T Tr,~4,-V>?.'!?~~ -. BUo-nK CobBi: tig,: d 7ie nFe:178. A.E. 15C COMPRISING MORE WONDERS OF THE INVISIBLE WORLD, Cbo/eced,y.r O'ER.T CAL EF; AND WONDERS OF THE INVISIBLE WORLD,.-)'v /CO TTOA\ iJ.A T/-'.fI. rogetl)ec Witt) Noteo at'a rplallnatiolvt, B'y SAMUEL P. FOW LER. WIL L A VEAZIE. NDl)CCCLXV. @ne 1pitntioreb (LoJies ptinteb on ilarge paper. Cop5yright secured. Press of John Wilson and Son. %or* I onoetrf OF THE INVISIBLE WORLD; OR, THE WONDERS OF THE INVISIBLE WORLD DISPLA rED. in Sonte jartt: PART I. - An Account of the Sufferings of MARGARET RULE,, written by the Rev. COTTON MATHER. PART II. - Several Letters to the Author, &c., and his Reply relating to Witchcraft. PART III. —The Differences between the Inhabitants of Salem Village, and Mr. PARRIS, their Minister, in New-England. PART IV; — Letters of a Gentleman uninterested, endeavouring to prove the received Opinions about Witchcraft to be Orthodox. With short Essays to their Answers. PART V. -A short Historical Account of Matters of Faft in that Affair. TO WHICH IS ADDED A POSTSCRIPT, Relating to a Book entitled " The Lzfe of Sir William Phiizs." COLLECTED BY ROBERT CALEF, MERCHANT, Of Boston, in New-England. Printed in London, A.D. I700, and in I796; Reprinted in Salem, in I823; In Boston, i828. THE EPISTLE TO THE READER, AND MORE ESPECIALLY TO THE NOBLE BARONS OF THIS AGE, WHEREVER RESIDING. GENTLEMEN,: OU, that are freed from the flavery: i:;i1 of a corrupt education; and that,,t'-~:~i?? in fpite of human precepts, exam-,:I~;::?,: pie, and precedents, can hearken to the ditates of scripture and reafon; for your fakes I am content that there collections of mine, as alfo my fentiments, fhould be expofed to public view; in hopes that, having well considered and compared them with fcripture, you will fee reafon, as I do, to queftion a belief fo prevalent as that here treated of, as alfo the pra&tice flowing from thence; they fianding as nearly conne&ted as caufe and effe6&; it being found wholly impracticable to extirpate the latter, without firft curing the former. And if the buffoon or fatirical will be exercising their talents, or if the bigots wilfully and blindly rejeft the teftimonies of their own reafon, and more vi THE EFISI LE fure word, it is no more than what I expe&ed from them. But you, gentlemen, I doubt not, are willing to diftinguifh between truth and error; and if this may be any furtherance to you herein, I ihall not mifs my aim. But if you find the contrary, and that my belief herein is any way heterodox, I fhall be thankful for the information to any learned or reverend perfon, or others, that fhall take that pains to inform me better, by Scripture or found reafon; which is what I have been long feeking for, in this country, in vain. In a time when not only England in particular, but almoft all Europe, had been labouring againft the ufurpations of tyranny and flavery, the Englifh America has not been behind in a ~hare of the common calamities; more efpecially, New England has met not only with fuch calamities as are common to the reft, but with feveral aggravations enhancing fuch affli6ions, by the devaftations and cruelties of the barbarous Indians in their eaftern borders, &c. But this is not all; they have been haraft (on many accounts) by a more dreadful enemy, as will herein appear to the confiderate. Were it, as we are told in Wonders of the Invzfible JWJorld, "that the devils were walking about our ftreets with lengthened chains, making a dreadful noire in our ears; and brimftone TO THE READER. Vii (even without a metaphor) was making a horrid and hellifh Rfench in our noftrils;" and,'"that the devil, exhibiting himfelf ordinarily as a black man, had decoyed a fearful knot of proud, froward, ignorant, envious and malicious creatures, to lift themselves in his horrid fervice, by entering their names in a book tendered unto them; and that they have had their meetings and facraments, and aflociated themfelves to deftroy the kingdom of our Lord Jefus Chrift, in thefe parts of the world; having each of them their fpe&res, or devils, commiflioned by them, and representing of them to be the engines of their malice, by thefe wicked fpedtres feizing poor people about the country, with various and bloody torments, and of thofe evidently preternatural torments fome have died; and that they have bewitched fome even fo far as to make them felf-deftroyers, and others in many towns here and there languifhed under their evil handsthe people, thus affli&ed, miferably Scratched and bitten; and that the fame invifible furies did fRick pins in them, and fcald them, diftort and difjoint them, with a thoufand other plagues; and Sometimes drag them out of their chambers, and carry them over trees and hills, miles together, many of them being tempted to fign the devil's laws "-"thofe furies, whereof feveral have killed more people perhaps than would Viii THE EPISTLE ferve to make a village "-If this be the true ftate of the afflitions of this country, it is very deplorable, and beyond all other outward calamities miferable. But if, on the other fide, the matter be, as others do underitand it, that the devil has been too hard for us by his temptations, figns, and lying wonders, with the help of pernicious notions, formerly imbibed and profeffed; together with the accufations of a parcel of' poffeffed, diftrafted or lying wenches,* accufing their innocent neighbours, pretending they fee their fpe6tres, i. e. devils in their likenefs, afflifting of them; and that God in righteous judgment (after men had afcribed his power to witches, of commiffioning devils to do thefe things) may have given them over to fProng delufions to believe lies, &c., and to let loofe the devils of envy, hatred, pride, cruelty and malice againft each other, yet till difguifed under the maik of zeal for God, and left them to the branding one another with the odious name of witch; and upon the accufation of thofe above mentioned, brother to accufe and profecute brother, children their parents, paftllors and teachers their immediate flock, unto death; (hepherds becoming wolves; wife men infatuated; people hauled to prifons; with a bloody * The circle of accufing girls at Salem Village. TO THE READER. iX noire purfuing to, and infulting over the (true) fufferers at, execution; while fome are fleeing from that called juftice, juflice itfelf fleeing before fuch accufations, when once it did but begin to refrain further proceedings; and, to queftion fuch pratices, fome making their efcape out of prifons, rather than by an obstinate defence of their innocency to run fo apparent hazard of their lives; eftates feized, families of children and others left to the mercy of the wildernefs (not to mention here the numbers proscribed, dead in prifons or executed, &c.)-All which tragedies, though begun in one town, or rather by one parifh, has plague-like fpread more than through that country, and by its echo giving a brand of infamy to this whole country throughout the world:-If this were the miferable cafe of this country in the time thereof, and that the devil had fo far prevailed upon us, in our fentiments and adions, as to draw us from fo much as looking into the fcriptures for our guidance in thefe pretended intricacies; leading us to a trufting in blind guides, fuch as the corrupt praatices of fome other countries, or the bloody experiments of Bodin,* and fuch other authors; -then, though our cafe be molt miferable, yet * John Bodin was a Frenchman, and the author of " Demonomania." Dr. Harfenet, Archbifhop of York, informs us " that his Brain was the Theatre and Sport-Houfe for the Devils to dance X THE EPISTLE it muft be faid of New-England, thou haft deftroyed thyfelf, and brought this greateft of miferies upon thee. And now, whether the witches (fuch as have made a compadt by explicit covenant with the devil, having thereby obtained a power to commiffion him,) have been the caufe of our miferies; or whether a zeal, governed by blindnefs and paffion and led by precedent, has not herein precipitated us into far greater wickednefs (if not witchcrafts) than any have yet been proved againft thofe that fuffered:-to be able to diftinguifh aright in this matter, to which of thefe two to refier our miferies, is the defign of the prefent work. As to the former, I know of no fober man, much lefs reverend chriffian, that, being afked, dares affirm, and abide by it, that witches have that power, viz. to commiffion devils to kill and deftroy; and as to the latter, it were well if there were not too much of truth in it, which remains to be demonitrated. in. That he believed that a Witch, by Ointment and Charms, may transform herfelf into the fhape of any Beaft, Bird or Fifh. — And that Bodin relates a ifory of an Egg, which a Witch fold to an Englifhman, and by the fame transformed him into an Afs, and made him her Market-Mule three years, to ride on to buy Butter; and how at laft the remorphized him into the Native Shape of a Man again." This experiment of the witch in furnifhing herfelf with a market beaft is certainly novel and queer, and has not been attained as yet by any Spiritual manifeftation of the prefent day. TO THE READER. xi But here it will be faid, What need of raking in the coals that lay buried in oblivion? We cannot recal thofe to life again, that have fuffered, fuppofing it were unjuftly; it tends but to the expofing the a&ors, as if they had proceeded irregularly. Truly I take this to be juft as the devil would have it, fo much to fear difobliging men, as not to endeavour to dete&t his wiles, that fo he may the fooner, and with the greater advantages, fet the fame on foot again (either here or elfewhere), fo dragging us through the pond twice by the fame cat. And, if reports do not herein deceive us, much the fame has been a&ing this prefent year in Scotland. And what kingdom or country is it, that has not had their bloody fits and turns at it'? And if this is fuch a catching difeafe and fo univerfal, I prefume I need make no apology for my endeavours to prevent, as far as in my power, any more fuch bloody vi&ims or facrifices; -though indeed I had rather any other would have undertaken fo, offenfive, though neceffary, a talk; yet, all things weighed, I had rather thus expofe myfelf to cenfure, than that it fhould be wholly omitted. Were the notions in queftion innocent and harmlefs, refpe&ting the glory of God, and well-being of men, I fhould not have engaged in them; but finding them, in my efteem, fo intolerably deftru&ive of both, Xii THE EPISTLE this, together with my being by warrant called before the juftices, in my own juft vindication I took it to be a call from God, to my power, to vindicate his truths, againft the pagan and popifh affertions which are fo prevalent; for though chriflians in general do own the Scriptures to be their only rule of faith and doctrine, yet thefe notions will tell us, that the Scriptures have not fufficiently, nor at all defcribed the crime of witchcraft, whereby the culpable might be deteded, though it be pofitive in the command to punifh it by death; hence the world has been from time to time perplexed, in the profecution of the feveral diabolical mediums of heathenifh and popifh invention to detedt an imaginary crime (not but that there are witches fuch as the law of God defcribes) which has produced a deluge of blood; hereby rendering the commands of God not only void but dangerous. So alfo they own God's providence and government of the world; and that tempefas and ftorms, affliftions and difeafes, are of his fending; yet there notions tell us, that the devil has the power of all there, and can perform them when commiflioned by a witch thereto; and that he has a power, at the witch's call, to a& and do, without and againif the courfe of nature, and all natural caufes, in afflidting and killing of innocents; and this it is that fo many have died for. TO THE READER. XIII Alfo it is generally believed, that if any man has ftrength, it is from God the Almighty Being: but thefe notions will tell us, that the devil can make one man as ftrong as many; which was one of the beft proofs, as it was counted, againif Mr. Burroughs the minifter; though his contemporaries in the fchools, during his minority, could have teftified, that his ftrength was then as much fuperior to theirs as ever (fetting afide incredible romances) it was discovered to be fince: thus rendering the power of God, and his providence, of none effe&. Thefe are fome of the deftru&tive notions of this age; and however the afferters of them feemn Sometimes to value themselves much upon fheltering their neighbours from fpe&tral accufations, they may deferve as much thanks as that tyrant, that, having induffrioufly obtained an unintelligible charge againft his fubjets, in matters wherein it was impoflible they ihould be guilty, having thereby their lives in his power, yet fuffers them of his mere grace to live, and will be called gracious lord. It were too Icarian a talk for one, unfurnifnhed with neceffary learning, and library, to give any juft account from whence fo great delufions have fprung, and fo long continued. Yet, as an effay from thofe fcraps of reading that I have had opportunity of, it will be no great venture Xiv THE EPISTLE to fay, that figns and lying wonders have been one principal caufe. It is written of Juftin Martyr, who lived in the fecond century, that he was before his converfion a great philofopher; firft in the way of the floicks, and after, of the peripateticks, after that of the pythagorean, and after that of the platonift, feas; and after all proved of eminent ufe in the church of Chrift: yet a certain author, fpeaking of one Apollonius Tyaneus, has there words: "That the mofi orthodox themfelves began to deem him veifed with power fufficient for a deity; which occafioned that fo flrange a doubt from Juftin Martyr, as cited by the learned Gregory, fol. 37: If God be the creator and lord of the world, how comes it to pafs that Apollonius his telifms have fo much over-ruled the courfe of things? for we fee that they alfo have frilled the waves of the fea, and the raging of the winds, and prevailed againit the noifome flies, and incurfions of wild beafts, &c." If fo eminent and early a chriftian were by there falfe fhews in fuch doubt, it is the lefs wonder, in our depraved times, to meet with what is equivalent thereto. Befides this, a certain author informs me, that Julian (afterwards called the apoftate) being inftru&ed in the philofophy and difciplines of the heathen, by Libarius his tutor, by this means he came to love philofophy better than TO TIHE READER. XV the gofpel, and fo by degrees turned from chriftianity to heathenifm." This fame Julian did, when apofrate, forbid that chriftians ihould be inftruted in the difcipline of the gentiles; which, it feems, Socrates, a writer of the ecclefiaifical hiflory, does acknowledge to be by the fingular providence of God; chriflians having then begun to degenerate from the gofpel, and to betake themselves to heathenish learning. And in the Mercury for the month of February, 1695, there is this account, " That the chriftian do&ors, converfing much with the writings of the heathen, for the gaining of eloquence, a council was held at Carthage, which forbad the reading of the books of the gentiles." From all which it may be eafily perceived, that in the primitive times of chriflianity, when not only many heathen of the vulgar, but alfo many learned men and philofophers, had embraced the chriftian faith, they Htill retained a love to their heathen learning; which, as one obferves, being tranfplanted into a chriftian foil, foon proved produftive of pernicious weeds, which overran the face of the church; hence it was fo deformed, as the reformation found it. Among other pernicious weeds arifing from this root, the do&rine of the power of devils, XVi THE EPISTLE and witchcraft, as it is now and long has been underitood, is not the leaft: the fables of Homer, Virgil, Horace and Ovid, &c. being for the elegancy of their language retained then (and fo are to this day) in the fchools, have not only introduced, but eftabliihed, fuch dotrines, to the poifoning the chrifiian world. A certain author expreffes it thus: "That as the chriftian fchools at firft brought men from heathenifm to the gofpel, fo there fchools carry men from the gofpel to heathenifm, as to their great perfeCtion." And Mr. I. M. in his Remarkable Providences, gives an account, that (as he calls it) an old council did anathematize all thofe that believed fuch power of the devils, accounting it a damnable dodtrine. But as other evils did afterwards increafe in the church (partly by fuch education) fo this infenfibly grew up with them, though not to that degree as that any council, I have ever heard or read of, has to this day taken off thofe anathemas; yet after this the church fo far declined that witchcraft became a principal ecclefiaftical engine (as alfo that of herefy was) to root up all that flood in their way; and befides the ways of trial that we have ifill in pradtice, they invented fome which were peculiar to themfelves; which, whenever they were minded to improve againft any orthodox believer, they could eafily make effe&ual. That deluge of blood, TO THE READER. xvii which that Scarlet Whore has to anfwer for, Ihed under this notion, how amazing is it! The firft in England, that I have read of, of any note, fince the reformation, that afferts this doftrine, is the famous Mr. Perkins: he, as alfo Mr. Gaul, Mr. Bernard, &c. feem all of them to have undertaken one tafk; taking notice of the multiplicity of irregular ways to try them by, invented by heathen and papifts, they made it their bufinefs, and main work, herein to oppofe fuch as they faw to be pernicious. And if they did not look more narrowly into it, but followed the firif, viz. Mr. Perkins, whofe education (as theirs alfo) had foreftalled him into fuch belief, whom they readily followed, it cannot be wondered at. And that they were men liable to err, and fo not to be trufted to as perfe&t guides, will manifeftly appear to him that fhall fee their feveral receipts laid down to detet them, by their prefumptive and pofitive ones; and confider how few of either have any foundation in Scripture, or reafon; and how vaffly they differ from each other in both; each having his art by himfelf, which forty or an hundred more may as well imitate, and give theirs, ad infinitum, being without all manner of proof. But though this be their main defign, to take off people from thofe evil and bloody ways of trial, which they fpeak fo much againfi; yet this does not 2 xviii THE EPISTLE hinder, to this day, but the fame evil ways, or as bad, are itill ufed to dete~* them by, and that even among proteftants; and are fo far juftified, that a reverend perfon has faid lately here, How elfe ihall we deted witches? And another, being urged to prove by Scripture fuch a fort of witch as has power to fend devils to kill men, replied, that he did as firmly believe it, as any article of his faith; and that he (the inquirer) did not go to the Scriptures to learn the myfteries of his trade or art. What can be faid more to eftablifh their heathenilh notions, and to vilify the Scriptures, our only rule? and that, after we have feen fuch dire effe&s thereof, as has threatened the utter extirpation of this whole country. And as to moft of the aztors in there tragedies, though they are fo far from defending their adions, that they will readily own that undue fteps have been taken, &c. yet it feems they choofe that the fame fhould be adted over again, enforced by their example, rather than it ihould remain as a warning to poiterity, as herein they have mift it. So far are they from giving glory to God, and taking the due fhame to themfelves. And now, to fum up all in a few words, we have feen a bigoted zeal itirring up a blind and moft bloody rage, not againft enemies, or irreligious, profligate perfons; but (in judgment of TO THE READER. XiX charity, and to view) againft as virtuous and re. ligious as any they have left behind them in this country, which have fuffered as evil doers (with the utmofi extent of rigour, not that fo high a charader is due to all that fuffered) and this by the teftimony of vile varlets,* as not onlywere known before, but have been further apparent fince, by their manifeft lives, whoredoms, inceft, &c. The accufations of thefe, from their fpectral fight, being the chief evidence againft thofe that fuffered; in which accufations they were upheld by both magiftrates and minifters, fo long as they apprehended themselves in no danger. And then, though they could defend neither the dotrine nor the pra&ice, yet none of them have, in fiich a public manner as the cafe requires, teftified againit either; though at the fame time they could not but be fenfible what a ftain and lafting infamy they have brought upon the whole country, to the endangering the future welfare not only of this but of other places, induced by their example; if not to an entailing the guilt of all the righteous blood that has been by the fame means fhed, by heathen or * In the A& to reverfe the Attainders of Geo. Burroughs, pafred in I7II, it is faid " that fome of the principal accufers and witneffes in the dark and revere profecutions of I692, have fince difcovered themfelves to be perfons of profligate and vicious converfation." XX THE EPISTLE papiffs, &c. upon themfelves, whofe deeds they have fo far juftified, occafioning the great difhonour and blafphemy of the name of God, fcandalizing the heathen, hardening of enemies; and, as a natural effe&t thereof, to the great increafe of atheifm. I fhall conclude, only with acquainting the reader, that of thefe colletions, the firft, containing More Wonders of the Invifible World,* * The Proceedings of the Maffachufetts Hifforical Society, in their ift vol., page 288, inform us that " Calef was fuirnified with materials for his work by Mr. Brattle of Cambridge and his brother of Bofton, and other gentlemen who were oppofed to the Salem proceedings." That the judges fought the advice and countenance of the leading minifters we have fufficient proof; alfo that the principal examining magiftrates, John Hathorne and Jonathan Corwin, when faltering in their courfe at the multiplicity of the complaints from diftreffed perfons, occafioned by fuppofed witchcraft, were cheered on in their profecutions by receiving fuch letters of commendation from the principal inhabitants of Salem Village as the following:Thefe to the Honered John Hathorne and Jonathan Corwin EfquiresLieuing at Salem prefent. Salem Village this 2 t f of April I692 - Much Honered - After moft humble and hearty thanks prefented to your Honrs. for the great care and paines you have already taken for us, for which you know we are never able to make you Recompence, and we believe you do not expeEt it of us, therefore a full reward be given you of the Lord God of Ifrael, whofe caufe and intereft you have efpoufed, and we truft this fhall add to your Crown of Glory in the day of the Lord Jefus -And we beholding continually the tremendious works of Divine Providence, not only every TO THE READER. xxi I received of a gentleman, who had it of the author, and communicated it to ufe, with his exprefs confent, of which this is a true copy. As to the letters, they are, for fubflance, the fame I fent, though with fome fmall variation, or addition. Touching the two letters from a gentleman, at his requeft I have forborn naming him. It is great pity that the matters of fad, and indeed the whole, had not been done by fome abler hand, better accomplifhed, and with the advantages of both natural and acquired judgment; but others not appearing, I have enforced myfelf to do what is done; my other occasions will not admit any further fcrutiny therein. R. C..Aguft 11, 1697. day but every hour; thought it our duty to Inform your Honors of that we conceive you have not heard, which are high and dreadful, of a wheel within a wheel, at which our ears do tingle - Humbly craving continually your prayers and help in this diftreffed cafe; So praying Almighty God continually to prepare you, that you may be a terror to evil doers, and a praife to them that do well - W"e remain yours to ferve in what we are able THOMAS PUTNAM - The author of the above letter is the worthy parifh clerk of Salem Village; and what probably caufed his ears to tingle, was the fufpicion which began to be entertained againft George Burroughs, his former minifter, of being a wizard. Nine days after the date of his letter, April 30, I692, Jonathan Walcott and Thomas Putnam made complaint againit Burroughs to the Salem magiftrates. PART I. ACCOUNT OF THE SUFFERINGS O F MARGARET RULE. SIR, t NOW lay before you a very en-. tertaining flory —a flory which' relates yet more Wonders of the: Invifible World —a flory which tells the remarkable affli&ions and deliverance of one that had been prodigioufly handled by the Evil Angels. I was myfelf a daily eyewitnefs to a large part of there occurrences, and there may be produced fcores of fubfiantial witneffes to the moft of them; yea, I know not of any one paflfage of the itory but what may be fufficiently attefted. I do not 24 APOLOGY. write it with a defign of throwing it prefently into the prefs, but only to preferve the memory of fuch memorable things, the forgetting whereof would neither be pleafing to God, nor ufeful to men; as alfo to give you, with fome others of peculiar and obliging friends, a fight of fome curiofities. And I hope this apology will ferve to excufe me, if I mention, as perhaps I may, when I come to a tenth paragraph in my writing, fome things which I would have omitted in a farther publication. COTTON MATHER. ANOTHER BRAND PLUCKT OUT OF THE BURNING, OR MORE WONDERS OF THE INVISIBLE WORLD..: X,, ECT. i. WITHIN thefe few years, [> 4m:,:. there died in the fouthern parts, a i chriftian Indian, who, notwithfanding fome of his Indian weaknefs, had fomething of a better chara&ter, of virtue and goodnefs, than many of our people can allow to moft of their countrymen, that pro-, fefs the chriftian religion. He had been a zealous preacher of the gofpel to his neighbourhood, and a fort of overfeer or officer, to whofe conduet was owing very much of what good order was maintained among there profelyted favages. This man, returning home from the funeral of his fon, was complimented by an Englifhman, expreffing forrow for his lofs. Now, though the Indians ufed upon the death of relations to be the moft paffionate and outrageous creatures 26 SUFFERINGS OF in the world, yet this converted Indian handfomely and cheerfully replied, Truly I am forry, and I am not forry: I am forry that I have buried a dear fon; but I am not forry that the will of God is done: I know that without the will of God my fon could not have died; and I know that the will of God is always juft and good, and fo I am fatisfied. Immediately upon this, even within a few hours, he fell himfelf lick, of a difeafe that quickly killed him; in the time of which difeafe, he called his folks about him, earnestly perfuading them to be fincere in their praying unto God, and to beware of the drunkennefs, the idlenefs, the lying, whereby fo many of that nation disgraced their profeflion of chriftianity; adding, that he was afhamed, when he thought how little fervice he had hitherto done for God; and, that if God would prolong his life, he would labour to do better fervice; but that he was fully fure he was now going to the Lord Jefus Chrift, who had bought him with his precious blood; and for his part, he longed to die, that he might be with his glorious Lord; and, in the midit of fuch paffages, he gave up the ghoft; but in fuch repute, that the Englifh people, of good fafhion, did not think much of travelling a great way to his interment. Left my reader do wonder why I have related this piece of a ftory, I will now haften to abate MARGARET RULE. 27 that wonder, by telling that whereto this was intended but for an introdu&ion. Know then, that this remarkable Indian being, a little before he died, at work in the wood, making of tar, there appeared unto him a black man, of a terrible afpe&t, and more than human dimenfions, threatening bitterly to kill him, if he would not promife to leave off preaching, as he did, to his countrymen, and promife particularly, that if he preached any more, he would fay nothing of Jefus Chrift unto them. The Indian was amazed, yet had the courage to anfwer, I will, in fpite of you, go on to preach Chrift, more than ever I did; and the God whom I ferve will keep me, that you ihall never hurt me. Here'upon the apparition, abating fomewhat of his fiercenefs, offered to the Indian a book of a confiderable thicknefs, and a pen and ink, and faid, that if he would now fet his hand unto that book, he would require nothing further of him; but the man refufed the motion with indignation, and fell down upon his knees into a fervent and pious prayer unto God, for help againft the tempter; whereupon the demon vanifhed. This is a ftory which I would never have tendered unto my reader, if I had not received it from an honeft and ufeful Englifhman, who is at this time a preacher of the gofpel to the Indians; nor would the probable truth of it have 28 SUFFERINGS OF encouraged me to have tendered it, if this alfo had not been a fit introdudtion unto a yet further narrative. SECT. 2. It was not much above a year or two after this accident (of which no manner of noife has been made) that there was a pro. digious defcent of devils upon divers places near the centre of this province; wherein fome fcores of miferable people were troubled by horrible appearances of a black man, accompanied with" fpetres, wearing thefe and thofe human fhapes, who offered them a book to be by them figned, in token of their being lifted for the fervice of the devil; and, upon their denying to do it, they were' dragooned with a thoufand preternatural torments, which gave no little terror to the beholders of there unhappy people. There was one in the north part of Bofton feized by the evil angels many months after the general ftorm of the late enchantments was over, and when the country had long lain very quiet, both as to moleftations and accufations from the invifible world: her name was Margaret Rule, a young woman: lhe was born of fober and honeit parents, yet living; but what her own charaCter was before her vifitation I can fpeak with the lefs confidence of exaftnefs, becaufe I obferve that wherever the devils have been let loofe, to worry any poor creature among us, a great part MARGARET RULE. 29 of the neighbourhood prefently fet thernfelves to inquire, and relate all the little vanities of their childhood, with fuch unequal exaggerations, as to make them appear greater finners than any whom the pilot of hell has not yet preyed upon. But it is affirmed, that, for about half a year before her vifitation, ihe was obfervably improved in the hopeful fymptoms of a new creature; ihe was become ferioufly concerned for the everlafting falvation of her foul, and careful to avoid the fnares of evil company. This young woman had never feen the afflitions of Mercy Short, whereof a narrative has been already given; and yet, about half a year after the glorious and fignal deliverance of that poor damfel, this Margaret fell into an affliaion, marvellous, refembling hers in almoft all the circumflances of it; indeed the afflitions were fo much alike, that the relation I have given of the one, would almoft ferve as the full hiftory of the other; this was to that little more than the fecond part of the fame tune; indeed Margaret's cafe was in feveral points lefs remarkable than Mercy's, and in fome other things the entertainment did a little vary. SECT. 3. It was upon the Lord's day, the ioth of September, in the year 1693, that Margaret Rule, after fome hours of previous ditPcurbance in the public affembly, fell into odd fits, 30 SUFFERINGS OF which caufed her friends to carry her home, where her fits in a few hours grew into a figure that fatisfied the Epedators of their being preternatural. Some of the neighbours were forward enough to fufpe6t the rife of this mifchief in an houfe hard by, where lived a miferable woman, who had been formerly imprifoned, on the fufpicion of witchcraft, and who had frequently cured very painful hurts, by muttering over them certain charms, which I fhall not endanger the poifoning of my reader by repeating. This woman had, the evening before Margaret fell into her calamities, very bitterly treated her, and threatened her; but the hazard of hurting a poor woman, that might be innocent, notwithftanding furmifes that might have been more ftrongly grounded than thofe, caufed the pious people in the vicinity to try, rather, whether inceffant Supplication to God alone might not procure a quicker and fafer eafe to the afflited, than hafty prosecution of any fuppofed criminal; and accordingly that unexceptionable courfe was all that was ever followed; yea, which I looked on as a token for good, the afflited family was as averfe, as any of us, to entertain thoughts of any other courfe. SECT. 4. The young woman was affaulted by eight cruel fpe&res, whereof fhe imagined that ihe knew three or four; but the reft came MARGARET RULE. 31 fPill with their faces covered, fo that fhe could never have a diftinguifhed view of the countenance of thofe whom She thought ihe knew; fhe was very careful of my reiterated charges, to forbear blazing their names, left any good perfon fhould come to fuffer any blaft of reputation, through the cunning malice of the great accufer; neverthelefs, having fince privately named them to myfelf, I will venture to fay this of them, that they are a fort of wretches, who for thefe many years have gone under as violent prefumptions of witchcraft, as perhaps any creatures yet living upon earth; although I am far from thinking that the vifions of' this young woman were evidence enough to prove them fo. Thefe curfed fpedres now brought unto her a book about a cubit long-a book red and thick, but not very broad; and they demanded of her, that the would fet her hand to that book, or touch it at leaft with her hand, as a fign of her becoming a fervant of the devil. Upon her peremptory refufal to do what they afked, they did not after renew the proffers of the book unto her, but initead thereof they fell to tormenting of' her in a manner too hellifh to be fufficiently defcribed - in thofe torments confining her to her bed for juft fix weeks together. SECT. 5. Sometimes, but not always, togeth 32 SUFFERINGS OF er with the fpedtres, there looked in upon the young woman (according to her account) a ihort and a black man, whom they called their mairer - a white, exaftly of the fame dimenfions and complexion and voice, with the devil that has exhibited himfelf unto other infefted people, not only in other parts of this country, but alfo in other countries, even of the European world, as the relation of the enchantments there informs us. They all profeft themfelves vaffals of this devil, and in obedience unto him they addreffed themfelves unto various ways of torturing her. Accordingly fhe was cruelly pinched with invifible hands, very often in a day, and the black and blue marks of the pinches became immediately vifible unto the flanders by. Befides this, when her attendants had left her without fo much as one pin about her, that fo they might prevent fome feared inconveniences, yet fhe would every now and then be miferably hurt with pins, which were found ftuck into her neck, back and arms; however, the wounds made by the pins would in a few minutes ordinarily be cured; ihe would alfo be Strangely diftorted in her joints, and thrown into fuch exorbitant convulfioqs as were aftonifhing unto the fpe&tators in genril.' They that could behold the doleful conditl6ioif the poor family without fenfible compaflions, might have entrails indeed; but I MARGARET RULE. 33 am fure they could have no true bowels in them. SECT. 6. It were a moft unchriftian and uncivil, yea, a moft unreafonable thing, to imagine, that the fits of the young woman were but mere impoftures; and I believe fcarce any but people of a particular dirtinefs will harbour fuch an uncharitable cenfure. However, becaufe I know not how far the devil may drive the imagination of poor creatures, when he has poffefflion of them, that at another time, when they are themfelves, would fcorn to diffemble any thing, I fhall now confine my narrative unto paffages wherein there could be no room left for any diffimulation. Of there, the firft that I'll mention fhall be this: From the time that Margaret Rule firft found herfelf to be formally befieged by the fpedres, until the ninth day following, namely, from the ioth of September to the 18th, She kept an entire faft, and yet fhe was unto all appearance as frefh, as lively, as hearty, at the nine days end, as before they began; in all this time, though fhe had a very eager hunger upon her ftomach, yet, if any refrelhment were brought unto her, her teeth would be fet, and fhe would be thrown into many miferies; indeed once or twice or fo in all this time, her tormentors permitted her to fwallow a mouthful of fomewhat that might increafe her miferies, 3 34 SUFFERINGS OF whereof a fpoonful of rum was the mofi confiderable; but otherwife, as I faid, her faft unto the ninth day was very extreme and rigid: however, afterwards there fcarce paffed a day wherein ihe had not liberty to take fomething or other for her fuiftentation. And I muff add this, further, that this bufinefs of her fiaf was carried fo, that it was impoffible to be diffembled without a combination of multitudes of people, unacquainted with one another, to fupport the juggle; but he that can imagine fuch a thing of a neighbourhood, fo filled with virtuous people, is a bafe man - I cannot call him any other. SECT. 7. But if the fufferings of this young woman were not impofiure, yet might they not be pure diftemper? I will not here inquire of our fadducees, what fort of a distemper it is, that fhall flick the body full of pins without any hand that could be feen to flick them; or whether all the pin-makers in the world would be willing to be evaporated into certain ill habits of body, producing a diftemper; but of the diftemper my reader fhall be judge, when I have told him Something further of thofe.unufual fufferings. I do believe that the evil angels do often take advantage, from natural diftempers in the children of men, to annoy them with fuch further mischiefs, as we call preternatural. The malignant vapours and humours of our difeafed MARGARET RULE. 35 bodies may be ufed by devils, thereinto infinuating as engines of the execution of their malice upon thofe bodies; and perhaps, for this reafon, one fex may fuffer more troubles of fome kinds from the invifible world than the other; as well as for that reafon, for which the old ferpent made, where he did, his firit addrefs. But I pray, what will you fay to this Margaret Rule would Sometimes have her jaws forcibly pulled open, whereupon Something invifible would be poured down her throat; we all faw her fwallow, and yet we faw her try all fhe could, by fpitting, coughing and fhrieking, that fhe might not fwallow; but one time the ftandersby plainly faw fomething of that odd liquor itfelf on the outfide of' her neck: lhe cried out of it, as of fcalding brimftone poured into her, and the whole houfe would immediately fcent fo hot of brimftone that we were fcarce able to endure it- whereof there are fcores of witneffes; but the young woman herfelf would be fo monifroufly inflamed, that it would have broke a heart of ftone to have feen her agonies. This was a thing that feveral times happened; and feveral times, when her mouth was thus pulled open, the ftanders-by clapping their hands clofe thereupon, the diftreffes that otherwife followed would be diverted. Moreover there was a whitifh powder, to us invifible, fometimes cafi 36 SUFFERINGS OF upon the eyes of this young woman, whereby her eyes would be extremely incommoded; but one time fome of this powder was fallen adtually vifible upon her cheek, from whence the people in the room wiped it with their handkerchiefs; and Sometimes the young woman would alfo be fo bitterly fcorched with the unfeen fulphur thrown upon her, that very fenfible blifters would be raifed upon her fkin, whereto her friends found it neceffary to apply the oils proper for common burnings; but the moft of thefe hurts would be cured in two or three days at fartheft. I think I may without vanity pretend to have read not a few of the beft fyftems of phyfick that have been yet feen in thefe American regions, but I muft confers that I have never yet learned the name of the natural diftemper whereto there odd fymptoms do belong: however, I might fuggeft perhaps many a natural medicine which would be of fingular ufe againft many of them. SECT. 8. But there fell out fome other matters far beyond the reach of natural diftemper. This Margaret Rule once in the middle of the night lamented fadly that the fpe6tres threatened the drowning of a young man in the neighbourhood, whom ihe named unto the company: well, it was afterwards found that at that very time this young man, having been preft on board MARGARET RULE. 37 a man of war, then in the harbour, was out of fome diffatisfa&tion attempting to fwim afhore, and he had been drowned in the attempt, if a boat had not feafonably taken him up; it was by computation a minute or two after the young woman's difcourfe of the drowning, that the young man took the water. At another time fhe told us, that the fpeftres bragged and laughed in her hearing about an exploit they had lately done, by ftealing from a gentleman his will foon after he had written it; and within a few hours after fhe had fpoken this, there came to me a gentleman with a private complaint, that having written his will, it was unaccountably gone out of the way; how, or where, he could not imagine; and befides all this, there were wonderful noires every now and then made about the room, which our people could afcribe to no other authors but the fpe&tres; yea, the watchers affirm, that they heard thofe fiends clapping their hands together with an audiblenefs wherein they could not be impofed upon; and once her tormentors pulled her up to the ceiling of the chamber, and held her there, before a very numerous company of fpeaators, who found it as much as they could all do to pull her down again. There was alfo another very furprifing circumftance about her, agreeable to what we have not only read in feveral hif 38 SUFFERINGS OF tories concerning the imps that have been employed in witchcraft, but alfo known in fome of our own afflided: we once thought we perceived Something fAir upon her pillow at a little diftance from her; whereupon one prefent laying his hand there, he to his horror apprehended that he felt, though none could fee it, a living creature not altogether unlike a rat, which nimbly efcaped from him; and there were divers other perfons who were thrown into a great confPernation by feeling, as they judged, at other times, the fame invifible animal. SECT. 9. As it has been with a thoufand other enchanted people, fo it was with Margaret Rule in this particular, that there were feveral words which her tormentors would not let her hear, efpecially the words Pray or Prayer, and yet the could fo hear the letters of thofe words difrinftly mentioned as to know what they meant. The franders-by were forced fometimes thus in difcourfe to fpell a word to her; but becaufe there were fome fo ridiculous as to count it a fort of fpell or a charm for any thus to accommodate themfelves to the capacity of' the fufferer, little of this kind was done. But that which was more fingular in this matter was, that the could not ufe thefe words in thofe penetrating difcourfes wherewith fhe would Sometimes addrefs the fpe&tres that were about MARGARET RULE. 39 her. She would Sometimes for a long while together apply herfelf to the fpe&res, whom ihe fuppofed the witches, with fuch exhortations to repentance as would have melted an heart of adamant to have heard them; her firains of expreflion and argument were truly extraordinary; perfons perhaps of the bedf education and experience, and of attainments much beyond hers, could not have exceeded them; neverthelefs, when fhe came to thefe words, God, Lord, Chrift, Good, Repent, and fome other fuch, her mouth could not utter them; whereupon fhe would Sometimes, in an angry parenthefis, complain of their wickednefs in ifopping that word, but fhe would then go on with fome other terms that would ferve to tell what ihe meant. And I believe that if the moft fufpicious perfon in the world had beheld all the circumifances of this matter, he would have faid it could not have been diffembled. SECT. 10. Not only in the Swedifh, but alfo in the Salem witchcraft, the enchanted people have talked much of a white fpirit, from whence they received marvellous affiitances in their miferies. What lately befel Mercy Short, from the communications of fuch a fpirit, hath been the juft wonder of us all; but by fuch a fpirit was Margaret Rule now alfo vifited. She fays that fhe could never fee his face; but that fhe 40 SUFFERINGS OF had a frequent view of his bright, fhining and glorious garments; he flood by her bed-fide continually, heartening and comforting her, and counfelling her to maintain her faith and hope in God, and never comply with the temptations of her adverfaries. She fays he told her, that God had permitted her afflitions to befal her for the everlafting and unfpeakable good of her own foul, and for the good of many others, and for his own immortal glory; and that fhe Ihould therefore be of good cheer, and be affured of a fpeedy deliverance; and the wonderful refolution of mind wherewith ihe encountered her affli6ions was but agreeable to fuch expectations. Moreover, a miniifer having one day with fome importunity prayed for the deliverance of this young woman, and pleaded that as ihe belonged to his flock and charge, he had fo far a right unto her as that he was'to do the part of a minifter of our Lord for the bringing of her home unto God, only now the devil hindered him in doing that which he had a right thus to do; and whereas he had a better title unto her to bring her home to God, than the devil could have unto her to carry her away from the Lord, he therefore humbly applied himfelf unto God, who alone could right this matter, with a fuit that fhe might be refcued out of Satan's hands. Immediately upon this, though lhe heard noth MARGARET RULE. 41 ing of this tranfa&ion, fhe began to call that minifter her father, and that was the name whereby ihe every day before all forts of people diftinguifhed him. The occafion of it She fays was this: the white fpirit prefently upon this tranfa&ion did after this manner fpeak to her: Margaret, you now are to take notice that fuch a man is your father; God has given you to him; do you from this time look upon him as your father, obey him, regard him, as your father; follow his counfels, and you fhall do well. And though there was one paffage more, which I do as little know what to make of