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 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 twoof the most celebrated of the early American divines, relate to one ofthe most extraordinary cases of popular delusion that modern times havewitnessed. It was a delusion, moreover, to which men of learning andpiety lent themselves, and thus became the means of increasing it. Thescene of this affair was the puritanical colony of New England, sincebetter known as Massachusetts, the colonists of which appear to havecarried with them, in an exaggerated form, the superstitious feelingswith regard to witchcraft which then prevailed in the mother country. Inthe spring of 1692 an alarm of witchcraft was raised in the family ofthe minister of Salem, and some black servants were charged with thesupposed crime. Once started, the alarm spread rapidly, and in a veryshort time a great number of people fell under suspicion, and many werethrown into prison on very frivolous grounds, supported, as such chargesusually were, by very unworthy witnesses. The new governor of thecolony, Sir William Phipps, arrived from England in the middle of May, and he seems to have been carried away by the excitement, and authorizedjudicial prosecutions. The trials began at the commencement of June; andthe first victim, a woman named Bridget Bishop, was hanged. GovernorPhipps, embarrassed by this extraordinary state of things, called in theassistance of the clergy of Boston. 

There was at this time in Boston a distinguished family of puritanicalministers of the name of Mather. Richard Mather, an Englishnon-conformist divine, had emigrated to America in 1636, and settled atDorchester, where, in 1639, he had a son born, who was named, inaccordance with the peculiar nomenclature of the puritans, IncreaseMather. This son distinguished himself much by his acquirements as ascholar and a theologian, became established as a minister in Boston, and in 1685 was elected president of Harvard College. His son, born atBoston in 1663, and called from the name of his mother's family, CottonMather, 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 inBoston. Cotton Mather had adopted all the most extreme notions of thepuritanical party with regard to witchcraft, and he had recently had anopportunity of displaying them. In the summer of the year 1688, thechildren of a mason of Boston named John Goodwin were suddenly seizedwith fits and strange afflictions, which were at once ascribed towitchcraft, and an Irish washerwoman named Glover, employed by thefamily, was suspected of being the witch. Cotton Mather was called into witness the sufferings of Goodwin's children; and he took home withhim 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 Irishwoman was brought to a trial, found guilty, and hanged; and CottonMather 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 equallygreat want of anything like sound judgment. This work, no doubt, spreadthe alarm of witchcraft through the whole colony, and had some influenceon the events which followed. It may be supposed that the panic whichhad now arisen in Salem was not likely to be appeased by theinterference of Cotton Mather and his father. 

The execution of the washerwoman, Bridget Bishop, had greatly increasedthe excitement; and people in a more respectable position began to beaccused. On the 19th of July five more persons were executed, and fivemore experienced the same fate on the 19th of August. Among the latterwas Mr. George Borroughs, a minister of the gospel, whose principalcrime appears to have been a disbelief in witchcraft itself. His fateexcited considerable sympathy, which, however, was checked by CottonMather, who was present at the place of execution on horseback, andaddressed the crowd, assuring them that Borroughs was an impostor. Manypeople, however, had now become alarmed at the proceedings of theprosecutors, and among those executed with Borroughs was a man namedJohn Willard, who had been employed to arrest the persons charged bythe accusers, and who had been accused himself, because, fromconscientious motives, he refused to arrest any more. He attempted tosave himself by flight; but he was pursued and overtaken. Eight more ofthe unfortunate victims of this delusion were hanged on the 22nd ofSeptember, making in all nineteen who had thus suffered, besides onewho, in accordance with the old criminal law practice, had been pressedto death for refusing to plead. The excitement had indeed risen to sucha pitch that two dogs accused of witchcraft were put to death. 

A certain degree of reaction, however, appeared to be taking place, andthe magistrates who had conducted the proceedings began to be alarmed, and to have some doubts of the wisdom of their proceedings. CottonMather was called upon by the governor to employ his pen in justifyingwhat had been done; and the result was, the book which stands first inthe present volume, "The Wonders of the Invisible World;" in which theauthor gives an account of seven of the trials at Salem, compares thedoings of the witches in New England with those in other parts of theworld, and adds an elaborate dissertation on witchcraft in general. Thisbook was published at Boston, Massachusetts, in the month of October, 1692. Other circumstances, however, contributed to throw discredit onthe proceedings of the court, though the witch mania was at the sametime spreading throughout the whole colony. In this same month ofOctober, the wife of Mr. Hale, minister of Beverley, was accused, although no person of sense and respectability had the slightest doubtof her innocence; and her husband had been a zealous promoter of theprosecutions. This accusation brought a new light on the mind of Mr. Hale, who became convinced of the injustice in which he had been made anaccomplice; but the other ministers who took the lead in the proceedingswere less willing to believe in their own error; and equally convincedof the innocence of Mrs. Hale, they raised a question of conscience, whether the devil could not assume the shape of an innocent and piousperson, as well as of a wicked person, for the purpose of afflicting hisvictims. The assistance of Increase Mather, the president or principalof Harvard College, was now called in, and he published the book whichis also reprinted in the present volume: "A Further Account of theTryals of the New England Witches.... To which is added Cases ofConscience concerning Witchcrafts and Evil Spirits personating Men. " Itwill be seen that the greater part of the "Cases of Conscience" is givento the discussion of the question just alluded to, which Increase Matherunhesitatingly decides in the affirmative. The scene of agitation wasnow removed from Salem to Andover, where a great number of persons wereaccused of witchcraft and thrown into prison, until a justice of thepeace named Bradstreet, to whom the accusers applied for warrants, refused to grant any more. Hereupon they cried out upon Bradstreet, anddeclared that he had killed nine persons by means of witchcraft; and hewas so much alarmed that he fled from the place. The accusers aimed atpeople in higher positions in society, until at last they had theaudacity to cry out upon the lady of governor Phipps himself, and thuslost whatever countenance he had given to their proceedings out ofrespect to the two Mathers. Other people of character, when they wereattacked by the accusers, took energetic measures in self-defence. Agentleman of Boston, when "cried out upon, " obtained a writ of arrestagainst his accusers on a charge of defamation, and laid the damages ata thousand pounds. The accusers themselves now took fright, and many whohad made confessions retracted them, while the accusations themselvesfell into discredit. When governor Phipps was recalled in April, 1693, and left for England, the witchcraft agitation had nearly subsided, andpeople in general had become convinced of their error and lamented it. 

But Cotton Mather and his father persisted obstinately in the opinionsthey had published, and looked upon the reactionary feeling as a triumphof Satan and his kingdom. In the course of the year they had anopportunity of reasserting their belief in the doings of the witches ofSalem. A girl of Boston, named Margaret Rule, was seized withconvulsions, in the course of which she pretended to see the "shapes" orspectres of people exactly as they were alleged to have been seen by thewitch-accusers at Salem and Andover. This occurred on the 10th ofSeptember, 1693; and she was immediately visited by Cotton Mather, whoexamined her, and declared his conviction of the truth of herstatements. Had it depended only upon him, a new and no doubt equallybitter persecution of witches would have been raised in Boston; but aninfluential merchant of that town, named Robert Calef, took the matterup in a different spirit, and also examined Margaret Rule, and satisfiedhimself that the whole was a delusion or imposture. Calef wrote arational account of the events of these two years, 1692 and 1693, exposing the delusion, and controverting the opinions of the two Matherson the subject of witchcraft, which was published under the title of"More Wonders of the Invisible World; or the Wonders of the Invisibleworld displayed in five parts. An Account of the Sufferings of MargaretRule collected by Robert Calef, merchant of Boston in New England. " Thepartisans of the Mathers displayed their hostility to this book bypublicly burning it; and the Mathers themselves kept up the feeling sostrongly that years afterwards, when Samuel Mather, the son of Cotton, wrote his father's life, he says sneeringly of Calef: "There was acertain disbeliever in Witchcraft who wrote against this book" (hisfather's 'Wonders of the Invisible World'), "but as the man is dead, hisbook died long before him. " Calef died in 1720. 

The witchcraft delusion had, however, been sufficiently dispelled toprevent the recurrence of any other such persecutions; and those whostill insisted on their truth were restrained to the comparativelyharmless publication and defence of their opinions. The people of Salemwere humbled and repentant. They deserted their minister, Mr. Paris, with whom the persecution had begun, and were not satisfied until theyhad driven him away from the place. Their remorse continued throughseveral years, and most of the people concerned in the judicialproceedings proclaimed their regret. The jurors signed a paperexpressing their repentance, and pleading that they had laboured under adelusion. What ought to have been considered still more conclusive, many of those who had confessed themselves witches, and had beeninstrumental in accusing others, retracted all they had said, andconfessed that they had acted under the influence of terror. Yet thevanity of superior intelligence and knowledge was so great in the twoMathers that they resisted all conviction. In his _Magnalia_, anecclesiastical history of New England, published in 1700, Cotton Matherrepeats his original view of the doings of Satan in Salem, showing noregret for the part he had taken in this affair, and making noretraction of any of his opinions. Still later, in 1723, he repeats themagain in the same strain in the chapter of the "Remarkables" of hisfather entitled "Troubles from the Invisible World. " His father, Increase Mather, had died in that same year at an advanced age, being inhis eighty-fifth year. Cotton Mather died on the 13th of February, 1728. 

Whatever we may think of the credulity of these two ecclesiastics, therecan be no ground for charging them with acting otherwise thanconscientiously, and they had claims on the gratitude of theircountrymen sufficient to overbalance their error of judgment on thisoccasion. Their books relating to the terrible witchcraft delusion atSalem have now become very rare in the original editions, and theirinterest, as remarkable monuments of the history of superstition, makethem 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 ofhis Acquaintance, devoutly making his Prayers on the behalf of a Personmolested by _Evil Spirits_, received from those _Evil Spirits_ anhorrible Blow over the Face: And I may my self expect not few or smallBuffetings from Evil Spirits, for the Endeavours wherewith I am nowgoing to encounter them. I am far from insensible, that at thisextraordinary 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 havetroubled us, are maintained by some with so much cloudy Fury, as if theycould never be sufficiently stated, unless written in the Liquorwherewith Witches use to write their Covenants; and that he who becomesan Author at such a time, had need be _fenced with Iron, and the Staffof a Spear_. The unaccountable Frowardness, Asperity, Untreatableness, and Inconsistency of many Persons, every Day gives a visible Expositionof that passage, _An evil spirit from the Lord came upon Saul;_ andIllustration of that Story, _There met him two possessed with Devils, exceeding fierce, so that no man might pass by that way. _ To send abroada Book, among such Readers, were a very unadvised thing, if a Man hadnot 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 theBody of this People, are yet in such a Temper, as to be capable ofapplying their Thoughts, to make a _Right Use_ of the stupendous andprodigious Things that are happening among us: And because I wasconcern'd, when I saw that no abler Hand emitted any Essays to engagethe Minds of this People, in such holy, pious, fruitful Improvements, asGod 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, whosees in secret_, knows the Heart-breaking Exercises, wherewith I havecomposed what is now going to be exposed, lest I should in any one thingmiss of doing my designed Service for his Glory, and for his People; butI 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 suithis Words unto his Works, at this Day among us, and therewithal handleda Theme that has been sometimes counted not unworthy the Pen, even of aKing, it will easily be perceived, that some subordinate Ends have beenconsidered 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 Ihave herein also aimed at the Information and Satisfaction of Good Menin another Country, a thousand Leagues off, where I have, it may be, more, or however, more considerable Friends, than in my own: And I dowhat I can to have that Country, now, as well as always, in the bestTerms with my own. But while I am doing these things, I have been drivena little to do something likewise for myself; I mean, by taking off thefalse Reports, and hard Censures about my Opinion in these Matters, the_Parter's Portions_ which my _pursuit of Peace_ has procured me amongthe _Keen_. My hitherto _unvaried Thoughts_ are here published; and Ibelieve, they will be owned by most of the Ministers of God in theseColonies; nor can amends be well made me, for the wrong done me, byother sorts of _Representations_. 

 * * * * *

In fine: For the Dogmatical part of my Discourse, I want no Defence; forthe Historical part of it, I have a Very Great One; theLieutenant-Governour of _New-England_ having perused it, has done me theHonour of giving me a Shield, under the Umbrage whereof I now dare towalk abroad. 

REVEREND AND DEAR SIR, _You very much gratify'd me, as well as put a kind Respect upon me, whenyou put into my hands, your elaborate and most seasonable Discourse, entituled, +The Wonders of the Invisible World+. And having now perusedso fruitful and happy a Composure, upon such a Subject, at this Junctureof Time; and considering the place that I hold in the Court of +Oyer+and +Terminer+, still labouring and proceeding in the Trial of thePersons accused and convicted for Witchcraft, I find that I am morenearly and highly concerned than as a meer ordinary Reader, to expressmy Obligation and Thankfulness to you for so great Pains; and cannot buthold myself many ways bound, even to the utmost of what is proper forme, in my present publick Capacity, to declare my +singular Approbation+thereof. Such is your Design, most plainly expressed throughout thewhole; 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 andmoderating that among us, which needs it; such your clear discerning ofDivine Providences and Periods, now running on apace towards theirGlorious Issues in the World; and finally, such your good News of +TheShortness of the Devil's Time+, that all Good Men must needs desire, themaking of this your Discourse publick to the World; and will greatlyrejoyce, that the +Spirit of the Lord+ has thus enabled you to +lift upa Standard+ against the Infernal Enemy, that hath been +coming in like aFlood upon us+. I do therefore make it my particular and earnest Requestunto 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, hadit by a Gentleman then present, said unto him, _Sir, I'll tell you agreat Thing: Here is a mighty Body of People; and there is not +Seven+of them all, but what loves Mr. +Wilson+. _ That gracious Man presentlyand 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+ amongthem all, but Mr. +Wilson+ loves him. _ Somewhat so: 'Tis possible, thatamong this Body of People, there may be few that love the Writer of thisBook; but give me leave to boast so far, there is not one among all thisBody of People, whom this _Mather_ would not study to serve, as well asto love. With such a _Spirit of Love_, is the Book now before uswritten: I appeal to all _this World_; and if _this_ World will deny methe 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. Ionly demand the _Justice_, that others _read_ it, with the same Spiritwherewith I _writ_ it. 

ENCHANTMENTS ENCOUNTERED. 

SECTION I. 

It was as long ago as the Year 1637, that a Faithful Minister of theChurch of _England_, whose Name was Mr. _Edward Symons_, did in a Sermonafterwards Printed, thus express himself; 'At _New-England_ now the Sunof Comfort begins to appear, and the glorious Day-Star to show itself;--_Sed Venient Annis Sæculæ Seris_, there will come Times in afterAges, when the _Clouds will over-shadow and darken the Sky there_. Manynow promise to themselves nothing but successive Happiness there, whichfor a time through God's Mercy they may enjoy; and I pray God, they maya long time; but in this World there is no Happiness perpetual. ' An_Observation_, or I had almost said, an _Inspiration_, very dismally nowverify'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 ofInjustice, if it acknowledge not a measure of Religion, Loyalty, Honesty, and Industry, in the People there, beyond what is to be foundwith any other People for the Number of them. When I did a few yearsago, publish a Book, which mentioned a few memorable Witchcrafts, committed in this country; the excellent _Baxter_, graced the SecondEdition of that Book, with a kind Preface, wherein he sees cause to say, _If any are Scandalized, that +New-England+, a place of as seriousPiety, as any I can hear of, under Heaven, should be troubled so muchwith Witches; I think, 'tis no wonder: Where will the Devil show mostMalice, but where he is hated, and hateth most:_ And I hope, the Countrywill still deserve and answer the Charity so expressed by that ReverendMan of God. Whosoever travels over this Wilderness, will see it richlybespangled with Evangelical Churches, whose Pastors are holy, able, andpainful Overseers of their Flocks, lively Preachers, and vertuousLivers; and such as in their several Neighbourly Associations, have hadtheir Meetings whereat Ecclesiastical Matters of common Concernment areconsidered: _Churches_, whose Communicants have been seriously examinedabout their Experiences of Regeneration, as well as about theirKnowledge, and Belief, and blameless Conversation, before theiradmission to the Sacred Communion; although others of less but hopefulAttainments in Christianity are not ordinarily deny'd Baptism forthemselves and theirs; Churches, which are shye of using any thing inthe Worship of God, for which they cannot see a Warrant of God; but withwhom yet the Names of _Congregational_, _Presbyterian_, _Episcopalian_, or _Antipædobaptist_, are swallowed up in that of _Christian_; Personsof all those Perswasions being taken into our Fellowship, when visibleGoodliness has recommended them: Churches, which usually do withinthemselves manage their own Discipline, under the Conduct of theirElders; but yet call in the help of _Synods_ upon Emergencies, orAggrievances: _Churches_, Lastly, wherein Multitudes are growing ripefor Heaven every day; and as fast as these are taken off, others aredaily rising up. And by the Presence and Power of the DivineInstitutions thus maintained in the Country, We are still so happy, thatI suppose there is no Land in the Universe more free from thedebauching, and the debasing Vices of Ungodliness. The Body of thePeople are hitherto so disposed, that _Swearing_, _Sabbath-breaking_, _Whoring_, _Drunkenness_, and the like, do not make a Gentleman, but aMonster, or a Goblin, in the vulgar Estimation. All thisnotwithstanding, we must humbly confess to our God, that we aremiserably degenerated from the first Love of our Predecessors; howeverwe boast our selves a little, when Men would go to trample upon us, andwe venture to say, _Wherein soever any is bold (we speak foolishly) weare bold also. _ The first Planters of these Colonies were a chosenGeneration of Men, who were first so pure, as to disrelish many thingswhich they thought wanted Reformation elsewhere; and yet withal sopeaceable, that they embraced a voluntary Exile in a squalid, horrid, _American_ Desart, rather than to live in Contentions with theirBrethren. Those good Men imagined that they should leave their Posterityin a place, where they should never see the Inroads of Profanity, orSuperstition: And a famous Person returning hence, could in a Sermonbefore the Parliament, profess, _I have now been seven Years in aCountry, where I never Saw one Man drunk, or heard one Oath sworn, orbeheld one Beggar in the Streets all the while. _ Such great Persons as_Budæus_, and others, who mistook Sir _Thomas Moor's_ UTOPIA, for aCountry really existent, and stirr'd up some Divines charitably toundertake a Voyage thither, might now have certainly found a Truth intheir Mistake; _New-England_ was a true _Utopia_. But, alas, theChildren 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'dthem. Those two things our holy Progenitors, and our happy Advantagesmake Omissions of Duty, and such Spiritual Disorders as the whole Worldabroad is overwhelmed with, to be as provoking in us, as the mostflagitious Wickednesses committed in other places; and the Ministers ofGod are accordingly severe in their Testimonies: But in short, thoseInterests of the Gospel, which were the Errand of our Fathers into theseEnds of the Earth, have been too much neglected and postponed, and theAttainments of an handsome Education, have been too much undervalued, byMultitudes that have not fallen into Exorbitances of Wickedness; andsome, especially of our young Ones, when they have got abroad from underthe Restraints here laid upon them, have become extravagantly andabominably Vicious. Hence 'tis, that the Happiness of _New-England_ hasbeen but for a time, as it was foretold, and not for a long time, as hasbeen desir'd for us. A Variety of Calamity has long follow'd thisPlantation; and we have all the Reason imaginable to ascribe it unto theRebuke of Heaven upon us for our manifold _Apostasies_; we make noright use of our Disasters: If we do not, _Remember whence we arefallen, and repent, and do the first Works. _ But yet our Afflictions maycome under a further Consideration with us: There is a further Cause ofour Afflictions, whose due must be given him. 

§ II. The _New-Englanders_ are a People of God settled in those, whichwere once the _Devil's_ Territories; and it may easily be supposed thatthe _Devil_ was exceedingly disturbed, when he perceived such a Peoplehere accomplishing the Promise of old made unto our Blessed Jesus, _ThatHe should have the Utmost parts of the Earth for his Possession. _ Therewas not a greater Uproar among the _Ephesians_, when the Gospel wasfirst 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 thecarrying of it away. _ I believe, that never were more _SatanicalDevices_ used for the Unsetling of any People under the Sun, than whathave been Employ'd for the Extirpation of the _Vine_ which God has here_Planted_, _Casting out the Heathen, and preparing a Room before it, andcausing it to take deep Root, and fill the Land, so that it sent itsBoughs unto the +Atlantic+ Sea +Eastward+, and its Branches unto the+Connecticut+ River +Westward+, and the Hills were covered with theshadow thereof. _ But, All those Attempts of Hell, have hitherto beenAbortive, many an _Ebenezer_ has been Erected unto the Praise of God, byhis Poor People here; and, _Having obtained Help from God, we continueto this Day. _ Wherefore the Devil is now making one Attempt more uponus; an Attempt more Difficult, more Surprizing, more snarl'd withunintelligible Circumstances than any that we have hitherto Encountred;an Attempt so _Critical_, that if we get well through, we shall soonEnjoy _Halcyon_ Days with all the _Vultures_ of Hell _Trodden under ourFeet_. He has wanted his _Incarnate Legions_ to Persecute us, as thePeople of God have in the other Hemisphere been Persecuted: he hastherefore drawn forth his more _Spiritual_ ones to make an Attacque uponus. We have been advised by some Credible Christians yet alive, that aMalefactor, accused of _Witchcraft_ as well as _Murder_, and Executed inthis place more than Forty Years ago, did then give Notice of, _AnHorrible PLOT against the Country by WITCHCRAFT, and a Foundationof 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 thedoleful Shrieks of their Children and Servants, Tormented by InvisibleHands, with Tortures altogether preternatural. After the Mischiefs thereEndeavoured, and since in part Conquered, the terrible Plague, of _EvilAngels_, hath made its Progress into some other places, where otherPersons have been in like manner Diabolically handled. These our poorAfflicted Neighbours, quickly after they become _Infected_ and_Infested_ with these _Dæmons_, arrive to a Capacity of Discerning thosewhich they conceive the _Shapes_ of their Troublers; and notwithstandingthe Great and Just Suspicion, that the _Dæmons_ might Impose the_Shapes_ of Innocent Persons in their _Spectral Exhibitions_ upon theSufferers, (which may perhaps prove no small part of the _Witch-Plot_ inthe 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 untoa _Book_, which the Devil show'd them, and Engaged in his Hellish Designof _Bewitching_, and _Ruining_ our Land. _We_ know not, at least _I_know not, how far the _Delusions_ of Satan may be Interwoven into someCircumstances of the _Confessions_; but one would think, all the Rulesof Understanding Humane Affairs are at an end, if after so many mostVoluntary Harmonious _Confessions_, made by Intelligent Persons of allAges, in sundry Towns, at several Times, we must not Believe the _mainstrokes_ wherein those _Confessions_ all agree: especially when we havea thousand preternatural Things every day before our eyes, wherein the_Confessors_ do acknowledge their Concernment, and give Demonstration oftheir being so Concerned. If the Devils now can strike the minds of menwith any _Poisons_ of so fine a Composition and Operation, that Scoresof Innocent People shall Unite, in _Confessions_ of a Crime, which wesee actually committed, it is a thing prodigious, beyond the Wonders ofthe former Ages, and it threatens no less than a sort of a Dissolutionupon the World. Now, by these _Confessions_ 'tis Agreed, _That_ theDevil has made a dreadful Knot of _Witches_ in the Country, and by thehelp of _Witches_ has dreadfully increased that Knot: _That_ these_Witches_ have driven a Trade of Commissioning their _ConfederateSpirits_, to do all sorts of Mischiefs to the Neighbours, whereuponthere have ensued such Mischievous consequences upon the Bodies andEstates of the Neighbourhood, as could not otherwise be accounted for:yea, _That_ at prodigious _Witch-Meetings_, the Wretches have proceededso far, as to Concert and Consult the Methods of Rooting out theChristian Religion from this Country, and setting up instead of it, perhaps a more gross _Diabolesm_, than ever the World saw before. Andyet it will be a thing little short of _Miracle_, if in so _spread_ aBusiness as this, the Devil should not get in some of his Juggles, toconfound the Discovery of all the rest. 

§ III. Doubtless, the Thoughts of many will receive a great Scandalagainst _New-England_, from the Number of Persons that have beenAccused, or Suspected, for _Witchcraft_, in this Country: But it wereeasie to offer many things, that may Answer and Abate the Scandal. Ifthe Holy God should any where permit the Devils to hook two or threewicked _Scholars_ into _Witchcraft_, and then by their Assistance toRange with their _Poisonous Insinuations_ among Ignorant, Envious, Discontented People, till they have cunningly decoy'd them into somesudden _Act_, whereby the Toyls of Hell shall be perhaps inextricablycast 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 uponthem, which have made most Lamentable Devastations: which also I wish, may be _The Last_. And it is not uneasie to be imagined, That God hasnot brought out all the _Witchcrafts_ in many other Lands with such aspeedy, dreadful, destroying _Jealousie_, as burns forth upon such _HighTreasons_, committed here in _A Land of Uprightness_: Transgressors maymore 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 theGolden Candlesticks_. Moreover, There are many parts of the World, whoif they do upon this Occasion insult over this People of God, need onlyto 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 toEject the Devil out of a Damsel there possessed, he passionately bid theDevil come out of her into himself; but the Devil answered him, _Quidmihi Opus, est eum tentare, quem Novissimo die, Jure Optimo, sumpossessurus?_ That is, _What need I meddle with one whom I am sure tohave, 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, Thatamong the Persons represented by the _Spectres_ which now afflict ourNeighbours, there will be found _some_ that never explicitly contractedwith any of the _Evil Angels_. The Witches have not only intimated, butsome of them acknowledged, That they have plotted the Representationsof _Innocent Persons_, to cover and shelter themselves in theirWitchcrafts; now, altho' our good God has hitherto generally preservedus from the Abuse therein design'd by the Devils for us, yet who of uscan exactly state, _How far our God may for our Chastisement permit theDevil 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 amongus, _That the Devils may sometimes have a permission to Represent anInnocent Person, as Tormenting such as are under DiabolicalMolestations: But that such things are Rare and Extraordinary;especially when such matters come before Civil Judicature. _ The Opinionexpressed with so much Caution and Judgment, seems to be the prevailingSense of many others, who are men Eminently Cautious and Judicious; andhave both _Argument_ and _History_ to Countenance them in it. It is_Rare and Extraordinary_, for an Honest _Naboth_ to have his Life itself Sworn away by two _Children of Belial_, and yet no Infringementhereby made on the Rectoral Righteousness of our Eternal Soveraign, whose _Judgments are a Great Deep_, and who _gives none Account of Hismatters_. Thus, although the Appearance of Innocent Persons in _SpectralExhibitions_ afflicting the Neighbour-hood, be a thing _Rare andExtraordinary_; yet who can be sure, that the great _Belial_ of Hellmust needs be always _Yoked_ up from this piece of Mischief? The bestman that ever lived has been called a _Witch_: and why may not this toousual 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 unwittinglyattended with officious _Dæmons_, bequeathed unto them, and impos'd uponthem, by Relations that have been _Witches_. _Quæry_, also, Whether at aTime, when the Devil with his Witches are engag'd in a War upon apeople, some certain steps of ours, in such a War, may not be follow'dwith our appearing so and so for a while among them in the Visions ofour afflicted _Forlorns_! And, Who can certainly say, what other Degreesor Methods of sinning, besides that of a _Diabolical Compact_, may givethe Devils advantage to act in the Shape of them that have miscarried?Besides what may happen for a while, to try the _Patience_ of theVertuous. May not some that have been ready upon feeble groundsuncharitably to Censure and Reproach other people, be punished for it by_Spectres_ for a while exposing them to Censure and Reproach? Andfurthermore, I pray, that it may be considered, Whether a World ofMagical Tricks often used in the World, may not insensibly oblige_Devils_ to wait upon the Superstitious Users of them. A Witty Writeragainst _Sadducism_ has this Observation, That persons who never madeany express Contract with _Apostate Spirits_, yet may Act strange Thingsby _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 aparticular Attendance upon all those that practice their Mysteries, whether they know them to be theirs or no. _ Some of them that have beencry'd out upon as imploying _Evil Spirits_ to hurt our Land, have beenknown to be most bloody _Fortune-Tellers_; and some of them haveconfessed, That when they told _Fortunes_, they would pretend the Rulesof _Chiromancy_ and the like Ignorant Sciences, but indeed they had noRule (they said) but this, _The things were then Darted into theirminds. _ _Darted!_ Ye Wretches; By whom, I pray? Surely by none but the_Devils_; who, tho' perhaps they did not exactly _Foreknow_ all the thusPredicted Contingencies; yet having once _Foretold_ them, they stoodbound in Honour now to use their Interest, which alas, in _This World_, is very great, for the Accomplishment of their own Predictions. Thereare others, that have used most wicked _Sorceries_ to gratifie theirunlawful 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 thePerson that shall Practise these _Witchcrafts_; and if they have gone onImpenitently in these Communions with any _Devil_, the _Devil_ mayperhaps become at last a _Familiar_ to them, and so assume their_Livery_, that they cannot shake him off in any way, but that One, whichI would most heartily prescribe unto them, Namely, That of a deep andlong _Repentance_. Should these _Impieties_ have been committed in sucha place as _New-England_, for my part I should not wonder, if when_Devils_ are Exposing the _Grosser_ Witches among us, God permit them tobring in these _Lesser_ ones with the rest for their perpetualHumiliation. 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 uponus. It is judged, That the Devil rais'd the Storm, whereof we read inthe Eighth Chapter of _Matthew_, on purpose to over-set the littleVessel wherein the Disciples of Our Lord were Embarqued with Him. And itmay be fear'd, that in the _Horrible Tempest_ which is now uponourselves, the design of the Devil is to sink that Happy Settlement ofGovernment, wherewith Almighty God has graciously enclined TheirMajesties to favour us. We are blessed with a GOVERNOUR, than whom noman can be more willing to serve Their Majesties, or this theirProvince: He is continually venturing his _All_ to do it: and were notthe Interests of his Prince dearer to him than his own, he could not butsoon be weary of the _Helm_, whereat he sits. We are under the Influenceof a LIEUTENANT GOVERNOUR, who not only by being admirably accomplishedboth with Natural and Acquired Endowments, is fitted for the Service ofTheir Majesties, but also with an unspotted Fidelity applies himself tothat Service. Our COUNCELLOURS are some of our most Eminent Persons, andas Loyal Subjects to the Crown, as hearty lovers of their Country. OurConstitution also is attended with singular Priviledges; All whichThings are by the Devil exceedingly _Envy'd_ unto us; And the Devil willdoubtless take this occasion for the raising of such complaints andclamours, as may be of pernicious consequence unto some part of ourpresent Settlement, if he can so far _Impose_. But that which most ofall 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 theHellish Intrigue which now vexes us as any one Thing whatsoever. TheDevil has made us like a _Troubled Sea_, and the _Mire_ and _Mud_ beginsnow also to heave up apace. Even Good and Wise Men suffer themselves tofall into their _Paroxysms_; and the Shake which the Devil is now givingus, fetches up the _Dirt_ which before lay still at the bottom of oursinful Hearts. If we allow the Mad Dogs of Hell to poyson us by bitingus, we shall imagine that we see nothing but such things about us, andlike such things fly upon all that we see. Were it not for what is INUS, for my part, I should not fear a thousand Legions of Devils: 'tis byour Quarrels that we spoil our Prayers; and if our humble, zealous, andunited Prayers are once hindred: Alas, the _Philistines_ of Hell havecut our Locks for us; they will then blind us, mock us, ruine us: Intruth, I cannot altogether blame it, if People are a little transported, when they conceive all the secular Interests of themselves and theirFamilies at the Stake; and yet at the sight of these Heartburnings, Icannot forbear the Exclamation of the Sweet-spirited _Austin_, in hisPacificatory Epistle to _Jerom_, on the Contest with _Ruffin_, _O misera& miseranda Conditio!_ O Condition, truly miserable! But what shall bedone to cure these Distractions? It is wonderfully necessary, that somehealing Attempts be made at this time: And I must needs confess (if Imay speak so much) like a _Nazianzen_, I am so desirous of a share inthem, that if, being thrown overboard, were needful to allay the_Storm_, I should think Dying, a Trifle to be undergone, for so great aBlessedness. 

§ V. I would most importunately in the first place, entreat every Man tomaintain an holy Jealousie over his Soul at this time, and think; Maynot the Devil make me, though ignorantly and unwillingly, to be anInstrument of doing something that he would have to be done? For mypart, I freely own my Suspicion, lest something of Enchantment, havereach'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 ofanother. That Charity without which, even our giving our Bodies to beburned 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 shallindeed give our Body Politick to be burned. I have heard it affirmed, That in the late great Flood upon _Connecticut_, those Creatures whichcould not but have quarrelled at another time, yet now being driventogether very agreeably stood by one another. I am sure we shall beworse than _Brutes_ if we fly upon one another at a time when the Floodsof Belial make us afraid. On the one side; [Alas, my Pen, must thouwrite the word, _Side_ in the Business?] There are very worthy Men, whohaving been call'd by God, when and where this Witchcraft first appearedupon the Stage to encounter it, are earnestly desirous to have it siftedunto the bottom of it. And I pray, which of us all that should liveunder the continual Impressions of the Tortures, Outcries, and Havockswhich Devils confessedly Commissioned by Witches make among theirdistressed 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 (ofDuty to God) prevailed above other Considerations with them, they wouldnot for all they are worth in the World have medled in this Thornybusiness. Have there been any disputed Methods used in discovering theWorks of Darkness? It may be none but what have had great Presedents inother parts of the World; which may, though not altogether justifie, yetmuch alleviate a Mistake in us if there should happen to be found anysuch mistake in so dark a Matter. They have done what they have done, withmultiplied Addresses to God for his Guidance, and have not beeninsensible how much they have exposed themselves in what they have done. Yea, they would gladly contrive and receive an expedient, how theshedding of Blood, might be spared, by the Recovery of Witches, not gonebeyond the Reach of Pardon. And after all, they invite all good Men, inTerms to this purpose, 'Being amazed at the Number and Quality of thoseaccused of late, we do not know but Satan by his Wiles may haveenwrapped some innocent Persons; and therefore should earnestly andhumbly desire the most Critical Enquiry upon the place, to find out theFalacy; that there may be none of the Servants of the Lord, with theWorshippers of _Baal_. ' I may also add, That whereas, if once a Witch doingeniously confess among us, no more _Spectres_ do in their Shapesafter this, trouble the Vicinage; if any guilty Creatures willaccordingly to so good purpose confess their Crime to any Minister ofGod, and get out of the Snare of the Devil, as no Minister will discoversuch a Conscientious Confession, so I believe none in the Authoritywill 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 hopeto live to blot out] there are very worthy Men, who are not a littledissatisfied at the Proceedings in the Prosecution of this Witchcraft. And why? Not because they would have any such abominable thing, defendedfrom the Strokes of Impartial Justice. No, those Reverend Persons whogave in this Advice unto the Honourable Council; 'That Presumptions, whereupon Persons may be Committed, and much more Convictions, whereuponPersons may be Condemned, as guilty of Witchcrafts, ought certainly tobe more considerable, than barely the Accused Persons being representedby a _Spectre_ unto the Afflicted; Nor are Alterations made in theSufferers, by a Look or Touch of the Accused, to be esteemed aninfallible Evidence of Guilt; but frequently liable to be abused by theDevils Legerdemains': I say, those very Men of God most conscientiouslySubjoined this Article to that Advice, --'Nevertheless we cannot buthumbly recommend unto the Government, the speedy and vigorousProsecution of such as have rendred themselves Obnoxious; according tothe best Directions given in the Laws of God, and the wholsome Statutesof the _English_ Nation for the Detection of Witchcraft. ' Only 'tis amost commendable Cautiousness, in those gracious Men, to be very shyelest the Devil get so far into our Faith, as that for the sake of manyTruths 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 wouldsoon ensue, besides a thousand other pernicious Consequences? and lestthere should be any such Principles taken up, as when put into Practicemust unavoidably cause the _Righteous to perish with the Wicked_; orprocure the Bloodshed of any Persons, like the _Gibeonites_, whom somelearned 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; butthey would fain have them to be sure ones; nor is it from any thing, butthe real and hearty goodness of such Men, that they are loth to surmiseill 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 ofthem, That such of them as I have the Honour of a Personal Acquaintancewith, are Men of an excellent Spirit; and as at first they went aboutthe work for which they were Commission'd, with a very great aversion, so they have still been under Heart-breaking Sollicitudes, how theymight therein best serve both God and Man? In fine, Have there beenfaults on any side fallen into? Surely, they have at worst been but thefaults of a well-meaning Ignorance. On every side then, why should notwe endeavour with amicable Correspondencies, to help one another out ofthe Snares wherein the Devil would involve us? To wrangle the Devil outof the Country, will be truly a New Experiment: Alas! we are not awareof the Devil, if we do not think, that he aims at inflaming us oneagainst another; and shall we suffer our selves to be Devil-ridden? orby any unadvisableness contribute unto the Widening of our Breaches?

To say no more, there is a published and credible Relation; whichaffirms, That very lately in a part of _England_, where some of theNeighbourhood were quarrelling, a _Raven_ from the Top of a Tree veryarticulately and unaccountably cry'd out, _Read the Third of Colossiansand the Fifteenth!_ Were I my self to chuse what sort of Bird I would betransformed into, I would say, _O that I had wings like a Dove!_Nevertheless, I will for once do the Office, which as it seems, Heavensent that Raven upon; even to beg, _That the Peace of God may Rule inour Hearts. _

§ VI. 'Tis necessary that we unite in every thing: but there areespecially two Things wherein our Union must carry us along together. Weare to unite in our Endeavours to deliver our distressed Neighbours, from the horrible Annoyances and Molestations with which a dreadfulWitchcraft is now persecuting of them. To have an hand in any thing, that may stifle or obstruct a Regular Detection of that Witchcraft, iswhat we may well with an holy fear avoid. Their Majesties good Subjectsmust not every day be torn to pieces by horrid Witches, and those bloodyFelons, be left wholly unprosecuted. The Witchcraft is a business thatwill not be sham'd, without plunging us into sore Plagues, and of longcontinuance. But then we are to unite in such Methods for thisdeliverance, as may be unquestionably safe, lest _the latter end beworse than the beginning_. And here, what shall I say? I will venture tosay thus much, That we are safe, when we make just as much use of allAdvice from the invisible World, as God sends it for. It is a safePrinciple, That when God Almighty permits any Spirits from the unseenRegions, to visit us with surprizing Informations, there is thensomething 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 thisPrinciple. When there has been a Murder committed, an Apparition of theslain Party accusing of any Man, altho' such Apparitions have oftnerspoke true than false, is not enough to Convict the Man as guilty ofthat Murder; but yet it is a sufficient occasion for Magistrates to makea particular Enquiry, whether such a Man have afforded any ground forsuch an Accusation. Even so a Spectre exactly resembling such or such aPerson, when the Neighbourhood are tormented by such Spectres, mayreasonably make Magistrates inquisitive whether the Person sorepresented have done or said any thing that may argue their confederacywith Evil Spirits, altho' it may be defective enough in point ofConviction; especially at a time, when 'tis possible, some over-powerfulConjurer may have got the skill of thus exhibiting the Shapes of allsorts of Persons, on purpose to stop the Prosecution of the Wretches, whom due Enquiries thus provoked, might have made obnoxious untoJustice. 

