontent may falsly accuse themselves. I +say, if they do so, and it cannot be proved that they are false Accusers +of themselves, they ought to dye for their Wickedness, and their Blood +will be upon their own Heads; the Jury, the Judges, and the Land is +Clear: I have read a very sad and amazing, and yet a true Story to this +purpose. + +There was in the Year 1649, in a Town called _Lauder_ in _Scotland_, a +certain woman accused and imprisoned on suspicion of Witchcraft, when +others in the same Prison with her were Convicted, and their Execution +ordered to be on the Monday following, she desired to speak with a +Minister, to whom she declared freely that she was guilty of Witchcraft, +acknowledging also many other Crimes committed by her, desiring that she +might die with the rest: She said particularly that she had Covenanted +with the Devil, and was become his Servant about twenty years before, +and that he kissed her and gave her a Name, but that since he had never +owned her. Several Ministers who were jealous that she accused herself +untruly, charged it on her Conscience, telling her that they doubted she +was under a Temptation of the Devil to destroy her own Body and Soul, +and adjuring her in the Name of God to declare the Truth: +Notwithstanding all this, she stifly adhered to what she had said, and +was on Monday morning Condemned, and ordered to be Executed that day. +When she came to the place of Execution, she was silent until the +Prayers were ended, then going to the Stake where she was to be Burnt, +she thus expressed herself, _All you that see me this day! Know ye that +I am to die as a Witch, by my own Confession! and I free all Men, +especially the Ministers and Magistrates, from the guilt of my Blood, I +take it wholly on my self, and as I must make answer to the God of +Heaven, I declare I am as free from Witchcraft as any Child, but being +accused by a Malicious Woman, and Imprisoned under the Name of a Witch, +my Husband and Friends disowned me, and seeing no hope of ever being in +Credit again, through the Temptation of the Devil, I made that +Confession to destroy my own Life, being weary of it, and chusing rather +to Die than to Live._ This her lamentable Speech did astonish all the +Spectators, few of whom could restrain from Tears. The Truth of this +Relation (saith my Author[86]) is certainly attested by a worthy Divine +now living, who was an Eye and an Ear-Witness of the whole matter; but +thus did that miserable Creature suffer Death, and this was a just +Execution. When the _Amalekite_ confessed that he killed _Saul_, whom he +had no legal Authority to meddle with, although 'tis probable that he +belyed himself, _David_ gave order for his Execution, and said to him, +_Thy Blood be upon thy Head, for thy Mouth hath Testified against thee_, +_2 Sam. 1.16._ But as for the Testimony of Confessing Witches against +others, the case is not so clear as against themselves, they are not +such credible Witnesses, as in a Case of Life and Death is to be +desired: It is beyond dispute, that the Devil makes his Witches to dream +strange things of themselves and others which are not so. There was (as +Authors beyond Exception relate) in appearance a sumptuous Feast +prepared, the Wine and Meat set forth in Vessels of Gold; a certain +Person whom an amorous young Man had fallen in Love with, was +represented and supposed to be really there; but _Apollonius +Tyanæus_[87] discovered the Witchery of the Business, and in an instant +all vanished, and nothing but dirty Coals were to be seen: The like to +this is mentioned in the _Arausican_ Council. There were certain Women +that imagined they rode upon Beasts in the Night, and that they had +_Diana_ and _Herodius_ in company with them, besides a Troop of other +Persons; the Council giveth this Sentence on it; _Satanas qui se +transfigurat in Angelum Lucis, transformat se in diversarum personarum +species, & mentem quam captivam tenet, in somnis deludit._ Satan +transforms himself into the likeness of divers Persons, and deludes the +Souls that are his Captives with Dreams and Fancies; see Dr. _Willet_ on +_1 Sam. 28._ _p. 165_. What Credit can be given to those that say they +can turn Men into Horses? If so, they can as well turn Horses into Men; +but all the Witches on Earth in Conjunction with all the Devils in +Hell, can never make or unmake a rational Soul, and then they cannot +transform a Bruit into a Man, nor a Man into a Bruit; so that this +Transmutation is fantastical. The Devil may