as any of the reft, I am now going to relate it: more than three times have I feen it fulfilled in the deliverance of enchanted and poffeft perfons, whom the providence of God has caft into my way, that their deliverance could not be obtained before the third faft kept for them, and the third day frill obtained the deliverance; although I have thought of befeeching of the Lord thrice, when buffeted by Satan: yet I muft earneftly entreat all my readers to beware of any fuperfiitious conceits upon the number three; if our God will hear us upon once praying and fafting before him, it is well; and if he will not vouchfafe his mercy upon our thrice doing fo, yet we muft not be fo difcouraged as to throw by our devotion; but if the fovereign 42 SUFFERINGS OF grace of our God will in any particular initances count our patience enough tried when we have folemnly waited upon him for any determinate number of times, who ihall fay to him, What doeft thou? And if there fhall be any number of inflances wherein this grace of our God has exa6tly holden the fame courfe, it may have a room in our humble obfervations, I hope, without any fuperftition. I fay then that after Margaret Rule had been more than five weeks in her miferies, this white fpirit faid unto her, " Well, this day fuch a man (whom he named) has kept a third day for your deliverance; now be of good cheer, you fhall fpeedily be delivered." I inquired whether what had been laid of that man was true, and I gained exa& and certain information that it was precifely fo; but I doubt left in relating this paffage that I have ufed more opennefs than a friend fhould be treated with, and for that caufe I have concealed feveral of the moft memorable things that have occurred, not only in this but in fome former histories, although indeed I am not fo well fatisfied about the true nature of this white fpirit, as to count that I can do a friend much honour by reporting what notice this white fpirit may have thus taken of him. SECT. 11. On the laft day of the week her tormentors (as ihe thought and faid) approach MARGARET RULE. 43 ing towards her, would be forced ftill to recoil and retire as unaccountably, unable to meddle with her; and they would retire to the fire fide with their poppets; but going to flick pins into thofe poppets, they could not (according to their vifions) make the pins to enter. She infulted over them with a very proper derifion, daring them now to do their worfi, whilft Ihe had the fatisfadion to fee their black mafter ifrike them and kick them, like an overfeer of fo many negroes, to make them to do their work, and renew the marks of his vengeance on them when they failed of doing it. At laft, being as it were tired with their ineffeftual attempts to mortify her, they furioufly faid, "Well, you ihan't be the laft." And after a paufe they added, ",Go, and the devil go with you, we can do no more;" whereupon they flew out of the room, and She, returning perfeftly to herfelf, moft affe&ionately gave thanks to God for her deliverance. Her tormentors left her extremely weak and faint, and overwhelmed with vapours, which would not only caufe her fometimes to fwoon away, but alfo now and then for a little while difcompofe the reafonablenefs of her thoughts. Neverthelefs, her former troubles returned not; but we are now waiting to fee the good effects of thofe troubles upon the fouls of all concerned. And now I fuppofe that fome of our learned 44 SUFERINGS OF witlings of the coffee-houfe, for fear left thefe proofs of an invifible world fhould fpoil fome of their fport, will endeavour to turn them all into fport; for which buffoonery their only pretence will be, " They can't underftand how fuch things as thefe could be done;" whereas indeed he that is but philofopher enough to have read but one little treatife, publifhed in the year 1656, by no other man than the chirurgeon of an army, or but one chapter of Helmont, which I will not quote at this time too particularly, may give a far more intelligible account of there appearances than moft of there blades can give why and how their tobacco makes them fpit, or which way the flame of their candle becomes illuminating. As for that cavil, "The world would be undone if the devils could have fuch power as they feem to have in feveral of our tfories," it may be anfwered, that as to many things, the lying devils have only known them to be done, and then pretended unto the doing of thofe things; but the true and beft anfwer is, that by there things we only fee what the devils could have power to do, if the great God Should give them that power; whereas now our histories afford a glorious evidence for the being of a God. The world would indeed be undone, and horribly undone, if thefe devils, who now and then get liberty to play fome very mischievous MARGARET RULE. 45 pranks, were not under a daily restraint of fome Almighty Superior from doing more of fuch mischiefs. Wherefore, inftead of all apifh fhouts and jeers at histories which have fuch undoubted confirmation, as that no man that has breeding enough to regard the common laws of' human fociety, will offer to doubt of them, it becomes us rather to adore the goodnefs of God, who does not permit fuch things every day to befal us all, as he fometimes did permit to befal fome few of our miferable neighbours. SECT. 12. And why, after all my unwearied cares and pains to refcue the miferable from the lions and bears of hell, which had feized them, and after all my ftudies to difappoint the devils in their defigns to confound my neighbourhood, muft I be driven to the neceffity of an apology 2 Truly the hard reprefentations wherewith fome ill men have reviled my condu&, and the countenance which other men have given to thefe reprefentations, oblige me to give mankind fome account of my behaviour. No chriftian can (I fay none but evil workers can) criminate my vifiting fuch of my poor flock as have at any time fallen under the terrible and fenfible moleftations of evil angels: let their afflitions have been what they will, I could not have anfwered it unto my glorious Lord, if' I had withheld my juft counfels and comforts from them; and if I 46 SUFFERINGS OF have alfo with fome exa&nefs obferved the methods of the invifible world, when they have thus become obfervable, I have been but a fervant of mankind in doing fo; yea, no lefs a perfon than the venerable Baxter has more than once or twice in the mofi publick manner invited mankind to thank me for that fervice. I have not been infenfible of a greater danger attending me in this fulfilment of my miniftry, than if I had been to take ten thoufand fteps over a rocky mountain filled with rattle-fnakes; but I have confidered, he that is wife will obferve things; and the furprifing explication and confirmation of the biggefr part of the bible, which I have feen given in there things, has abundantly paid me for observing them. Now, in my vifiting of the miserable, I was always of this opinion, that we were ignorant of what power the devils might have to do their mifchiefs in the fhapes of some that had never been explicitly engaged in diabolical confederacies, and that therefore, though many witchcrafts had been fairly deteaed on inquiries provoked and begun by fpe&ral exhibitions, yet we could not eafily be too jealous of the fnares laid for us in the devices of Satan. The world knows how many pages I have compofed and publiihed, and particular gentlemen in the government know how many letters I have written, to prevent the MARGARET RULE. 47 exceflive credit of fpe6tral accufations; wherefore I have ftill charged the afflited that they ihould cry out of nobody for affliting of them; but that, if this might be any advantage, they might privately tell their minds to fome one perfon of discretion enough to make no ill ufe of their communications; accordingly there has been this effe&t of it, that the name of no one good perfon in the world ever came under any blemifh by means of an afflited perfon that fell under my particular cognizance; yea, no one man, woman or child ever came into any trouble for the fake of any that were afflicted, after I had once begun to look after them. How often have I had this thrown into my difh, "that many years ago I had an opportunity to have brought forth fuch people as have in the late fiorm of witchcraft been complained of, but that I fmothered all; and after that fPorm was raifed at Salem, I did myfelf offer to provide meat, drink and lodging for no lefs than fix of the afflided, that fo an experiment might be made, whether prayer with falling, upon the removal of the diPreffed, might not put a period to the trouble then rifing, without giving the civil authority the trouble of' profecuting thofe things which nothing but a confcientious regard unto the cries of miferable families could have overcome the reludancies of the honourable judges 48 SUFFERINGS OF to meddle with." In ihort, I do humbly but freely affirm it, that there is not a man living in this world who has been more defirous than the poor man I to ihelter my neighbours from the inconveniences of fpectral outcries; yea, I am very jealous I have done fo much that way, as to fin in what I have done; fuch have been the cowardice and fearfulnefs whereunto my regard unto the diffatisfadion of other people has precipitated me. I know a man in the world, who has thought he has been able to convid fome fuch witches as ought to die; but his refpet unto the publick peace has caufed him rather to try whether he could not renew them by repentance; and as I have been fiudious to defeat the devils of their expedations to fet people together by the ears thus, I have alfo checked and quelled thofe forbidden curiofities which would have given the devil an invitation to have tarried amongft us, when I have feen wonderful fnares laid for curious people, by the fecret and future things difcovered from the mouths of damfels poffefi with a fpirit of divination. Indeed I can recolleft but one thing wherein there could be given fo much as a fhadow of reafon for exceptions, and that is, my allowing of fo many to come and fee thofe that were afflided. Now for that I have this to fay, that I have almoft a thoufand times entreated the friends of MARGARET RULE. 49 the miferable, that they would not permit the intrufion of any company, but fuch as by prayers or other ways might be helpful to them; neverthelefs I have not abfolutely forbid all company from coming to your haunted chambers; partly becaufe the calamities of the families were fuch as required the affiftance of many friends; partly becaufe I have been willing that there fiould be difinterefted witneffes of all forts, to confute the calumnies of fuch as would fay all was but impofture; and partly becaufe I faw God had fanctified the fpe&acle of the miferies on the afflided unto the fouls of many that were fpe&tators; and it is a very glorious thing that I have now to mention: The devils have with moft horrid operations broke in upon our neighbourhood, and God has at fuch a rate overruled all the fury and malice of thofe devils, that all the affliEed have not only been delivered, but I hope alfo favingly brought home unto God, and the reputation of no one good perfon in the world has been damaged; but inftead thereof the fouls of many, efpecially of the rifing generation, have been thereby awakened unto fome acquaintance with religion; our young people, who belonged unto the praying meetings, of both fexes, apart, would ordinarily fpend whole nights by whole weeks together in prayers and pfalms upon thefe occafions, in which devotions the 4 50 SUFFERINGS OF devils could get nothing, but, like fools, a fcourge for their own backs; and rome fcores of other young people, who were itrangers to real piety, were now ftruck with the lively demonftrations of hell evidently fet forth befbre their eyes, when they faw perfons cruelly frighted, wounded and ifarved by devils, and fcalded with burning brimftone; and yet fo preferved in this tortured flate, as that, at the end of one month's wretchednefs, they were as able fiill to undergo another; fo that of thefe alfo it might now be faid, " Behold they pray." In the whole-the devil got jufl nothing -but God got praifes, Chrift got fubje6ts, the Holy Spirit got temples, the church got addition, and the fouls of men got everlasting benefits.* I am not fo vain as to fay that any wifdom or virtue of mine did contribute unto this good order of things; but I am fo juft as to fay, I did not hinder this good. When therefore there have been thofe that picked up little incoherent fcraps and bits of * The eftimated value of the tragedy of I692 by Dr. Mather, in a moral and religious point of view, has not as yet been feen or experienced. We are certainly better able to judge of the effeA produced by the delufion from our ftand-point in I86o, than was Mather from his in i693. While we are certain that virtue has received no aid from the tranfaffion, it is not fo apparent as he fuppofed " that the devil got juft nothing." It has its ufe, however, as a beacon to warn us from too near an approach to fuch delufions, or thofe fimilar to them of the prefent day. MARGARET RULE. 51 my difcourfes in this fruitful difcharge of my minifiry, and fo traveftied them in their abufive pamphlets as to perfuade the town that I was their common enemy in thofe very points, wherein, if in any one thing whatsoever, I have fenfibly approved myfelf as true a fervant unto them as poflibly I could, though my life and foul had been at ftake for it —yea to do like fatan himfelf, by fly, bafe, unpretending infinuations, as if I wore not the modefiy and gravity which became a minifter of the gofpel - I could not but think myfelf unkindly dealt withal, and the negle&t of others to do me juftice in this affair has caufed me to conclude this narrative with complaints in another hearing of fuch monftrous injuries. PART I I. SEVERAL LETTERS, &c. Bor#on, Yan. 11, 1693. MR. COTTON MATHER, Reverend Sir,'7~~-~ INDING it needful on many accounts, I here prefent you with the copy of that paper which has been _:___, ifo much mifreprefented, to the end that what shall be fbund defe&ive or not fairly reprefented (if any fuch ihall appear) they may be fet right, - which runs thus: September the 13th, 1693. In the evening, when the fun was withdrawn, giving place to darknefs to fucceed, I with fome others were drawn by curiofity to fee Margaret Rule, and fo much the rather, becaufe it was reported Mr. M1- would be there that night. Being come to her father's houfe, into the chamber wherein ihe was in bed, I found her of a healthy 54 LETTERS TO countenance, of about Seventeen years old, lying very f1ill, and fpeaking very little; what fhe did fay feemed as if fhe were light-headed. Then Mr. M- (father and fon) came up, and others with them; in the whole there were about thirty or forty perfons; they being fet, the father on a frool, and the fon upon the bed-fide by her, the fon began to queftion her: Margaret Rule, how do you do? then a paufe without any anfwer..TeJfion,'What! do there a great many witches fit upon you? Anfwer, Yes. efWJz'on, Do you not know that there is a hard maker? Then She was in a fit. He laid his hand upon her face and nofe, but as he faid without perceiving breath; then he brufhed her on the face with his glove, and rubbed her itomach (her breaft not being covered with the bed-clothes) and bid others do fo too, and faid it eafed her -then fhe revived.; Don't you know there is a hard maiter? A. Yes. Reply, Don't ferve that hard maler — you know who. 4 Do you believe? Then again She was in a fit, and he again rubbed her breaft, &c. About this time, Margaret Perd, an attendant, affifted him in rubbing her. The afflifted fpake angrily to her, faying, Don't you meddle MR. MATHER, &C. 55 with me - and haftily put away her hand. He then wrought his fingers before her eyes, and aiked her if fhe faw the witches? A. No.. Do you believe? A. Yes. 2; Do you believe in you know who? — A. Yes. 2; Would you have other people do fo too to believe in you know who A. Yes.;. Who is it that afflids you? A. I know not, there is a great many of them. About this time the father queftioned, if fhe knew the fpectres. An attendant laid, if fhe did ihe would not tell. The fon proceeded: 23 You have feen the black man, have you not? A No. Reply, I hope you never will. Q; You have had a book offered you, have you not? A. No. Z The brufhing of you gives you eafe, don't it? A. Yes. She turned herfelf, and a little groaned. 6 Now the witches fcratch you, and pinch you, and bite you, don't they A. Yes. Then he put his hand upon her breaft and belly, viz. on the clothes over her, and felt a living thing, as he faid; which moved the father alfo to feel, and fome others. Q. Don't you feel the live thing in the bed' iA. No. 56 LETTERS TO Reply, That is only fancy..; The great company of people increafe your torment, don't they? AJ. Yes. The people about were defired to withdraw. One woman laid, I am fure I am no witch, I will not go; fo others; fo none withdrew. 9. Shall we go to prayers'? Then ihe lay in a fit as before. But this time, to revive her, they waved a hat, and brufhed her head and pillow therewith. A; Shall we go to prayer, &c. fpelling the word. A. Yes. The father went to prayer for perhaps half an hour, chiefly againft the power of the devil and witchcraft, and that God would bring out the afflifers. During prayer-time, the fon flood by, and when they thought fhe was in a fit, rubbed her and brufhed her as before, and beckoned to others to do the like. After prayer he proceeded: 9; You did not hear when we were at prayer, did you? A. Yes. Z; You don't hear always —you did not hear for fome time part, a word or two, did you? A. No. Then turning him about, faid, this is juft another Mercy Short. Margaret Perd replied, ihe was not like her in her fits. MR. MATIER, &5. 57 2. What does {he eat or drink'? A. She does not eat at all, but drinks rum.* Then he admonified the young people to take warning, &c. faying it was a fad thing to be fo tormented by the devil and his inftruments. A young man prefent, in the habit of a feaman, replied, "This is the Devil all over." Then the minifters withdrew. Soon after they were gone the afflided defired the women to be gone, faying, that the company of the men was not offenfive to her; and having hold of the hand of a young man, faid to have been her fweetheart formerly, who was withdrawing, fhe pulled him again into his feat, faying, he fhould not go to-night. September the 19th, 1693. This night I renewed my vifit, and found her rather of a * The affliAion of Margaret Rule, like that of the Surrey Demoniac, Richard Dugdale of England, was nothing more than a bad cafe of delirium tremens. Richard was fingularly toifed and buffeted by Satan, when nine minikfers undertook to exorcife him, by many months of continued prayer and failing, and happily fucceeded on the 24th of March, i689. The record of the event informs us, when Satan finally left Richard,-he had a terrible fit and vomited, whereon the devil, when he could no longer withftand the ministers, with fingular impudence cried, "Now, Dickey, I muft leave thee, and muft affli&t thee no more." It is probable that the fuccefs in this famous cafe of the Surrey Demoniac occurred to the mind of Dr. Mather, when he offered to provide meat, drink, and lodging for no lefs than fix of the poffeffed of Salem Village, that "the pofefed might be fcattered funder," fo that an experiment might be made, whether prayer with fatling, upon the removal of the accufed, might not put a period to the rifing trouble. LETTERS TO freiher countenance than before. About eight perfons were prefent with her. She was in a fit, Screaming and making a noire. Three or four perfons rubbed and bruihed her with their hands: they faid that the brufhing did put them away, if they brufhed or rubbed in the r/ght place; therefore they brufhed and rubbed in feveral places, and faid that when they did it in the right place ihe could fetch her breath, and by that they knew. She being come to herfelf was foon in a merry talking fit. A young man came in, and alked her how fhe did. She anfwered, very bad, but at prefent a little better. He foon told her he muft be gone, and bid her good-night; at which Ihe feemed troubled, faying that fhe liked his company, and faid {he would not have him go till {he was well; adding, for I fhall die when you are gone. Then ihe complained they did not put her on a clean cap, but let her lie fo like'a beaft, faying fhe fhould lofe all her fellows. She faid fhe wondered any people fhould be fo wicked as to think Ihe was not afflided, but to think fhe dif. fembled. A young woman anfwered, Yes, if they were to fee you in this merry fit, they would fay you diffembled indeed. She replied, Mr. M - faid this was her laughing time, fhe muft laugh now, She faid Mr. M had been MR. MATHER, &C. 59 there this evening, and fhe enquired how long he had been gone. She faid he flayed alone with her in the room half an hour, and faid that he told her there were fome that came for fpies, and to report about town that fhe was not affli&ted; that during the faid time fhe had no fit; that he alked her if fhe knew how many times he had prayed for her to-day; and that fhe anfwered, that fhe could not tell; and that he replied, he had prayed for her nine times to-day. The attendants faid that fhe was Sometimes in a fit, that none could open her joints, and that there came an old iron-jawted woman and tried, but could not do it; they likewife faid, that her head could not be moved from the pillow. I tried to move her head, and found no more difficulty than another perfon (and fo did others) but was not willing to offend by lifting it up, once being reproved for endeavouring it; they faying angrily, you will break her neck. The attendants faid Mr. M- would not go to prayer with her when people were in the room, as they did'one night —that night he felt the live creature. Margaret Perd and another faid they, fmelt brimfrone. I and others faid we did not finell any; then they faid they did not know what it was. This Margaret faid fhe wifhed the had been here when Mr. M.. was here. Another attendant faid, If you had been here, you might 60 LETTERS TO not have been permitted in, for her own mother was not fuffered to be prefent. Sir, after the forefl affliction and greateft blemifh to religion that ever befel this country, and after moft men began to fear that fome undue fteps had been taken, and after his excellency (with their Majefties' approbation as is faid) had put a fiop to executions, and men began to hope there would never be a return of the like; finding there accounts to contain in them Something extraordinary, I writ them down the fame nights, in order to attain the certainty of them, and foon found them fo confirmed that I have (befides other demonitrations) the whole under the hands of two perfons who are ready to atteft the truth of it; but not fatisfied herewith, I fhewed them to fome of your particular friends, that fo I might have the greater certainty; but was much furprifed with the meffage you fent me, that I fhould be arrefted for flander, and at your calling me one of the worit of liars, making it pulpit news, with the name of pernicious libels, &c. This occafioned my firft letter: [as followeth.] September the 29th, 1693. Reverend Sir, I having written from the mouths of feveral perfons, who affirm they were prefent with Mar MR. MATHER, &C. 61 garet Rule the 13th inflant, her anfwers and behaviour, &c., and having ihewed it to feveral of my friends, as alfo yours, and underftanding you are offended at it, this is to acquaint you that if you and any one particular friend will pleafe to meet me and fome other indifferent perfon with me at Mr. Wilkins's, or at Benj. Harris's, you intimating the time, I fhall be ready there to read it to you, as alfo a further account of proceedings the 19th inflant, which may be needful to prevent groundlefs prejudices, and let deferved blame be caft where it ought. From, fir, yours, in what I may, R. C. The effe&ts of which, fir, (not to mention that long letter only once read to me,) was, you fent me word you would meet me at Mr. Wilkins's; but, before that anfwer, at yours and your father's complaint, I was brought before their majefties' juftice, by warrant, for Scandalous libels againft yourfelf, and was bound over to anfwer at feffions. I do not remember you then obje&ed againfi the truth of what I had wrote, but afferted it was wronged by omiflions; which, if it were fo, was pail any power of mine to remedy, having given a faithful account of all that came to my knowledge: and, fir, that you might not be without fome cognizance of the reafons why I took fo much pains in it, as alfo 62 LETTERS TO for my own information, (if it might have been) I wrote to you my fecond letter to this effet: November the 24th, 1693. Reverend Sir, Having expe&ed fome weeks your meeting me at Mr. Wilkins's, according to what you intimated to me, and the time drawing near for our meeting elfewhere, I thought it not amifs to give you a fummary of my thoughts in the great concern, which, as you fay, has been agitated with fo much heat. That there are witches is not the doubt; the Scriptures elfe were vain, which affign their puniffihment to be by death; but what this witchcraft is, or wherein it does confift, feems to be the whole difficulty: and as it may be eafily demonftrated, that all that bear that name cannot be juftly fo accounted; fo that fome things and a&ions, not fo efteemed by the mofi, yet upon due examination will be found to merit no better chara&er. In your late book you lay down a brief fynopfis of what has been written on that fubje&, by a triumvirate of as eminent men as ever handled it (as you are pleafed to call them) viz. Mr. Perkins, Gaule and Bernard, confifting of about thirty tokens to know them by, many of them diftin& from, if not thwarting, each other: among all of which I can find but one decifive, MR. MATHER, &c. 63 viz. that of Mr. Gaule, head iv. and runs thus: " Among the mo/t unhappy circumfiances to convid a witch, one is a maligning and oppugning the-word, work or worfhip of God, and by any extraordinary fign feeking to feduce any from it. See Deut. xiii. 1, 2. Matt. xxiv. 24. A&s xiii. 8. io. 2 Tim. iii. 8. Do but mark well the places; and for this very property, of thus oppofing and perverting, they are all there concluded arrant and abfolute witches." This head, as here laid down and inferted by you, either is a truth or not; if not, why is it here inferted from one of' the triumvirate? If it be a truth, as the Scriptures quoted will abundantly teftify, whence is it that it is fo little regarded, though it be the only head well proved by fcripture, or that the reft of the triumvirate ihould fo far forget their work as not to mention it? It were to be unjuft to the memory of thofe otherwife wife men, to fuppofe them to have any finifter defign; but perhaps the force of a prevailing opinion, together with an education thereto fuited, might overihadow their judgments, as being wont to be but too prevalent in many other cafes. But if the above be truth, then the Scripture is full and plain, what is witchcraft. And if fo, what need of his next head of hanging people without as full and clear evidence as in other cafesq Or 64 LETTERS TO what need of the reft of the receipts of the triumvirate? What need of' praying that the afflited may be able to difcover who it is that afflits them? or what need of Searching for teats fbr the devil to fuck, in his old age; or the experiment of faying the Lord's prayer, &c. with a multitude more, pra&tifed in fome places fuperftitioufly inclined 2 Other a&tions have been praUifed for eafing the afflifted, lefs juftifiable, if' not ftrongly favouring of witchcraft itfelf, viz. fondly imagining by the hand, &c. to drive off fpeetres, or to knock off invifible chains, or by ftriking in the air to wound either the afflided or others, &c. I write not this to accufe any, but that all may beware; believing that the devil's bounds are fet, which he cannot pafs; that devils are fo full of malice, that it cannot be added to by mankind; that where he hath power he neither can nor will omit executing it; that it is only the Almighty that fets bounds to his rage, and that only can commiffionate him to hurt or deftroy any. Thefe laft, fir, are fuch foundations of truth, in my efteem, that I cannot but own it to be my duty to affert them, when called, though with the hazard of my all; and confequently to deteft fuch as thefe, that a witch can commiffionate devils to afflit mortals; that he can, at his or the witch's pleafure, affume any fhape; MR. MATHER, &C. 65 that hanging or drowning of witches can leffen his power of affliting, or reftore thofe that were at a diRfance tormented, with many others depending on thefe; all tending, in my efteem, highly to the difhonour of God, and the endangering the well-being of a people; and do further add, that as the Scriptures are full that there is witchcraft (ut fup.) fo'tis as plain that there are poffeflfions, and that the bodies of the poff'ti have hence been not only afflited, but ftrangely agitated, if not their tongues improved to foretel futurities, &c. and why not to accufe the innocent, as bewitching them? having pretence to divination to gain credence. This being reafonable to be expected from him who is the father of lies, to the end he may thereby involve a country in blood, malice and evilfurmifing, which he greedily feeks after, and fo finally lead them from their fear and dependence upon God, to fear him and a fuppofed witch, thereby attaining his end upon mankind; and not only fo, but natural diftempers, as has been frequently obferved by the judicious, have fo operated as to deceive more than the vulgar, as is teifified by many famous phyficians and others. And as for that proof' of multitudes of confeflions, this country may be by this time thought competent judges what credence we ought to give them, having 5 66 LETTERS TO had fuch numerous inifances, as alfo how obtained. And now, fir, if herein be any thing in your efteem valuable, let me entreat you not to account it the worfe for coming from fo mean a hand; which, however you may have received prejudice, &c. am ready to ferve you to my power; but if you judge otherwife hereof, you may take your own methods for my better information. Who am, fir, yours to command, in what I may, R. C. In anfwer to this laft, fir, you replied to the gentleman that prefented it, that you had nothing to profecute againft me; and faid, as to your Sentiments in your books, you did not bind any to believe them; and then again renewed your promife of meeting me, as before, though not yet performed. Accordingly, though I waited at feflions, there was none to object ought againfi me, upon which I was difmiffed. This gave me fome reafon to believe that you intended all fhould have been forgotten; but, inftead of that, I find the coals are frefh blown up, I being fuppofed to be represented, in a late manufcript, More W[onders of the, &c. as traveftying your difcourfe in your faithful discharge of your duty, &c. and fuch as fee not with the author's eyes, rendered fadducees and witlings, &c. and the MR. MATHER, &C. 67 arguments that fquare not with the Sentiments therein contained, buffoonery; rarely, no doubt, agreeing with the fpirit of Chriff, and his dealings with an unbelieving Thomas, yet whofe infidelity was without compare lefs excufable; but the author having refolved long fince to have no more than one fingle grain of patience with them that deny, &c. the wonder is the lefs. It muff needs be that offences come, but wo to him by whom they come. To vindicate myfelf therefore -from fuch falfe imputations, of fatan-like infinuations, and mifreprefenting your actions, &c. and to vindicate yourfelf, fir, as much as is in my power, from thofe fuggeftions, faid to be infinuated, as if you wore not the modefty and gravity that becomes a minifter of the gofpel; which, it feems, fome, that never faw the faid narratives, report them to contain; I fay, fir, for thefe reafons, I here prefent you with the firft copy that ever was taken, &c. and purpofe for a week's time to be ready, if you ihall intimate your pleafure to wait upon me, either at the place formerly appointed, or any other that is indifferent; to the end that, if there fhall appear any defeds in that narrative, they may be amended. Thus, fir, I have given you a genuine account of my fentiments and actions in this affair; and do- requeft and pray, that if I err, I may be 68 LETTERS TO fhewed it from fcripture, or found reafon, and not by quotations out of Virgil, nor Spanifh rhetorick. For I find the witlings mentioned are fo far from anfwering your profound queftions, that they cannot fo much as pretend to lhew a didfindtion between witchcraft in the common notion of it, and poffeffion; nor fo much as to demonflrate that ever the Jews or primitive chriftians did believe that a witch could fend a devil to affli her neighbours. But to all thefe, fir, (ye being the falt of the earth, &c.) I have reafon to hope for a fatisfictory anfwer to him, who is one that reverences your perfon and office; and am, fir, yours to command, in what I may, R. C. Bojfon, san. the 15th, 1693. Mr. R. C. Whereas you intimate your defires, that what is not fairly (I take it for granted you mean truly alfo) reprefented in a paper you lately fent me, containing a pretended narrative of a vifit by my father and felf to an afflited young woman, whom we apprehended to be under a diabolical poffeflion, might be re&ified; I have this to fay, as I have often already faid, that I do fcarcely find any one thing in the whole paper, whether refpe&ting my father or felf, either fairly or truly reprefented. Nor can I MR. MATHER, &c. 69 think that any, that know my parent's circumfiances, but mutt think him deferving a better chara&ter by far, than this narrative can be thought to give him. When the main defign we managed, in vifiting the poor affli&ed creature, was to prevent the accufations of the neighbourhood, can it be fairly reprefented that our defign was to draw out fuch accufations? which is the reprefentation of the paper. We have teftimonies of the belt witneffes, and in number not a few, that when we afked Rule whether fhe thought fhe knew who tormented her, the quellion was but an introduftion to the folemn charges which we then largely gave, that ihe fhould rather die than tell the names of any whom She might imagine that She knew. Your informers have reported the quellion, and report nothing of what follows, as effential to the giving of that queftllion. And can this be termed a piece of fairnefs? Fair it cannot be, that when ministers faithfully and carefully difcharge their duty to the miferable in their flock, little bits, fcraps and fhreds of their difcourfes Ihould be tacked together to make them contemptible, when there fhall be no notice of all the neceflary, feafonable and profitable things that occurred in thofe difcourfes; and without which, the occafion of the leffier paffages cannot be underltood: and yet I am furnified with 70 LETTERS TO abundant evidences, ready to be fworn, that will pofitively prove this part of unfairnefs, by the above mentioned narrative, to be done both to my father and felf. Again, it feems not fair or reafonable that I ihould be expofed for that which yourfelf (not to fay fome others) might have expofed me for if I had not done, viz. for discouraging fo much company from flocking about the poffeft maid; and yet, as I perfuade myfelf, you cannot but think it to be good advice to keep much company from fuch haunted chambers. Befides, the unfairnefs doth more appear, in that I find nothing repeated of what I faid about the advantage which the devil takes from too much observation and curiofity. In that feveral of the queftions in the paper are fo worded as to carry in them a prefuppofal of the things inquired after, to fay the befl of it, is very unfair. But this is not all; the narrative contains a number of miftakes and falfehoods, which, were they wilful and defigned, might juftly be termed grofs lies. The reprefentations are far from true, when'tis affirmed my father and felf being come into the room, I began the difcourfe: I hope I underifand breeding a little better than fo. For proof of this, did occafion ferve, fundry can depofe the contrary. MR. MATHER, &C. 71'Tis no lefs untrue, that either my father or felf put the queftion, How many witches fit upon you 2 We always cautioufly avoided that expreffion, it being contrary to our inward belief. All the fianders-by will, I believe, fwear they did not hear us ufe it, (your witneffes excepted) and I tremble to think how hardy thofe woful creatures muff be, to call the Almighty, by an oath, to fo falfe a thing. As falfe a reprefentation'tis, that I rubbed Rule's ftomach, her breadf not being covered. The oath of the neareft fpeatators, giving a true account of that maftter, will prove this to be little lefs than a grofs (if not a doubled) lie; and to be fomewhat plainer, it carries the face of a lie contrived on purpofe (by them at leaft to whom you are beholden for the narrative) wickedly and barely to expofe me: for you cannot but know how much this representation hath contributed to make people believe a fmutty thing of me. I am far from thinking but that in your own confcience you believe, that no indecent a&tion of that nature could then be done by me before fuch obfervers, had I been fo wicked as to have been inclined to what is bafe. It looks next to impoflible that a reparation fhould be made me for the wrong done to (I hope, as to any fcandal) an unblemiffied, though weak and fmall, fervant of the church of God. Nor 72 LETTERS TO is what follows a lefs untruth, that it was an attendant and not myfelf who faid, If Rule knows who affli&ts her, yet ihe won't tell. I therefore fpoke it that I might encourage her to continue in that concealment of all names whatfoever; to this I am able to furniih myfelf with the atteflation of fufficient oaths.'Tis as far from true, that my apprehenfion of the imp, about Rule, was on her belly; for the oaths of' the fpe&tators, and even of thofe that thought they felt it, can teftify that it was upon the pillow, at a diftance from her body. As untrue a reprefentation is that which follows, viz. that it was faid unto her, that her not apprehending of that odd, palpable, though not vifible, mover, was from her fancy; for I endeavoured to perfuade her that it might be but fancy in others, that there was any fuch thing at all. Witneffes every way fufficient can be produced for this alfo. It is falfely reprefented, that my father felt on the young woman after the appearance mentioned, for his hand was never near her; oath can fufficiently vindicate him.'Tis very untrue, that my father prayed, for perhaps half an hour, againit the power of the devil and witchcraft, and that God would bring out the affliters: witneffes of the belt credit can depofe, that his prayer was not a quarter of an hour, and that there was no more than about one MR. MATHER, &c. 73 claufe, towards the clofe of the prayer, which was of' this import; and'this claufe alfo was guarded with a fingular warinefs and modefty, viz. If there were any evil initruments in this matter, God would pleafe to difcover them: and that there was more than common reafon for that petition, I can fatisfy any one that will pleafe to inquire of me. And ftrange it is, that a gentleman that from eighteen to fifty-four hath been an exemplary minifter of the gofpel; and that, befides a fPation in the church of God, as confiderable as any that his own country can afford, hath for divers years come off with honour, in his application to three crowned heads, and the chiefeft nobility of three kingdoms; knows not yet how to make one fhort prayer of a quarter of an hour, but in NewEngland he muft be libelled for it. There are divers other down-right miftakes, which you have permitted yourfelf (I would hope not knowingly and with a malicious defign) to be receiver or compiler of, which I lhall now forbear to animadvert upon. As for the appendix of the narrative, I do find myfelf therein injurioufly treated; for the utmoft of your proof, fobr what you fay of me, amounts to little more than this, viz. Some people told you, that others told them, that fuch and fuch things did pafs; but you may affure yourfelf, that I 74 LETTERS TO am not unfurnifihed with witneffes that can convi&t the fame. Whereas you would give me to believe the bottom of thefe, your methods, to be fome diffatisfaftion about the commonly received power of devils and witches; I do not only with all freedom offer you the ufe of any part of my library, which you may fee caufe to perufe on that fubje&t, but alfo, if you and any one elfe, whom you pleafe, will vifit me at my lludy, yea, or meet me at any other place, lefs inconvenient than thofe by you propofed, I will with all the fairnefs and calmnefs in the world difpute the point. I beg of God that he would betllow as many bleffings on you, as ever on myfelf; and out of a fincere wifh that you may be made yet more capable of there bleffings, I take this occafion to lay before you the faults (not few nor fmall ones neither) which the paper contained, you lately fent me, in order to be examined by me. In cafe you want a true and full narrative of my vifit, whereof' fuch an indecent travefty (to fay the beft) hath been made, I am not unwilling to communicate it; in mean time mullt take liberty to fay, it is fcarcely confiftent with common civility, much lefs chriltian charity, to offer the narrative, now with you, for a true one, till you have a truer; or for a full one, till you have a fuller. Your fincere (though injured) friend and fervant, C. MATHER. MR. MATHER, &C. 75 The copy of a paper received with the above letter. I do teftify that I have feen Margaret Rule, in her affli&ions from the invifible world, lifted up from her bed, wholly by an invifible force, a great way towards the top of the room where ihe lay; in her being fo lifted, fhe had no affiftance from any ufe of her own arms or hands, or any other part of' her body, not fo much as her heels touching her bed, or refling on any fupport whatfoever. And I have feen her thus lifted, when not only a ftrong perfon hath thrown his whole weight acrofs her to pull her down, but feveral other perfons have endeavoured, with all their might, to hinder her from being fo raifed up; which I fuppofe that feveral others will teftify as well as myfelf when called unto it. Witnefs my hand, SAMUEL AVES. We can alfo teftify to the fubftance of what is above written; and have feveral times feen Margaret Rule fo lifted up from her bed, as that {he had no ufe of her own limbs to help her up; but it was the declared apprehenfion of us, as well as others, that faw it, impoffible for any hands, but fome of the invifible world, to lift her. ROBERT EARLE, JOHN WILKINS, DAN. WILLIAMS. 