_Quære_, Whether if God would have us to proceed any further than bare_Enquiry_, upon what Reports there may come against any Man, from theWorld of _Spirits_, he will not by his Providence at the same time havebrought into our hands, these more evident and sensible things, whereupon a man is to be esteemed a Criminal. But I will venture to saythis further, that it will be safe to account the Names as well as theLives of our Neighbors; two considerable things to be brought under aJudicial Process, until it be found by Humane Observations that thePeace of Mankind is thereby disturbed. We are Humane Creatures, and weare safe while we say, they must be Humane Witnesses, who also have inthe particular Act of Seeing, or Hearing, which enables them to beWitnesses, had no more than Humane Assistances, that are to turn theScale when Laws are to be executed. And upon this Head I will furtheradd: A wise and a just Magistrate, may so far give way to a commonStream of Dissatisfaction, as to forbear acting up to the heighth of hisown Perswasion, about what may be judged convictive of a Crime, whoseNature 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 undonesomething 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 safeRules, for the finding out of the Witches, which are at this day ouraccursed Troublers: but this were a Venture too _Presumptuous_ and_Icarian_ for me to make; I leave that unto those Excellent andJudicious Persons, with whom I am not worthy to be numbred: All that Ishall do, shall be to lay before my Readers, a brief _Synopsis_ of whathas been written on that Subject, by a Triumvirate of as Eminent Personsas 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 andconjecturally 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+, thisyields a strong Suspition. Yet the Judge ought carefully to look, thatthe Report be made by +Men+ of Honesty and Credit. _

III. _If a +Fellow-Witch+, or +Magician+, give Testimony of any Personto be a +Witch+; this indeed is not sufficient for Condemnation; but itis 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 Cursingand Banning: This also is a sufficient matter of Examination, tho' notof Conviction. _

V. _If after Enmity, Quarrelling, or Threatning, a present mischief doesfollow; that also is a great Presumption. _

VI. _If the Party suspected be the Son or Daughter, the man-servant ormaid-servant, the Familiar Friend, near Neighbor, or old Companion, of aknown and convicted Witch; this may be likewise a Presumption; forWitchcraft is an Art that may be learned, and conveyed from man toman. _

VII. _Some add this for a Presumption: If the Party suspected be foundto have the Devil's mark; for it is commonly thought, when the Devilmakes his Covenant with them, he alwaies leaves his mark behind them, whereby he knows them for his own:--a mark whereof no evident Reason inNature can be given. _

VIII. _Lastly, If the party examined be Unconstant, or contrary tohimself, in his deliberate Answers, it argueth a Guilty Conscience, which stops the freedom of Utterance. And yet there are causes ofAstonishment, which may befal the Good, as well as the Bad. _

IX. _But then there is a +Conviction+, discovering the +Witch+, whichmust proceed from just and sufficient proofs, and not from barepresumptions. _

X. _Scratching of the suspected party, and Recovery thereupon, withseveral other such weak Proofs; as also, the fleeting of the suspectedParty, thrown upon the Water; these Proofs are so far from beingsufficient, that some of them are, after a sort, practices ofWitchcraft. _

XI. _The Testimony of some Wizzard, tho' offering to shew the WitchesFace in a Glass: This, I grant, may be a good Presumption, to cause astrait Examination; but a sufficient Proof of Conviction it cannot be. If the Devil tell the Grand Jury, that the person in question is aWitch, and offers withal to confirm the same by Oath, should the Inquestreceive his Oath or Accusation to condemn the man? Assuredly no. Andyet, that is as much as the Testimony of another Wizzard, who only bythe Devil's help reveals the Witch. _

XII. _If a man, being dangerously sick, and like to dye, uponSuspicion, will take it on his Death, that such a one hath bewitchedhim, it is an Allegation of the same nature, which may move the Judge toexamine the Party, but it is of no moment for Conviction. _

XIII. _Among the sufficient means of Conviction, the first is, the freeand voluntary Confession of the Crime, made by the party suspected andaccused, after Examination. I say not, that a bare confession issufficient, but a Confession after due Examination, taken upon pregnantpresumptions. What needs now more witness or further Enquiry?_

XIV. _There is a second sufficient Conviction, by the Testimony of twoWitnesses, of good and honest Report, avouching before the Magistrate, upon their own Knowledge, these two things: either that the partyaccused hath made a League with the Devil, or hath done some knownpractice of witchcraft. And, +all Arguments that do necessarily proveeither of these+, being brought by two sufficient Witnesses, are offorce 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 Leagueformerly made between them. _

XVI. _If it can be proved, that the party hath entertained a FamiliarSpirit, and had Conference with it, in the likeness of some visibleCreatures; here is Evidence of witchcraft. _

XVII. _If the witnesses affirm upon Oath, that the suspected person hathdone 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 manto appear; it proveth sufficiently, that he or she is a +Witch+. _ This isthe Substance of Mr. _Perkins_. 

Take next the Sum of Mr. _Gaules_ Judgment about the Detection ofWitches. '1. Some Tokens for the Trial of Witches, are altogetherunwarrantable. Such are the old Paganish Sign, the Witches _Long Eyes_;the Tradition of Witches not weeping; the casting of the Witch into theWater, 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, butthe 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 arestrong and long Suspicion: Suspected Ancestors, some appearance of Fact, the Corps bleeding upon the Witches touch, the Testimony of the Partybewitched, the supposed Witches unusual Bodily marks, the Witches usualCursing and Banning, the Witches lewd and naughty kind of Life. 3. SomeSigns there are of a Witch, more certain and infallible. As, _firstly_, Declining of Judicature, or faultering, faulty, unconstant, and contraryAnswers, upon judicial and deliberate examination. _Secondly_, When upondue 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 compactcompleating all. _Thirdly_, The Witches free Confession, together withfull Evidence of the Fact. _Confession_ without _Fact_ may be a meerDelusion, and _Fact_ without _Confession_ may be a meer Accident. _4thly_, The semblable Gestures and Actions of suspected Witches, withthe comparable Expressions of Affections, which in all Witches have beenobserv'd and found very much alike. _Fifthly_, The Testimony of theParty bewitched, whether pining or dying, together with the joynt Oathsof sufficient persons, that have seen certain prodigious Pranks orFeats, wrought by the Party accused. 4. Among the most unhappycircumstances to convict a Witch, one is, a maligning and oppugning theWord, Work, and Worship of God, and by any extraordinary sign seeking toseduce 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 arrantand absolute Witches. 5. It is not requisite, that so _palpable Evidenceof 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 ofIniquity will well admit. [_I suppose he means, that whereas in otherCrimes we look for more direct proofs, in this there is a greater use ofconsequential ones. _] But I could heartily wish, that the Juries wereempanell'd of the most eminent Physicians, Lawyers, and Divines that aCountry could afford. In the mean time 'tis not to be called aToleration, if Witches escape, where Conviction is wanting. ' To thispurpose 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 hehas mention'd several things that are shrewd Presumptions of a Witch, proceeds to such things as are the _Convictions_ of such an one. And hesays, '_A witch in league with the +Devil+ is convicted by theseEvidences;_ I. By a witches _Mark_; which is upon the Baser sort ofWitches; 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_; sometimesa _Red_ one; and sometimes the _flesh Sunk_: but the Witches dosometimes cover them. II. By the Witches _Words_. As when they have beenheard calling on, speaking to, or Talking of their _Familiars_; or, whenthey 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 havebeen heard Relating their _Transportations_. III. By the Witches_Deeds_. As when they have been _seen_ with their Spirits, or seensecretly Feeding any of their _Imps_. Or, when there can be found theirPictures, Poppets, and other Hellish Compositions. IV. By the Witches_Extasies_: With the Delight whereof, Witches are so taken, that theywill hardly conceal the same: Or, however at some time or other, theymay be found in them. V. By one or more _Fellow-Witches_, Confessingtheir own Witchcraft, and bearing Witness against others; if they canmake good the Truth of their Witness, and give sufficient proof of it. As, that they have seen them with their Spirits or, that they haveReceived Spirits from them; or that they can tell, when they usedWitchery-Tricks to Do Harm; or, that they told them what Harm they haddone; or that they can show the mark upon them; or, that they have beentogether 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 theWitches own _Confession_, of Giving their Souls to the Devil. It is noRare thing, for Witches to Confess. '

They are Considerable Things, which I have thus Recited; and yet it mustbe with _Open Eyes_, kept upon _Open Rules_, that we are to follow thesethings, _S. _ 8. But _Juries_ are not the only Instruments to be imploy'd in sucha Work; all _Christians_ are to be concerned with daily and fervent_Prayers_, for the assisting of it. In the Days of _Athanasius_, theDevils were found unable to stand before, that Prayer, however then usedperhaps with too much of Ceremony, _Let God Arise, Let his Enemies beScattered. Let them also that Hate Him, flee before Him. _

O that instead of letting our Hearts _Rise_ against one another, ourPrayers 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 Lordthrice_, even as much as ever they can, before they complain of anyNeighbour 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 _Watersof Jealousie_ made profitable to them. 

And Now, _O Thou Hope of +New-England+, and the Saviour thereof in theTime of Trouble; Do thou look mercifully down upon us, & Rescue us, outof the Trouble which at this time do's threaten to swallow us up. LetSatan be shortly bruised under our Feet, and Let the Covenanted Vassalsof Satan, which have Traiterously brought him in upon us, be GloriouslyConquered, 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 thesake of thy Glory. Enwrapped in our Salvations. By thy Spirit, Lift up astandard against our infernal adversaries, Let us quickly find theemaking 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 uponus; and among the rest, Let these my poor and weak essays, composed withwhat Tears, what Cares, what Prayers, thou +only+ knowest, not want theAcceptance 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 theIntimation, that, _The Devil is come down having great Wrath;_ but ithas also a _bright side_, when it assures us, that, _He has but a shorttime;_ Unto the Contemplation of _both_, I do this Day Invite you. 

We have in our Hands a Letter from our Ascended Lord in Heaven, toAdvise us of his being still alive, and of his Purpose e're long, togive us a Visit, wherein we shall see our Living _Redeemer_, _stand atthe latter day upon the Earth_. 'Tis the last Advice that we have hadfrom Heaven, for now sixteen Hundred years; and the scope of it, is, torepresent how the Lord Jesus Christ having begun to set up his Kingdomin the World, by the preaching of the Gospel, he would from time to timeutterly 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 aCommentary on what had been written by _Daniel_, about, _The fourthMonarchy_; with some Touches upon, _The Fifth_; wherein, _The greatnessof the Kingdom under the whole Heaven, shall be given to the people ofthe Saints of the most High:_ And altho' it have, as 'tis expressed byone of the Ancients, _Tot Sacramenta quot verba_, a Mystery in everySyllable, 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 thathumbly study it. 

The Divine Oracles, have with a most admirable Artifice and Carefulness, drawn, as the very pious _Beverley_, has laboriously Evinced, an exactLINE OF TIME, from the first Sabbath at the _Creation_ of the World, unto the great Sabbatism at the _Restitution_ of all Things. In thatfamous _Line of Time_, from the Decree for the Restoring of _Jerusalem_, after the _Babylonish_ Captivity, there seem to remain a matter of _TwoThousand and Three Hundred Years_, unto that _New Jerusalem_, wheretothe Church is to be advanced, when the Mystical _Babylon_ shall be_fallen_. At the Resurrection of our Lord, there were seventeen oreighteen Hundred of those Years, yet upon the Line, to run unto, _Therest which remains for the People of God_; and this Remnant in the _Lineof Time_, is here in our _Apocalypse_, variously Embossed, Adorned, andSignalized with such Distinguishing Events, if we mind them, will helpus 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_ waswritten both on the _Backside_, and on the _Inside_, and Roll'd up in aCylindriacal Form, under seven _Labels_, fastned with so many _Seals_. The first _Seal_ being opened, and the first _Label_ removed, under thefirst _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 theSculptures being enlarged with agreeable _Visions_ and _Voices_, toillustrate it. The Book being now Unrolled, there were _Trumpets_, withwonderful Concomitants, Exhibited successively on the Expanding_Backside_ of it. Whereupon the Book was _Eaten_, as it were to beHidden, from Interpretations; till afterwards, in the _Inside_ of it, the Kingdom of Anti-christ came to be Exposed. Thus, the Judgments ofGod on the _Roman Empire_, first unto the Downfal of _Paganism_, andthen, unto the Downfal of _Popery_, which is but Revived _Paganism_, arein these Displayes, with Lively Colours and Features made sensible untous. 

Accordingly, in the Twelfth Chapter of this Book, we have an AugustPreface, to the Description of that Horrid _Kingdom_, which our LordChrist refused, but Antichrist accepted, from the Devils Hands; aKingdom, which for _Twelve Hundred and Sixty_ Years together, was to bea continual oppression upon the People of God, and opposition unto hisInterests; until the Arrival of that Illustrious Day, wherein, _TheKingdom shall be the Lords, and he shall be Governour among theNations. _ The Chapter is (as an Excellent Person calls it) an_Extravasated Account_ of the Circumstances, which befell the _PrimitiveChurch_, during the first Four or Five Hundred Years of Christianity: Itshows 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 GloriousRevolution that ever yet happened upon the Roman Empire; namely, Thatwherein the Travailing Church brought forth a Christian Emperour. Thiswas a most Eminent _Victory_ over the Devil, and _Resemblance_ of theState, 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 yethat dwell in them. _ The Saints in both Worlds, took the Comfort of thisRevolution; 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 giveLaw unto the rest of Mankind; the Deceased Ones also, whose Blood hadbeen Sacrificed in the Ten Persecutions, doubtless made the LightRegions to ring with _Hallelujahs_ unto God, when there were broughtunto 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 ofthe Earth and of the Sea. _ The _Earth_ still means the _False Church_, the _Sea_ means the _Wide World_, in Prophetical Phrasæology. There wasyet left a vast party of Men that were Enemies to the ChristianReligion, in the power of it; a vast party left for the Devil to workupon: Unto these is a _Wo_ denounced; and why so? 'Tis added, _For theDevil is come down unto you, having great Wrath, because he knows, thathe has but a short time. _ These were, it seems, to have some desperateand peculiar Attempts of the Devil made upon them. In the mean time, wemay Entertain this for our Doctrine, _Great Wo proceeds from the Great WRATH, with which the DEVIL, towardsthe 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 atthis day; which has four _Propositions_, comprehended in it. 

_Proposition I. _ That there is a _Devil_, is a thing Doubted by none butsuch as are under the Influences of the _Devil_. For any to deny theBeing of a _Devil_ must be from an Ignorance or Profaneness, worse than_Diabolical_. _A Devil. _ What is _that_? We have a Definition of theMonster, in _Eph. 6. 12. _ _A Spiritual Wickedness_, that is, _A wickedSpirit_. A Devil is a _Fallen Angel_, an Angel _Fallen_ from the Fearand Love of God, and from all Celestial Glories; but _Fallen_ to allmanner of Wretchedness and Cursedness. He was once in that Order ofHeavenly Creatures, which God in the Beginning made _MinisteringSpirits_, for his own peculiar Service and Honour, in the management ofthe Universe; but we may now write that Epitaph upon him, _How art thoufallen from Heaven! thou hast said in thine Heart, I will Exalt myThrone above the Stars of God; but thou art brought down to Hell!_ ADevil is a _Spiritual_ and _Rational_ Substance, by his _Apostacy_ fromGod, inclined unto all that is Vicious, and for that _Apostacy_ confinedunto the Atmosphere of this Earth, _in Chains under Darkness, unto theJudgment of the Great Day_. This is a _Devil_; and the _Experience_ ofMankind as well as the _Testimony_ of Scripture, does abundantly provethe Existence of such a Devil. 

About this _Devil_, there are many things, whereof we may reasonably andprofitably be Inquisitive; such things, I mean, as are in our BiblesReveal'd unto us; according to which if we do not speak, on so _dark_ aSubject, but according to our own uncertain, and perhaps humoursomeConjectures, _There is no Light in us. _ I will carry you with me, butunto one Paragraph of the Bible, to be informed of three Things, relating to the _Devil_; 'tis the Story of the _Gadaren Energumen_, inthe fifth Chapter of _Mark_. 

First, then, 'Tis to be granted; the _Devils_ are so many, that someThousands, can sometimes at once apply themselves to vex one Child ofMan. 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 TwelveThousand 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, _Thereare multitudes, multitudes, in the valley of Destruction, where theDevils 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 _Frogsof 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 intothe 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 verilyperswaded, That there are very few Humane Affairs whereinto some Devilsare 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, evenMilitary _Government_, among the _Devils_. This is intimated, when in_Mar. 5. 9. _ _The unclean Spirit said, My Name is Legion:_ they are sucha Discipline as _Legions_ use to be. Hence we read about, _The Princeof the power of the Air_: Our _Air_ has a _power_? or an Army of Devilsin 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 firstshook off the Authority of God, is now the General of those HellishArmies; 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 _FrenchDragoons_, with an _Intendant_ over them, overrunning a pillagedNeighbourhood, and you will think a little, what the Constitution amongthe _Devils_ is. 

Thirdly, 'tis to be supposed, that some _Devils_ are more peculiarly_Commission'd_, and perhaps _Qualify'd_, for some Countries, whileothers 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 theCountrey_. Why was that? But in all probability, because _these Devils_were more able to _do the works of the Devil_, in such a Countrey, thanin 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 allDevils 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 thatof _Mascon_, or those that once infested our _New berry_, are of so muchGrandeur, as those _Dæmons_, whose Games are mighty Kingdoms? Yea, 'tiscertain, that all Devils do not make a like Figure in the _InvisibleWorld_. Nor does it look agreeably, That the _Dæmons_, which were theFamiliars of such a Man as the old _Apollonius_, differ not from thosebaser Goblins that chuse to Nest in the filthy and loathsom Rags of abeastly Sorceress. Accordingly, why may not some Devils be moreaccomplished for what is to be done in such and such places, when othersmust be _detach'd_ for other Territories? Each Devil, as he sees hisadvantage, 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_, withwhich the _Devil_ is for _God's sake_ Inspired. The Devil is himselfbroiling under the intollerable and interminable _Wrath_ of God; and afiery _Wrath_ at God, is, that which the Devil is for that causeEnflamed. Methinks I see the posture of the Devils in _Isa. 8. 21. _ _Theyfret themselves, and Curse their God, and look upward. _ The first andchief _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 thatformed 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, thathe cannot bear the _Name_ of God should be acknowledged in the World:Every Acknowledgement paid unto _God_, is a fresh drop of the burningBrimstone falling upon the Devil; he does make his Insolent, thoImpotent Batteries, even upon the _Throne_ of God himself: and foolishlyaffects to have himself exalted unto that _Glorious High Throne_, byall people, as he sometimes is, by Execrable _Witches_. This horribleDragon does not only with his Tayl strike at the _Stars of God_, but atthe God himself, who made the _Stars_, being desirous to out-shine themall. God and the Devil are sworn Enemies to each other; the Termsbetween them, are those, in _Zech. 11. 18. _ _My Soul loathed them, andtheir Soul also abhorred me. _ And from this Furious _wrath_, orDispleasure and Prejudice at God, proceeds the Devils _wrath_ at us, thepoor Children of Men. Our doing the _Service_ of God, is one thing thatexposes us to the _wrath_ of the Devil. We are the _High Priests_ of theWorld; when all Creatures are called upon, _Praise ye the Lord_, theybring to us those demanded _Praises_ of God, saying, _do you offer themfor us. _ Hence 'tis, that the Devil has a Quarrel with us, as he hadwith the _High-Priest_ in the Vision of Old. Our bearing the Image ofGod 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 itcome 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 pullthis man to pieces_. But the envious _Pride_ of the Devil, is one thingmore that gives an Edge unto his Furious _Wrath_ against us. The Apostlehas given us an hint, as if _Pride_ had been the _Condemnation of theDevil_. 'Tis not unlikely, that the Devil's _Affectation_ to be abovethat Condition which he might learn that Mankind was to be preferr'dunto, might be the occasion of his taking up Arms against the _ImmortalKing_. However, the Devil now sees _Man_ lying in the Bosom of God, but_himself_ damned in the bottom of Hell; and this enrages himexceedingly; _O_, says he, _I cannot bear it, that man should not be asmiserable as my self. _

_Proposition III. _ The _Devil_, in the prosecution, and the execution ofhis _wrath_ upon them, often gets a _Liberty_ to make a _Descent_ uponthe 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 Airdoes not fall down without the will of God;_ so I may say, _Not a Devilin the Air, can come down without the leave of God. _ Of this we have afamous Instance in that Arabian Prince, of whom the Devil was not ableso much as to _Touch_ any thing, till the most high God gave him apermission, to _go down_. The Devil stands with all the Instruments ofdeath, aiming at us, and begging of the Lord, as that King ask'd for theHood-wink'd _Syrians_ of old, _Shall I smite 'em, shall I smite 'em?_ Hecannot strike a blow, till the Lord say, _Go down and smite_, butsometimes he _does_ obtain from the _high possessor of Heaven andEarth_, a License for the doing of it. The Devil sometimes does makemost rueful Havock among us; but still we may say to him, as our Lordsaid unto a great Servant of his, _Thou couldest have no power againstme, except it were given thee from above. _ The Devil is called in _1Pet. 5. 8. _ _Your Adversary_. This is a Law-term; and it notes _AnAdversary at Law_. The Devil cannot come at us, except in some senceaccording to _Law_; but sometimes he does procure sad things to beinflicted, according to the _Law_ of the eternal King upon us. The Devilfirst _goes up_ as an _Accuser_ against us. He is therefore styled _TheAccuser_; and it is on this account, that his proper Name does belongunto him. There is a Court somewhere kept; a Court of Spirits, where theDevil enters all sorts of Complaints against us all; he charges us withmanifold _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; theDevil, then, with a Concession of God, _comes down_, as a _destroyer_upon us. Having first been an _Attorney_, to bespeak that the Judgmentsof 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 aftera sort, signs a Warrant, for this _destroying Angel_, to do what hasbeen _desired_ to be done for the _destroying of men_. But such a_permission_ from God, for the Devil to _come down_, and _break in_ uponmankind, oftentimes must be accompany'd with a _Commission_ from somewretches 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 ofthe Devil, by mutual and cordial Wishes of prosperity to one another. When ungodly people give their _Consents_ in _witchcrafts_ diabolicallyperformed, for the Devil to annoy their Neighbours, he finds a breachmade in the Hedge about us, whereat he Rushes in upon us, with grievousmolestations. Yea, when the impious people, that never saw the Devil, dobut utter their _Curses_ against their Neighbours, those are so many_watch words_, whereby the Mastives of Hell are animated presently tofall upon us. 'Tis thus, that the Devil gets _leave_ to worry us. 

_Proposition IV. _ Most horrible _woes_ come to be inflicted uponMankind, when the _Devil_ does in _great wrath_, make a _descent_ uponthem. The _Devil_ is a _Do-Evil_, and wholly set upon mischief. When ourLord 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. Ifupon the sounding of the Three last _Apocalyptical Angels_, it was anoutcry made in Heaven, _Wo, wo, wo, to the inhabitants of the Earth byreason of the voice of the Trumpet. _ I am sure, a _descent_ made by theAngel of _death_, would give cause for the like Exclamation: _Wo to theworld, by reason of the wrath of the Devil!_ what a _woful_ plight, mankind would by the descent of the Devil be brought into, may begathered from the _woful_ pains, and wounds, and hideous desolationswhich the Devil brings upon them, with whom he has with a _bodilyPossession_ made a Seisure. You may both in Sacred and Profane History, read many a direful Account of the _woes_, which they that are possessedby the Devil, do undergo: And from thence conclude, _What must theChildren of Men hope from such a Devil!_ Moreover, the _TyrannicalCeremonies_, whereto the Devil uses to subjugate such _Woful_ Nations orOrders of Men, as are more Entirely under his Dominion, do declare what_woful_ Work the Devil would make where he comes. The very Devotions ofthose forlorn _Pagans_, to whom the Devil is a Leader, are most bloody_Penances_; and what _Woes_ indeed must we expect from such a Devil ofa _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 Devilkeeps the Slaves, that are under his more sensible Vassalage, do suggestunto us, how _woful_ the Devil would render all our Lives. We that livein a Province, which affords unto us all that may be necessary orcomfortable for us, found the Province fill'd with vast Herds ofSalvages, 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 theDevil have the World provided for. Nor should we, or any else, have oneconvenient 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_ aswould _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 theknowledg 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 OldMan, 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 doesannoy us with all manner of _Wo_, as often as he finds himself capableof doing it. But shall we mention some of the _special woes_ with whichthe Devil does usually infest the World! Briefly then; _Plagues_ aresome 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 _theDevil_, that scatters _Plagues_ about the World. Pestilential andContagious Diseases, 'tis the Devil who does oftentimes invade us withthem. '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 andPutrefaction, 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 raisedthose _Arsenical Fumes_, which become _Venemous Quivers_ full of_Terrible Arrows_, how easily can he shoot the deleterious _Miasms_ intothose Juices or Bowels of Mens Bodies, which will soon Enflame them witha Mortal Fire! Hence come such _Plagues_, as that _Beesom ofDestruction_, which within our memory swept away such a Throng of Peoplefrom one _English_ City in one Visitation; And hence those InfectiousFevers, which are but so many _Disguised Plagues_ among us, causingEpidemical 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 truthscarce any _War_, but what is of the _Dragon's_ kindling. The Devil isthat _Vulcan_, out of whose Forge come the instruments of our _Wars_, and it is he that finds us Employments for those Instruments. We readconcerning _Dæmoniacks_, or People in whom the Devil was, that theywould cut and wound themselves; and so, when the Devil is in Men, heputs 'em upon dealing in that barbarous fashion with one another. _Wars_do often furnish him with some Thousands of Souls in one Morning fromone Acre of Ground; and for the sake of such _Thyestæan_ Banquets, hewill push us upon as many _Wars_ as he can. 

Once more, why may not _Storms_ be reckoned among those _Woes_, withwhich the Devil does disturb us? It is not improbable that _NaturalStorms_ 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 theHouse 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 _SaltPetre_ not throughly prepared, be mixed, they will send up a cloud ofSmoke, 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, thatThunders are observed oftner to break upon _Churches_ than upon anyother _Buildings_; and besides many a Man, yea many a Ship, yea, many aTown has miscarried, when the Devil has been permitted from above tomake an horrible Tempest. However that the Devil has raised many_Metaphorical Storms_ upon the Church, is a thing, than which there isnothing more notorious. It was said unto Believers in _Rev. 2. 10. _ _TheDevil shall cast some of you into Prison. _ The Devil was he that atfirst set _Cain upon Abel_ to butcher him, as the Apostle seems tosuggest, for his Faith in God, as a _Rewarder_. And in how many_Persecutions_, as well as _Heresies_ has the Devil been ever sinceEngaging all the Children of _Cain_! That Serpent the Devil has actedhis cursed Seed in unwearied endeavours to have them, _Of whom the Worldis not worthy_, treated as those who are _not worthy to live in theWorld_. By the impulse of the Devil, 'tis that first the old _Heathens_, and then the mad _Arians_ were _pricking Briars_ to the true Servants ofGod; and that the _Papists_ that came after them, have out done them allfor Slaughters, upon those that have been _accounted as the Sheep forthe Slaughters_. The late _French_ Persecution is perhaps the horriblestthat ever was in the World: And as the Devil of _Mascon_ seems before tohave meant it in his out-cries upon _the Miseries preparing for the poorHugonots_! Thus it has been all acted by a singular Fury of the oldDragon inspiring of his Emissaries. 

But in reality, _Spiritual Woes_ are the _principal Woes_ among allthose that the Devil would have us undone withal. _Sins_ are the worstof _Woes_, and the Devil seeks nothing so much as to plunge us intoSins. When men do commit a Crime for which they are to be Indicted, theyare 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 theProphets?_ Even so the Devil becomes an _Unclean Spirit_, _a DrinkingSpirit_, _a Swearing Spirit_, _a Worldly Spirit_, _a Passionate Spirit_, _a Revengeful Spirit_, and the like in the Hearts of those that arealready too much of such a Spirit; and thus they become improv'd inSinfulness. Yea, the Devil will put _good men upon doing ill_. Thus weread in _1 Chron. 21. 1. _ _Satan provoked David to number Israel. _ And sothe _Devil provokes_ men that are Eminent in Holiness unto such thingsas may become eminently Pernicious; he _provokes_ them especially unto_Pride_, and unto many unsuitable Emulations. There are likewise mostlamentable Impressions which the _Devil_ makes upon the _Souls of Men_by way of punishment upon them for their _Sins_. 'Tis thus when anOffended 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 Miseryof Unbelievers in _2 Cor. 4. 4. _ _The god of this World has blinded theirminds. _ 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 thethings of their peace. _ And _the Devil so hardens them, that nothingwill 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 fetchtfrom his Hell does _cauterise_ them. Thus 'tis, till perhaps at lastthey come to have a _Wounded Conscience_ in them, and the Devil hasoften a share in their Torturing and confounding Anguishes. The _Devil_who Terrified _Cain_, and _Saul_, and _Judas_ into Desperation, stillbecomes a _King of Terrors_ to many Sinners, and frights them fromlaying hold on the Mercy of God in the Lord Jesus Christ. In theseregards, _Wo to us, when the Devil comes down upon us. _

_Proposition V. _ Toward the _End_ of his _Time_ the _Descent_ of theDevil in _Wrath_ upon the World will produce more _woful Effects_, thanwhat have been _in former Ages_. The dying Dragon, will bite morecruelly and sting more bloodily than ever he did before: The Death-pangsof the Devil will make him to be more of a _Devil_ than ever he was; andthe 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 andstated by God for the Devil to enjoy a dominion over our sinful andtherefore woful World. The _Devil_ once exclaimed in _Mat. 8. 29. __Jesus, thou Son of God, art thou come hither to Torment us before ourTime?_ 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 haveExpired at his first. The _Devil_ is _by the wrath of God the Prince ofthis World_; and the time of his Reign is to continue until the timewhen 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 loudThunders against him, _Thy time shall now be no more!_ Then shall the_Devil_ with his Angels receive their doom, which will be, _depart intothe everlasting Fire prepared for you. _

We are also to apprehend, that in the _mean time_, the Devil can give ashrewd guess, when he draws near to the _End of his Time_. When he sawChristianity 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 tohave _the Everlasting Dominion_; and that when God has once begun torescue the World out of his hands, he'll go through with it, until _theCaptives of the mighty shall be taken away and the prey of the terribleshall be delivered. _ But the Devil will have _Scripture_ also, to makehim _know_, that when his Antichristian _Vicar_, the _seven-headedBeast_ on the _seven-hilled_ City, shall have spent his determinedyears, he with his _Vicar_ must unavoidably go down into the _bottomlessPit_. 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 moreuncertainty conjecture, from a certain place in the Epistle to the_Ephesians_, That the Angels do sometimes come into our Churches, togain some advantage from our Ministry. But be sure our _DemonstrableInterpretations_ may give Repeated Notices to the Devil, _That his timeis almost out;_ and what the Preacher says unto the _Young Man_, _Knowthou, that God will bring thee into Judgment!_ THAT may our Sermons tellunto 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_ yetfrom the foundation of the World. Hence 'tis, that the Apostle hasforewarned us, in _2 Tim. 3. 1. _ _this know, that in the last days, perillous times shall come. _ Truly, when the Devil _knows_, that he isgot into his _Last days_, he will make _perillous times_ for us; thetimes will grow more full of _Devils_, and therefore more full of_Perils_, than ever they were before. Of this, if we would _know_, whatcause 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 everheretofore. The _Sins_ of men in this Generation, will be more _mightySins_, than those of the former Ages; men will be more Accurate andExquisite and Refined in the arts of _Sinning_, than they use to be. Andbesides, their own sins, the sins of all the former Ages will also lieupon the sinners of this generation. Do we ask why the _mischievouspowers of darkness_ are to prevail more in our days, than they did inthose that are past and gone! 'Tis because that men by sinning overagain the sins of the former days, have a _Fellowship with all thoseunfruitful works of darkness_. As 'twas said in _Matth. 23. 36. _ _Allthese things shall come upon this generation;_ so, the men of the lastGeneration, will find themselves involved in the gulf of all that wentbefore them. Of Sinners 'tis said, _They heap up wrath;_ and the sinnersof the Last Generations do not only add unto the _heap_ of sin that hasbeen pileing up ever since the Fall of man, but they Interest themselvesin every sin of that enormous heap. There has been a _Cry_ of all formerages going up to God, _That the Devil may come down!_ and the sinners ofthe Last Generations, do sharpen and louden that _cry_, till the thingdo come to pass, as Destructively as Irremediably. From whence itfollows, that the Thrice Holy God, with his Holy Angels, will now aftera sort more _abandon_ the World, than in the former ages. The roaringImpieties of _the old World_, at last gave mankind such a distast in theHeart of the Just God, that he came to say, _It Repents me that I havemade such a Creature!_ And however, it may be but a witty Fancy, in alate Learned Writer, that the _Earth_ before the Flood was nearer to theSun, than it is at this Day; and that Gods Hurling down the _Earth_ to afurther distance from the _Sun_, were the cause of that Flood; yet wemay fitly enough say, that men perished by a _Rejection_ from the God ofHeaven. Thus the enhanc'd Impieties of this _our World_, will Exasperatethe Displeasure of God, at such a rate, as that he will more _cast usoff_, than heretofore; until at last, he do with a more than ordinaryIndignation say, _Go Devils; do you take them, and make them beyond allformer 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 wereforetold by the _Trumpets_ and _Vials_ in the Apocalyptick Schemes ofthese things, to come upon the World, were the _woes_ to come from the_wrath_ of the Devil, upon the _shortning_ of his _Time_. The horrendousdesolations that have come upon mankind, by the Irruptions of the old_Barbarians_ upon the _Roman_ World, and then of the _Saracens_, andsince, 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_ Worldby Millions together unto the Shambles; were also such _woes_ as hadnever yet had a Parallel. And yet these were some of the things hereintended, when it was said, _Wo! For the Devil is come down in greatWrath, 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 areespecially two most extraordinary _Woes_, one would fear, will in thesedays become very ordinary. One _Woe_ that may be look'd for is, Afrequent Repetition of _Earthquakes_, and this perhaps by the energy ofthe Devil in the _Earth_. The Devil will be clap't up, as a Prisoner inor near the Bowels of the earth, when once that _Conflagration_ shall bedispatched, which will make, _The New Earth wherein shall dwellRighteousness;_ and that _Conflagration_ will doubtless be muchpromoted, by the Subterraneous _Fires_, which are a cause of the_Earthquakes_ in our Dayes. Accordingly, we read, _Great Earthquakes indivers places_, enumerated among the Tokens of the _Time_ approaching, when the Devil shall have no longer _Time_. I suspect, That we shall nowbe visited with more Usual and yet more Fatal _Earthquakes_, than wereour Ancestors; in asmuch as the _Fires_ that are shortly to _Burn untothe Lowest Hell, and set on Fire the Foundations of the Mountains_, willnow get more Head than they use to do; and it is not impossible, thatthe Devil, who is ere long to be punished in those _Fires_, mayaforehand augment his Desert of it, by having an hand in using some ofthose _Fires_, for our Detriment. Learned Men have made no scruple tocharge the Devil with it; _Deo permittente, Terræ motus causat. _ TheDevil surely, was a party in the _Earthquake_, whereby the Vengeance ofGod, in one black Night sunk Twelve considerable Cities of _Asia_, inthe Reign of _Tiberious_. But there will be more such _Catastrophes_ inour Dayes; _Italy_ has lately been _Shaking_, till its _Earthquakes_have brought Ruines at once upon more than thirty Towns; but it willwithin a little while, _shake_ again, and _shake_ till the Fire of Godhave made an Entire _Etna_ of it. And behold, This very Morning, when Iwas intending to utter among you such Things as these, we are cast intoan _Heartquake_ by Tidings of an _Earthquake_ that has lately happenedat _Jamaica_: an horrible _Earthquake_, whereby the _Tyrus_ of theEnglish _America_, was at once pull'd into the Jaws of the Gaping andGroaning Earth, and many Hundreds of the Inhabitants buried alive. TheLord 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 arenot Ignorant, That just before our Lords _First Coming_, there were mostobservable Outrages committed by the Devil upon the Children of Men: AndI am suspicious, That there will again be an unusual Range of the Devilamong us, a little before the _Second Coming_ of our Lord, which willbe, 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_ ofthe World. The Devil is going to be Dislodged of the _Air_, where hispresent Quarters are; God will with flashes of hot _Lightning_ uponhim, cause him to _fall as Lightning_ from his Ancient Habitations: Andthe _Raised Saints_ will there have a _New Heaven_, which We _expectaccording to the Promise of God_. Now a little before this thing, you belike 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 goingto set up His Kingdom, in the most _sensible_ and _visible_ manner, thatever was, and in a manner answering _the Transfiguration_ in _theMount_, it is a Thousand to One, but _the Devil_ will in sundry _partsof the world_, assay _the like_ for Himself, with a most ApishImitation: and Men, at least in _some_ Corners of the World, and perhapsin _such_ as God may have some special Designs upon, will to their Cost, be more Familiarized _with the World of Spirits_, than they had beenformerly. 

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 tothe Nation! Wo to the City! Wo to the Temple! Wo! Wo! Wo!_ Much more maythe descent of the Devil, just before his _End_, when also _the times ofthe 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_, deducedfrom what has been thus asserted. 