and often does impose on the +Imaginations of his Witches and Vassals, that they believe themselves to +be Converted into Beasts, and reverted into Men again; as +_Nebuchadnezzar_ whilst under the Power of a Dæmon really imagined +himself to be an Ox, and would lye out of Doors and eat Grass: The Devil +has inflicted on many a Man the Disease called _Lycanthropia_, from +whence they have made lamentable Complaints of their being Wolves: In a +word, there is no more Reality in what many Witches confess of strange +things seen or done by them, whilst Satan had them in his full Power, +than there is in _Lucian's_ ridiculous Fable of his being Bewitched into +an _Asse_, and what strange Feats he then played; so that what such +persons relate concerning Persons and Things at Witch-meetings, ought +not to be received with too much Credulity. + +I could mention dismal Instances of Innocent Blood which has been shed +by means of the Lies of some Confessing Witches; there is a very sad +Story mentioned in the Preface to the Relation of the Witchcrafts in +_Sweedland_, how that in the Year 1676, at _Stockholm_, a young Woman +accused her own Mother (who had indeed been a very bad Woman, but not +guilty of Witchcraft,) and Swore that she had carried her to the +Nocturnal Meetings of Witches, upon which the Mother was burnt to Death. +Soon after the Daughter came crying and howling before the Judges in +open Court, declaring, that to be revenged on her Mother for an Offence +received, she had falsely accused her with a Crime which she was not +guilty of; for which she also was justly Executed. A most wicked Man in +_France_ freely confessed himself to be a Magician, and accused many +others, whose Lives were thereupon taken from them; and a whole Province +had like to have been ruined thereby, but the Impostor was discovered: +The Confessing pretended Wizzard was burnt at _Paris_ in the year 1668. +I shall only take notice further of an awful Example mentioned by A. B. +_Spotswood_ in his History of _Scotland_, p. 449. His words are these, +'This Summer (_viz._ Anno 1597.) there was a great business for the +Tryal of Witches, amongst others, one _Margaret Atkin_ being apprehended +on suspicion, and threatned with Torture, did confess herself Guilty; +being examined touching her Associates in that Trade, she named a few, +and perceiving her Delations find Credit, made offer to detect all of +that sort, and to purge the Country of them; so she might have her Life +granted: For the reason of her Knowledge, she said, _That they had a +secret mark all of that sort in their Eyes, whereby she could surely +tell, how soon she looked upon any, whether they were Witches or not;_ +and in this she was so readily believed, that for the space of 3 or 4 +Months she was carried from Town to Town to make Discoveries in that +kind; many were brought in question by her Delations, especially at +_Glasgow_, where _diverse Innocent Women, through the Credulity of the +Minister Mr. +John Cowper+, were condemned and put to Death_; in the end +she was found to be a meer deceiver, and sent back to _Fife_, where she +was first apprehended: At her Tryal she affirmed all to be false that +she had confessed of herself or others, and persisted in this to her +Death, which made many fore-think their too great forwardness that way, +and moved the King to recall his Commission given out against such +Persons, discharging all Proceedings against them, except in case of a +voluntary Confession, till a solid Order should be taken by the Estates +touching the form that should be kept in their Tryal.' Thus that famous +Historian. + +2. _If two credible Persons shall affirm upon Oath that they have seen +the party accused speaking such words, or doing things which none but +such as have Familiarity with the Devil ever did or can do, that's a +sufficient Ground for Conviction._ + +Some are ready to say, that Wizzards 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 Inchantments? Conjuring to raise Storms? And have been +heard calling upon their Familiar Spirits? And have been known to use +Spells and Charms? And to shew in a Glass or in a Shew-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? +_Claudia_ 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 Witches should escape, than that one +innocent Person should be Condemned; that is an old saying, and true, +_Prestat reum nocentem absolvi, quam ex prohibitis Indiciis & illegitima +probatione condemnari._ It is better that a Guilty Person should be +Absolved, than that he should without sufficient ground of Conviction be +condemned. I had rather judge a Witch to be an honest woman, than judge +an honest woman as a Witch. The Word of God directs men not to proceed +to the execution of the most capital offenders, until such time as upon +searching diligently, the matter is _found to be a Truth, and the thing +certain_, _Deut. 13.14, 15._ + +An Acquaintance[88] of mine at _London_, in his description of +_New-England_ declares, that as to their Religion, the people there are +like Mr. _Perkins_; it is no dishonour to us, if that be found true: I +am sorry that any amongst us begin to slight so great a Man, whom the +most Learned[89] in Foreign Lands, speak of with Admiration, on the +account of his polite and acute Judgment: It is a grave and good Advice +which he giveth in his Discourse of Witchcrafts (Chap. 7. Sect. 2.) +wherewith I conclude; 'I would therefore wish and advise all Jurors who +give the Verdict upon Life and Death in the Court of Assizes, to take +good heed, that as they be diligent in zeal of God's glory, and the good +of his Church, in detecting of Witches, by all sufficient and lawful +means, so likewise they would be careful what they do, and not to +condemn any party suspected upon bare Presumptions, without sound and +sufficient Proofs that they be not guilty through their own Rashness of +shedding Innocent Blood.' + + _Boston, New-England, Octob. 3. 1692._ + + + + +POSTSCRIPT. + + +The Design of the preceding _Dissertation_, is not to plead for +Witchcrafts, or to appear as an Advocate for Witches: I have therefore +written another Discourse, proving that there are such horrid Creatures +as Witches in the World; and that they are to be extirpated and cut off +from amongst the People of God, which I have Thoughts and Inclinations +in due time to publish; and I am abundantly satisfied that there have +been, and are still most cursed Witches in the Land. More than one or +two of those now in Prison, have freely and credibly acknowledged their +Communion and Familiarity with the Spirits of Darkness; and have also +declared unto me the Time and Occasion, with the particular +Circumstances of their Hellish Obligations and Abominations. + +Nor is there designed any Reflection on those worthy Persons who have +been concerned in the late Proceedings at _Salem_: They are wise and +good Men, and have acted with all Fidelity according to their Light, and +have out of tenderness declined the doing of some things, which in our +own Judgments they were satisfied about: Having therefore so arduous a +Case before them, Pitty and Prayers rather than Censures are their due; +on which account I am glad that there is published to the World (by my +Son) a _Breviate of the Tryals_ of some who were lately executed, +whereby I hope the thinking part of Mankind will be satisfied, that +there was more than that which is called _Spectre Evidence_ for the +Conviction of the Persons condemned. I was not myself present at any of +the Tryals, excepting one, _viz._ that of _George Burroughs_; had I been +one of his Judges, I could not have acquitted him: For several Persons +did upon Oath testifie, that they saw him do such things as no Man that +has not a Devil to be his Familiar could perform: And the Judges affirm, +that they have not convicted any one meerly on the account of what +_Spectres_ have said, or of what has been represented to the Eyes or +Imaginations of the sick bewitched Persons. If what is here exposed to +publick view, may be a means to prevent it for the future, I shall not +repent of my Labour in this Undertaking. I have been prevailed with so +far as I am able to discern the Truth in these dark Cases, to declare my +Sentiments, with the Arguments which are of weight with me, hoping that +what is written may be of some use to discover the _Depths of Satan_; +and to prevent innocent ones having their Lives endangered, or their +Reputations ruined, by being through the Subtility and Power of the +Devils, in consideration with the Ignorance and Weakness of Men, +involved amongst the Guilty. It becomes those of my Profession to be +very tender in Cases of Blood, and to imitate our Lord and Master, _Who +came not to destroy the Lives of Men, but to save them_. + +I likewise design in what I have written, to give my testimony against +these unjustifiable ways of discovering Witchcrafts, which some among us +have practised. I hear that of late there was a _Witch-cake_ made with +the Urine of bewitched Creatures, as one Ingredient by several Persons +in a place, which has suffered much by the Attack of Hell upon it: This +I take to be not only wicked Superstition, but great Folly: For tho' the +Devil does sometimes operate with the _Experiments_, yet not always, +especially if a _Magical Faith_ be wanting. I shall here take occasion +to recite some Passages in a Letter, which I received from that Eminent +pious and learned Man, Mr. _Samuel Cradock_; during my abode in +_London_; the Letter bears date _Febr. 26. 