76 LETTERS TO We, whofe names are under-written, do teftify, that one evening, when we were in the chamber where Margaret Rule then lay, in her late affliction, we obferved her to be, by an invifible force, lifted up from the bed whereon fhe lay, fo as to touch the garret floor, while yet neither her feet, nor any other part of her body, reifed either on the bed or any other fupport, but were alfo, by the fame force, lifted up from all that was under her; and all this for a confiderable while, we judged it feveral minutes; and it was as much as feveral of us could do, with all our ftrength, to pull her down. All which happened when there was not only we two in the chamber, but we fuppofe ten or a dozen more, whofe names we have forgotten. THOMAS THORNTON. WILLIAM HUDSON teftiJzes to the fubfiance of T1ornton's teftinmony, to which he alfo hath fet his hand. Bofton, January 18, 1693. MR. COTTON MATHER, Reverend Sir, Yours of the 15th infitant I received yefterday, and foon found I had promifed myfelf too much by it, viz. either concurrence with, or a denial of, thofe fundamentals mentioned in mine, of November the 24th, finding this waived by an invitation to your library, &c. I thank God MR. MATHER, &C. 77 I have the bible, and do judge that fufficient to demonftrate that cited head of Mr. Gaule to be a truth, as alfo thofe other heads'mentioned as the foundations of religion. And in my apprehenfion, if it be afked any chriffian, whether God governs the world, and whether it be he only can commifflionate devils, and fuch other fundamentals, he ought to be as ready as in the queftion, Who made him? (A little writing certainly might be of more ufe, to clear up the controverted points, than either looking over many books in a well furnilhed library, or than a difpute, if I were qualified for it; the inconveniencies of pafflion being this way befl avoided.) And am not without hopes that you will yet oblige me fo far, as to confider that letter, and if I err, to let me fee it by fcripture, &c. Yours, almoft the whole of it, is concerning the narrative I fent to you; and you feem to inkf timate as if I were giving charafters, refledions, libels, &c. concerning yourfelf and relations; all which were as far from my thoughts, as ever they were in writing after either yourfelf, or any other minifter. In the front you declare your apprehenfion to be, that the afflited was under a diabolical poffeffion; and if fo, I fee not how it ihould be occafioned by any witchcraft (unlefs we afcribe that power to a witch, which is only the prerogative of the Almighty, of fending or 78 LETTERS TO commiffionating the devils to afflit& her.) But to your particular obje&ions againft the narrative; and to the firtf. My intelligence not giving me any further, I could not infert that I knew not. And it feems improbable that a queftion fhould be put, whether ihe knew who they were that tormented her, and at the fame time to charge her, and that upon her life, not to tell; and if you had done fo, I fee but little good you could promife yourfelf or others by it, fhe being poffeft, as alfo having it inculcated fo much to her, of witchcraft. And as to the next objeEion, about company flocking, &c. I pro-. fefs my ignorance, not knowing what you mean by it. And, fir, that moft of the questions did carry with them a prefuppofing the things inquired after, is evident, if there were fuch as thofe relating to the blackman and a book, and about her hearing the prayer, &c. (related in the faid narrative, which I find no obje6tion againft.) As to that which is faid of mentioning yourfelf firft difcourfing, and your hopes that your breeding was better, (I doubt it not, nor do I doubt your father might firft apply himfelf to others) my intelligence is, that you firft fpake to the affliated or poffefled, for which you had the advantage of a nearer approach. The next two objetions are founded upon miftakes: I find not in the narrative any fuch queftion, as How MR. MATHER, &C. 79 many witches fit upon you?. nor, that her breaft was not covered, in which thofe material words, with the bed-clothes, are wholly omitted. I am not willing to retort here your own language upon you; but can tell you, that your own difcourfe of it publickly, at Sir W. P.'s table, has much more contributed to, &c. As to the reply, If fhe could ihe would not tell, whether either or both fpake it, it matters not much. Neither does the narrative fay, you felt the live thing on her belly; though I omit now to fay what further demonftrations there are of it. As to that reply, That is only her fancy, I find the word her added. And as to your father's feeling for the live creature after you had felt it, if it were on the bed it was not fo very far from her. And for the length of his prayer, poffibly your witneffes might keep a more exa& account of the time than thofe others, and I ifand not for a few minutes. For the reft of the obje&tions, I fuppofe them of lefs moment, if lefs can be; however, fhall be ready to receive them. Thofe matters of greateif concern I find no objeftions againft. Thefe being all that yet appear, it may be thought that if the narrative be not fully exact, it was as near as memory could bear away; but mhould be glad to fee one more perfe& (which yet is not to be expected, feeing none wrote at the fame time.) You 80 LETTERS TO mention the appendix, by which I underftand the fecond vifit; and if you be by the poffeffed belied (as being half an hour with her alone, excluding her own mother, and as telling her you had prayed for her nine times that day, and that now was her laughing time, the mull laugh now) I can fee no wonder in it: What can be expeEted lefs from the father of lies, by whom, you judge, fhe was pofleft l And befides the above letter, you were pleafed to fend me another paper, containing feveral teftimonies of the poffeffied being lifted up, and held a fpace of feveral minutes to the garret floor, &c. but they omit giving the account, whether after She was down they bound her down, or kept holding her; and relate not how many were to pull her down, which hinders the knowledge what number they muff be, to be fironger than an invisible force. Upon the whole, I fuppofe you expe& I fhould believe it; and if fo, the only advantage gained is, that what has been fo long controverted between proteftants and papifts, whether miracles are ceaff, will hereby feem to be decided for the latter; it being, for ought I can fee, if fo, as true a miracle as for iron to fwim; and the devil can work fuch miracles. But, fir, to leave thefe little difputable things, I do again pray that you would let me have the MR. MATHER,. &C. 81 happinefs of your approbation or confutation of that letter before referred to. And now, fir, that the God of all grace may enable us zealoufly to own his truths, and to follow thofe things that tend to peace, and that yourfelf may be as an ufeful inftrument in his hand, effetually to ruin the remainder of heathenifh and popifh fuperftitions, is the earneft defire and prayer of yours to command in what I may, R. C. Poftfcript. - Sir, I here fend you the copy of a paper that lately came to my hands; which, though it contains no wonders, yet is remarkable, and runs thus: An account of zwhat an Indian told Capt. Hill at Saco Fort. The Indian told him, that the French ministers were better than the Englifh; for before the French came among them there were a great many witches among the Indians; but now there were none; and there were witches among the Englifh minifters, as Burroughs, who was hang'd for it. Were I difpofed to make refle&ions upon it, I fuppofe you will judge the field large enough; but I forbear. As above, R. C. Boflon, Feb. 19, 1693. MR. COTTON MATHER, Reverend Sir, I have received as yet no anfwer to mine of November the 24th, except an offer to perufe books, &c. relating to the doctrinals therein contained; nor to my laft, of January the 18th, in 6 82 LETTERS TO which I again prayed that if I erred I might be fhewed it by Scripture, viz. in believing that the devil's bounds are fet, which he cannot pafs - that the devils are fo full of malice, that it can't be added to by mankind — that where he hath power, he neither can nor will omit executing it — that it is only the Almighty that fets bounds to his rage, and who only can commiflion him to hurt or deitroy any; and confequently to deteft, as erroneous and dangerous, the belief that a witch can commiflion devils to afflit mortals - that he can at his or the witch's pleafure affume any ihape - that the hanging or drowning of witches can leffen his power of affliting, and reftore thofe that were at a diftance tormented by him; -and whether witchcraft ought to be underftood, now in this age, to be the fame that it was when the divine oracles were given forth, particularly thofe quoted by mr. Gaule, in that cited head, ['Vonders of the Invtfble World (mnr. Gaule's fourth head) to difcover witches, which do fo plainly ihew a witch, in Scripture fenfe, to be one that maligns, &c. and that pretends to give a fign in order to feduce, &c. For I have never underftood, in my time, any fuch have fuffered as witches, though fufficiently known; but the only witch now inquired after is one that is laid to become fo by making an explicit covenant with the devil, MR. MATHER, &C. 83 i. e. the devil appearing to them, and making a compa&, mutually promifing each to other; teftified by their figning his book, a material book, which he is faid to keep; and that thereby they are intituled to a power, not only to afflit others, but fuch as is truly exorbitant, if not highly intrenching upon the prerogative of him who is the Sovereign Being: For who is he that faith, and it cometh to pafs, when the Lord commandeth it not'? Such explicit covenant being, as is faid, in this age, reckoned effential to complete a witch; yet I finding nothing of fuch covenant (or power thereby obtained) in fcripture, and yet a witch therein fo fully defcribed, do pray that if there be any fuch fcriptures I may be direted to them; for as to the many legends in this cafe, I make no account of them: I read indeed of a covenant with death and with hell, but fuppofe that to be in the heart (or mental) only, and fee not what ufe fuch an explicit one can be of between fpirits, any further than as'tis a copy of that mental which is in the heart. The dire effedts and confequences of fuch notion may be found written in indelible Roman charaCters of blood, in all countries where they have prevailed. And what lefs can be expe&ted, when men are indi&ted for that, which it is impoffible to prove, fo as for any to clear himfelf of, viz 84 LETTERS TO fuch explicit covenant with the devil; and then, for want of better evidence, muft take up with fuch as the nature of fuch fecret covenant can bear, as mr. Gaule hath it, i. e. diftra6ted fories, and ftrange and foreign events, &c. thereby endeavouring to find it, though by its but fuppofed effefts.' By the fame rule that one is put to purge himfelf of fuch compa&t, by the fame may all mankind. This then being fo important a cafe, it concerns all to know what foundations in Scripture are laid for fuch a ftru6ture; for if they are deficient of that warrant, the more eminent the archite&ts are, the more dangerous are they thereby rendered, &c. Thefe are fuch confiderations as I think will vindicate me, in the efteem of all lovers of humanity, in my endeavours to get them cleared; and, to that end, do once more pray, that you would fo far oblige me as to give your approbation or confutation of the above do&trinals; but if you think filence a virtue in this cafe, I fhall (I fuppofe) fo far comply with it as not to lofe you any more time to look over my papers. And if any others will fo far oblige me, I Ihall not be ungrateful to them. Praying God to guide and profper you, I am, fir, yours to my power, R. C. (He that doth truth cometh to the light.) MR. MATHER, &c. 85 Bo.Jon, 1pril the 16th, 1694. MR. COTTON MATHER, Reverend Sir, Having as yet received no anfwer to my laft, touching the dotrinals therein referred to, though at the delivery of it you were pleafed to promife the gentleman that prefented it that I Should have it, and after that you acquainted the fame gentleman you were about it; the length of time fince thofe promifes makes me fuppofe you are preparing fomething for the prefs (for I would not queftion your veracity;) and Ithink it may not be amifs, when you do any thing of that nature for the public view, that you alfo explain fome paffages of fome late books of yours and your relations, which are hard to be underftood; to inflance in a few of many; Wonders of the Invijible World, page 17, "Plagues are fome of thofe woes with which the devil caufes our trouble." Page 18, "Hence come fuch plagues as that befom of deftrudion which within our memory fwept away fuch a throng of people from one Englifh city, in one vifitation. Wars are fome of thofe woes with which the devil caufes our trouble." Page 16, "I Hence'tis that the devil, like a dragon keeping a guard upon fuch fruits as would refrefh a languifhing world, has hindered mankind for many ages from hitting upon thofe ufeful in 86 LETTERS TO ventions. The benighted world mult jog on, for thoufands of years, without the knowlege of the loaditone, printing, and fpe&acles." Page lo, " It is not likely that every devil does know every language.'Tis poffible the experience, or, if I may call it fo, the education, of all devils is not alike." Cafes of Conjcience, page 63, " The devil has inflidted on many the difeafe called the lycanthropia." Memorable Providences relating to Wlitchcraft Dfi. page 24, " I am alfo apt to think that the devils are feldom able to hurt us in any of our exterior concerns, without a commiflion from fome of our fellow worms. When foul mouth'd men Shall wifh harm to their neighbours, they give a commiffion to the devil to perform what they defire; and if God lhould not mercifully prevent, they would go through with it. Hear this, you that in wild paffion will give every thing to the devil; hear it, you that befpeak a rot, a pox, or a plague, on all that fhall provoke you; I here indi& you as guilty of hellifh witchcraft in the fight of God." More JI7onders of the Invifible World, p. 49, "They each of them have their fpedres or devils commiffioned by them, and reprefenting them." Page 14, " But fuch a permiflion from God for the devil to come down and break in upon mankind, mult often times be accompanied with a commiffion from fome MR. MATHER, &C. 87 of mankind itfelf." Enchantments encountered, "Thefe witches have driven a trade of commiflioning their confederate fpirits to do all forts of mifchiefs to their neighbours." Page 5o, "They have bewitched fome, even fo far as to make them felf-deftroyers." Page 144, "As I am abundantly fatisfied, that many of the felfmurders, committed here, have been the effets of a cruel and bloody witchcraft, letting fly damons upon the miferable Senecas." Page 51, "WTe have feen fome of their children dedicated to the devil, that in their infancy the imps have fucked them." Cafes of Confcience, page 24, " They bequeath their daemons to the children as a legacy, by whom they are often affifled to fee and do things beyond the power of nature." Page 2 1, " There is in Spain a fort of people called Zahurs, that can fee into the bowels of the earth." On Tuefdays and Fridays, and to add that in page 49; the words are, " For the law of God allows of no revelation from any other fpirit but himfelf, Ifa. viii. 19. It is a fin againft God to make ufe of the devil's help, to know that which cannot be otherways known; and I teftify againir it as a great tranfgreffion, which may juftly provoke that Holy One of Ifrael to let loofe devils on the whole land. Although the devil's accufation may be Co far regarded, as to caufe an inquiry into the 88 LETTERS TO truth of things, (Job i. 11, 12, and ii. 5, 6) yet not fo as to be an evidence or ground of convidtion; for the devil's teftimony ought not to be taken in whole nor in part." It is a known truth, that fome unwary expreffions of the primitive fathers were afterwards improved for the introducing and eftablifhing of error, as their calling the Virgin Mary the mother of God, &c. Hence occafion and advantage were taken to propagate the idolizing of her. The like might be faid of the eucharift. Thefe affertions, above rehearfed, being apparently liable to a like mal-conftrudion, and no lefs dangerous, are therefore, as I laid, highly needful to be explained, and that in a moft public manner. For were they to be underflood literally, and as they are fpoken, it muft feem as if the authors were introducing among chriftians very dangerous do&trines, fuch as, were they afferted by the beft of men, yet ought to be rejeded by all, &c. viz. That'tis the devil that brings the moft of evils upon mankind, by way of inflition, that do befal them; and that the witch can commifiion him to the performance of thefe; with many other as dangerous dotrines, and fuch as feem in their tendency to look favourably upon the antient pagan do&rines of this country, who believed that God did hurt to none, but good to all, but that the devil muft be pleafed by wor MR. MATHER, &C. 89 fhiping, &c. from whom came all their miferies, as they believed. For what were all this, but to rob God of his glory in the higheft manner, and give it to a devil and a witch? Is it not he that hath faid, Shall there be evil in a city, and the Lord hath not done it - But if any are fond of their own notions, becaufe fome eminent men before now have afferted them, they may do well to compare them with that excellent faying (Wonders of the Invjjible tWorld, p. 7) " About this devil there are many things, whereof we may reafonably and profitably be inquifitive; fuch things I mean as are in our bibles revealed to us; according to which if we do not fpeak on fo dark a fubjed, but according to our own uncertain and perhaps humourfome conjeCtures, there is no light in us." Or that other, p. 75, "At every other weapon the devil will be too hard for us." For'tis moft certain that other notions, weapons and pra&ices have been taken up with, and that the event has been anfwerable: the devil has been too hard for fuch as have fo done. I fhall forbear to inftance from the dogmatical part, and ihall mention fome praatices that as much need explaining; Mem. Provid. Rel. to itStchc. pages 29, 30, 31; where account is given that it was prayed for that the affli6ted might be able to declare, whom fhe apprehended herfelf affli~ted by, together with the immediate 90 LETTERS TO anfwer of fuch prayer. To this you once replied, when it was mentioned to you, that you did not then underhtand the wiles of' fatan. To which I have nothing to obje&t, but it might be a good acknowledgment. But confidering that the book is gone forth into all the world, I cannot but think the falve ought to be proportioned to the fore, and the notice of the devil's wiles as univerfal as the means recommending them. Another pradtice is, (pages 20, 21,) "There was one fingular paffion that frequently attended her; an invifible chain would be clapt about her, and the in much pain and fear cry out when they began to put it on: once I did with my own hand knock it off as it began to be faftened about her." If this were done by the power or virtue of any ordinance of divine inflruftion, it is well; but would have been much better if the inftitution had been demonifrated; or was there any phyfical virtue in that particular hand? But fuppofing that neither of thefe will be afferted by the author, I think it very requifite, that the world may be acquainted with the operation, and to what art or craft to refer their power of knocking off invifible chains. And thus, fir, I have faithfully difcharged what in this I took to be my duty, and am fo far from doing it to gain applaufe, or from a fpirit of contradiftion, that I expect to procure me many ene MR. MATHER, &C. 91 mies thereby; but (as in cafe of a fire) where the glory of God and the good and welfare of mankind are fo nearly concerned, I thought it my duty to be no longer an idle fpedator; and can and do fay, to the glory of God, in this whole affair, I have endeavoured to keep a confcience void of offence, both towards God and towards man; and therein at the leait have the advantage of fuch as are very jealous they have done fo much herein, as to fin in what they have done, viz. in theltering the accufed; fuch have been the cowardice and fearfulnefs into which a regard to the diffatisfaftion of other people have precipitated them; which by the way mult needs acquaint all, that for the future other meafures are refolved upon (by fuch) which, how bloody they may prove when opportunity ihall offer, is with him who orders all things according to the counfel of his own will. And now, that the fong of angels may be the emulation of men, is the earneft defire and prayer of, fir, yours to command in what I may, R. C. Glory to God in the highefi, and on earth peace, and good will towards men. BoJZon, March the fJl, 1694. Mr. B, Worthy Sir, After more than a year's waiting for the per 92 LETTERS TO formance of a reiterated promife from one under fingular obligations, and a multitude of advantages to have done it fooner, the utmoft compliance I have met with is (by your hands) the fight of four fheets of refcinded papers. But I muit firit be obliged to return them in a fortnight, and not copied, which I have now complied with: and having read them, am not at all furprifed at the author's caution, not to admit of fuch crude matter and impertinent abfurdities, as are to be found in it. He feems concerned that I take no notice of his feveral books, wherein, as he faith, he has unanfwerably proved things. To this I might reply, that I have fent him letters of quotations out of thofe books, to know how much of them he will abide by; for I thought it hard to affix their natural confequences, till he had opportunity to explain them. And faith, that he hath fent me mr. Baxter's World of Spirits, an ungainfayable book, &c. (though I know no ungainfayable book but the bible;) which book, I think, no man that has read it will give fuch a title to but the author. He fpeaks of my reproaching his public fermons; of which I am not conscious to myfelf, unlefs it be about his interpretation of a thunder fiorm (that broke into his houfe) which favoured fo much of enthufiafm. As to thofe papers, I have (as I read them) MR. MATHER, &C. 93 noted in the margin where, in a hafly reading, I thought it needful; of which it were unreafonable for him to complain, feeing I might not take a copy, thereby to have been enabled more at leifure to digeft what were needful to be faid on fo many heads; and as I have not flattered him, fo, for telling what was fo needful, with the hazard of making fo many enemies by it, I have approved myfelf one of his beft friends. And befides his own fenfe of the weaknefs of his anfwer, teftified by the prohibition above, he has wholly declined anfwering to moff of thofe things that I had his promife for; and what he pretends to fpeak to, after mentioning, without the needful anfwer or proof, drops it. His firft main work, after his definition of a witch, which he never proves (without faying any thing to mr. Gaule's Scriptural defcription, though fo often urged to it, and though himfelf has in his book recommended and quoted it) is to magnify the devil's power, and that as I think beyond and againft the Scripture; this takes him up about 11 pages; and yet in page 22d he again returns to it, and, as I underftand it, takes part with the pharifees againft our Saviour in the argument; for they charge him that he caft out devils through Beelzebub: our Saviour's anfwer is, (Matt. xii. 25) Every kingdom divided againfl tfelf is brought to defolation; and every 94 LETTERS TO city or houfe divided againf ijtfelf Jhall not fland; and zf fatan caft out fatan, he is divided againfJ himfelf; how Ihall then his kingdom fland? And yet, notwithftanding this anfwer, together with what follows, for further illuftration our author is it feems refolved to affert, that our Saviour did not in this anfwer deny that many did fo, viz. caft out devils by Beelzebub; and, page 23, grants that the devils have a miraculous power, but yet it muff not be called miraculous, and yet can be diflinguifhed, as he intimates, only by the confcience or light within, to the no fmall fcandal of the chriftian religion: though our Saviour and his apoftles account this the chief or principal proof' of his godhead, (Yohn xx. 30, 31. John x. 37, 38. Yohn v. 30. Mark xvi. 17, 18. 4As ii. 22. and iv. 30. with many others) and that miracles belong only to God, who alfo governs the world, (Ps. cxxxvi. 4. Yer. xiv. 22. Ifa. xxxviii. 8. Ps. lxii. 1. Lam. iii. 37. Amos iii. 6.) But, to forbear quoting that which the Scripture is moft full in, do only fay, that he that dares affert the devil to have fuch a miraculous power, had need have other Scriptures than ever I have feen. In page 12, our author proceeds, and ftates a queftion to this effe't: If' the devil has fuch powers, and cannot exert them without permiffion from God, what can the witch contribute MR. MATHER, &C. 95 thereunto? Inftead of an anfwer to this weighty objedtion, our author firif concedes, that the devils do ordinarily exert their powers, without the witches contributing to it; but yet, that, to the end to increafe their guilt, he may cheat a witch, by making her believe herfelf the author of them. His next is, If witchcraft be, as I fuppofe it is, the fkill of applying the plaftic fpirit of the world, &c. then the confent of the witch doth naturally contribute to that mifchief that the devil does. And his laft anfwer runs to this effet: Is it not the ordination of God, that where the devil can get the conifnt of a witch for the hurting of others, the hurt ihall as certainly be as if they had fet maftiff dogs upon them, or had given them poifon into their bowels? and God's providence muft be as great in delivering from one as from the other. And this it feems is not only his belief, but the moft orthodox and the molt learned anfwer that our author could pitch upon: If witchcraft be, as I fuppofe it is, &c. and is it not the ordination of God, that, &c. What is all this but precarious, and begging the queftion, and a plain dropping the argument he cannot manage? However, to amufe the ignorant, and to confound the learned, he hooks in a cramp word, if not a nonentity, viz. plaftic fpirit of the world; for who is it 96 LETTERS TO either knows that there is a plafic: fpirit, or what it is, or how this can any way ferve his purpofe? He then proceeds to fcripture inifances of witches, &c. and where I thought it needful, I have, as I faid, Ihewed my diffent from his judgment. He accounts it unreafonable to be held to the proof of his definition of a witch, which he makes to confift in a covenant with the devil; and choofes rather a tedious procefs about a piftol to defend him from it, which indeed is one particular way whereby murder has been committed, and fo the doer becomes culpable. But his definition of a witch, which, as I laid; fill remains to be proved, is to this effe&t: that a witch is one that covenants with and commiffions devils to do mifchiefs; that fhe is one in covenant, or that by virtue of fuch covenant Ihe can commiffion him to kill. The not bringing fcripture to prove there two is a fufficient demonftration there is none; and fo our author leaves off juft where he- began, viz. in a bare affertion, together with his own bigoted experiences, hinting alfo at multitudes of hiftories to confirm him in the belief of his definition. Here being all that I take notice of to be confiderable. And now, fir, if you think fit, improve your friendfhip with the author, for the glory of God, the Sovereign being, the good and welfare of MR. MATHER, &C. 97 mankind, and for his real and true intereft. As you fee it convenient, put him in mind, that the glory of God is the end why mankind was made, and why he hath fo many advantages to it: that the flames we have feen, threatening the utter extirpation of the country, muft owe their original to thefe dangerous errors (if not herefies) which, if they remain unextinguifhed, may and moft likely will be acted over again: that it is more honour to own an error in time, than tenacioufly after full conviction to retain it. But if our author will again vindicate fuch matters, pleafe to acquaint him, that I (hall not any more receive his papers, if I may not copy and ufe them; and that when he does, inftead of fuch abftrufe matters, I ifill pray his determination in thofe things I have his promife for. And thus begging pardon for thus long detaining you, I am, fir, yours to command, R. C. BofJon, March 18, 1694. To the Min/flers, whether Englihk, French or Dutch. I, having had not only occafion, but renewed provocation, to take a view of the myfterious do6trines which have of late been fo much contefted among us, could not meet with any that had fpoken more, or more plainly, the fenfe of 7 98 LETTERS TO thofe dotrines (relating to witchcraft) than the Rev. Mr. C. M.; but how clearly and confiftent, either with himfelf or the truth, I need not now fay, but cannot but fuppofe his ftrenuous and zealous alferting his opinions has been one caufe of the difmal convulsions we have here lately fallen into. Suppofing that his books of Memorable Providences relating to ftlitchcraft, as alfo his JfZonders of the Invifible World, did contain in them things not warrantable, and very dangerous, I fent to him a letter of quotations out of thofe books, &c. that fo, if it might have been, I might underfland what tolerable fenfe he would put upon his own words; which I took to be a better way of proceeding, than to have affixed what I thought to be their natural confequences; and, left I might be judged a fceptic, I gave him a full and free account of my belief relating to thofe doctrines, together with the grounds thereof; and prayed him, that if I erred I might be Ihewed it by Scripture; and this I had his reiterated promife for. But after more than a year's waiting for the performance thereof, all that is done in compliance therewith is, that in February laft he fent me four fheets of his writing, as his belief; but before I might receive it I muff engage to deliver it back in a fortnight, and not copied. A fummary account of which I fhall MR. MATHER, &C. 99 give you, when I have firft acquainted you what the dodrines were which I fent to him for his concurrence with, or confutation of; and to which I had his promife, as above. Thefe by way of queftion, viz. Whether that fourth head, cited and recommended by himfelf (in Wonders of the InviJible World) of Mr. Gaule, ought to be believed as a truth; which runs thus: "Among the moft unhappy circumftances to conviEt a witch, one is maligning and oppugning the word, work and worfhip of God, and feeking by an extraordinary fign to reduce any from it. Deut. xiii. 1, 2. Matt. xxiv. 24. Adfs xiii. 8, to. 2 Tim. iii. 8. Do but mark well the places; and for this very property of thus oppofing and perverting, they are all there concluded arrant and abfolute witches." And if in witchcraft the devil by means of a witch does the mifchief, how is it poflible to diftinguifh it from poffefflion? both being faid to be performed by the devil; and yet, without an infallible diftindtion, there can be no certainty in judgment. And whether it can be proved that the Jewiih church, in any age before, or in our Saviour's time, even in the time of their greateft apoftacy, did believe that a witch had power to commiflion devils to mifchief? So much to the queftions. Thefe were fent as my belief: That the devil's bounds are fet, 100 LETTERS TO that he cannot pafs; that the devils are fo full of malice, that it cannot be added to by mankind; that where he hath power, he neither can nor will omit executing it; that it is only the Almighty that fets bounds to his rage, and that only can commiffion him to hurt or deftroy. And now I fhall give you the fummary account of his four fheets above mentioned, as near as memory could recolled, in ten particulars. 1. That the devils have in their natures a power to work wonders and miracles; particularly that the pharifees were not miftaken in afferting that the devils might be caft out by Beelzebub, and that our Saviour's anfwer does not oppofe that affertion; and that he hath the power of death; that he can make the moft folid things invifible, and can invifibly bring poifon, and force it down people's throats. 2. That to affert this natural, wonderful power of the devil, makes moft for the glory of God, in preserving man from its effeds. 3. Yet this power is refrained by the Almighty, as pleafeth him. 4. That a witch is one that makes a covenant with the devil. 5. That by virtue of fuch a covenant, ihe arrives at a power to commiffion him. 6. That God has ordained that when the devil is called upon by the witch, though he MR. MATHER, &C. 101 were before refrained by the Almighty, the defired mifchiefs ordinarily fhall as certainly be performed, as if the witch had lodged poifon in the bowels of her neighbour, or had fet maftiff dogs on them. 7. That the witches art of applying the Plaftic Spirit of the world to unlawful purpofes does naturally contribute to the mifchiefs done by the Devil. 8. That that God which reftrained an Abimelech and a Laban from hurting, does alfo reifrain the witch from calling upon or improving the devil, when he will not have his power fo exerted. 9. That to have a familiar fpirit, is to be able to caufe a devil to take bodily fhapes, whereby either to give refponfes, or to receive orders for doing mifchief. lo. That this is the judgment of moft of the divines in the country, whether Englilh, Dutch, or French. This, as I faid, I took to be the moft material in the four fheets fent to me as his belief, and is alfo all the performance he has yet made of his feveral promifes; which ten articles being done only by memory, left through miftake or want of the original I might have committed any errors, I fent them to him, that, if there were any, they might be re&ified: but inifead of fuch an anfwer as might be expeded from a minifter 102 LETTERS TO and a learned gentleman, one mr. W. fhewed me a letter writ by Mr. C. M. to himfelf, which I might read, but neither borrow nor copy, and fo, if I were minded, could give but a fhort account of it. And paffing over his hard language, which, as I am confcious to myfelf I never deferved, (relating to my writing in the margin of the four fheets, and to thefe ten articles) fo I hope I underitand my duty better than to imitate him in retorting the like. Among his many words in his laid letters, I meet with two fmall objetions; one is againft the word miracle in the firft article; the word, I fay, not the matter; for the works he attributes to the devil are the fame, in their being above or againft the courfe of nature and all natural caufes; yet he will not admit of thefe to be called miracles; and hence he reckons it the greateft difficulty he meets with'in this whole affair, to diftinguilh the works of the devil from miracles. And hence alfo he concedes to the devil the power to make the moft folid things invifible, and invifibly to bring poifon, and force it down people's throats, &c. Which I look upon to be as true miracles as that 2 Kings, vi. 18; and this is the fenfe I underftand the word in; and in this fenfe he himfelf, in the four fheets, admits it; for he has an objedtion to this effe&t, viz. If the devils have fuch power, &c. then miracles are not ceafed; MR. MATHER, &C. 103 and where are we then? His anfwer is, Where! Even juft where we were before, fay I: fo that it feems the only offence here is at my ufing his words. His fecond objedtion (for weight) is againft the whole ninth article, and wonders how it is poffible for one man fo much to mifunderfland another; yet, as I remember, he, fpeaking of the witch of Endor, in the faid four mheets, fays, fhe had a familiar fpirit, and that a fpirit belonging to the invifible world, upon her calling, appeared to Saul, &c. and if fo, it is certain he gave refponfes. He alfo tells of Balaam, that it was known that he could fet devils on people to deftroy them; and therefore how this objedtion fhould bear any force I fee not. The reft of the objedions are of fo fmall weight, that once reading may be fufficient to clear them up; and if this be not fo, he can, when he pleafes, by making it publick, together with the margins I writ, convince all people of the truth of what he afferts. But here it is to be noted, that the 2d, 3d, 4th and 5th articles he concedes to, as having nothing to obje& againft them, but that they are his belief; and that the 6th and 7th he puts for anfwer to an obje6tion which he thus fiames, viz. If the devil have fuch powers, but cannot exert them but by permiffion from God, what can the witch contribute thereto? And thus I have faithfully performed what I undertook; and do folemnly declare, I have not 104 LETTERS TO intentionally in the leaft wronged the gentleman concerned, nor defigned the leafi blemifh to his reputation; but if it ftands in competition with the glory of God, the only almighty being, his truths and his people's welfare, I fuppofe thefe too valuable to be trampled on for his fake, though in other things I am ready to my power (though with denying fome part of my own intereft) to ferve him. Had this gentleman declined or detraded his four fheets, I fee not but he might have done it, and which I think there was caufe enough for him to have done; but to own the four fheets, and at the'fame time to difown the dodrine contained in them, and this knowing that I have no copy, renders the whole of the worfe afpe&t. And now I ihall give you a further account of my belief, when I have firit premifed, that it is a prevailing belief in this country, and elfewhere, that the Scriptures are not full in the defcription of, and in the way and means how to dete&t, a witch, though pofitive in their punifhment to be by death; and that hence they have thought themselves under a neceffity of taking up with the Sentiments of fuch men or places that are thought worthy to give rules to deted them by; and have accordingly pra&ifed; viz. in Searching for teats for the devil to fuck; trying whether the fufpedted can fay the Lord's prayer; and whether the affliCted falls at the MR. MATHER, &C. 105 fight, and rifes at the touch, of the fuppofed witch; as alfo by the afflited or poffeffed giving account who is the witch. Touching there, my belief is, that'tis highly derogatory to the wifdom of the wife Lawgiver, to affert, that he has given a law by Mofes, the penalty whereof is death, and yet no diredtion to his people, whereby to know and dete& the culpable, till our triumvirate, Meffrs. Perkins, Gaule and Bernard, had given us their receipts; and, that that fourth head of Mr. Gaule, being fo well proved by fcripture, is a truth, and contains a full and clear teftimony who are witches culpable of death, and that plainly and from icripture, yet not excluding any other branch, when as well proved by that infallible rule; and, that the going to the affli&ed or poffeffed, to have them divine who are witches by their fpe&ral fight, is a great wickednefs; even the fin of Saul (for which he alfo died) but with this difference, the one did it for augury, or to know future events; the other, in order to take away life; and, that the Searching for teats, the experiment of their faying the Lord's prayer, the falling at the fight and rifing at the touch of the fuppofed criminal, being all of them foreign from fcripture, as well as reafon, are abominations to be abhorred and repented of; and, that our Salem witchcraft, either refpe&t io6 LETTERS TO ing the judges and juries, their tendernefs of life, or the multitude and pertinency of witneffes, both affliaed and confeffors, or the integrity of the hifrorians, is as authentic, and made as certain, as any event of that kind in the world. And yet who is it that now fees not through it, and that there were the fentiments that have procured the foreft afflition and moft lafting infamy, that ever befel this country, and moff like fo to do again, if the fame notions be ftill entertained? and, finally, that thefe are thofe laft times, of which the Spirit fpeaks expreffly, Tim. iv. 1? And now, ye that are fathers in the churches, guides to the people, and the falt of the earth, I befeech you confider there things; and if you find the glory of God diminifihed by afcribing fuch power to witches and devils; his truths oppofed by thefe notions; and his people afperfed in their dodtrines and reputations, and endangered in their lives - I dare not dietate you - you know your duty as watchmen - and the Lord be with you. But if you find my belief contrary to found do&rine, I entreat you to ihew it me by the Scripture; and in the mean time blame me not if I cannot believe that there are feveral Almighties; for to do all forts of wonders, beyond and above the courfe of nature, is certainly the MR. MATHER, &C. 107 work of Omnipotency. So alfo, he that fhall commiflion or empower to there, muft alfo be almighty; and I think it not a fufficientfalvo, to fay they may be refrained by the Moft High; and hope you will not put any hard conftru&tion on there my endeavours to get information (all other ways failing) in things fo needful to be known. Praying the Almighty's guidance and protedion, I am Yours to the utmoft of my power, R. C. Bofton, Sept. the 20th, 1695. MR. SAMUEL WILLARD, Reverend Sir, My former, of March the 18th, dire&ed to the Minifters (and which was lodged with yourfelf) containing feveral articles which I fent as my belief, praying them if I erred to ihew it me by fcripture, I have as yet had no anfwer to, either by word or writing, which makes me gather that they are approved of as orthodox, or at leaft that they have fuch foundations as that none are willing to manifeft any oppofition to them; and therefore, with fubmiffion, &c. I think that that late feafonable and well-defigned dialogue, intituled, Some Milcellaneous Obfervations, &c. of which yourfelf is the fuppofed author, and which was fo ferviceable in the time 1o8 LETTERS TO of it, is yet liable to a mal-conftrution, even to the danger of reviving what it moft oppofes, and of bringing thofe pradtices again on foot, which in the day of them were fo terrible to this whole country. The words, which I fuppofe fo liable to mifconftru&tion, are, p. 14, B. Who informed them? S. The fpefire. B. Very good, and that's the devil turned informer. How are good men like to fare, againfi whom he hath particular malice? It is but a prefumption, and wife men will weigh prefumptions againfJ prefumptions. There is to be no examination without grounds of fufpicion. Some perfons credit nothing to be accounted too good to be undermined fo far as to be fufpedfed on fo Ilzght a ground; and it is an injury done them to bring them upon examination, which renders them openly fufpeafed. I will not deny but for perfons already fufpeafed, and of ill fame, it may occafion their being examined. In which, there words,'tis but a prefumption, &c. and Jome perfons credit, &c. and I will not deny but for perfons already fufpetfed, &c. I take to be waiving the difcuffion of thofe points, the fpeaking to which might at that time have hindered the ufefulnefs and fuccefs of that book, rather than any declaring the Sentiments of the author. But notwithitanding, many perfons will be ready to underftand this as if the author did wholly leave it with the juifice, to judge who are ill perfons, MR. MATHER, &C. 109 fuch as the devil's accufations may faften upon; and that the devil's accufation of a perfon is a prefumption againft them of their guilt; and that, upon fuch prefumptions, they may be had to examination, if the jufiice counts them perfons of ill fame; for the author I fuppofe knows that the bare examination will leave fuch a flain upon them (and it would be well if their pofterity efcaped it!) as the length of a holy and unblamable life will be found too fhort to extirpate. And if the juftice may go thus far with the devil's evidence, then the addition of a ftory or two of fome cart overfet, or perfons taken fick after a quarrel, might as well be thought fufficient for their commitment, in order to their trial, as'tis called, (though this too often has been more like a ftage play, or a tragi-comic fcene) and fo that otherways ufeful book may prove the greateft fnare to revive the fame practices again. Thefe things being fo liable, as I faid, to fuch mal-conftru&tion, it were needful that men might be undeceived, and the matter more fully demonstrated, viz. That the devil's accufation is not fo much as any prefumption againfit the life or reputation of any perfon; (for how are good men like to fare, if his malicious accufations may be taken as a prefumption of their guilt?) and, that his accufations, as they are no 110 LETTERS TO prefumption againft perfons of unfpotted fame, fo neither are to be heard, or any ways regarded, againft perfons though otherways of ill life, much lefs for their having long fince had their names abufed by his outcries, or by the malice of ill neighbours; and, that juftice knows no difference of' perfons; that, if this evidence be fufficient to bring one perfon,'tis fo to bring any other, to examination, and confequently to the utmoft extent of odium which fuch examination will certainly expofe them to; for who can know any other, but that as the one may be malicioufly accufed by devils and a devilifh report gone before it, fo that another, who has not been fo much as accufed before, being more cunning or more feeming religious, might yet be more guilty; the whole depending upon invifible evidence, of which invifible ftuff, though we have had more than fufficient, yet I find (among other reverend perfons) your name to a certain printed paper, which runs thus: Certain Propofals, made by the Prefident and Fellows of Harvard College to the reverend Minifters of the Gofpel, in the Se'veral churches of Neuw-England. Firft. To obferve and record the more illuftrious discoveries of the Divine Providence in the government of the world, is a defign fo holy, fo ufeful, fo juftly approved, that the too general neglet of it in the churches of God is as juftly to be lamented. 2. For the redrefs of that negle&, although all chriftians have a duty incumbent on them, yet it is in a peculiar manner to be recom MR. MATHER, &C. 111 mended unto the Minifters of the gofpel to improve the fpecial advantages which are in their hands, to obtain and preferve the knowledge of fuch notable occurrences as are fought out by all that have pleafure in the great works of the Lord. 3. The things to be efteemed memorable, are fpecially all unufual accidents in the heaven, or earth, or water; all wonderful deliverances of the diftreffed; mercies to the godly; judgments on the wicked; and more glorious fulfilments of either the promifes or threatenings in the fcriptures of truth; with apparitions, poffeffions, enchantments, and all extraordinary things, wherein the exiftence and agency of the Invifible World is more fenfibly demonftrated. 4. It is therefore propofed, that the Minifters throughout this land would manifeft their pious regards unto the works of the Lord, and the operation of his hands, by reviving their cares to take written accounts of fuch Remarkables; but ftill well attefted with credible and fufficient witneffes. 5. It is defired that the accounts, thus taken, of thefe remarkables, may be fent to the Prefident or Fellows of the college, by whom they fhall be carefully referved for fuch a ufe to be made of them, as may by fome fit affembly of Minifters be judged moft conducing to the glory of God, and the fervice of his people. 