_Corollary I. _

What cause have we to bless God, for our preservation from the _Devilswrath_, in this which may too reasonably be called the _Devils World_!While we are in _this present evil world_, We are continually surroundedwith swarms of those Devils, who make this _present world_, become so_evil_. What a wonder of Mercy is it, that no _Devil_ could ever yetmake a prey of us! We can set our foot no where but we shall tread inthe 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, Ishould find enough in the Best of you all, to make you all mine. _ Whatshall 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 toconfound us utterly! All our way to Heaven, lies by the _Dens of Lions_, and the _Mounts of Leopards_; there are incredible Droves of Devils inour way. But have we safely got on our way thus far? O let us bethankful 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 wrathshalt thou restrain;_ But _surely_ it becomes us to praise God, in thatwe have yet sustain'd no more Damage by the _wrath of the Devil_, and inthat he has restrain'd that Overwhelming _wrath_. We are poor, Travellers in a World, which is as well the Devils _Field_, as theDevils _Gaol_; a World in every Nook whereof, the Devil is encamped, with _Bands of Robbers_, to pester all that have their _Face lookingZion-ward_: And are we all this while preserved from the undoing Snaresof the _Devil_? it is, _Thou, O keeper of Israel, that hast hithertobeen our Keeper!_ And therefore, _Bless the Lord, O my soul, Bless hisHoly Name, who has redeemed thy Life from the Destroyer!_

_Corollary II. _

We may see the rise of those multiply'd, magnify'd, andSingularly-stinged Afflictions, with which _aged_, or _dying_ Saintsfrequently have their _Death_ Prefaced, and their _Age_ embittered. Whenthe 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 beforethey 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 ofGod;_ but a little before our _Entrance_ thereinto, our _Tribulation_may have some sharper accents of Sorrow, than ever were yet upon it. Andwhat is the cause of this? It is indeed the _Faithfulness of our Godunto 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 withless Convulsion, at his calling for us. O there are _ugly Ties_, bywhich we are fastned unto this world; but God will by _Thorns andBriars_ 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 westep into Heaven, the _Devil_ thinks with himself, _My time to abusethat Saint is now but short; what Mischief I am to do that Saint, mustbe 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 andFuries 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 ourLives, the _Serpent_ will be nibbling, more than ever in our Livesbefore: and it is, _Because now he has but a short time. _ He knows, Thatwe shall very shortly be, _Where the wicked cease from Troubling, andwhere 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 thingshere 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. Ithas been advised, _Be wise as Serpents:_ why, there is a piece of_Wisdom_, whereto that old _Serpent_, the Devil himself, may be ourMoniter. When the Devil perceives his _Time_ is but _short_, it puts himupon _Great Wrath_. But how should it be with _us_, when we perceivethat 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 makeus more full of _warmth_, more full of _watch_, and more full of _AllDiligence to make our Vocation, and Election sure_. Our _Pace_ in ourJourney _Heaven-ward_, must be Quickened, if our _space_ for thatJourney be shortned, even as _Israel_ went further the _two last_ yearsof their Journey _Canaan-ward_, than they did in 38 years before. TheApostle brings this, as a _spur_ to the Devotions of Christians, in _1Cor. 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 freedomimaginable. You have now a _Time_ to _Get_ good, even a _Time_ to makesure 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 Isay thus to _All_ People, I say to _Old_ People, with a peculiarVehemency: Sirs, It cannot be long before your _Time_ is out; there arebut a few sands left in the glass of your _Time_: And it is of allthings the saddest, for a man to say, _My Time is done, but my workundone!_ O then, _To work_ as fast as you can; and of Soul-work, andChurch-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 isgreat, 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 uponthe _wing_, and it will all be gone within a little while. I remember Ihave 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 beforehe died. Why, there are many of you, for whom I am to do that officethis day: I am to tell you _You are come to your +Eleventh+ hour;_ thereis no more than a _twelfth part_ at most, of your life yet behind. Butif 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 downfrom whence there is no Redemption. _

_Corollary IV. _

How welcome should a _Death in the Lord_ be unto them that belong notunto the Devil, but unto the Lord! While we are sojourning in thisWorld, we are in what may upon too many accounts be called _The DevilsCountry_: 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 bethat of the Psalmist, _Blessed be my Rock, and let the God of mySalvation be exalted!_ While we are here, we are in _the valley of theshadow 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 minuteready 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_. Weare now under the daily _Buffetings_ of the Devil, and he does molest uswith such _Fiery Darts_, as cause us even to cry out, _I am weary of myLife. _ Yea, but are we as _willing to die_, as, _weary of Life_? OurDeath will then soon set us where we cannot be reach'd by the _Fist ofWickedness_; 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 restfrom 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 beconvey'd into that Heaven, from whence the Devil having been thrown heshall never more come thither after us. What if God should now say tous, 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 bethere, where the Devil can't _come down_ upon us. If the _God of ourLife_ 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 notbe cast into such deadly Agonies thereupon, as _Hezekiah_ was: We arebut going to that _House_, the Golden Doors whereof, cannot be entred bythe 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 wholeFlocks of _Harpies_, grinning at this Child of God, but unable to fastenany of their griping Talons upon him: And then, upon the utmost edge ofour _Atmosphære_, methinks I overhear the holy Soul, with a mostheavenly Gallantry, deriding the defeated Fiend, and saying, _Ah! Satan!Return to thy Dungeons again; I am going where thou canst not come forever!_ O 'tis a brave thing so to die! and especially so to die, _in ourtime_. For, tho' when we call to mind, _That the Devils time is now butshort_, it may almost make us wish to _live_ unto the _end_ of it; andto say with the Psalmist, _Because the Lord will shortly appear in hisGlory, to build up Zion. O my God! Take me not away in the midst of mydays. _ Yet when we bear in mind, _that the Devils Wrath is now mostgreat_, it would make one willing to be _out of the way_. Inasmuch asnow 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-EnglishIsrael_. If the Devils _Time_ were above a _thousand years ago_, pronounced _short_, what may we suppose it now in _our_ Time? Surely weare not a _thousand years_ distant from those happy _thousand years_ ofrest and peace, and [which is better] _Holiness_ reserved for the Peopleof God in the latter days; and if we are not a _thousand years_ yetshort of that Golden Age, there is cause to think, that we are not an_hundred_. That the blessed _Thousand years_ are not yet begun, isabundantly clear from this, _We do not see the Devil bound;_ No, theDevil was never more let _loose_ than in our Days; and it is very muchthat any should imagine otherwise: But the same thing that proves the_Thousand Years_ of prosperity for the Church of God, under the wholeHeaven, to be not yet _begun_, does also prove, that it is not very _faroff_; and that is the prodigious _wrath_ with which the Devil does inour days Persecute, yea, desolate the World. Let us cast our Eyes almostwhere we will, and we shall see the _Devils_ domineering at such a rateas may justly fill us with astonishment; it is questionable whether_Iniquity_ ever were so rampant, or whether _Calamity_ were ever sopungent, as in this Lamentable _time_; We may truly say, _'Tis the Hourand the Power of Darkness. _ But, tho the _wrath_ be so _great_, the_time_ is but _short_: when we are perplexed with the _wrath_ of theDevil, 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 thistroublesome Devil, till thou do come to Chain him up!_

But because the people of God, would willingly be told _whereabouts_ weare, with reference to the _wrath and the time_ of the Devil, you shallgive 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 bevery 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_, isto be but for a _Time_, and for _Times_, and for _Half a time_; that isfor _Twelve hundred and Sixty Years_. And indeed, those _Twelve Hundredand 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 shouldhave an _easie time_ of it, if I were never put upon an _Harder Task_, than to produce what might render it extreamly probable, that Antichristentred his last _Half-time_, or the last _Hundred_ and _Fourscore_ yearsof his Reign, _at_ or soon _after_ the celebrated _Reformation_ whichbegan at the year 1517 in the former century. Indeed, it is veryagreeable to see how Antichrist then lost _Half_ of his Empire; and howthat _half_ which then became _Reformed_, have been upon many accountslittle more than _Half-reformed_. But by this computation, we must needsbe 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 nomore lasting than) a _Tabernacle in the Glorious Holy Mountain betweenthe Seas_, must quickly, _Come to his End and none shall help him_. Sothen, within a very little while, we shall see the Devil stript of thegrand, yea, the last, _Vehicle_, wherein he will be capable to abuse ourWorld. The _Fires_, with which, _That Beast_ is to be consumed, will sosinge the Wings of the _Devil_ too, that he shall no more set theAffairs 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_, seemsto 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, thatthe _wrath_ of the Devil uses to break forth, with its greatest fury. Now there want not probabilities, that the _last Persecution_ intendedfor 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 givenunto us, _That the last slaughter of our Lord's Witnesses is over;_ andthen what Quickly follows? The next thing is, _The Kingdoms of thisWorld, 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 _comedown_ upon us. Now, the Irrecoverable and Irretrievable Humiliationsthat have lately befallen the _Turkish Power_, are but so manyDeclarations of the _second Woe passing away_. And the dealings of Godwith the _European_ parts of the world, at this day, do furtherstrengthen this our expectation. We _do_ see, _at this hour a greatEarth-quake all Europe over_: and we _shall_ see, that this _greatEarth-quake_, and these great Commotions, will but contribute unto theadvancement of our Lords hitherto-depressed Interests. 'Tis also to beremark'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 withan averseness to Persecution. 'Tis particularly the unspeakablehappiness of the English Nation, to be under the Influences of thatexcellent Queen, who could say, _In as much as a man cannot make himselfbelieve what he will, why should we Persecute men for not believing aswe do! I wish I could see all good men of one mind; but in the mean timeI pray, let them however love one another. _ Words worthy to be writtenin Letters of Gold! and by _us_ the more to be considered, because toone of _Ours_ did that royal Person express Her self so excellently, soobligingly. 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 intendor design by this Liberty of Conscience, I cannot believe, that it willever be recalled in +England+, as long as the World stands. _ And youknow how miraculously the _Earth-quake_ which then immediately came uponthe Kingdom, has established that _Liberty_! But that which exceeds allthe tendencies this way, is, the dispensation of God at this Day, towards the blessed _Vaudois_. Those renowned _Waldenses_, which were asort of _Root_ unto all Protestant Churches, were never dissipated, byall the Persecutions of many Ages, till within these few years, the_French_ King and the Duke of _Savoy_ leagued for their dissipation. Butjust _Three years and a half after_ the _scattering_ of that holypeople, to the surprise of all the World, _Spirit of life from God_ iscome into them; and having with a thousand Miracles repossessedthemselves of their antient Seats, their hot _Persecutor_ is becometheir great _Protector_. Whereupon the reflection of the worthy person, that writes the story is, _The Churches of +Piemont+, being the Root ofthe Protestant Churches, they have been the first established; theChurches of other places, being but the Branches, shall be establishedin due time, God will deliver them speedily, He has already deliveredthe Mother, and He will not long leave the Daughter behind: He willfinish 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_ inparticular. I believe, there never was a poor Plantation, more pursuedby the _wrath_ of the _Devil_, than our poor _New-England_; and thatwhich makes our condition very much the more deplorable is, that the_wrath_ of the _great God_ Himself, at the same time also presses hardupon us. It was a rousing _alarm_ to the Devil, when a great Company ofEnglish _Protestants_ and _Puritans_, came to erect EvangelicalChurches, in a corner of the World, where he had reign'd without anycontroul for many Ages; and it is a vexing _Eye-sore_ to the Devil, thatour Lord Christ should be known, and own'd, and preached in this_howling Wilderness_. Wherefor he has left no _Stone unturned_, that sohe might undermine his Plantation, and force us out of our Country. 

First, The Indian _Powawes_, used all their Sorceries to molest thefirst Planters here; but God said unto them, _Touch them not!_ Then, _Seducing Spirits_ came to _root_ in this Vineyard, but God so ratedthem off, that they have not prevail'd much farther than the Edges ofour Land. After this, we have had a continual _blast_ upon some of ourprincipal Grain, annually diminishing a vast part of our _ordinaryFood_. Herewithal, wasting _Sicknesses_, especially Burning and MortalAgues, have Shot the Arrows of Death in at our Windows. Next, we havehad many Adversaries of our own Language, who have been perpetuallyassaying to deprive us of those _English Liberties_, in theencouragement whereof these Territories have been settled. As if thishad not been enough; The _Tawnies_ among whom we came, have watered ourSoil with the Blood of many Hundreds of our Inhabitants. Desolating_Fires_ also have many times laid the chief Treasure of the wholeProvince in Ashes. As for _Losses_ by Sea, _they_ have been multiply'dupon us: and particularly in the present _French War_, the whole EnglishNation have observ'd that no part of the Nation has proportionably hadso many Vessels taken, as our poor _New-England_. Besides all which, nowat last the Devils are (if I may so speak) _in Person_ come down upon uswith 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 thineAnger, and by thy Wrath we are troubled: All our days are passed away inthy Wrath. _ And I may add this unto it, _The Wrath of the Devil too hasbeen troubling and spending of us, all our days. _

But what will become of this poor _New-England_ after all? Shall wesink, expire, perish, before the _short time_ of the Devil shall befinished? I must confess, That when I consider the lamentable_Unfruitfulness_ of men, among us, under as powerful and perspicuousDispensations of the Gospel, as are in the World; and when I considerthe declining state of the _Power of Godliness_ in our Churches, withthe most horrible Indisposition that perhaps ever was, to recover out ofthis declension; I cannot but _Fear_ lest it comes to this, and lest an_Asiatic_ Removal of Candlesticks come upon us. But upon some otherAccounts, I would fain _hope_ otherwise; and I will give _you_therefore the opportunity to try what Inferences may be drawn from theseprobable Prognostications. 

I say, _First_, That surely, _America's_ Fate, must at the long runinclude _New-Englands_ in it. What was the design of our God, inbringing over so many _Europæans_ hither of later years? Of what use orstate will _America_ be, when the _Kingdom of God_ shall come? If itmust all be the Devils propriety, while the _saved Nations_ of the otherHæmisphere 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 gloriousthings which are spoken of thee, O thou City of God_; then even thou, _ONew-England_, art within a very little while of better days than everyet 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 thinksupon 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 manyparts 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 SanguineComplexion. And the _Frown_ of Heaven which has hitherto been uponAttempts of better Gospellizing the Plantations, considered, will butincrease the _Damp_. Nevertheless, on the other side, what shall be saidof all the _Promises_, That _our Lord Jesus Christ shall have theuttermost parts of the Earth for his Possession?_ and of all the_Prophecies_, That _All the ends of the Earth shall remember and turnunto the Lord?_ Or does it look _agreeably_, That such a rich quarter ofthe World, equal in some regards to all the rest, should never be out ofthe _Devils_ hands, from the first Inhabitation unto the lastDissolution of it? No sure; why may not the _last_ be the _first_? andthe _Sun of Righteousness_ come to shine _brightest_, in Climates whichit rose _latest_ upon!

I say, _Thirdly_, That _as_ it fares with _Old England_, so it will bemost likely to fare with _New-England_. For which cause, by the way, there may be more of the Divine Favour in the present Circumstances ofour dependence on _England_, than we are well aware of. This is verysure, if matters _go ill_ with our _Mother_, her poor American_Daughter_ here, must feel it; nor could our former Happy Settlementhave 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_, intheir Subjects, and that shall cast a Benign Aspect upon the Interestsof our Glorious Gospel, _Abroad_ as well as at _Home_; so long, _New-England_ will at least keep its head above water: and so much themore, for our comfortable Settlement in such a Form as we are now castinto. Unless there should be any singular, destroying, _TopicalPlagues_, 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 speedilybe Visited with the _ancient loving kindness_ of God. When one sees, howstrangely the Curse of our _Joshua_, has fallen upon the Persons andHouses 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 alsopursued, proceeded, perfected; and that God will shortly there have a_New Jerusalem_. Or, Let a Man in his thoughts run over but the seriesof amazing Providences towards the English Nation for the last _ThirtyYears_: 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 wereintended for the tools of that ruine, have become the instruments oroccasions of Deliverances? A man cannot but say upon these Reflections, as the Wife of _Manoah_ once prudently expressed her self, _If the Lordwere pleased to have Destroyed us, He would not have shew'd us all thesethings. _ Indeed, It is not unlikely, that the Enemies of the EnglishNation, may yet provoke such a _Shake_ unto it, as may perhaps exceedany that has hitherto been undergone: the Lord prevent the Machinationsof his Adversaries! But that _shake_ will usher in the most _gloriousTimes_ 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 beentoo much treated as an _Unholy Thing_; yet I believe God will shortlyscatter it: and my belief is grounded upon a bottom that will bear it. If that overgrown _French Leviathan_ should accomplish any thing like aConquest of _England_, what could there be to hinder him from theUniversal Empire of the _West_? But the _Visions_ of the Western World, in the _Views_ both of _Daniel_ and of _John_, do assure us, thatwhatever Monarch, shall while the _Papacy_ continues go to swallow upthe _Ten Kings_ which received _their Power_ upon the Fall of theWestern 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, theNews of a Victory obtain'd by the _English_ over the _French_, whichfurther confirms our Conjecture; and causes us to sing, _PharaohsChariots, and his Hosts, has the Lord cast down into the Sea; Thyright-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 designedfor 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_ whichthe _Devil_ in _Great Wrath_ is at this day making upon our Land. Uponthe 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 suchis the descent of the Devil at this day upon our selves, that I maytruly tell you, _The Walls of the whole World are broken down!_ Theusual _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_ ofour Neighbours, with Impressions both as _real_ and as _furious_, as ifthe _Invisible_ World were becoming _Incarnate_, on purpose for thevexing of us. And what use ought now to be made of so tremendous adispensation? We are engaged in a _Fast_ this day; but shall we try tofetch _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, wefeel, we now deplore. In many ways, for many years hath the Devil beenassaying 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 theyafflicted me, from my Youth, may +New-England+ now say; many a time havethey afflicted me from my Youth; yet they have not prevailed againstme. _ 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_, hasdecoy'd a fearful knot of proud, froward, ignorant, envious andmalicious creatures, to lift themselves in his horrid Service, byentring their Names in a _Book_ by him tendred unto them. These_Witches_, whereof above a Score have now _Confessed, and shown theirDeeds_, and some are now tormented by the Devils, for _Confessing_, havemet in Hellish _Randezvouzes_, wherein the Confessors do say, they havehad their diabolical Sacraments, imitating the _Baptism_ and the_Supper_ of our Lord. In these hellish meetings, these Monsters haveassociated themselves to do no less a thing than, _To destroy theKingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ, in these parts of the World;_ and inorder hereunto, First they each of them have their _Spectres_, orDevils, commission'd by them, & representing of them, to be the Enginesof their Malice. By these wicked _Spectres_, they seize poor peopleabout the Country, with various & bloudy _Torments_; and of thoseevidently Preternatural torments there are some have dy'd. They havebewitched some, even so far as to make _Self-destroyers_: and othersare in many Towns here and there languishing under their _Evil hands_. The people thus afflicted, are miserably scratched and bitten, so thatthe Marks are most visible to all the World, but the causes utterlyinvisible; and the same Invisible Furies do most visibly stick Pins intothe bodies of the afflicted, and _scale_ them, and hideously distort, and disjoint all their members, besides a thousand other sorts ofPlagues beyond these of any natural diseases which they give unto them. Yea, they sometimes drag the poor people out of their chambers, andcarry them over Trees and Hills, for divers miles together. A large partof the persons tortured by these Diabolical _Spectres_, are horriblytempted by them, sometimes with fair promises, and sometimes with hardthreatnings, but always with felt miseries, to sign the _Devils Laws_ ina Spectral Book laid before them; which two or three of these poorSufferers, being by their tiresome sufferings overcome to do, they haveimmediately 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 Ownersof _Spectres_, are oftentimes by their own _Spectres_ required andcompelled to give their consent, for the molestation of some, which theyhad no mind otherwise to fall upon; and cruel depredations are then madeupon the Vicinage. In the Prosecution of these Witchcrafts, among athousand other unaccountable things, the _Spectres_ have an odd facultyof cloathing the most substantial and corporeal Instruments of Torture, with Invisibility, while the wounds thereby given have been the mostpalpable things in the World; so that the Sufferers assaulted withInstruments of Iron, wholly unseen to the standers by, though, to theircost, seen by themselves, have, upon snatching, wrested the Instrumentsout of the _Spectres_ hands, and every one has then immediately not only_beheld_, but _handled_, an Iron Instrument taken by a Devil from aNeighbour. These wicked _Spectres_ have proceeded so far, as to stealseveral quantities of Mony from divers people, part of which Money, has, before sufficient Spectators, been dropt out of the Air into the Handsof the Sufferers, while the _Spectres_ have been urging them tosubscribe their _Covenant with Death_. In such extravagant ways havethese Wretches propounded, the _Dragooning_ of as many as they can, intheir own Combination, and the _Destroying_ of others, with lingring, spreading, deadly diseases; till our Countrey should at last become toohot for us. Among the Ghastly Instances of the _success_ which thoseBloody 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 havealso seen the Devils first batteries upon the Town, where the firstChurch of our Lord in this Colony was gathered, producing thosedistractions, which have almost ruin'd the Town. We have seen likewisethe _Plague_ reaching afterwards into other Towns far and near, wherethe Houses of good Men have the Devils filling of them with terribleVexations!

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 Nameand shape upon them; causing very many good and wise Men to fear, Thatmany _innocent_, yea, and some _vertuous_ persons, are by the Devils inthis matter, imposed upon; That the Devils have obtain'd the power, totake on them the likeness of harmless people, and in that likeness toafflict other people, and be so abused by Præstigious _Dæmons_, thatupon 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 becomea most agitated Controversie among us. There is an _Agony_ produced inthe Minds of Men, lest the Devil should sham us with _Devices_, ofperhaps a finer Thred, than was ever yet practised upon the World. Thewhole business is become hereupon so _Snarled_, and the determination ofthe Question one way or another, so _dismal_, that our Honourable Judgeshave a Room for _Jehoshaphat's_ Exclamation, _We know not what to do!_They have used, as Judges have heretofore done, the _SpectralEvidences_, to introduce their further Enquiries into the _Lives_ of thepersons accused; and they have thereupon, by the wonderful Providence ofGod, been so strengthened with _other evidences_, that some of the_Witch Gang_ have been fairly Executed. But what shall be done, as tothose against whom the _evidence_ is chiefly founded in the _darkworld_? Here they do solemnly demand our Addresses to the _Father ofLights_, 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 weare even ready to be _sinfully_, yea, hotly, and madly, mauling oneanother in the _dark_. 

The consequence of these things, every _considerate_ Man trembles at;and the more, because the frequent cheats of Passion, and Rumour, doprecipitate so many, that I wish I could say, The most were_considerate_. 

But that which carries on the formidableness of our Trials, unto thatwhich may be called, _A wrath unto the uttermost_, is this: It is notwithout the _wrath_ of the Almighty _God_ himself, that the _Devil_ ispermitted 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 turnedin 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 wrathof the Lord of Hosts!_ Inasmuch as the _Fire-brands_ of _Hell_ it selfare 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 otherInstruments of thy Vengeance, too good for the chastisement of suchtransgressors as we are? Must the very _Devils_ be sent out of _Theirown place_, to be our Troublers: Must we be lash'd with _Scorpions_, fetch'd from the _Place of Torment_? Must this _Wilderness_ be made aReceptacle for the _Dragons of the Wilderness_? If a _Lapland_ shouldnourish in it vast numbers, the successors of the old _Biarmi_, who canwith looks or words bewitch other people, or sell Winds to Marriners, and have their _Familiar Spirits_ which they bequeath to their Childrenwhen they die, and by their Enchanted Kettle-Drums can learn things donea Thousand Leagues off; If a _Swedeland_ should afford a Village, wheresome scores of Haggs, may not only have their Meetings with _FamiliarSpirits_, but also by their Enchantments drag many scores of poorchildren 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 BurningDevils_; 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 castupon them the fierceness of his Anger, Wrath, and Indignation, andTrouble, by sending Evil Angels among them. _ What, O what must next belooked for? Must that which is there next mentioned, be nextencountered? _He spared not their soul from death, but gave their lifeover to the Pestilence. _ For my part, when I consider what _Melancthon_says, in one of his Epistles, _That these Diabolical Spectacles areoften 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 isthe _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 sadlysay, _We are brought very low!_ _Low_ indeed, when the Serpents of thedust, are crawling and coyling about us, and Insulting over us. May wenot say, _We are in the very belly of Hell_, when _Hell_ it self isfeeding upon us? But how _Low_ is that! O let us then most penitentlylay our selves very _Low_ before the God of Heaven, who has thus Abasedus. When a Truculent _Nero_, a _Devil_ of a Man, was turned in upon theWorld, it was said, in _1 Pet. 5. 6. _ _Humble your selves under the mightyhand of God. _ How much more now ought we to _humble our selves_ underthat _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 Godheard any _Blasphemies_, tearing of his Ever-Blessed Name to pieces, they were to _Rend their Cloaths_ at what they heard. I am sure that wehave cause to _Rend our Hearts_ this Day, when we see what an HighTreason has been committed against the most high God, by the Witchcraftsin our Neighbourhood. We may say; and shall we not be _humbled_ when wesay it? _We have seen an horrible thing done in our Land!_ O 'tis a mosthumbling thing, to think, that ever there should be such an abominationamong us, as for a crue of humane race, to renounce their _Maker_, andto unite with the _Devil_, for the troubling of mankind, and for Peopleto be, (as is by some confess'd) _Baptized_ by a _Fiend_ using this formupon them, _Thou art mine, and I have a full power over thee!_afterwards communicating in an Hellish _Bread_ and _Wine_, by that Fiendadministred unto them. It was said in _Deut. 18. 10, 11, 12. _ _There shallnot be found among you an Inchanter, or a Witch, or a Charmer, or aConsulter with Familiar Spirits, or a Wizzard, or a Necromancer; For allthat do these things are an Abomination to the Lord, and because ofthese Abominations, the Lord thy God doth drive them out before thee. _That _New-England_ now should have these _Abominations_ in it, yea, thatsome 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 tothink, what reproaches will be cast upon us, for this matter, among _TheDaughters of the Philistines_. Indeed, enough might easily be said forthe 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 init, which may divert the Calumnies of an ill-natured World, fromcentring here. They are words of the Devout Bishop _Hall_, _Satansprevalency in this Age, is most clear in the marvellous Number ofWitches, abounding in all places. Now Hundreds are discovered in oneShire; and, if Fame Deceives us not, in a Village of Fourteen Houses inthe North, are found so many of this Damned Brood. Yea, and those ofboth Sexes, who have Professed much Knowledge, Holiness, and Devotion, are drawn into this Damnable Practice. _ I suppose the Doctor in thefirst 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 anHundred more detained in the Prisons of _Suffolk_ and _Essex_. Amongother things which many of these Acknowledged, one was, That they wereto 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 acouple of _Imps_, whereof _one_ was always putting him upon the doing ofMischief; Once particularly, that _Imp_ calling for his Consent so todo, went immediately and Sunk a _Ship_, then under Sail. I pray, let not_New-England_ become of an Unsavoury and a Sulphurous Resentment in theOpinion of the World abroad, for the Doleful things which are now fallenout among us, while there are such _Histories_ of other places abroad inthe 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 theLords 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 usin our _great wrath_ against one another provide a _Lodging_ for him. Itwas a most wholesome caution, in _Eph. 4. 26, 27. _ _Let not the Sun godown upon your wrath: Neither give place to the Devil. _ The Devil iscome down to see what _Quarter_ he shall find among us: And if hiscoming down, do now fill us with _wrath_ against one another, and ifbetween 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_ asare now gaining upon us, the Devil will Bless himself, to find such aconvenient _Lodging_ as we shall therein afford unto him. And it may bethat the _wrath_ which we have had against one another has had more thana 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 anotherfor Slanderings, for Backbitings, for Animosities? For _this_, amongother causes, perhaps, God has permitted the Devils to be worrying, asthey 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 usto be Censuring and Reviling one another, with a _Devilish wrath_, whenthe _wrath_ of the _Devil_ is annoying of us. The way for us to out-witthe Devil, in the _Wiles_ with which he now _Vexes_ us, would be for usto joyn as one man in our cries to God, for the Directing, and Issuingof this Thorny Business; but if we do not _Lift up_ our Hands toHeaven, _without Wrath_, we cannot then do it _without Doubt_, ofspeeding in it. I am ashamed when I read French Authors giving thisCharacter of Englishmen [_Ils se haissent Les uns les autres, & sont enDivision Continuelle. _] _They hate one another, and are alwaysQuarrelling one with another. _ And I shall be much more ashamed, if itbecome the Character of _New-Englanders_; which is indeed what the Devilwould have. _Satan_ would make us _bruise_ one another, by breaking ofthe _Peace_ among us; but O let us disappoint him. We read of a thingthat 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 wewould lay aside all fierceness, and keenness, in the disputes which theDevil has raised among us; and if we would use to one another none butthe _soft Answers, which turn away wrath_: I should hope that we mightlight 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 makeour selves _Tynder_ to the Sparks. When the Emperour _Henry_ III. Keptthe Feast of _Pentecost_, at the City _Mentz_, there arose a dissensionamong some of the people there, which came from words to blows, and atlast 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 thisday Glorious;_ the Devil to the unexpressible Terrour of that vastAssembly, made the Temple Ring with that Outcry _But I have made thisDay Quarrelsome!_ We are truly come into a day, which by being wellmanaged 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 ofthy Judgments. _ _Erasmus_, among other Historians, tells us, that at aTown 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 ofAshes abroad, the Town was presently and horribly Burnt unto the Ground. Methinks, I see the _Spectres_, from the Top of the Chimneys to theNorthward, threatning to scatter _Fire_, about the Countrey; but let usquench that _Fire_, by the most amicable Correspondencies: Lest, as the_Spectres_, have, they say, already most Literally burnt some of ourDwellings there do come forth a further _Fire_ from the _Brambles_ ofHell, 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, againstthe _Fiery Darts_ of the wicked ones. History informs us, That so longago, as the year, 858, a certain Pestilent and Malignant sort of a_Dæmon_, molested _Caumont_ in _Germany_ with all sorts of methods tostir up strife among the Citizens. He uttered Prophecies, he detectedVillanies, he branded people with all kind of Infamies. He incensed theNeighbourhood against one Man particularly, as the cause of all themischiefs: who yet proved himself innocent. He threw stones at theInhabitants, and at length burnt their Habitations, till the Commissionof the _Dæmon_ could go no further. I say, Let us be well aware lestsuch _Dæmons_ do _Come hither also_. 

_III. _ Inasmuch as the Devil is come down in _Great Wrath_, we had needLabour, 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 haswith long and loud Admonitions, been calling us to _a Reformation of ourProvoking Evils_, as the only way to avoid that _Wrath_ of His, whichdoes not only _Threaten_ but _Consume_ us. 'Tis because we have beenDeaf to those _Calls_ that we are now by a provoked God, laid open tothe _Wrath_ of the Devil himself. It is said in _Pr. 16. 17. _ _When a mansways please the Lord, he maketh even his Enemies to be at peace withhim. _ 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 havehim unable to disquiet our _peace_. But inasmuch as the _wrath_ which weendure from this _Enemy_, will allow us no _peace_, we may be sure, _ourways have not pleased the Lord. _ It is because we have _broken thehedge_ of Gods _Precepts_, that the hedge of Gods _Providence_ is not soentire as it uses to be about us; but _Serpents_ are _biting_ of us. Olet us then set our selves to make our _peace_ with our God, whom wehave _displeased_ by our iniquities: and let us not imagine that we canencounter the _Wrath_ of the Devil, while there is the _Wrath_ of GodAlmighty to set that Mastiff upon us. REFORMATION! REFORMATION! has beenthe repeated _Cry_ of all the Judgments that have hitherto been upon us;because we have been as _deaf Adders_ thereunto, the _Adders_ of theInfernal 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 Godhas loosed the Bars of the Pit, so that many _damned Spirits_ are comein among us, to make us _repent_ of our Misdemeanours. The means whichthe Lord had formerly employ'd for our _awakening_, were such, that hemight 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 theawakening of any People in the World. The things now done to awaken ourEnquiries after our _provoking Evils_, and our endeavours to Reformthose Evils, are most _extraordinary_ things; for which cause I wouldfreely speak it, if we now do not some _extraordinary_ things inreturning to God; we are the most _incurable_, and I wish it be notquickly said, the most _miserable_ People under the Sun. Believe me, 'tis a time for all people to do something _extraordinary, in searchingand 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 asthis ought _Magistrates_ to do something _extraordinary_ in promoting ofwhat is laudable, and in restraining and chastising of _Evil Doers_. Atsuch a time as this ought _Ministers_ to do something _extraordinary_ inpulling the Souls of men out of the _Snares_ of the Devil, not only bypublick Preaching, but by personal Visits and Counsels, _from house tohouse_. 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 admirableDesigns about the _Reformation_ of Manners, have lately been on foot inthe English Nation, in pursuance of the most excellent Admonitions whichhave been given for it, by the Letters of Their Majesties. Besides thevigorous Agreements of the _Justices_ here and there in the Kingdom, assisted by godly Gentlemen and Informers, to Execute the _Laws_ uponprophane Offenders; there has been started a _Proposal_ for thewell-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 dotheir utmost in first _Reproving_; and, if it must be so, then_Exposing_, and so _Punishing_, as the Law directs, for others thatshall be guilty. It has been observed, that the English Nation has hadsome of its greatest Successes, upon some special and signal _Actions_this way; and a discouragement given under Legal Proceedings of thiskind, must needs be very exercising to the _Wise that observe thesethings_. But, O why should not _New-England_ be the most forward part ofthe English Nation in such _Reformations_? Methinks I hear the Lord fromHeaven saying over us, _O that my People had hearkened unto me; then Ishould 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 wecan, 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 manydo by _Spectral_ Exhibitions come to be _cry'd out_ upon. I hope in Godstime 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 havingtoo much of an hand in letting of the Devils into our Borders; 'tis_our_ Worldliness, _our_ Formality, _our_ Sensuality, and _our_ Iniquitythat 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_ inthe Life of his Father, That the People of his Parish, refusing to beReclaimed from their _Sabbath breaking_, by all the zealous Testimonieswhich that good Man bore against it; at last, on a night after thepeople had retired home from a Revelling Prophanation of the _LordsDay_, there was heard a great Noise, with rattling of Chains up and downthe Town, and an horrid Scent of Brimstone fill'd the Neighbourhood. Upon which the _guilty Consciences_ of the Wretches told them, the Devilwas come to fetch them away; and it so terrifi'd them, that an Eminent_Reformation_ follow'd the Sermons which that Man of God Preachedthereupon. Behold, Sinners, behold and _wonder_, lest you _perish_: thevery _Devils_ are walking about our Streets, with lengthened _Chains_, making a dreadful Noise in our Ears, and _Brimstone_ even without aMetaphor, is making an hellish and horrid stench in our Nostrils. I prayleave off all those things whereof your _guilty Consciences_ may nowaccuse 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 _greatVice_ which may have a more particular tendency to make us a Prey untothat _Wrath_, come into a due discredit with us. It is the generalConcession of all men, who are not become too _Unreasonable_ for commonConversation, that the Invitation of _Witchcrafts_ is the thing that hasnow introduced the Devil into the midst of us. I say then, let not onlyall _Witchcrafts_ be duly abominated with us, but also let us be dulywatchful against all the _Steps_ leading thereunto. There are lesser_Sorceries_ which they say, are too frequent in our Land. As it was saidin _2 King. 17. 9. _ _The Children of +Israel+ did secretly those thingsthat were not right, against the Lord their God. _ So 'tis to be feared, the Children of _New-England_ have _secretly_ done many things that havebeen pleasing to the Devil. They say, that in some Towns it has been anusual thing for People to cure Hurts with _Spells_, or to use detestableConjurations, with _Sieves_, _Keys_, and _Pease_, and _Nails_, and_Horse-shoes_, and I know not what other Implements, to learn the thingsfor which they have a forbidden, and an impious _Curiosity_. 'Tis in theDevils Name, that such things are done; and in Gods Name I do this daycharge them, as vile Impieties. By these Courses 'tis, that People playupon _The Hole of the Asp_, till that cruelly venemous _Asp_ has pull'dmany of them into the deep _Hole_ of _Witchcraft_ it self. It has beenacknowledged by some who have sunk the deepest into this _horrible Pit_, that they began at these little _Witchcrafts_; on which 'tis pity butthe Laws of the English Nation, whereby the incorrigible repetition ofthose _Tricks_, is made _Felony_, were severely Executed. From the likesinful _Curiosity_ it is, that the Prognostications of _JudicialAstrology_, are so injudiciously regarded by multitudes among us; andaltho' the Jugling _Astrologers_ do scarce ever hit right, except it bein such _Weighty Judgments_, forsooth, as that many _Old Men_ will diesuch a year, and that there will be many _Losses_ felt by some thatventure to Sea, and that there will be much _Lying_ and _Cheating_ inthe World; yet their foolish Admirers will not be perswaded but that theInnocent _Stars_ have been concern'd in these Events. It is a disgraceto the English Nation, that the Pamphlets of such idle, futil, trifling_Stargazers_ are so much considered; and the Countenance hereby given toa Study, wherein at last, all is done by _Impulse_, if any thing be doneto any purpose at all, is not a little perillous to the Souls of Men. Itis (_a Science_, I dare not call it, but) a _Juggle_, whereof theLearned _Hall_ well says, _It is presumptuous and unwarrantable, andcry'd ever down by Councils and Fathers, as unlawful, as that which liesin the mid-way between Magick and Imposture, and partakes not a littleof both. _ Men consult the Aspects of Planets, whose Northern or Southernmotions 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 isnot Irrational, to ascribe the late Stupendious growth of _Witches_among us, partly to the bitter _discontents_, which Affliction andPoverty has fill'd us with: it is inconceivable, what advantage theDevil 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 followsthen but this, _That the Devil comes unto them in wrath?_ Never were theoffers 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 suchfooting in our Country? Why, 'tis because the _Saviour_ has beenslighted here, perhaps more than any where. The Blessed Lord JesusChrist has been profering to us, _Grace, and Glory, and every goodthing_, and been alluring of us to Accept of Him, with such Terms asthese, _Undone Sinner, I am All; Art thou willing that I should be thyAll?_ But, as a proof of that Contempt which this Unbelief has cast uponthese proffers, I would seriously ask of the so many Hundreds above aThousand 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 ofmy Soul?_ I would only say thus much: When the precious and gloriousJesus, is Entreating of us to Receive _Him_, in all His _Offices_, withall His _Benefits_; the Devil minds what Respect we pay unto thatHeavenly 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 Devilbecomes a _Master_, a _Prince_, a _God_, unto the miserable Unbelievers:but O what are many of them then hurried unto! All of these EvilThings, do I now set before you, as _Branded_ with the Mark of the Devilupon them. 

_V. _ With _Great Regard_, with _Great Pity_, should we Lay to Heart theCondition 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 themvery particularly noted for Goodness and Vertue, of whom we may say, _Lord, They are vexed with Devils. _ Their Tortures being primarilyInflicted on their _Spirits_, may indeed cause the Impressions thereofupon their Bodies to be the less _Durable_, tho' rather the more_Sensible_: but they Endure Horrible Things, and many have been actuallyMurdered. Hard _Censures_ now bestow'd upon these poor Sufferers, cannotbut be very Displeasing unto our Lord, who, as He said, about some thathad been Butchered by a _Pilate_, in _Luc. 13. 2, 3. _ _Think ye that thesewere Sinners above others, because they suffered such Things? I tell youNo, But except ye Repent, ye shall all likewise Perish:_ Even so, he nowsays, _Think ye that they who now suffer by the Devil, have been greaterSinners 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_. Andif this be so, How _Rash_ a thing would it be, if such of the poorSufferers, as carry it with a Becoming Piety, Seriousness, andHumiliation 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, _AddingAffliction to the Afflicted_, and of, _Talking to the Grief of thosethat are already wounded_. Nor can it be wisdom to slight the Dangers ofsuch a Fault. In the mean time, We have no Bowels in us, if we do notCompassionate the Distressed County of _Essex_, now crying to all theseColonies, _Have pity on me, O ye my Friends, Have pity on me, for theHand of the Lord has Touched me, and the Wrath of the Devil has beentherewithal turned upon me. _ But indeed, if an hearty _pity_ be due toany, I am sure, the Difficulties which attend our Honourable _Judges_, do demand no Inconsiderable share in that _Pity_. What a Difficult, whatan Arduous Task, have those Worthy Personages now upon their Hands? Tocarry the _Knife_ so exactly, that on the one side, there may be noInnocent Blood Shed, by too unseeing a _Zeal for the Children ofIsrael_; and that on the other side, there may be no Shelter given tothose Diabolical _Works of Darkness_, without the Removal whereof wenever shall have _Peace_; or to those _Furies_ whereof several havekill'd _more people_ perhaps than would serve to make a Village: _HicLabor, Hoc Opus est!_ O what need have we, to be concerned, that theSins 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 nowbefore them! Our Disingenuous, Uncharitable, Unchristian Reproaching ofsuch _Faithful Men_, after all, _The Prayers and Supplications, withstrong Crying and Tears_, with which we are daily plying the Throne ofGrace, that they may be kept, from what _They Fear_, is none of the wayfor our preventing of what _We Fear_. Nor all this while, ought our_Pity_ to forget such _Accused_ ones, as call for indeed our mostCompassionate _Pity_, till there be fuller Evidences that they are lessworthy of it. If _Satan_ have any where maliciously brought upon the_Stage_, those that have hitherto had a just and good stock ofReputation, 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 havecause to think, have hitherto _Abstained_, even from the _Appearance ofEvil_: It is in Truth, such an Invasion upon _Mankind_, as may wellRaise an Horror in us all: But, O what Compassions are due to such asmay come under such Misrepresentations, of the _Great Accuser_! Who ofus can say, what may be shewn in the _Glasses_ of the Great _LyingSpirit_? Altho' the _Usual Providence_ of God [we praise Him!] keeps usfrom such a Mishap; yet where have we an _Absolute Promise_, that weshall every one always be kept from it? As long as _Charity_ is bound toThink _no Evil_, it will not Hurt us that are _Private Persons_, toforbear the _Judgment_ which belongs not unto us. Let it rather be ourWish, May the Lord help them to Learn the _Lessons_, for which they arenow 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 whichthe Devil Rages. Let us come into the _Covenant of Grace_, and then weshall not be hook'd into a _Covenant with the Devil_, nor be altogetherunfurnished with Armour, against the Wretches that are in that_Covenant_. The way to come under the Saving Influences of the _NewCovenant_, is, to close with the Lord Jesus Christ, who is theAll-sufficient _Mediator_ of it: Let us therefore do, _that_, byResigning up our selves unto the Saving, Teaching, and Ruling Hands ofthis Blessed _Mediator_. Then we shall be, what we read in _Jude 1. __Preserved in Christ Jesus_: That is, as the _Destroying Angel_, couldnot 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 ofprey_ (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 untous, _O that you would be gathered under my wings!_ Well; When this isdone, Then let us own the _Covenant_, which we are now come into, byjoining our selves to a Particular _Church_, walking in the Order of theGospel; at the doing whereof, according to that _Covenant_ of God, Wegive up Our selves unto the Lord, and in Him unto One Another. Whileothers have had their Names Entred in the _Devils Book_; let our Namesbe found in the _Church Book_, and let us be _Written among the Livingin Jerusalem_. By no means let, _Church work_ sink and fail in the midstof us; but let the Tragical Accidents which now happen, exceedinglyQuicken that _work_. So many of the _Rising Generation_, utterlyforgetting the Errand of our Fathers to build Churches in thisWilderness, and so many of our _Cottages_ being allow'd to Live, wherethey do not, and perhaps cannot, wait upon God with the Churches of HisPeople; '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 bringour 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 haveseen, what I have lately seen; Even poor Children of several Ages, evenfrom seven to twenty, more or less, _Confessing_ their Familiarity withDevils; but at the same time, in Doleful bitter Lamentations, that madea little Pourtraiture of _Hell_ it self, Expostulating with theirexecrable Parents, for _Devoting_ them to the Devil in their Infancy, and so _Entailing_ of Devillism upon them! Now, as the Psalmist couldsay, _My Zeal hath consumed me, because my Enemies have forgotten thywords:_ Even so, let the Nefarious wickedness of those that haveExplicitly dedicated their Children to the Devil, even with DevilishSymbols, 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, thatcomes 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: Indeedit is _Diaboli Flagellum_, as well as, _Miseriæ Remedium_; the Devilwill soon be Scourg'd out of the Lord's Temple, by a _Whip_, made andused, with the _effectual fervent Prayer of Righteous Men_. When theDevil by Afflicting of us, drives us to our Prayers, he is _The Foolmaking 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 standbefore. A Promise of God, being well managed in the _Hands_ of them thatare much upon their Knees, will so resist the Devil, that he will _Fleefrom us_. At every other Weapon the Devils will be too hard for us; the_Spiritual Wickednesses in High Places_, have manifestly the Upper handof us; that _Old Serpent_ will be too old for us, too cunning, toosubtil; they will soon _out wit_ us, if we think to Encounter them withany _Wit_ of our own. But when we come to _Prayers_, Incessant andVehement _Prayers_ before the Lord, there we shall be too hard for them. When well-directed _Prayers_, that great Artillery of Heaven, arebrought into the Field, _There_ methinks I see, _There are these workersof Iniquity fallen, all of them!_ And who can tell, how much the most_Obscure Christian_ among you all, may do towards the Deliverance of ourLand from the Molestations which the Devil is now giving to us. I haveRead, That on a day of Prayer kept by some good People for and with aPossessed Person, the Devil at last flew out of the Window, andreferring 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!_ Thusthe Devil that now troubles us, may be forced within a while to forsakeus; and it shall be said, _He was driven away by the Prayers of someObscure and Retired Souls, which the World has taken but little noticeof!_ 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 tothat _Great Work_, may also by _Permission_, come to Confound that_Work_; both in the Detections of some, and in the Confessions ofothers, whose Ungodly deeds may be brought forth, by a _Great Work_ ofGod; there is great Hazard lest the Devil intertwist some of hisDelusions. 'Tis PRAYER, I say, 'tis PRAYER, that must carry us wellthrough the strange things that are now upon us. Only that Prayer mustthen be the Prayer of Faith: O where is our Faith in him, Who _hathspoiled these Principalities and Powers, on his Cross, Triumphing overthem_!