1690_. Then take it in his +own Words, which are these; 'We have at this present one in our next +Town, who has a Son who has strange Fits, and such as they impute to +Witchcraft: He come to consult with me about it, but before he came, he +had used a means which I should never had directed him unto, _viz._ He +took the Nails of his Son's Hands and Feet, and some of his Hair, and +mixed them in Rye-Paste with his Water, and so set it all by the Fire +till it was consumed, and his Son (as he says) was well after, and free +from his Fits for a whole Month, but then they came again, and _He tried +that means a second time, and then it would not do;_ He removed his Son +into _Cambridgeshire_ the next County, and then he was well, but as soon +as he brought him home he was afflicted as before. The Boy says, He saw +a thing like a Mole following of him, which once spoke to him, and told +him he came to do the Office he was to do: I advised his Father to make +use of the Medicine prescribed by our Saviour, _viz._ Fasting and +Prayer. Here have been others in this Town, that though they were under +_Ill-handling_ as they call it: One Family had their Milk so affected, +that they could not possibly make any Cheese, but it hov'd and swelled, +and was good for nothing: They are now rid of that trouble, but how they +got rid of it I do not know': Thus my Letter. By which it is evident +that Towns in _England_ as well as _New-England_ are molested with +_Dæmons_, only I wish that the Superstitions practiced in other places +to get rid of such troublesome Guests had never been known, much less +used amongst us or them. + +Some I hear have taken up a Notion, that the Book newly published by my +Son, is contradictory to this of mine: 'Tis strange that such +Imaginations should enter into the Minds of Men: I perused and approved +of that Book before it was printed; and nothing but my Relation to him +hindred me from recommending it to the World: But my self and Son agreed +unto the humble Advice which twelve Ministers concurringly presented +before his Excellency and Council, respecting the present Difficulties, +which let the World judge, whether there be anything in it dissentany +from what is attested by either of us. + +It was in the Words following:-- + + + The Return of several Ministers consulted by his Excellency, + and the Honourable Council, upon the present Witchcrafts + in _Salem_ Village. + + Boston, _June 15, 1692_. + +I. _The afflicted State of our poor Neighbours, that are now suffering +by Molestations from the Invisible World, we apprehend so deplorable, +that we think their Condition calls for the utmost help of all Persons +in their several Capacities._ II. _We cannot but with all Thankfulness +acknowledge, the Success which the merciful God has given unto the +sedulous and assiduous Endeavors of our honourable Rulers, to detect the +abominable Witchcrafts which have been committed in the Country; humbly +praying that the discovery of these mysterious and mischievous +Wickednesses, may be perfected._ III. _We judge that in the prosecution +of these, and all such Witchcrafts, there is need of a very critical and +exquisite Caution, lest by too much Credulity for things received only +upon the Devil's Authority, there be a Door opened for a long Train of +miserable Consequences, and Satan get an advantage over us, for we +should not be ignorant of his Devices._ IV. _As in Complaints upon +Witchcrafts, there may be Matters of Enquiry, which do not amount unto +Matters of Presumption, and there may be Matters of Presumption which +yet may not be reckoned Matters of +Conviction+; so 'tis necessary that +all Proceedings thereabout be managed with an exceeding tenderness +towards those that may be complained of; especially if they have been +Persons formerly of an unblemished Reputation._ V. _When the first +Enquiry is made into the Circumstances of such as may lie under any just +Suspicion of Witchcrafts, we could wish that there may be admitted as +little as