6. Though we doubt not that love to the name of God will be a fufficient motive to all good men to contribute what affiftance they can unto this undertaking; yet, for further encouragement, fome fingular marks of refpe&t lhall be ftudied for fuch good men, as will a&ually affift it, by taking pains to communicate any important paffages proper to be inferted in this colleAion. INCREASE MATHER, Pres. James Alien, I Yohn Levaerette, Char. Morton, 1Will. Brattle, Sam. Willard, Neh. Walter, Cotton Matber, Fellows. Cambridge, March 5, I694. NOTE. - It is known that Dr. Increafe Mather defigned to publifh a book concerning things rare and wonderful, occurring around him. It would feem from this circular addreffed to the clergy, that he was defirous of colleAing materials for the work. 1 12 LETTERS TO Here being an encouragement to all good men to fend in fuch remarkables as are therein expreffed, I have fent in the following; not that I think them a more fenfible demonftration of the being of a future fRate (with rewards and punifhments) or of angels good and bad, &c. than the Scriptures of truth hold forth, &c.; or than any of thofe other demontlrations God hath given us; for this were treacheroufly and perfidioufly to quit the polt to the enemy. The fadducee, deift and atheift would hereby be put in a condition fo triumphantly to deny the exiftence and agency thereof, as that a few ftories told (which at belt muft be owned to be fallible and liable to mifreprefentations) could not be thought infallibly fufficient to demonftrate the truth againft them. I have heard that in logick a falfe argument is reckoned much worfe than none; yet, fuppofing that a colledion of inflances may be many ways ufeful, not only to the prefent but Succeeding ages, I have fent you the following remarkables, which have lately occurred, the certainty of which, if any fcruple it, will be found no hard matter to get fatisfafion therein. But here, not to infift on thofe lefs occurrences, as the fudden death of one of our late jultices; and a like mortality that fell upon the two fons of another of them; with the fall of a man that was making provifion to raife the MR. MATHER, &C. 113 new northern bell, which, when it was up, the firit perfon, whofe death it was to fignify, was faid to be a child of him, who, by printing and fpeaking, had had as great a hand in procuring the late a&ions as any, if' not the greateft; and the Splitting the gun at Salem, where that furious marfhal, and his father, &c. were rent to pieces, &c. As to all thefe, it muff be owned, that no man knows love or hatred by all that is before him, much lefs can they be more fenfible demonifrations of the exiftence and agency of the invifible world, than the fcriptures of truth afford, &c. though the rich man in the parable might think otherwife, &c. who was feeking to fend fome more fenfible demonftrations thereof to his brethren, &c. In that tremendous judgment of God upon this country, by the late amazing prosecution of the people here, under the notion of witches; whereby twenty fuffered as evil doers, (befides thofe that died in prifon) about ten more condemned, and a hundred imprifoned, and about two hundred more accufed, and the country generally in fears when it would come to their turn to be accufed; and the profecution and manner of trial fuch, that moft would have chofen to have fallen into the hands of the barbarous enemy, rather than (under that notion) into the hands of their brethren in church fellowfhip; and, in lhort, was fuch an 8 114 LETTERS TO afflition as far exceeded all that ever this country hath laboured under — Yet in this mount God is feen. When it was thus bad with this difireffed people, a full and a fudden flop is put, not only without, but againit, the inclination of many; for out of the eater came forth meat: thofe very accufers, which had been improved as witneffes againit fo many, by the providence of the Moft High, and perhaps blinded with malice, are left to accufe thofe in moft high efieem, both magifirates and minifters, as guilty of witchcraft; which Ihewed our rulers, that neceffity lay upon them to confound that which had fo long confounded the country, as being themselves unwilling to run the fame rifk: this, that was in the event of it, to this country, as life from the dead, is moft eafy with Him, in whofe hands are the hearts of all men, and was a very fignal deliverance to this whole country No lefs observable was it, that though at tli time when the devil's teftimony, by the afflifed, was firfi laid afide, there were great numbers of (real or pretended) afflicted; yet when this was once not judged of validity enough to be any longer brought into the court againic the accufed as evidence, the affliition generally ceafed, and only fome remainders of it in fuch places, where more encouragement was given to the adors, God feeming thereby plainly to decipher MR. MATHER. &C. 115 that fin of' going to the devil, &c. as the rife and foundation of thofe punifhments. And thus, reverend, I have, as I underftand it, performed my duty herein, for the glory of God, and the well-being of men. And for my freedom ufed in this and former writings, relating to the ators in this tragedy, I fhall not apologize, but give you the words of one to whom fome can afford the title of venerable (when he is arguing for that which they have undertaken to affert, though at other times more diminutive epithets mufl ferve); it is the reverend mr. R. Baxter, in his book, the Cure of Church Divions, pages 257, 258. " But [I pray you mark it] the way of God is to fhame the finner, how good foever in other refpeats, that the fin may have the greater ihame, and religion may not be afhaamed, as if it allowed men to fin: nor God, the author of religion, be difhonoured; nor others be without the warning: but the way of the devil is, to hide or juflify the fin, as if it were for fear of difparaging the goodnefs of the perfons that committed it; that fo he may hereby diihonour religion, and godlinefs itfelf, and make men believe it is but a cover for any wickednefs, and as confidfent with it as a loofer life is, and that he may keep the finner from repenting, and blot out the memory of that warning which Ihould have preferved after ages from 1 16 LETTERS TO the like falls. Scripture fhameth the profeffors (though a David, a Solomon, Peter, Noah, or Lot) that the religion profeft may not be afhamed, but vindicated. Satan would preferve the honour of profeffors, that the religion profeffed may bear the lhame; and fo it may fall on God himfelf." And now that all that have had a hand in any horrid and bloody pradices may be brought to give glory to God, and take the due ihame to themselves; and that our watchmen may no longer feek to palliate, (much lefs give thanks for fuch, &c. thereby making them their own) and that the people may no longer perilh for want of knowledge in the midft of fuch means of light, nor God be any longer dilhonoured by falfe Sentiments in thefe matters, is the earneft defire and prayer of, fir, yours to my power, R. C. MR. COTTON MATHER, Reverend Sir, Having long fince fent you fome do&rinals as to my belief, together with my requeft to you, that if I erred you would be pleafed to fhew it me by Scripture, viz. That the devil's bounds are fet, which he cannot pafs; that the devils are fo full of malice that it cannot be added to by mankind; that where he hath power he neither can nor will omit executing it; that'tis only the MR. MATHER, &C. 117 Almighty that fets bounds to his rage, and that only can commiffion him to hurt and deftroy, &c. But inflead of fuch an anfwer as was promifed and juitly expe&ed, you were pleafed to fend me a book, which you fince called an ungainfayable one; which book till lately I have not had opportunity fo fully to confider. And to the end you may fee I have now done it, I have fent to you fome of the remarkables contained in the faid book, intituled, "The Certainty of the World of Spirits," written by Mr. R. B. London, printed 1691. It is therein conceded (preface) that to fee devils and fpirits ordinarily would not be enough to convince atheifts. Page 88, Atheifls are not to be convinced by ftories; their own fenfes are not enough to convince them any more than fenfe will convince a papift from tranfubftantiation. (D. Laderd.) P. 4, No fpirit can do any thing but by God's will and permiflion. Preface,'Tis the free will of' man that gives the devils their hurting power; and without our own confent they cannot hurt us. It is afferted, p. 222, 223, That it is a perverfe oppofition of popery which caufes many proteftants not to regard the benefits we receive by angels. And minifters are faulty, that do not pray and give thanks to God for their miniftry; and that negle&t to teach believers, what love and what thanks they owe to angels. P. 225, i18 LETTERS TO Moft good people look fo much to God and to minifters, that they take little notice of' angels, which are God's great minifters. P. 234, The author dares not, as fome have done, judge the catholick church to become antichriitian idolaters, as foon as they gave too much worfhip to faints and angels. P. 7, The bleffed fouls fhall be like the angels, therefore may appear here. P. 3, 4,'Tis hard to know whether it be a devil or a human foul that appears, or whether the foul of a good or a bad perfon; p. 6i, or the foul of fome dead friend that fuffers, and yet retains love, &c. P. 222, No doubt the fouls of the wicked carry with them their former inclinations of covetoufnefs, revenge, &c. P. 7, When revengeful things are done, as on murderers, defrauders, &c. it feems to be from the revengeful wrath of fome bad foul; if it be about money or lands, then from a worldly-minded one; fome fignifications of God's mercy to wicked fouls after this life. P. 4,'Tis a doubt whether, befides the angels (good and bad) and the fouls of men, there is not a third fort, called fairies and goblins. It is unfearchable to us how far God leaves fpirits to free will in fmall things, fufpending his predetermining motion. P. 246, The devils have a marvellous power, if but a filly wretched witch confent. P. 1o, 202, The flories of witches and fpirits are many ways ufeful, particularly to con MR. MATHER, &C. 119 vince atheifis, and confirm believers, and to prove the operation of fpirits. P. 232, To help men to underifand that devils make no fmall number of laws, and rulers in the world, and are authors of moft of the wars, and of many fermons, and of books that adorn the libraries of learned men. P. 6, 102, The devil's lying with the witch is not to be denied, and is more to exercife the luff of the witch than of' the devil, who can alfo bring in another witch without opening the door, and fo perform it by one witch with another. P. lo5, Witches can raife ftorms, fell winds, &c. as is commonly affirmed. P. 107, In America it is a common thing to fee fpirits, day and night. P. 95, 96, 97, 1o10, Stories of a child that could not be cured of' witchcraft, becaufe the ember-weeks were pafl; vomited a knife a fpan long, cart nails, &c. and neither eat nor drank, fifteen days and nights together; a long piece of wood, four knives, and two fharp pieces of iron, every one above a fpan long, taken out of the ftomach, &c. hair, fPones, bones, vomited, &c. a thoufand pounds of blood loft by one perfon in a year's time. P. 25o, A ftory that makes the author think it poffible that fuch great things, as he mentions, fhould be gotten down and up people's throats. P. 164, Partial credibility fpoils many a good ftory. P. 125, The devil's fubftance enters into the poffeffed. 120 LETTERS TO P. 174, Diftraded are poffeffed. P. 149, A fick woman, while fhe lay in bed, went to fee her children. P. 153, A dog appeared like a fly or a flea. P. 165, Some knowing agents diret thunder-ftorms, though the author knows not who; and that they fo often fall on churches, he knows not why. P. 2, 80, mr. I. M. and mr. C. M. recommended, together with Bodin, &c. P. 237, A crifpian, if through ignorance he believes not what he faith, may be a chriftian. In this, fir, I fuppofe that if I have not wronged the fenfe of the author in the places quoted (which I truft you ihall not find I have done) I cannot be thought accountable for the errors or contradictions to himfelf or to the truth, if any fuch be found, particularly what he grants in the preface, of the free will of man giving the devil his hurting power; this being not only more than thofe called witch-advocates would defire to be conceded to them, but is a palpable and manifeft overturning the author's defign in all his witch ftories; (for who would confent to have the devil afflit himfelf.?) as alfo his conceflion, that no fpirit can do any thing but by God's will and permiflion; I cannot perfuade myfelf but you mull be fenfible of their apparent contradi&orinefs to the reft. Others there are of a very ill afped; as p. 234, the catholicks are much encouraged in their adoration of angels MR. MATHER, &C. 121 and faints, if that were fo innocent as not to render them antichriffian idolaters; and that, p. 4, if admitted, will feem to lay an ungainfayable foundation for the pagan, indian and diabolift's faith, by telling us it is beyond our fearch to know how far God leaves the devils to free will, to do what they pleafe, in this world, with a fufpenfion of God's predetermination; which if it were a truth, what were more rational than to oblige him that has fuch power over us? The atheifts alfo would take encouragement if it were granted that we cannot know how far God fufpends his predetermining motion: they would thence affirm, we as little know that there is a predetermining motion, and confequently whether there be a God, and p. 165 would abundantly firengthen them, when fuch a learned, experienced and highly-efteemed chriftian fhall own that he knows not who it is that governs the thunder-itorms: for it might as well difcover ignorance, who it is that difpofes of earthquakes, gun-fhot, and afflitions that befal any, with the reft of mundane events. I defign not to remark all that in the book is remarkable, fuch as the departed fouls wandering again hither to put men upon revenge, &c. favouring fo much of Pythagoras's tranfmigration of fouls, and the feparation of the foul from the body without death, as in the cafe of'her that went to fee her 122 LETTERS TO children, while yet fhe did not ftir out of her bed, which feems to be a new Speculation; unlefs it determines in favour of tranfubftantiation, that a body may be at the fame time in feveral places. Upon the whole, it is ungainfayable, that that book, though fo highly extolled, may be juftly expeded to occafion the tlaggering of the weak, and the hardening of unbelievers in their infidelity. And it feems amazing, that you fhould not only give it fuch a recommendation, but that you fhould fend it to me, in order (as I take it) to pervert me from the belief of thofe fundamental dotrinals (above recited) though I account them more firm than heaven and earth. But that which is yet more ftrange to me, is, that mr. B's friends did not advife him better, than in his declined age to emit fuch crude matter to the publick. As to the fometime reverend author, let his works praife the remembrance of him; but for fuch as are either erroneous and foifted upon him, or the effe&t of an aged imbecility, let them be deteEed, that they may proceed no further. I am not ignorant that the manner of education of youth, in, I think, almoft all chriffian fchools, hath a natural tendency to propagate thofe dotrines of devils heretofore folely profeft among ethnicks, and particularly in matters of witchcraft, &c. For, notwithftanding the coun MR. MATHER, &C. 123 cil of Carthage, taking notice that the chriffian do&ors did converfe much with the writings of the heathens for the gaining of eloquence, forbad the reading of the books of the gentiles; yet it feems this was only a bill without a penalty, which their fucceffors did not look upon to be binding. He that fhould in this age take a view of the fchools, might be induced to believe that the ages fince have thought, that without fuch heathen learning a man cannot be fo accomplifhed, as to have any pretence to academick literature; and that the vulgar might not be without the benefit of fuch learning, fome of their difciples have taught them to fpeak Englih, which has given me the opportunity to fend you there following verfes. /irg. Bucolicks - Ecl. 13. Sure love is not the caufe their bones appear; Some eyes bewitch my tender lambs, I fear. Ecl. 8. For me thefe herbs in Pontus, Maeris chofe; There ev'ry powerful drug in plenty grows; Transform'd to a wolf I often Moaeris faw, Then into fhady woods himfelf withdraw: Oft he from deepeft fepulchres would charm Departed fouls; and from another's farm, Into his own ground, corn yet flanding take. Now from the town my charms bring Daphnis back. Vanquifh'd with charms, from heaven the moon defcends, Circe with charms transform'd Ulyffes' friends; Charms in the field will burft a poifonous fnake. Now from the town, &c. 124 LETTERS TO O'vid's Metam. Lib. 7. Her arms thrice turns about, thrice wets her crown With gather'd dew, thrice yawns, and kneeling down, Oh night! thou friend to fecrets! you, clear fires, That with the moon fucceed when day retires; Great Hecate thou know'ft, and aid imparts, To our defign, your charms and magick arts: And thou, oh earth, that to magicians yields Thy powerful fimples; air, winds, mountains, fields, Soft murmuring fprings, fill lakes, and rivers clear, Ye gods of woods, ye gods of night, appear; By you, at will, I make fwift ftreams retire To their firit fountain, while their banks admire; Seas rough make fmooth; clear fkies with clouds deform; Storms turn to calms, and make a calm a ftorm. With fpells and charms, I break the viper's jaw, Cleave folid rocks, oaks from their fiffures draw; Whole woods remove, the airy mountains ihake; Earth force to groan, and ghofts from graves awake. Lib. I4. her journey takes To Rhegium, oppofite to Zante's fhore, And treads the troubled waves, that loudly roar; Running with unwet feet on that profound, As if fh' had trod upon the folid ground. This with portentous poifon /he pollutes, Befprinkled with the juice of wicked roots; In words dark and perplexed, nine times thrice, Enchantments utters with her wicked voice, &c. Thefe fables of the heathens (though in themfelves of no more validity than the idle tales of an indian, or the difcourfes of a known romancer) are become the fchool-learning, not to fay the faith, of chriftians, and are the Scriptures brought (inftead of that moft fure word) if not to prove MR. MATHER, &C. 125 dodtrine, yet as illustrations thereof. Cafes of Confcience concerning klitchc. page 25: Remarkable Providences, page 250. This perhaps might be the caufe that in England, a people otherwife fober and religious, have for fome ages in a manner wholly refufed admitting thofe not fo educated to the work of the miniftry. Such education and practice have fo far prevailed, that it has been a means of corrupting the chriifian world, almofi to that degree as to be ungainfayable; for though there is reafon to hope that there diabolical principles have not fo prevailed (with multitudes of' chriftians) as that they afcribe to a witch and a devil the attributes peculiar to the Almighty; yet how few are willing to be found oppofing fuch a torrent, as knowing that in fo doing they fhall be fure to meet with opposition to the utmoft, from the many, both of magifirates, minifters and people; and the name of fadducee, atheift, and perhaps witch too, caft upon them moft liberally, by men of the highefi profeffion in godlinefs; and if not fo learned as fome of themselves, then accounted only fit to be trampled on, and their arguments (though both rational and fcriptural) as fit only for contempt. But though this be the deplorable dilemma, yet fome have dared from time to time (for the glory of God, and the good and fafety of men's lives, &c.) to run all there rifks. 126 LETTERS TO And that God who has faid, My glory I will not give to another, is able to protea thofe that are found doing their duty herein againft all oppofers; and, however otherways contemptible, can make them ufeful in his own hand, who has fometimes chofen the weakefi infPruments, that his power may be the more illuifrious. And now, reverend fir, if you are conscious to yourfelf, that you have, in your principles or pra&ices, been abetting to fuch grand errors, I cannot fee how it can confift with fincerity, to be fo convinced in matters fo nearly relating to the glory of God, and lives of innocents, and at the fame time fo much to fear difparagement among men, as to trifle with conscience, and diffemble an approving of former Sentiments. You know that word, He that honoureth me I will honour, and he that defpifeth me fhall be lightly efleemed. But if you think that in there matters you have done your duty, and taught the people theirs; and that the dodrines cited from the above mentioned book are ungainfayable; I fall conclude in almoft his words, He that teaches fuch dodrine, if through ignorance he believes not what he faith, may be a chriftian; but if he believes them, he is in the broad path to heathenifm, devilifm, popery, or atheifm. It is a folemn caution, (Gal. i. 8) But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gofpel unto MR. MATHER, &C. 127 you than that which we have preached unto you, let hitm be accurfed. I hope you will not mifconftrue my intentions herein, who am, reverend fir, yours to command in what I may, R. C. To the Mintifers in and near BofJon. /an. 12, 1696. Chriffianity had been but a fhort time in the world, when there was raifed againft it, not only open profeft enemies, but. fecret and inbred underminers, who fought thereby to effe& that which open force had been fo often baffled in. And notwithftanding that primitive purity and fincerity, which in fome good meafure was frill retained, yet the cunning deceivers and apoftate hereticks found opportunity to beguile the unwary, and this in fundamentals. Among others which then fprung up, with but too much advantage, in the third century, the maniche did fpread his peftiferous fentiments, and taught the exiftence of two beings, or caufes of all things, viz. a good and a bad: but thefe were foon filenced by the more orthodox do&ors, and anathematized by general councils. And at this day the American indians, another fort of maniche, entertaining (thus far) the fame belief, hold it their prudence and intereft to pleafe that evil being, as well by perpetrating other murders, as by their bloody facrifices, that fo he may not 128 LETTERS TO harm them. The iron teeth of time have now almofl devoured the name of the former; and as to the latter, it is to be hoped that as chriftianity prevails among them, they will abhor fuch abominable belief And as thofe primitive times were not privileged againft the Spreading of dangerous herefy, fo neither can any now pretend to any fuch immunity, though profeffing the enjoyment of a primitive purity. Might a judgment be made from the books of the modern learned divines, or from the practice of courts, or from the faith of many who call themfelves chriftians, it might be modefily, though fadly, concluded, that the do&trine of the maniche, at leaft great part of it, is fo far from being forgotten, that it is almoft every where profeft. We in there ends of the earth need not feek far for inflances in each refpeft to demonfirate this. The books here printed and recommended, not only by the refpe6tive authors, but by many of their brethren, do fet forth that the devil infli&s plagues,* wars,t difeafes,+ tempefts,~ and can render the moft folid things invifible,ll and can do things above and againft the courfe of nature, and all natural caufes. * Wonders of the Invifible World, p. r7, IS. - fp. S. —8.+ Cafes of Confcience, p. 63.- ~ Remarkable Providences, p. 124. -- Wonders of the Invifible World, p. 141. MR. MATHER, &C. 129 Are thefe the expreffions of orthodox believers? or are they not rather expreffions becoming a maniche, or a heathen, as agreeing far better with there than with the facred oracles, our only rule? the whole current whereof is fo diametrically oppofite thereto, that it were almoft endlefs to mention all the divine cautions againft fuch abominable belief; he that runs may read, Ps. ixii. 1 1, and cxxxvi. 4. Lam. iii. 37..Amos iii. 6. her. iv. 22. Ps. lxxviii. 26, and clxviii. 6, 8. Yob xxxviii. 22 to 34. Thefe places, with a multitude more, do abundantly teflify, that the afferters of fuch power to be in the evil being, do fpeak in a diale& different from the Scriptures, (laying a firm foundation for the indians' adorations, which agrees well with what A. Rofs fets forth, in his Miftag. Poetic. p. 116, that their ancients did worfhip the furies and their god Averinci, that they might forbear to hurt them.) And have not the courts in fome parts of the world, by their practices, teriified their concurrence with fuch belief; profecuting to death many people upon that notion, of their improving fuch power of the evil one, to the raifing of ftorms; afflicting and killing of others, though at great diftance from them; doing things in their own perfons above human ftrength; deftroying cattle, flying in the air, turning them9 130 LETTERS TO felves into cats, dogs, &c.? which by the way muff needs imply fomething of goodnefs to be in that evil being, who, though he has fuch power, would not exert it, were it not for this people, or elfe that they can fome way add to this mighty power. And are the people a whit behind in their belief? Is there any thing above mentioned, their ftrong faith looks upon to be too hard for this evil being to effe&? Here it will be anfwered, God permits it. Which anfwer is fo far an owning the do&rine, that the devil has in his nature a power to do all thefe things, and can exert this power, except when he is reifrained, that it is in effeEt to fay that God has made nature to fight againif itfelf; that he has made a creature, who has it in the power of his nature to overthrow nature,.and to a& above and againit it. Which he that can believe may as well believe the greateft contradition. That being which can do this in the fmalleft thing, can do it in the greateft. If Mofes, with a bare permiflion, might ftretch forth his rod, yet he was not able to bring plagues upon the Egyptians, or to divide the waters, without a commifflion from the Moft High; fo neither can that evil being perform any of this without a commiflion from the fame power. The Scripture recites more miracles MR. MATHER, &C. 131 wrought by men than by angels good and bad. Though this dodrine be fo difhonourable to the only Almighty Being, as to afcribe fuch attributes to the evil one, as are the incommunicable prerogative of him, who is the alone Sovereign Being, yet here is not all; but, as he that fteers by a falfe compafs, the further he fails the more he is out of his way; fo, though there is in fome things a variation from, there is in others a further progreffion in, or building upon, the faid dorine of the maniche. Men in this age are not content barely to believe fuch an exorbitant power to be in the nature of this evil being; but have imagined that he prevails with many to fign a book, or make a contradt with him, whereby they are enabled to perform all the things above mentioned. Another account is given hereof, viz. That by virtue of fuch a covenant they attain power to commifflion him. And though the two parties are not agreed which to put it upon, whether the devil empowers the witch, or the witch commiflions him; yet both parties are agreed in this, that one way or other the mifchief is effe&ed, and fo the criminal becomes culpable of death. In the fearch after fuch a fort of criminals, how many countries have fallen into fuch convulfions, that neither the devaftations made by a conquering enemy, 132 LETTERS TO nor the plague itfelf, have been fo formidable. That not only good perfons have thus been blemifhed in their reputations, but much innocent blood hath been fhed, is teftified even by thofe very books: Cafes of Confcience, p. 33. Remarkable Provid. p. 179. Memor. Provid. p. 28. And (to add) what lefs can be expected, when men, having taken up fuch a belief, of covenanting, affliding and killing witches, and, comparing it with the fcripture, finding no footifeps therein of fuch a fort of witch, have thereupon defperately concluded, that though the Scripture is full in it, that a witch ihould not live, yet that it has not at all defcribed the crime, nor means whereby the culpable might be deteeted? And hence they are fallen fo far as to reckon it neceffary to make ufe of thofe diabolical and bloody ways, always heretofore praftifed, for their difcovery; as finding that the rules, given to dete&t other crimes, are wholly ufelefs for the difcovery of fuch. This is that which has produced that deluge of blood mentioned, and muft certainly do fo again, the fame belief remaining. And who can wonder, if chriftians that are fo eafily prevailed with to lay afide their fwords as ufelefs, and fo have loft their MR. MATHER, &C. 133 ftrength, are (with Samfon) led blindfold into an idol temple, to make fport for enemies and infidels, and to do abominable ations, not only not chriftian, but againft even the light of nature and reafon? And now, reverend fathers, you who are appointed as guides to the people, and whofe lips fhould preferve knowledge; who are fet as ihepherds, and as watchmen; this matter appertains to you. I wrote to you formerly under this head, and acquainted you with my Sentiments, requefting that if I erred, you would be pleafed to fhew it me by Scripture; but from your filence I gather that you approve thereof For I may reafonably prefume, that you would have feen it your duty to have informed me better, if you had been fenfible of any error. But if in this matter you have acquitted yourfelves becoming the titles you are dignified with, you have caufe of rejoicing in the midft of calamities that affli&t a finning world. Particularly, if you have taught the people to fear God, and truft in him, and not to fear a witch or a devil — That the devil has no power to afflict any with difeafes, or lofs of cattle, &c. without a commiffion from the Moft High — That he is fo filled with malice, that whatever commiflion he may have againft any, he will not fail to execute it -That no mortal ever 134 LETTERS TO was, or can be, able to commiffion him, or to lengthen his chain in the leaft, and that he who only can commiffion him is God; and that the Scriptures of truth not only affign the punifhment of a witch, but give fufficient rules to deted them by; and that, according to mr. Gaule's fourth head, a witch is one that hates and oppofes the word, work and worfhip of God, and feeks by a fign to reduce therefrom - That they who are guilty according to that head, are guilty of witchcraft, and by the law given to Mofes were to be put to death: - If you have taught the people the neceflity of charity, and the evil of entertaining fo much as a jealoufy againft their neighbours for fuch crimes, upon the devil's fuggeftions to a perfon pretending to a fpe&ral or diabolical fight; who utter their oracles from malice, frenzy, or a fatanical delufion - That to be inquifitive of fuch, whofe fpedtres they fee, or who it is that afflids, in order to put the accufed's life in queftion, is a wickednefs beyond what Saul was guilty of in going to the witch —That to confult with the dead, by the help of fuch as pretend to this fpedtral fight, and fo to get information againft the life of any perfon, is the worft fort of necromancy - That the pretending to drive away fpe&res, i. e. devils, with the hand, or by ftriking there to wound a perfon at a diftance, cannot be MR. MATHER, &C. 135 without witchcraft, as pretending to a fign in order to deceive in matters of fo high a nature - That'tis ridiculous to think, by making laws againft feeding, employing or rewarding of evil fpirits, thereby to get rid of themThat their nature requires no fucking to fupport it - That it is a horrid injury and barbarity to fearch thofe parts, which even nature itfelf commands the concealing of, to find fome excrefcence to be called a teat for thefe to fuck; which yet is faid Sometimes to appear as a fleabite:-Finally, if you have taught the people what to believe and praaife, as to the probation of the accufed, by their faying or not faying the Lord's prayer, and as to praying that the afflided may be able to accufe, and have not lhunned in thefe matters to declare the whole mind of God; you have then well acquitted yourfelves (in time of general defe&ion) as faithful watchmen. But if, inftead of this, you have, fome by word and writing propagated, and others recommended, fuch doCtrines, and abetted the falfe notions, which are fo prevalent in this apoftate age, it is high time to confider it. If when authority found themfelves almoft nonpluft in fuch profecutions, and fent to you for your advice what they ought to do,* and you have then thanked them for what they had already done (and * Cafes of Confcience, vlt. 136 LETTERS TO thereby encouraged them to proceed in thofe very by-paths already fallen into) it fo much the more nearly concerns you. Ezek. xxiii. 2 to 8. To conclude: This -whole people are invited and commanded to humble their fouls before God, as for other caufes, for the errors that may have been fallen into in thefe profecutions on either hand, and to pray that God would teach us what we know not, and help us wherein we have done amifs, that we may do fo no more.* This more immediately concerns yourfelves; for'tis not fuppofed to be intended, that God would ihew us there things by infpiration; but that fuch who are called to it fhould lhew the mind of God in thefe things on both hands, i. e. whether there has been any error in excefs or deficiency, or neither in the one nor the other. And if you do not thus far ferve the publick, you need not complain of great fufferings and unrighteous difcouragements, if people do not applaud your condu&t, as you might otherways have expe&ed.t But if you altogether hold your peace at fuch a time as this is, your filence, at leaft feemingly, will fpeak this lan*guage; that you are not concerned, though V* ide the proclamation for a faft, to be the x4th inif. as fet forth by authority. + The declaration, as drawn by the Deputies with the affiftance of the Minifters but received a nonconcurrence. MR. MATHER, &c. 137 men afcribe the power and providence of the Almighty to the worft of his creatures - that if other ages or countries improve the do&rine and examples given them, either to the taking away of the life or reputations of innocents, you are well fatisfied. Which, that there may be no Shadow of a reafon to believe but that your condut herein may remove all fuch jealoufies, and that God would be with you in declaring his whole mind to the people, is the earnefi defire and prayer of, reverend firs, yours to my utmoft, R. C. MR. BENJAMIN WADSWORTH, Reverend Sir, After that dreadful and revere perfecution of fuch a multitude of people, under the notion of witches, which, in the day thereof, was the foreif trial and affli&ion that ever befel this country; and after many of the principal a&tors had declared their fears and jealoufies, that they had greatly erred in thofe profecutions; and after a folemn day of falfing had been kept, with prayers that God would fhew us what we knew not, viz. what errors might therein have been fallen into, &c.; and after molt people were convinced of the evil of fome, if not of moft, of thofe adions; at fuch a time as this, it might have been juftly exped&ed that the 138 LETTERS TO minifters would make it their work to explain the fcriptures to the people; and from thence to have fhown them the evil and danger of thofe f&lfe notions, which not only gave fome occafion, but in a blind zeal hurried them into thofe unwarrantable praCtices, fo to prevent a falling into the like for the future. But inftead of this, for a minifter of the gofpel (paftor of the old meeting) to abet fuch notions, and to fiir up the magiftrates to fuch profecutions, and this without any cautions given, is what is truly amazing, and of moft dangerous confequence. It is a truth, witchcraft is, in the text then infifted on, reckoned up as a manifeft work of the flelh, viz. Gal. v. 19. But it is as true, that in recounting thofe other works (which are indeed manifeft flelhly works) the magistrate was not ftirred up againif thofe others; as if the reft were either not to be taken notice of by him, or as if all zeal againft murder, adulteries, &c. was fwallowed up and overfhadowed by this againft witchcraft. The defcription that was then given, was, that they were fuch as made a covenant with the devil, and fold themfelves to the evil angels. It feems faulty, when fuch minifter is inquired of, and requested to give the reafons, or grounds in Scripture, of fuch description, for fuch minifter MR. MATHER, &C. 139 to aftert that it is the inquirer's work to difprove it. And his faying further, in anfwer, that there are many things true, that are not afferted in Scripture, feems to fpeak this language, viz. that the law of God is imperfe&t, in not defcribing this crime of witchcraft, though it be therein made capital. Thefe perfet oracles inform us, concerning Ahab, that he fold himfelf to work wickednefs; which may fignify to us, that great height of wickednefs he had arrived at; which yet might be, without his being properly, or jufftly, accounted a witch; any more than thofe that are faid to have made a covenant with death, and with hell, &c. Can it be thought that all thofe, or fuch as are there fpoken of; are witches, and ought to fuffer as witches? As the fervants and people of God have made a folemn, explicit covenant with him, (yo.h. xxiv. 25. NAehem. ix. 38, &c.) fo no doubt a covenant has been made by heathen indian nations, to ferve and adore the devil; yet even for this, it were very hard to affix the chara&er of a witch upon each of thofe heathen that fo do, and accordingly to execute them as fuch. It is alfo poflible, that fome that have been called chriftians have fealed a writing, figned with their own blood, or otherways, thereby covenanting to be the devil's fervants, &c. 140 LETTERS TO but from far other grounds, or inducements, than what fways with the indians; thefe heathen hoping to pleafe him, that fo he may not harm them. But thefe having been educated and confirmed in the belief, that by virtue of fuch covenant they fhall have a knowledge and power more than human affifting them; this may have prevailed with fome to fo horrible a wickednefs; for none can feek evil for evil's fake; but as the ferpent, in his firft tempting man, made ufe of the knowledge of good and evil, fo to teach men that fuch effects do ufually follow fuch covenant is properly the work of the ferpent; for, without this, what inducement, or temptation, could they have to make fuch a covenantS Thefe, having thus chofen a falfe god, may well be accounted the worft fort of idolaters. Yet it does not hence follow, that, in a Scripture fenfe, they are thereby become witches, till they have, or rather till they pretend to have, afliftances anfwerable: and do thereby endeavour to deceive others; which endeavours to deceive, by a fign, may be without any previous covenant. But fuppofing none of all thofe feveral forts of covenants was intended, it remains. that the covenant, that was underftood to be intended, in that difcourfe at the old meeting, is agreeable MR. MATHER, &C. 141 to the late dangerous notion that has fo much prevailed, viz. That the devil appears to the perfons; that they and the devil make mutual engagements each to other, confirmed by figning to the devil's book; and are from hence enabled, not only to know futurities, and.things done at a diftance, but are alfo thereby empowered to do harm to their neighbours, to raife fiorms, and do things above and againft the courfe of nature. This being the notion that has occafioned the ihedding fo much blood in the world, it may be thought to need explaining. For as reafon knows nothing of an afflicting, covenanting witch, fo it feems as foreign from fcripture in general, as it is from the text then infiited on; which fpeaks of fuch wickedneffes as are manifeftly the works of the flefh: but fuch communication with fpirits, the flefh doth manifestly dread even as death itfelf. Therefore the ufual falutation of the holy angels to the beft of men was, fear not; and experience thews, that the moft wicked are moft affrighted at the apprehensions of the appearances of devils; therefore fuch an explicit covenanting cannot be a manifeft work of the flefh. Yet this is manifeft, that the belief of the witches power to do the things above mentioned, is an ancient belief of the heathen; and that from them it was received by the papifts, as a 142 LETTERS TO part of their faith, who have fince improved upon it and brought in the notion of a covenant. But it feems yet a further improvement, lately made by proteftants, that fuch witches can commiffion devils to do thofe mifchief's, thereby letting the witch in the place of God; for though few of the papifts are known to be thus abfurd, yet when fuch doctrines have been preached and printed in New-England, they have met with none to oppofe, but many to encourage them. Other confiderable additions, or new improvements, have been made here; as the art to knock off invifible chains with the hand, to drive away fpe&res (i. e. devils) by brufhing, and fpelling words to the affli&ed, &c. What has followed upon thefe notions, and upon such improvements, is needlefs here to repeat; it were unaccountable to recount that effuifion of blood that has been hereby occafioned; fuch remaining fcars, and fuch yet bleeding wounds, as are to be found; which none can wholly pretend ignorance of. And if blood ihall be required of that watchman that teeth the fword coming, and gives not the needful warning, how much more of fuch as join with the enemy, to bring in the fword to deftroy them, over whom he was placed a watchman! And if the law of God be perfe&t, and exceed MR. MATHER, &C. 143 ing broad, as being given forth by the Omnifcient Lawgiver, it is exceeding high prefumption and arrogance, and highly defitrudive to the lives of innocents, for any to pretend to give another, and a pretended better, description of a crime made thereby capital, with new rules to try fuch offenders by. Reverend fir, the matter, being of fuch high concern, requires (and it is again prayed) that you would be pleafed to confider, and give the grounds from Scripture, or reafon, of fuch definition; or elfe that you would explode it, as inconfiitent with both. From, reverend fir, yours to my utmoft, R. C. PART III. ACCOUNT OF THE DIFFERENCES IN SALEM VILLAGE. Grounds of Complaint againfi Mr. Parris, ~4c.* HE reafons why we withdraw from communion with the church of Salem Village, both as to hearing'x the word preached, and from partaking with them at the Lord's table, are as follows: Why we attend not on publick prayer, and preaching the word, there are, i. The diftracting and difturbing tumults, and noifes, made by the perfons under diabolical power and delufions; preventing Sometimes our * Some alterations have been made in the reading of the "Grounds of Complaint," in order that it may conform to the original court documents. 10 146 DIFFERENCES IN hearing, underftanding, and profiting by, the word preached. We, having after many trials and experiences found no redrefs in this cafe, accounted ourfelves under a neceflity to go where we might hear the word in quiet. 2. The apprehenfion of danger of ourfelves being accufed as the devil's instruments to afflit the perfons complaining, we feeing thofe, whom we have reafon to efleem better than ourfelves, thus accufed, blemifhed, and of their lives bereaved: for we feeing-this evil, thought it our prudence to withdraw. 3. We found fo frequent and pofitive preaching up fome principles and praftices by mr. Parris, referring to the dark and difmal miferies of iniquity working amongit us, was not profitable, but offenfive. 4. Neither could we in confcience join with mr. Parris, in the requefts which he made in prayer, referring to the trouble then among us and upon us: therefore thought it our moft fafe and peaceable way to withdraw. The reafons why we hold not communion with them at the Lord's table, are, becaufe we efteem ourfelves juftly aggrieved and offended with the officer who does adminifter, for the reafons following: 1. From his declared and publifhed principles, referring to our moleftations from the in SALEM VILLAGE. 147 vifible world: differing from the opinion of the generality of the orthodox minifters of this whole country. 2. His eafy and ftrong faith and belief of the affirmations and accufations, made by thofe they call the afflifted. 3. His laying afide that grace (which above all we are required to put on) viz. charity towards his neighbours, and efpecially towards thofe of his church, when there is no apparent reafon for the contrary. 4. His approving and pra6tifing unwarrantable and ungrounded methods, for difcovering what he was defirous to know referring to the bewitched or poffeffed perfons, as in bringing fome to others, and by and from them pretending to inform himfelf and others, who were the devil's instruments to affli&t the fick and pained. 5. His unfafe and unaccountable oath, given by him againft fundry of the accufed. 6. His not fending to the world fo fair (if fo true) account of what he wrote on examination of the afflited. 7. Sundry unfafe, if found, points of dotrine, delivered in his preaching, which we efteem not warrantable (if chriftian.) 8. His perfifting in thefe principles, and juftifying his pratices; not rendering any fatisfation 148 DIFFERENCES IN to us, when regularly defired, but rather for the offending and diffatisfying ourfelves. We, whofe names are under written, heard this paper read to our paftor, Mr. Samuel Parris, the 2ait of April, x693. Nathaniel _Yigarfon, Peter Cloyce, fenior, Edwzvard Putman, Samuel Nurfe, Aaron Wlay, John Tarboll, William Way, nhomas Wilkins. Mr. Parris's Acknowledgment. For as much as it is the undoubted duty of all chriftians to purfue peace, Pfal. xxxiv. 14, even to a reaching of it, if it be poffible; (AmQs xii. 18, 19) and whereas, through the righteous, Sovereign and awful providence of God, the-grand enemy to all chrifiian peace has been of late tremendoufly let loofe in divers places hereabout, and more efpecially among our finfut felves, not only to interrupt that partial peace which we Sometimes enjoyed, but alfo, through his wiles and temptations, and our weaknefs and corruptions, to make wider breaches, and raife more bitter animofities between too many of us; in which dark and difficult difpenfations, we have been all or moft of us of one mind for a time, and afterwards of differing apprehenfions; and at laft we are but in the dark, upon ferious thoughts of all; and after many prayers, I have been moved to pre SALEM VILLAGE. 149 fent to you (my beloved flock) the following particulars, in way of contribution towards a regaining of chriftian concord, if fo be we be not altogether unappeafeable, irreconcileable, and fo deftitute of that good fpirit, which is firit pure, then peaceable, gentle, and eafy to be entreated, dames iii. 17. viz. 1. In that the Lord ordered the late horrid calamity (which afterward plague-like fpread in many other places) to break out firft in my family,jI cannot but look upon as a very fore rebuke, and humbling providence, both to myfelf and mine, and defire fo we may improve it. 2. In that alfo in my family were fome of both parties, viz. accufers and accufed,I look alfo upon as an aggravation of that rebuke, as an addition of wormwood to the gall. 3. In the means which were ufed in my family, though totally unknown to me or mine (except fervants) till afterwards, to raife Cpirits and apparitions in no better than a diabolical way,1I do alfo look upon as a further rebuke of Divine Providence. And by all, I do humbly own this day, before the Lord and his people that God has been righteously fpitting in my face, Numb. xii. 14. And I defire to lie low under all this reproach, and to lay my hand on my mouth. 4. As to the management of there myfteries, 150 DIFFERENCES IN as far as concerns myfelf, I am very defirous upon further light to own any errors I have therein fallen into, and can come to a difcerning of; in the mean while I do acknowledge, upon after-confiderations, that were the fame troubles again, (which the Lord of his rich mercy forever prevent) I fhould not agree with my former apprehenfions in all points. As for infiance, i. I queflion not but God fometimes fuffers the devil, as of late, to afflid in fhape of not only innocent, but pious perfons; or fo to delude the fenfes of the afflited, that they ftrongly conceit their hurt is from fuch perfons, when indeed it is not. 2. The improving of one afflided, to inquire by who afflifts the other, I fear may be, and has been, unlawfully ufed to fatan's great advantage. 3. As to my writing, it was put upon me by authority, and therein I have been very careful to avoid the wronging of any. 4. As to my oath, I never meant it, nor do I know how it can be otherwife conftrued, than as vulgarly, and every one underftood, yea, and upon inquiry it may be found fo worded alfo. 5. As to any paffage in preaching, or praying, in the fore hour of diflrefs and darknefs, I always intended but due juftice on each hand, and that not according to men, but God, who SALEM VILLAGE. 151 knows all things moft perfetly; however, through weaknefs or fore exercife, I might fometimes, yea, and poffibly fundry times, unadvifedly exprefs myfelf. 6. As to feveral that have confeffed againft themselves, they being wholly fitrangers to me, but yet of good account with better men than myfelf, to whom alfo they are well known, I do not pafs fo much as a fecret condemnation upon them; but rather, feeing God hath fo amazingly lengthened out fatan's chain, in this moff formidable outrage, I much more incline to fide with the opinion of thofe that have grounds to hope better of them. 7. As to all that have unduly fuffered in there matters, either in their perfons or relations, through the clouds of human weaknefs, and fatan's wiles and fophiftry, I do truly fympathize with them; taking it for granted, that fuch as know themfelves clear of this great tranfgreflion, or that have fufficient grounds fo to look upon their dear friends, have hereby been under thofe fore trials and temptations, that not an ordinary meafure of true grace would be fufficient to prevent a bewraying of remaining corruption. 