_VIII. _ Lastly, Shake off, every Soul, shake off the _hard Yoak_ of theDevil. Where 'tis said, _The whole World lyes in Wickedness;_ 'tis bysome of the Ancients rendred, _The whole World lyes in the Devil. _ TheDevil is a Prince, yea, the Devil is a God unto all the Unregenerate;and alas, there is _A whole World of them_. Desolate Sinners, considerwhat an horrid Lord it is that you are Enslav'd unto; and Oh shake offyour Slavery to such a Lord. Instead of _him_, now make your Choice ofthe Eternal God in Jesus Christ; Chuse him with a most unalterableResolution, and unto him say, with _Thomas_, _My Lord, and my God!_ Saywith the Church, _Lord, other Lords have had the Dominion over us, butnow thou alone shalt be our Lord for ever. _ Then instead of yourPerishing under the wrath of the Devils, God will fetch you to a placeamong those that fill up the Room of the Devils, left by their Fall fromthe Ethereal Regions. It was a most awful Speech made by the Devil, Possessing a young Woman, at a Village in _Germany_, _By the command ofGod, I am come to Torment the Body of this young Woman, tho I cannothurt her Soul; and it is that I may warn Men, to take heed of sinningagainst God. _ _Indeed_ (said he) _'tis very sore against my will that Ido it; but the command of God forces me to declare what I do; however Iknow 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 foundamong the Prizes of the Devil, in the Day of God! O that what the Devilhas been forced to declare, of his Kingdom among us, may prejudice ourHearts against him for ever!

My Text says, _The Devil is come down in great Wrath, for he has but ashort time. _ Yea, but if you do not by a speedy and through Conversionto 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 theDevils Wrath, not for a _short Time_, but, _World without end_; not fora _Short Time_, but for _Infinite Millions of Ages_. The smoak of yourTorment under that Wrath, will _Ascend for ever and ever_! Indeed, theDevil's time for his Wrath upon you in this World, can be but short, buthis time for you to do his Work, or, which is all one, to delay yourturning to God, that is a _Long Time_. When the Devil was going to beDispossessed of a Man, he Roar'd out, _Am I to be Tormented before mytime?_ You will _Torment_ the Devil, if you Rescue your Souls out of hishands, by true Repentance: If once you begin to look that way, he'll Cryout, _O this is before my Time, I must have more Time, yet in theService of such a guilty Soul. _ But, I beseech you, let us join thus totorment the Devil, in an holy Revenge upon him, for all the Injurieswhich he has done unto us; let us tell him, _Satan, thy time with me isbut short, Nay, thy time with me shall be no more; I am unutterablysorry that it has been so much; Depart from me thou Evil-Doer, thatwould'st have me to be an Evil Doer like thy self; I will now for everkeep the Commandments of that God, in whom I Live and Move, and have myBeing!_ The Devil has plaid a fine Game for himself indeed, if by histroubling of our Land, the Souls of many People should come to _thinkupon their ways, till even they turn their Feet into the Testimonies ofthe Lord_. Now that the Devil may be thus outshot in his own Bow, is thedesire of all that love the Salvation of God among us, as well as ofhim, who has thus Addressed you. _Amen. _

 * * * * *

Having thus discoursed on the _Wonders of the Invisible World_, I shallnow, with God's help, go on to relate some Remarkable and MemorableInstances of _Wonders_ which that _World_ has given to ourselves. Andaltho the chief Entertainment which my Readers do expect, and shallreceive, will be a true History of what has occurred, respecting theWITCHCRAFTS wherewith we are at this day Persecuted; yet I shall chooseto 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 Wakinghe could not say, (but judged the latter of them) had a View of hisBrother then at _London_, altho he was now himself at Our _Boston_, distanced from him a thousand Leagues. This his Brother appear'd untohim, 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 Woundon one side of his Fore-head. _Brother!_ says the Affrighted _Joseph_. _Brother!_ Answered the Apparition. Said _Joseph_, _What's the matterBrother? How came you here!_ The Apparition replied, _Brother, I havebeen most barbarously and injuriously Butchered, by a Debauched DrunkenFellow, to whom I never did any wrong in my Life. _ Whereupon he gave aparticular Description of the Murderer; adding, _Brother, This Fellowchanging his Name, is attempting to come over unto +New-England+, in+Foy+, or +Wild+; I would pray you on the first Arrival of either ofthese, to get an Order from the Governor, to Seize the Person, whom Ihave now described; and then do you Indict him for the Murder of me yourBrother: I'll stand by you and prove the Indictment. _ And so heVanished. Mr. _Beacon_ was extreamly astonished at what he had seen andhear'd; and the People of the Family not only observed an extraordinaryAlteration upon him, for the Week following, but have also given meunder their Hands a full Testimony, that he then gave them an Account ofthis Apparition. 

All this while, Mr. _Beacon_ had no advice of any thing amiss attendinghis 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 fora Lady, met a Fellow then in Drink, with his _Doxy_ in his Hand: Someway or other the Fellow thought himself Affronted with the hasty passageof this _Beacon_, and immediately ran into the Fire-side of aNeighbouring Tavern, from whence he fetch'd out a Fire-fork, wherewithhe grievously wounded _Beacon_ in the Skull; even in that very partwhere the Apparition show'd his Wound. Of this Wound he Languished untilhe Dyed on the Second of _May_, about five of the Clock in the Morningat _London_. The Murderer it seems was endeavouring to Escape, as theApparition affirm'd, but the Friends of the Deceased _Beacon_, Seizedhim; and Prosecuting him at Law, he found the help of such Friends asbrought him off without the loss of his Life; since which, there has nomore been heard of the Business. 

This History I received of Mr. _Joseph Beacon_ himself; who a littlebefore his own Pious and hopeful Death, which follow'd not long after, gave me the Story written and signed with his own Hand, and attestedwith 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 theMalefactors lately Executed at _Salem_, for the _Witchcrafts_ whereofthey 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 uponthe Stage; much less at the Surviving Relations of those Persons, withand for whom I would be as hearty a Mourner as any Man living in theWorld: _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_, whichoccurr'd in the Tryals of some that were Executed, in an AbridgmentCollected 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 nogood Man. There might have been more of these, if my Book would notthereby have swollen too big; and if some other worthy hands did notperhaps intend something further in these _Collections_; for which causeI have only singled out Four or Five, which may serve to illustrate theway of Dealing, wherein _Witchcrafts_ use to be concerned; and I reportmatters not as an _Advocate_, but as an _Historian_. 

They were some of the Gracious Words inserted in the Advice, which manyof the Neighbouring Ministers, did this Summer humbly lay before ourHonorable Judges, _We cannot but with all thankfulness, acknowledge thesuccess which the Merciful God has given unto the Sedulous and Assiduousendeavours of Our Honourable Rulers, to detect the abominableWitchcrafts which have been committed in the Country; Humbly Praying, that the discovery of those mysterious and mischievous wickednesses, maybe Perfected. _ If in the midst of the many Dissatisfactions among us, the Publication of these Tryals, may promote such a Pious Thankfulnessunto God, for Justice being so far executed among us, I shall Rejoicethat God is Glorified; and pray, that no wrong steps of ours may eversully 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 justgive a glance upon the _like things_ lately happening in _Europe_. Wemay 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, thanwhom, no Man was more Backward to Condemn a Witch, without fullEvidence. _

Now, one of the latest Printed Accounts about a _Tryal of Witches_, isof what was before him, and it ran on this wise. [Printed in the Year1682. ] And it is here the rather mentioned, because it was a Tryal, muchconsidered by the Judges of _New England_. 

_I. _ _Rose Cullender_ and _Amy Duny_, were severally Indicted, forBewitching _Elizabeth Durent_, _Ann Durent_, _Jane Bocking_, _SusanChandler_, _William Durent_, _Elizabeth_ and _Deborah Pacy_. And theEvidence whereon they were Convicted, stood upon divers particularCircumstances. 

_II. _ _Ann Durent_, _Susan Chandler_, and _Elizabeth Pacy_, when theycame into the Hall, to give Instructions for the drawing the Bills ofIndictments, they fell into strange and violent Fits, so that they wereunable to give in their Depositions, not only then, but also during thewhole Assizes. _William Durent_ being an Infant, his Mother Swore, That_Amy Duny_ looking after her Child one Day in her absence, did at herreturn confess, that she had _given suck to the Child_: (tho' she werean 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 itcontinued for Divers Weeks. One Doctor _Jacob_ advised her to hang upthe Childs Blanket, in the Chimney Corner all Day, and at Night, whenshe went to put the Child into it, if she found any Thing in it then tothrow it without fear into the Fire. Accordingly, at Night, there fell agreat Toad out of the Blanket, which ran up and down the Hearth. A Boycatch't it, and held it in the Fire with the Tongs: where it made anhorrible Noise, and Flash'd like to Gun-Powder, with a report like thatof a Pistol: Whereupon the Toad was no more to be seen. The next Day aKinswoman of _Duny's_, told the Deponent, that her Aunt was allgrievously 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 forit; but she should live to see some of her Children Dead, and her selfupon Crutches. But after the Burning of the Toad, this Child Recovered. 

This Deponent further Testifi'd, That Her Daughter _Elizabeth_, beingabout the Age of Ten Years, was taken in like manner, as her first Childwas, and in her Fits complained much of _Amy Duny_, and said, that shedid appear to Her, and afflict her in such manner as the former. OneDay 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. _ Andwithin three Days the Child Died. The Deponent added, that she was Herself, not long after taken with such a Lameness, in both her Legs, thatshe 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 homewithout her Crutches. ]

_III. _ As for _Elizabeth_ and _Deborah Pacy_, one Aged Eleven Years, theother Nine; the elder, being in Court, was made utterly senseless, during all the time of the Trial: or at least speechless. By thedirection of the Judg, _Duny_ was privately brought to _Elizabeth Pacy_, and she touched her Hand: whereupon the Child, without so much as seeingher, suddenly leap'd up and flew upon the Prisoner; the younger was tooill, 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, wherethis Child was then sitting, the Child was taken with an extream pain inher stomach, like the pricking of Pins; and shrieking at a dreadfulmanner, like a Whelp, rather than a Rational Creature. The Physicianscould not conjecture the cause of the Distemper; but _Amy Duny_ being aWoman of ill Fame, and the Child in Fits crying out of _Amy Duny_, asaffrighting her with the Apparition of her Person, the Deponentsuspected her, and procured her to be set in the stocks. While she wasthere, she said in the hearing of Two Witnesses, _Mr. +Pacy+ keeps agreat stir about his Child, but let him stay till he has done as much byhis Children, as I have done by mine:_ And being Asked, What she haddone to her Children, she Answered, _She had been fain to open herChilds Mouth with a Tap to give it Victuals. _ The Deponent added, thatwithin Two Days, the Fits of his Daughters were such, that they couldnot preserve either Life or Breath, without the help of a Tap. And thatthe Children Cry'd out of _Amy Duny_, and of _Rose Cullender_, asafflicting them with their Apparitions. 

_IV. _ The Fits of the Children were various. They would sometimes beLame on one side; sometimes on t'other. Sometimes very sore; sometimesrestored unto their Limbs, and then Deaf, or Blind, or Dumb, for a longwhile together. Upon the Recovery of their Speech, they would Coughextreamly; and with much Flegm, they would bring up Crooked Pins; andone time, a Two-penny Nail, with a very broad Head. Commonly at the endof every Fit, they would cast up a Pin. When the Children Read, theycould not pronounce the Name of, _Lord_, or _Jesus_, or _Christ_, butwould fall into Fits; and say, Amy Duny _says_, _I must not use thatName. _ When they came to the Name of _Satan_, or _Devil_, they wouldclap their Fingers on the Book, crying out, _This bites, but it makes mespeak right well!_ The Children in their Fits would often Cry out, _There stands_ Amy Duny, or _Rose Cullender_; and they would afterwardsrelate, _That these Witches appearing before them, threatned them, thatif they told what they saw or heard, they would Torment them ten timesmore than ever they did before. _

_V. _ _Margaret Arnold_, the Sister of Mr. _Pacy_, Testifi'd unto thelike Sufferings being upon the Children, at her House, whither herBrother had Removed them. And that sometimes, the Children (_only_)would see things like Mice, run about the House; and one of themsuddenly snap'd one with the Tongs, and threw it into the Fire, where itscreeched out like a Rat. At another time, a thing like a Bee, flew atthe Face of the younger Child; the Child fell into a Fit; and at lastVomited up a _Two-penny Nail_, with a Broad Head; affirming, _That theBee brought this Nail, and forced it into her Mouth. _ The Child would inlike manner be assaulted with Flies, which brought Crooked Pins, untoher, and made her first swallow them, and then Vomit them. She one Daycaught an Invisible _Mouse_, and throwing it into the Fire, it Flash'dlike to Gun-Powder. None besides the Child saw the _Mouse_, but everyone 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 Discontentof _Rose Cullender_, his Daughter was taken with much Illness in herStomach and great and sore Pains, like the Pricking of Pins: and thenSwooning Fits, from which Recovering, she declared, _She had seen theApparition of +Rose Cullender+, Threatning to Torment her. _ She likewiseVomited up diverse Pins. The Maid was Present at Court, but when_Cullender_ look'd upon her, she fell into such Fits, as made herutterly unable to declare any thing. 

_Ann Baldwin_ deposed the same. 

_VII. _ _Jane Bocking_, was too weak to be at the Assizes. But her MotherTestifi'd, that her Daughter having formerly been Afflicted withSwooning Fits, and Recovered of them; was now taken with a great Pain inher Stomach; and New Swooning Fits. That she took little Food, but everyDay Vomited Crooked Pins. In her first Fits, she would Extend her Arms, and use Postures, as if she catched at something, and when her ClutchedHands were forced open, they would find several Pins diversely Crooked, unaccountably lodged there. She would also maintain a Discourse withsome that were Invisibly present, when casting abroad her Arms, shewould often say, _I will not have it!_ but at last say, _Then I willhave it!_ and closing her Hand, which when they presently after opened, a Lath-Nail was found in it. But her great Complaints were of beingVisited by the shapes of _Amy Duny_, and _Rose Cullender_. 

_VIII. _ As for _Susan Chandler_, her Mother Testified, That being at thesearch 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 nearher Privy-parts, they found Three more, that were smaller than theformer. At the end of the long Teat, there was a little Hole, whichappeared, as if newly Sucked; and upon straining it, a white Milkymatter issued out. The Deponent further said, That her Daughter beingone Day concerned at _Rose Cullenders_ taking her by the Hand, she fellvery sick, and at Night cry'd out, _That +Rose Cullender+ would come toBed unto her. _ Her Fits grew violent, and in the Intervals of them, shedeclared, _That she saw +Rose Cullender+ in them, and once having of agreat Dog with her. _ She also Vomited up Crooked Pins; and when she wasbrought into Court, she fell into her Fits. She Recovered her self insome Time, and was asked by the Court, whether she was in a Condition totake an Oath, and give Evidence. She said, she could; but having beenSworn, she fell into her Fits again, and, _Burn her! Burn her!_ were allthe words that she could obtain power to speak. Her Father likewise gavethe 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 theChildren were Bewitched, yet, said he, it can never be Apply'd unto thePrisoners, upon the Imagination only of the Parties Afflicted; inasmuchas no person whatsoever could then be in Safety. 

Dr. _Brown_, a very Learned Person then present, gave his Opinion, thatthese Persons were Bewitched. He added, That in _Denmark_, there hadbeen lately a great Discovery of Witches; who used the very same way ofAfflicting people, by Conveying Pins and Nails into them. His Opinionwas, that the Devil in Witchcrafts, did Work upon the Bodies of Men andWomen, upon a _Natural Foundation_; and that he did Extraordinarilyafflict them, with such Distempers as their Bodies were most subjectunto. 

_X. _ The Experiment about the _Usefulness_, yea, or _Lawfulness_ whereofGood Men have sometimes disputed, was divers Times made, That tho' theAfflicted 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 notupon any other persons. And yet it was also found that once upon thetouch of an innocent person, the like effect follow'd, which put thewhole Court unto a stand: altho' a small Reason was at length attemptedto be given for it. 

_XI. _ However, to strengthen the Credit of what had been alreadyproduced against the Prisoners, One _John Soam_ Testifi'd, That bringinghome his Hay in Three Carts, one of the Carts wrenched the Window of_Rose Cullenders_ House, whereupon she flew out, with violentThreatenings 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 Cartstuck so fast in the Gates Head, that they could not possibly get itthro', but were forced to cut down the Post of the Gate, to make theCart pass thro', altho' they could not perceive that the Cart did ofeither side touch the Gate-Post. They afterwards, did with muchDifficulty get it home to the Yard; but could not for their Lives getthe Cart near the place, where they should unload. They were fain tounload at a great Distance; and when they were Tired, the Noses of themthat came to Assist them, would burst forth a Bleeding; so they werefain to give over till next morning; and then they unloaded without anydifficulty. 

_XII. _ _Robert Sherringham_ also Testifi'd, That the Axle-Tree of hisCart, happening in passing, to break some part of _Rose Cullenders_House, in her Anger at it, she vehemently threatned him, _His Horsesshould suffer for it. _ And within a short time, all his Four Horsesdy'd; after which he sustained many other Losses in the sudden Dying ofhis Cattle. He was also taken with a Lameness in his Limbs; and so vexedwith Lice of an extraordinary Number and Bigness, that no Art couldhinder the Swarming of them, till he burnt up two Suits of Apparel. 

_XIII. _ As for _Amy Duny_, 'twas Testifi'd by one _Richard Spencer_ thathe heard her say, _The Devil would not let her Rest; until she wereRevenged on the Wife of +Cornelius Sandswel+. _ And that _Sandswel_testifi'd, that her Poultry dy'd suddenly, upon _Amy Dunys_ threatningof them; and that her Husbands Chimney fell, quickly after _Duny_ hadspoken of such a disaster. And a Firkin of Fish could not be kept fromfalling into the Water, upon suspicious words of _Duny's_. 

_XIV. _ The Judg told the Jury, they were to inquire now, first, whetherthese Children were Bewitched; and secondly, Whether the Prisoners atthe Bar were guilty of it. He made no doubt, there were such Creaturesas Witches; for the Scriptures affirmed it; and the Wisdom of allNations had provided Laws against such persons. He pray'd the God ofHeaven 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 anAbomination to the Lord. _

The Jury in half an hour brought them in _Guilty_ upon their severalIndictments, which were Nineteen in Number. 

The next Morning, the Children with their Parents, came to the Lodgingsof the Lord Chief Justice, and were in as good health as ever in theirLives; being Restored within half an Hour after the Witches wereConvicted. 

The Witches were Executed; and _Confessed_ nothing; which indeed willnot be wondred by them, who Consider and Entertain the Judgment of aJudicious Writer, _That the Unpardonable Sin, is most usually Committedby 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; ornever had this occasion to mention so much as the first Letters of hisName. But the Government requiring some Account of his Trial to beinserted in this Book, it becomes me with all Obedience to submit untothe Order. 

I. This _G. B. _ Was Indicted for Witch-craft, and in the prosecution ofthe 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 theConfessing Witches, as being an head Actor at some of their HellishRandezvouzes, and one who had the promise of being a King in Satan'sKingdom, now going to be Erected: He was accused by Nine Persons forextraordinary Lifting, and such feats of Strength, as could not be donewithout a Diabolical Assistance. And for other such things he wasAccused, until about thirty Testimonies were brought in against him; norwere these judg'd the half of what might have been considered for hisConviction: However they were enough to fix the Character of a Witchupon 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 PartiesBewitched, use to have a Room among the _Suspicions_ or _Presumptions_, brought in against one Indicted for Witch-craft; there were now heardthe Testimonies of several Persons, who were most notoriously Bewitched, and every day Tortured by Invisible Hands, and these now all charged theSpectres of _G. B. _ to have a share in their Torments. At the Examinationof this _G. B. _ the Bewitched People were grievously harrassed withPreternatural Mischiefs, which could not possibly be Dissembled; andthey still ascribed it unto the endeavours of _G. B. _ to Kill them. Andnow upon the Tryal of one of the Bewitched Persons, testified, that inher 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 ofWitches; That he often Persecuted her with the offer of that Book, saying, _She should be well, and need fear nobody, if she would but Signit;_ But he inflicted cruel Pains and Hurts upon her, because of herdenying so to do. The Testimonies of the other Sufferers concurred withthese; and it was remarkable, that whereas _Biting_ was one of the wayswhich the Witches used for the vexing of the Sufferers; when they cry'dout of _G. B. _ Biting them, the print of the Teeth would be seen on theFlesh of the Complainers, and just such a Set of Teeth as _G. B's_ wouldthen appear upon them, which could be distinguished from those of someother Mens. Others of them testified, That in their Torments, _G. B. _tempted them to go unto a Sacrament, unto which they perceived him witha Sound of Trumpet, Summoning of other Witches, who quickly after theSound, would come from all Quarters unto the Rendezvouz. One of themfalling into a kind of Trance, affirmed, that _G. B. _ had carried heraway into a very high Mountain, where he shewed her mighty and gloriousKingdoms, and said, _He would give them all to her, if she would writein his Book;_ but she told him, _They were none of his to give;_ andrefused the Motions; enduring of much Misery for that refusal. 

It cost the Court a wonderful deal of Trouble, to hear the Testimoniesof 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 uncapableof saying any thing. The Chief Judg asked the Prisoner, who he thoughthindred these Witnesses from giving their _Testimonies_? And heanswered, _He supposed it was the Devil. _ That Honourable Personreplied, _How comes the Devil then to be so loath to have any Testimonyborn against you?_ Which cast him into very great Confusion. 

III. It has been a frequent thing for the Bewitched People to beentertained with Apparitions of _Ghosts_ of Murdered People, at the sametime that the _Spectres_ of the Witches trouble them. These Ghosts doalways affright the Beholders more than all the other spectralRepresentations; and when they exhibit themselves, they cry out, ofbeing Murthered by the Witch-crafts or other Violences of the Personswho are then in Spectre present. It is further considered, that once ortwice, these _Apparitions_ have been seen by others, at the very sametime they have shewn themselves to the Bewitched; and seldom have therebeen these _Apparitions_, but when something unusual or suspected, haveattended the Death of the Party thus Appearing. Some that have beenaccused by these _Apparitions_ accosting of the Bewitched People, whohad never heard a word of any such Persons ever being in the World, haveupon a fair Examination, freely and fully confessed the Murthers ofthose very Persons, altho' these also did not know how the Apparitionshad complained of them. Accordingly several of the Bewitched, had givenin their Testimony, that they had been troubled with the Apparitions oftwo Women, who said, that they were _G. B's_ two Wives, and that he hadbeen 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 thatthey should appear again in Court. Now, _G. B. _ had been Infamous for theBarbarous 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 Daughterof one at whom this _G. B. _ might have a prejudice for his beingserviceable at _Salem Village_, from whence himself had in ill Termsremoved some Years before: And that when they dy'd, which was longsince, there were some odd Circumstances about them, which made some ofthe Attendents there suspect something of Witch-craft, tho none Imaginedfrom what Quarter it should come. 

Well, _G. B. _ being now upon his Tryal, one of the Bewitched Persons wascast into Horror at the Ghost of _B's_ two Deceased Wives then appearingbefore him, and crying for _Vengeance_ against him. Hereupon several ofthe Bewitched Persons were successively called in, who all not knowingwhat the former had seen and said, concurred in their Horror of theApparition, which they affirmed that he had before him. But he, tho muchappalled, utterly deny'd that he discerned any thing of it; nor was itany part of his _Conviction_. 

IV. Judicious Writers have assigned it a great place in the Convictionof _Witches_, _when Persons are Impeached by other notorious Witches, tobe as ill as themselves; especially, if the Persons have been much notedfor neglecting the Worship of God_. Now, as there might have beenTestimonies enough of _G. B's_ Antipathy to _Prayer_, and the otherOrdinances of God, tho by his Profession, singularly Obliged thereunto;so, there now came in against the Prisoner, the Testimonies of severalPersons, who confessed their own having been horrible _Witches_, andever since their Confessions, had been themselves terribly Tortured bythe Devils and other Witches, even like the other Sufferers; and thereinundergone 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 thesnares of Witchcraft; That he promised them _Fine Cloaths_, for doingit; that he brought Poppets to them, and Thorns to stick into thosePoppets, for the Afflicting of other People; and that he exhorted themwith the rest of the Crew, to Bewitch all _Salem Village_, but besure todo it Gradually, if they would prevail in what they did. 

When the _Lancashire Witches_ were Condemn'd I don't remember that therewas any considerable further Evidence, than that of the Bewitched, andthan 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 whathad been already produced _credible_. 

V. A famous Divine recites this among the Convictions of a Witch; _TheTestimony of the party Bewitched, whether Pining or Dying; together withthe joint Oaths of sufficient Persons that have seen certain ProdigiousPranks or Feats wrought by the Party Accused. _ Now, God had been pleasedso to leave this _G. B. _ that he had ensnared himself by severalInstances, which he had formerly given of a Preternatural Strength, andwhich were now produced against him. He was a very Puny Man, yet he hadoften done things beyond the strength of a Giant. A Gun of about sevenfoot Barrel, and so heavy that strong Men could not steadily hold it outwith both hands; there were several Testimonies, given in by Persons ofCredit and Honor, that he made nothing of taking up such a Gun behindthe Lock, with but one hand, and holding it out like a Pistol, atArms-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 noneof the Spectators ever saw any such _Indian_; but they supposed, the_Black Man_, (as the Witches call the Devil; and they generally say heresembles an _Indian_) might give him that Assistance. There wasEvidence likewise brought in, that he made nothing of taking up wholeBarrels fill'd with _Malasses_ or _Cider_, in very disadvantageousPostures, and Carrying of them through the difficultest Places out of aCanoo to the Shore. 

Yea, there were two Testimonies, that _G. B. _ with only putting the ForeFinger of his Right hand into the Muzzle of an heavy Gun, aFowling-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 strongMen could not with both hands lift up, and hold out at the But-end, asis usual. Indeed, one of these Witnesses was over-perswaded by somePersons, to be out of the way upon _G. B's_ Tryal; but he cameafterwards with Sorrow for his withdraw, and gave in his Testimony: Norwere either of these Witnesses made use of as Evidences in the Trial. 

VI. There came in several Testimonies relating to the Domestick Affairsof _G. B. _ which had a very hard Aspect upon him; and not only prov'd hima very ill Man; but also confirmed the belief of the Character, whichhad been already fastned on him. 

'Twas testified, that keeping his two Successive Wives in a strange kindof Slavery, he would when he came home from abroad, pretend to tell theTalk which any had with them; That he has brought them to the point ofDeath, by his harsh Dealings with his Wives, and then made the Peopleabout him, to promise that in case Death should happen, they would saynothing 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 hisWives had privately complained unto the Neighbours about frightfulApparitions of Evil Spirits, with which their House was sometimesinfested; and that many such things have been whispered among theNeighbourhood. There were also some other Testimonies relating to theDeath of People whereby the Consciences of an Impartial Jury wereconvinced that _G. B. _ had Bewitched the Persons mentioned in theComplaints. But I am forced to omit several passages, in this as well asin all the succeeding Tryals, because the Scribes who took notice ofthem, 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 fortwo or three Miles to gather Straw-berries, _Ruck_ with his Sister, theWife of _G. B. _ Rode home very Softly, with _G. B. _ on Foot in theirCompany, _G. B. _ stept aside a little into the Bushes; whereupon theyhalted and Halloo'd for him. He not answering, they went away homewards, with a quickened pace, without expectation of seeing him in aconsiderable while; and yet when they were got near home, to theirAstonishment, they found him on foot with them, having a Basket ofStraw-berries. _G. B. _ immediately then fell to Chiding his Wife, on theaccount of what she had been speaking to her Brother, of him, on theRoad: which when they wondred at, he said, _He knew their thoughts. __Ruck_ being startled at that, made some Reply, intimating, that theDevil himself did not know so far; but _G. B. _ answered, _My God makesknown your Thoughts unto me. _ The Prisoner now at the Bar had nothing toanswer, unto what was thus witnessed against him, that was worthconsidering. Only he said, _Ruck, and his Wife left a Man with him, whenthey left him. _ Which _Ruck_ now affirm'd to be false; and when theCourt asked _G. B. _ _What the Man's Name was?_ his Countenance was muchaltered; nor could he say, who 'twas. But the Court began to think, thathe then step'd aside, only that by the assistance of the _Black Man_, hemight put on his _Invisibility_, and in that _Fascinating Mist_, gratifie his own Jealous Humour, to hear what they said of him. Whichtrick of rendring themselves _Invisible_, our Witches do in theirConfessions pretend, that they sometimes are Masters of; and it is themore credible, because there is Demonstration, that they often rendermany other things utterly _Invisible_. 

VIII. _Faltring, faulty, unconstant, and contrary Answers upon judicialand deliberate Examination_, are counted some unlucky Symptoms of Guilt, in all Crimes, especially in Witchcrafts. Now there never was a Prisonermore eminent for them, than _G. B. _ both at his Examination and on hisTrial. His _Tergiversations_, _Contradictions_, and _Falshoods_, werevery sensible: he had little to say, but that he had heard some thingsthat he could not prove, Reflecting upon the Reputation of some of theWitnesses. Only he gave in a Paper to the Jury; wherein, altho' he hadmany times before, granted, not only that there are _Witches_, butalso, that the present Sufferings of the Country are the effects of_horrible Witchcrafts_, yet he now goes to evince it, _That thereneither are, nor ever were Witches, that having made a Compact with theDevil, can send a Devil to Torment other people at a distance. _ ThisPaper was Transcribed out of _Ady_; which the Court presently knew, assoon as they heard it. But he said, he had taken none of it out of anyBook; for which, his Evasion afterwards, was, That a Gentleman gave himthe Discourse in a Manuscript, from whence he Transcribed it. 

IX. The Jury brought him in _Guilty_: But when he came to Die, heutterly 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 Casesusual. And pleading, _Not Guilty_, there were brought in severalpersons, who had long undergone many kinds of Miseries, which werepreternaturally inflicted, and generally ascribed unto an _horribleWitchcraft_. There was little occasion to prove the _Witchcraft_, itbeing evident and notorious to all beholders. Now to fix the_Witchcraft_ on the Prisoner at the Bar, the first thing used, was theTestimony of the _Bewitched_; whereof several testifi'd, That the_Shape_ of the Prisoner did oftentimes very grievously Pinch them, Choakthem, Bite them, and Afflict them; urging them to write their Names in a_Book_, which the said Spectre called, _Ours_. One of them did furthertestifie, that it was the _Shape_ of this Prisoner, with another, whichone 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, thatthe said _Shape_ did in her Threats brag to them that she had been theDeath of sundry Persons, then by her named; that she had _Ridden_ a Manthen likewise named. Another testifi'd, the Apparition of _Ghosts_ untothe Spectre of _Bishop_, crying out, _You Murdered us!_ About the Truthwhereof, there was in the Matter of Fact but too much suspicion. 

II. It was testifi'd, That at the Examination of the Prisoner before theMagistrates, the Bewitched were extreamly tortured. If she did but casther Eyes on them, they were presently struck down; and this in such amanner as there could be no Collusion in the Business. But upon theTouch of her Hand upon them, when they lay in their Swoons, they wouldimmediately Revive; and not upon the Touch of any ones else. Moreover, Upon some Special Actions of her Body, as the shaking of her Head, orthe turning of her Eyes, they presently and painfully fell into the likepostures. And many of the like Accidents now fell out, while she was atthe Bar. One at the same time testifying, That she said, _She could notbe troubled to see the afflicted thus tormented. _

III. There was Testimony likewise brought in, that a Man striking onceat the place, where a bewitched person said, the _Shape_ of this_Bishop_ stood, the bewitched cried out, _That he had tore her Coat_, inthe place then particularly specifi'd; and the Woman's Coat was found tobe Torn in that very place. 

IV. One _Deliverance Hobbs_, who had confessed her being a Witch, wasnow tormented by the Spectres, for her Confession. And she nowtestifi'd, That this _Bishop_ tempted her to Sign the _Book_ again, andto deny what she had confess'd. She affirm'd, That it was the Shape ofthis Prisoner, which whipped her with Iron Rods, to compel herthereunto. And she affirmed, that this _Bishop_ was at a General Meetingof the Witches, in a Field at _Salem_-Village, and there partook of aDiabolical 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 producedmany 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 thisPrisoner: which look'd on him, grinn'd at him, and very much hurt himwith a Blow on the side of the Head: and that on the same day, aboutNoon, the same _Shape_ walked in the Room where he was, and an Applestrangely flew out of his Hand, into the Lap of his Mother, six or eightFoot from him. 

VI. _Samuel Gray_ testifi'd, That about fourteen Years ago, he wak'd ona Night, and saw the Room where he lay full of Light; and that he thensaw plainly a Woman between the Cradle, and the Bed-side, which look'dupon 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 Garbagain; 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 Cradlegave a great Screech, and the Woman disappeared. It was long before theChild 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 asad Condition. He knew not _Bishop_, nor her Name; but when he saw herafter this, he knew by her Countenance, and Apparel, and allCircumstances, that it was the Apparition of this _Bishop_, which hadthus troubled him. 

VII. _John Bly_ and his Wife testifi'd, That he bought a Sow of _EdwardBishop_, the Husband of the Prisoner; and was to pay the Price agreed, unto another person. This Prisoner being angry that she was thus hindredfrom fingring the Mony, quarrell'd with _Bly_. Soon after which, the Sowwas taken with strange Fits; Jumping, Leaping, and Knocking her Headagainst the Fence; she seem'd Blind and Deaf, and would neither Eat norbe Suck'd. Whereupon a Neighbour said, she believed the Creature was_Over-looked_; and sundry other Circumstances concurred, which made theDeponents believe that _Bishop_ had bewitched it. 

VIII. _Richard Coman_ testifi'd, That eight Years ago, as he lay awakein his Bed, with a Light burning in the Room, he was annoy'd with theApparition of this _Bishop_, and of two more that were strangers to him, who came and oppressed him so, that he could neither stir himself, norwake any one else, and that he was the Night after, molested again inthe like manner; the said _Bishop_, taking him by the Throat, andpulling him almost out of the Bed. His Kinsman offered for this cause tolodge with him; and that Night, as they were awake, discoursingtogether, this _Coman_ was once more visited by the Guests which hadformerly been so troublesom; his Kinsman being at the same time struckspeechless, and unable to move Hand or Foot. He had laid his Sword byhim, 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 ofhis House; but altho' they heard him, yet they had not power to speak orstir; 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 _BridgetBishop_, often came to his House upon such frivolous and foolishErrands, that they suspected she came indeed with a purpose of mischief. Presently, whereupon, his eldest Child, which was of as promising Healthand Sense, as any Child of its Age, began to droop exceedingly; and theoftner that _Bishop_ came to the House, the worse grew the Child. As theChild would be standing at the Door, he would be thrown and bruisedagainst the Stones, by an invisible Hand, and in like sort knock hisFace against the sides of the House, and bruise it after a miserablemanner. Afterwards this _Bishop_ would bring him things to Dye, whereofhe could not imagin any use; and when she paid him a piece of Mony, thePurse and Mony were unaccountably conveyed out of a lock'd Box, andnever seen any more. The Child was immediately, hereupon, taken withterrible Fits, whereof his Friends thought he would have dyed: Indeed hedid almost nothing but Cry and Sleep for several Months together; and atlength his Understanding was utterly taken away. Among other Symptoms ofan 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 neverfetch him off. About 17 or 18 years after, there came a Stranger to_Shattock's_ House, who seeing the Child, said, _This poor Child isBewitched; 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 shesaid, in her Heart, your Wife is a proud Woman, and she would bring downher Pride in this Child. _ He then remembred, that _Bishop_ had partedfrom his Wife in muttering and menacing Terms, a little before the Childwas taken Ill. The abovesaid Stranger would needs carry the bewitchedBoy 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, whatdost thou bring this Fellow here to plague me?_ Now it seems the Man hadsaid, before he went, That he would fetch Blood of _her_. Ever after theBoy was follow'd with grievous Fits, which the Doctors themselvesgenerally ascribed unto _Witchcraft_; and wherein he would be thrownstill into the _Fire_ or the _Water_, if he were not constantly look'dafter; 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 Nightby Moonlight, and did see clearly the likeness of this Woman grievouslyoppressing him; in which miserable condition she held him, unable tohelp himself, till near Day. He told _Bishop_ of this; but she deny'dit, and threatned him very much. Quickly after this, being at home on aLords day, with the doors shut about him, he saw a black Pig approachhim; 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 andstand before him. The Body was like that of a Monkey, the Feet like aCocks, 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 aMessenger sent unto you, for I understand that you are in some Troubleof Mind, and if you will be ruled by me, you shall want for nothing inthis World. _ Whereupon he endeavoured to clap his Hands upon it; but hecould feel no substance; and it jumped out of the Window again; butimmediately 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, butstruck only the Ground, and broke the Stick: The Arm with which hestruck was presently Disenabled, and it vanished away. He presently wentout at the Back-door, and spied this _Bishop_, in her Orchard, goingtoward her House; but he had not power to set one foot forward untoher. Whereupon, returning into the House, he was immediately accosted bythe Monster he had seen before; which Goblin was now going to fly athim; whereat he cry'd out, _The whole Armour of God be between me andyou!_ So it sprang back, and flew over the Apple-tree; shaking manyApples off the Tree, in its flying over. At its leap, it flung Dirt withits Feet against the Stomack of the Man; whereon he was then struckDumb, and so continued for three Days together. Upon the producing ofthis Testimony, _Bishop_ deny'd that she knew this Deponent: Yet theirtwo Orchards joined; and they had often had their little Quarrels forsome years together. 

XI. _William Stacy_ testify'd, That receiving Mony of this _Bishop_, forwork done by him; he was gone but a matter of three Rods from her, andlooking for his Mony, found it unaccountably gone from him. Some timeafter, _Bishop_ asked him, whether her Father would grind her Grist forher? He demanded why? She reply'd, _Because Folks count me a Witch. _ Heanswered, _No question but he will grind it for you. _ Being then goneabout six Rods from her, with a small Load in his Cart, suddenly theOff-wheel stump'd, and sunk down into an hole, upon plain Ground; sothat the Deponent was forced to get help for the recovering of theWheel: But stepping back to look for the hole, which might give him thisDisaster, there was none at all to be found. Some time after, he waswaked in the Night; but it seem'd as light as day; and he perfectly sawthe shape of this _Bishop_ in the Room, troubling of him; but upon hergoing 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 Deponenthaving been threatned by _Bishop_, as he was in a dark Night going tothe Barn, he was very suddenly taken or lifted from the Ground, andthrown against a Stone-wall: After that, he was again hoisted up andthrown down a Bank, at the end of his House. After this again, passingby this _Bishop_, his Horse with a small Load, striving to draw, all hisGears flew to pieces, and the Cart fell down; and this Deponent goingthen to lift a Bag of Corn, of about two Bushels, could not budge itwith 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 theInstrument 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 beingemploy'd by _Bridget Bishop_, to help to take down the Cellar-wall ofthe old House wherein she formerly lived, they did in holes of the saidold Wall, find several _Poppets_, made up of Rags and Hogs-bristles, with headless Pins in them, the Points being outward; whereof she couldgive no Account unto the Court, that was reasonable or tolerable. 