is possible, of such Noise, Company, and Openness, as may too +hastily expose them that are examined: and that there may nothing be +used as a Test, for the Trial of the suspected, the Lawfulness whereof +may be doubted among the People of God; but that the Directions given by +such judicious Writers as +Perkins+ and +Bernard+, be consulted in such +a Case._ VI. _Presumptions whereupon Persons may be committed, and much +more Convictions, whereupon Persons may be condemned as guilty of +Witchcrafts, ought certainly to be more considerable, than barely the +accused Person being represented by a Spectre unto the Afflicted; +inasmuch as 'tis an undoubted and a notorious thing, that a Dæmon may, +by God's Permission, appear even to ill purposes, in the Shape of an +innocent, yea, and a vertuous Man: Nor can we esteem Alterations made in +the Sufferers, by a Look or Touch of the Accused to be an infallible +Evidence of Guilt; but frequently liable to be abused by the Devil's +Legerdemains._ VII. _We know not, whether some remarkable Affronts given +to the Devils, by our disbelieving of those Testimonies, whose whole +force and strength is from them alone, may not put a Period, unto the +Progress of the dreadful Calamity begun upon us, in the Accusation of so +many Persons, whereof we hope, some are yet clear from the great +Transgression laid unto their Charge._ VIII. _Nevertheless, We cannot +but humbly recommend unto the Government, the speedy and vigorous +Prosecution of such as have rendered themselves obnoxious, according to +the Direction given in the Laws of God, and the wholesome Statutes of +the +English+ Nation, for the Detection of Witchcrafts._ + + + + +FOOTNOTES: + + +[1] R. Sactias. R. Eleazer Athias. Lyranus. _Sic &_ Josephus. + +[2] Ambrose, Hierom, Basil, Nazianzen. + +[3] Thomas, Tostatus, Suarez. _Cajetan_, _In Ecclesia_, _Chap. 46. 22, +23_. + +[4] _In Locum._ + +[5] _In 2 Cor. 11, 14, Pag. 555._ + +[6] _De Spectris_, _Cap. 7_. + +[7] _Præstig. Dæmon._ Lib. 1. C. 16. + +[8] De C. D. l. 18. + +[9] _De Appar. Spirituum_, Lib. 2. Cap. 7. + +[10] _Misq. Magicar._ Lib. 2. C. 12. + +[11] _De Confes. Sag._ pag. 191. + +[12] _De secretis mag._ p. 31. see also _Lavater de Spect._ Lib. 2. Cap. +18. + +[13] _Dr. Casaubon_: of Spirits. + +[14] _Sulpitius Severus in vita Martini._ + +[15] _Guaccius_, _compend. malefic._ p. 342. + +[16] _Binsfield_, _de Confess. Sag._ p. 187. + +[17] Examples, Vol. 1. p. 510. + +[18] _Socrate's_ Hist. p. 7. C. 38. + +[19] _Lege Villalpond de Magia_, &c. L. 2. Cap. 27. + +[20] Part 1. Chap. 19. Pag. 8. + +[21] _Epistol._ 2. + +[22] In Disput. _de Magia_. P. 575. + +[23] In Mr. _Couper's_ Mystery of Witchcraft, Pag. 174, 175. + +[24] _Acta Eruditorum Anno 1690._ Pag. 113. + +[25] In Mr. _Glanvil's_ Philosophical Considerations. + +[26] _De subtilitate._ Lib. 29. + +[27] P. 75, 76. + +[28] In his Sadducism Triumph. Collection, p. 201. + +[29] P. 215. (Disa. Magic.) l. 1. c. 3. p. 22. + +[30] Vairus de Fascino. Lib. 2. + +[31] P. 131. + +[32] V. Germ. Ephemer. Anno 16. p. 379. + +[33] Henkelius de obsessis, pag. 86. + +[34] Camerar. cent. I. c. 73. Cardan de rerum varietate, Lib. 16. cap. +93. + +[35] In his _Britannia_, p. 609. + +[36] See the Hist. of _Lapland_, and Mr. _Burton's_ Hist. of _Dæmons_. + +[37] _Schotten_, Physic. curios, lib. 1. c. 16. + +[38] See _Wanly_ of the Wonders of the World, p. 215. + +[39] Ubi Supra. + +[40] _De Spectris_, p. 86, 87. + +[41] _Disput. Select._ Vol. 1. pag. 1008. + +[42] P. 944. + +[43] _Thyræus de Apparitionibus_, Lib. 2. Cap. 14. + +[44] _Binsfield de confessionibus sagarum_, p. 183. 191. + +[45] _Disquis. Magic._ Lib. 2. Q. 12. p. 143. + +[46] Printed at _Frankfort_, _Anno 1681_. + +[47] Discourse of Witchcraft, _Ch. 7._ _Sect. 2._ p. 644. + +[48] In his Witchcraft discovered, p. 277. + +[49] _Webster's_ displaying of supposed Witchcraft, p. 298. 308. + +[50] _Ubi supra_, p. 207, 208. + +[51] Ch. 15. p. 14, &c. + +[52] Pag. 121, 122. + +[53] _In vita Hilarion._ + +[54] _Anastasius_, Qu. 23. + +[55] In Disput. de _Dæmoniacis_, part 1. chap. 16. p. 30. + +[56] _Thuanus_, lib. 130. p. 1136. + +[57] _Thyræus_, _ubi supra_, p. 16. + +[58] _Henkel_, _ubi supra_, p. 47. 50. + +[59] _Brockmand_, _Theol._ p. 265. + +[60] _Melancthon_, Epist. + +[61] _Tostatus_, in Mat. 8. Q. 114. + +[62] _Baldwin_, Case of Cons. l. 3. c. 3. p. 621. + +[63] Lib. 7. Cap. 2. + +[64] _5 Sympos._ Cap. 7. + +[65] _Med. Precl._ lib. 6. pars 9. cap. 1. + +[66] Lib. 2. cap. 2. _Wierus_, l. 6. c. 9. p. 683. + +[67] See the Tryal, p. 40. 