8. I am very much in the mind, and abundantly perfuaded, that God, for holy ends, though for what in particular is beef known to himfelf, 152 DIFFERENCES IN has fuffered the evil angels to delude us on both hands; but how fatr on the one fide, or the other, is much above me to fay; and if we cannot reconcile till we come to a full difcerning of there things, I fear we Ihall never come to an agreement, or at fooneff not in this world. 9. Therefore, in fine, the matter being fo dark and perplexed, as that there is no prefent appearance that all God's fervants fhould be altogether of one mind in all circumifances, touching the fame, I do moif heartily, fervently and humbly befeech pardon of the merciful God, through the blood of Chrift, for all my miftakes and trefpaffes in fo weighty a matter; and alfo all your forgivenefs of every offence, in this or other affairs, wherein you fee or conceive that I have erred and offended; profeffing, in the prefence of the Almighty God, that what I have done has been, as for fubifance, as I apprehended was duty, however through weaknefs, ignorance, &c. I may have been miftaken. I alfo through grace promifing each of you the like of me, fo again I beg, entreat and befeech you, that fatan, the devil, the roaring lion, the old dragon, the enemy of all righteoufnefs, may no longer be ferved by us, by our envy and firifes, where every evil work prevails whilft thefe bear fway, (,yames iii. 14, 15, 16) but that all from this day forward may be covered with the mantle of love, and we may on SALEM VILLAGE. 153 all hands forgive each other heartily, Sincerely and thoroughly, as we do hope and pray that God for Chrift's fake would forgive each of ourfelves, (Matt. xviii. 21, to the end.) Colofs. iii. 12, 13, Put on therefore (as the elefa of God, holy and beloved) bowels of mercies, kindnefs, humblenefs of mind, meeknefs, long-fuffering: forbearzng one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel againfi any; even as Chrift forgave you, fo alfo do ye. Eph. iv. 31, 32, Let all bitternefs, and anger, and clamour, and evilfpeaking, be put away from you, with all malice. And be ye kind one to another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another even as God for Chrift's fake hath forgiven you. Amen. Amen. SAMUEL PARRIS. Given to the diffenting brethren, for their confideration, at their requeft. November 26, 1694. The Elders and Jejfengers of the churches met at Salem Village, April 3, 1695, to confider and determine what is to be done, for the compofure of the prefent unhappy diferences in that place; after folemn invocation of God in Crzjift for his direflion, do unanimoufly declare, as followeth, viz. 1. We judge that although in the late and dark time of the confufions, wherein fatan had obtained a more than ordinary liberty, to fift this 154 DIFFERENCES IN plantation, there were fundry unwarrantable and uncomfortable fteps taken by mr. Samuel Parris, the pallor of the church in Salem Village, then under the hurrying diftraftions of amazing afflictions: yet the faid mr. Parris, by the good hand of God brought unto a better fenfe of things, hath fo fully expreft it, that a chriftian charity may and fhould receive fatisfa&ion therewith. 2. Inafmuch as divers chriftian brethren, in the church of Salem Village, have been offended at mr. Parris, for his condud in the time of their difficulties, which have diflreffed them; we now advife them charitably to accept the fatisfahtion which he hath tendered in his chriftian acknowledgment of the errors therein committed; yea, to endeavour, as far as it is poflible, the fullell reconciliation of their minds unto communion with him, in the whole exercife of his miniftry, and with the reft of the church. Matt. vi. 12, 14. Luke xviii. 3. anames v. 16. 3. Confidering the extreme trials and troubles, which the difaffe&ted brethren in the church of Salem Village have undergone, in the day of' fore temptation which hath been upon them; we cannot but advife the church to treat them with bowels of much compaflion, inftead of more critical or rigorous proceedings againft them for the infirmities discovered by them, in fuch an heart-breaking day; and if, after a patient wait SALEM VILLAGE. 155 ing for it, the faid brethren cannot fo far overcome the uneafinefs of their fpirits, in the remembrance of the difaflers that have happened, as to fit under his miniftry, we advife the church with all tendernefs to grant them admiffion to any other fociety of the faithful, whereunto they may be defirous to be difiniffed. Gal. vi. 1, 2. Pfal. ciii. 13, 14. Yob xix. 21. 4. Mr. Parris having, as we underfiand, with much fidelity and integrity acquitted himfelf, in the main courfe of his miniftry, fince he hath been paftllor of the church of Salem Village; about his firft call whereunto, we look upon all contefts now to be both unreafonable and unfeafonable; and our Lord having made him a bleffing to the fouls of not a few, both old and young, in this place, we advife that he be accordingly refpected, honoured and fupported, with all the regards that are due to a painful minifter of the gofpel. T, j. v13. 12, 13. 1 Tim. v. 17. 5. Having obferved that there is in Salem Village a fpirit full of contention and animofity, too fadly verifying the blemifh which hath heretofore lain upon them; and that fome complaints againft mr. Parris have been either caufelefs or groundless, or unduly aggravated; we do, in the name and fear of the Lord, folemnly warn them to confider whether, if they continue to devour one another, it will not be bitterness in the latter 156 DIFFERENCES IN end; and beware left the Lord be provoked thereby utterly to deprive them of thofe which they fhould count their precious and pleafant things, and abandon them to all the defolations of a people that fin away the mercies of the gofpel. lames iii. 16. Gal. v. 15. 2 Sam. ii. 26. Ifa. v.,45.\ M-att. xxi. 43. 6. If the diftempers in Salem Village fhould be (which God forbid) fo incurable, that mr. Parris, after all, find that he cannot with any comfort and fervice continue in his prefent itation, his removal from thence will not expofe him to any hard chara&ter with us; nor, we hope, with the reft of the people of God, among whom we live. Matt. x. 14. Afs xxii. 18. All which advice we follow with our prayers, that the Godqf pqace would bVruife Satan under our feet. Now the Lord of peace himfelf give you peace always by all m'eans. yos. Bridgham, Jer. Dummer, James Allen, Samuel Chickley, Neh. Jeewitt, Samuel Tory, WYilliam'ory, Ephr. Hunt, S. Willard, Jos. Boynton, N. Williams, E. PayJfon, R. Middlecutt, Incr. Mather, C. Mather. Yohn WtYalley, S. Phillips, To the Reverend Elders of the three churches of ChrJfl at Bofton, with others the Elders and Brethren of other churches, late of a Council at Salem Village. We whofe names are hereunto fubfcribed, are SALEM VILLAGE. 157 bold once more to trouble you with our humble propofals: — That whereas there have been long and uncomfortable differences among us, chiefly relating to mr. Parris; and we having, as we apprehend, attended. all probable means for a compofure of our troubles: and whereas we had hopes of an happy iffue, by your endeavours among us, but now are utterly fruftrated in our expectations, and that infiead of uniting, our rent is made worfe, and our breach made wider: We humbly query, whether yourfelves, being ftraightened of time, might not omit fuch fatisfaftory liberty of debating the whole of our controverfy; whereby yourfelves had not fo large an opportunity of underftanding the cafe, nor the offended fo much reafon to be fatisfied in your advice: We therefore humbly propofe, and give full liberty of proving and defending of what may be charged on either hand, leaving it to yourselves to appoint both time and place, i. That if yourselves pleafe to take the trouble, with patience once more to hear the whole cafe. 2. Or that you will more plainly advife mr. Parris (the cafe being fo circumstanced that he cannot, with comfort or profit to himfelf or others, abide in the work of the miniftry among us) to ceafe his labours, and feek to 158 DIFFERENCES IN difpofe himfelf elfewhere, as God in his providence may dire&; and that yourfelves would pleafe to help us in advifing to fuch a choice, wherein we may be more unanimous; which we hope would tend much to a compofure of' our differences. 3. Or that we may without any offence take the liberty of calling fome other proved minifter of the gofpel, to preach the word of God to us and ours; and that we may not be denied our proportionable privilege, in our public difburfements in the place. So leaving the whole cafe with the Lord and yourfelves, we fubfcribe our names. Signed by i6 young men, from x6 upwards; and 52 houfeholders, and i 8 church members. This was delivered to the minifters, May 3, x695. The copy of a paper that was handed about, touching thofe diffbrences. As to the conteft between mr. Parris and his hearers, &c. it may be compofed by a fatisfactory anfwer to Levit. xx. 6, "And the foul that turneth after fuch as have familiar fpirits, and after wizards, to go a whoring after them, I will fet my face againfi that foul, and will cut him off from among his people." 1 Chron. x. 13, 14, "CSO Saul died for his tranfgreflion, which he committed againif the Lord, even againft the SALEM VILLAGE. 159 word of the Lord, which he kept not: and alfo for afking counsel of' one that had a familiar fpirit, to inquire of it; and inquired not of the Lord; therefore he flew him," &c. Some part of the determination of the Elders and Me/engers of the churches, met at Salem Village, April 3, 1695, relating to the dilferences there. If the diftemper in Salem Village fhould be (which God forbid) fo incurable that mr. Parris, after all, find that he cannot with any comfort and fervice continue in his prefent ftation, his removal from thence will not expofe him to any hard charadcer with us, nor, we hope, with the refit of the /eople of God, among whom we live. Matt. x. 14, And whofoever Jhall not receive you, nor hear your words; when you depart out of that houfe, or city, fhake off the duff of your feet, 3c. Adts xxii. 18. All which advice we follow with our prayers, that the God of peace would bruife fatan under our feet. Now the Lord of peace give you peace always, by all means, &c. 4?eft. Whether Mr. Parris's going to Abigail Williams and others, whom he fuppofed to have a fpedral fight, to be informed who were witches and who affli~ted thofe pretended fufferers by witchcraft, in order to their being 16o DIFFERENCES IN queftioned upon their lives upon it, were not a turning after fuch as had familiar fpirits; and a greater wickednefs than Saul was guilty of, in that he did not intend thereby bodily hurt to any others' And whether, in a crime of fuch a high nature, the making a flender and general confeflion, without any propofals of reparations, or due time for probation, ought fo far to be accounted fufficient, from fuch a paftor to his people? And whether fuch as were accufed, or the furviving friends and relations of thofe that were any ways fufferers by accufations fo by him proved, are in duty and confcience bound to continue their refpect, honour and fupport to him, in the miniftry, after fuch known departures from the rule of God's word, and after fuch dire effets as followed thereupon, under the - penalty of the dzufj haken from his feet, teftifying againif them, even fo as to render them in a worfe cafe than thofe of Sodom and Gomorrah? To the Honourable Wait Wtinthrop, Elifha Cook and Samuel Sewall, Efquires, arbitrators, indifferently chofen, between Mr. Samuel Parris and the inhabitants of Salem Village. The remonftrances of feveral aggrieved perfons in the faid village, with further reafons why SALEM VILLAGE. 161 they conceive they ought not to hear mr. Parris, nor to own him as a minifler of the gofpel, nor to contribute any fupport to him as fuch, for feveral years paft; humbly offered as fit for confideration. We humbly conceive that having, in April, 1693, given our reafons why we could not join with mr. Parris in prayer, preaching, or facraments; if thefe reafons are found fufficient for our withdrawing, (and we cannot yet find but they are) then we conceive ourfelves virtually discharged, not only in conscience, but alfo in law; which requires maintenance to be given to fuch as are orthodox, and blamelefs; the faid mr. Parris having been teaching fuch dangerous errors, and preached fuch Scandalous immoralities, as ought to difcharge any (though ever fo gifted otherways) from the work of the miniftry. Particularly in his oath againft the lives of feveral, wherein he fwears that the prifoners with their looks knock down thofe pretended fufferers. We humbly conceive, that he that fwears to more than he is certain of, is equally guilty of perjury with him that fwears to what is falfe. And though they did fall at fuch a time, yet it could not be known that they did it, much lefs could they be certain of it; yet did fwear pofitively againif the lives of fuch, as he could not have any knowledge but they might be innocent. 11 162 DIFFERENCES IN His believing the devil's accufations, and readily departing from all charity to perfons, though of blamelefs and godly lives, upon fuch fuggeftions; his promoting fuch accufations; as alfo his partiality therein, in ftifling the accufations of fome, and at the fame time vigilantly promoting others, as we conceive, are juft caufes for our refufal, &c. That mr. Parris's going to Mary Walcut, or Abigail Williams, and direting others to them, to know who afflited the people in their illneffes - we underitand this to be a dealing with them that have a familiar fpirit, and an implicit denying the providence of God, who alone, as we believe, can fend afflitions, or caufe devils to afflid any; this we alfo conceive fufficient to juftify fuch refufal. That mr. Parris, by thefe pradices -and principles, has been the beginner and procurer of the foreft afflitions, not to this Village only, but to this whole country, that did ever befal them. We, the fubfcribers, in behalf of ourfelves, and of feveral others of the fame mind with us, (touching there things) having fome of us had our relations by thefe praftices taken off by an untimely death; others have been imprifoned, and fuffered in our perfons, reputations and eftates; fubmit the whole to your honours decifion, to determine whether we are or ought to SALEM VILLAGE. 163 be any ways obliged to honour, refpect and fupport fuch an inftrument of our miferies; praying God to guide your honours to act herein as may be for his glory, and the future Settlement of our village in amity and unity. John Tarboll, Samuel Nurfe, Attorneys for the people yos. Putman, of the village. Dan. Andrew, I Boilon, July 2I, I697. According to the order of the aforefaid arbitrators, the faid mr. Parris had fome of his arrears paid him, as alfo a fum of money for his repairs of the minifterial houfe of the laid village, and is difmiffed therefrom. NOTE. - Writers have generally fuppofed that Mr. Parris, after his difmiflion from Salem Village, removed to Concord, Maffachufetts. But it is now certain that he received a call to preach in Stowe, by the inhabitants of that town, Nov. 29, I697, and on the 4th of January, 1698, the Selectmen were ordered " to make a rate of ten pounds for Mr. Parris, our prefent minifter." He is faid to have preached in Concord, Mafs., in I705. It is certain that he commenced preaching in Dunftable in October, I708, and continued to preach in that town three years. He died in Sudbury, Feb. 27, 172o, aged 67 years. PART IV. LETTERS OF A GENTLEMAN UNINTERESTED, ENDEAVOURING TO PROVE THE RECEIVED OPINIONS ABOUT WITCHCRAFT TO BE ORTHODOX. Sir, TOLD you I had fome thoughts, concerning witchcraft, and an intention of conferring with the gentleman who has publilhed feveral trea. tifes about witchcraft, and perfons afflicted by them, lately here in New-England; but fince you have put thofe three books into my hands, I find myfelf engaged in a very hard province, to give you my opinion of them. I plainly forefee, that fhould this fcribbling of mine come to public view, it would difplease all parties, but that is the leaft. Moreover it is fo far out of my road to fet my thoughts to confider a matter on every fide, which in itfelf is fo abftrufe, and every ftep I advance therein, if I mifs truth i66 LETTERS OF (which is a narrow and undivided line) I muft tumble down headlong into the gulph of dangerous error. Yet, notwithiftanding, I have forced myfelf to fend thefe few lines, if fo be I may clear to you a truth you now feem to be offended at, becaufe of the ill confequences which (you think) lately have and again may be drawn from it, by the ill condu& of fome men. I am not ignorant that the pious frauds of the ancient, and the inbred fire (I do not call it pride) of many of our modern, divines, have precipitated them to propagate and maintain truth as well as falfehoods, in fuch an unfair manner, as has given advantage to the enemy to fufpe& the whole doCtrine, thefe men have profeft, to be nothing but a mere trick. But it is certain, that as no lover of truth will juftify an illegitimate corollary, though drawn from a true propofition; fo neither will he reje& a truth, becaufe fome or rrany men take unfair means to prove it, or draw fialfe confequences from it. The many herefies among chriftians muft not give a mortal wound to the effence of the chriftian religion; neither muff any one chriftian do&rine be exterminated, becaufe evil men make ufe of it as a cloak to cover their own felf-ends; particularly, becaufe fome men, perhaps among all forts of chriftians, have, under pretence of witchcraft, coloured their own malice, pride and popularity, we muft A GENTLEMAN, &C. 167 not therefore conclude (i.) that there are no witches; (2.) or that witches cannot be convi&ed by fuch clear and undeniable proof; as the law of God requires in the cafe of death; (3-) or that a witch fo conviaed ought not to be put to death. 1. That there are witches, is manifeft from the precept of Mofes, Thou Jhalt not fuffer a witch to live. Exod. xxii. 18. For it is certain God would not have given a vain and unintelligible law, as this muff be, of putting witches to death, if there are no witches. But you object, that this doth not anfwer our cafe, for we have formed another idea of witches than what can be gathered from the Scriptures; you quote four places, viz. Deut. xiii. Matt. xxiv. Adfs xiii. 2 Tim. iii. from all which you infer, that witchcraft is a maligning and oppugning the word, works and worfhip of' God, and by an extraordinary fign feeking to reduce any from it; and this you readily grant. But then you fay, What is this to witches now a days, who are faid to have made an explicit covenant with the devil, and to be empowered by him to the doing of things ftrange in themfelves, and befides their natural courfe' This you fay does not follow; and herein indeed confifts the whole controverfy; therefore it is neceffary, that firif of all we clear this point, laying afide thofe prejudices we may 168 LETTERS OF have from the fatal application of this do&trine to fome who were (in your judgment) really, at leaft in law, and before men, innocent. In a word, we are feeking after truth, and truth fhall and will be truth, in fpite of men and devils. I do not repeat this caution to foreftall you to believe the do&rine of witchcraft, as it is above defined, without inquiring into the reafon and truth of it; only I defire you to inquire into it, as a thing doubtful. For no man can be certain of a negative, unlefs either the affirmative imply a contradi&ion, or he can prove it by certain teftimony; to neither of which you pretend; only you alledge it cannot be proved by Scripture, i. e. you cannot prove it, nor have feen it proved by any other you have read on that fubje&t. I am not fo vain as to think I can do better than the learned authors you have confulted with (though I know not what they have done, for I had no other book but the bible, to make ufe of on this occafion;) but becaufe I am fatisfied myfelf, and am willing to communicate my reafons, which I divide into three heads. 1. The appearance of angels. 2. The nature of poffeffion; and, 3d, The Scripture notion of witchcraft. i. Good angels did appear to Abraham, and did eat, Gen. xv. It feems he wafhed their feet; it is certain he faw and heard them; therefore there is no impoffibility in angels being conver A GENTLEMAN, &C. 169 fant with men. God is true, and whatever is contained in facred writ is true; if we poor fhallow mortals do not comprehend the manner how, that argues only our weaknefs and ignorance in this dark prifon of flefh, wherein we are enclofed during our abode in this vale of mifery, but doth not in the leaft infringe the verity of Scripture; it is fufficient that we undoubtedly know they have appeared unto men in bodily ihape, and done their errand they were fent on from God. Now if good angels have appeared, why may not bad? Surely the devils, becaufe fallen and evil, have not therefore loft the nature of angels; neither is there any contradi&tion in their appearing in a bodily ihape, now after, any more than before, their fall. But you will fay you muit allow of the appearances of good angels, becaufe of the fcripture teftimony; but not of bad, feeing there is no place of fcripture that clearly proves it. Matt. iv, The words in the gofpel do as plainly fignify the devil's outward appearance to our Saviour, when he was tempted, as can be expreff'd; And when the tempter came lo him he faid — but he anfwered. The fame form St. Luke ufeth to fignify the appearance of Mofes and Elias, in the transfiguration: And behold there talked with him two men; for what follows, ver. 31, who appeared, is ufed to fignify (not their appearance, but) the manner 170 LETTERS OF of their appearance in great glory. But you will urge, that it is very eafy to be underflood, that Mofes and Elias did appear, becaufe they had human bodies; but that it is unintelligible to you, how the devil, being a fpirit, can appear, a fpirit being a fubitance void of all dimensions; therefore the words in the hiftory mufft not be taken in a literal fenfe. Do not miftake: though fome philofophers are of opinion (which whether true or falfe is all one to our prefent argument) that a fpirit's fibftance is extended, and hath, befides length, breadth and depth, a fourth dimenfion, viz. efTential fpiflitude; yet the fame do not fay, that pure fubitance is perceptible by our bodily fenfes; on the contrary, they tell us, that fpirits are clothed with vehicles, ~: e. they are united to certain portions of matter, which they inform, move and aduate. Now this we muff not reje& as impoflible, becaufe we cannot comprehend the formal reafon, how a fpirit ats upon matter: for who can give the reafon, that, upon the volition of' the human foul, the hand ihould be lifted up, or any ways moved? for to fay the contra&ion of the mufcles is the mechanic caufe of voluntary motion, is not to folve the queffion, which recurs, Why, upon volition, fhould that contra&ion enfue which caufes" that motion? All that I know the wifeft man ever faid upon this head is, that it is the will of the A GENTLEMAN, &C. 171 Creator, who has ordered fuch a fpecies of thinking creatures, by a catholic law, to be united to fuch portions of matter, fo and fo difpofed; or, if you will, in the vulgar phrafe, to organized bodies; and that there Should be between them and the feveral bodies they are united to a mutual rea&ion and paffion. Now you fee how little we know of the reafon of that which is moft near to us, and moft certain, viz. the foul's informing the body; yet you would think it a bad argument, if one fhould, as fome have done, conclude, from this our ignorance, that there was nothing in us but matter; it is no otherways than to deny a fpirit's afting a vehicle. The plaineft and moft certain things when denied are hardeft to be proved; therefore the axiom faith well, contra princsppza, $c. There are fome certain truths, which are rather to be explained to young beginners than proved, upon which all fcience is built; as every whole is more than its part; and of this fort'I take thefe two following: 1. That there are two fubflances, corpus and mens, body and fpirit, altogether different, for the ideas we have of themn are quite diftin&. 2. That a fpirit can a&uate, animate or inform a certain portion of matter, and be united to it; from whence it is very evident, that the devil, united to a portion of matter (which hereafter I'll call a vehicle) may fall 172 LETTERS OF under the cognizance of our fenfes, and be converfant with us in a bodily Shape. Where then is the reason or need to run to a metaphorical and forced interpretation, when the words are fo plain, and the literal fenfe implieth no contradiction, nor any greater difficulty than (as has been faid) what arifeth from the union of the foul and body, which is moft certain? Now after all to fay, God will not permit the devil fo to appear, is to beg the queftion, without faying any thing to the preceding argument; and it is againft the fenfe of almoft all mankind; for in all ages, and all places, there have been many witneffes of the appearances of damons, all of whom, that taught any thing contrary to the right worihip of the true God, were certainly evil ones: and it were moft prefumptuous, barely to affert that all thefe witneffes were always deceived, and it is impoflible they could all agree to deceive. 2. We come to confider the nature of poffeffion. The man poffeft (Luke viii. 27) had a power more than natural, for he brake the bands, which he could not have done with his own ftrength. Now from whom had he this powerS The Scripture faith, he had devils a long time, and oftentimes it had caught him, &c. he was kept bound with chains and in fetters, and he brake the bands, and was driven of the devil into the wildernefs. This power then was im A GENTLEMAN, &C. 173 mediately from the devil, and whatfoever a poffeffed perfon does, or fuffers, beyond his natural power, he is enabled by the damon fo to do; or, to fpeak more properly, it is the damon who adteth the fame, as is plain from St. Mark's relation of this paffage, v. 2 V. A man with an unclean fpirit. 3 v. And no man could bind him, no, not with chains. 6 v. But when he faw Yefus afar of, he came and worJhiped himn; and the same he, 7 v. faid I adjure thee by God that thou torment me not; and 9'v. My name i Legion, for we are many. 10 o v. And he befought him much, that he would not fend them away out of the country. It is manifeft from hence, that it was not the poor man who was poffeft, but the devils who poffeffied him, by whom the chains had been plucked afunder, and the fetters broken in pieces. Now here is divine teftimony, that the devils have aCtuated a human body to the doing of things beyond the natural ftrength of that body, as it was fimply united to its human foul: how much more then can the devil actuate any other portion of fimple matter, earth, air, fire or water, and make it a fit organ for himfelf to ac in! But enough of this already: let us rather inquire how the devil enters into the body of the poffeft, to move it at his pleafure. This I think he cannot do as a mere fpirit, or by any 174 LETTERS OF never fo ftri& union with the human foul; for in that cafe he is only a tempter or reducer, and nothing above human ftrength can be done: but here there being Something performed (the bonds broken) by a force which could not proceed from human ftrength, it neceffarily follows that the devils entered into the poffeft, otherways qualified them as a mere fpirit; he did not enter without fome portion of matter, to which he was united, by the intermedium whereof he a&ed upon and atuated the human body. Again, if it is faid that the devil entered as a mere fpirit, and immediately aI'ed upon and moved that body, it follows, the devil hath a vehicle, a certain portion of matter (that body) to aetuate and difpofe of at will; which is abfurd: 1, Becaufe it afferts what it feems to deny, viz. the devil's having a vehicle to a& immediately upon; and to be united to a portion of matter (as has been faid before) is the fame thing. 2, It fights againit the catholic law of the union of foul and body, by which the Omnipotent hath ordained the voluntary motion of a human body to depend upon the will of its human foul, and thofe that are not voluntary to proceed either from its own mechanifm or material force; hence we may certainly conclude, that it is by the intervening of the devil's vehicle, that he enters into the body of the poffefit But A GENTLEMAN, &C. 175 what if you and I cannot agree about this notion ~of poffeffion, muff we therefore reje&t the truth itfelf, and run to a far-fetched and intolerable fenfe of the words? No, our opinions do not alter the nature of things; it is certain there were perfons poffeft, and it is as certain that the devil entered into them, either with or without a vehicle; it is all one which part of the contradietion you take, the confequence is the fame, viz. That the devil doth a&t immediately upon matter. There is another acceptation of the word poffeffion in fcripture, (Ads xvi. 17) where one is faid to be poffeft with a fpirit of divination, the word commonly ufed to the prieifefs of Apollo, who gave refponfes; and it feems this damfel was fuch an one, for fhe brought her mafters much money, or gain, by foothfaying, till they were full of the god. Now if the hiftory of them be true, that they were demented, and knew not themfelves what they uttered, (as they word it,) their cafe is not different, but the fame with the foregoing; but if they underifood what they fpoke, then had they familiar fpirits, whereof' there is frequent mention made in the old teftament, and one good king is commended for having cut off them that had fuch; therefore I think the meaning of the word was very obvious in his time; neither was it ever controverted 176 LETTERS OF being joined with any other name than fpirit, familiar, one of our own family: that is, oft, every day converfant with us, and almoft ever ready upon call to attend us. But the confideration of them, who have.familiar fpirits, falleth under the head of witchcraft, which we are to confider in the third place. 3. Witchcraft, to inquire into the Scripture notion of it, and compare whether it be the fame with that above defined. The cabaliftick learning would be of great ufe in this fearch, and afford us much light; there is little doubt but that there are many great truths not commonly known. And our Saviour expreffly cautions his disciples that they do not throw their pearls before fwine; therefore it is no wonder that fome do&rines, though unqueftionably true, are not fo fully defcribed, becaufe the authors who treat of them are afraid, left evil men fhould be the more depraved by being informed: but I am in no fuch fear; nor can I give you any other thoughts but what are obvious to any man, from the plain fenfe of the Scripture. Our definition we'll divide into two propofitions, and handle them feverally. 1 Propofition. The witch is empowered by the devil to do things ftrange in themfelves, and befide their natural courfe. 2 Prop. The manner how the witch is empowered to do thofe ifrange things, is by A GENTLEMAN, &C. 177 explicit compat, or covenant, with the devil. For clearing of the firfR, we will confider the four places above cited, wherein a witch is called a falfe prophet, a falfe Chrift, a forcerer, a refifter of the truth, and is faid to fhew figns to reduce the people to feek after other gods: whence let us note three things. i. That thofe terms, witch, falfe Chrift, falfe prophet and forcerer, are all fynonimous, i. e. fignify the fame thing. 2. That a witch doth do things ftrange in themfelves, and beyond their natural courfe: for it were moft ridiculous to alledge that our bleffed Saviour, when he faid, there fikall arife falfe Chrzifs, and /hall hiew great figns and wonders, in fo much that (zf it were pog/ible) they Ihould deceive the very eleUt, meant that cunning cheats fhould arife, and lhew legerdemain tricks; the words will in no wife bear it, and I believe you are far from thus interpreting them; fo it is manifeft they fignify not a feigned, but a real, doing of things beyond their natural courfe; therefore the forceries of Elymas and Simon were not fimple delufions, but real effets, that could not have been produced by phyfical caufes in the ordinary courfe of nature. 3. That the end of the witches' fhewing thefe figns, is to reduce the people to feek after other gods; from which premifes I infer, that the witches have the power of doing thofe wonders, or firange things, im12 178 LETTERS -OF mediately from the devil: they are without the reach of nature, and therefore above human power, and no mere man can effed them; the witch then who does them mufft have the power of doing them from another; but who is the other? God will not give his teftimony to a lie; and to fay God did at any time empower a witch to work wonders, to gain belief to the doctrine of devils, were with one breath to deftroy root and branch of all revealed religion; no, it cannot be, it is only God's permiflion, who proveth his people, whether they love him with all their heart and with all their foul. Therefore the witch has a power of doing wonders, or firange things, immediately from the devil. 2 Propofition, we will fubdivide into thefe two. 1. That there is an exprefs covenant between the witch and the devil. 2. That it is not reafonable to fuppofe this covenant to be tranfaled mentally. i. The devil cannot communicate this power, by never fo ftrilt a union with the foul of the witch; for in that cafe he is only a tempter, and nothing above human power can be done, as has been already proved; therefore the devil, who improves the witch to do things above human power, muft either appear in an external lhape, and infirud him how, and upon what terms, he will enable him to do thofe wonders; or elfe he muft enter into the body of the A GENTLEMAN, &C. 179 witch, and poffefs it. The demoniacs in the gofpel are fuch whom the devils invade by main force, their foul having no further command of their bodies, which are fubje&ed to the will of the devils; whofe end is to wound and torment thofe miferable creatures, to throw them into the fire, and into the water: but the witch, who likewife is poffeffed, is not treated in fuch an outrageous manner; his damon is tame and familiar unto him, and fuffers him for a time to live quietly, without any further molestation, than prompting him to do his utmoft endeavour to withdraw men from God; he is not bereaved of his fenfes as the poor lunatic, but is confcious of all he does, and willeth all his crimes: he receiveth power from the devil to do wonders, and doth them to ferve the devil's turn. Therefbre there muft be a covenant, an exprefs covenant, between the devil and him, viz. that he fhall obey the devil and ferve him, and that the devil fhall both enable him fo to do, and alfo reward him for fo doing; for if there is no contra&6 between them, how comes the witch to know he has a fupernatural power 2 or how can he fo peremptorily pretend to do that which is fo much above his natural power, not knowing he has a Supernatural one enabling him to do the fame? There can be no doubt but there was a very intimate commerce between fatan and him 180 LETTERS OF who is called by St. Paul thou child of the devil, not as other unholy men, but in an efpecial manner, as being the enemy of all righteoufnefs, who would not ceafe to pervert the right ways of the Lord. It is not to be fuppofed that he entered into this fo near a relation with fatan, with which he is ftigmatized, that others may beware of him, without his own knowledge and confent. And is not this a covenant, an exprefs covenant, on his part, to ferve the devil inceffantly; and on the devil's, to empower him to ad his forceries wherewith he bewitched the people? Now I think I have from Scripture fully fatiffied you of the truth of what I offered in a difcourfe at. But, fince, you have told me an explicit covenant with the devil fignifies the devil's appearing in a bodily fhape to the witch, and their fignifying an exprefs covenant, which you fay cannot be proved from fcripture. It were moft unreafonable to imagine that the ceremonies of this hellifh myfrery are particularly fet down in the word of God; therefore we muft gather by analogy and reafon the matter how this exprefs covenant is tranfa&ed; and to that end I will fet down thefe following confiderations. i. Under the law God did ordain his people in all their matters to have recourfe immediately to himfelf, and depend upon him for counfel, which they were ready to obey, with full A GENTLEMAN, &c. 181 affurance of aid and prote&ion from him againft their enemies. This the devil imitateth by fetting up of oracles among the heathen, to which all the kings, nations and mighty conquerors upon earth, did come, and paid their humbleft adoration to the god (as the devil blafphemoufly called himfelf) of the temple, in which they were imploring his direftion and affiftance in their doubtful and profperous affairs. Again, God inftituted facrifices to put men in mind of their duty to the Creator, to whom they owe all things, even themfelves; but the devil is not contented with the bare imitation hereof; the acknowledgment and worfhip he receiveth from the deluded world is not enough, though they offer up unto him innumerable hecatombs, unlefs they caufe their children to pafs through the fire unto him, to whom no facrifice is fo well pleafing as that of human blood. And there is no reafon to think, that now, under the economy of the gofpel, the devil hath left off to vie with God, and thereby to enfnare men. No, it is rather to be feared that his kingdom doth now more prevail; for by how much the light is greater, fo much greater is their condemnation who do not receive it: it is reafonable to fuppofe that (feeing the Son of God, when he came to tranfa&t with men the wonderful covenant of their redemption, took upon him their nature, 1 2 LETTERS OF and was perfe& man) the devil like wife doth counterfeit the fame, in appearing in an human fhape to them who receive him, and confederate themfelves with him, and become his vaffals. 2. Confider, it is not probable that thofe falfe apoftles mentioned, 2 Cor. xi. 13, erred only in ceremonies or circumftances, or that their errors, though great, did proceed rather from their ignorance than from the perverfenefs of their minds. i Cor.- iii. 15. For, for fuch we may have charity and hope, that God will be merciful unto them, if they fincerely do the beft they know, though they diffent in fome, nay many things, from the pra6fices and belief' of the chriftian church; but thofe St. Paul threatens with a heavy curfe, that their end ihall be according to their works; therefore it feems they immediately ftruck at the very root and being of the chriftian religion, and were the fame with them fpoken of, 2 Tim. iii. 6, but with this difference, that they did not refift, but, beholding the miracles and figns which were done by the true apoftle of our Lord, wondered, and believed alfo, and were baptized; yet, being Sorcerers, they were unwilling to lofe that great efteem they had obtained; as it is related of Simon, who had bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that he himfelf was fome great one, to whom they all gave heed, from the leaft to the A GENTLEMAN, &c. 183 greateft, faying, this man is the great power of God; therefore he could not brook that Peter or John fhould have a greater power than himfelf; but offered them money, that on whomfoever he laid hands, he (that perfon) fhould receive the Holy Ghoft; which ihews him, who thus defigned to make merchandife of the Spirit, though baptized, to have been no true believer, but ftill a forcerer, in the gall of bitternefs, and in the bond of iniquity. Such were thofe deceitful workers, who, not being able bareficed to refill, did put on chriftianity as a mafk, that they might undermine the truth, and introduce the do~brines of devils. Samaria and Paphos were not the only two places where the devil had fuch agents; there was no part of the earth where his kingdom was not eflablifhed, and where he had not his emiffaries befbre the preaching of' the gofpel; and fince the text telleth us he hath his minifters, who imitate their mafter, by being transformed into the apoftles of Chrift, as he himfelf is transformed into an angel of light: whofe defign, in being thus transformed, cannot be to impofe upon the Almighty; for whatever ihape he appears in, he cannot hide his uglinefs from the eyes of him who is omnifcient; therefore he appeareth thus in the fhape of' an angel of light, either to tempt and reduce the bleffed fpirits to rebel againft God, or to en 184 LETTERS OF fnare wicked men, who by their heinous crimes (being lovers of themfelves, covetous, boafters, proud, blafphemers) were before difpofed to be fit instruments to ferve him, and to enter into league with him. Surely I, who am ignorant of the laws by which the intelle&ual world is governed, dare not affirm that it is impoffible for fatan fo to appear, as to hide his deformities from the good angels, and under that vail to tempt them: but certain I am that it is more confonant to reafon, to think that the apoftle's intention here was to teach that the devil appeared as a glorified angel unto men, to gain minifters, whom he might imbue with the poifon of his black art, and (when he had gotten full poffefflion of them) inftrut them by his own example to transform themfelves into the apoftles of Chrift, that under that vizard they might with the greater advantage promote his ends, and join with him in doing the utmoft defpite to the fpirit of grace. 3d Confideration: It is againfit the nature of this covenant, that it ihould be confummated by a mental colloquy between the devil and the witch. I know not how many articles it confifts of; but it is certain, from what has been already proved, that the renouncing of Chrift to be the Son of God, and owning the devil to be, and worshiping him as God, are the two chiefs, to A GENTLEMAN, &c. 185 which our Saviour, who was accufed of cakting out devils by Beelzebub, i. e. of being confederated with Beelzebub, was tempted to confent: If thou be the Son of God, command that thefte fones be made bread: and again, throw thyfelf down from hence; for it is written, he will give his angels charge over thee; and again, all thefe things will I give thee, if thou wl't fall down and wor/hip me. Whence it is evident that here the devil laboured to infinuate into our Lord, either to do things rafh and unwarrantable, or to fufpe& his fonfihip, revolt from God his father, and worfhip fatan, that he might obtain the glory of the world. Now it has been already faid, that when Jefus was tempted, the devil appeared unto him in a bodily ihape; therefore it is agreeable to reafon, that he doth appear in the fame manner to all them, whom he alfo tempteth to worfhip him: moreover, the form of renouncing a covenant ought to bear refemblance to the form of entering into the fame covenant; therefore men who are received into the myftical body of Chrifc by God's minifter, who in God's ftead expreffly covenanteth with and then adminiftereth the facrament of baptifin unto them, muft in the like manner go out of; or renounce, the faid covenant; and of them there are two forts, one who, through the perverfenefs of their own hearts, the lucre of the 186 LETTERS OF world, the fear of men more than of God, abjure their Saviour, turn apoftates, turks, or pagans. The other fort is of them who contra&t with the devil to be his fubje&ts, in the initiation of whom it is not to be fuppofed that the devil will omit any material circumltance which tends both to bring them into and confirm them in his fervice. To effe&t which, his outward appearance, when he receives his catechumens, is of greater force than any mental contra&; for many wicked men, who have denied God and Chrift, not only in their pra&ice, but alfo blafphemoufly in profeflon, yet have repented, and at laft obtained fome hope of mercy. I dare not fay it is impoffible for a witch to repent, and find mercy; the fecrets of the Almighty are too high for me; but it is certain that there wretches are Strangely hardened, by what paffes between them and the devil, in a bodily fhape, particularly their worfhiping him, which neceffarily implies his outward appearance unto them; for no man can love evil as evil, becaufe the law of felf:prefervation, deeply rooted in all men, determineth their will to purfue that which feems good, and fly from that which feems evil to them; but the inbred notion that every man has of the devil, is, that he is an enemy and deftroyer of mankind, therefore every man hath a natural averfion from him, and confequently A GENTLEMAN, &C. 187 cannot formally worfhip him as fuch, becaufe the obje& of worlhip muff be elfeemed to be propitious and placable by the worfhipers; otherwife, if' fear alone be the adequate caufe of adoration, it follows that the devils and damned in hell do worfhip God, which is contrary to Scripture, which faith they blafphemed, becaufe of their pains; whence it follows, that they who worfhip the devil muff have changed the innate idea that they had of him, viz. that he is an implacable worrier of men, and take him to be benign at leaff to his own; but this change cannot be wrought by any fuggeftion of fatan into the minds of men, whom indeed he mentally tempteth to luff, pride and malice; but it is his greateft artifice to caufe his infinuations to arife in the hearts of men, as their own natural thoughts; and if confcience discovers their author, and oppofes them, then he varniihes them over with the fpecious colours of pleafure, honour and glory; and fo reprefents them as really good, to be willed and defired by the foul, which judgeth of all things without agreeing to the ideas ihe hath of them; but becaufe moil objedts have two, and fome many, faces, and Ahe not always attends, therefore ihe often errs in her choice; nevertheless it is impoffible for her to love an obje&l, whofe fimple idea is evil; but the idea we have of the devil 188 LETTERS OF is fuch, for we cannot reprefent him in our minds any otherwife than the great deftroyer of men, therefore no mental temptation can make us believe this our grand enemy to be ever exorable by, or in any meafure favourable to us; whence it evidently follows, that the devil, to work this change of opinion his worihipers have of him, muff appear unto them in a bodily fhape, and impofe upon them, whom, becaufe of their great corruption and finfulnefs, God hath wholly left, and given up to ftrong delufions, that they fhould believe a lie, and the father of lies; who, now appearing in a human fhape, telleth them that he is not fuch a monfter as he has been reprefented to them by his enemy, who calls himfelf God, which title of right belongs to him; and that he (if they contra& to be his fervants) will both amply reward them, by giving them power to do many things very fuitable to their abominable depraved nature, that the chriftians, whatever opinion they may pretend to have of their God, cannot fo much as pretend to, and alfo that he will prote& and defend them againft him, whom heretofore they have miftaken for the Almighty, and his pretended Son Chrift, whom they muft abjure before they can be received by or. expe& any benefit from him. Upon no other confideration is it poffible for any man to worfhip the devil; for the atheifts, who A GENTLEMAN, &C. 189 deny the being of a God, do likewife deny the exiflence of any fpirit good or bad; therefore their drinking the devil's health, even upon their knees (though a moft horrid crime) cannot be construed any part of worfhip paid to him, whom they affert to be a chimera, a mere figment of fiateftnen to keep the vulgar in awe. Now I have evinced to you that there are witches; that the witch receiveth power from the devil to do firange things; that there is an exprefs covenant between the devil and the witch; that this covenant cannot be tranfaded mentally, but that the devil muff appear in a bodily fhape to the witch; therefore I conclude, that a witch in the Scripture is fuch, who has made an explicit covenant with the devil, and is empowered by him to do things ifrange in themselves, and befide their natural courfe. II. I perfuade myfelf you do not expe6a from me any effay concerning the methods how witches may or ought to be convided; I wifh thofe gentlemen, whofe eminent flation both enables them to perform it, and likewife makes it their duty fo to do, may take this province upon them, and handle it fo fully as to fatiffy you herein. I once intended to have provided fome materials for this work,y defining four principal things relating to witchcraft, viz. i. Witch-fits. 2. The imps that are faid to attend on the witch. 