XIII. One thing that made against the Prisoner was, her being evidentlyconvicted of _gross Lying_ in the Court, several times, while she wasmaking her Plea; but besides this, a Jury of Women found a preternaturalTeat 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 otherPeople whom this Woman had Afflicted; and there might have been manymore, 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 wasnewly entertained. As this Woman was under a Guard, passing by the greatand spacious Meeting-house of _Salem_, she gave a look towards theHouse: And immediately a _Dæmon_ invisibly entring the Meeting-house, tore down a part of it; so that tho' there was no Person to be seenthere, yet the People, at the noise, running in, found a Board, whichwas strongly fastned with several Nails, transported unto anotherquarter 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 Evidencesof many Persons very sensibly and grievously Bewitched; who allcomplained of the Prisoner at the Bar, as the Person whom they believedthe cause of their Miseries. And now, as well as in the other Trials, there was an extraordinary Endeavour by _Witchcrafts_, with Cruel andfrequent Fits, to hinder the poor Sufferers from giving in theirComplaints, which the Court was forced with much Patience to obtain, bymuch waiting and watching for it. 

II. There was now also an account given of what passed at her firstExamination before the Magistrates. The Cast of her _Eye_, then strikingthe afflicted People to the Ground, whether they saw that Cast or no;there were these among other Passages between the Magistrates and theExaminate. 

_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 theyare 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 asI. 

_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 hurtthese?

_Martin. _ How do I know? He that appeared in the Shape of _Samuel_, aglorified Saint, may appear in any ones Shape. 

It was then also noted in her, as in others like her, that if theAfflicted 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 maybe, the Devil bears me more Malice than another. _

III. The Court accounted themselves, alarum'd by these Things, toenquire further into the Conversation of the Prisoner; and see whatthere 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 requestof this _Martin_, she was displeased at it; and said, _It had been asgood 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 theBridge, 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 thenput his Oxen, with many more, upon _Salisbury_ Beach, where Cattle diduse to get _Flesh_. In a few days, all the Oxen upon the Beach werefound 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 whollyDiabolical, till they came near the mouth of _Merrimack-River_; whenthey ran right into the Sea, swimming as far as they could be seen. Oneof them then swam back again, with a swiftness, amazing to theBeholders, who stood ready to receive him, and help up his tiredCarcass: But the Beast ran furiously up into the Island, and fromthence, thorough the Marshes, up into _Newbury_ Town, and so up into theWoods; and there after a while found near _Amesbury_. So that, offourteen good Oxen, there was only this saved: The rest were all castup, 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 shouldhave it. Going to receive this Cow, tho he Hamstring'd her, and Halter'dher, she, of a Tame Creature, grew so mad, that they could scarce gether along. She broke all the Ropes that were fastned unto her, andthough she were ty'd fast unto a Tree, yet she made her escape, and gavethem such further trouble, as they could ascribe to no cause butWitchcraft. 

V. _Bernard Peache_ testifi'd, That being in Bed, on the Lord's-dayNight, he heard a scrabbling at the Window, whereat he then saw _SusannaMartin_ come in, and jump down upon the Floor. She took hold of thisDeponent's Feet, and drawing his Body up into an Heap, she lay upon himnear Two Hours; in all which time he could neither speak nor stir. Atlength, when he could begin to move, he laid hold on her Hand, andpulling 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, outat the Door. This Deponent thereupon called unto the People of theHouse, 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 theDoor, there was a drop of Blood found upon it; and several more drops ofBlood upon the Snow newly fallen abroad: There was likewise the print ofher 2 Feet just without the Threshold; but no more sign of any Footingfurther off. 

At another time this Deponent was desired by the Prisoner, to come untoan Husking of Corn, at her House; and she said, _If he did not come, itwere better that he did!_ He went not; but the Night following, _SusannaMartin_, 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. TheRoof of the Barn, broke his Blow; but following them to the Window, hemade another Blow at them, and struck them down; yet they got up, andgot out, and he saw no more of them. 

About this time, there was a Rumour about the Town, that _Martin_ had aBroken 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 agoprosecuted at Court for a Witch, he then said unto her, _He believed shewas a Witch. _ Whereat she being dissatisfied, said, _That some She-Devilwould shortly fetch him away!_ Which words were heard by others, as wellas himself. The Night following, as he lay in his Bed, there came in atthe Window, the likeness of a _Cat_, which flew upon him, took fast holdof his Throat, lay on him a considerable while, and almost killed him. At length he remembred what _Susanna Martin_ had threatned the Daybefore; and with much striving he cried out, _Avoid, thou She-Devil! Inthe 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 hadrelated, _How this +Downer+ had been handled_!

VII. _John Kembal_ testified, that _Susanna Martin_, upon a CauselessDisgust, had threatned him, about a certain Cow of his, _That she shouldnever do him any more Good:_ and it came to pass accordingly. For soonafter the Cow was found stark dead on the dry Ground, without anyDistemper to be discerned upon her. Upon which he was followed with astrange Death upon more of his Cattle, whereof he lost in one Spring tothe Value of Thirty Pounds. But the said _John Kembal_ had a furtherTestimony to give in against the Prisoner which was truly admirable. 

Being desirous to furnish himself with a Dog, he applied himself to buyone of this _Martin_, who had a Bitch with Whelps in her House. But shenot letting him have his choice, he said, he would supply himself thenat 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 askedhim, _Whether he would not have one of his Wife's Puppies?_ and heanswered, _No. _ The same Day, one _Edmond Eliot_, being at _Martin's_House, heard _George Martin_ relate, where this _Kembal_ had been, andwhat 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 ableto avoid running upon the stumps of Trees, that were before him, albeithe had a broad, plain Cart-way, before him; but tho' he had his Ax alsoon his Shoulder to endanger him in his Falls, he could not forbear goingout of his way to tumble over them. When he came below the MeetingHouse, there appeared unto him, a little thing like a _Puppy_, of aDarkish Colour; and it shot backwards and forwards between his Legs. Hehad the Courage to use all possible Endeavours of Cutting it with hisAx; 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, thereappeared unto him a Black Puppy, somewhat bigger than the first, but asBlack as a Cole. Its Motions were quicker than those of his Ax; it flewat his Belly, and away; then at his Throat; so, over his Shoulder oneway, and then over his Shoulder another way. His Heart now began to failhim, and he thought the Dog would have tore his Throat out. But herecovered himself, and called upon God in his Distress; and naming theName of JESUS CHRIST, it vanished away at once. The Deponent spoke notone Word of these Accidents, for fear of affrighting his Wife. But thenext Morning, _Edmond Eliot_, going into _Martin's_ House, this Womanasked him where Kembal was? He replied, _At home, a Bed, for ought heknew. _ She returned, _They say, he was frighted last Night. _ Eliotasked, _With what?_ She answered, _With Puppies. _ _Eliot_ asked, _Whereshe heard of it, for he had heard nothing of it?_ She rejoined, _Aboutthe Town. _ Altho' _Kembal_ had mentioned the Matter to no Creatureliving. 

VIII. _William Brown_ testifi'd, That Heaven having blessed him with amost Pious and Prudent Wife, this Wife of his, one day met with _SusannaMartin_; but when she approach'd just unto her, _Martin_ vanished out ofsight, and left her extreamly affrighted. After which time, the said_Martin_ often appear'd unto her, giving her no little trouble; and whenshe did come, she was visited with Birds, that sorely peck'd and prick'dher; and sometimes, a Bunch, like a Pullet's Egg, would rise in herThroat, ready to choak her, till she cry'd out, _Witch, you shan't choakme!_ While this good Woman was in this extremity, the Church appointed aDay of Prayer, on her behalf; whereupon her Trouble ceas'd; she saw not_Martin_ as formerly; and the Church, instead of their Fast, gave Thanksfor her Deliverance. But a considerable while after, she being Summonedto give in some Evidence at the Court, against this _Martin_, quicklythereupon, 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 themiserablest Creature in the World. _ Soon after which, she fell into astrange kind of distemper, and became horribly frantick, and uncapableof any reasonable Action; the Physicians declaring, that her Distemperwas preternatural, and that some Devil had certainly bewitched her; andin 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 shewas; nor could it be perceived that so much as the Soles of her Shoeswere wet. _Atkinson_ was amazed at it; and professed, that she shouldher 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 thisTestimony upon her Trial, cast her in a very singular Confusion. 

X. _John Pressy_ testify'd, That being one Evening very unaccountablyBewildred, near a Field of _Martins_, and several times, as one under anEnchantment, returning to the place he had left, at length he saw amarvellous Light, about the bigness of an Half-bushel, near two Rod, outof the way. He went, and struck at it with a Stick, and laid it on withall his might. He gave it near forty blows; and felt it a palpablesubstance. But going from it, his Heels were struck up, and he was laidwith his Back on the Ground, sliding, as he thought, into a Pit; fromwhence he recover'd by taking hold on the Bush; altho' afterwards hecould find no such Pit in the place. Having, after his Recovery, gonefive or six Rod, he saw _Susanna Martin_ standing on his Left-hand, asthe 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 homeextreamly affrighted. The next day, it was upon Enquiry understood, that_Martin_ was in a miserable condition by pains and hurts that were uponher. 

It was further testify'd by this Deponent, That after he had given insome Evidence against _Susanna Martin_, many years ago, she gave himfoul 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. _ Andthat from that very day to this, namely for twenty years together, hecould never exceed that number; but some strange thing or other stillprevented his having any more. 

XI. _Jervis Ring_ testify'd, That about seven years ago, he wasoftentimes and grievously oppressed in the Night, but saw not whotroubled him; until at last he Lying perfectly Awake, plainly saw_Susanna Martin_ approach him. She came to him, and forceably bit him bythe Finger; so that the Print of the bite is now, so long after, to beseen upon him. 

XII. But besides all of these Evidences, there was a most wonderfulAccount 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 onequarter of this time, they have made him, and keep him Dumb, tho' he isnow again able to speak. There was one _T. H. _ who having, as 'tisjudged, 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, untounknown Places, where he saw Meetings, Feastings, Dancings; and afterhis return, wherein they hurried him along through the Air, he gaveDemonstrations to the Neighbours, that he had indeed been sotransported. When he was brought unto these hellish Meetings, one of thefirst Things they still did unto him, was to give him a knock on theBack, whereupon he was ever as if bound with Chains, uncapable ofstirring out of the place, till they should release him. He related, that there often came to him a Man, who presented him a _Book_, wheretohe would have him set his Hand; promising to him, that he should thenhave even what he would; and presenting him with all the delectableThings, Persons, and Places, that he could imagin. But he refusing tosubscribe, the business would end with dreadful Shapes, Noises andScreeches, 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, thatseemed like Blood: But he never toucht it. 

This Man did now affirm, That he saw the Prisoner at several of thosehellish Randezvouzes. 

Note, this Woman was one of the most impudent, scurrilous, wickedCreatures 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 shehad to say for her self? Her chief Plea was, _That she had lead a mostvirtuous 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 ofthe Courts in _England_, in such Cases, began with hearing theDepositions of several afflicted People, who were grievously tortured bysensible and evident _Witchcrafts_, and all complained of the Prisoner, as the cause of their Trouble. It was also found that the Sufferers werenot able to bear her _Look_, as likewise, that in their greatest Swoons, they distinguished her _Touch_ from other Peoples, being thereby raisedout 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 thesame time that the _Spectres_, representing the _Witches_, troubledthem, to be visited with Apparitions of _Ghosts_, pretending to havebeen Murdered by the _Witches_ then represented. And sometimes theConfessions of the Witches afterwards acknowledged those very Murders, which these _Apparitions_ charged upon them; altho' they had never heardwhat Informations had been given by the Sufferers. 

There were such Apparitions of Ghosts testified by some of the presentSufferers; 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 thatHoly Society, partly through a suspicion of Witchcraft, then urgedagainst her. And there now came in Testimony, of preternaturalMischiefs, presently befalling some that had been Instrumental to debarher from the Communion whereupon she was intruding. 

IV. There was a particular Deposition of _Joseph Stafford_, That hisWife had conceived an extream Aversion to this _How_, on the Reports ofher 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 andunperswadeably, even like one Enchanted, began to take this Woman'spart. _How_ being soon after propounded, as desiring an Admission to theTable of the Lord, some of the pious Brethren were unsatisfy'd abouther. The Elders appointed a Meeting to hear Matters objected againsther; and no Arguments in the World could hinder this Goodwife _Stafford_from going to the Lecture. She did indeed promise, with much ado, thatshe would not go to the Church-meeting, yet she could not refrain goingthither also. _How's_ Affairs there were so canvased, that she came offrather _Guilty_ than _Cleared_; nevertheless Goodwife _Stafford_ couldnot forbear taking her by the Hand, and saying, _Tho' you are Condemnedbefore Men, you are Justify'd before God. _ She was quickly taken in avery strange manner, Ranting, Raving, Raging and crying out, _Goody+How+ must come into the Church; she is a precious Saint; and tho' shebe condemned before Men, she is Justify'd before God. _ So she continuedfor the space of two or three Hours; and then fell into a Trance. Butcoming to her self, she cry'd out, _Ha! I was mistaken;_ and afterwardsagain repeated, _Ha! I was mistaken!_ Being asked by a stander by, _Wherein?_ she replyed, _I thought Goody +How+ had been a precious Saintof God, but now I see she is a Witch: She has bewitched me, and myChild, 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, thatshe 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 herefusing to accompany the Prisoner unto her Examination, as was by herdesired, immediately some of his Cattle were Bewitched to Death, leapingthree or four foot high, turning about, speaking, falling, and dying atonce; and going to cut off an Ear, for an use, that might as wellperhaps have been omitted, the Hand wherein he held his Knife was takenvery numb, and so it remained, and full of Pain, for several Days, beingnot well at this very Time. And he suspected the Prisoner for the Authorof it. 

VI. _Nehemiah Abbot_ testify'd, that unusual and mischievous Accidentswould befal his Cattle, whenever he had any Difference with thisPrisoner. Once, particularly, she wished his Ox choaked; and within alittle while that Ox was choaked with a Turnep in his Throat. At anotherTime, refusing to lend his Horse, at the Request of her Daughter, theHorse was in a preternatural manner abused. And several other odd thingsof that kind were testified. 

VII. There came in Testimony, that one Good-wife _Sherwin_, upon someDifference with _How_, was Bewitched; and that she dyed, charging this_How_ with having an Hand in her Death. And that other People had theirBarrels of Drink unaccountably mischieved, spoil'd and spilt, upon theirdispleasing of her. 

The things in themselves were trivial, but there being such a Course ofthem, it made them the more considered. Among others, _Martha Wood_, gave her Testimony, That a little after her Father had been employed ingathering an account of _How's_ Conversation, they once and again lostgreat Quantities of Drink out of their Vessels, in such a manner, asthey could ascribe to nothing but Witchcraft. As also, That _How_ givingher some Apples, when she had eaten of them, she was taken with a verystrange kind of Amaze, insomuch that she knew not what she said or did. 

VIII. There was likewise a Cluster of Depositions, That one _IsaacCummings_ refusing to lend his Mare unto the Husband of this _How_, theMare was within a Day or two taken in a strange condition: The Beastseemed much abused, being bruised as if she had been running over theRocks, and marked where the Bridle went, as if burnt with a red hotBridle. Moreover, one using a Pipe of Tobacco for the Cure of theBeast, a blue Flame issued out of her, took hold of her Hair, and notonly spread and burnt on her, but it also flew upwards towards the Roofof the Barn, and had like to have set the Barn on Fire: And the Maredyed very suddenly. 

IX. _Timothy Pearley_ and his Wife, testifyd, Not only unaccountableMischiefs befel their Cattle, upon their having of Differences with thisPrisoner: but also that they had a Daughter destroyed by Witchcrafts;which Daughter still charged _How_ as the Cause of her Affliction. Andit was noted, that she would be struck down whenever _How_ were spokenof. She was often endeavoured to be thrown into the Fire, and into theWater, in her strange Fits: Tho' her Father had corrected her forcharging _How_ with bewitching her, yet (as was testified by othersalso) she said, She was sure of it, and must dye standing to it. Accordingly she charged _How_ to the very Death; and said, _Tho' Howcould afflict and torment her Body, yet she could not hurt her Soul:_And, _That the Truth of this matter would appear, when she should bedead 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 _JohnPearly_ to assist him. This Prisoner then told _Lane_, That she believedthe Posts and Rails would not do, because _John Pearly_ helped him; butthat if he had got them alone, without _John Pearly's_ help, they mighthave done well enough. When _James How_ came to receive his Posts andRails of _Lane_, _How_ taking them up by the Ends, they, tho' good andsound, yet unaccountably broke off, so that _Lane_ was forced to getthirty 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 hadbeen baptized by the Devil in the River, at _Newbury_-Falls: beforewhich he made them there kneel down by the Brink of the River andworshiped 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 herIndictment; there were first brought in a considerable number of thebewitched Persons; who not only made the Court sensible of an horridWitchcraft committed upon them, but also deposed, That it was _MarthaCarrier_, or her Shape, that grievously tormented them, by Biting, Pricking, Pinching and Choaking of them. It was further deposed, Thatwhile this _Carrier_ was on her Examination, before the Magistrates, thePoor People were so tortured that every one expected their Death uponthe 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 themagain: Which Things were also now seen upon her Tryal. And it wastestified, That upon the mention of some having their Necks twistedalmost round, by the Shape of this _Carrier_, she replyed, _Its nomatter though their Necks had been twisted quite off. _

II. Before the Trial of this Prisoner, several of her own Children hadfrankly and fully confessed, not only that they were Witches themselves, but that this their Mother had made them so. This Confession they madewith 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 whatthey said. Nevertheless, this Evidence was not produced against thePrisoner at the Bar, inasmuch as there was other Evidence enough toproceed upon. 

III. _Benjamin Abbot_ gave his Testimony, That last March was atwelvemonth, this _Carrier_ was very angry with him, upon laying outsome 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 asDoctor +Prescot+ should never cure him. _ These Words were heard byothers besides _Abbot_ himself; who also heard her say, _She would holdhis Nose as close to the Grindstone as ever it was held since his Namewas +Abbot+. _ Presently after this, he was taken with a Swelling in hisFoot, and then with a Pain in his Side, and exceedingly tormented. Itbred into a Sore, which was launced by Doctor _Prescot_, and severalGallons of Corruption ran out of it. For six Weeks it continued verybad, and then another Sore bred in the Groin, which was also lanced byDoctor _Prescot_. Another Sore then bred in his Groin, which waslikewise cut, and put him to very great Misery: He was brought untoDeath's Door, and so remained until _Carrier_ was taken, and carriedaway by the Constable, from which very Day he began to mend, and so grewbetter every Day, and is well ever since. 

_Sarah Abbot_ also, his Wife, testified, That her Husband was not onlyall this while Afflicted in his Body, but also that strangeextraordinary and unaccountable Calamities befel his Cattel; their Deathbeing such as they could guess at no Natural Reason for. 

IV. _Allin Toothaker_ testify'd, That _Richard_, the son of _MarthaCarrier_, having some difference with him, pull'd him down by the Hairof the Head. When he Rose again, he was going to strike at _RichardCarrier_; but fell down flat on his Back to the ground, and had notpower to stir hand or foot, until he told _Carrier_ he yielded; and thenhe saw the shape of _Martha Carrier_, go off his breast. 

This _Toothaker_, had Received a wound in the _Wars_; and he nowtestify'd, that _Martha Carrier_ told him, _He should never be Cured. _Just afore the Apprehending of _Carrier_, he could thrust a knittingNeedle into his wound, four inches deep; but presently after her beingsiezed, he was throughly healed. 

He further testify'd, that when _Carrier_ and he sometimes were atvariance, she would clap her hands at him, and say, _He should getnothing by it;_ whereupon he several times lost his Cattle, by strangeDeaths, whereof no natural causes could be given. 

V. _John Rogger_ also testifyed, That upon the threatning words of thismalicious _Carrier_, his Cattle would be strangely bewitched; as wasmore particularly then described. 

VI. _Samuel Preston_ testify'd, that about two years ago, having somedifference with _Martha Carrier_, he lost a _Cow_ in a strangePreternatural unusual manner; and about a month after this, the said_Carrier_, having again some difference with him, she told him; _He hadlately 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 theapprehension of _Martha Carrier_, on a Lords-day, while the Psalm wassinging in the _Church_, this _Carrier_ then took her by the shoulderand shaking her, asked her, _where she lived_: she made her no Answer, although as _Carrier_, who lived next door to her Fathers House, couldnot in reason but know who she was. Quickly after this, as she was atseveral times crossing the Fields, she heard a voice, that she took tobe _Martha Carriers_, and it seem'd as if it was over her head. Thevoice 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 forsome dayes; and several times since, she has had a great pain in herbreast; and been so siezed on her leggs, that she has hardly been ableto 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 isabovesaid, began to pain her greatly, and she had a strange Burning ather stomach; but was then struck deaf, so that she could not hear any ofthe prayer, or singing, till the two or three last words of the Psalm. 

VIII. One _Foster_, who confessed her own share in the Witchcraft forwhich the Prisoner stood indicted, affirm'd, that she had seen theprisoner at some of their _Witch-meetings_, and that it was this_Carrier_, who perswaded her to be a Witch. She confessed, that theDevil 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 thenreceived an hurt by the Fall, whereof she was not at this very timerecovered. 

IX. One _Lacy_, who likewise confessed her share in this Witchcraft, nowtestify'd, that she and the prisoner were once Bodily present at a_Witch-meeting_ in _Salem Village_; and that she knew the prisoner to bea Witch, and to have been at a Diabolical sacrament, and that theprisoner was the undoing of her, and her Children, by enticing them intothe snare of the Devil. 

X. Another _Lacy_, who also confessed her share in this Witchcraft, nowtestify'd, that the prisoner was at the _Witch-meeting_, in _SalemVillage_, where they had Bread and Wine Administred unto them. 

XI. In the time of this prisoners Trial, one _Susanna Sheldon_, in openCourt had her hands Unaccountably ty'd together with a Wheel-band, sofast 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, ofwhom the Confessions of the Witches, and of her own Children among therest, agreed, That the Devil had promised her, she should be _Queen ofHeb_. 

Having thus far done the Service imposed upon me; I will further pursueit, by relating a few of those Matchless CURIOSITIES, with which the_Witchcraft_ now upon us, has entertained us. And I shall Report nothingbut with Good Authority, and what I would invite all my Readers toexamine, while 'tis yet Fresh and New, that if there be found anymistake, 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 thosematters, whereof the Confessions of our _Witches_, and the Afflictionsof our _Sufferers_ have informed us. 

That Reverend and Excellent Person, Mr. _John Higginson_, in myConversation with him, Once invited me to this Reflection; that theIndians which came from far to settle about _Mexico_, were in theirProgress to that Settlement, under a Conduct of the _Devil_, verystrangely Emulating what the Blessed God gave to _Israel_ in theWilderness. 

_Acosta_, is our Author for it, that the Devil in their Idol_Vitzlipultzli_, governed that mighty Nation. 'He commanded them toleave their Country, promising to make them _Lords_ over all theProvinces possessed by _Six_ other Nations of Indians, and give them aLand abounding with all precious things. They went forth, carrying theirIdol with them, in a Coffer of _Reeds_, supported by Four of theirPrincipal _Priests_; with whom he still _Discoursed_ in secret, Revealing to them the Successes, and Accidents of their way. He advisedthem, when to _March_, and where to _Stay_, and without his Commandmentthey moved not. The first thing they did, where-ever they came, was toErect a _Tabernacle_, for their false god; which they set always in themidst of their Camp, and they placed the _Ark_ upon an _Alter_. Whenthey, Tired with pains, talked of, _proceeding no further_ in theirJourney, than a certain pleasant Stage, whereto they were arrived, thisDevil in one Night, horribly kill'd them that had started this Talk, bypulling 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 _OldTestament_, now among _Us_ would Imitate the Affairs of the Church inthe _New_. The _Witches_ do say, that they form themselves much afterthe manner of _Congregational Churches_; and that they have a _Baptism_and a _Supper_, and _Officers_ among them, abominably Resembling thoseof our Lord. 

But there are many more of these Bloody _Imitations_, if the Confessionsof the _Witches_ are to be Received; which I confess, ought to be butwith very much Caution. 

What is their stricking down with a fierce _Look_? What is their makingof the Afflicted _Rise_, with a touch of their _Hand_? What is theirTransportation 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 theirInstruments with _Invisibility_? But a Blasphemous Imitation of certainThings recorded about our Saviour or His Prophets, or the Saints in theKingdom of God. 

A SECOND CURIOSITIE. 

II. In all the _Witchcraft_ which now Grievously Vexes us, I know notwhether anything be more Unaccountable, than the Trick which the Witcheshave 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 _EvilSpirits_. Yet one would wonder how the _Evil Spirits_ themselves can dosome things; especially at _Invisibilizing_ of the Grossest Bodies. Ican 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 Nameof another Ancient Author, who pretends to Explode that way. But I willnot speak too plainly Lest I should unawares Poison some of my_Readers_, as the pious _Hemingius_ did one of his _Pupils_, when heonly by way of Diversion recited a _Spell_, which, they had said, wouldcure _Agues_. This much I will say; The notion of procuring_Invisibility_, by any _Natural Expedient_, yet known, is, I Believe, ameer PLINYISM; How far it may be obtained by a _Magical Sacrament_, isbest 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 makeme think, _Witchcraft_ will not be fully understood, until the day whenthere shall not be one Witch in the World. 

There are certain people very _Dogmatical_ about these matters; but I'llgive 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 bodyelse in the Room, could see either the _Spectre_ or the _spindle_. Atlast, 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 otherpeople then present, beheld, that it was indeed a Real, Proper, Iron_spindle_, belonging they knew to whom; which when they lock'd up verysafe, it was nevertheless by _Demons_ unaccountably stole away, to dofurther mischief. 

Secondly, Another of our bewitched people, was haunted with a mostabusive _Spectre_, which came to her, she said, with a _sheet_ abouther. 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. HerFather, who was now holding her, catch'd that he might keep what hisDaughter had so strangely siezed, but the unseen _Spectre_ had like tohave pull'd his hand off, by endeavouring to wrest it from him; howeverhe still held it, and I suppose has it, still to show; it being but afew hours ago, namely about the beginning of this _October_, that thisAccident 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 himto do that service for them, was quickly pursued with oddInconveniences. But once above the Rest, an Officer going to put his_Brand_ on the Horns of some _Cows_, belonging to these people, whichtho' he had siez'd for some of their debts, yet he was willing to leavein their possession, for the subsistance of the poor Family; this youngman 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 theFourth, he _winc'd_ and _shrunk_ at such a Rate, as that he could holdthe 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 hehas 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 ofthe _Witchcrafts_ among us, how unhappy are we! For which cause, Icannot express my self in better terms, than those of a most WorthyPerson, who lives near the present Center of these things. _The Mind of+God+ in these matters, is to be carefully lookt into, with dueCircumspection, that Satan deceive us not with his Devices, whotransforms himself into an Angel of Light, and may pretend justice andyet intend mischief. _ But on the other side, if the storm of Justice donow 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 immediatelyattended, with a strange Deliverance of some, that had lain for manyyears, in a most sad Condition, under, they knew not whose _evil hands_. As I am abundantly satisfy'd, That many of the Self-Murders committedhere, have been the effects of a Cruel and Bloody _Witchcraft_, lettingfly _Demons_ upon the miserable _Seneca's_; thus, it has been admirableunto 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 ofthe Witches. 

One _Whetford_ particularly ten years ago, challenging of _BridgetBishop_ (whose Trial you have had) with steeling of a Spoon, _Bishop_threatned her very direfully: presently after this, was _Whetford_ inthe Night, and in her Bed, visited by _Bishop_, with one _Parker_, whomaking the Room light at their coming in, there discoursed of severalmischiefs they would inflict upon her. At last they pull'd her out, andcarried her unto the Sea-side, there to _drown_, her; but she callingupon God, they left her, tho' not without Expressions of their Fury. From that very time, this poor _Whetford_ was utterly spoilt, and grew aTempted, Froward, Crazed sort of a Woman; a vexation to her self, andall about her; and many ways unreasonable. In this Distraction she lay, till those women were Apprehended, by the Authority; _then_ she began tomend; 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 wonderfulthings, wherein the Wisdom and Justice of God, would be Glorify'd. Someof those things, are the frequent \Apparitions\ of Ghosts, whereby manyOld \Murders\ among us, come to be considered. And, among many instancesof 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. Ishall make an Extract of a Letter, which was written to my HonourableFriend, _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 littleRespite. Whereupon there appeared unto her (she said) a man in a WindingSheet, 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 hearkento 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 Juryhad found the Murder, and that her Father knew the man, and the thingwas done before she was born. Now Sir, This is not a little strange tous; that no body should Remember these things, all the while that _GilesCory_ was in Prison, and so often before the Court. For all people nowRemember very well, (and the Records of the Court also mention it, ) Thatabout Seventeen Years ago, _Giles Cory_ kept a man in his House, thatwas almost a Natural Fool: which Man Dy'd suddenly. A Jury wasimpannel'd upon him, among whom was Dr. _Zorobbabel Endicot_; who foundthe man bruised to Death, and having clodders of Blood about his Heart. The Jury, whereof several are yet alive brought in the man Murdered; butas if some Enchantment had hindred the Prosecution of the Matter, theCourt Proceeded not against _Giles Cory_, tho' it cost him a great dealof Mony to get off. ' Thus the Story. 

_The Reverend and Worthy Author, having at the Direction of HisEXCELLENCY the Governour, so far Obliged the Publick, as to give someAccount of the Sufferings brought upon the Countrey by +Witchcraft+; andof the Tryals which have passed upon several Executed for the Same:_

_Upon Perusal thereof, We find the Matters of Fact and Evidence, Trulyreported. And a Prospect given, of the +Methods of Conviction+, used inthe Proceedings of the Court at +Salem+_

 Boston Octob. 11. William Stoughton 1692. Samuel Sewall. 

But is _New-England_, the only Christian Countrey, that hath undergonesuch Diabolical Molestations? No, there are other Good people, that havein this way been harassed; but none in circumstances more like to_Ours_, than the people of God, in _Sweedland_. The story is a veryFamous one; and it comes to Speak English by the Acute Pen of theExcellent and Renowned Dr. _Horneck_. I shall only single out a few ofthe more Memorable passages therein Occurring; and where it agrees withwhat happened among ourselves, my Reader shall understand, by myinserting 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, thatHundreds of their Children, were usually in the Night fetcht from theirLodgings, to a Diabolical Rendezvouz, at a place they called, _Blockula_, where the Monsters that so Spirited them, \Tempted\ them allmanner of Ways to \Associate\ with them. Yea, such was the perillousGrowth of this _Witchcraft_, that Persons of Quality began to send theirChildren 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, wasdelivered upon the Execution of the _Witches_. 

III. The \Examination\, was begun with a Day of \Humiliation\; appointedby Authority. Whereupon the Commissioners \Consulting\, how they mightresist such a Dangerous Flood, the \Suffering Children\, were firstExamined; 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 atlength many of them ingeniously \Confessed\ the Truth of what thechildren 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, inother places had confessed. 

IV. They confessed, that they did use to \Call upon\ the \Devil\, whothereupon would \Carry\ them away, over the Tops of Houses, to a GreenMeadow, 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 awaytheir children upon Beasts, of the Devils providing: promising \FineCloaths\ 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 ofMischief. They said, they made use of all sorts of \Instruments\ in theirJourneys! Of \Men\, of \Beasts\, of \Posts\; the _Men_ they commonly laidasleep at the place, whereto they rode them; and if the childrenmentioned the \Names\ of them that stole them away, they were miserably\Scurged\ for it, until some of them were killed. The \Judges\ found themarks of the Lashes on some of them; but the Witches said, \They wouldQuickly vanish\. Moreover the Children would be in \strange Fits\, afterthey were brought Home from these Transportations. 

VI. The \First Thing\, they said, they were to do at _Blockula_, was togive 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 Devilgave \Meat\ and \Drink\, as to _Them_, so to the Children they broughtwith them: that afterwards their Custom was to _Dance_ before him; and_swear_ and _curse_ most horribly; they said, that the Devil show'd thema great, Frightful, Cruel _Dragon_, telling them, \If they confessed anyThing\, he would let loose that Great Devil upon them; they added, thatthe Devil had a \Church\, and that when the \Judges\ were coming, hetold 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 diduse 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 beendone 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 withwhat kind of \Enchanted Tools\, they did their Mischiefs. They soughtespecially to \kill the Minister\ of _Elfdale_, but could not. But some ofthem said, that such as they wounded, would \Be recovered\, upon or beforetheir 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 veryTerrible unto them, threatning with an \Iron Fork\, to thrust them intoa Burning Pit, if they persisted in their Confession. 

X. There were discovered no less than _threescore and ten_ Witches inOne Village, \three and twenty\ of which \freely confessing\ their Crimes, were condemned to dy. The rest, (\One\ pretending she was with Child) weresent to _Fahluna_, where most of them were afterwards executed. FifteenChildren, which confessed themselves engaged in this Witchery, dyed asthe rest. Six and Thirty of them between _nine_ and _sixteen_ years ofAge, who had been less guilty, were forced to run the Gantlet, and belashed on their hands once a Week, for a year together; twenty more whohad less inclination to these Infernal enterprises, were lashed withRods upon their Hands for three Sundays together, at the Church door;the number of the seduced Children, was about three hundred. Thiscourse, 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, inhis preface to this Narrative, says he, _there is no Public Calamity, but some ill people, will serve themselves of the sad providence, andmake use of it for their own ends; as +Thieves+ when an house or town ison fire, will steal what they can. _ And he mentions a Remarkable Storyof a young Woman, at _Stockholm_, in the year 1676, Who accused her ownMother of being a Witch; and swore positively, that she had carried heraway in the Night; the poor Woman was burnt upon it: professing herinnocency to the last. But tho' she had been an Ill Woman, yet itafterwards prov'd that she was not _such_ an one; for her Daughter cameto the Judges, with hideous Lamentations, Confessing, That she hadwronged her Mother, out of a wicked spite against her; whereupon theJudges gave order for her Execution too. 

But, so much of these things; And, now, _Lord, make these Labours of thyServant, Profitable to thy People. _

MATTER OMITTED IN THE TRIALS. 

Nineteen Witches have been Executed at _New-England_, one of them was aMinister, and two Ministers more are Accus'd. There is a hundred Witchesmore in Prison, which broke Prison, and about two Hundred more areAccus'd, some Men of great Estates in _Boston_, have been accus'd for_Witchcraft_. Those Hundred now in Prison accus'd for Witches, wereCommitted by fifty of themselves being _Witches_, some of _Boston_, butmost about _Salem_, and the Towns Adjacent. Mr. _Increase Mather_ hasPublished a Book about _Witchcraft_, occasioned by the late Trials ofWitches, 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 asNeedful 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_, anda Tempting _World_, which would seduce us from Our Obedience to the Lawsof 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 applythe Multitudes of _Temptations_, whereby Mankind is daily diverted fromthe Service of God; No, the _High Places_ of Our Air, are Swarming fullof those _Wicked Spirits_, whose Temptations trouble us; they are somany, that it seems no less than a _Legion_, or more than twelvethousands may be spared, for the Vexation of one miserable man. Butbecause those Apostate Angels, are all _United_, under one InfernalMonarch, in the Designs of Mischief, 'tis in the Singular Number, thatthey are spoken of. Now, the _Devil_, whose Malice and Envy, prompts himto do what he can, that we may be as unhappy as himself, do's ordinarilyuse more _Fraud_, than _Force_, in his assaulting of us; he thatassail'd our First Parents, in a _Serpent_, will still _Act Like aSerpent_, rather than a _Lion_, in prosecuting of his wicked purposesupon us, and for us to guard against the _Wiles_ of the _Wicked One_, isone of the greatest cares, with which our God ha's charged us. 

We are all of us liable to various _Temptations_ every day, whereby ifwe are carried aside from the strait _Paths of Righteousness_, we getall sorts of wounds unto our selves. Of _Temptations_, I may say, as theWise Man said, of _Mortality_; _there is no discharge from that war. _ The_Devils_ fell hard upon both _Adams_, nor may any among the Children ofboth, imagine to be excused. The _Son_ of God Himself, had this _Dog_ ofHell, barking at Him; and much more may the Children of _Men_, look tobe thus Visited; indeed, there is hardly any _Temptation_, but what is, _Common to Man_. When I was considering, how to spend one Hour inRaising a most Effectual and Profitable _Breast-work_, against theinroads of this Enemy, I perceived it would be done, by a short answerto this. 

CASE. 

_What are those Usual +Methods+ of +Temptation+, with which the Powersof Darkness do assault the Children of Men?_

The _Corinthians_, having upon the Apostles Direction, Excommunicatedone of their Society, who had married his Mother-in-law, & this, as itis thought, while his own Father was Living too; the Apostle encouragesthem to Re-admit that man, upon his very deep and sharp _Repentance_. Hegives 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 topieces thereupon; besure, the Success of the Gospel had been more than alittle Incommoded. The Apostle upon this Occasion, intimates, That_Satan_ has his _Devices_; by which word are meant, Artifices orContrivances used for the _Deceiving_ of those that are Treated withthem well, But what shall _we do_ that we may come to this _CorinthianAttainment_, _We are not Ignorant of Satan's Devices?_ [_Non cuivishomini Contingit!_]

Truly, the Devil has _Mille Nocendi Artes_; and it will be impossiblefor us, to run over all the _Stratagems_ and _Policies_ of ourAdversary. I shall only attempt a few Observations upon the_Temptations_ of our Lord Jesus Christ: who was _Tempted in all thingslike unto us, except in our Sins_. When we read the _Temptations_ ofour Lord Jesus Christ, in the Fourth Chapter of _Matthew_ There, Thence, you will understand, what was once counted so difficult; Even, _The wayof a Serpent upon the Rock_. There are certain Ancient and Famous_Methods_ which the Devil in his _Temptations_, does mostly accustomehimself unto; which is not so much from any Barrenness, or Sluggishnessin the Devil, but because he has had the Encouragement of a, _Probatumest_, 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 isin the World_. With the very same temptations it was, that he fell uponthe Second _Adam_ too. Now, in those _Temptations_, you will see themore _Usual Methods_, whereby the _Devil_ would be Ensnaring of us; andI beseech you to attend unto the following Admonitions, as those_Warnings_ of God, which the Lives of your souls depend upon your takingof. 