43. 45. + +[68] In _Dæmonomania_. See Mr. _Bromhal's_ History of Apparitions, p. +136. + +[69] See the Printed Relation, p. 30, 31. + +[70] Ubi supra, p. 121. + +[71] Remarkable Providences, p. 267. + +[72] See Mr. _Burton's_ History of Dæmons, p. 136. and Mr. _Robert's_ +Nar. of the Witches in _Suffolk_. + +[73] _Ames._ _Cas. Consc._ L. 4. C. 23. + +[74] _Delrio._ _Disquiss. Magic._ pag. 642. + +[75] _Malderus de Magia_, cap. 10. _dub._ 11. + +[76] _De Doctr. Christiana_, Lib. 2. Cap. 20. 22. + +[77] _Delrio & Malderus._ + +[78] _In malleo malleficarum_, p. 421. + +[79] _Menna_, _de purgatione vulgari_, cap. _ult._ + +[80] _Cæsarius_, Lib. 9. + +[81] _De Lamiis_, L. 3. C. 4. + +[82] _Dubravius_, Hist. _Cohim._ Lib. 8. + +[83] In his Cases about Witchcraft, p. 181. + +[84] So Dr. _Willet_, conjectures on _1 Sam. 21.1._ + +[85] _V. Bodin_, _Dæmonomania_, L. 4. + +[86] Mr. _Sinclare_, Invisible World, p. 45. and _Burton_, Hist. of +Dæmons, p. 122. + +[87] Boisard in vita Apollonii. + +[88] Mr. _Merden_ in his Geogra. Phy. p. 577. + +[89] Voetius, Biblioth, l. 2. Lecus, in Compend. Histor. + + + THE END. + + + + + CHISWICK PRESS:--PRINTED BY WHITTINGHAM AND WILKINS, + TOOKS COURT, CHANCERY LANE. + + +------------------------------------------------------------------------ + +Transcriber's Note, continued.-- + +The format of all biblical citations has been regularized. + +Footnote markers in the original were sometimes placed before the word +they refer to, and sometimes after--this has been retained. + +The following changes were also made: + +--p. viii: slighest to slightest + +--p. ix: Mrs. Hales to Mrs. Hale + +--p. xvii: Original title page used two large, ornate "U"s instead of a +"W" in Witches. + +--p. 10: oe-ligature to ae-ligature (Antipædobaptist) + +--p. 11: . to , (thus maintained in the Country,) + +--p. 19: a to as (cry'd out upon as imploying) + +--p. 22: Omisera to O misera + +--p. 54: singlar to singular + +--p. 61: Catastrophe's to Catastrophes (there will be more such +_Catastrophes_) + +--p. 62: _times of the_ Jews to _times of the Jews_ + +--pp. 63-69: Corollary I. to Corollary V. formatted as headers. In the +original, IV. and V. were out-of-line headers and I., II. and III. were +in-line. + +--p. 80: Moenia had oe-ligature in original (Dilapsa sunt vestra +Moenia!) + +--p. 97: oe-ligature to ae-ligature (Cælestial) + +--p. 100: We _Fear_ to _We Fear_ + +--p. 138: II. to III. (Incorrect numbering of header corrected) + +--p. 135: Ground-sel to Ground (but struck only the Ground) It appears +that the "-sel" was mistakenly introduced during printing, as the word +"Counsel" in the previous sentence was split over two lines and +hyphenated ("Coun-sel".) However, this mistake is not unique to this +reprint. + +--p. 170: Berecovered to Be recovered + +--p. 184: on to one (that rocks one to Sleep) + +--p. 193: The Sweet Waters of Stealth? to The Sweet Waters of Stealth; + +--p. 245: viz. to _viz._ (_viz._ That in an Orchard) + +--p. 247: missing period added after Lonicer + +--pp. 267-268: Although listed in the Table of Contents, Point 6 +("Bewitched Persons have sometimes been struck down with the Look of +Dogs") was not numbered in the original, causing points 7 through 9 to +be numbered incorrectly. This was corrected. + +--p. 267: Brochmand to Brockmand + +--p. 273: extra "the" removed (so was the _Vulgar Probation_) + +Two other problems were noted but left unchanged: + +--p. 99: The biblical citation _Luc. 13.2, 3._ refers to Luke 13.2, 3. + +--p. 268: Mather cites Deut. 35.30, but Deuteronomy only has 34 +Chapters. The context suggests he may have meant Numbers 35.30. + +--Footnote [77]: _Delri. & Malderus._ to _Delrio & Malderus._ + +Also note that spelling--other than the corrections noted above--has +been left as it appeared in the original copy of this book. This +includes many archaic spellings that appear only once, such as thir (p. +214), doe's (p. 195), and ha's (p. 173). + +------------------------------------------------------------------------ + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Wonders of the Invisible World, by +Cotton Mather and Increase Mather + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE WONDERS OF THE INVISIBLE WORLD *** + +***** This file should be named 28513-8.txt or 28513-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/8/5/1/28513/ + +Produced by Julie Barkley, S.D., and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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