190 LETTERS OF 3. The tranfportation of the witch through the air. 4. Laftly, the invifibility of the witch. But upon fecond thought, that it was foreign from my purpofe, who am not concerned to compofe a juRf treatife of witchcraft, which would require more vacant time than my prefent circumitances will allow; only I propofed to give you my opinion privately; therefore I will venture to make ufe of' an argument, which fheweth neither art nor learning in the author; and it is this, That feeing there are witches, and that the law of God doth command them to be put to death, therefore there mufi be means to convi& them, by clear and certain proof, otherwife the law were in vain; for no man can be juftly condemned, who is not fairly convi&ed by full and certain evidence. III. In the laff place we are to inquire, whether a witch ought to be put to death or no? You anfwer in the negative; becaufe you fay that that law, Thou fhalt not fuffer a witch to live, is judiczal, and extendeth only to the people of the Jews; but our Saviour, or his apoitles, have not delivered any where any fuch command, therefore they ought to be fuffered to live. This indeed feems fomewhat plaufible at firft view, but upon thorough examination hath no weight in it at all, for thefe reafons, 1. All penal laws receive their fan&tion from him or them who A GENTLEMAN, &C. 191 have the Sovereign power in any ftate; as, Thou fhalt not commit adultery, is a moral law, and obligatory over the consciences of men in all places and ages; but that the adulterers fhall be put to death, is a judicial law, and in force only in that tfate where it is ena6ted by the Sovereign. 2. The government of the Jews was a theocracy, and God himfelf condescended to be their King, not only as he is King of' kings; for in that fenfe he is, always was, and ever will be, fupreme Lord and Governor of all his creatures; but in an efpecial manner to give them laws for the government of their flate, and to prote&t them again~f their enemies; in one word, to be immediately their Sovereign. 3. Our Saviour's kingdom was not of this world; he was no judge to divide fo much as an inheritance between two brethren; nay, he himfelf Submitted patiently to the unjuft fentence of the governor of the country in which he lived; therefore both the rewards and punishments annexed to his laws are Spiritual, and then fhall have their full accomplishment, when the Son of Man at the lait day fhall pronounce, come unto meye ble/ed, and depart ye curfed into everlafJing fire. 4. That Sovereigns, who have received the gofpel of our Lord, have not therefore loft their power of enading laws for the ruling and preferving their people, and punishing malefa&ors even 192 LETTERS OF with death; fo that the criminal is as juftly condemned to die by our municipal, as he was heretofore by the judicial law among the Jews. How much more then ought our law to advert againif the higheft of all criminals, thofe execrable men and women, who, though yet alive, have lifted themfelves under fatan's banner, and explicitly fworn allegiance to him, to fight againft God and Chrift! Indeed all unholy men afford great matter to the devils of blafpheming; but there wretches have confederated themfelves with the devils, to blafpheme and deftroy all they can. And do you think that there common enemies of God and mankind ought to be fuffered to live in a chriftian commonwealth? especially confidering that we have a precedent of putting them to death from God himfelf, when he adted as King over his own peculiar people. But methinks I hear you faying, All this doth not fatiffy me, for I am fure nothing can be added to the devil's malice; and if he could, he certainly would, appear, and frighten all men out of their wits. I anfwer, i. We mulf not reje&t a truth, becaufe we cannot refolve all the queftions that may be propofed about it; otherwise all our fcience muft be turned into fcepticifm, for we have not a comprehenfive knowledge of any one thing. -2. When you fay, that if the devil could, he would appear A GENTLEMAN, &C. 193 and frighten all men - the lawful confequence is, not that he cannot appear at all, for we have undoubtedly proved the contrary, but that we are ignorant of the bounds that the Almighty hath fet to him, whofe malice indeed, if he were not refitrained, is fo great as to deftroy all men; but the goodnefs of our God is greater, who hath given us means to efcape his fury, if we will give earnefi heed to the gofpel of our Saviour, which only is able to comfort us againit the fad and miferable condition of our prefent fiate; for not only the devils, but likewife all do confpire againft us to work our ruin. The deluge came and fwept away all the race (fave eight perfons) of mankind: the fire will in time devour what the water has left; and all this cometh to pafs becaufe of fin: but we, who have received the Lord Jefus, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteoufnefs. Therefore he, if we purify ourfelves as he is pure, will fave us (for when he appears we fhall be made like unto him, to whom be glory forever, Amen) from the great deftru&tion that muft come upon all the world, and inhabitants thereof. Farewell. March 8, 1693. 13 194 LETTERS OF WHYort hy Sir^, Boflon, March 20, 1693. The great pains you have taken for my information and fatiffation in thofe controverted points relating to witchcraft, whether it attain the end or not, cannot require lefs than fuitable acknowledgments and gratitude; efpecially confidering you had no particular obligation of office to it, and when others, whofe proper province it was, had declined it. It is a great truth, that the many herefies among the chriftians (not the lying miracles, or witchcrafts, ufed by fome to induce to the worlhip of images, &c.) muft not give a mortal wound to chriftianity or truth; but the great queftion in thefe controverted points frill is, What is truth'? And in this fearch, being agreed in the judge or rule, there is great hopes of the iffue. That there are witches, is plain from that rule of truth, the Scriptures, which commands their punifhment by death. But what that witchcraft is, or wherein it does confift, is the whole difficulty. That head cited from mr. Gaule, and fo well proved thereby (not denied by any) makes the work yet fhorter; fo that it is agreed to confift in a maligning, &c. and feeking by a.fign to feduce, &c. not excluding any other forts or branches, when as well proved by that infallible rule. That good angels have appeared, is certain; though that inftance of thofe A GENTLEMAN, &C. 195 to Abraham may admit of a various conftru&ion; fome divines fuppofing them to be the Trinity; others, that they were men-meffengers, as Yudges ii. i; and others, that they were angels. But though this, as I faid, might admit of a debate, yet I fee no queftion of the angel Gabriel's appearance, particularly to the bleffed virgin; for though the angels are fpirits, and fo not perceptible by our bodily eyes without the appointment of the Moft High, yet he, who made all things by his word in the creation, can with a word fpeak things into being. And whether the angels did affume matter (or a vehicle) and by that appear to the bodily eye; or whether by the fame word there were an idea framed in the mind, which needed no vehicle to reprefent them to the intelledts, is with the All-wife, and not for me to difpute. If we poor ihallow mortals do not comprehend the manner how, that argues only our weaknefs. Two other times did this glorious angel appear. Dan. viii. 16. Dan. ix. 21. The firfi of thefe times was in vifion, as by the text and context will appear. The fecond was the fame as the firft; which, being confidered as it will, afcertains that angels have appeared, fo that it is at the will of the fender how they fhall appear, whether to the bodily eye, or intelleCt only. Matt. i. 20. The appearance of the angel to Jofeph was in a dream, and yet 196 LETTERS OF a real appearance; fo was there a real appearance to the apoftle, but whether in the body or out of the body he could not tell; and that they are fent, and come not of their own motion. Luke i. 26, And in the fixth month the angel Gabriel was fent from God. Dan. ix. 23, At the beginning of thy fupplication the commandment came forth, and I am come. v. 21, Being caufed to fly jfwttly, Ac. But from thefe places may be let down, as undoubted truths or conclusions, i. That the glorious angels have their mifflion and commiffion from the Moft High. 2. That without this they cannot appear to mankind. And from there two will neceffarily flow a third: 3. That if the glorious angels have not that power to go till commifflioned, or to appear to mortals, then not the fallen angels; who are held in chains of darknefs to the judgment of the great day. Therefore to argue, that becaufe the good angels have appeared, the evil may or can, is to me as if, becaufe the dead have been raifed to life by holy prophets, therefore men, wicked men, can raife the dead. As the fufferings, fo the temptations, of our Saviour were (in degree) beyond thofe common to man. He being the fecond Adam, or public head, the itrongefi affaults were now improved; and we read that he was tempted, that he might be able A GENTLEMAN, &C. 197 to fuccour them that are tempted; as alfo that he was led of the Spirit into the wildernefs, that he might be tempted, &c. But how the tempter appeared to him who was God Omnifcient; whether to the bodily eye, or to the intelle~t, is as far beyond my cognizance, as for a blind man to judge of colours. But from the whole fet down this fourth conclufion: 4. That when the Almighty Free Agent has a work to bring about for his own glory, or man's good, he can employ not only bleffed angels, but the evil ones, in it, as 2 Cor. xii. 7, And left 1Thould be exalted above meafure, there was given to me a thorn in the flelh, the meffenger of fatan to b~u~fet me. 1 Sam. xvi. 14, 15 5 23, An evil fpirit from the Lord troubled him, &c. It is a great truth, that we underfhand little, very little, and that in common things; -how much lefs then in Spirituals, fuch as are above human cognizance! But though upon the ftriEeft fcrutiny in fome natural things we can only difcover our ignorance, yet we muft not hence deny what we do know, or fuffer a rape to be commritted upon our reafon and fenfes in the dark. And to fay that the devil by his ordinary power can a&t a vehicle, i. e. fome matter diftin& from himfelf, who is wholly a fpirit, and yet this matter not to be felt nor heard, and at the fame time to be feen; or may be felt, and not heard, nor 198 LETTERS OF feen, &c. feems to me to be a chimera, invented at firft to puzzle the belief of reafonable creatures, and fince calculated to a roman latitude, to uphold the dotrine of tranfubftantiation; who teach, that under the accidents of bread is contained the body of our Saviour, his human body, as long and as broad, &c. for here the power of the Almighty mull not be confined to be lefs than the devil's, and it is he that has faid, hoc eft meum corpus. As to the confent of almoft all ages, I meddle not now with it, but come to the fifth conclufion: 5. That when the Divine Being will employ the agency of evil fpirits for any fervice, it is with him to determine how they ihall exhibit themfelves, whether to the bodily eye, or intelle&t only; and whether it fhall be more or lefs formidable. To deny thefe three latl, were to make the devil an independent power, and confequently a God. As to the nature of' poffeffions by evil fpirits, for the better underftanding of it, it may be needful to compare it with its contraries; and to inftance in Samfon, of whom it was foretold, that he fhould begin to deliver Ifrael. And how was he enabled to this work 2 J7udges xiii. 25, The fpirit of the Lord began to move him at times in the camp, &c. Chap. xv. 13, 14. v. And they bound him with two new cords, and brought him up from the rock; and when they came A GENTLEMAN, &C. 199 to Lehi, the Philihfines Jhouted againJf himn; and the fpirit of the Lord came mzghtily upon him, and the cords that were upon his arms became as flax, that was burnt with fire, and his bands loofed from his hands, &c. I might inftance further; but this may fuffice to {how that he had more than a natural ftrength, as alfo whence his ftrength was, viz. he was empowered by the fpirit from God. And now will any fay, that it was not Samfon, but the fpirit, that did there things; or, that there being things done, bonds broken, &c. by a force that could not proceed from human ftrength, that therefore the fpirit entered into him otherwife qualified than as a mere fpirit; or, that the fpirit entered not without fome portion of matter, and by the intermediation thereof a&Eed Samfon's body? If any fay this and more too, this doth not alter the truth, which remains, viz. that the fpirit of God did enable Samfon to the doing of things beyond his natural ftrength. And now what remains but, upon parity of reafon, to apply this to the cafe of poffeffion? which may be fummed up in this fixth conclufion: 6. That God, for wife ends, only known to himfelf, may and has empowered devils to poffefs and itrangely to aduate human bodies, even to the doing of things beyond the natural ftrength of that body. And for any to tell of a 200 LETTERS OF vehicle, or matter ufed in it, I muft obferve that general rule, Colofs. ii. 8, " Beware left any fpoil you through philofophy, and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Chrift." To come next to that of witchcraft, and here taking that cited head of mr. Gaule to be uncontroverted, fet it as a feventh conclufion: 7. That witchcraft confifts in a maligning and oppofing the word, work and worfhip of God, and feeking by any extraordinary fign to reduce any from it. Deut. xiii. 12. Matt. xxiv. 24. Adfs xiii. 8, lo. 2 Tfn. iii. 8. Do but mark well the places; and for this very property of thus oppofing and perverting, they are all there concluded arrant and abfolute witches; and it will be eafily granted, that the fame that is called witch, is called a falfe Chrift, a falfe prophet, and a forcerer, and that the terms are fynonimous; and that what the witches aim at is, to reduce the people to feek after other gods. But here the queftion will be, whether the witch really do things itrange in themfelves, and beyond their natural courfe, and all this by a power immediately from the devil. In this inquiry, as we have nothing to do with unwritten verities, fo but little with cabaliftic learning, which might perhaps but lead us more aftray; as in the inftance of their charging our Saviour with A GENTLEMAN, &C. 201 calling out devils by Beelzebub; his anfwer is, if fatan be divided againft himfelf, his kingdom hath an end. But feeing all are agreed, fet this eighth conclufion: 8. That God will not give his teltimony to a lie. To fay that God did at any time empower a witch to work wonders,* to gain belief to the do&trine of devils, were with one breath to deftllroy the root and branch of all revealed religion. And hence it is clear the witch has no fuch wonder-working power from God. And mult we then conclude ihe has fuch a miraculous power from the devil? If fo, then it follows, that either God gives the devil leave to empower the witch to make ufe of this feal, in order to deceive, or elfe that the devil has this power independent of himfelf.:To affiert the firlf of there were in effet to fay, that though God will not give his testimony to a lie, yet that he may empower the devil to fet to it God's own feal, in order to deceive. And what were this but to overthrow all revealed religion? The lalt, if afferted, muft be to own the devil to be *Jos. Glanvil, in his Saducifmus Triumphatus, publiihed in London in i68i, and which was confidered good authority in the trials in 1692, says " a witch is one who can do or feem to do ftrange things beyond the known power of art and ordinary nature by virtue of a confederacy with evil fpirits." It was the ftri& application of the above rule or tell, in the cafe of George Burroughs, that coit him his life. 202 LETTERS OF an unconquered enemy, and confequently a Sovereign deity, and deferving much thanks, that he exerts his power no more. Therefore in this dilemma it is wifdom for fhallow mortals to have recourfe to their only guide, and impartially to inquire, whether the witches really have fuch a miraculous or wonder-working power. And it is remarkable that the apoftle, Gal. v. 20, reckons up witchcraft among the works of the fleih; which, were it indeed a wonder-working power, received immediately from the devil, and wholly beyond the power of nature, it were very improper to place it with drunkennefs, murthers, adulteries, &c. all manifeft flefihly works.'Tis alfo remarkable, that witchcraft is generally in Scripture joined with Spiritual whoredom, i. e. idolatry. This thence will plainly appear to be the fame; only pretending to a fign, in order to deceive, feems to be yet a further degree: and in this fenfe Manaffeh and Jezebel, 2 Chron. xxxiii. 6; 2 Kings ix. 22, ufed witchcraft and whoredoms. NAahum iii. 4, the idolatrous city is called miftrefs of witchcrafts. But to inflance in one place inftead of many, 2 Tkefs. ii. 3 to 12, particularly 9 and 1o v. Even him, whofe coming is after the working of fatan, with all power and figns, and lying wonders, and with all deceivablenefs. Andfor this caufe God hallfend them flrong delJfions that they Jhould believe a lie, that they all A GENTLEMAN, &C. 203 might be damned, who believe not the truth, Ssc. This that then was fpoken in the prophecy of that man of fin, that was to appear, how abundantly does hiftory teftify the fulfilment of it, particularly to reduce to the worfhip of images! Have not the images been made to move, to fmile, &c.? Too tedious were it to mention the hundredth part of what undoubted hiftory doth abundantly teftif y. And hence do fet down this ninth conclufion: 9. That the man of fin, or reducer, &c. makes ufe of lying wonders to the end to deceive, and that God in righteous judgment may fend fJrong delufions that they /hould believe a lie, that they might be damned, who believe not the truth, &c.'Tis certain that the devil is a proud being, and would be thought to have a power equal to the Almighty; and it cannot but be very grateful to him to fee mortals charging one another with doing fuch works by the devil's power, as in truth is the proper prerogative of the Almighty, Omnipotent Being. The next head fhould have been about an explicit covenant between the witch and the devil, &c. But in this, the whole of it, I cannot perfuade myfelf but you muft be fenfible of an apparent leaning to education (or tradition) the fcriptures being wholly filent on it; and fuppofing this to fall in as a dependent on what went before, I mall fay the 204 LETTERS OF lefs to it; for if the devil has no fuch power to communicate upon fuch compa&, then the whole is a fi&tion; though I cannot but acknowledge you have faid fo much to uphold that dodrine, that I know not how any could have done more. However, as I faid, I find not myfelf engaged (unlefs fcripture proof were offered) to meddle with it: for as you have in fuch cafes your reafon for your guide, fo I muft be allowed to ufe that little that I have, and do only fay, that as God is a fpirit, fo he muit be worfhiped in fpirit and in truth; fo alfo that the devil is a fpirit, and that his rule is in the hearts of the children of' difobedience, and that an explicit covenant of one nature or another can have little force, any further than as the heart is engaged in it. And fo I pafs to the laft, viz. whether a witch ought to be put to death; and without accumulation of' the offence do judge, that where the law of any country is to punifh by death fuch as feduce and tempt to the worihip of ftrange gods (or idols, or ftatues) by as good authority may they, no doubt, punifh thefe as capital offenders, who are diftinguified by that one remove, viz. to their feducing is added a fign, i. e. they pretend to a fign in order to feduce. And thus, worthy fir, I have freely given you my thoughts upon yours, which you fo much obliged me with the fight of; and upon the whole, A GENTLEMAN, &C. 205 though I cannot in the general but commend your caution in not afferting many things contended for by others, yet muft fay, that in my efteem there is retained fo much as will fecure all the reft: (to in~fance) if a fpirit has a vehicle, i. e. fome portion of matter which it a&s, &c. hence as neceffarily may be inferred that do&trine of incubus and succubus, and why not that alfo of procreation by fpirits both good and bad? Thus was Alexander the Great, the Britifh Merlin, and Martin Luther, and many others, faid to be begotten. Again, if the witch had fuch a wonder-working power, why not to afflid? Will not the devil thus far gratify her? And have none this miraculous power, but the covenanting witch? Then the offence lies in the covenant; then it is not only hard, but impoffible, to find a witch by fuch evidence as the law of God requires; for it will not be fuppofed that they call witnefs to this covenant; therefore it will here be neceffary to admit of fuch as the nature of fuch covenant will bear (as mr. Gaule hath it in his fifth head, i. e.) the teftimony of the afflited, with their fpe&ral fight, to tell who affliCs themfelves or others; the experiment of faying the Lord's prayer, falling at the fight, and rifing at the touch, Searching for teats, (i. e. excrefcences of nature) ftrange and foreign ftories of the death of fome cattle, or overfetting fome 206 LETTERS OF cart. And what can juries have better to guide them to find out this covenant by? It is matter of lamentation, and let it be for; a lamentation, to confider how thefe things have opened the floodgates of malice, revenge, uncharitablenefs and bloodihed, and what multitudes have been fwept away by this torrent. In Germany, countries depopulated; in Scotland, no lefs than 4000 are faid to have fuffered by fire and halter at one heat. Thus we may fay with the prophet Ifa. lix. 10, We grope for the wall like the blind, and we grope as if we had no eyes: we flumble at noonday as in the ngiht, we are in defolate places as dead men: and this by feeking to be wife above what is written, in framing to ourfelves fuch crimes and fuch ordeals (or ways of trial) as are wholly foreign from the direCtion of our only guide, which thould be a light to our feet, and a lanthorn to our paths; but inftead of this, if we have not followed the diredion, we have followed the example, of pagan and papal Rome, thereby rendering us contemptible and bafe before all people, according as we have not kept his ways, but have been partial in his law. And now, that we may, in all our fentiments and ways, have regard to his teftimonies, and give to the Almighty the glory due to his name, A GENTLEMAN, &C. 207 is the earneff defire and prayer of, fir, yours to command, R. C. Sir, Since your defign of giving copies of our papers, if not to the public, at leaft out of your hands, I find myfelf obliged to make a reply to your anfwer, left filence fhould be construed an affent to the pofitions whereby, I think, truth would be fcandalized. I remember that fome have taught that it is not certain there is any fuch thing really in being as matter; becaufe the ideas which we have of our own and all other bodies may be caufed to arife in us by God, without the real exiftence of the objedts they reprefent. But this opinion is not only abfurd and falfe, but likewife atheiftical, deftroying the veracity of the Almighty, whom it afferts to have determined us by a fatal neceffity to believe things to be, which are not; and I wonder that you fhould allude unto it, becaufe that angels have appeared in a dream, in a vifion; for we dream alfo of trees, birds, &c. Are there therefore no fuch things in nature, because we Sometimes dream to fee and hear them, when we are aflleep? St. Paul in his vifion was fo far from believing the obje&ts that were reprefented to him to come by the intermedium of his fenfes, that he declares, he does 208 LETTERS OF not know whether he was in the body or out of the body; therefore the initance is in no wife proper. For Abraham and the Bleffed Virgin did fee and hear; and if there were not fuch things really, as were represented to them by their fenfes, they were deluded, by being made to believe they faw and heard what was not. There is none who denieth God caufeth thoughts to arife in men's minds; but thence to infer he maketh objeds which are not, by forming their ideas in our minds, to appear to us through the miniftry of our fenfes as though they were, is a piece not only of vain, but very dangerous, philofophy. It is true, the good angels will not appear without the appointment of' God; they will not do any one aCtion, but according to the laws he has prefcribed to them. But you fay they cannot, (which does not follow from your premifes) fuppofing their not appearing to proceed from the defe&t of' their power, and not the reditude of their will; which fallacy has deceived you into a third conclufion: for the fallen angels are not fo held under chains of darknefs, but that they can, and do, go to and fro on the earth, feeking whom they may devour. Before their fall they could have appeared if fent, and would not then do anything without a divine command; but now they have rebelled A GENTLEMAN, &C. 209 againif God, and do all they can to defpite him; therefore their not appearing now (if it were true they never did, they never ihall, appear) muft proceed from a reftraint they are under, which is accidental, not effential to their nature; fo that the true conclufion is, the fallen angels, while they are under forcible reftraint from God to the contrary, cannot appear. But what this (being cleared from the ambiguity you exprefs it in) maketh to the purpofe, I know not, unlefs God had promifed for a determinate time to detain them under this refiraint. I do not underftand what you intend by the dead being raifed by holy men; the moft natural inference is, that, in imitation of them, wicked men, by their enchantments calling on a damon to appear in the fhape of the dead, will pretend that they alfo can raife the dead. The Romanifis are much obliged to you for making tranfubitantiation (fo' much contended for by them) to be of as old a date as the appearance of devils, and that the one implieth no more contradition than the other: if f6, we do well to think ferioufly whether we are not guilty of great fin in feparating from them; for certainly whatever private men's notions in this age may be, yet it is matter of great moment, that all antiquity (the fadducees, the elder brethren of our Hobbifts, excepted) hath be14 210 LETTERS OF lieved the appearance of evil fpirits and their delufions. I fhould be too officious if I offered to explain how matter, real matter, may fall under the cognifance of one of our fenfes, and not the reft. It is for you to {hew the impoflibility thereof, if you will build any thing upon your affertion; to prove which, your firft argument is (it feems to me) a chimera; which is not enough, when there are many to whom it feems to be a truth. Your fecond is very dangerous, and highly derogatory of the honour of God, between whom and the devil you make comparifon more than once, as the power of the Almighty muft not be confidered to be lefs than the devil's. And again, to deny thefe three laft were to make the devil an independent power, and confequently a God. Thefe expreflions (which cannot but be very pleafing to the devil, who vainly boaits himfelf to be a being without dependence) are altogether groundlefs, and very unmeet to proceed from a chriftian. Confider what you are doing; to eftablifh a dodtrine (the contrary whereof the greatefi part of mankind does believe) you run upon fuch precipices, as, if you are mirtaken, (and that is not impoflible) muft totally delfroy all religion, natural and revealed; for fuppofe it were generally believed, according to you, that the devil cannot appear, becaufe if he could he muft A GENTLEMAN, &C. 211 be a God, independent, an unconquered enemy, and he doth appear to us as we hear he hath to multitudes, both of the paft and prefent ages; in fuch a cafe what remains for us to do, but to fall down and worfhip him? Upon the head of poffeffion, you have recourfe to that inflance of Samfon, who was empowered by God to the doing of things beyond the natural ftrength of common men; and thence you fay, we may at leaft learn the nature of pofreffion by evil fpirits. This comparifon is indeed very odious, and I had rather think you have fallen into it unawares; for what greater blafphemy, than that God and the devil do a&t the bodies, which the one and the other do poffefs, in the fame manner? If the hypothefis I laid down had not pleafed you, yet you ought not (for fear of being deceived by vain philofophy) to have run to fo horrible an extreme, as to affimilate God's manner of working to the devil's, which neceffarily implies, that either their powers' are equal, or at leaft that they do not differ in kind, but in degree only; than which nothing can be more impious or abfurd: for the moft poffible perfe& creature is infinitely diftant from the Creator, and there can be no comparifon between them. On the head of witchcraft, you acknowledge the witch has not his wonder-working power 212 LETTERS OF from God; but then you fay, the devil has no fuch power to give; for if he had, he muff be -. This way of reafoning, as I noted before, is very dangerous, and I think ought not to be ufed; befides, there is a great fallacy in your dilemma; which, becaufe I perceive you lay the whole weight of the matter upon it, I will evince unto you. The devil, though Superlatively arrogant and proud, neverthelefs depends on the Firif Caufe for his being, and all his powers, without whofe influx he or any other creature cannot fubfiff a moment, but muff either return to their primitive nothing, or be continually preferved by the fame power, by the which they were at firft produced; therefore the being and powers of all creatures (becaufe they immediately flow from God) are good, and confequently the fimple actions, as they proceed from thofe powers, are in their own nature likewife good, the evil proceeding only from the rebellious will of the creature; wherefore it is no paradox, but a certain truth, that the fame adion in refpe6 of the firlf caufe is good, but in refpeCt of the fecond is evil; for initance, the a& of copulation is in itfelf good, instituted by God, and may be explicitly willed and defired by the foul, which finneth not for exerting the fimple a&, but for exerting it contrary to the laws prefcribed by God: as in wedlock and adultery there is the A GENTLEMAN, &C. 213 fame fpecial natural a6tion, which, confidered limply, as flowing from a power given to man by God, is certainly good; but confidered with relation to the rebellious will of the adulterer (who lieth with his neighbour's wife, whom he is forbid to touch) is a very great evil. We may fay the fame of all human aations; the executioner and the murtherer do the fame natural a& of Ptriking and killing: the difference confifts in the retitude of the one's, and depravation of the other's, will. Thefe things premifed, what more reafon have we to conclude that the devil (becaufe he fhews figns and wonders to gain belief to lies, which is very contrary to the will of God) muff be therefore an independent power, than that the adulterer, the murtherer, or any other finner (becaufe their aaions being evil, of which God cannot be the caufe) muff be independent beings'? The deceit of the laft is very palpable, and I doubt not but you will readily acknowledge it; for it is obvious from what has been faid, to the meaneft capacity, to diftinguifh between the a&ion itfelf, which is good, and flows from God, and the circumftances of the adion, the choice whereof proceeds from the iniquity of the will, wherein doth folely confiff the fin; the parallel is fo exa&, that I cannot fee the leaff fhadow of reafon, why we ought not in like manner to diftinguilh whatever 214 LETTERS OF effet is produced by the devil; to whom (as to man) God, having given powers, and a will to rule thofe powers, is truly and properly the caufe of all the a&ions (in a natural, but not moral fenfe) that flow from the powers he has given. Therefore the wonder-working power of the devil, and the effe&s thereof, confidered as ads of one of God's creatures, are not evil but good; the ufing that power (which proceeds from the rebellion of fatan) to bear teftimony to a lie, is that one, which conftitutes the evil thereof. And now I have done with your argument, wherein you have indeed fhewn great (kill and dexterity in turning to your advantage what, being fairly flated, makes againf{ you, as the appearance of angels, &c. observing nicely the rules of art, and particularly that grand one of concealing, nay diffembling, the fame art; as when you quote that fcripture concerning vain philofophy (of which, though altogether foreign from the matter in hand, yet) you intend to ferve yourfelf with the unthinking, who meafure the fenfe of words by their jingle, not knowing how to weigh the things they fignify; and truly herein your end is very artificial: for you intend both to throw dirt at them that differ from you, and at the fame time to cover yourfelf with fuch a fubtle web, through which you may fee, and not be feen. What follows is rather a rhetorical A GENTLEMAN, &C. 215 le&ure, fuch as the patriots of fedts (who commonly explain the holy Scriptures according to their own dogmas, and fo obtrude human invention for the pure word of God) ufe with their auditors, to recommend any principle they have a mind to eftabliih, than an impartial and thorough difquifition of a controverted point; wherefore I do not think myfelf obliged to take any further notice of it; efpecially feeing truth, which for the moft part is little regarded in fuch florid difcourfes, and not any prejudice of education, intereft or party, did fet me about this fubje&. I have never been ufed to compliment in points of controverfy, therefore I hope you will not be angry becaufe I have given you my thoughts naked and plain. I have not the leaft motion in my mind of accufing you of any formal defign to injure religion; I only obferve unto you, that your over eager contention to maintain your principle has hurried you to affert many things of much greater danger, both in themfelves and their confequences, than thofe you would feem to avoid; which do amount to no more than that men, being (in the ordinary courfe of providence) the depofitories of both divine and human laws, may (infiead of ufing them to preferve) pervert them to deftroy; which indeed is very lamentable. But it is the inevitable confequent of our depraved nature, and cannot be wholly remedied, 216 LETTERS OF till fin, and the grand author of fin, the devil, be entirely conquered, and God be all in all; to whom, with the Son, and Holy Ghoft, be glory for ever, Amen. Sir, your affeCtionate friend to ferve you. BofJon, July 25, 1694. Worthy Sir, Bofton, AugufJ 17, 1694. Yours of July 25 being in fome fort furprifing to me, I could do no lefs than fay fomewhat, as well to vindicate myfelf from thofe many refle&ions, miftakes and hard cenfures therein, as alfo to vindicate what I conceive to be important truth; and to that end find it needful to repeat fome part of mine, viz. conclufion i. That the glorious angels have their miflion and commiffion from the Moft High. 2. That without this they cannot appear to mankind. 3. That if the glorious angels have not that power to go till commiflioned, or to appear to mortals, then not the fallen angels, who are held in chains of darknefs to the judgment of the great day. 4. That when the Almighty Free Agent has a work to bring about for his own glory, or man's good, he can employ not only the bleffied angels, but evil ones, in it. A GENTLEMAN, &c. 217 5. That when the Divine Being will employ the agency of evil fpirits for any fervice, it is with him the manner how they ihall exhibit themselves, whether to the bodily eye, or intelled only, or whether it fhall be more or lefs formidable. To deny there three laff, were to make the devil an independent power, and confequently a God. The bare recital of there is fufficient to vindicate me from that reiterated charge, of denying all appearances of angels or devils. That the good angels cannot appear without miffion and commiffion from the Moft High, is, you fay, more than follows from the premifes; but if you like not fuch negative deduction, though fo natural, it concerns you (if you will affert this power to be in their natures, and their non-appearance only to proceed from the rectitude of their wills, and that without fuch com.miffion they have a power to appear to mortals, and upon this to build fo prodigious a ftru&ure, &c.) very clearly to prove it by fcripture; for chriftians have good reafon to take the apoffle's warning (if fome philosophers have taught that man is nothing but matter, and others that'tis not certain there is any matter at all) to take heed left they fhould be fpozied through vain philofophy, &c. but that this flould be alluded to fuch as 218 LETTERS OF never heard of either notion, or that it was afferted that thofe real appearances to Jofeph, and to the apoffle, were through the miniftry of the fenfes, is as vain as fuch philofophy. As to the dead being raifed, had I ufed art or rhetorick enough to explain my meaning to you, I needed not now to rejoin, —that'tis as good an argument to fay, that becaufe holy prophets have raifed the dead, therefore wicked men have a power to raife the dead, as'tis to fay, becaufe good angels have appeared, therefore the evil have a power to appear; for who can doubt, but if the Almighty Ihall commiffion a wicked man to it, he alfo fhall raife the dead? as is intimated, Matt. vii. 22, And in thy name done many wonderful works. As to comparifons being odious, particularly that concerning Samfon, I think it needful here to add thefe fcriptures further to confirm the fourth conclufion. 2 Sam. xxiv. i, compared with 1 Chron. xxi. 1. In one'tis God moved, &c. and in the other Satan provoked David to number the people. 2 Chron. xviii. 21, And the Lord faid, thou Jhalt entice him and t ou Jhalt alo prevail; go out and do even Jo; all which, with many more that might be produced, will ihew the truth of the conclufion; fo that'tis no odious comparifon to fay, that as the Almighty can make ufe of good, fo alfo of evil fpirits, for the accomplithing of his own wife A GENTLEMAN, &C. 219 ends, and can empower either without the help of a vehicle: for poffeflions muft be numbered among God's afflidive difpenfations, who alfo orders all the circumftances thereof. But if any obje&t, God is not the author of evil, &c. you have furnifhed me with a very learned anfwer, by difiinguifhing between the a&, and the evil of the ad, and to which'tis adapt, but will no wife fuit where it is placed, till it be firft proved that the devil hath of himfelf fuch power not only of appearing at pleafure, but of working miracles, and to the Almighty referved only the power of reftraining; for, till this be proved, the dilemma mulf remain ftable. He that afferts, that becaufe good angels have appeared, therefore the fallen angels have a power of themfelves to appear to mortals, and that they cannot be employed by the Almighty, nor that he does not order the manner and circumrnfances of fuch appearance, what doth he lefs than make the devil an independent power, and confequently a God? So he that affierts that the devil hath a power of himfelf, and independent, to work wonders, and miracles, and to empower witches to do like in order to deceive, &c. what doth he lefs than own him to be an unconquered enemy, and consequently a fovereign deity? and who is he that is culpable? he that afcribes fuch attributes to the evil one, or he that afferts that the fo 220 LETTERS OF doing gives him (or afcribes to him) fuch power as is the prerogative of him only who is Almighty? And here, fir, it highly concerns you to confider your foundations, what proof from fcripture is to be found for your affertions, and who it is you are contending for: for hitherto nothing like a proof hath been offered from Scripture, which abounds fo with the contrary, that he that runs may read; as, Shall there be evil in the city, and the Lord hath not done it?. Who is he that faith, and it cometh to paJs, when the Lord commandceth not? IW4ho among the gods of the heathen (of which the devil is one) can give rain? &c. But I fhall not be tedious in multiplying proofs, to that which all feem to own. For as to that ifale plea of univerfality, do fay that I have read of one, if not feveral, general councils, that have not only difapproved, but anathematized them that have afcribed fuch powers to the devils. And feveral national proteftant churches at this day, in their exhortations before the facrament (among other enormous crimes) admonifh all that believe any fuch power in the witch, &c. to withdraw, as unmeet to partake at the Lord's table. And I believe chriftians in general, if they were afked, would own that what powers the devil may at any time have to appear, to affli&, A GENTLEMAN, &C. 221 deftroy, or caufe tempefts, &c. muft be by power or commiflion from the Sovereign Being; and that, having fuch a commiflion, not only hail, but frogs, lice, or fleas, fhall be empowered to plague a great king and kingdom. And if fo, this fandy ftruture of the devil's appearance, and working wonders, at pleafure, and of empowering witches to afflit, &c. (for to this narrow crifis is that whole dodtrine reduced) the whole difappears at the firft fhaking. Thus, worthy fir, I have given you my fentiments, and the grounds thereof, as plainly and as concife as I was able; though'tis indeed a fubjef& that calls for the ableft pens to difcufs, acknowledging myfelf to be infufficient for thefe things. However, I think I have done but my duty, for the glory of God, the Sovereign being; and have purposely avoided fuch a reply as fome parts of yours required; and pray that not only you and I, but all mankind, may give to the Almighty the glory due unto his name. From, fir, yours to command, R. C. Witchcraft is manffeflly a work of the flefl. PART V. AN IMPARTIAL ACCOUNT OF THE MOST MEMORABLE MATTERS OF FACT, TOUCHING THE SUPPOSED WITCHCRAFT IN NEW-ENGLAND. R. PARRIS had been fome years II a minifler in Salem Village,* when' that a Faithful Minifter of the Church of England, whofe Name K1,I ~ was Mr. Edward Symons, did in a Sermon, afterwards Printed, thus exprefs himfelf; At New-England, now the Sun oJ Com;obrt begins to appear, and the gloriouzs DayStar to fhow it felf, —Sed Venient Annis Saxcula Seris, there will come Times in after Ages, when the Clouds will overfhadow and darken the Skey there. Many now promfe to tkemfelves nothing but Jucce ive Happinefs there, whzich for a time through God's Mercy they may enjoy; and I pray God they may a long time: but in this W[orld there is no happzinefs perpetual. An Obfervation, or I had almoft faid, an Infpiration, very difmally now verify'd upon us! It has been Affirm'd by fome who belt knew NTew-England, That the World will do New-England a great piece of Injuftice, if it acknowledg not a meafure of Religion, Loyalty, Honefty and Indufiry, in the people there, beyond what is to be found 384 ENCHANTMENTS ENCOUNTERED. with any other People for the number of them. When I did a few years ago, Publifh a Book, which mentioned a few memorable Witchcrafts, committed in this Country; the excellent Baxter, graced the Second Edition of that Book, with a kind Preface, wherein he fees caufe to fay, If any are Scandalized, that New-England, a place of as ferrous Piety, as any I can hear of, under Heaven, Jliould be troubled fo much with HYitches; I think,'tis no wonder: VWhere will the Devil/hew moJl Malice, but where he is hated, and hateth moji: And I hope, the Country will frill deferve and anfwer the Charity fo expreffed by that Reverend Man of God. Whofoever travels over this Wildernefs, will fee it richly befpangled with Evangelical Churches, whofe Paftors are holy, able, and painful Overfeers of their Flocks, lively Preachers, and vertuous Livers: and fuch as in their feveral Neighbourly Aflociations, have had their Meetings whereat Ecclefiaftical Matters of common Concernment are confidered: Churches, whofe Communicants have been ferioufly examined about their Experiences of Regeneration, as well as about their Knowledg, and Belief, and blamelefs Converfation, before their admiflion to the Sacred Communion; altho others of lefs but hopeful Attainments in Chriftianity are not ordinarily deny'd Baptifm for themfelves and theirs; Churches, ENCHANTMENTS ENCOUNTERED. 