There were especially Three _Remarkable_ Assaults of _Temptations_, which the _Devil_ it seems, visibly made upon our Lord; after he hadbeen more invisibly for Forty dayes together _Tempting_ of that HolyOne; 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 bethe 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 theAdvantages of his _Temptations_. When our Lord was _Hungry_, then_Bread! Bread!_ shall be all the Cry of his Temptation; the Devil putshim upon a wrong step, for the getting of _Bread_. There is noCondition, but what has indeed some _Hunger_ accompanying of it; and theDevil marks what it is, that we are _Hungry_ for. One mans Conditionmakes him _Hunger_ for Preferments, or Employments, another mans makeshim _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 willbe sure to suit his Perswasions with our _Conditions_. When he has our_Condition_ to speak with him, & for him, then thinks he, _I am surethis man will now hearken to my Proposals!_ Hence, if men are in_Prosperity_, the Devil will tempt them to Forgetfulness of God; if theyare in _Adversity_, he will tempt them to Murmuring at God; in all theexpressions 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, _tosteal, and take the Name of God in vain. _ The Devil will talk suitably;if you ponder your Conditions, you may expect you shall be temptedagreeably 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 wantBread, and you'll starve, if in my way you get it not. _ The Devil willshow some forbidden thing unto us, and plead concerning it, as of_Bread_ we use to say, _it must be had. _ _Necessity_ has a wonderfulcompulsion 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 shallbe evil towards the Children that she shall bear, for she shall eat themfor 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 shallbreak through them all. That little inconvenience, of our coming to begour _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 mustbe done_, we soon come to think, _it may be done_. When the Devil hasfrighted us into an Apprehension, that it is a _Needful_ thing which weare 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'lldye if you don't sell your Birthright;_ the Devil told _Aaron_, _You'llpull all the people about your ears, if you do not countenance theirsuperstitions;_ and then they comply'd immediately. Yea, sometimes ifthe Devil do but Feign a Necessity, he does thereby _Gain_ the Hearts ofMen; he did but feign a Need, when he told _Saul_, _the Cattel must bespared, and the sacrifice must be precipitated_, & he does but feign aNeed, 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 neversubsist in the world. _ All the denials of God, in the world, use to befrom this Fallacy impos'd upon us. It never can be necessary for us toviolate any Negative Commandment in the Law of our God; where God says, _thou shalt not_, we cannot upon any pretence reply, I _must_. But theDevil will put a most formidable and astonishing face of necessity uponmany 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 andthe sorry _Need-nots_ of this world, he'll set off with most bloodyColours of _Necessity_. He will not say, _'tis necessary for you tomaintain 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_, withpretence, of much _Friendship_ and _Kindness_ for us. He seemed veryunwilling that our Lord should want any thing that might be comfortablefor 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 fallereNomen_, ----to Salute men with profers to do all manner of Service forthem; 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 Childrenthat Imitate him in it. Some very Affectionate Things were spoken onceunto our Lord; _Lord, be it far from thee, that thou shouldest sufferany Trouble!_ But our Lords Answer was, in _Mat. 16. 23. _ _Get thee behindme Satan. _ The Devil will say to a man, _I would have thee to Consultthy own Interest, and I would have Trouble to be far from thee. _ Hespeaks these _Fair Things_, by the Mouths of our professed Friends untous, as he did by the Tongue of a Speckled Snake unto our DeludedParents at the first. But all this while, 'tis a Direction that has beenwisely given us; _When he speaks fair, Believe him not, for there areseven Abominations in his Heart. _

IV. Things in themselves _Allowable_ and _Convenient_, are oftentimesturned into sore _Temptations_ by the Devil. He press'd our Lord untothe making of _Bread_; Why, that very thing was afterwards done by ourLord, 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 frequentlyput men by, from the doing of a _seasonable Duty_; but how? Truly byputting us upon another _Duty_, which may be at that juncture a most_Unseasonable_ Thing. It is said in _Eccl. 8. 5. _ _A Wise Mans heartdiscerns both Time and Judgment. _ The _Ill-Timing_ of good Things, isOne of the chief Intregues, which the Devil has to Prosecute. The Devilhimself, will Egg us on to many a _Duty_; and why so? But because atthat 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 theDevil 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; andin the _Shops_, where we have _Lawful_ Business to do. The _Devil_ willdecoy us, unto the utmost Edge of the _Liberty_ that is _Lawful_ for us;and then one Little push, hurries us into a Transgression against theLord. And the _Devil_ by Inviting us to a _Lawful_ thing, at a wrongtime for it, Layes us under further Entanglement of Guilt before God. 'Tis _Lawful_ for People to use Recreations; but in the Evening of theLords Day, or the Morning of any Day, how Ensnaring are they! The_Devil_ then too commonly bears part in the Sport. If _PromiscuousDancing_ were Lawful; though almost all the Christian Churches in theWorld, 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 worstthings, into which the Devil by his _Temptations_ would be hurrying ofus. He would fain have driven our Lord unto a Suspicion of Gods careabout Him, said the Devil, _You may dy for lack of Bread, if you do notlook better after your self, than God is like to do for you. _ It is anusual thing for Persons to dispair of Gods _Fatherly Care_ Concerningthem; they torture themselves with distracting and amazing Fears, thatthey 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 afterme! But it is the Devil that is the Author of all such MelanchollySuggestions in the minds of men. It is a thought that often raises aFeaver 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 allmy Little Folks. _ It is a Thought with which _Aged_ persons are oftentormented, _Tho' God has all my dayes hitherto supplied me, yet I shallbe pinched with Straits before I come to my Journeys end. _ 'Tis amalicious Devil that raises these _Evil surmisings_ in the hearts ofMen. And sometimes a distemper of Body affords a Lodging for the Devil, from whence he shoots the cruel Bombs of such _Fiery Thoughts_ into theminds of many other persons. With such thoughts does the Devil choose topersecute us; because thereby we come to _Forfeit_ what we _Question_. We _Question_ the Care of God, and so we _Forfeit_ it, until perhaps theDevil do utterly _drown us in Perdition_. Our God says, _Trust in theLord, 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 thushe 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_. Whenour Lord was in his Penury, then says the Devil, _If thou be the Son ofGod;_ he now makes an _If_, of it; _What? the Son of God, and not beable to Command a Bit of Bread!_ Thus, when we are in very AfflictiveCircumstances, this will be the Devils Inference, _Thou art not a Childof God. _ The Bible says in _Heb. 12. 7. _ _If you are Chastened, it is ashrow'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 usunto God, he then Accuses God unto us. When _Israel_ was weak and faintin the Wilderness, then did _Amalek_ set upon them; just so does theDevil set upon the people of God, when their Losses, their Crosses, their Exercises have Enfeebled their Souls within them; and what saysthe 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 wouldnever follow thee, with such Testimonies of his Indignation. _ This isthe _Logic_ of the Devil; and he thus interrupts that patience, and thatChearfulness wherewith we should _suffer the will of God_. 

VII. To dispute the Divine Original and Authority of _Gods Word_, is notthe least of those _Temptations_ with which the Devil troubles us. Godfrom Heaven, had newly said unto our Lord, _this is my Beloved Son_; butnow the Devil would have him to make a dispute of it, _If thou be theson of God. _ The Devil durst not be so Impudent, and Brasen fac'd, as tobid men use _Pharaohs_ Language, _Who is the Lord, that I should obeyhis voice?_ But he will whisper into our Ears, what he did unto ourMother _Eve_ of old, _It is not the Lord that hath spoken what you callhis Word. _ The Devil would have men say unto the _Scripture_, what theysaid unto the _Prophet_, in _Jer. 43. 2. _ _Thou speakest falsely; the Lordour God hath not sent thee to speak what thou sayst unto us;_ & he wouldfain have secret & cursed Misgivings in our hearts, _that things are notaltogether so as the Scripture has represented them. _ The Devil wouldwith all his heart make one huge Bonefire of all the Bibles in theworld; & he has got Millions of persecutors to _assist him in thesuppression of that miraculous book_. _It was the +devil+ once in thetongue of a Papist_, that cry'd out, _A plague on this bible; this 'tisthat does all our mischief. _ But because he can't _Suppress_ this Book, he sets himself, to _Disgrace_ it all that he can. Altho' the Scripturecarries 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 fromany but God alone; yet the Devil would gladly bring some Discredit uponit, as if it were but some _Humane Contrivance_; Of nothing, is theDevil more desirous, than this; That we should not count, _Christ_ soprecious, _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 thismanner, in _Mat. 4. 5, 6. _ _Then the Devil taketh him up, into the HolyCity, 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, Heshall give his Angels charge concerning thee, and in their Hands, theyshall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy Foot against aStone. _

From whence take these _Remarks_. 

I. The places of the greatest _Holiness_ will not secure us fromAnnoyance 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; theSigns and Means of Gods more special Presence are not under the Gospel, ty'd unto any certain _places_: Nevertheless there are _places_, wherewe 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_ forthe sake of the _Persons_. But, I am to tell you that the Devil willvisit those _Places_ and best _Persons_ there. No _Place_, that I knowof, 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, isfill'd with many Holy People, and many Holy Concerns continually; but ifour Eyes were so refined as the Servant of the Prophet had his of old, Isuppose we should now see a Throng of _Devils_ in this very place. TheApostle has intimated, that Angels come in among us; there are Angels itseems that hark, how I _Preach_, and how you _Hear_, at this Hour. Andour own sad Experience is enough to intimate, That the _Devils_ arelikewise Rendevouzing here. It is Reported, in _Job 1. 5. _ _When the Sonsof God came to present themselves before the Lord, Satan came also amongthem. _ When we are in our Church-Assemblies, O how many _Devils_, do youimagine, 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 knowswhat himself; and there is a _Devil_, that makes another, to be pleasinghimself with wanton and wicked Speculations. It is also possible, thatwe have our _Closets_, or our _Studies_, gloriously perfumed withDevotions 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 thoufoul Devil; we are going where thou canst not come!_ He was hissed outof _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 Devilwithin the Walls of that Holy City. _Amen, Even so Lord Jesus, Comequickly. _

II. Any other acknowledgments of the Lord Jesus Christ, will bepermitted by the Temptations of the Devil, provided thoseAcknowledgments of him, which are _True_ and _Full_, may be therebyprevented. What was it, that the Devil hurried our Lord Jesus Christunto 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 hadan Expectation among them; that _Elias_ was to fly from Heaven to theTemple; and the Devil seems willing, that our Lord should be cry'd upfor _Elias_, among the giddy multitude; or any thing in the World, thonever so considerable otherwise, rather than to be received as theChrist of God. The Devil will allow his Followers to think very highlyof 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 Himthere should all Fullness dwell. _ But it is pleasing to the Devil thatwe deny something of the Immense _Fullness_, which is in our Lord. TheDevil would confess to our Lord, _Thou art the Holy One of God!_ butthen he claps in, _Thou art Jesus of Nazareth;_ which was to conceal ourLords being _Jesus of Bethlehem_, and so his being, _The True Messiah_. All the _Heresies_, and all the Persecutions, that ever plagued theChurch of God, have still been, to strike at some _Glory_ of our LordJesus Christ. A CHRIST Entirely Acknowledged, will save the Souls ofthem that so Acknowledge Him; but, says the Devil, _Whatever tides Imust not give way to that. _ As they say, the Devil makes Witches unableto utter all the _Lords Prayer_, or some such System of Religion, without some Deprevations of it; thus the Devil will consent that we maymake a very large Confession of the Lord Jesus Christ; only he will haveus to deprave it, at least in some one Important Article. Some oneHonour, some one Office, and some one _Ordinance_ of the Lord JesusChrist, must be always left unacknowledged, by those that will do as theDevil would have them. 

III. _High Stations_ in the Church of God, lay men open to violent andpeculiar _Temptations_ of the Devil. When our Lord was upon the_Pinacle_, that is not the _Fane_, or _Spire_, but the _Battlements_ ofthe _Temple_, there did the Devil pester him, with singularMolestations, and he therein seems to intend an Entanglement for theJews, as well as for our Lord. Believe me they that stand High, cannotstand safe. The Devil is a _Nimrod_, a mighty Hunter; and common orlittle Game, will not serve his Turn: he is a _Leviathan_, of whom wemay say, as in _Job. 41. 34. _ _He beholds all high things. _ Men of highAttainments, and Men of high Employments, in the Church of God, mustlook, like _Peter_ to be more _Sifted_, and like _Paul_, to be more_Buffeted_ than other Men. _Ferunt Summos Fulmina Montes. _----The Devilcan raise a Storm, when God permitteth it, but as for those Men thatstand near Heaven, the Devil will attack them with his most cruel stormsof Thunder and Lightening. It was said, _let him that standeth takeheed;_ but we may say, _They that stand most high, have cause to takemost 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, _Killingmany Birds with one stone_; and he knows that he shall hinder a worldof _Good_, and produce a world of _Ill_, if once he can bring a ManEminently Stationed into his Toyls. Hence 'tis that the _Ministers_ ofGod, are more dogg'd by the Devil, than other persons are. Especiallysuch _Ministers_, as more in the highest Orb of Serviceableness; andmost of all such _Ministers_ as have spent many years in LaudableEndeavours to be serviceable; Those Ministers are the _Stars_ of Heaven, at which the _Tayl_ of the _Dragon_, will give the most sweeping andmost stinging strokes; the Devil will find that for them, that shallmake them _Walk softly_ all their Days. These are the Men, that havecreepled, and vexed the Devil more than other Men; for which the Devilhas an old Quarrel with them. O Neighbours, little do you think, whatblack Days of Mourning, and Fasting, and Praying before the Lord, aRaging 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 DevilSolicited 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, ofone clause very material in it. O never does the Devil make suchdangerous Passes at us, as when he does wrest our _own Sword_ out of ourHands, 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_; butwhen the Devil has that very Weapon to fight us with, he makes terriblework of it. When the Devil would poyson men with false _Doctrines_, he'lquote Scriptures for them; a _Quaker_ himself, will have the FirstChapter of _John_ always in his mouth. When the Devil would perswade mento vile _Actions_, he'l quote Scriptures for them; he'l encourage men togo on in Sin, by showing them, where 'tis said, _The Lord is ready toPardon. _ 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 Thingsof 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, byquoting that Scripture, _The Sacrifice of the Wicked, is an Abominationto the Lord;_ the Devil will fright them from the Holy Supper of God, byquoting that Scripture, _He that Eats and Drinks unworthily, Eats andDrinks damnation to himself. _ And thus the Devil will by some abusedScripture, Terrifie the Children of God; the Scripture is written as weare told, _For our Comfort_; but it is quoted by the Devil, _for ourterror_. How many Godly Souls have been cast into sinful Doubts andFears, by the Devils foolish glosses upon that Scripture, _He thatdoubts is Damned;_ and that, _the fearful shall have their portion inthe burning Lake;_ The Devil sometimes has play'd the _Preacher_, but Isay, _Beware all silly Souls when such a fool is Preaching. _

V. Grievous and Pulling Hurries to _Self-Murder_ are none of thesmallest outrages, which the Devil in his _Temptations_ commits upon us. Why, did the Devil say to our Lord, _Cast thy self down_, but in hopesthat 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_ giveshim so much satisfaction, as that which at his instigation, menperpetrate 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 havebegun that _Unnatural_ business of _killing themselves_, there is a_Preternatural_ Stupendious Prodigious Assistance, by the Devil giventhereunto. 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 wehave this Argument for it, _It is the Devil that is dragging of you tothis mischief; but will you believe, will you obey such an one as theDevil is?_ What was it that made _Judas_ to strangle himself? We read itwas when the _Devil was in him_. I suppose there are few_self-murderers_, but what are first very strangely fallen into theDevils hands; and possibly, 'tis by some Extraordinary _Discontent_, against God, or _back-sliding_ from him, that the Devil first entredinto those disturbed Souls. Indeed, some very great Saints of God, havesometimes had hideous Royls raised by the Devil in their minds; untillthey have e'en cry'd out with _Job_, _I choose strangling rather thanLife;_ and sometimes the ill Humours or Vapours in the Bodies of suchGood Men, do so harbour the Devil that they have this woful motion everyday thence made unto them; _You must Kill your self! you must! youmust!_ 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_, toConsummate such a Villany. Yea, no Child of God, in his Right Sensescan go so far in this impiety, as to be left without all Time and Roomfor true _Repentance_ of the Crime; 'tis _thus_ done, by none but thosethat go to the Devil. A _self-murder_, acted by one that is upon otheraccounts a Reasonable man, is but such an attempt of Revenge upon theGod 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 yourselves, my Advice to you is, _Disclose it_, _Reveal it_, _make it knownimmediately_. 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, ifyou'l _Tell_ what he is a doing of. 

VI. Presumptuous and Unwarrantable _Trials_ of the Blessed God, are someof those things whereinto the Devil would fain hook us with his_Temptations_. This was that which the Devil would have brought our Lordunto, even, _A tempting of the Lord our God_. It is the charge of ourGod 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 asinful way, whether God be such a God as indeed he is. 'Tis true as tothe 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 itis, _With whom we have to do_. The Devil would have us to trie thePurpose of God, about our selves or others; but how? By going to the_Devil_ himself; by Consulting _Astrologers_, or _Fortune Tellers_; orperhaps by letting the Bible fall open, to see what is the firstSentence 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 wouldhave 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 triethe Justice of God; but how? By venturing upon Sin in a _Corner_, withan Imagination that God will never bring us out. He would have us triethe Promise of God; but how? By _Limiting_ the Lord, unto such or such away of manifesting Himself, or else believing of nothing at all. Hewould have us trie the Threatning of God; but how? By going onimpenitently in those things, for which the _Wrath of God comes upon theChildren of Disobedience_. Thus would the Devil have us to affront theMajesty of Heaven every day. 

VII. The _Temptations_ of the Devil, aim at puffing and bloating of usup, with _Pride_; as much perhaps as any one iniquity. The Devil wouldhave had Our Lord make a _Vain glorious_ Discovery of himself unto theWorld, by _Flying in the air_, so as no mortal can. _Hoc Ithacusvelit_--the Devil would have us to soar aloft, and not only to be aboveother men, but also to _know_ that we are so, _Pride_ is the Devils ownsin; and he affects especially to be, _The King over the Children ofPride_, 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 theDevil. _ (_Summo ac Pio cum Tremore Hunc Textum Legamus nos MinistriJuvenes!_) Accordingly, the Devil would have us to be inordinately takenand 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 havebeen blessed with Beauty, with Breeding, with Honour, with Success, withAttire, with Spiritual Priviledges, or with Praise-worthy Performances;Now says the Devil, _Think thy self better than other Men. _ Yea, theDevil would have us arrogate unto our selves, those _Excellencies_ whichreally we never were owners of; and _Boast of a false Gift_. He wouldhave us moreover to Thirst after Applause among others that may see Our_Excellencies_! and be impatient if we are not accounted _some-body_. Hewould have us furthermore, to aspire after such a _Figure_, as God hasnever yet seen fitting for us; and croud into some _High Chair_ thatbecomes us not. Thus would the Devil Elevate us into the _Air_, aboveour 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 brokenwith 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, andit pleases him to see the _Falls_ of men. 

§. The Third of Our Lords Three Temptations, is related in such Terms asthese. _Matth. 4. 8, 9. _ _Again the Devil taketh him up, into an exceedingHigh Mountain, and sheweth him all the Kingdoms of the world, and theglory of them: and saith unto him, all these things will I give thee, ifthou wilt fall down and Worship me. _ From whence take these Remarks. 

I. The Devil in his _Temptations_ will set the Delight of this worldbefore us; but he'll set a fair, and a false _Varnish_ upon thoseDelights. They were some unknown _Perspectives_, which the Devil had, both for the Refracting of the _Medium_, and for the Magnifying of theObject, whereby he gave our Lord at once a prospect of the whole RomanEmpire; but what was it? It was the _World_, and the _Glory_ of it; hesays not a word of the _World_, and the _Trouble_ of it. No sure; not aword of that; the Devil will not have his Hook so barely expos'd untous. 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 themidst of our Laughter, our Heart shall be sorrowful;_ and _That the endof our Mirth shall be Heaviness. _ There is but one Glass in theSpectacles, with which the Devil would have us to read, those passagesin _Eccles. 11. 9. _ _Rejoyce, O young Man in thy youth, and let thy Heartchear 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 toRead; and he'll make many a fine Comment upon it; he'll tell us, That ifwe'll follow the Courses of the World, we shall swim in all the Delightsof 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 intoJudgment. _ O he's loth we should be aware of the dreadful Issues, andReckonings that our Worldly Delights will be attended with. He setsbefore us, _The Pleasures of Sin_; but he will not say, _These are butfor a Season. _ He sets before us, _The sweet Waters of Stealth_; but hewill not say, _There is Death in the Pot. _ He is a _Mountebank_, thatwill bestow nothing but Romantic Praises upon all that he makes us theOffers 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 amost Execrable Thing was here laid before our Lord Himself: Even, To ownthe _Devil as God_! a thing that can't be uttered, without unutterableHorror of Soul. The best man on earth, may have such _Fiery Darts_ fromHell shot into his mind. One that was acted by the _Devil_, had theimpudence to propound this unto such a good man as _Job_, _Curse God_. Andthe Devil pleases himself, by chusing the Hearts of good men, with hisbase Injections, _That there is no God_, or, _That God is not aRighteous God_; and a thousand more such things, too Devilish to bementioned. 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 himthat Blasphemeth. _ But much more when a good man finds a _Blasphemy_ inhis own Heart; O it throws him into most Fevourish Agonies of Soul. Forthis cause, a mischievous Devil, will _Flie blow_ the Heart of such aman, with such Blasphemous Thoughts, as make him crie out, _Lord I ame'n weary of my life. _ Yea, the Devil serves the man just as theMistress of _Joseph_ dealt with him; he importunes the man to thinkwickedly 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 thouso? _Satan!_ No, they are Baits of thy own; and at thy Door alone shallthey be laid for ever. 

III. There is a sort of Witchcrafts in those things, whereto theTemptations of the Devil would inveigle us. To worship the Devil isWitchcraft, and under that notion was our Lord urged unto sin. We aretold in _1 Sam. 15. 23. _ _Rebellion is as the sin of Witchcraft:_ Whenthe Devil would have us to sin, he would have us to do the things whichthe forlorn Witches use to do. Perhaps there are few persons, everallured by the Devil unto an Explicit Covenant with himself. If anyamong 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 evilDoers, for I will keep the Commandments of my God. _ But alas, the mostof men, are by the Devil put upon doing the things that are Analogous tothe worst usages of Witches. The Devil says to the sinner, _Despise thyBaptism, and all the Bond of it, and all the Good of it. _ The Devil saysto the sinner, _Come, cast off the Authority of God, and refuse theSalvation of Christ for ever. _ Yea, the Devil who is called, _The God ofthis 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 Lordhas had this by his Father Engag'd unto him, _That he shall one day beGovernour of the Nations. _ The Devil doe's extreamly dread the approachof that Illustrious time, when _The Kingdom of God shall come and hisWill be done, as in Heaven, and on Earth. _ For this cause it was that hewas 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 mightyunwilling, that there should be one _Godly Magistrate_ upon the face ofthe Earth. Such is the influence of _Government_, that the Devil willevery where stickle mightily, to have that siding with him. What_Rulers_ would the Devil have, to command all mankind, if he might havehis will? Even, such as are called in _Psal. 94. 20. _ _The throne ofiniquity, which frames mischief by a Law_; such as will promote Vice, byboth 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 ofGovernment; but Rulers may most of all think, that the Lord Jesus fromHeaven calls upon them, _Satan has desired that he might Sift you, andhave you; O Look to it, what side you take. _

Thus have you in the Temptations of our Lord, seen the principal ofthose Devices, which the Devil has to Entrap our Souls. But what shallwe now do, that we may be fortified against those Devices? O that wemight be well furnished with the _Whole Armour of God_! But me thinks, there were some things attending the Temptations of our Lord, whichwould especially Recommend those few Hints unto us for our Guard. 

First, If you are not fond of Temptation, be not fond of Needless, orToo much Retirement. Where was it, that the Devil fell upon our Lord? itwas when he was Alone in the Wilderness. We should all have our Times tobe Alone every Day; and if the Devil go to scare us out of ourChambers, with such a Bugbear, as that he'll appear to us, yet stay inspite of his teeth, stay to finish your Devotions; he Lyes, he dare notshew his head. But on the other-side by being too solitary, we may layour selves too much open to the Devil; You know who says, _Wo to himthat 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 iswritten!_ And _all_ his Three Citations were from that one Book of_Deuteronomy_. What a _full_ Armoury then have we, in _all_ the sacredPages that lie before us? Whatever the Words of the _Devil_ are, drownthem 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 giveyou a share in his Happy Victory. It was for Us that our Lord overcomethe Devil: and when he did but say, _Satan, Get hence_, away presentlythe Tygre flew: Does the Devil molest Us? Then let us Repair to ourLord, 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. _ AWoman in this Land being under the Possession of Devils, the Devilswithin 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 tothe Rock!_ and that hindered all. O this _Running to the Rock_; 'tisthe best Preservation in the World; the _Vultures_ of _Hell_ cannot preyupon the _Doves_ in the _Clefts_ of that _Rock_. May our God now lead usthereunto. 

 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, andlodged 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 herWrist, and looking on it with a Candle, we saw apparently the marks ofTeeth, 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 Iwas there, his Kinswoman, _Abigail Williams_, (about 12 Years of Age)had a grievous fit; she was at first hurried with violence to and fro inthe Room (though Mrs. _Ingersol_ endeavoured to hold her) sometimesmaking as if she would fly, stretching up her Arms as high as she could, and crying, _Whish, Whish, Whish_, several times; presently after shesaid, there was Goodw. _N. _ and said, _Do you not see her? Why there shestands!_ And she said, Goodw. _N. _ offered her THE BOOK, but she wasresolved she would not take it, saying often, _I wont, I wont, I wonttake it, I do not know what Book it is: I am sure it is none of God'sBook, it is the Devil's Book for ought I know. _ After that, she ran tothe Fire, and begun to throw Fire-brands about the House, and runagainst the Back, as if she would run up Chimney, and, as they said, shehad attempted to go into the Fire in other Fits. 

On Lords Day, the Twentieth of _March_, there were sundry of theafflicted 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 afterwardExamined on suspicion of being a _Witch_:) They had several sore Fits inthe time of Publick Worship, which did something interrupt me in myfirst Prayer, being so unusual. After _Psalm_ was sung _AbigailWilliams_ said to me, _Now stand up, and name your Text!_ And after itwas 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 ofthat. _ And in the Afternoon, _Abigail Williams_, upon my referring to my_Doctrine_, said to me, _I know no Doctrine you had, If you did nameone, 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 sucklingher Yellow Bird betwixt her fingers!_ _Ann Putman_, another Girleafflicted, said, _There was a Yellow Bird sat on my Hat as it hung onthe Pin in the Pulpit;_ but those that were by, restrained her fromspeaking loud about it. 

On _Monday_ the _21st. _ of _March_, the Magistrates of _Salem_ appointedto come to Examination of Goodwife _C. _ And about Twelve of the Clockthey went into the Meeting-House, which was thronged with Spectators. Mr. _Noyes_ began with a very pertinent and pathetical _Prayer_; andGoodwife _C. _ being called to answer to what was alledged against her, she desired to go to _Prayer_, which was much wondred at, in thepresence of so many hundred People: The Magistrates told her, they wouldnot admit it; they came not there to hear her Pray, but to Examine her, in what was Alledged against her. The Worshipful Mr. _Hathorne_ askedher, _Why she afflicted those Children?_ She said, she did not Afflictthem. He asked her, who did then? She said, _I do not know; How should Iknow?_ 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, _MaryWalcut_, _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 ofthem, 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 Fitssee her Likeness coming to them, and bringing a _Book_ to them; shesaid, she had no _Book_; they affirmed, she had a _Yellow Bird_, thatused to suck betwixt her Fingers, and being asked about it, if she hadany _Familiar Spirit_, that attended her? she said, _She had noFamiliarity with any such thing. _ She was a _Gospel Woman_: Which Titleshe called her self by; and the Afflicted Persons told her, Ah! she was_A Gospel Witch_. _Ann Putman_ did there affirm, that one day whenLieutenant _Fuller_ was at Prayer at her Father's House, she saw theshape of Goodwife _C. _ and she thought Goodwife _N. _ Praying at the sametime to the Devil; she was not sure it was Goodwife _N. _ she thought itwas; 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 towhat they said. Mr. _Hathorne_ and Mr. _Noyes_ replyed, It was theJudgment of all that were present, they were _Bewitched_, and only shethe Accused Person said, they were _Distracted_. It was observed severaltimes, that if she did but bite her under lip in time of Examination, the Persons afflicted were bitten on their Arms and Wrists, and producedthe _Marks_ before the Magistrates, Ministers, and others. And beingwatched for that, if she did but _Pinch_ her Fingers, or _Grasp_ oneHand hard in another, they were Pinched, and produced the _Marks_ beforethe Magistrates, and Spectators. After that, it was observed, that ifshe did but lean her _Breast_ against the Seat in the Meeting-House, (being the _Bar_ at which she stood), they were afflicted. ParticularlyMrs. _Pope_ complained of grievous Torment in her _Bowels_, as if theywere 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 offher _shoe_, and hit Goodwife _C. _ on the Head with it. After thesePostures were watched, if the said _C. _ did but stir her Feet, they wereafflicted in their _Feet_, and stamped fearfully. The afflicted Personsasked her, why she did not go to the Company of Witches which werebefore the Meeting-House Mustering? Did she not hear the _Drum_ beat?They accused her of having Familiarity with the _Devil_, in the time ofExamination, in the shape of a Black _Man_ whispering in her Ear; theyaffirmed, that her _Yellow Bird_ sucked betwixt her Fingers in theAssembly; and Order being given to see if there were any sign, the Girlthat saw it, said, it was too late now; she had removed a _Pin_, and putit on her _Head_; which was found _there_ sticking upright. 

They told her, she had Covenanted with the _Devil_ for ten Years, six ofthem were gone, and four more to come. She was required by theMagistrates to answer that Question in the Catechism, _How many personsbe there in the God-head?_ She answered it but oddly, yet was there nogreat thing to be gathered from it; she denied all that was charged uponher, and said, _They could not prove a Witch;_ she was that AfternoonCommitted to _Salem_ Prison; and after she was in Custody, she did notso appear to them, and afflict them as before. 

On Wednesday the _23d. _ of _March_, I went to _Thomas Putman's_, onpurpose to see his Wife: I found her lying on the Bed, having had a soreFit 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 wassensible; which I did, though the Apparition said, _I should not go toPrayer. _ 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_; hetook her off the Bed, to set her on his Knees, but at first she was sostiff, she could not be bended; but she afterwards sat down, but quicklybegan to strive violently with her _Arms_ and _Leggs_; she then began toComplain of, and as it were to Converse Personally with, Goodwife _N. _saying, _Goodwife N. Be gone! Be gone! Be gone! are you not ashamed, aWoman of your Profession, to afflict a poor Creature so? What hurt did Iever do you in my life? You have but two Years to live, and then theDevil will torment your Soul; for this your Name is blotted out of God'sBook, 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 whatwill make you afraid; the wrath of an Angry God, I am sure that willmake 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 iscloathed with the white Robes of Christ's Righteousness. _ After this, she seemed to dispute with the Apparition about a particular _Text_ ofScripture. The Apparition seemed to deny it; (the Womans Eyes being fastclosed 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 sorelyAfflicted, her Mouth drawn on one side, and her Body strained for abouta Minute, and then said, _I will tell, I will tell; it is, it is, itis_, three or four times, and then was afflicted to hinder her fromtelling, at last she broke forth, and said, _It is the third Chapter ofthe Revelations. _ I did something scruple the reading it, and did let myscruple appear, lest Satan should make any Superstitiously to improvethe Word of the Eternal God. However, tho' not versed in these things, Ijudged I might do it this once for an Experiment. I began to _read_, andbefore I had near read through the first Verse, she opened her Eyes, andwas well; this Fit continued near half an hour. Her Husband and theSpectators told me, she had often been so relieved by reading Texts thatshe 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 theLecture-Day at the Village, ) Goodwife. _N. _ was brought before theMagistrates Mr. _Hathorne_ and Mr. _Corwin_, about Ten of the Clock inthe Forenoon, to be Examined in the Meeting-House, the Reverend Mr. _Hale_ begun with Prayer, and the Warrant being read, she was requiredto give Answer, _Why she afflicted those persons?_ She pleaded her ownInnocency 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 theyhad seen her, but knew not that ever she had hurt them; amongst whichwas _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 toattend the whole time of Examination, but both Magistrates and Ministerstold me, that the things alledged by the afflicted, and defences made byher, were much after the same manner as the former was. And her motionsdid produce like effects, as to _Biting_, _Pinching_, _Brusing_, _Tormenting_, at their _Breasts_, by her _Leaning_, and when bendedback, were as if their Backs were broken. The afflicted Persons said, the _Black Man_ whispered to her in the Assembly, and therefore shecould not hear what the Magistrates said unto her. They said also, thatshe did then ride by the Meeting-House, behind the _Black Man_. _ThomasPutman's_ Wife had a grievous Fit in the time of Examination, to thevery 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 sucha hideous scrietch and noise (which I heard as I walked at a littledistance from the Meeting-House) as did amaze me, and some that werewithin, told me the whole Assembly was struck with Consternation, andthey were afraid, that those that sate next to them were under theInfluence of _Witchcraft_. This Woman also was that day committed to_Salem_ Prison. The Magistrates and Ministers also did inform me, thatthey apprehended a Child of _Sarah G. _ and examined it, being between 4and 5 years of Age. And as to matter of Fact, they did unanimouslyaffirm, that when this _Child_ did but cast its Eye upon the afflictedPersons, they were tormented; and they held her _Head_, and yet so manyas her _Eye_ could fix upon were afflicted. Which they did several timesmake careful Observation of: The afflicted complained, they had oftenbeen _Bitten_ by this Child, and produced the marks of _a small set ofteeth_ accordingly; this was also committed to _Salem_ Prison, the Childlooked _hail, and well_ as other Children. I saw it at Lieut. _Ingersol's_. After the Commitment of Goodw. _N. _ _Tho. Putman's_ Wifewas much better, and had no violent Fits at all from that _24th. _ ofMarch, to the _5th. _ of _April_. Some others also said they had not seenher so frequently appear to them, to hurt them. 

On the _25th. _ of _March_ (as Capt. _Stephen Sewal_ of _Salem_ didafterwards inform me) _Eliz. Paris_ had sore Fits at his House, whichmuch troubled _himself, and his Wife_, so as he told me they were almostdiscouraged. She related, that the great _Black Man_ came to her, andtold her, if she would be ruled by him, she should have whatsoever shedesired, 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 theBeginning_, and bid her tell him so, if he came again: which she didaccordingly, 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, andit told them there, it had a little _Snake_ that used to suck on thelowest Joynt of its Fore-Finger; and when they enquired where, pointingto other places, it told them, not there, but _there_, pointing on thelowest 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 accountof these Afflicted Persons. And _Abigail Williams_ said, that theWitches had a _Sacrament_ that day at an house in the Village, and thatthey had _Red Bread_ and _Red Drink_. The first of _April_, _MercyLewis_, _Thomas Putman's_ Maid, in her Fit, said, they did eat _RedBread_, like _Man's Flesh_, and would have had her eat some, but shewould not; but turned away her head, and spit at them, and said, _I willnot Eat, I will not Drink, it is Blood, &c. _, she said, _That is not theBread of Life; that is not the Water of Life; Christ gives the Bread ofLife; 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 gloriousPlace, which had no _Candles_ nor _Sun_, yet was full of Light and_Brightness_; where was a great Multitude in White glittering Robes, andthey Sung the Song in the fifth of _Revelation_, the 9th verse, and the110 _Psalm_, and the 149 _Psalm_; and said with her self, _How longshall I stay here! let me be along with you:_ She was loth to leave thisplace, and grieved that she could tarry no longer. This _white Man_ hathappeared several times to some of them, and given them notice how longit should be before they had another Fit, which was sometimes a day, orday 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 ofthem is a Devil_, the said _Goodw. C. _ went immediately out of theMeeting-House, and flung the Door after her violently, to the amazementof the Congregation. She was afterwards seen by some in their Fits, whosaid, _O +Goodw. C. + I did not think to see you here!_ (and being attheir _Red bread and drink_) said to her, _Is this a time to receive theSacrament, you ran away on the Lord's-Day, and scorned to receive it inthe 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 Informationfrom 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 Listof the Names of others, and are tortured, because they will not yeild toSubscribe, or meddle with, or touch the BOOK, and are promised to havepresent 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 wouldendeavour 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 outaccordingly, 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 theMeeting-House, suckling her _Familiar_, sometimes in one place andposture, and sometimes in another. 

5. That their Motions in their Fits are _Preternatural_, both as to themanner, which is so strange as a well person could not Screw their Bodyinto; and as to the violence also it is preternatural being much beyondthe 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 theycannot hear at that time, yet do they plainely converse with theAppearances, as if they did discourse with real persons. 

7. They are utterly pressed against any persons _Praying_ with them, andtold 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 heshould go to Prayer. _

8. The forementioned _Mary W. _ being a little better at ease, theAfflicted persons said, _she had signed the Book_; and that was thereason she was better. Told me by _Edward Putman_. 

REMARKS CONCERNING THE ACCUSED. 

1. For introduction to the discovery of those that afflicted them, It isreported Mr. _Parris's_ Indian Man, and Woman, made a Cake of _RyeMeal_, and the Childrens water, baked it in the Ashes, and gave it to aDog, since which they have discovered, and seen particular personshurting of them. 

2. In Time of Examination, they seemed little affected, though all theSpectators were much grieved to see it. 

3. _Natural_ Actions in them produced _Preternatural_ actions in theAfflicted, so that they are their own _Image_ without any _Poppits_ ofWax 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 Afflictedwith 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 toTransforme himself to an _Angel of Light_, and to make his Kingdom andAdministrations to resemble those of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

7. Satan Rages Principally amongst the Visible Subjects of Christ'sKingdom and makes use (at least in appearance) of some of them toAfflict 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 Numberof 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 thingsconcerning _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, shemust not _Eat_, because it was _Fast Day_, she said, she _would_: theytold her they would _Choake_ her then; which when she did eat, wasendeavoured. 

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 wereafflicted with horrible torments by _Evil Spirits_, and the afflictedhave accused 60 or 70 as Witches, for that they have _Spectralappearances_ of them, tho the Persons are absent when they aretormented. When these Witches were Tryed, several of them confessed acontract with the Devil, by signing his Book, and did express muchsorrow for the same, declaring also thir _Confederate Witches_, and saidthe Tempters of them desired 'em to sign the _Devils Book_, whotormented 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, andthrusting them into their flesh, many of which were taken out again bythe _Judges_ own hands. Thorns also in like kind were thrust into theirflesh; the accusers were sometimes _struck dumb, deaf, blind_, andsometimes lay as if they were dead for a while, and all foreseen anddeclared by the afflicted just before it 'twas done. Of the afflictedthere were two Girls, about _12 or 13 years of age_, who saw all thatwas done, and were therefore called the _Visionary Girls_; they wouldsay, _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 bindsuch an ones Legs_, and all present saw the same person spoken of, fallwith her Legs twisted in an extraordinary manner; Now say they, we shallall 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 theafflicted _Indian_ Servant going home, (being about 2 or 3 miles out oftown, ) and had both his Wrists at the same instant bound about with alike Cord, in the same manner as she was when she was sentenc'd, butwith that violence, that the Cord entred into his flesh, not to beuntied, nor hardly cut----Many _Murders_ are suppos'd to be in this waycommitted; for these Girls, and others of the afflicted, say, _they seeCoffins, and bodies in Shrowds_, rising up, and looking on the accused, crying, _Vengeance, Vengeance on the Murderers_----Many other strangethings were transacted before the Court in the time of theirExamination; and especially one thing which I had like to have forgot, which is this, One of the accus'd, whilst the rest were underExamination, was drawn up by a Rope to the Roof of the house where hewas, and would have been choak'd in all probability, had not the Ropebeen 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 veryplace 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 theWarrant for their Execution was sent, and the _Graves digged_ for thesaid 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 hindredthose good proceedings they had made, he knew not, but thereby theKingdom of Satan was advanc'd_, &c. _and the Lord have mercy on thisCountry:_ 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 6were clear'd by Proclamation, and almost as many by Trial; so that allare acquitted. 

The most remarkable was an Old Woman named _Dayton_, of whom it wassaid, _If any in the World were a Witch, she was one, and had been soaccounted 30 years. _ I had the Curiosity to see her tried; she was adecrepid Woman of about 80 years of age, and did not use many words inher own defence. She was accused by about 30 Witnesses; but the matteralledged against her was such as needed little apology, on her part notone passionate word, or immoral action, or evil, was then objectedagainst her for 20 years past, only strange accidents falling out, aftersome Christian admonition given by her, as saying, _God would notprosper them, if they wrong'd the Widow. _ Upon the whole, there was notproved against her any thing worthy of Reproof, or just admonition, muchless so heinous a Charge. 