385 which are fhye of ufing anything in the Worihip of God, for which they cannot fee a Warrant of God; but with whom yet the Names of Congregatibnal,PreJbyterian, Epylcopal'an, or Antlpedobaptif/, are fwallowed up in that of ClriStian; Perfons of all thofe Perfwafions being taken into our Fellowihip, when vifible Godlinefs has recommended them; Churches which ufually do within themselves manage their own Difcipline under the Condua of their Elders; but yet call in the help of Synods upon Emergencies, or Aggrievancies: Churches, Laffly, wherein Multitudes are growing ripe for Heaven every day; and as faff as thefe are taken off, others are daily rifing up. And by the Prefence and Power of the Divine Inflitutions thus maintained in the Country. WVe are ffill fo happy, that I fuppofe there is no Land in the Univerfe more free from the debauching, and the debafing Vices of Ungodlinefs. The Body of the People are hitherto fo difpofed, that Swearing, Sabbatk-breaking, ['horing, Drunkennefs, and the like, do not make a Gentleman, but a Monffer, or a Goblin, in the vulgar Effimation. All this notwithftanding, we muff humbly confefs to our God, that we are miferably degenerated fromn the firff Love of our Predeceffors; however we boaff ourfelves a little, when Men would go to trample upon us, and we venture to fay, 25 386 ENCHANTMENTS ENCOUNTERED. J4Jhereinfoever any is bold (we fpeak foolijily) we are bold alfo. The firif Planters of there Colonies were a chofen Generation of Men, who were firft fo pure, as to difrelifh many things which they thought wanted Reformation elfewhere, and yet withal fo peaceable, that they embraced a voluntary Exile in a fqualid, horrid American Defart, rather than to live in Contentions with their Brethren. Thofe good Men imagined that they fhould never fee the Inroads of Profanity, or fuperifition: And a famous Perfon returning hence, could in a Sermon before the Parliament, profefs, I have now been feven Tears in a Country, where I never faw one Man drunk, or heard one Oath fworn, or beheld one Beggar in the Streets all the while. Such great Perfons as Budeus, and others, who miffook Sir Thomas Moor's UTOPIA; for a Country really exigfent, and ftirr'd up fome Divines charitably to undertake a Voyage thither, might now have certainly found a Truth in their Miftake; NewEngland was a true Utopia. But, alas, the Children and Servants of thofe old Planters muft needs afford many degenerate Plants, and there is now rifen up a Number of People, otherwife inclined than our yoJvua's, and the Elders that out-liv'd them. Thofe two things our holy Progenitors, and our happy Advantages make Omiffions of Duty, and fuch Spiritual Diforders as ENCHANTMENTS ENCOUNTERED. 387 the whole World abroad is overwhelmed with, to be as provoking in us, as the moft flagitious Wickednefs committed in other places; and the Minifters of God are accordingly revere in their Teftimonies: But in fhort, thofe Interefts of the Gofpel, which were the Errand of our Fathers into there Ends of the Earth, have been too much neglected and poftponed, and the Attainments of an handfome Education, have been too much undervalued, by Multitudes that have not fallen into Exorbitances of wickednefs; and fome, efpecially of our young Ones, when they have got abroad from under the Reirraints here laid upon them, have become extravagantly and abominably Vicicious. Hence'tis that the Happinefs of New-England has been but for a time, as it was foretold, and not for a long time, as has been defir'd for us. A Variety of Calamity has long follow'd this Plantation; and we have all the Reafon imaginable to afcribe it unto the Rebuke of Heaven upon us fbr our manifold Apoftacies; we make no right ufe of our Difafters. If we do not, Remember whence we are fallen, and repent, and do the firfi Works. But yet our Afflitions may come under a further Confideration with us: There is a further Caufe of our Afflitions, whofe due muft be given him. ~ II. The Nlew-Englanders are a People of 388 ENCHANTMENTS ENCOUNTERED. God fettled in thofe which were once the Devils Territories; and it may eafily be fuppofed that the Devil was exceedingly difturbed, when he perceived fuch a People here accomplifhing the Promife of old made unto our Bleffed Jefus, That he fhould have the utmofl parts of the Earth for his Poefion. There was not a greater Uproar among the Ephefians, when the Gofpel was firft brought among them, than there was among The Powers of the Air (after whom thofe Ephefians walked) when firft the Silver Trumpets of the Gofpel here made the Joyful Sound. The Devil thus Irritated, immediately try'd all forts of Methods to overturn this poor Plantation: and fo much of the Church, as was Fled into thzs JJildernefs, immediately found, The Serpent cafJ out of his Mouth a Flood for the carrying of it away. I believe, that never were more Satanical Devices ufed for the Unfettling of any People under the Sun, than what have been Employed for the Extirpation of the Fine which God has here Planted, CaJling out the Heathen, and preparing a Room before it, and caufing it to take deep Root, and fill the Land, fo that it Jent its Boughs unto the Atlantic Sea Eaftward, and its Branches unto the Connedicut River Weftward, and the Hills were covered with the jhadow thereof. But, All thofe Attempts of Hell have hitherto been Abortive, many an Ebenezer ENCHANTMENTS ENCOUNTERED. 389 has been Ereded unto the Praife of God, by his Poor People here; and Having obtained Help from God, we continue to thiJ Day: Wherefore the Devil is now making one Attempt more upon us; an Attempt more Difficult, more Surprizing, more fnarl'd with unintelligible Circumifances than any that we have hitherto Encountred; an Attempt fo Critzcal, that if we get well through, we fhall foon Enjoy Halcyon Days, with all the Vultures of Hell Trodden under our Feet. He has wanted his Incarnate Legions to Perfecute us, as the People of God have in the other Hemifphere been perfecuted; he has therefore drawn forth his more Spiritual ones to make an Attacque upon us. We have been advifed by fome Credible Chriftians yet alive, that a Malefaetor, accufed of' Witchcraft as well as Murder, and Executed in this place more than Forty Years ago, did then give Notice of, An Horrible PLOT agalnft the Country by WITCHCRAFT and a Foundation of WITCHCRAFT then laid, which {f it were not feafonably dijfcovered, would probably Blow up, and pull down all the Churches in the Country. And we have now with Horror feen the DJfcovery of fuch a Wltchcraft! An Army of Devils is horribly broke in upon the place which is the Center, and after a fort, the Firft born of our Englijz Settlements: and the Houfes of the Good People there are 390 ENCHANTMENTS ENCOUNTERED. filled with the doleful Shrieks of their Children and Servants, Tormented by Invifible Hands, with Tortures altogether preternatural. After the Mifchiefs there Endeavoured, and fince in part Conquered, the terrible Plague, of Evil Angels, hath made its Progrefs into fome other places, where other Perfons have been in like manner Diabolically handled. Thefe our poor Affli&ed N eighbours, quickly after they become Infe ted and Infefted with there Dxmons, arrive to a Capacity of Difcerning thofe which they conceive the Shapes of their Troubles; and notwithifanding the Great and Juft Sufpicion, that the Damons might Impofe the Shapes of Innocent Perfons in their Speiral Exhibitions upon the Sufferers, (which may perhaps prove no fmall part of the I1//tc/-Plot in the iffue) yet many of the Perfons thus Reprefented, being Examined, feveral of them have been Convi&ted of a very Damnable JKtchcraft: Yea, more than One. Twenty have ConjefJed, that they have Signed unto a Book, which the Devil fhow'd them, and Engaged in his Hellifh Defign of Bewzitching, and Ruining our Land. We know not, at leafi I know not, how far the Delufions of Satan may be Interwoven into fome Circumfrances of the Confefflions; but one would think all the Rules of Underftanding Humane Affairs are at an End, If after fo many moft Voluntary ENCHANTMENTS ENCOUNTERED. 391 Harmonious Confeflions, made by Intelligent Perfons of all Ages in fundry Towns, at feveral Times, we muft not Believe the main ftrokes wherein thofe Confeffions agree: Efpecially when we have a Thoufand preternatural Things every day before our Eyes, wherein the Confeffors do acknowledg their Concernment, and give DemonfIration of their being fo Concerned. If the Devils now can firike the Minds of Men with any Poyfons of fo fine a Compofition and Operation, that fcores of Innocent People fhall Unite, in Confeffions of a Crime, which we fee adtually Committed, it is a.thing prodigious beyond the Wonders of the former Ages, and it threatens no lefs than a fort of a Diffolution upon the World. Now, by thefe Confeflions'tis Agreed, That the Devil has made a dreadful Knot of' Witches in the Country, and by the help of Witches has dreadfully increafed that Knot: That thefe Witches have driven a Trade of Commiffioning their Confederate Spirits, to do all forts of Mifchiefs to the Neighbours, whereupon there have enfued fuch Mifchievous Confequences upon the Bodies and Eftates of the Neighbourhood, as could not otherwife be accounted for: Yea, That at prodigious WitchMeetings, the Wretches have proceeded fo far, as to Concert and Confult the Methods of Rooting out the Chriftian Religion from this Coun 392 ENCHANTMENTS ENCOUNTERED. trey, and fetting up inflead of it, perhaps a more grofs Diabolifm, that ever the World faw before. And yet it will be a thing little fhort of' Miracle, if in fo fpread a bufinefs as this the Devil ihould not get in fome of his Judges, to confound the Difcovery of all the refit. ~ III. Doubtlefs, the Thoughts of many will receive a great Scandal againft New-England, from the Number of Perfons that have been Accufed, or Sufpe&ed, for Witchcraft, in this Country: But it were eafie to offer many things, that may Anfwer and Abate the Scandal. If the holy Ghoft thould any where permit the Devils to hook two or three wicked Scholars into Witchcraft, and then by their Affiftance to Range with their PoJfonous Infinuations among Ignorant, Envious, Difcontented People, till they have cunningly decoy'd them into fome fudden A2F, whereby the Toyls of Hell ffiall be perhaps inextricably call over them: what Country in the World would not afford Witckes, numerous to a Prodigy? Accordingly, The Kingdoms of Sweden, Denmark, Scotland, yea, and England it felf, as well as the Province of NewEngland, have had their Storms of JWitchcrafts breaking upon them, which have made moir Lamentable Devaftations: which alfo I with, may be the Laft. And it is not uneafie to be ENCHANTMENTS ENCOUNTERED. 393 imagined, That God has not brought out all the Jf/itchcrafts in many other Lands, with fuch a fpeedy, dreadful, deftroying Jealoufie, as burns forth upon fuch High Treafons, committed here in A Land of uprizhtneSs: Tranfgreffors may more quickly here than elfewhere become a Prey to the Vengeance of him, Jho has Eyes like a Flame of Fzre, and, who walks in the mzidJ? of the Golden Candleflicks. Moreover, There are many parts of the World, who if they do upon this Occafion infult over this People of God, need only to be told the Story of what happened at Loim, in the Dutchy of Gulic, where a Popifh Curate having ineffe&ually try'd many Charms to EjeC the Devil out of a Damfel there poffeffed, he paflionately bid the Devil come out of her into himfelf; but the anfwered him, Quid milhi Opus, eJf eum centare, quem Novflimo die, 7ure Optimo fum pofeffurus? That is, iyhat need I meddle with one whom I am fure to have, and hold at the LafJ-day as my own for ever. 394 THE WONDERS OF THE An Hortatory and Neceffary Addrefs, To a Country now Extraordinarily Alarum'd by the Wrath of the Devil.'Tis this. LET us now make a good and right ufe of the prodigious DeJcent which the Devil in Great Wrath is at this day making upon our Land. Upon the Death of a Great Man once, an Orator call'd the Town together, crying out, Concurrite Cives, Dilapfa junt vefira MJrnia! that is Cvme together, Nezghbours, your Town 1Walls are fallen down! But fuch is the Defcent of the Devil at this day upon our felves, that I may truly tell you, The Walls of the whole World are broken down! The ufual Walls of Defence about Mankind have fuch a Gap made in them, that the very Devils are broke in upon us, to reduce the Souls, torment the Bodies, fully the Credits, and confume the Eflates of our Neighbours, with Impreffions both as real and as furious, as if the Inviible World were becoming Incarnate, on purpofe for the vexing of us. And what ufe ought now to be made of fo tremendous a Difpenfation? We are engaged in a FalJ this day; but ihall we try to fetch Meat out of the Eater, and make the Lion to afford fome Honey for our Souls? That the Devil is come down unto us with INVISIBLE WORLD. 395 great JtFrath, we find, we feel, we now deplore. In many ways, for many years hath the Devil been affaying to extirpate the Kingdom of our Lord Jefus here. New England may complain of the Devil, as in Pfal. 129. 1, 2. Many a time have they a.fftlied me, from my Yroth, may New England now fay; many a time have they afflieed me from my loulh, yet they have not prevailed againJ? me. But now there is a more than ordinary A.ffl/ion with which the Devil is Galling of us; and fuch an one as is indeed Unparallelable. The things confeffed by Witches, and, the things endured by Others, laid together, amount unto this account of our affli&ion. The Devzl, exhibiting himfelf ordinarily as a fmall Black Man, has decoy'd a fearful knot of proud, froward, ignorant, envious and malicious Creatures, to lift themfelves in his horrid Service, by entring their Names in a Book by him tendered unto them. Thefe 4Yzitches, whereof above a Score have now Confeffed and Jhown their Deeds, and fome are now tormented by the Devils for Confefjing, have met in Hellifh Randezvouzes, wherein the Confeffors do fay, they have had their Diabolical Sacraments, imitating the Bapt0fm and the Supper of our Lord. In there helliAh Meetings, thefe Montfers have affociated themfelves to do no lefs a thing than to dejtroy the Kingdom of our Lord yefus Chrzil in thefe parts 396 THE WONDERS OF THE of the World; and in order hereunto, Firfl, they each of them have their Speatres or Devils, commiffion'd by them, and reprefenting of them, to be the Engines of their Malice. By thefe wicked Spetfres they fieze poor People about the Country, with various and bloody Torments; and of thofe evidently preternatural Torments there are fome have dy'd. They have bewitched fome, even fo far as to make Self-deflroyers: And others are in many Towns here and there languifhing under their Evil hands. The People thus affli&ed, are miferably Scratched and bitten, fo that the Marks are moft vifible to all the World, but the Caufes utterly invifible: And the fame invifible Furies do moft vifibly flick Pins into the Bodies of the Affli&ed, and Scale them, and hideoufly diftort and difjoint all their Members, befides a thoufand others of Plagues beyond there, of any natural Difeafes which they give unto them. Yea, they fometimes drag the poor People out of their Chambers, and carry them over Trees and Hills for divers Miles together. A large part of the Perfons tortured by there Diabolical Spefres, are horribly tempted by them, Sometimes with fair Promifes, and Sometimes with hard Threatnings, but always with felt Miferies to fign the Devils Laws in a Spedral Book laid before them; which two or three of there poor Suffer INVISIBLE WORLD. 397 ers, being by their tirefome Sufferings overcome to do, they have immediately been releafed from all their Miferies. and they appeared in Spelfre then to torture thofe that were before their Fellow-Sufferers. The Witches, which by their Covenant with the Devil, are become Owners of Spefres, are often-times by their own Spefires required and compelled to give their Confent, for the molefration of fome, which they had no mind otherwife to fall upon; and cruel Depradations are then made upon the Vicinage. In the Profecution of thefe Witchcrafts, among a thoufand other unaccountable things, the Spectres have an odd faculty of cloathing the moff fubftantial and corporeal Inftruments of Torture with Invifibility, while the Wounds thereby given have been the moft palpable things in the World; fo that the Sufferers affaulted with Inftruments of Iron, wholly unfeen by the Standers-by, though, to their Coft, feen by themselves, have, upon fnatching, wrefted the Inftruments out of the Spefres hands, and every one has then immediately not only beheld, but handled an Iron Inftrument taken by a Devil from a Neighbour. Thefe wicked Spelfres have proceeded fo far, as to fteal feveral quantities of Money from divers People, part of which Money has, before fufficient SpeCtators, been dropt out of the Air into the hand of the 398 THE WONDERS OF THE Sufferers, while the Speatres have been urging them to fubfcribe their Covenant with Death. In fuch extravagant ways have there Wretches propounded the Dragooning of as many as they can in their own Combination, and the Deftroying of others, with lingring, Spreading, deadly Difeafes, till our Countrey fhould at laft become to hot for us. Among the Ghaftly Initances of the Succefs which thofe Bloody Witches have had, we have feen even fome of their own Children fo dedicated unto the Devil, that in their Infancy it is found the Imps have fucked them, and rendred them venemous to a Prodegy. We have alfo feen the Devils firft Batteries upon the Town, where the firit church of our Lord in this Colony was gathered, producing thofe diftra&ions, which have almoft ruin'd the Town. We have feen likewife the Plague reaching afterwards into other Towns far and near, where the Houfes of good Men have the Devils filling of them with terrible Vexations! This is the Defcent, which it feems, the Devil has now made upon us. But that which makes this Defcent the more formidable, is, The multi. tude and quality of Perfons accufed of an Intereft in this Witchcraft, by the Efficacy of the Speafres which take their Name and Shape upon them; caufing very many good and wife Men to fear, That many innocent, yea, and fome ver INVISIBLE WORLD. 399 tuous Perfons, are by the Devils in this matter impofed upon; That the Devils have obtained the Power, to take on them the likenefs of harmlefs People, and in that likenefs to affliit other people, and be fo abufed by Preftigious Damons, that upon their look or touch the afflited ihall be odly affected. Arguments from the Providence of God, on the one fide, and from our Charity towards Man on the other fide, have made this now to become a moft agitated Controverfie among us. There is an Agony produced in the minds of Men, left the Devil ihould fham us with Devices, of perhaps a finer Thred, than was ever yet pra6tifed upon the World. The whole bufinefs is become hereupon fo fnarled, and the determination of the Queftion one way or another, fo difmal, that our Honourable Judges have a room for YehoJhaphat's Exclamation, /We know not what to do! They have ufed, as Judges have heretofore done, the Spetral Evidences, to introduce their further Enquiries into the Lives of the perfons accufed; and they have thereupon, by the wonderful Providence of God, been fo ftrengthened with other Evidences, that fome of the Witch Gang have been fairly executed. But what fhall be done, as to thofe againft whom the Evidence is chiefly founded in the dark World? Here they do folemnly demand our Addreffies to the 400 THE WONDERS OF THE Father of Lzghts on their behalf. But in the mean time, the Devil improves the Darknefs of this Affair, to pufh us into a Blind mans Bu/fet, and we are even ready to be finfully, yea, hotly and madly, mauling one another in the dark. The confequence of thefe things every confiderate man trembles at, and the more, becaufe the frequent cheats of Paflion and Rumour, do precipitate fo many, that I with I could fay, The moft were confiderate. But that which carries on the formidablenefs of our Trials, unto that which may be called, A wrath unto the uttermoji, is this: It is not without the wrath of the Almighty God himfelf, that the Devil is permitted thus to come down upon us in wrath. It was faid in Ifa. 9. 19. Through the wrath of the Lord of Hofls the Land is darkned. Our Land is darkned indeed, fince the Powers of Darknefs are turned in upon us:'Tis a dark time, yea, a black night indeed, now the Ty-dogs of the Pit are abroad among us: but, it zs through the wrath of the Lord of Hofs! Inafmuch as the Firebrands of Hell it felf are ufed for the fcorching of us with caufe enough may we cry out, f[[hat means the heat of this Anger? Bleffed Lord! Are all the other Inftruments of thy Vengeance too good for the chaftifement of fuch Tranfgreffors as we are? Muff the very Devils be fent out of their own place, to be our INVISIBLE WORLD. 401 Troublers? Muff we be lafh'd with Scorpions, fetch'd from the Place of Torment? Muff this /ildernefs be made a Receptacle for the Dragons oJ the ffildernefs? If a Lapland lhould nourifh in it vafi numbers, the Succeffors of the old BAarml, who can with looks or words bewitch other people, or fell Winds to Mariners, and have their Familiar Spirits which they bequeath to their Children when they die, and by their enchanted Kettle-drums can learn things done a thoufand Leagues off. If a Swedeland fhould afford a Village, where fome Score of Haggs may not only have their Meetings with Famlliar Spirits, but alfo by their Enchantments drag many fcores of poor Children out of their Bedchambers, to be fpoiled at thofe Meetings; This, were not altogether a matter of fo much wonder! But that New-England ifould this way be haraffed! They are not Chaldeans, that Bitter and Hafly Nation, but they are Bitter and Burning Devils: They are not Swarthy Indians, but they are Sooty Devils; that are let loofe upon us. Ah, poor NTew-England! mufft the Plague of Old Egypt come upon thee? Whereof we read in PfJ 78. 49. He calJ upon them the fiercenefs of his Anger, Wi'rath and Indzgnation, and CTrouble, by fending Evil Angels among them. What, O what muft next be looked fbor? Muff that which is there next mentioned be next encoun26 402 THE WONDERS O0} rHEL tred? He fpared not their Soul from Death, but gave their Lzfe over to the Peflilence. For my part, when I confider what Melandfon fays, in one of his Epiftles, That thefe Diabolical Spefacles are often Prodigies; and when I confider, how often People have been by Spedres called upon, juft before their Deaths, I am verily afraid, left fome wafting Mortality be among the things, which this Plague is the Forerunner of. I pray God prevent it! But now, /14hat fhall we do? I. Let the Devils coming down in great wrath upon us, caufe us to come down in great grief before the Lord. We may truly and fadly fay, We are brought very low! Low indeed, when the Serpents of the Duft are crawling and coyling about us, and infulting over us. May we not fay, We are all in the Belly of Hell, when Hell it felf is feeding upon us? But how low is that! O let us then moft penitently lay our felves very Low before the God of Heaven who has thus abafed us. When a truculent Nero, a Devil of a Man, was turned in upon the World, it was faid in 1 Pet. 5. 6. Humhle yourfelves under the mighty hand of God. How much more now ought we to humble our Selves under that Mighty Hand of that God, who indeed has the Devil in a Chain, but has horribly lengthened out the Chain? When the old People of God heard any BlaJ INVISIBLE WORLD. 403 phemnl~s, tearing of his ever-bleffed Name to pieces, they were to rend their Cloaths at what they heard. I am fure that we have caufe to rend our hearts this day, when we fee what an high Treafon has been committed againft the mofi High God, by the Witchcrafts in our Neighbourhood. We may fay; and fhall we not be humbled when we fay it'? /IVe have feen an horrible thing done in our Land! 0'tis a mofi humble thing to think, that ever there ihould be fuch an Abomination among us, as for a Crew of Humane Race to Renounce their Maker, and to unite with the Devil, for the troubling of Mankind; and for People to be (as is by fome confeff'd) Baptized by a Fiend ufing this Form upon them, Thou art mine, and I have a full power over thee! afterwards communicating in an Hellifh Bread and Wine, by that Fiend adminiftred to them. It was faid in Deut. 18. 10. 11, 12. There Ihall not be found among you an Inchanter, or a Witch, or a Charmer, or a Confulter with Familiar Spirits, or a Wizzard, or a Necromancer; For all that do thefe things are an Abomination to the Lord, and becaufie of thefe Abominations, the Lord thy God do/h drive them out before thee. That New England now fhould have thefe Abominations in it, yea, that fome of no mean Profefion, Should be found guilty of them: Alas, what Humiliations are we all hereby 404 THE WONDERS OF THE obliged unto? O'tis a defiled Land wherein we live; Let us be humbled for thefe Defiled Abominations, left we be driven out of our Land. It's very humbling thing to think, what Reproaches will be caft upon us for this matter among the Daughters of the PhilizJftins. Indeed, enough might eafily be faid for the Jindication of this Country from the Singularity of this Matter, by ripping up what has been discovered in others. Great Brittazi alone, and this alfo in our days of Greateft Lzght, has had that in it, which may divert the Calumnies of an ill-Natured World, from centring here. They are Words of the devout Bifhop Hall, Satans prevalency in this Age is molk clear, zn the marvellous number of [J/itches abounding in all places. Now hundreds are dzfcovered in one Shire; and, If Fame deceives us not, in a Jillage of Fourteen Houfes in the North, are foundfo many of this damned Brood; yea, and thofe of both Sexes, whlo have profefed much Knowledg, Holinefs and Devotion, are drawn into this damnable Prazice. I fuppofe the Doctor in the firit of thofe Paffages, may refer to what happened in the year 1645, when fo many Vaffals of the Devil were deteted, that there was Thirty try'd at one time, whereas about Fourteen were hanged, and an hundred more detained in the Prifons of Suffolk and Efex. Among other things which many of thefe ac INVISIBLE WORLD. 405 knowledged; one was, That they were to undergo certain Punifhments, if they did not fuch and fuch Hurts as were appointed them. And, amongif the reff that were then Executed, there was an old Perfon called Lowis, who confeffed, That he had a couple of Imps, whereof one was always putting him upon the doing of Mifchief. Once particularly, that Imp calling for his confent fo to do, went immediately and funk a Ship, then under Sail. I pray, let not New-England become of an unfavoury and fulphurous Refentment in the Opinion of the World abroad, for the doleful things which are now fallen out among us, while there are fuch Hiftories of other places abroad in the World. Neverthelefs, I am fure that we, the People of New-England, have caufe enough to humble our felves under our modt humbling Circumfiances. We mufl no more be haughty, becauJfe of the Lord's holy Mountain among us. No, it becomes us rather to be humbled, becaufe we have been fuch an Habitation of unholy Devils. I I. Since the Devil is come down in great wrath upon us, let not us in our great wrath againfl one another provide a Lodging for him. It was a moit wholefome Caution, in Eph. 4. 26, 27, Let not the Sun go down upon your wrath. Neither give place to the Devil. The Devil is come down to fee what Quarter he ihall find 406 THE WONDERS OF THE among us: And if his coming down do now fill us with wrath againif one another; and if betwixt the Caufe of' the Sufferers on one hand, and the Caufe of the Sufpe&ed on the other, we carry things to fuch Extreams of Pagion as are now gaining upon us, the Devil will blefs himfelf to find fuch a convenient Lodging as we Shail therein afford unto him. And it may be that the wrath which we have had againlt one another, has had more than a little Influence upon the coming down of the Devil in that wrath which now amazes us. Have not many of us been Devils one unto another for Sladerings, for Back-bitings, for Animofities? For this, among other Caufes, perhaps, God has permitted the Devils to be worrying, as they now are, among us. But it is high time to leave off all Devil/hfm, when the Devil himfelf is falling upon us: And it is no time for us to be cenfuring and reviling one another, with a Div//lzk wrath, when the wrath of the Devil is annoying us. The way for us to out-wit the Devil in the Wiles with which he now vexes us, would be for us to joyn as one Man in our Cries to God, for the dire6ting and iffuing of this Thorny Bufinefs; but if we do not lift up our Hands to Heaven without wrath, we cannot then do it without doubt, of fpeeding in it. I am afhamed when I read French Authors giving this Char INVISIBLE WORLD. 407 ader of Englizh-men. [Ils fe haient Les uns les autres, cyfont en Divzion contunuelle.] They hate one another, and are always Tarrelling one with another. And I fhall be much more afhamed, if it become the Chara&er of New-Englanders; which is indeed what the Devil would have. Satan would make us bruzfe one another, by breaking of the Peace among us: But O let us difappoint them. We read of a thing that fometimes happens to the Devil, when he is foaming with his wrath, in Matth. 12. 43. The unclean Spirit feeks reft, and finds none. But we give reft unto the Devil, by wrath one against another. If' we would lay afide all fiercenefs and keenefs, in the Difputes which the Devil has raifed among us; and if we would ufe to one another none but the joft Anfwers, which turn away wrath; I fhould hope that we might light upon fuch Counfels, 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 flafhing on every fide of him; and we make ourfelves Tynder to the Sparks. When the Emperor Henry III. kept the Feaft of Penteco/l, at the City of' Mentz, there arofe a Diffenfion among fome of the People there, which came from Words to Blows, and at laft it paffed on to the Jhedding of Blood. After the Tumult was over, when they came to that 408 THE WONDERS OF THE Claufe in their Devotions, hozu hafl made this Day glorious; the Devil, to the inexpreffible Terror of that vail Affembly, made the Temple ring with that Out-cry, But I have made this Day,.uarrelfome: We are truly come into a day, which by being well managed, might be very Glorious for the Exterminating of thofe Accurfed Things, which have hitherto been the Clogs of our Profperity. But if we make this day quarrelfome, through any Raging Confidences, Alas, O Lord, my fle/h trembles for fear of thee, and I am afraid of thy Judgments. Erafmius, among other Hiftorians, tells us, that at a Town in Germany, a Witch, or Devil, appear'd on the top of a Chimney, threatening to fet the Town on Fire: And at length, fcattering a Pot of Aihes abroad, the Town was prefently and horribly burnt unto the Ground. Methinks I fee the Spe&res from the top of the Chimneys to the Northward, threatening to fcatter Fire about the Country; but let us quench that Fire by the moft Amicable Correfpondencies; left, as the Spe&tres have, they fay, already moft literally burnt Jome of our Dwellings, there do come forth a further fire from the Brambles of Hell, which may terribly Devour us. Let us not be like a Troubled Houfe, altho we are fo much haunted by the Devils. Let our long fiufering be a well placed piece of Jrmour about us, againfi the Fiery Darts of the wicked INVISIBLE WORLD. 409 ones. Hiftory informs us, That fo long ago as the year 858: a certain PeJizlent and Malignant fort of a Demon, molefted Chaumont in Germany, with all forts of Methods to ftir up ftrife among the Citizens. He uttered Prophecies, he detected Villanies, he branded People with all kind of Infamies. He incenfed the Neighbourhood againft One Man particularly, as the Caufe of all the Michiefs; who yet proved himfelf innocentO He threw Stones at the Inhabitants, and at length burnt their Habitations, till the Comniffion of the Demon could go no further. I fay, let us be well aware left fuch Daemons do come hither alyo. III. Inafinuch as the Devil is come down in great Wrath, we had need labour with all the care and fpeed we can, to divert the great Jtrath of Heaven from coming at the fame time upon us. The God of Heaven has with long and loud Admonitions been calling us to a Reformation of our provoking Evils, as the only way to avoid that Wfrath of his, which does not only threaten, but confume us.'Tis becaufe we have been Deaf to thofe Calls that we are now by a provoked God laid open to the Wrath of the Devil himfjlf. It is faid in Prov. 16. 7. When a mans ways pleafe the Lord, he maketh even his Enemies to be at peace with him. The Devil is 410 THE WONDERS OF THE our grand Enemy; and tho we would not be at peace with him, yet we would be at peace from him; that is, we would have him unable to disquiet our Peace. But inafmuch as the wrath which we endure from this Enemy, will allow us no peace, we may be fure our ways have not pleafed the Lord. It is becaufe we have broken the Hedge of God's Precepts, that the Hedge of God's Providence is not fo entire as it ufes to be about us; but Serpents are biting of us. O let us then fee our felves, to make our peace with our God, whom we have dsfpleafed by our Iniquities: And let us not imagine that we can encounter the Wtrath of the Devil, while there is the WVrath of God Almighty to fet that Maftiff upon us. REFORMATION, REFORMATION, has been the repeated Cry of all the Judgments that have hitherto been upon us; becaufe we have been as deaf Adders thereunto; the Adders of the Infernal Pit are now hiffing about us. At length, as it was of old faid, Luke 6o. 13. If one went unto them from the dead, they will repent; even fo, there are fome come unto us from the damned. The Great God has loofed the Bars of the Pit, fo that many damned Spirits are come in among us, to make us repent of our Mifdemeanors. The Means which the Lord had formerly employ'd for our awakening, were fuch, that he might well have faid, INVISIBLE WORLD. 411 What could I have done more? And yet after all, he has done more, in fome regards, than was ever done for the awakening of any People in the World. The things now done to awaken our Enquiries after our provoking Evils, and our Endeavours to reform thofe Evils, are moft extraordinary things; for which caufe I would freely fpeak it, if we now do not fome extraordinary things in fpeedily returning to God, we are the moft incurable; and I wifh it be not quickly faid, the moft miferable People under the Sun. Believe me,'tis a time for all People to do fomething extraordinary, in fearching and trying of their ways, and in turning to the Lord. It is an extraordinary rate of circumfpection, and Spzritual mindednefs, that we ihould all now maintain a walk with God. At fuch a time as this, ought not Magistrates to do fomething extraordinary in promoting of what is laudable, and in reftraining and chaftifing of Evil doers? At fuch a time as this, ought not Miizifers to do Something extraordinary in pulling the Souls of Men out of' the Snares of the Devil, not only by publick Preaching, but by perfonal Vifits and Counfels, from houfe to houfe. At fuch a time as this ought not Churches to do Something extraordinary in renewing of their Covenants, and in remembring and reviving the Obligations of what they have renewed. Some admi 412 THE WONDERS OF THE rable Defigns about the Reformation of Manners, have lately been on foot in the Enghzjf Nation, in purfuance of the moft excellent Admonitions which have been given for it, by the Letters of their Majeffies. Befides, the Vigorous Agreements of the yuJices here and there in the Kingdom, affifted by godly Gentlemen and Informers, to execute the Laws upon prophane Offenders; there has been ftarted a Propofal for the well affe&ed People in every Parifh, to enter into orderly'Societies, whereof every Member Ihall bind himfelf, not only to avoid Prophanenefs, in himfelf, but alfo according unto their Place, to do their utmono in firft Reproving; and if it muft be fo, then Expofing, and fo Puni/hing, as the Law dire&ts, for others that fhall be guilty. It has been obferved, that the Engli/Sk Nation has had fome of its great Succefes, upon fome fpecial and fignal A6tions this way; and a dfcouragement given unto Legal Proceedings of this kind, muft needs be very exercifing to the Wzfe that obferve thefe things. But 0, why jhould not AIew-England be the moft forward part of the Englzjh Nation in fuch Reformation? Methink I hear the Lord from Heaven faying over us, 0 that my people had karkned unto me, then I /kould foon have fubdued the Devils, as well as their other Enemies! There have been fome feeble Effays towards Reformation of late in our INVISIBLE WORLD. 413 Churches; but I pray what comes of them? Do we iPay till the Ptorm of his Wrath be over? Nay, let us be doing what we can, as fapf as we can to divert the ftorm. The Devils having broke in upon our World, there is great afking, Who is it that has brought them in? And many do by Speairal Exhibltions come to be cryed out upon. I hope in Gods time it will be found, that among thofe that are thus cryed out upon, there are Perfons yet clear from the great Tranfgregfion; but indeed, all:the Unreformed among us, may juffly be cryed out upon, as having too much of' an hand in letting of the Devils into our Borders;'tis our JWorldlinefs, our Formality, our Senfuality, and our Iniquity, that has helped this letting of the Devils in. O let us then at laft, confider our ways.'Tis a ftrange pailage recorded by Mr. Clark, in the life of his Father, That the people of his Parifh refufing to be Reclaimed from their Sabbath-breaking, by all the Zealous Teftimonies which that good Man bore againft it; at laft, on a Night after the People had retired home from a Revelling prophanation of the Lord's Day, there was heard a great Noife, with ratling of Chains up and down the Town, and an horrid Scent of Brimftone fill'd the Nezghbourhood. Upon which the guilty Confciences of the Wretches told them, the Devil was come to fetch them away; and it fo terri 414 THE WONDERS OF THE fled them, that an Eminent Reformation followed the Sermons which that Man of God preached thereupon. Behold Sinners, behold and wonder, left you peri/z; the very Devils are walking about our firees; with lengthned Chains, making a dreadful Noife in our Ears, and BrimfJone even without a Metaphor, is making an hellifh and horrid ifench in our Noflrils. I pray leave off all thofe things whereof your guilty Confiliences may now accufe you, left the Devils do yet more direfully fall upon you. Reformation is at this time our only prefervation. HAVING thus difcourfd on Jf/onders of the Invjible J1forld, I fhall now with God's help, go on to relate fome Remarkable and Memorable Inifances of Wonders which that World has given to our felves. And altho the chief Entertainment which my Readers do exped, and fhall receive, will be a true Hiftory of what has occurred, refpe&ting the ll1itrljrafto wherewith we are at this day perfecuted; yet I ihall choofe to Ufher in the mention of thofe things, with, INVISIBLE WORLD. 415 A Narrative of an APPARITION which a Gentleman in BoRton, had of his Brother, just then Murthered in London. IT was on the 2d of May, in the year 1687, that a moft ingenious accomplished and well difpofed Gentleman, Mr. Yofeph Beacon by Name, about five a Clock in the Morning, as he lay, whether Sleeping or Waking he could not fay, (but judged the latter of them) had a View of his Brother then at London, altho he was now himfelf at our Bofton, diftanced from him a Thoufand Leagues. This his Brother appear'd unto him in the Morning about five a Clock at BofJon, having on him a Bengal Gown, which he ufually wore, with a Napkin tyed about his Head; his Countenance was very Pale, Gafily, Deadly: and he had a Bloody Wound on one fide of his Forehead. Brother! fays the affrighted Yofeph. Brother, anfwered the Apparition. Said Yofeph, What's the matter Brother? How came you here? The Apparition replied, Brother, I have been mofJ barbaroufly and injurioufly Butcher'd, by a Debauch'd, drunken Fellow, to whom I never did any wrong in my Lge. Whereupon he gave a particular defcription of the Murderer; adding, Brother, this Fellow changing hiz Name, is attempting to come over unto 416 THE WONDERS OF THE New-England, in Foy or Wild: I would pray you on the firfl Arrival of either of thefe, to get an Order from the Governour, to Se'ze the Perfon whom I have now defcribed; and t/!^en do you India him for the Murder of me your Brother: I'll fland by you and prove the Indiiment. And fo he vanifhed. Mr. Beacon was extreamly aftoniffihed at what he had feen and heard; and the people of the Family not only obferved an extraordinary Alteration upon him, for the week following, but have alfo given me under their hands a full Teftimony, that he then gave them an Account of this Apparition. All this while, Mr. Beacon had no advice of any thing amifs attending his Brother then in England; but about the latter end of rune fbllowing, he underftood by the common ways of Communication, that the April before, his Brother, going in hafte by Night to call a Coach for a Lady, met a Fellow then in Drink, with his Doxy in his Hand: Some way or other the Fellow thought himfelf Affronted with the hafty paffage of this Beacon, and immediately ran into the Firefide of a Neighbouring Tavern, from whence he fetch'd out a Fire-fork wherewith he grievoufly wounded Beacon in the Skull; even in that very part where the Apparition fhow'd his Wound. Of this Wound he Languifhed until he Dyed on the Second of May, about INVISIBLE WORLD. 417 five of the Clock in the Morning at London. The Murderer it feems was endeavouring to Efcape, as the Apparitoin affirmed, but the Friends of the Deceafed Beacon, Seized him; and profecuting him at Law, he found the help of fuch Friends as brought him off without the lofs of his Life; fince which there has no more been heard of the Bufinefs. This Hiftory I received of Mr. Yofeph Beacon himfelf, who a little before his own pious and hopeful Death, which fbllow'd not long after, gave me the Story written and figned with his own Hand, and attefted with- the Circumflances I have already mentioned. UT I fhall no longer detain my Reader D) from his expeted Entertainment, in a brief Account of the Tryals which have paffed upon fome of the Malefat&ors lately Executed at Salem, for the Witchcrafts whereof they flood Convi&ed. For my own part, I was not prefent at any of them; nor ever had I any Perfonal prejudice at the Perfons thus brought upon the Stage; much lefs at the Surviving Relations of thofe Perfons, with and for whom I would be as hearty a Mourner as any Man living in the World: The Lord Comfort them! But having received a particular Command fo to do, I can do no other than fhortly relate the Chief Matters 27 418 THE WONDERS OF THE of Fafi, which occurr'd in the Tryals of fome that were Executed, in an Abridgment Colle6ted out of the Court Papers, on this occafion put into my hands. You are to take the Truth jufi as it was; and the Truth will hurt no good man. There might have been more of there, if my Book would not thereby have fwollen too big; and if fome other worthy hands did not perhaps intend Something further in there Collelfions; for which caufe I have only fingled out Four or Five, which may ferve to illuftrate the way of Dealing, wherein Jitchcrafts ufe to be concerned; and I report matters not as an Advocate, but as an Hijiorian. They were fome of the Gracious Words inferted in the Advice, which many of the Neighbouring Minifters did this Summer humbly lay before our Honourable Judges, fWe cannot but with all thankfulnefs, acknowledge the fuccefs which the Merciful God has given unto the Sedulous and,AJiduous endeavours of our Honourable Rulers, to deteft the abominable fWitchcrafts which have been committed in the Country; humbly Praying, that the ds/covery of thefe myfJerious and m/ichievous wickednejes, may be perfefed. If in the midif of the many Diffatisfadtions among us, the Publication of there Tryals, may promote fuch a pious Thankfulnefs unto God for Juftice being fo far executed among us, I ihall Rejoyce that God is INVISIBLE WORLD. 419 Glorified; and pray that no wrong fteps of ours may ever fully any of his Glorious Works. But we will begin with A Modern Injfance of Wtitches, Di/covered and Condemned in a Tryal, before that Celebrated Judg, Sir Matthew Hale. IT may caft fome Light upon the Dark things now in America, if we juft give a glance upon the like things lately happening in Europe. We may fee the Witchcrafts here moft exadly refemble the Witchcrafts there; and we may learn what fort of Devils do trouble the World. The Venerable Baxter very truly fays, Yudge Hale was a Per/on, than whom no man was more Backward to condemn a Witch, without full Evidence. Now, one of the lateft Printed Accounts about a Tryal of Witches, is of what was before him, and it ran on this wife. [Printed in the Year 1682.] And it is here the rather mentioned, becaufe it was a Tryal, much confidered by the Judges of New-England. I. Rofe Cullender and Amy Duny, were feverally Indi&ed, for Bewitching Elizabeth Durent, Ann Durent, lane Bocking, Sufan Chandler, Wfilhlim Durent, Elizabeth and Deborah Pacy, and the Evidence whereon they were Convi6ted, fltood upon divers particular Circumftances. 420 THE WONDERS OF THE II. Ann Durent, Sufan Chandler, and Elizabeth Pacy, when they came into the Hall, to giye Initrudions for the drawing the Bills of Indi&tments, they fell into ftrange and violent Fits, fo that they were unable to give in their Depofitions, not only then, but alfo during the whole Affizes. Willi:am Durent being an Infant, his Mother fwore, That Amy Duny looking after her Child one Day in her abfence, did at her return confefs, that fhe had given fuck to the Child: (tho' he were an Old Woman:) Whereat, when Durent expreffed her difpleafure, Duny went away with Difcontents and Menaces. The Night after, the Child fell into ftrange and fad Fits, wherein it continued for divers Weeks. One Dr. Jacob advifed her to hang up the Childs Blanket in the Chimney Corner all Day, and at Night when ffe went to put the Child into it, if' {he found any thing in it then to through it without fear into the Fire. Accordingly at Night, there fell a great Toad out of the Blanket, which ran up and down the Hearth. A boy catch't it, and held it in the Fire with the Tongs, where it made an horrible Noife and flafh'd like to Gun-Powder, with a report like that of a Piftol: Whereupon the Toade was no more to be feen. The next Day a Kinfwoman of Duny's told the Deponent, that her Aunt was all grievoufly fcorch'd with the INVISIBLE WORLD. 