So that by the _Goodness_ of God we are once more out of present dangerof this _Hobgoblin Monster_; the standing Evidence used at _Salem_ werecalled, 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 theirtryals 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, muchmore the Religious part of Mankind, that it is apt to grow up into aScandal for any, so much as to enter some sober cautions against theover hasty suspecting, or too precipitant Judging of Persons on thisaccount. But certainly, the more execrable the Crime is, the morecritical care is to be used in the exposing of the Names, Liberties, andLives of Men (especially of a Godly Conversation) to the imputation ofit. The awful hand of God now upon us, in letting loose of evil Angelsamong us to perpetrate such horrid Mischiefs, and suffering of Hell'sInstruments to do such fearful things as have been scarce heard of; hathput serious persons into deep Musings, and upon curious Enquiries whatis to be done for the detecting and defeating of this tremendous designof the grand Adversary: And, tho' all that fear God are agreed, +That noevil is to be done, that good may come of it+; yet hath the Devilobtained not a little of his design, in the divisions of Reuben, aboutthe application of this Rule. _

_That there are Devils and Witches, the Scripture asserts, andexperience confirms, That they are common enemies of Mankind, and setupon mischief, is not to be doubted: That the Devil can (by DivinePermission) and often doth vex men in Body and Estate, without theInstrumentality of Witches, is undeniable: That he often hath, anddelights to have the concurrence of Witches, and their consent inharming men, is consonant to his native Malice to Man, and toolamentably exemplified: That Witches, when detected and convinced, oughtto 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 tolive+; hath also said, +at the Mouth of two Witnesses, or threeWitnesses shall he that is worthy of Death, be put to Death: But at theMouth of one Witness, he shall not be put to Death+, +Deut. 17. 6. + Muchdebate is made about what is sufficient Conviction, and some have (intheir Zeal) supposed that a less clear evidence ought to pass in thisthan in other Cases, supposing that else it will be hard (if possible)to bring such to condign Punishment, by reason of the close conveyancesthat there are between the Devil and Witches; but this is a verydangerous and unjustifiable tenet. Men serve God in doing their Duty, henever intended that all persons guilty of Capital Crimes should bediscovered and punished by men in this Life, though they be never socurious in searching after Iniquity. It is therefore exceeding necessarythat in such a day as this, men be informed what is Evidence and what isnot. It concerns men in point of Charity; for tho' the most shiningProfessor may be secretly a most abominable Sinner, yet till he bedetected, our Charity is bound to Judge according to what appears: andnotwithstanding that a clear evidence must determine a case; yetpresumptions must be weighed against presumptions, and Charity is not tobe forgone as long as it has the most preponderating on its side. And itis of no less necessity in point of Justice; there are not onlyTestimonies required by God, which are to be credited according to theRules given in his Word referring to witnesses: But there is also anEvidence supposed to be in the Testimony, which is throughly to beweighed, and if it do not infallibly prove the Crime against the personaccused, it ought not to determine him guilty of it; for so a righteousMan may be Condemned unjustly. In the case of Witchcrafts we know thatthe Devil is the immediate Agent in the Mischief done, the consent orcompact of the Witch is the thing to be Demonstrated. _

_Among many Arguments to evince this, that which is most under presentdebate, is that which refers to something vulgarly called +SpectreEvidence+, and a certain sort of Ordeal or trial by the sight and touch. The principal Plea to justifie the convictive Evidence in these, isfetcht from the Consideration of the Wisdom and Righteousness of God inGoverning the World, which they suppose would fail, if such things werepermitted to befal an innocent person; but it is certain, that tooresolute conclusions drawn from hence, are bold usurpations uponspotless +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 therebyknow how much we are beholden to him, for that restraint which he laysupon the Infernal Spirits, who would else reduce a World into a Chaos. That the Resolutions of such Cases as these is proper for the Servantsof Christ in the Ministry cannot be denied; the seasonableness of doingit now, will be justified by the Consideration of the necessity there isat this time of a right Information of men's Judgments about thesethings, and the danger of their being misinformed. _

_The Reverend, Learned, and Judicious Author of the ensuing Cases, istoo well known to need our Commendation: All that we are concerned in, is to +assert our hearty Consent to, and Concurrence with the substanceof what is contained in the following Discourse+: And, with our heartyRequest to God, that he would discover the depths of this HellishDesign; direct in the whole management of this Affair; prevent thetaking any wrong steps in this dark way; and that he would in particularBless these faithful Endeavours of his Servant to that end, we Commendit 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 imaginationsof Persons Bewitched, and to cause them to Believe that an Innocent, yeathat 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 byDiabolical Molestations?_

The Answer to the Question must be Affirmative; Let the followingArguments be duely weighed in the Ballance of the Sanctuary. 

_Argu. 1. _ There are several Scriptures from which we may infer thePossibility of what is Affirmed. 

1. We find that the _Devil by the Instigation of the Witch at Endorappeared in the Likeness of the Prophet Samuel_. I am not ignorant thatsome have asserted that, which, if it were proved, would evert thisArgument, _viz. _ that it was the true and not a delusive _Samuel_ whichthe Witch brought to converse with _Saul_. Of this Opinion are some ofthe Jewish Rabbies[1] and some Christian Doctors[2] and many late PopishAuthors[3] amongst whom _Cornel. A Lapide_ is most elaborate. But thatit was a _Dæmon_ representing _Samuel_ has been evinced by learned andOrthodox Writers: especially [4]_Peter Martyr_, [5]_Balduinus[6]Lavater_, and our incomparable _John Rainolde_. I shall not hereinsist on the clearing of that, especially considering, that elsewhere Ihave done it: only let me add, that the Witch said to _Saul_, _I seeElohim_, i. E. _A God_; (for the whole Context shows, that a singlePerson is intended) _Ascending out of the Earth_. _1 Sam. 28. 13. _ TheDevil 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 tobelieve, that he would not only have reproved him for his sin, in notexecuting Judgment on the _Amalekites_; as in Ver. 18. But for hisWickedness in consulting with Familiar Spirits: For which Sin it was inspecial that he died. _2 Chron. 10. 13. _ But in as much as there is notone word to testify against that Abomination, we may conclude that itwas not real _Samuel_ that appeared to _Saul_: and if it were the Devilin his likeness, the Argument seems very strong, that if the Devil mayappear in the form of a Saint in Glory, much more is it possible for himto 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 aGodly 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, todisquiet a Soul in Heaven, where _Samuel_ had been for Two years beforethis Apparition. Nor did the _Spectre_ speak true, when he said, _Thouand thy Sons shall be with me:_ Tho' _Saul_ himself at his Death went tobe with the Devil, his Son _Jonathan_ did not so. Besides, (which suitswith the matter in hand) the Devil in _Samuels_ shape confirmed_Necromancy_ and _Cursed Witchery_. He that can in the likeness ofSaints encourage Witches to Familiarity with Hell, may possibly in thelikeness of a Saint afflict a Bewitched Person. But this we see fromScripture, Satan may be permitted to do. 

And whereas it is objected, that the Devil may appear indeed in the formof Dead Persons, but that he cannot represent such as are living; Thecontrary 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 livingabsent persons, is a thing abundantly confirmed by History. 

[8]_Austin_ tells us of one that went for resolution in some intricateQuestions to a Philosopher, of whom he could get no Answer; but in theNight the Philosopher comes to him, and resolves all his Doubts. Notlong after, he demanded the reason why he could not answer him in theDay as well as in the Night; The Philosopher professed he was not withhim in the Night, only acknowledged that he dreamed of his having suchconversation of his Friend, but he was all the time at home, and asleep. _Paulus_ and _Palladius_ did both of them profess to _Austin_, that onein 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. AMan that is in one place cannot (_Autoprosopos_) at the same time be inanother. It remains then that such _Spectres_ are Prodigious andSupernatural, and not without Diabolical Operation. It has beenControverted among Learned Men, whether innocent Persons may not by themalice and deluding Power of the Devil be represented as present amongstWitches at their dark Assemblies. The mentioned _Thyreus_ says, that theDevil may, and often does represent the forms of Innocent Persons out ofthose Conventions, and that there is no Question to be made of it, butas to his natural Power and Art he is able to make their shapes appearamongst his own Servants, but he supposeth the Providence of God willnot suffer such an Injury to be done to an Innocent Person. With him[10]_Delrio_, and _Spineus_ concur. But _Cumanus_ in his _LucernaInquisitorum_ (a Book which I have not yet seen) defends the Affirmativein this Question. _Bins Fieldius_ in his Treatise, concerning theConfession of Witches, inclines to the Negative, only [11]heacknowledges _Dei extraordinaria Permissione posse Innocentes sicrepresentari. _ And he that shall assert, that Great and Holy God neverdid 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_ hisdiscovering a Diabolical illusion of this nature, concerning a greatnumber of Persons that seemed to be at a Feast when they were really athome and asleep, is mentioned by many Authors. But the particularsinsisted on, do sufficiently evince the Truth of what we assert, _viz. _That the Devil may by Divine Permission appear in the shape of Innocentand Pious Persons. Nevertheless, It is evident from another Scripture, _viz. _ that in _2 Cor. 11. 14. _ _For Satan himself is transformed into anAngel of Light. _ He seems to be what he is not, and makes others seem tobe what they are not. He represents evil men as good, and good men asevil. The Angels of Heaven, (who are the Angels of Light) love Truth andRighteousness, the Devil will seem to do so too; and does thereforesometimes lay before men excellent good Principles and exhort them (ashe did _Theodore Maillit_) to practise many things, which by the Law ofRighteousness they are obliged unto, and hereby he does more effectuallydeceive. Is it not strange, that he has sometimes intimated to his mostdevoted servants, that if they would have familiar Conversation withhim, they must be careful to keep themselves from enormous Sins, andpray constantly for Divine Protection? But so has he transformedhimself into an Angel of Light, as [12]_Boissardus_ sheweth. He hasfrequently 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 andlatter times have been imposed on by Satans appearing visibly to them, pretending to be a good Angel. And moreover, he may be said to transformhimself into an _Angel of Light_, because of his appearing in the Formof _Holy Men_, who are the _Children of Light_, yea in the shape andhabit 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 tothe _Turkish Chaous_ Baptized at _London_, _Anno 1658. _ pretending to beMr. _Dury_ an Excellent Minister of Christ. And how often has hepretended to be the Apostle _Paul_ or _Peter_ or some other celebratedSaint? Ecclesiastical Histories abound with Instances of this nature. Yea, sometimes he has transfigured himself into the Form of Christ. Itis reported that he appeared to [14]St. _Martin_ Gloriously arrayed, asif he had been Christ. So likewise to [15]_Secundellus_, and to anotherSaint, who suspecting it was Satan, transforming himself into an _Angelof Light_ had this expression, _If I may see Christ in Heaven it isenough, I desire not to see him in this World_; whereupon the _Spectre_vanished. It has been related of _Luther_, that after he had beenFasting and Praying in his Study, the Devil come pretending to beChrist, but _Luther_ saying, _away thou confounded Devil, I acknowledgeno Christ but what is in my Bible_, nothing more was seen. Thus then theDevil is able (by Divine Permission) to Change himself into what form orfigure he pleaseth, _Omnia transformat sese in miracula rerum. _

A Third Scripture to our purpose is that, in _Rev. 12. 10. _ where theDevil is called the _Accuser of the Brethren_. Such is the malice andimpudence of the Devil, as that he does accuse good Men, and that beforeGod, and that not only of such Faults as they really are guilty of, heaccused _Joshua_ with his filthy Garments, when through his Indulgencesome of his Family had transgressed by unlawful Marriages, _Zach. 3. 23. _with _Ezra. 10. 18. _ but also with such Crimes, as they are altogetherfree from. He represented the Primitive Christians as the vilest of men, and as if at their Meetings they did commit the most nefandous Villaniesthat ever were known; and that not only Innocent, but Eminently PiousPersons should thro' the malice of the Devil be accused with the Crimeof Witchcraft, is no new thing. Such an Affliction did the Lord see meetto exercise the great _Athanasius_ with[16] only the Divine Providencedid wonderfully vindicate him from that as well as from some other foulAspersions. The _Waldenses_ (altho' the Scriptures call them _Saints_, _Rev. 13. 7. _) have been traduced by Satan and by the World as horribleWitches; so have others in other places, only because they have doneextraordinary things by their Prayers: It is by many Authors related, that a City in _France_ was molested with a Diabolical _Spectre_, whichthe People were wont to call _Hugon_; near that place a number ofProtestants were wont to meet to serve God, whence the Professors of thetrue reformed Religion were nic-named _Hugonots_, by the Papists, whodesigned to render them before the World, as the Servants andWorshippers of that _Dæmon_, that went under the name of _Hugon_. Andhow often have I read in Books written by Jesuits, that _Luther_ was aWizard, and that he did himself confess that he had familiarity withSatan! Most impudent Untruths! nor are these things to be wondered at, since the Holy Son of God himself was reputed a _Magician_, and one thathad Familiarity with the greatest of Devils. The Blaspheming Phariseessaid, _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 assurethemselves 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 Servantas his Lord: If they have called the Master of the House Beelzebub, howmuch more them of his Household_, _Matth. 10. 25. _ It is not for men todetermine how far the Holy God may permit the wicked one to proceed inhis Accusations. The sacred story of _Job_ giveth us to understand, thatthe Lord whose ways are past finding out, does for wise and holy Endssuffer Satan by immediate Operation, (and consequently by Witchcraft)greatly to afflict innocent Persons, as in their Bodies and Estates, soin their Reputations. I shall mention but one Scripture more to confirmthe 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 andto the Wicked, as is the Good, so is the Sinner, this is an evil amongstall things under the Sun, that there is one Event happeneth to all. _ Andin _Eccles. 7. 15. _ 'tis said, _There is a just man that perisheth in hisRighteousness. _

From hence we infer, that there is no outward Affliction whatsoever butmay befal a good Man; now to be represented by Satan as a Tormentor ofBewitched or Possessed Persons, is a sore Affliction to a good man. Tobe 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 berepresented by Satan as tormenting others, is an Affliction like theformer; the Lord may bring such extraordinary Temptations on his ownChildren, to afflict and humble them, for some Sin they have been guiltyof before him. A most wicked Person in St. _Ives_, got a Knife, and wentwith it to a Ministers House, designing to stab him, but wasdisappointed; afterwards Conscience being awakened, the Devil appears tothis Person in the Shape of that Minister, with a Knife in his handexhorting to Self-murder: Was not here a Punishment suitable to the Sinwhich that Person had been guilty of? Perhaps some of those whom Satanhas represented as committing Witchcrafts, have been tampering with somefoolish and wicked Sorceries, tho' not to that degree, which is Criminaland Capital by the Laws both of God and Men; for this Satan may bepermitted so to scourge them; or it may be, they have misrepresented andabused others, for which cause the Holy God may justly give Satan leavefalsely to represent them. 

Have we not known some that have bitterly censured all that have beencomplained of by bewitched Persons, saying it was impossible they shouldnot be guilty; soon upon which themselves or some near Relations oftheirs, have been to the lasting Infamy of their Families, accused afterthe same manner, and Personated by the Devil! Such tremendous Rebukes ona few, should make all men to be careful how they joyn with Satan inCondemning the Innocent. 

Arg. 2. _Because it is possible for the Devil in the Shape of aninnocent Person to do other mischiefs. _ As for those who acknowledgethat Satan may personate a pious Person, but not to do mischief, theirOpinion 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, notbelieving that there are any Devils or any (to us) invisible World; thisMan was converted, but as a Punishment of his Infidelity, evil Angelsdid often appear to him in the Shape of his most intimate Friends, andwould sometimes seduce him into great Inconveniences. It has beenelsewhere, and but now noted, that a _Dæmon_ in the shape of excellentMr. _Dury_ appeared to the _Turkish Chaos_, _Anno. 1658. _ to disswadehim from prosecuting his desires of Baptism into the Name of Christ:Also to Mr. _Earle_ in the likeness of his Friends, to discourage himfrom doing things lawful and good. A multitude of _Jews_ were oncedeluded by a Person pretending to be _Moses_ from Heaven, and that ifthey would follow him they should pass safe through the Sea (as didtheir Fathers of old through the Red Sea) whereby great numbers of themwere deceived and perished in the Waters. [18]Learned and judicious Menhave concluded that this _Moses Creensis_ was a _Dæmon_, transforminghimself into _Moses_: And that the Devil has frequently appeared[19] inthe shape of famous Persons to the end that he might seduce Men intoIdolatry, (a Sin equal to that of Witchcraft) no Man that has made ithis Concern to enquire into things of this nature can be ignorant. ManyExamples of this kind are collected by Mr. _Bromhall_ in his _Treatiseof Spectres, and the cunning Devil, to strengthen Men in theirworshipping of Saints departed:_ And by Mr. _Bovet_ in his_Pandemonium_. It is credibly reported that the Devil in the likeness ofa faithful Minister (as St. _Ives_ before mentioned, near _Boston_ in_Lincolnshire_) came to one that was in trouble of Mind, telling her thelonger she lived, the worse it would be for her; and therefore advisingher to Self-murder: An eminent Person still living had the account ofthis Matter from Mr. _Cotton_ (the famous Teacher of both _Bostons_. ) Hewas well acquainted with that Minister, who related to him the wholeStory, with all the Circumstances of it: For Mr. _Cotten_ was soaffected with the Report, as to take a Journey on purpose to the Townwhere this happened, that so he might obtain a satisfactory accountabout it, which he did. Some Authors say, that a _Dæmon_ appeared in theform of _Sylvanus_ (_Hierom's_ Friend) attempting a dishonest thing, theDevil thereby designing to blast the Reputation of a famous Bishop. Ihave in another Book mentioned that celebrated Instance concerning anhonest Citizen in _Zurick_ (the Metropolis of _Helvetia_) in whose shapethe Devil appeared, committing an abominable Fact (not fit to be named)very early in the Morning, seen by the Prefect of the City, and hisServant; they were amazed to behold a Man of good Esteem for hisConversation, perpetrating a thing so vile and abominable; but goingfrom 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 thatMorning, which convinced them, that what they saw was an Illusion of theDevil: This Passage is mentioned as a thing known and certain by_Lavater_ in his Treatise of _Spectres_, [20] who was a most learned andjudicious Preacher in that City. Our _Juel_ saith of him, that he mustingeniously confess, that he never understood _Solomon's Proverbs_ until_Lavater_ expounded them to him: That Book of his _De Spectris_ hathbeen published in _Latin_, High and Low _Dutch_, _French_, _Italian_. The learned _Zanchy_[21] speaks highly of it, professing that he hadread it both with Pleasure and Profit. _Voetius_[22] takes notice ofthat passage which we have quoted out of _Lavater_ as a thing memorable. 

Some Popish Authors argue, That the Devil cannot personate an innocentMan as doing an act of Witchcraft, because then he might as wellrepresent them as committing Theft, Murder, _&c. _ And if so, there wouldbe no living in the World: But I turn the Argument against them, he may(as the mentioned Instances prove) personate honest Men as doing otherEvils; and no solid Reason can be given why he may not as well personatethem under the Notion of Witches, as under the Notion of Thieves, Murderers, and Idolaters: As for the Objection, that then there would beno 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 Servantof his, as afflicting those that are bewitched or possessed, then it iseither because he wants Will, or Power to do this, or because God willnever permit him thus to do. _ No man but a Sadduce doubts of the illwill of Devils; nothing is more pleasing to the Malice of those wickedSpirits than to see Innocency wronged: And the Power of the Enemy issuch, 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 byScripture-Revelation, that the Sorcerers of _Egypt_ caused many untrueand delusive [23]Representations before _Pharaoh_ and his Servants. _Exod. 7. 11, 22. _ and _8. 7. _ And we read of the working of Satan in allPower and Signs, and lying Wonders. _2 Thess. 2. 9. _ His Heart is beyondwhat the wisest of Men may pretend unto: He has perfect skill inOpticks, and can therefore cause that to be visible to one, which is notso to another, and things also to appear far otherwise then they are: Hehas likewise the Art of Limning in the Perfection of it, and knows whatmay be done by Colours. It is an odd passage[24] which I find in the_Acta Eruditorum_, printed by _Lipsick_, that about Thirty-two Yearsago an indigent Merchant in _France_ was instructed by a _Dæmon_, thatwith Water of _Borax_ he might colour Taffities, so as to cause them toglister and look very gay: He searcheth into the Nature, Causes, andReasons of things, whereby he is able to produce wonderful effects. Sothat if he does not form the Shape of an innocent Person as afflictingothers, 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 itis inconsistent with the Righteousness and Providence of God, ingoverning Humane Affairs thus to suffer Men to be imposed on: It must beacknowledged[25] that the Divine Providence has taken care, that thegreatest part of Mankind shall not be left to unavoidable Deception, soas to be always abused by the mischievous Agents of Hell, in the Objectsof plain Sence: But yet it is not for sinful and silly Mortals toprescribe Rules to the most High in his Government of the World, or todirect him how far he may permit Satan to use his power: I am apt tothink 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 ofbeing scared with Dreams, and terrified with Night-visions, they wouldhave joined with his uncharitable Friends in censuring him as a mostguilty Person: But we should consider, that the most high God dothsometimes deal with Men in a way of absolute Sovereignty, performing thething which is appointed for them, and many such things are with him: Ifhe does destroy the _perfect with the wicked, and laugh at the tryal ofthe innocent_, (_Job 9. 22, 23. _) Who shall enter into his Councils! whohas given him a Charge over the Earth! or who has disposed the wholeWorld! Men are not able to give an account of his ordinary Works, muchless of his secret Counsels, and the dark Dispensations of hisProvidence: They do but darken Counsel by Words without Knowledge whenthey undertake it: If we are not able to see how this or that can standwith the Righteousness of him that governs the World, shall we say thatthe Almighty will pervert Judgment? or that he that governs the Earthhateth Right? Shall we condemn him that is most just? But whereas 'tisobjected; where is Providence? And how shall Men live on the Earth, ifthe Devil may be permitted to use such Power? I demand, where wasProvidence, when Satan had Power to cause Sons of _Belial_ to lye andswear away the Life of innocent _Naboth_, laying such Crimes to hischarge 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 Sonof God was accused, condemned, and hanged for a Crime that he never wasguilty of? That was the strangest Providence that has happened since theWorld began, and yet in the Issue the most glorious: We must thereforedistinguish between what does ordinarily come to pass by the Providenceof God, and things which are extraordinary: It is not an usual thing fora _Naboth_ to have his Life taken from him by false Accusations, or foran _Athanasius_ or a _Susanna_ to be charged, and perhaps brought beforeCourts of Judicature for Crimes of which they were altogether innocent. 

But if we therefore conclude, that such a thing as this can never happenin the World, we shall offend against the Generation of the Just: It isnot ordinary for Devils to be permitted to reveal the secret Sins ofMen; yet this has been done more than once or twice: Nor is it ordinaryfor _Dæmons_ to steal Money out of Mens Pockets, and Purses, or Wine andCyder out of their Cellars. Yet some such Instances have there beenamongst our selves. It is not usual for Providence to permit the Devilto come from Hell and to throw Fire on the tops of Houses, and to causea whole Town to be burnt to Ashes thereby; there would (it must beconfessed) be no living in the World, if evil Angels should be permittedto do thus when they had a mind to it; nevertheless, Authors worthy ofCredit, tell us, that this has sometimes happened. Both _Erasmus_[26]and _Cardanus_ write that the Town of _Schiltach_ in _Germany_, was inthe Month of _April_, 1533. Set on fire by a Devil, and burnt to theground in an Hour's space: 'Tis also reported by _Sigibert_, _Aventinus_and others, that some Cottages and Barns in a Town called _Bingus_ werefired by a wicked _Genius_; that spiteful _Dæmon_ said it was for theImpieties 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 wasjudged to be innocent. It is not ordinary for a Devil upon the dyingCurse of a Servant, to have a Commission from Heaven to tear and tormenta bloody cruel Master; yet such a thing may possibly come to pass. Thereis 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 intothe Hands of a Tyrannical Master, he ran away from him, but being takenand 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 ofthis miserable Creature intolerable, he anointed his Wounds with Juiceof Lemon mingled with Salt and Pepper, being ground small together, withwhich torture the miserable Wretch gave up the Ghost, with these dyingWords, _I beseech the Almighty God, Creator of Heaven and Earth, that hepermit a wicked Spirit, to make thee feel as many Torments before thyDeath, as thou hast caused me to feel before mine:_ Scarce four dayswere past after this horrible Fact, when the Almighty Judge gavePermission to the Father of Wickedness to possess the Body of that cruelMaster, and to make him lacerate his own Flesh until he died, belikesurrendring his Ghost into the Hands of the infernal Spirit, who hadtormented his Body: But of this Tragical Story enough. 

To proceed, Is it not usual for Persons after their Death to appear untothe Living: But it does not therefore follow, that the great God willnot suffer this to be: For both in former and latter Ages, Examplesthereof have not been wanting: No longer since than the last Winter, there was much discourse in _London_ concerning a Gentlewoman, unto whomher dead Son (and another whom she knew not) had appeared: Being thenin _London_, I was willing to satisfie my self, by enquiring into theTruth of what was reported; and on _Febr. 23. 1691. _ my Brother (who isnow a Pastor to a Congregation in that City) and I discoursed theGentlewoman spoken of; she told us, that a Son of hers, who had been avery civil young Man, but more airy in his Temper than was pleasing tohis serious Mother, being dead, she was much concerned in her Thoughtsabout his Condition in the other World; but a Fortnight after his Deathhe appeared to her, saying, _Mother you are solicitous about mySpiritual Welfare; trouble your self no more, for I am happy_, and sovanished; should there be a continual Intercourse between the Visibleand Invisible World, it would breed Confusion. But from thence to infer, that the great Ruler of the Universe will never permit any thing of thisnature to be, is an inconsequent Conclusion; it is not usual for Devilsto be permitted to come and violently carry away persons through theAir, several miles from their Habitations: Nevertheless, this was donein _Sweedland_ about twenty Years ago, by means of a cursed Knot ofWitches there. And a learned Physician now living, giveth an account ofseveral Children, who by Diabolical Frauds were stollen from theirParents, and others left in their room: And of two, that in thenight-time a Line was by invisible Hands put about their Necks, withwhich they had been strangled, but that some near them happily preventedit. _V. Germ. Ephem. Anno 1689. _ pag. 51. 516. 

Let me further add here; It has very seldom been known, that Satan hasPersonated innocent Men doing an ill thing, but Providence has foundout some way for their Vindication; either they have been able to provethat they were in another place when that Fact was done, or the like. Sothat perhaps there never was an Instance of any innocent PersonCondemned in any Court of Judicature on Earth, only through Satansdeluding and imposing on the Imaginations of Men, when nevertheless, theWitnesses, Juries, and Judges, were all to be excused from blame. 

Arg. 4. _It is certain both from Scripture and History, that Magiciansby their Inchantments and Hellish Conjurations, may cause a falseRepresentation of Persons and Things. _ An inchanted eye shall see suchthings as others cannot discern; it is a thing too well known to bedenied, that some by rubbing their eyes with a bewitched Water, haveimmediately thereupon seen that which others could not discern; andthere are Persons in the World, who have a strange _Spectral sight_. Mr. _Glanvil_[28] speaks of a Dutchman that could see Ghosts which otherscould perceive nothing of. There are in _Spain_ a sort of men whom theycall _Zahurs_, these can see into the Bowels of the Earth; they are ableto discover Minerals and hidden Treasures; nevertheless, they have theirextraordinary sight only on _Tuesdays_ and _Fridays_, and not on theother 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 Worlddiscovered_, [29] has these Words, 'I am undoubtedly informed, that menand women in the High-lands can discern Fatality approaching others, byseeing them in the Waters or with Winding Sheets about them. And thatothers can lecture in a Sheeps shoulder-bone a Death within the Parishseven or eight Days before it come. It is not improbable but that suchPreternatural Knowledge comes first by a Compact with the Devil, and isderived downward by Succession to their Posterity: Many such I supposeare Innocent, and have this sight against their Will and Inclination. 'Thus Mr. _Sinclare_, I concur with his supposal, that such Knowledge isoriginally 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 Housewhere one of the Family will die within a Fortnight, the smell of a deadCorpse offends them to such a degree, as that they cannot stay in thatHouse. It is reported that near unto the Abby of St. _Maurice_ in_Burgundy_[30] there is a Fishpond in which are Fishes put according tothe number of the Monks of that place; if any one of them happened to besick, there is a Fish seen to Float and Swim above Water half dead, andif the Monk shall die, the Fish a few days before dieth. In some partsin _Wales_ Death-lights or Corps Candles (as they call them) are seen inthe 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 beforgotten Friend Mr. _Richard Baxter_, [31] has given an Account in hisBook about Witchcrafts lately Published: what to make of such things, except they be the effects of some old Inchantment, I know not; nor whatNatural Reason to assign for that which I find amongst the Observationsof the _Imperial Academy_ for the Year 1687, _viz. _ That in an Orchardwhere are choice _Damascen_ Plumbs, the Master of the Family being sickof a _Quartan Ague_, whilst he continued very ill, four of hisPlumb-trees instead of Damascens brought forth a vile sort of yellowPlumbs: 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. Thesame Author[32] gives Instances of which he had the certain knowledge, concerning Apple-trees and Pear-trees, that the Fruit of them would on asudden wither as if they had been baked in an Oven, when the owners ofthem were mortally sick. It is no less strange that in the IllustriousElectoral[33] House of _Brandenburg_ before the Death of some one of theFamily Feminine Spectres appeared: [34]and often in the Houses of Greatmen, Voices and Visions from the Invisible World have been theHarbingers of Death. When any Heir in the Worshipful Family of the_Breertons_ in _Cheshire_ is near his Death, there are seen in a Pooladjoyning, Bodies of Trees swimming for certain days together, on whichLearned _Cambden_[35] has this note, _These and such like things aredone either by the Holy Tutelar Angels of Men, or else by the Devils, who by Gods Permission mightily shew their Power in this InferiourWorld. _ As for Mr. _Sinclare's_ Notion that some Persons may have a_second Sight_, (as 'tis termed) and yet be themselves Innocent, I amsatisfied that he judgeth right; for this is common amongst the_Laplanders_, who are horribly addicted to Magical Incantations: Theybequeath their _Dæmons_ to their Children as a Legacy, by whom they areoften assisted (like Bewitched Persons as they are) to see and do thingsbeyond the Power of Nature. An Historian who deserves Credit, relates, [36] that a certain _Laplander_ gave him a true and particularAccount of what had happened to him in his Journey to _Lapland_; andfurther complained to him with Tears, that things at great distance wererepresented to him, and how much he desired to be Delivered from thatDiabolical Sight, but could not; this doubtless was caused by someInchantment. But to proceed to what I intend; the Eyes of Persons byreason of Inchanting Charms, may not only see what others do not, but beunder such power of Fascination, as that things which are not, shallappear to them as real: The Apostle speaks of _Bewitched Eyes_, _Gal. 3. 1. _ and we know from Scripture, that the Imaginations of men have byInchantments been imposed upon; and Histories abound with very strangeInstances of this Nature: The old Witch _Circe_ by an Inchanted Cupcaused _Ulysses_ his Companions to imagine themselves to be turned intoSwine; and how many Witches have been themselves so bewitched by theDevil, as really to believe that they were transformed into Wolves, orDogs, or Cats. It is reported of _Simon Magus_, [37] that by hisSorceries he would so impose on the Imaginations of People, as that theythought 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 certainPersons whom he had a mind to try his Art upon, to imagine that theirHands 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 thingthence; 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 tomake a Magical Glass which should represent any Person or thingaccording as he should desire. If a Magician by an Inchanted Glass cando this, he may as well by the help of a Dæmon cause false _Idæas_ ofPersons and Things to be impressed on the Imaginations of bewitchedPersons; 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 hisImagination: let him be brought into a Room where there is aLooking-Glass, and he will (if put upon it) not only say but swear thathe sees a Dog, tho' in truth there is no Dog it may be within 20 Milesof him; and is it not then possible for the Dogs of Hell to poyson theImaginations of miserable Creatures, so as that they shall believe andswear that such Persons hurt them as never did so? I have heard of anInchanted Pin, that has caused the Condemnation and Death of many scoresof innocent Persons. There was a notorious _Witchfinder_ in _Scotland_, that undertook by a Pin, to make an infallible Discovery of suspectedPersons, whether they were Witches or not, if when the Pin was run anInch or two into the Body of the accused Party no Blood appeared, norany sense of Pain, then he declared them to be Witches; by means hereofmy Author tells me no less then 300 persons were Condemned for Witchesin that Kingdom. This Bloody Jugler after he had done enough in_Scotland_, came to the Town of _Berwick_ upon _Tweed_; an honest Mannow living in _New-England_ assureth me, that he saw the Man thrust agreat Brass Pin two Inches into the Body of one, that some would in thatway try whether there was Witchcraft in the Case or no: the accusedParty was not in the least sensible of what was done, and therefore indanger of receiving the Punishment justly due for Witchcraft; only it sohappened, that Collonel _Fenwick_ (that worthy Gentleman, who many yearssince lived in _New-England_) was then the Military Governour in thatTown; he sent for the Mayor and Magistrates advising them to be carefuland cautious in their proceedings; for he told them, it might be anInchanted Pin, which the Witchfinder made use of: Whereupon theMagistrates of the place ordered that he should make his Experimentwith some other Pin as they should appoint: But that he would by nomeans be induced unto, which was a sufficient Discovery of the Knaveryand Witchery of the Witchfinder. There is a strange Diabolical Energygoeth along with _Incantations_. If _Balak_ had not known that he wouldnot have sent for _Balaam_, to see whether he could inchant the Childrenof _Israel_. The Scripture intimates that Inchantments will keep aSerpent from biting, _Eccles. 10. 11. _ A Witch in _Sweedland_ confessed, that the Devil gave her a wooden Knife; and that if she did but touchany living thing with that Knife, it would die immediately: And thatthere is a wonderful Power of the Devil attending things inchanted, wehave confirmed by a prodigious Instance in Major _Weir_, a _Scotch_ Man:That wretched Man was a perfect Prodigy; a Man of great Parts; esteemeda Saint, yet lived in secret Uncleanness with his own Sister for thirtyfour Years together: After his wickedness was discovered, he did notseem to be troubled at any of his Crimes, excepting that he had caused apoor Woman to be publickly whipped, because she reported that she hadseen him committing Bestiality; which thing was true, only the Womancould not prove it. This horrid Creature, if he had his _InchantedStaff_ in his Hand could pray to admiration, and do extraordinarythings, as is more amply related in the Postscript to Mr. _Sinclares_his Book before mentioned: But if he had not his Inchanted Rod to leanupon, he could not transform himself into an Angel of Light: But by allthese things we may conclude, that it is not impossible, but that aguilty Conjurer, that so he may render himself the less suspected, mayby his Magical Art and Inchantment, cause innocent Persons to berepresented as afflicting those whom the Devil and himself are theTormentors of. 

Arg. 5. _The Truth we affirm is so evident, as that many Learned andJudicious Men have freely subscribed unto it. _

The memorable Relation of the Devils assuming the shape of an innocentCitizen in _Zurick_, is in the Judgment of that great Divine _LudLavater_, of weighty Consideration: And he declares, that he doestherefore mention it, that so Judges might be cautelous in theirProceedings in Cases of this nature, inasmuch as the Devil does often inthat way intangle innocent Persons, and bring them into great Troubles. His Words are, [40]_Hanc Historiam ideo recito, ut Judices, inhujusmodi, Casibus cauti sint: Diabolus enim hac via sæpe innocentibusinsidiatur. _ He confirms what he saith by reciting a Passage out of_Alertus Granzius_, who writes that the Devil was seen in the shape of aNobleman to come out of the Empress's Chamber: But to clear herInnocency, she (according to the superstitious _Ordeals_ then infashion) walked blindfold over a great many of glowing hot Irons withouttouching any of them. _Voetius_ in his [41]Disputation of _Spectres_proposeth that Question, whether the Devil may not untruly personate aGodly Man, and answers in the Affirmative: And withal adds, that it is asufficient Argument (_ad hominem_) to answer the Papists with their ownHistories, which give Instances of Satan's appearing in the Figure ofSaints, nay of Christ himself. And in his Discourse concerning the_Operations of Dæmons_[42] he has the like _Problem_, whether the Devilmay not possibly put on the shape of a true Believer, a real Saint, notonly of such as are dead, but still living, and answers, _Quidni?_ Whynot? It is true Popish _Casuists_[43] do generally incline to theNegative in this Question: Nevertheless, the Instance of _Germanus_, whosaw a Company of honest People represented by the Devil, as if they hadbeen feasting together, when they were really asleep in their Beds, doesa little puzzle them, so as that they are necessitated to take up withthis Conclusion, [44]_That by an extraordinary Permission of God, innocent Persons may be represented by Satan in the NocturnalConventicles of Witches:_ And if so, much more as afflicting bewitchedPersons. _Delrio_ giveth an account of an innocent Monk, whoseReputation was indangered by a _Dæmon's_ appearing in his shape. Hewrites 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 exhibitethe Forms of innocent Persons, if God permit it, who when he does permitit, usually by some Providence discovers the Fraud of the Devils, thatso the Innocent may be vindicated, or if not, it is to bring them torepentance for some Sin, or to try their Patience. _ It is rare to seesuch 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 Possibilityof the Affirmative, in the Question before us. Dr. _Henkelius_ haslately [46]published a learned and elaborate Discourse concerning theright Method of curing such as are obsessed with _Cacodæmons_, in whichhe asserts, that _Satan may possibly assume the Form of innocent andpious Persons, that so he might thereby destroy their Reputations, andexpose them to undue Punishments. _ As for our _English_ Divines, thereare not many greater _Casuists_ than Mr. _Perkins_; nor do I know anyone that has written on the Case of Witchcraft with more Judgment andClearness of Understanding: He has these Words, [47] "If a Man beingdangerously sick and like to die upon suspicion, will take it on hisdeath, that such an one has bewitched him, it is an allegation which maymove the Judge to examine the Party, but it is of no moment forConviction. " The like is asserted by [48]Mr. _Cooper_, Mr. _Bernard_, (once a famous Minister at _Batcomb_ in _Somerset_) his Book called _AGuide to Grand Jury-men in Cases of Witchcraft_, is a solid and wiseTreatise. What his Judgment was in the Case now under debate, we maysee, _pag. _ 209, 210. Where his Words are these; "An Apparation of theParty suspected, whom the Afflicted in their Fits seem to see, is agreat suspicion; yet this is but a presumption, tho' a strong one, because these Apparitions are wrought by the Devil, who can represent tothe Phansie such as the Parties use to fear, in which his representationhe may well lye as in his other Witness: For if the Devil can representto the Witch a seeming _Samuel_, saying, I see Gods ascending out of theEarth, to beguile _Saul_, may we not think he can represent a commonordinary Person, Man or Woman unregenerate, tho' no Witch to the Phansieof vain Persons, to deceive them and others that will give Credit to theDevil. " Thus Mr. _Bernard_. 

As for the Judgment of the Elders in _New-England_, so far as I canlearn, 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 maynot sometimes have a Permission to represent an innocent Person astormenting such as are under Diabolical Molestations?_ The Answer whichthey all concurred in, was in these words, _viz. _ _That the Devil maysometimes have a Permission to represent an innocent Person astormenting such as are under Diabolical Molestations; but that suchthings are rare and extraordinary, especially when such Matters comebefore Civil Judicatures:_ And that some of the most eminent Ministersin the Land, who were not at that Meeting are of the same Judgment, I amassured: And I am also sure, that in Cases of this nature the _Priest'sLips 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 inthat Town, did appear to her, and afflict her: But afterwards she wassatisfied that that Person never did her any harm, but that the Devilabused them both. About two Years ago, a bewitched Person in_Chelmsford_ in her Fits, complained that a worthy good Man, a nearRelation of hers did afflict her: So did she likewise complain ofanother Person in that town of known integrity and Piety. 

I have my self known several of whom I ought to think that they are nowin Heaven, considering that they were of good Conversation, and reputedPious by those that had the greatest Intimacy with them, of whomnevertheless, some complained that their Shapes appeared to them, andthreatned them: Nor is this answered by saying, we do not know but thosePersons might be Witches: We are bound by the Rule of Charity to thinkotherwise: And they that censure any, meerly because such a sadAffliction 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 theportion 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 untowhom 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 selveswhom no Man that knows him, can think him to be a Wizzard, whom yet somebewitched 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 usof their Error: This then I declare and testifie, that to take away theLife of any one, meerly because a _Spectre_ or Devil, in a bewitched orpossessed Person does accuse them, will bring the Guilt of innocentBlood on the Land, where such a thing shall be done: Mercy forbid thatit 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 hislikeness, or his Eyes were bewitched. 

The things which have been mentioned make way for, and bring us unto thesecond Case, which is to come under our Consideration, _viz. _

_If one bewitched is struck down at the Look or cast of the Eye ofanother, and after that recovered again by a Touch from the same Person, Is not this an infallible Proof, that the Person suspected andcomplained of is in League with the Devil?_

_Answer;_ It must be owned that by such things as these Witchcrafts andWitches have been discovered more than once or twice: And that an illFame, or other Circumstances attending the suspected Party, this may bea Ground for Examination; but this alone does not afford sufficientMatter for Conviction: As _Spectres_ or _Devils_ appearing in the Shapesof Men that have been murdered, declaring that they were murdered bysuch Persons and in such a place, may give just occasion to theMagistrate for Enquiry into the Matter: One great Witch-Advocate[49]confesseth, that by this means Murders have been brought to light; yetthat alone, if other Circumstances did not concur, would not by the Lawof God take away the Life of any Man. If my Reader pleaseth, he shallhear what old Mr. _Bernard_ of _Batcomb_ saith to a Case not unlike tothis, and the former: His Words are these, [50] 'The naming of thesuspected in their Fits, and also where they have been, and what theyhave done here or there, as Mr. _Throgmorton's_ Children could do, andthat often and ever found true; this is a great Presumption: yet is thisbut a Presumption, because this is only the Devils Testimony, who canlie, and that more often than speak Truth. Christ would not allow hisWitness of him in a point most true; nor St. _Paul_ in the due Praisesof him and _Sylas_; his Witness then may not be received as sufficientin case of ones Life: He may accuse an Innocent, as I shewed before inMr. _Edmund's_ giving over his Practice to find Stollen Goods; and Satanwe read would accuse _Job_ to God himself to be an Hypocrite, and to beready 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 seeingthe Devil is such an one as you heard, Christian Men should not take hisWitness, to give in Verdict upon Oath, and so swear that the Devil hastherein spoken the Truth; be it far from good men to confirm any Word ofthe Devil by Oath, if it be not an evident Truth without the Devil'sTestimony, who in speaking the Truth, has a lying Intent, and speakssome Truths of things done, which may be found to be so, that he maywrap with them some pernicious Lye, which cannot be tried to be true, but must rest upon his own testimony to ensnare the Blood of theInnocent. ' 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 LearnedPhysician) in his Book, about _The Tryal of Witchcraft, shewing the trueand right Method of the Discovery, with a Confutation of Erroneous ways_(which Book he dedicates to the Right Honourable Sir _Edward Cook_, LordChief Justice of _England_, )[51] He discourses concerning _Explorationof Witches by the touch of the Witch curing the touched bewitched_, andsheweth the Fallibility and Vanity of that way of Tryal, tho' he hadoften seen Persons bewitched in that way immediately delivered from thepresent Fit or Agony which was upon them: But he taketh it to be aDiabolical Miracle. He argueth thus, [52] 'No Man can doubt but that theVertue wherewith this touch was indued, is supernatural: If it be so, How can man to whom nothing is simply possible that is not natural bejustly reputed an Agent therein? If he cannot be esteemed in himself anypossible or true Agent, then it remaineth that he can only be interestedtherein as an Accessary in Consent, or as a Servant unto a SuperiorPower: If that Superior Power be the Devil, the least reasonable doubt, whether the Devil alone, or with the Consent or Contract of thesuspected Person has produced that wonderful effect; with what Religionor Reason can any Man incline rather to credit the Devil's mouth in theBewitched, than to pity the Accused, and believe them against thesubtility of a deceitful Devil: If the Devil by Divine Permission maycause supernatural Concomitances and Consequences to attend the naturalActions of Men without their allowance, as is manifest in possessedPersons, how is it reasonable and just that the Impositions of the Devilshould be imputed unto any Man: And (saith he) God forbid that theDevil's Signs and Wonders, nay his Truths should become any legalAllegations or Evidences in Law. We may therefore conclude it unjust, that the forenamed miraculous Effect by the Devil wrought and imputed bythe Bewitched, should be esteemed an infallible mark against any Man, astherefore convinced for that the Devil and the Bewitched have sodecyphered him!' Thus that Learned Man. But to the Case in hand, I haveseveral things to offer. 

1. _It is possible that the Persons in Question may be possessed withCacodæmons:_ That bewitched Persons are many times really possessed withevil Spirits, is most certain. And as Mr. _Perkins_ observes, no Man canprove but that Witchcraft might be the Cause of many of thosePossessions, which we read of in the Gospel: And that Devils have beenimmitted into the Bodies of miserable Creatures by Magicians andWitches, Histories and Experience do abundantly testifie. _Hierom_[53]relates concerning a certain Virgin, that a young Man, whose Amours shedespised, prevailed with a Magician to send an evil Spirit into her, bymeans whereof she was strangely besotted. 'Tis reported[54] of _SimonMagus_, that after he had used an Hellish Sacrifice, to be revenged ofsome that had called him a great Witch, he caused infernal Spirits toenter into them. Many confessing Witches have acknowledged, that theywere the Cause of such and such Persons being possessed of evil Angels, as [55]_Thyræus_ and others have observed: Now no Credit ought to begiven to what _Dæmons_ in such as are by them obsessed shall say. OurSaviour by his own unerring Example has taught us not to receive theDevil's Testimony in any thing. The Papists are justly condemned forbringing Diabolical Testimony to confirm the Principles of theirReligion. _Peter Cotton_ the Jesuite[56] enquired of the Devil in apossessed Person, what was the clearest Scripture to prove Purgatory. Atthe 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 owedhim 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 ReformedReligion, the Devils in the Obsessed laughed and said, they were not atall afraid of them, for the _Calvinists_ and they were very goodFriends. The Jesuits insult with these Testimonies as if they wereDivine Oracles: But the Father of Lyes is never to be believed: He willutter twenty great truths to make way for one lye: He will accuse twentyWitches, if he can but thereby bring one innocent Person into trouble:He mixeth Truths with Lyes, that so those truths giving credit untolyes, Men may believe both, and so be deceived: And whereas some say, that the Persons in question are only bewitched and not possessed, letit be considered that possessed Persons are called _Energumens_ from#ERGOMAI# _Agitor_: They whose Bodies are preternaturallyagitated, so as to be in danger of being thrown into the Fire, or intothe Water, though they may be bewitched, are undoubtedly possessed with_Dæmons_, _Mark 9. 22, 25. _ Learned Men[58] give it as a most certainsign of Possession, when the afflicted Party can see and hear that whichno one else can discern any thing of, and when they can discover[59]secret things, _Acts 6. 16. _ past, or future, [60]as a possessedPerson in _Germany_ foretold the War which broke out in the Year, 1546. And when the Limbs of miserable Creatures, are bent and disjointed so ascould not possible be without a Luxation of Joints, were it not done bya preternatural Hand, and yet no hurt raised thereby that arguethPossession. Also, when Persons are by the Devil cast into Fits, in thewhich they speak of things, that afterwards they have no remembranceof, [61] or, if they are by cruel Devils tortured, so as to causehorrendous Clamours in the distressed Sufferers, that's another sign ofObsession by evil Spirits: If all these things concur in the Personsconcerning where the Question is, we may conclude them to be_Dæmoniacks_: And if so, no _Juror_ can with a safe Conscience look onthe 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, butan 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 theEye 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; andhe adds, that they had two Apples in each Eye: and _Tully_ writes ofwomen who had two Apples in one Eye that always did mischief with theirmeer looks; so _Ovid_, _Pupula duplex fulminat. _ And _Plutarch_[64]writes that some persons have such a Poyson in their Eyes, as that theirFriends and Familiars are Fascinated thereby; nay he speaks of one thatBewitched himself sick by looking on his own Face in a Glass: Otherswrite 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; Sightdoes not proceed from an Emission of Rays from the Eye, but by areception of the visible Species; and if it be (as Philosophersconclude) an innocent Action and not an Emission of optick Spirits, sothat sight as such, does receive something from the Object, and not actupon it, the Notion of Fascination by the Eye is unphilosophical: It istrue, that sore Eyes will affect those that look upon them, _Dumspectant Oculi Læsos, Leduntur & ipsi_, for which a natural Reason iseasily to be assigned; but if the Witches Eyes are thus infected with anatural Contagion, Whence is it, that only Bewitched Persons are hurtthereby? If the vulgar Error concerning the _Basilisks_ killing withthe Look of his Poysonful Eye were a Truth, whatever person thatSerpent cast his Eye upon would be poysoned. So if Witches had aphysical Venom in their Eyes, others as well as Fascinated Persons wouldbe sensible thereof; there is as much Truth in this fancy of PhysicalVenom in the Eye of a Witch, as there is in what _Pliny_[66] and othersrelate concerning the _Thibians_, _viz. _ that they have two Apples inone Eye, and the Effigies of an Horse in the other Eye; and that theyare a people that cannot be drowned. 

3. _As for that which concerns the Bewitched Persons being recovered outof their Agonies by the Touch of the suspected Party, it is various andfallible. _

For sometimes the afflicted Person is made sick, (instead of being madewhole) by the Touch of the Accused; sometimes the Power of Imaginationis such, as that the Touch of a Person innocent and not accused shallhave the same effect. It is related in the Account of the Tryals ofWitches at _Bury_ in _Suffolk_ 1664, during the time[67] of the Tryal, there were some Experiments made with the Persons afflicted, by bringingthe accused to touch them, and it was observed that by the least Touchof one of the supposed Witches, they that were in their Fits, to allmens Apprehension wholly deprived of all Sense and Understandings, wouldsuddenly shriek out and open their Hands. 

Mr. Serjeant _Keeling_ did not think that sufficient to Convict thePrisoners, for admitting that the Children were in truth Bewitched, yet(saith he) it cannot be applyed to the Prisoners upon the Imaginationonly of the Parties afflicted; for if that might be allowed, no Personwhatsoever can be in safety, for perhaps they might fancy another Personwho might altogether be innocent in such matters: To avoid this Scrupleit was privately desired by the Judge, that some Gentlemen there inCourt would attend one of the distempered Persons in the farther part ofthe Hall, whilst she was in her Fits, and then to send for one of theWitches to try what would happen, which they did accordingly. One ofthem was conveyed from the Bar, and brought to the Afflicted Maid. Theyput an Apron before her Eyes, and then another person (not the Witch)touched her, which produced the same effect, as the Touch of the Witchdid in the Court. Whereupon the Gentlemen returned much unsatisfied. _Bodin_[68] relates, that a Witch who was Tryed at _Nants_, wascommanded by the Judges to touch a Bewitched person, a thing oftenpractised by the Judges of _Germany_ in the _Imperial Chamber_. TheWitch was extreamly unwilling, but being Compelled by the Judges, shecryed out, _I am undone;_ and as soon as ever she touched the Afflictedperson, the Witch fell down dead, and the other recovered. That horridWitch of _Salisbury_, _Ann Bodenham_[69] who had been Servant to theNotorious Conjurer Dr. _Lamb_, could not bear the sight of one that wasBewitched by her. As soon as ever she saw the Afflicted Person, she ranabout shrieking, and crying, and roaring after an hideous manner, thatthe Devil would tear her in pieces, if that person came near her. Andwhilst the Witch was in such Torment, the Bewitched was at ease. Bythese things we see, that the Laws and Customs of the Kingdom ofdarkness, are not always and in all places the same. 

And it is good for men to concern themselves with them as little as maybe. 

I think there is weight in Dr. _Cotta's_[70] Argument, _viz. _

_That the Gift of healing the Sick and Possessed, was a special Graceand Favour of God, for the Confirmation of the Truth of the Gospel, butthat such a Gift should be annexed to the Touch of Wicked Witches, as aninfallible sign of their guilt, is not easie to be believed. _ It is athing well known, that if a person possessed by an Evil Spirit, is (asoft it so happens) never so outragious whilst a good man is Praying withand for the Afflicted, let him lay his hand on them, and the Evil Spiritis quiet. I hope this is no evidence of any Covenant, or voluntaryCommunion between the Good Man that is Praying and the Evil Spirit; nomore does the Case before us evince any such thing. 

4. _There are that Question the Lawfulness of the Experiment. _ For ifthis 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 beordered to touch afflicted Persons in order to their healing or recoveryout of a sick Fit, why may not the Diseased Person be as well ordered totouch the Witch for the same cause? And if to touch him, why not toscratch him and fetch Blood out of him, which is but an harder kind oftouch? But as for this Mr. _Perkins_ doubts not to call it a _Practiceof Witchcraft_. It is not safe to meddle with any of the DevilsSacraments or Institutions; _For my own part, I should be loath to sayto a Man, that I knew or thought was a Witch, do you look on such aPerson, and see if you can Witch them into a Fit, and there is such anafflicted Person do you take them by the Hand, and see if you can Witchthem well again. If it is by vertue of some Contract with the Devil thatwitches have Power to do such things, it is hard to conceive how theycan be bid to do them, without being too much concerned in that HellishCovenant. _ I take it to be (as elsewhere[71] I have expressed) a solidPrinciple, which the Learned _Sennertus_ insists on, _viz. _ _That theywho force another to do that which he cannot possibly do, but by vertueof a Compact with the Devil, have themselves implicitely Communion withthe Diabolical Covenant. _ The Devil is pleased and honoured when any ofhis Institutions are made use of; this way of discovering Witches, is nobetter than that of putting the Urine of the afflicted Person into aBottle, that so the Witch may be tormented and discovered: The Vanityand Superstition of which practice I have formerly shewed, and testifiedagainst. _There was a Conjurer his name was +Edward Drake+[72] whotaught a Man to use that Experiment for the Relief of his afflictedDaughter, who found benefit thereby;_ But we ought not to practiceWitchcraft to discover Witches, nor may we make use of a _White healingWitch_ (as they call them) to find out a _Black and Bloody one_. And howdid men first come to know that Witches would be discovered in suchways as these, which have been mentioned? If Satan himself were thefirst Discoverer (as there is reason to believe) the experiment mustneeds have deceit in it. See Dr. Willet on _Exod. 7. _ _Quest. 9. _ Andsuch Experiments better become Pagans or Papists than Professors in_New-England_; whereas 'tis pleaded, that such things are practised bythe Judges of the Imperial Chamber, I reply, that those Judges (as_Bodin_ relates, _Lib. 3. Dæmon. Cap. 6. _) have required suspectedWitches to pronounce over the afflicted persons, these words, _I blessthee in the Name of the Father, &c. _ upon which they have immediatelyrecovered; but is the dark day come upon us, that such Superstitions asthese 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 validityas to what they see done to themselves, then it is so as to others, whomthey see afflicted no less than themselves:_ But what they affirmconcerning others, is not to be taken for Evidence. Whence had they thisSupernatural Sight? It must needs be either from Heaven or from Hell: Iffrom Heaven, (as _Elisha's_ Servant, and _Balaam's_ Ass could discernAngels) let their Testimony be received: But if they had this Knowledgefrom Hell, tho' there may possibly be truth in what they affirm, theyare not legal Witnesses: For the Law of God allows of no Revelation fromany other Spirit but himself, _Isa. 8. 19. _ It is a Sin against God tomake use of the Devil's help to know that which cannot be otherwiseknown: And I testifie against it, as a great Transgression, which mayjustly provoke the Holy One of _Israel_, to let loose Devils on thewhole Land, _Luke 4. 35. _ See Mr. _Bernard's_ Guide to Juries in Cases ofWitchcraft, p. 136, 137, 138. And _Brockmand_, _Theol. De Angelis_, p. 227. Altho' the Devil's Accusations may be so far regarded as to causean enquiry into the truth of things, _Job 1. 11, 12. & 2. 5, 6. _ yet notso as to be an Evidence or Ground of Conviction: The Persons, concerningwhom the Question is, see things through Diabolical Mediums; on whichaccount their Evidence is not meer humane Testimony; and if it be in anypart Diabolical, it is not to be owned as Authentick; for the Devil'sTestimony 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 abewitched Person has complained that she was cast into Fits by the Lookof 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 thatthereupon the Dog was shot to death: This Dog was no Devil; for thenthey could not have killed him. I suppose no one will say that Dogs areWitches: It remains then that the casting down with the Look is noinfallible sign of a Witch. 

7. It has always been said, that it is a difficult thing to find outWitches: But if the Representation of such a Person as afflicting, orthe Look or Touch be an infallible proof of the guilt of Witchcraft inthe Persons complained of, 'tis the easiest thing in the World todiscover them; for it is done to our hand, and there needs no enquiryinto the Matter. 

8. _Let them say this is an infallible Proof, produce any Word out ofthe Law of God which does in the least countenance that Assertion:_ TheWord of God instructs Jurors and Judges to proceed upon clear humaneTestimony, _Deut. 35. 30. _ But the Word no where giveth us the leastIntimation, that every one is a Witch, at whose look the bewitchedPerson shall fall into Fits; nor yet that any other means should be usedfor the discovery of Witches, than what may be used for the finding outof Murderers, Adulterers, and other Criminals. 

9. Sometimes Antipathies in Nature have strange and unaccountableEffects. I have read of a Man that at the sight of his own Son, who wasno Wizzard would fall into Fits. There are that find in their Natures anaverseness to some Persons whom they never saw before, of which they cangive 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 toowell known to be denied. _Pensingius_ in his Learned Discourse _DePulvere 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 heknew another who was not able to look on the Picture thereof. _AmatusLusitanus_ 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 notalways a sign of Witchcraft. It may proceed from Nature, and the Powerof Imagination. 

To conclude; Judicious _Casuists_[73] have determined, that to make useof those _Media_ to come to the Knowledge of any Matter, which have nosuch power in them by Nature, nor by Divine Institution is an Implicitgoing to the Devil to make a discovery: Now there is no natural Power inthe Look or Touch of a Person to bewitch another; nor is this by DivineInstitution the means whereby Witchcraft is discovered: Therefore it isan unwarrantable Practice. 

We proceed now to the third Case proposed to Consideration; If thethings which have been mentioned are not infallible Proofs of Guilt inthe accused Party, it is then Queried, _Whether there are anyDiscoveries of this Crime, which Jurors and Judges may with a safeConscience proceed upon to the Conviction and Condemnation of thePersons under Suspicion?_

Let me here premise Two things, 1. The Evidence in this Crime ought to be as clear as in any otherCrimes of a Capital nature. The Word of God does no where intimate, thata less clear Evidence, or that fewer or other Witnesses may be taken assufficient to convict a Man of Sorcery, which would not be enough toconvict 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 apossessed Person in a Case of Murder, Theft, Felony of any sort, thenneither may we do it in the Case of Witchcraft. 

2. Let me premise this also, that there have been ways of trying Witcheslong used in many Nations, especially in the dark times of Paganism andPopery, which the righteous God never approved of. But which (asjudicious Mr. _Perkins_ expresseth it in plain _English_) were inventedby the Devil, that so innocent Persons might be condemned, and somenotorious Witches escape: Yea, many Superstitious and Magicalexperiments have been used to try Witches by: Of this sort is that ofscratching the Witch, or seething the Urine of the Bewitched Person, ormaking a Witch-cake with that Urine: And that tryal of putting theirHands into scalding Water, to see if it will not hurt them: And that ofsticking an Awl under the Seat of the suspected Party, yea, and that wayof discovering Witches by tying their Hands and Feet, and casting themon the Water, to try whether they will sink or swim: I did publicklybear 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 withthis Diabolical invention: It is to be lamented, that in such a _Land ofUprightness_ as _New-England_ once was, a Practice which ProtestantWriters generally condemn as sinful, and which the more sober andlearned Men amongst Papists themselves have not only judged unlawful, but (to express it in their own terms) to be no less than a _MortalSin_, should ever be heard of. Were it not that the coming of Christ tojudge the Earth draweth near, I should think that such Practices are anunhappy Omen that the Devil and Pagans will get these dark Territoriesinto their Possession again: But that I may not be thought to have noreason for my calling the impleaded Experiment into Question, I havethese things further to alledge against it. 

1. It has been rejected long agone, by Christian Nations as a thingSuperstitious and Diabolical: In _Italy_ and _Spain_ it is whollydisused; and [74]in the _Low-Countries_, and in _France_, where theJudges 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 ofPurgation. 

2. The Devil is in it, all Superstition is from him; and when Secretthings, 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 Witchcannot be drowned, this must proceed either from some natural Cause, which it doth not, for it is against Nature for Humane Bodies, whenHands and Feet are tied, not to sink under the Water: Besides, they thatplead for this Superstition, say that if Witches happen to be condemnedfor some other Crime and not for Witchcraft, they will not swim like aCork above Water, which Cause sheweth that the Cause of this Natation isnot _Physical_: And if not, then either it must proceed from a DivineMiracle to save a Witch from drowning; or lastly, it must be adiabolical Wonder: This superstitious Experiment is commonly known bythe Name of, _The Vulgar Probation_, because it was never appointed byany lawful Authority, but from the Suggestion of the Devil taken up bythe rude Rabble: And some [77]learned Men are of Opinion, that the first_Explorator_ (_being a white Witch_) did explicitely covenant with theDevil, that he should discover latent Crimes in this way: And that it isby Virtue of that first Contract that the Devil goeth to work to keephis Servants from sinking, when this Ceremony of his ordaining is used. Moreover, we know that _Diabolus est Dei Simia_, the Devil seeks toimitate Divine Miracles. We read in Ecclesiastical Story, that some ofthe Martyrs when they were by Persecutors ordered to be drowned, prov'dto be immersible: This Miracle would the Devil imitate in causingWitches, who are his Martyrs, not to sink when they are cast into theWaters. 

3. This way of Purgation is of the same nature with the old _Ordeals_ ofthe Pagans. If Men were accused with any Crime, to clear theirinnocency, they were to take an hot Iron into their Hands, or to sufferscalding Water to be poured down their Throats, and if they received nohurt thereby they were acquitted. This was the Devil's Invention, andmany times (as the Devil would have it) they that submitted to theseTryals suffered no inconvenience. Nevertheless, it is astonishing tothink 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, andsometimes come off well: Indeed, this _Ordeal_ was used in other Cases, and not in Cases of Witchcraft only: And so was the _VulgarProbation_ by casting into the Water practiced upon Persons accused[79]with other Crimes as well as that of Witchcraft: How it came to berestrained to that of Witchcraft I cannot tell; it is as supernaturalfor a Body whose Hands and Feet are tied to swim above the Water, as itis 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 thefiery _Ordeal_ it is rejected and exploded out of the World; for thesame reason then the tryal by Water should be so. 

4. It is a tempting of God when Men put the Innocency of theirFellow-Creatures upon such tryals; to desire the Almighty to shew aMiracle to clear the Innocent, or to convict the Guilty is a mostpresumptuous tempting of him. Was it not a Miracle when _Peter_ was keptfrom 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 Poweris 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 theWater: If then guilty Persons shall float on the Waters, either it isthe Devil that causes them to do so, (as no doubt it is) and what haveMen to do to set the Devil on work; or else it is a Divine Miracle, likethat of _Peter's_ not sinking, or that of the Iron that swam at the Wordof _Elisha_. And shall Men try whether God will work a Miracle to make adiscovery? If a Crime cannot be found out but by Miracle, it is not forany Judge on Earth to usurp that Judgment which is reserved for theDivine Throne. 

5. This pretended Gift of Immersibility attending Witches, is a mostfallible deceitful thing; for many a Witch has sunk under the Water. _Godelmannus_[81] giveth an account of six notorious and clearlyconvicted Witches, that when they were brought to their _vulgarProbation_, sunk down under the Water like other Persons; _Althusius_affirms the like concerning others; in the _Bohemian_ History[82] it isrelated, that _Uratslaus_ the King of _Bohemia_, extirpated Witches outof his Kingdom, some of which he delivered to the Ax, others of them tothe Fire, and others of them he caused to be drowned: If Witches areimmersible, how came they to die by drowning in _Bohemia_? Besides, ithas sometimes been known that Persons who have floated on the Water whenthe Hangman has made the Experiment on them, have sunk down like aStone, 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 desiredthat they might be cast on the Water in order to their purgation: It isalledged, that Water is used in _Baptism_, therefore Witches swim: Aweak Phansie; all the Water in the World is not consecrated Water. Cannot Witches eat Bread or drink Wine, notwithstanding those Elementsare made use of in the Blessed Sacrament: But (say some) the Devils bysucking of them make them so light that the Water bears them; whereassome Witches are twice as heavy as many an innocent Person: Well, butthen they are possessed with the Devil: Suppose so; Is the Devil afraidif they should sink, that he should be drowned with them? But why thenwere the _Gadarens_ Hogs drowned when the Devil was in them. 

These things being premised, I answer the Question affirmatively; _Thereare Proofs for the Conviction of Witches which Jurors may with a safeConscience proceed upon, so as to bring them in guilty. _ The Scripturewhich 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 untilthey be so, they may and must be suffered to live. Moreover we find inScripture, that some have been convicted and executed for Witches: For_Saul cut off those that had familiar Spirits, and the Wizzards out ofthe Land_, _1 Sam. 28. 9. _

It may be wondered that _Saul_ who did like him that said, _Flectere sinequeo Superos Acheronta Movebo_, should cause the Wizzards in the Landto be put to death. The _Jewish Rabbies_ say, the reason was, becausethose 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] ofWitches he slew the _Gibeonites_, for which that Judgment followed, _2Sam. 21. 1. _ _Neither_ (saith Mr. _Gaule_) _want we the storied Examplesof God's Judgments upon those that defamed, prosecuted and executed themfor Witches, that indeed were none. _ But we have in the Scripture theExample of a better Man than _Saul_ to encourage us to make enquiryafter 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 theWizzards, 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 somethat sought to hide those Workers of Iniquity, but that incomparableKing 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 Divinesof 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, _SelectCases of Conscience touching Witches and Witchcrafts_, Printed at_London_ A. D. 1646. Wherein he does with great Prudence and Evidence ofScripture light handle this and other Cases: Such Jurors as can obtainthose Books, I would advise them to read, and seriously as in the fearof God to consider them, and so far as they keep to the Law and to theTestimony, and speak according to that Word, receive the Light which isin them. But the Books being now rare to be had, let me express myConcurrence with them in these two particulars. 

1. _That a free and voluntary Confession of the Crime made by the Personsuspected and accused after Examination, is a sufficient Ground ofConviction. _

Indeed, If Persons are Distracted, or under the Power of _PhrenetickMelancholy_, that alters the Case; but the Jurors that examine them, andtheir Neighbours that know them, may easily determine that Case; or ifConfession 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 Godin their Spirits, confess and shew their Deeds, as the ConvertedMagicians 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, orthe like nefandous Wickedness, if he does freely confess the Accusation, that's ground enough to Condemn him. The Scripture approveth of Judgingthe wicked Servant out of his own Mouth, _Luke 19. 22. _ It is by someobjected, that Persons in Discontent may falsly accuse themselves. Isay, if they do so, and it cannot be proved that they are false Accusersof themselves, they ought to dye for their Wickedness, and their Bloodwill be upon their own Heads; the Jury, the Judges, and the Land isClear: I have read a very sad and amazing, and yet a true Story to thispurpose. 

There was in the Year 1649, in a Town called _Lauder_ in _Scotland_, acertain woman accused and imprisoned on suspicion of Witchcraft, whenothers in the same Prison with her were Convicted, and their Executionordered to be on the Monday following, she desired to speak with aMinister, to whom she declared freely that she was guilty of Witchcraft, acknowledging also many other Crimes committed by her, desiring that shemight die with the rest: She said particularly that she had Covenantedwith 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 neverowned her. Several Ministers who were jealous that she accused herselfuntruly, charged it on her Conscience, telling her that they doubted shewas 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, andwas on Monday morning Condemned, and ordered to be Executed that day. When she came to the place of Execution, she was silent until thePrayers 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 thatI 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, Itake it wholly on my self, and as I must make answer to the God ofHeaven, I declare I am as free from Witchcraft as any Child, but beingaccused 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 inCredit again, through the Temptation of the Devil, I made thatConfession to destroy my own Life, being weary of it, and chusing ratherto Die than to Live. _ This her lamentable Speech did astonish all theSpectators, few of whom could restrain from Tears. The Truth of thisRelation (saith my Author[86]) is certainly attested by a worthy Divinenow living, who was an Eye and an Ear-Witness of the whole matter; butthus did that miserable Creature suffer Death, and this was a justExecution. When the _Amalekite_ confessed that he killed _Saul_, whom hehad no legal Authority to meddle with, although 'tis probable that hebelyed 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 againstothers, the case is not so clear as against themselves, they are notsuch credible Witnesses, as in a Case of Life and Death is to bedesired: It is beyond dispute, that the Devil makes his Witches to dreamstrange things of themselves and others which are not so. There was (asAuthors beyond Exception relate) in appearance a sumptuous Feastprepared, the Wine and Meat set forth in Vessels of Gold; a certainPerson whom an amorous young Man had fallen in Love with, wasrepresented and supposed to be really there; but _ApolloniusTyanæus_[87] discovered the Witchery of the Business, and in an instantall vanished, and nothing but dirty Coals were to be seen: The like tothis is mentioned in the _Arausican_ Council. There were certain Womenthat imagined they rode upon Beasts in the Night, and that they had_Diana_ and _Herodius_ in company with them, besides a Troop of otherPersons; the Council giveth this Sentence on it; _Satanas qui setransfigurat in Angelum Lucis, transformat se in diversarum personarumspecies, & mentem quam captivam tenet, in somnis deludit. _ Satantransforms himself into the likeness of divers Persons, and deludes theSouls 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 theycan 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 inHell, can never make or unmake a rational Soul, and then they cannottransform a Bruit into a Man, nor a Man into a Bruit; so that thisTransmutation is fantastical. The Devil may and often does impose on theImaginations of his Witches and Vassals, that they believe themselves tobe Converted into Beasts, and reverted into Men again; as_Nebuchadnezzar_ whilst under the Power of a Dæmon really imaginedhimself to be an Ox, and would lye out of Doors and eat Grass: The Devilhas inflicted on many a Man the Disease called _Lycanthropia_, fromwhence they have made lamentable Complaints of their being Wolves: In aword, there is no more Reality in what many Witches confess of strangethings 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 intoan _Asse_, and what strange Feats he then played; so that what suchpersons relate concerning Persons and Things at Witch-meetings, oughtnot to be received with too much Credulity. 

I could mention dismal Instances of Innocent Blood which has been shedby means of the Lies of some Confessing Witches; there is a very sadStory mentioned in the Preface to the Relation of the Witchcrafts in_Sweedland_, how that in the Year 1676, at _Stockholm_, a young Womanaccused her own Mother (who had indeed been a very bad Woman, but notguilty of Witchcraft, ) and Swore that she had carried her to theNocturnal Meetings of Witches, upon which the Mother was burnt to Death. Soon after the Daughter came crying and howling before the Judges inopen Court, declaring, that to be revenged on her Mother for an Offencereceived, she had falsely accused her with a Crime which she was notguilty of; for which she also was justly Executed. A most wicked Man in_France_ freely confessed himself to be a Magician, and accused manyothers, whose Lives were thereupon taken from them; and a whole Provincehad 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 theTryal of Witches, amongst others, one _Margaret Atkin_ being apprehendedon 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 ofthat sort, and to purge the Country of them; so she might have her Lifegranted: For the reason of her Knowledge, she said, _That they had asecret mark all of that sort in their Eyes, whereby she could surelytell, 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 4Months she was carried from Town to Town to make Discoveries in thatkind; many were brought in question by her Delations, especially at_Glasgow_, where _diverse Innocent Women, through the Credulity of theMinister Mr. +John Cowper+, were condemned and put to Death_; in the endshe was found to be a meer deceiver, and sent back to _Fife_, where shewas first apprehended: At her Tryal she affirmed all to be false thatshe had confessed of herself or others, and persisted in this to herDeath, which made many fore-think their too great forwardness that way, and moved the King to recall his Commission given out against suchPersons, discharging all Proceedings against them, except in case of avoluntary Confession, till a solid Order should be taken by the Estatestouching the form that should be kept in their Tryal. ' Thus that famousHistorian. 

2. _If two credible Persons shall affirm upon Oath that they have seenthe party accused speaking such words, or doing things which none butsuch as have Familiarity with the Devil ever did or can do, that's asufficient Ground for Conviction. _

Some are ready to say, that Wizzards are not so unwise as to do suchthings in the sight or hearing of others, but it is certain that theyhave very often been known to do so: How often have they been seen byothers using Inchantments? Conjuring to raise Storms? And have beenheard calling upon their Familiar Spirits? And have been known to useSpells and Charms? And to shew in a Glass or in a Shew-stone personsabsent? And to reveal Secrets which could not be discovered but by theDevil? And have not men been seen to do things which are above humaneStrength, that no man living could do without Diabolical Assistances?_Claudia_ was seen by Witnesses enough, to draw a Ship which no humaneStrength could move. _Tuccia_ a Vestal Virgin was seen to carry Water ina Sieve: The Devil never assists men to do supernatural thingsundesired. When therefore such like things shall be testified againstthe accused Party not by _Spectres_ which are Devils in the Shape ofPersons either living or dead, but by real men or women who may becredited; it is proof enough that such an one has that Conversation andCorrespondence with the Devil, as that he or she, whoever they be, oughtto be exterminated from amongst men. This notwithstanding I will add; Itwere better that ten suspected Witches should escape, than that oneinnocent Person should be Condemned; that is an old saying, and true, _Prestat reum nocentem absolvi, quam ex prohibitis Indiciis & illegitimaprobatione condemnari. _ It is better that a Guilty Person should beAbsolved, than that he should without sufficient ground of Conviction becondemned. I had rather judge a Witch to be an honest woman, than judgean honest woman as a Witch. The Word of God directs men not to proceedto the execution of the most capital offenders, until such time as uponsearching diligently, the matter is _found to be a Truth, and the thingcertain_, _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 arelike Mr. _Perkins_; it is no dishonour to us, if that be found true: Iam sorry that any amongst us begin to slight so great a Man, whom themost Learned[89] in Foreign Lands, speak of with Admiration, on theaccount of his polite and acute Judgment: It is a grave and good Advicewhich he giveth in his Discourse of Witchcrafts (Chap. 7. Sect. 2. )wherewith I conclude; 'I would therefore wish and advise all Jurors whogive the Verdict upon Life and Death in the Court of Assizes, to takegood heed, that as they be diligent in zeal of God's glory, and the goodof his Church, in detecting of Witches, by all sufficient and lawfulmeans, so likewise they would be careful what they do, and not tocondemn any party suspected upon bare Presumptions, without sound andsufficient Proofs that they be not guilty through their own Rashness ofshedding Innocent Blood. '

 _Boston, New-England, Octob. 3. 1692. _

POSTSCRIPT. 

The Design of the preceding _Dissertation_, is not to plead forWitchcrafts, or to appear as an Advocate for Witches: I have thereforewritten another Discourse, proving that there are such horrid Creaturesas Witches in the World; and that they are to be extirpated and cut offfrom amongst the People of God, which I have Thoughts and Inclinationsin due time to publish; and I am abundantly satisfied that there havebeen, and are still most cursed Witches in the Land. More than one ortwo of those now in Prison, have freely and credibly acknowledged theirCommunion and Familiarity with the Spirits of Darkness; and have alsodeclared unto me the Time and Occasion, with the particularCircumstances of their Hellish Obligations and Abominations. 

Nor is there designed any Reflection on those worthy Persons who havebeen concerned in the late Proceedings at _Salem_: They are wise andgood Men, and have acted with all Fidelity according to their Light, andhave out of tenderness declined the doing of some things, which in ourown Judgments they were satisfied about: Having therefore so arduous aCase 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 mySon) a _Breviate of the Tryals_ of some who were lately executed, whereby I hope the thinking part of Mankind will be satisfied, thatthere was more than that which is called _Spectre Evidence_ for theConviction of the Persons condemned. I was not myself present at any ofthe Tryals, excepting one, _viz. _ that of _George Burroughs_; had I beenone of his Judges, I could not have acquitted him: For several Personsdid upon Oath testifie, that they saw him do such things as no Man thathas 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 orImaginations of the sick bewitched Persons. If what is here exposed topublick view, may be a means to prevent it for the future, I shall notrepent of my Labour in this Undertaking. I have been prevailed with sofar as I am able to discern the Truth in these dark Cases, to declare mySentiments, with the Arguments which are of weight with me, hoping thatwhat is written may be of some use to discover the _Depths of Satan_;and to prevent innocent ones having their Lives endangered, or theirReputations ruined, by being through the Subtility and Power of theDevils, in consideration with the Ignorance and Weakness of Men, involved amongst the Guilty. It becomes those of my Profession to bevery tender in Cases of Blood, and to imitate our Lord and Master, _Whocame not to destroy the Lives of Men, but to save them_. 

I likewise design in what I have written, to give my testimony againstthese unjustifiable ways of discovering Witchcrafts, which some among ushave practised. I hear that of late there was a _Witch-cake_ made withthe Urine of bewitched Creatures, as one Ingredient by several Personsin a place, which has suffered much by the Attack of Hell upon it: ThisI take to be not only wicked Superstition, but great Folly: For tho' theDevil does sometimes operate with the _Experiments_, yet not always, especially if a _Magical Faith_ be wanting. I shall here take occasionto recite some Passages in a Letter, which I received from that Eminentpious and learned Man, Mr. _Samuel Cradock_; during my abode in_London_; the Letter bears date _Febr. 26. 1690_. Then take it in hisown Words, which are these; 'We have at this present one in our nextTown, who has a Son who has strange Fits, and such as they impute toWitchcraft: He come to consult with me about it, but before he came, hehad used a means which I should never had directed him unto, _viz. _ Hetook the Nails of his Son's Hands and Feet, and some of his Hair, andmixed them in Rye-Paste with his Water, and so set it all by the Firetill it was consumed, and his Son (as he says) was well after, and freefrom his Fits for a whole Month, but then they came again, and _He triedthat means a second time, and then it would not do;_ He removed his Soninto _Cambridgeshire_ the next County, and then he was well, but as soonas he brought him home he was afflicted as before. The Boy says, He sawa thing like a Mole following of him, which once spoke to him, and toldhim he came to do the Office he was to do: I advised his Father to makeuse of the Medicine prescribed by our Saviour, _viz. _ Fasting andPrayer. 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 theygot rid of it I do not know': Thus my Letter. By which it is evidentthat Towns in _England_ as well as _New-England_ are molested with_Dæmons_, only I wish that the Superstitions practiced in other placesto get rid of such troublesome Guests had never been known, much lessused amongst us or them. 

Some I hear have taken up a Notion, that the Book newly published by mySon, is contradictory to this of mine: 'Tis strange that suchImaginations should enter into the Minds of Men: I perused and approvedof that Book before it was printed; and nothing but my Relation to himhindred me from recommending it to the World: But my self and Son agreedunto the humble Advice which twelve Ministers concurringly presentedbefore his Excellency and Council, respecting the present Difficulties, which let the World judge, whether there be anything in it dissentanyfrom 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 sufferingby Molestations from the Invisible World, we apprehend so deplorable, that we think their Condition calls for the utmost help of all Personsin their several Capacities. _ II. _We cannot but with all Thankfulnessacknowledge, the Success which the merciful God has given unto thesedulous and assiduous Endeavors of our honourable Rulers, to detect theabominable Witchcrafts which have been committed in the Country; humblypraying that the discovery of these mysterious and mischievousWickednesses, may be perfected. _ III. _We judge that in the prosecutionof these, and all such Witchcrafts, there is need of a very critical andexquisite Caution, lest by too much Credulity for things received onlyupon the Devil's Authority, there be a Door opened for a long Train ofmiserable Consequences, and Satan get an advantage over us, for weshould not be ignorant of his Devices. _ IV. _As in Complaints uponWitchcrafts, there may be Matters of Enquiry, which do not amount untoMatters of Presumption, and there may be Matters of Presumption whichyet may not be reckoned Matters of +Conviction+; so 'tis necessary thatall Proceedings thereabout be managed with an exceeding tendernesstowards those that may be complained of; especially if they have beenPersons formerly of an unblemished Reputation. _ V. _When the firstEnquiry is made into the Circumstances of such as may lie under any justSuspicion of Witchcrafts, we could wish that there may be admitted aslittle as is possible, of such Noise, Company, and Openness, as may toohastily expose them that are examined: and that there may nothing beused as a Test, for the Trial of the suspected, the Lawfulness whereofmay be doubted among the People of God; but that the Directions given bysuch judicious Writers as +Perkins+ and +Bernard+, be consulted in sucha Case. _ VI. _Presumptions whereupon Persons may be committed, and muchmore Convictions, whereupon Persons may be condemned as guilty ofWitchcrafts, ought certainly to be more considerable, than barely theaccused 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 aninnocent, yea, and a vertuous Man: Nor can we esteem Alterations made inthe Sufferers, by a Look or Touch of the Accused to be an infallibleEvidence of Guilt; but frequently liable to be abused by the Devil'sLegerdemains. _ VII. _We know not, whether some remarkable Affronts givento the Devils, by our disbelieving of those Testimonies, whose wholeforce and strength is from them alone, may not put a Period, unto theProgress of the dreadful Calamity begun upon us, in the Accusation of somany Persons, whereof we hope, some are yet clear from the greatTransgression laid unto their Charge. _ VIII. _Nevertheless, We cannotbut humbly recommend unto the Government, the speedy and vigorousProsecution of such as have rendered themselves obnoxious, according tothe Direction given in the Laws of God, and the wholesome Statutes ofthe +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. OfDæmons, 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. 

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Transcriber's Note, continued. --

The format of all biblical citations has been regularized. 

Footnote markers in the original were sometimes placed before the wordthey 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 theoriginal, IV. And V. Were out-of-line headers and I. , II. And III. Werein-line. 

--p. 80: Moenia had oe-ligature in original (Dilapsa sunt vestraMoenia!)

--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 appearsthat the "-sel" was mistakenly introduced during printing, as the word"Counsel" in the previous sentence was split over two lines andhyphenated ("Coun-sel". ) However, this mistake is not unique to thisreprint. 

--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 ofDogs") was not numbered in the original, causing points 7 through 9 tobe 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 34Chapters. 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--hasbeen left as it appeared in the original copy of this book. Thisincludes many archaic spellings that appear only once, such as thir (p. 214), doe's (p. 195), and ha's (p. 173). 

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