421 Fire, and the Deponent going to her Houfe, found her in fuch a Condition. Duny told her, fhe might thank her for it; but the fhould live to fee fome of her Children Dead, and herfelf upon Crutches. But after the Burning of the Toad, this Child recovered. This Deponent further teftified, that her Daughter Elizabeth, being about the Age of ten Years, was taken in like manner as her firft Child was, and in her Fits complained much of Amy Duny, and faid that fhe did appear to her, and afflii& her in fuch manner as the former. One day ihe found Amy Duny in her Houfe, and thrufting her out of Doors, Duny faid, rou need not befo angry, your Child won't live long. And within three days the Child died. The Deponent added, that fhe herfelf, not long after was taken with fuch a Lamenefs in both her Legs, that mhe was forced to go upon Crutches, and mhe was now in Court upon them. [It was Remarkable, that immediately upon the Juries bringing in Duny Guilty, Durent was reftored unto to the ufe of her Limbs, and went home without her Crutches.] III. As for Elizabeth and Deborah Pacy, one Aged Eleven Years, the other Nine; the elder being in Court, was made utterly fenfelefs, during all the time of the Trial, or at leaft fpeechlefs, by the direftion of the Judge, Dun)' was 422 THE WONDERS OF THE privately brought to Elizabeth Pacy, and ihe touched her hand: whereupon the Child, without fo much as feeing her, fuddenly leap'd up and flew upon the Prifoner; the younger was too ill to be brought into the Aflizes. But Samuel Pacy, their Father, teftified, that his Daughter Deborah was taken with a fudden Lamenefs; and upon the grumbling of Amy Duny, for being denied Something, where this Child was then fitting, the Child was taken with an extrearn pain in her ftomach, like the pricking of Pins; and fhrieking at a dreadful manner, like a Whelp, rather than a Rational Creature. The Phyficians could not conjedture the caufe of the Diftemper, but Amy Duny, being a Woman of ill Frame, and the Child in Fits crying out of Amy Duny, as affrighting her with the Apparition of her Perfon, the Deponent fufpected her, and procured her to be fet in the Stocks. While fhe was there, fhe faid in the hearing of two Witneffes, Mr. Pacy keeps a great flir about his Child, but let him fJay till he has done as much by his Children as I have done by mine. And being alked what fhe had done to her Children, ihe anfwered, She had been faiz to open her C/ilds Mouth with a Tap to give it Vifuals. The Deponent added, that within two days the Fits of his Daughters were fuch, that they could not preferve either Life or Breath, INVISIBLE WORLD. 423 without the help of a Tap. And that the Children cry'd out of Amy Duny, and of Rofe Cullender, as afflicting them with her Apparition. IV. The Fits of the Children were various. They would Sometimes be Lame on one fide, fometimes on t'other. Sometimes very fore, fometimes reftored unto their Limbs, and then Deaf, or Blind, or Dumb, for a long while together. Upon the Recovery of their Speech, they would Cough extreamly, and with much Flegm, they would bring up crooked pins, and at one time, a Two-penny Nail, with a very broad Head. Commonly at the end of every Fit, they would call up a Pin. When the Children Read, they could not pronounce the Name of Lord, or Jefus, or ChrzJf, but would fall into Fits; and fay, Amy Duny fays, I muff not ufe that Name. When they came to the Name of Satan or Devil, they would clap their Fingers upon the Book, crying out, This bites, but it makes mefpeak right well! The Children in their Fits would often Cry out, There flands Amy Duny, or Rofe Cullender; and they would afterwards relate, That thefe J4Vitches appearing before them, threatned th.em, that if they told of what they aw or heard; they would Torment them more than ever they did before. V. Margaret Arnold, the Sifter to Mr. Pacy, Teftifi'd unto the like Sufferings being upon 424 THE WONDERS OF THE the Children, at her Houfe, whither her Brother had removed them. And that Sometimes, the Children (only) would fee things like Mice, run about the Houfe; and one of them fuddenly fnap'd one with the Tongs, and threw it into the Fire, where it Screeched out like a Rat. At another time, a thing like a Bee flew at the Face of the younger Child, the Child fell into a Fit, and at laft Vomited up a Two-penny ANail, with a broad Head; affirming, That the Bee brought this Nlail, and forced it into her Mouth. The Child would in like manner be affaulted with Flies, which brought crooked Pins unto her, and made her firfi fwallow them, and then Vomit them. She one day caught an Invifible Moufe, and throwing it into the Fire, it flafh'd like to Gun-Powder. None befides the Child faw the Moufe, but every one faw the Flafh. She alfo declared out of her Fits, that in them, Amy Duny much tempted her to deftroy her felf. VI. As for Ann Durent, her Father teftified, That upon a Difcontent of Rofe Cullender, his Daughter was taken with much Illnefs in her Stomach, and great and fore pains, like the pricking of Pins, and then Swooning Fits, from which recovering, fhe declared, She had feen the Apparition of Rofe Cullender, threatning to Torment her. She likewife Vomited up divers Pins. The Maid was prefent at Court, but when Cul INVISIBLE WORLD. 425 lender looked upon her, the fell into fuch Fits, as made her utterly unable to declare any thing. Ann Baldwin depofed the fame. VII. Yane Bockin, who was too weak to be at the Affizes, but her Mother Teftified, that her Daughter having formerly been Afflited with Swooning Fits, and Recovered of them, was now taken with a great pain in her Stomach, and New Swooning Fits. That fhe took little Food, but every day Vomited Crooked Pins. In her firft Fits, fhe would extend her Arms, and ufe poftures as if the catched at fomething: and when her Clutched Hands were forced open, they would find feveral pins diverfely Crooked, unaccountably lodged there. She would alfo maintain a Difcourfe with fome that were invifibly prefent, when calking abroad her Arms, She would often fay, I will not have it! but at laft fay, Then I will have it! and clofing her hand, which when they prefently after opened, a Lath Nail was found in it. But her great Complaints were of being vifited by the thapes of Amy Duny, and Rofe Cullender. VIII. As for Sufan Chandler, her Mother Teftified, That being at the Search of Rofe Cullender, they found on her Belly a thing like a Teat, of an Inch long; which the faid Rofe afcribed to a ftrain. But near her privy parts they found three more, that were fmaller than 426 THE WONDERS OF THE the former. At the end of the long Teat there was a little hole, which appeared as if newly Sucked; and upon itraining it, a white Milky Matter ifflued out. The Deponent further faid, That her Daughter being one day concerned at Rofe Cullenders taking her by the hand the fell very fick, and at night cry'd out, That Rofe Cullender would come to Bed unto her. Her Fits grew violent, and in the Intervals of them, the declared, That /ie jaw Rofe Cullender in them, and once having a great Dog with her. She alfo Vomited up crooked Pins; and when fhe was brought into Court, the fell into Fits. She recovered her felf in fome time, and was afked by the Court, whether fhe was in a condition to take an Oath, and give Evidence. She faid fhe could, but having been Sworn, fhe fell into her Fits again, and Burn her! Burn her! were all the words that fhe could find Power to fpeak. Her Father likewife gave the fame Teftimony with her Mother, as to all but the Search. IX. Here was the fum of the Evidence: which was not thought fufficient to Convit the Prifoners. For admitting the Children were Bewitched, yet, faid he, it can never be apply'd unto the Prifoners, upon the Imagination of' the Parties only Afflicted; inafmuch as no perfon whatfoever could then be in Safety. Dr. Brown, a very Learned Perfon then pref INVISIBLE WORLD. 427 ent, gave his Opinion, that thefe Perfons were bewitched. He added, that in Denmark, there had been lately a great difcovery of Witches; who ufed the very fame way of affli&ing people, by conveying Pins and Nails into them. His opinion was, that the Devil in Witchcrafts, did work upon the Bodys of Men and Women, upon a Natural Foundation; and that he did Extraordinarily affli& them, with fuch Diftempers as their Bodies were moft fubje&t unto. X. The Experiment about the Ufefulnefs, yea, or Lawfulnefs whereof Good Men have fometimes difputed, was divers Times made, that though the afflit&ed were utterly deprived of all fenfe in their Fits, yet upon the Touch of the accufed, they would fo fcreech out, and fly up, as not upon any other Perfons. And yet it was alfo found that once upon the touch of an innocent perfon, the like effe& followed, which put the whole Court unto a frand! although a fmall Reafon was at length attempted to be given for it. XI. However, to ftrengthen the Credit of what had been already produced againft the Prifoners, one Yohn Soam teftifi'd, that bringing home his Hay in Three Carts, one of the Carts wrenched the Window of Rofe Cullenders Houfe, whereupon Ihe flew out, with violent Threatnings againif the Deponent. The other two 428 THE WONDERS OF THE Carts, paffed by twice, Loaded, that day afterwards; but the Cart which touched Cullenderi Houfe, was twice or thrice that day overturned Having again Loaded it, as they brought it thro' the Gate which leads out of the Field, the Cart ftruck fo faft.in the Gates Head, that they could not poflibly get it thro', but were forced to cut down the Pofll of the Gate, to make the Cart pafs thro', altho' they could not perceive that the Cart did of either fide touch the GatePoft. They afterwards did with much Difficulty get it home to the Yard; but could not for their Lives get the Cart near the place, where they fhould unload. They were fain to unload at a great Diftance; and when they were Tired, the Nofes of them that came to affift them, would burif forth a Bleeding; fo they were fain to give over till next morning; and then they unloaded without any difficulty. XII. Robert Sherringham alfo Teftifie'd, that the Axle Tree of his Cart, happening in pafling, to break fome part of Rofe Cullenders Houfe, in her Anger, at it, fhe vehemently threatned him, His Horfes Jhould fuffer for it. And within a fhort time all his Four Horfes dyed; after which he fuftained many other Loffes in the fudden dying of his Cattle. He was alfo taken with a Lamenefs in his Limbs; and fo vexed with Lice of an extraordinary Number and Bignefs, that INVISIBLE WORLD. 429 no Art could hinder the Swarming of theri, till he burnt up two Suits of Apparel. XIII. As for Amy Duny,'twas Teftifi'd by one Richard Spencer that he heard her fay, That the Devil would not let her Reft, until hle were Revenged on the Wtife of Cornelius Sandfwel. And that Sandfwel teftifi'd that her Poultry dy'd fuddainly, upon Amy Dunys threatning of them; and that her Hufbands Chimney fell, quickly after Duny had fpoken of fuch a difafter. And a Firkin of Fifh could not be kept from falling into the Water, upon fufpicious words of Dunys. XIV. The Judge told the Jury, they were to inquire now, firft, Whether there Children were Bewitched; and fecondly, Whether the Prifoners at the Bar were guilty of it. He made no doubt, there were fuch Creatures as Witches; for the Scriptures affirmed it; and the Wifdom of all Nations had provided Laws againft fuch Perfons. He prayed the God of Heaven to dire&t their Hearts in the weighty thing they had in hand; for To condemn the Innocent, and let the Guilty go free, were both an Abomination to the Lord. The Jury in half an hour brought them in Guilty upon the feveral Indi6tments, which were Nineteen in Number. The next Morning, the Children with their Parents, came to the Lodgings of the Lord 430 THE WONDERS OF THE Chief Jufcice, and were in as good health as ever in their Lives; being reftored within half an Hour after the Witches were Convi&ed. The Witches were Executed, and Confeffed nothing; which indeed will not be wondered by them, who Confider and Entertain the Judgment of a Judicious Writer, That the Unpardonable Sin, is mofJ ufually Committed by Profeafors of the Chri~Zian Religion, falling into fl/Ytchcraft. We will now proceed unto feveral of the like Trials among our felves. NOTE. -See Calef (pp. 278 to 329 of this volume), who has inferted the account of the trials in the fame words as Cotton Mather, prefixing alfo copies of the indictments. INVISIBLE WORLD. 431 Having thus far done the Service impof'd upon me; I will Jfrther purfue it, by relating a few of thofe matchlefs Curiofities, with which the lWitchcraft now upon us has entertained us. And I ihall Report nothing bvt with good Authority and what I would invite all my Readers to examine, while'tis yet freJh and new, that zf there be found any miflake, it may be as willingly Retratfed, as it was unwillingly committed. The firiJ Curiofity. I.'Tis very Remarkable to fee what impious and impudent Imitation of Divine Things, is apifhly affected by the Devil, in feveral of thofe Matters, whereof the Confefflions of our Witches, and the Afflidtions of our Sufferers have informed us. That Reverend and Excellent Perfon, Mr. yohn Hziginfon, in my Converfation with him, once invited me to this Refletion; that the Indians which come from far to fettle about Mexico, were in their Progrefs to that Settlement, under a Condu&t of the Devil, were ftrangely Emulating what the Bleffed God gave to Ifrael in the Wildernefs. Acojia, is our Author for it, that the Devil in their Idol Vitzlipultzli, governed that mighty 432 THE WONDERS OF THE Nation. He commanded them to leave their Country, promz/ing to make them Lords over all the Provinces pofefed by Six other Nations of Indians, and give them a Land abounding with all precious things. They went forth, carrying their Idol with them, in a Cofer of Reeds, fupported by four of their Principal Priefis, with whom he ftill difcourSed in jecret, revealing to them the Succefes, and Accidents of their way. He advijed them when to March, and where to Stay, and without his Commandment they moved not. The firf thing they did, wherever they came, was to ere7 a Tabernaclefor theirfalJe God; which they jet always in the mzidJ? of their Camp, and they placed the Ark upon an Altar. When they, tired with Pains, talked of proceeding no further in their Journey, than a certain pleafant Stage, whereto they were arrived, this Devil in one NAight, horribly killed them that had ilarted this Talk, by pulling out their Hearts. Andfo they paffed on till they came to Mexico. The Devil which then thus imitated what was in the Church of the Old TefJament, now among us would imitate the Affairs of the Church in the New. The Witches do fay, that they form themfelves much after the manner of Congregational Churches; and that they have a Baptjim and a Supper and Officers among them, abominably Refembling thofe of our Lord. INVISIBLE WORLD. 433 But there are many more of there Bloody Imitations, if the Confeffions of the lZzitches are to be received; which I confefs, ought to be but with very much Caution. What is their ftriking down with a fierce Look? What is their making of the Afflided Rzfe, with a touch of their Hand? What is their Tranfportation through the Air? What is their Travelling in Spirit, while their Body is caft into a Trance? What is their caufing of Cattel to run mad and perifh 2? What is their Entring their Names in a Book? WVhat is their coming together from all parts, at the Sound of a Trumpet? What is their appearing fometimes clothed with Light or Fire upon them' What is their covering of themfelves and their Inftruments with Invfibility? But a blafphemous Imitation of certain things recorded about our Saviour or his Prophets, or the Saints in the Kingdom of God. A Second Curiofity. II. In all the Witchcraft which now grievoufly Vexes us, I know not whether any thing be more unaccountably, than the Trick which the Witches have to render themselves, and their Tools Invi/ible. Witchcraft feems to be the Skill of Applying the Plaftic Spirit of the 28 1434 THE WONDERS OF THE World, unto fome unlawful purpofes, by means of a Confederacy with Evil Spirits. Yet one would wonder how the Evil Spirits themfelves can do fome things; especially at Invi/ibilizing of the groffeft Bodies. I can tell the Name of an ancient Author, who pretends to ihew the way, how a Man may come to walk about Inv/iqble, and I can tell the Name of another ancient Author, who pretends to Explode that way. But I will not fpeak too plainly, left I fhould unawares Poifon fome of my Readers, as the Pious. Hemringius did one of his Pupils, when he only by way of Diverfion recited a Spell, which, they had faid, would cure Agues. Thus much I will fay; The notion of procuring Inv/iJbility, by any Natural Expedient, yet known, is, I believe, a meer PLINYISM; How far it may be obtained by a Magical Sacrament, is beft known to the dangerous Knaves that have try'd it. But our /4itches do feem to have got the knack; and this is one of the Things, that make me think, Witchcraft will not be fully underftood, until the day when there fhall not be one Witch in the World. There are certain People very Dogmatical about there Matters; but I'll give them only thefe three Bones to pick. Firif, One of our bewitched People, was cruelly affaulted by a Spezfre, that, fhe faid, ran at INVISIBLE rWORLD. 435 her with a Spindle; tho no body elfe in the Room, could fee either the Spetre or the Spindle. At laft, in her Miferies, giving a fnatch at the Speftre, fhe pull'd the Spindle away, and it was no fooner got into her Hand, but the other People then prefent, beheld, that it was indeed a real, proper, Iron Spindle, belonging they knew to whom; which when they lock'd up very fafe, it was neverthelefs by Demons unaccountably flole away, to do further mifchief. Secondly, Another of our Bewitch'd People, was haunted with a moft abufive Spetfre, which came to her, fhe faid, with a Sheet about her. After fhe had undergone a deal of Teaze, from the Annoyance of the Spettre, fie gave a violent fnatch at the Sheet, that was upon it; wherefrom ihe tore a Corner, which in her hand immediately became yV/ible to a Room full of Spe6ators; a palpable Corner of a Sheet. Her Father, who was now holding her, catch'd that he might keep what his Daughter had fo ftrangely feifed, but the unfeen Spefire had like to have pull'd his hand off, by endeavouring to wreft it from him; however he ftill held it, and I fuppofe has it ftill to fhew; it being but a few hours ago, namely about the beginning of this Ofiober, that this Accident happened in the Family of one Pitman, at Manchefter. Thirdly, A young Man, delaying to procure 436 THE WONDERS OF THE Teftimonials for his- Parents, who being under confinement on Sufpicion of Witchcraft, required him to do that fervice for them, was quickly purfued with odd Inconveniences. But once above the reft, an Officer going to put his Brand on the Horns of fome Cows, belonging to thefe People, which tho he had feifed for fome of their Debts, yet he was willing to leave in their Poffefflion, for the Subfiftence of the poor Family: this young Man help'd in holding the Cows to be thus branded. The three firft Cows he held well enough; but when the hot Brand was clap'd upon the Fourth, he winc'd and hzrunk at fuch a Rate, as that he -could hold the Cow no longer. Being afterwards Examined about it, he confeffed, that at that very inifant when the Brand entred the Cows Horn, exadly the like burning Brand was clap'd upon his own Thigh; where he has expofed the lafling Marks of it, unto fuch as afked to fee them. Unriddle thefe Things. —— Et Eris mihi magnus Apollo. A Th ird Cur ioi ty. III. If a drop of Innocent Blood ihould be fhed, in the Profecution of the 4/litchcrafts among us, how unhappy are we!. For which caufe, I cannot exprefs my felf in better terms, than INVISIBLE WORLD. 437 thofe of a moft worthy Perfon, who lives; near the prefent Center of these things. The Mind of God in theft Matters, is to be carefully lookt into, with due CircumfpeAion, that Satan deceive us not with his Devices, who transforms himfelf into an Angel qf Light, and may pretend zufJlice, and yet intend ifrchief: But on the other fide, if the itorm of Juftice do now fall only on the Heads of thofe guilty Witches and Wretches which have defiled our Land, How Happy! The Execution of fome that have lately dyed, has been immediately attended, with a ftrange Deliverance of fome, that had lain for many years, in a moft fad Condition, under, they knew not whofe evzl hands. As I am abundantly fatisfied, That many of the Self-Murders comw mitted here, have been the effe&s of a cruel and bloody /[Vitchcraft, letting fly Dhemons upon the miferable Seneca's; thus, it has been admirable unto me to fee, how a devilifh JWitchcraft, fending Devils upon them, has driven many poor People to Defpair, and perfecuted their Minds, with fuch buzzes of Atheifm and Blafphemy, as has made them run diffrafled with Terrors: And fome long bow'd down under fuch a Spirit of Infirmity, have been marvellouily recovered upon the Death of the Witches. One JWhetford particularly ten years ago, challenging of Bridget Bijhop (whofe Trial you 438 THE WONDERS OF THE have had) with flealing of a Spoon, B/ihop threatned her very direfully: prefently after this, was Whetford in the Night, and in her Bed, vifited by Bijhop, with one Parker, who making the Room light at their coming in, there difcourfed of feveral Mifchiefs they would inflit upon her. At laft they pull'd her out, and carried her unto the Sea-fide, there to drown her; but fhe calling upon God, they left her, tho not without Exprefflions of their Fury. From that very time, this poor JJhetford was utterly fpozlt, and grew a tempted, froward, crazed fort of a Woman; a Vexation to her Jelf, and all about her; and many ways unreafonable. In this Difiraalion the lay, till thofe fWomen were Apprehended by the Authority; then ihe began to mend, and upon their Execution, was preJently and perfectly recovered, from the ten years Madlefs that had been upon her. A Fourth Curiofity. IV.'Tis a thoufand pities, that we ihould permit our Eyes to be fo Blood-/hot with Paffions, as to lofe the fight of many wonderful things, wherein the Wsfdom and yufJice of God, would be glorj'ied. Some of thofe things, are the frequent 52pparitions of Ghofts, whereby many old Uturbrsr among us, come to be con INVISIBLE WORLD. 439 fidered. And, among many Inf/ances of this kind, I will fingle out one, which concerned a poor Man, lately preft unto Death, becaufe of his refuJing to Plead for his Life. I fhall make an Extra& of a Letter, which was written to my Honourable Friend, Samuel Sewal, Efq; by Mr. Putnam, to this purpofe; "rT-HE laft Night my Daughter Ann was grievoufly tormented by Witches, threatning "that we jhould be Prejed to Death, before Giles "Cory. But through the Goodnefs of a Gra"cious God, the had at laft a little Refpite: " Whereupon there appeared unto her (the faid) "a Man in a Winding fheet, who told her, that "Giles Cory had Murdered him by Preling him "to Death with his Feet; but that the Devil "there appeared unto him, and Covenanted with "him, and promif'd him, He fiould not be "Hanged. The Apparition faid, God hardned "his Heart, that he lhould not hearken to the "Advice of the Court, and fo die an eafie "Death; becaufe as it faid, It muff be done to "him as he has done to me. The Apparition alfo "'faid, that Giles Cory was carried to the Court "for this, and that the Jury had found the Mur"ther, and that her Father knew the Man, and "the thing was done before fhe was Born. Now "Sir, this is not a little ifrange to us, that no 440 THE WONDERS OF THE " Body fhould remember thefe things all the "while that Giles Cory was in Prifon, and fo "often before the Court. For all People now "remember very well, (and the Records of the iCourt alfo mention it) That about Seventeen "Years ago, Giles Cory kept a Man in his Houfe, "that was almoft a Natural Fool; which Man "died Suddenly: A Jury was Impannel'd upon "'him, among whom was Dr. Zerobbabel Endi"cot; who found the Man bruiz'd to Death; "and having clodders of Blood about his Heart. "The Jury, whereof feveral are yet alive, brought "in the Man Murdered; but as if fome Enchant"ment had hindered the Profecution of the Mat"ter, the Court proceeded not againft Giles Cory, "tho it coft him a great deal of Money to get "off. Thus the Story. HE Reverend and WYorthy Author, having at the Diretion of his Excellency the Governour, fo far obliged the Publick, as to givefome Account of the Szfierings brought upon the Country by Witchcraft; and of the Tryals which have pafed upon feveral Executed for the fame. Upon perufal whereof, we find the Matters of Faft and Evidence truly reported; and a Profpefl given of the Methods of Convizfion, ufed in the Proceedings of the Court at Salem. Bofton Odob. 11. William Stoughton. 1692. Samuel Sewall. INVISIBLE WORLD. 441 UT is New England the only Chridtian Country, that hath undergone fuch Diabolical Moleftations'? No, there are other good People, that have in this way been harraffed; but none in Circumftances more like to Ours, than the People of God in Sweedland. The Story is a very famous one, and it comes to fpeak Engl/jh by the acute Pen of the Excellent and Renowned Dr. Horneck. I fhall only fingle out a few of the more Memorable Paffages therein occurring; and where it agrees with what happened among our felves, my Reader ihall underftand, by my inferting a word of every fuch thing in Btiack Ketter. I. It was in the Year 1669, and 1670. That at Mobra, in Sweedland, the Decilz, by the -help of hlitcbes, committed a moft horrible Outrage. Among other Inftances of Hellilh Tyranny there exercifed, One was, that Hundreds of their Children were ufually in the Night fetch'd from their Lodgings, to a Diabolical Rendezvouz, at a place they call'd Blockula, where the Monifers that fo fpirited them, tempted them all manner of ways to ixsitzace with them. Yea, fuch were the perilous growth of this Ytl?'chcraft, that Perfons of Quality began to fend their Children into other Countries to avoid it. 442 THE WONDERS OF THE I I. The Inhabitants had earneftly fought God by 1raher, and Vet their Afflietion continued. Whereupon 3ubger had a fpecial QIommission to find and root out the Hellifh Crew; and the rather, becaufe another County in the Kingdom, which had been fo molefted, was deliver'd upon the Execution of the Witches. III. The fxamination was begun with a day of jumitiation appointed by Authority. Whereupon the Commiflioners Tonsulting how they might refiftll fuch a dangerous Flood; the;uf — fering (l)Uilren were firft Examined; and though they were Queftioned Dne by One apart, yet their iledcarations atl agreub. The Ulitdrjls Accuf'd in there Declarations, were then Examined; and though at firfit they obftinately brenieb, yet at length many of them ingenuoufly Tgonfectsb the Truth of what the Children faid; owning, with Tears, that the etvil, whom they called Locyta, had sto~pt their.floutlls; but he being now gone from them, they could No tongtr onicalt the Bufinefs. The things by them acknowtlergdr, moft wonderfully agreed with what other Witches in other Places had confeffed. IV. They confefled, That they did ufe to Tall upon tlje Devil, who thereupon would rarrV them away over the Tops of Houfes, to a Green Meadow, where they gave themfelves unto him. Only one of them faid, that fometimes the Devil INVISIBLE WORLD. 443 only took away her Strengtbj, leaving her 3tohb on the Ground; but the went at other times in b3ob too. V. Their manner was to come into the {Tljamibers of People, and fetch away their Children upon Beafts of the Devil's providing; promifing fine Tlotl)es and other fine Things. unto them, to inveagle them. They faid, they never had power to do thus, till of late; but now the Devil did lPague and 3crat them, if they did not gratifie him in this piece of Mifchief. They faid, they made ufe of all forts of Jnstrnments in their Journeys! Of' 1Hen, of Bleasts, of Jpotr; the Men they commonly laid afleep at the Place whereto they rode them, and if the Children mentioned the Xames of them that ftole them away, they were miferably niurgeb for it, until fome of' them were killed. The %ubges found the Marks of the Lafhes on fome of them; but the Witches faid, (iier mtoult quicktl vanitzj. Moreover, the Children would be in ftrange -fits, after they were brought home from thefe Tranfportations. VI. The fir~st tl)ing they faid they were to do at Blockula, was to give themfelves unto the Devil, and Uoru that they would ferve him. Hereupon they cut tbeir finlgers, and with Blood writ their Namre in his JBook. And he alfo caufed them to be Bapti3te by fuch Prietst as 444 THE WONDERS OF THE he had in this Horrid Company. In fome of them the Mark of the cut finger was to be found; they faid, that the Devil gave Meat and Drink, as to Them, fo to the Children they brought with them; that afterwards their cuftom was to Dance before him, and Swear and Curfe moft horribly. They faid, that the Devil fhewed them a great frightful cruel Dragon, telling them, If they confejed any thing, he would let loofe that great Devil upon them: They added, that the Devil had a great Church, and that when the 3ubge were coming, he told them, He would kill them all; and that that fome of them had attempted to murder the Judges, but could not. VII. Some of the Children talked much of' a white Angel, which did ufe to forbid them what the Devil bid them to do, and affure them, that there doings would not lafj long; but that what had been done, was permitted for the Wickednefs of the People. This white Angel would Sometimes Refcue the Children from Going in with the Witches. VIII. The Witches confeff'd many Mifchiefs done by them, declaring with what kind of (n.dc)anteb C0oots they did their Mifchiefs: They thought efpecially to Kill the Mzinz/fer of Elidala, but could not. But fome of them laid, that fuch as they wounded, would be recovered, upon or before their Execution. INVISIBLE WORLD. 445 IX. The.ubges would fain have had them fhow'd ornme of their Tricks; but they unanimoufly declared, That fince they had confeffed all, they found all their Witchcraft gone; and the Devil then appeared very terrible unto them, threatning with an Iron Fork to thrufi them into a burning Pit, zf they perfifjed in their Confej/ion. X. There were difcovered no lefs than threefrore and ten Witches in one Village; three and twenty of which freely confeffing their Crimes, were condemned to Die. The reft (one pretending lhe was with Child) were fent to Fahluna, where moft of them were afterwards executed. Fifteen Children, which confeffed themfelves engaged in this Witchery, died as the reft, Six and thirty of them between Nine and Sixteen Years of Age, who had been lefs guilty, were forced to run the Gantlet, and be lafhed on their Hands once a Week, for a Year together. Twenty more, who had lefs inclination to thefe Infernal Enterprizes, were lafhed with Rods upon their Hands for three Sundays together, at the Church-door. The Number of the Seduced Children, was about Three Hundred. This Courfe, together with Weekly Prayers in all the Churches through the Kingdom, iffued in the deliverance of the Country. XI. The moft Accomplifh'd Dr. Horneck incerts a moft wife Caution in his Preface to 446 WONDERS OF THE INVISIBLE WORLD. this Narrative, fays he, There is no Publick Calamity, but fome ill People will Serve themfelves of the fad Providence, and make ufe of it for their own ends; as Thieves, when an Houzfe or Town is on Fire, will Steal what they can. And he mentions a remarkable Story of a young Woman at Stockholm, in the Year 1676, who accufed her own Mother of being a Witch; and fwore pofitively, that ihe had carried her away in the Night; the poor Woman was burnt upon it, profeffing her Innocency to the laft. But though ihe had been an ill Woman, yet it afterwards prov'd, that ihe was not fuch an one; for her Daughter came to the Judges, with hideous Lamentations, confefling that fhe had wronged her, out of a wicked fpight againif her; whereupon the Judges gave order for her Execution too. But fo much of there things. And now, Lord, make thefe Labours of thy Servant profitable to thy People. FIXJVIS. APPENDIX. THE following is a list of persons who lost their lives in the delusion of 1692, by the hand of the executioner, on Gallows Hill in Salem: - Rev. George Burroughs of Wells; Wilmot Reed of Marble. head; Margaret Scot of Rowley; Susanna Martin of Amesbury; Elizabeth-lHow of Ipswich; Sarah Wildes and Mary Easty of Topsfield; Samuel Wardwell, Martha Carrier, * and Mary Parker of Andover; John Proctor, George Jacobs sen., John Willard, Sarah Good, Rebecca Nurse, and Martha Cory of Salem Village; Ann Pudeater, Bridget Bishop, Alice Parker ofSalem. Giles Cory, of Salem Farms, was pressed to death. The following persons were condemned to death, but did not suffer: - Abigail Faulkner, Mary Lacy, Ann Foster, t Mary Post, Sarah Wardwell, and Elizabeth Johnson of Andover; Dorcas Hoar, Beverly; Mary Bradbury of Salisbury; Rebecca Eames of Boxford; Abigail Hobbs of Topsfield, and Elizabeth Proctor of Salem Farms. The following list contains the names of all the persons who were accused of witchcraft, as far as we have been able to ascertain:Salem.-Philip English, Mary English, Ann Pudeater, Mrs. White, Sarah Pease, Alice Parker, Thomas Hardy, Mary De Riels, Sarah Cole, Candy, a slave. Salem Village and Salem Farms.-Daniel Andrews, George Jacobs sen., George Jacobs, Rebecca Jacobs, Margaret Jacobs, Bridget Bishop, Edward Bishop, John Buxton, Sarah Bishop, Mary Black (negress), George Burroughs, Goodwife Bibber, Sarah Cloyce, John Proctor, Elizabeth Proctor, Rebecca Nourse, Mary Warren, Sarah Good, Tituba, John Indian, Martha Jacobs, John * Martha Carrier had four of her children with her in prison. + Ann Foster died in prison, and after her death, her son Abraham Foster was compelled to pay 2 pounds io shillings, to the keeper of the prison, to obtain her body. 448 APPENDIX. Willard, Sarah Buckley, Mary Whittredge, Giles Cory, Martha Cory, Dorothy Good, Benjamin Pr6ctor. Topsfield and Ipswich. -Mary Easty, Abigail Hobbs, William Hobbs, Sarah Wildes, Deliverance Hobbs, Nehemiah Abbott jun., James How, Elizabeth How. Lynn.- Wife of Isaac Hart, Thomas Farrar, Elizabeth Hart, Mary Ireson, Mary Derrick, Sarah Bassett, Sarah, wife of John Cole, widow Mary Derrill, widow Mary Rich. Charlestown.- Elizabeth Carey, Elizabeth Payne. Beverly. -Dorcas Hoar, Sarah Merrell, Susanna Roote, Sarah Bulkley, Sarah Riste, Job Tukey, John Wright, Rebecca Johnson, Sarah Morey. Woburn. -Ann Seers, Bethiah Carter, Bethiah Carter jun. Reading.- Elizabeth Colsen, Lydia Dustin, wife of Nicholas Rice. Boxford. - Robert Eames, Rebecca Eames. Ha'verhill. - Widow of Francis Hutchinson, Mary Green. Rowley. - Margaret Scot, Mary Post. Marblehead. - ife of Samuel Reed, Wilmot Reed. Boston. - Capt. John Alden, Capt. John Flood. Billerica. - Mary Toothaker, Margaret Scot, ---- Abbott, Jason Toothaker, M. Andrews, Roger Toothaker. Malden. - Elizabeth Fosdick. Chelmsford. - Martha Sparks. Gloucester. - Martha Prince, Mary Coffin, Ann Doliver, Abi. gail Somes. Amesbury. - Susanna Martin. Salisbury. - Mary Bradbury. Andover. - Martha Carrier, Nehemiah Abbott, Deliverance Dane, Richard Carrier, Abigail Faulkner, Ann Foster, Mary Lacy, Samuel Wardwell, Elizabeth Carey, Mary Parker, Sarah Wilson, Sarah Wilson jun., Sarah Bridges, Stephen Johnson, Mary Osgood, Eunice Frye, Mary Marston, wife of Hope Tyler, wife of Ebenezer Baker, wife of Nathan Dane, Mary Wardwell, William Barry, ~ Harrington, William Barker, Hannah Tyler, Abigail Baker, John Laundry, William Barker jun., Mary Barker, Martha Tyler, Joanna Tyler, Sarah Cave, John Bradstreet.* * John Bradstreet was accused of bewitching a dog, but made his escape, -the dog was hung as a witch. APPENDIX. 449 Children accused of Pitchcraft. - John Laundry, aged ten years; Deborah Faulkner, ten years; Abigail Faulkner, eight years; Mary Lacy jun., fourteen years; Stephen Johnson, thirteen years; Abigail Johnson, eleven years; Sarah Carrier, eight years; Mary Bridges, twelve years; Dorothy Good, five years. As the Court Records for I692, have been lost, we do not know the place where Giles Cory was executed. We have been able to gather but very little in regard to the witchcraft delusion from aged persons, resident in what was once Salem Village. About forty years ago there lived within the bounds of that village, an aged man of nearly one hundred years, who would talk freely of the Indian Wars, but could be induced to say but little concerning witchcraft. He said it was a distressing and fearful subject to talk about. He however frequently expressed the belief, that the devil stole the church book from Mr. Parris, and had it in his possession during the whole of the summer of i692, and that it was only after a severe struggle the church recovered it again. In I830 we examined these ancient records, and while copying a portion of them, could not but notice they were in a state of good preservation, considering in whose keeping they had been. In regard to the origin of Salem Witchcraft there have been many opinions. The one most common, and we think the most correct is, that it originated with children, through their love for sport and mischief. The testimony of Daniel Elliott, given in at the trial of Elizabeth Proctor was that she heard one of the accusing girls say, that she cried out against Goody Proctor for sport. " The girls (she added) must have some sport." She expressed without doubt the feeling of the whole circle of these youthful accusers. For a remarkable letter upon the detection of three children engaged in a supposed case of witchcraft in the year I720, the reader is referred to the sixth page of the tenth volume of the second series of Massachusetts Historical Collections. It should be noticed that all the pretended spiritual manifestations of any note that have ever occurred in this country, had their origin with children and young persons. We will conclude our notes by mentioning the assertion of Rev. Samuel Mather, son of Dr. Cotton Mather, made in the year 1728, in respect to the first edition of " More Wonders of the Invisible WVorld." He says, (referring to Calef,) "there was a certain 450 APPENDIX. disbeliever of Witchcraft, who wrote against his father's book the' Wonders of the Invisible World,' but the man is dead, his book died long before him." Alas! for his hasty opinion. Mather's "Wonders of the Invisible World," and Calef's reply to it, are now printed in one volume together; Calef's work has been printed four times. Danmvers, Sept. I86o. S. P. F. Boston: Printed by John Wilson & Son. BIBLIOGRAPHICAL TRACTS. NUMBER ONE. ~51/rG102s I eyPrzvit o kar/j' B7ooks, B ) S O ( N',, I86g5. From the Boston Daily Advertiser of March 24, I865. With Additions ar d Corrections. One hundred and thirty-one copies printed. UNIVERSITY PRESS: WEI.CH, BIGELOW, & CO., CAMBRIDGE. SPURIOUS.REPRINTS OF EARLY BOOKS. "SALEM WITCHCRAFT: comprising MIore [Wonders of the Invisible World, collected by ROBERT CALEF; and londers of the Invisible World, by COTTON MATHER; together with Notes and Explanations, by SAMUEL P. FOWLER. Boston: William Veazie. MDCCCLXV." 4t. pp. 450o HIS is a very imposing volume, with charming paper and type, and with "a neat rivulet of text" gracefully "meandering through a meadow of margin," such as would have contented the heart of Sir Benjamin Backbite himself. The beautifully executed wood-cut on the title-page appropriately represents a withered hag, supported by her staff, and mak ing her way by dim moonlight over a blasted heath, her only companion a black cat; while in the distance, coursing through the air on a broomstick, is seen another of the " weird sisters," on her way, perhaps, to an appointed " witch meeting," to plot mischief against some peaceful hamlet. Possibly our young friends who are fresh from their nursery classics might suggest that the old woman on the broomstick was bound on a more humane mission: " Old woman,' said I,'0 whither, 0 whither, 0 whither so high'To sweep the cobwebs from the sky.' " From whatever cause, or by whatever agency, certainly a good many cobwebs have been cleared away from our horizon since the days of the Salem witchcraft. And here I am reminded of an anecdote of Chief Justice Holt, before whom an old woman was once brought, accused of witchcraft. The evidence against her was, that she had been seen to ride through the air on a broomstick. "Well, my good woman," said the humane Judge to the demented old creature, "did you ride on a broomstick through the air, as the witnesses say?" "Yes, sir," replied the accused, supposing that what everybody said must be true. "And I know of no law against it," said the Judge, who immediately discharged the prisoner. Judge Holt's judicial broom swept away a great many cobwebs. This book, of which an edition of one hundred copies, on sumptuous large paper, has just been issued, was printed from the stereotype plates of a work issued in I86i, in duodecimo, by a publisher in a neighboring city. As we have seen by the general 2 title quoted above, it purports to be a reprint of Robert Calef's "More Wonders of the Invisible World," first published in 1700, and of Cotton Mather's "Wonders of the Invisible World," first published in I692. The special title prefixed to the latter imports that it is a reprint of "The Third Edition," London, I693. These two works of Mather and of Calefare among the most important of those which relate to the history of the Salem delusion. I wish I could say that the real merit of this elegant volume is equal to the fair promise with which it greets the eye. But such is far from being the case. The first work (which, in order, should have been the last) is a reprint of Calef's book, which, as I have said, was first issued in I700, and in London. It was afterwards three times separately reprinted, namely, twice at Salem, in 1796 and in 1823, and once at Boston, in 1828. All these reprints are full of errors, each later publisher copying them from the previous one. The publisher of the edition of 1796, who printed from the original London edition, appears never to have seen, or at least not to have heeded, a table of errata inserted in it, and therefore to have reprinted most of those errors as well as others not noticed in that table, besides making many new ones of his own. These, for the most part, have been perpetuated in the next two editions, and are now sumptuously served up to us anew on tinted paper in the volume before us. The editor of it evidently never saw the first edition of Calef, but has printed from one of the two later. For the benefit of the purchasers of these "one hundred copies," and of all other persons "whom it may concern," I will note some of the variations from the true text. In the first place, the special title-page to Calef's book is wrongly punctuated. The second clause is not "The Wonders of the Invisible World displayed. I In Five Parts." It is "'The Wonders of the Invisible World, I Display'd in Five Parts." Again, under "Part I." on the title-page of the original London edition, the name of Cotton Mather does not appear in full, as it does in this volume, but simply "' C. M." Both of these variations first appeared in the edition of I823. Now let us examine, in the volume before us, ":The Epistle to the Reader, and more especially to the Noble Barons of this age, wherever residing." Whom does the editor suppose Calef could have intended by "the noble barons "? A reference to the first edition, the author's edition, would have shown him that Calef's appeal is "to the Noble Bereans of this Age"; namely, those who search the Scriptures and base their faith upon its teachings. (See The Acts of the Apostles, xvii. I, I I.) On page xxi. of the Epistle to the Reader, line 2, the true reading is not "communicated to use," but communicated to me"; and to the date "August I I, I697," on the same page, should be prefixed "Boston in New England." After the Preface, or Epistle to the Reader, in the first edition there follows a valuable "Index" of three pages, which is omitted in all the subsequent editions, and of course in this. At the beginning of the first part or section, on page 25 of this new volume, the word and numeral "Part I.," which should immediately precede " Section I.," are wanting, as well as the subject of that part, namely, "The Afflictions of Margaret Rule," which should immediately follow; and this heading, somewhat varied, is wrongly prefixed to the preceding prefatory letter of Mather. The most of the changes relating to the heading of this and the other chapters or "Parts" first appeared in the edition of 1823. But the principal alterations in the structure of the paragraphs, as well as the greater part of all the errors and omissions here noticed, originally appeared in the edition of 1796. On page 32, line 4, of our new edition, "a white" should be' a Wight." On page 5, line I, Cotton Mather is made to speak of the "fruitful discharge of my ministry." A reference to the errata of the first edition shows this to be (what the intelligent reader might have suspected) "the faithful discharge of my ministry." Page 62, line 5, "intimated to me" should be " intimated to Mr. J. M." Page 65, line I, "drowning of witches" should be "chaining of witches." Page 80o, line 2 from the bottom, "to leave" should be "leaving." Page 86, line 23, dele " More." Page 87, lines 17, 8, and I9; the quoted passage, as here given, makes nonsense. In Calef's original edition it is by no means clear; but an intelligent editor, by referring to the book which Calef is here citing, would find the whole intelligible. The passage should read: "There is in Spain a sort of people called Zahurs, that can see into the bowels of the earth, on Tuesdays and Fridays"; but on no other days was the power vouchsafed to them. Page II5, line 3, "And thus, reverend," should be "And thus, Reverend Sir." Page I42, line I8, "unaccountable" should be "uncomfortable." Page 157, line I8, after the word "propose," the next paragraph below, beginning with "That of yourselves," &c., should immediately follow, as a part of the sentence ending with "time and place." Page I6o0, line I4, "proved" should be "procured." Page I75, line I4, after "divination," add " (7rvcua //vOwcowvos)," and in line 18, after "soothsaying," add /avTvocvE'xj, and omit the words which follow in the next line, namely, "till they were full of the god," as these words are not to be found in the original edition. They are a translation, strangely misplaced, of the Latin words, " donec erant Deo plena," which should come in after "uttered " in the 2ISt line, but which are wanting in all but the first edition. Without a reference to the volume itself, it is difficult for the reader of this notice to realize the miserable jumble on this single page, occasioned by the omissions and interpolations of the careless and ignorant editor of the first reprint; all of which variations have been faithfully reproduced in every subsequent edition. Page 176, line 14, after "known," add "(Non est Religio ubi omnnia patent.") Page 90o, line 7, " I proposed " should be "I did promise you." Page 2I I, line Io, "we may at least learn" should be " we may best learn." Page 226, line I2, "'March gth" should be "March I9th." Page 233, line i3, "4Mary Lewis" should be "Mercy Lewis." Page 242, line 5, "Jonathan Cary" should be "Nathaniel Cary." Page 262, line 3, "the cart going to the hill," should read, "the cart going up the hill." On page 336, in the last line, it is stated that a woman and her daughter, on being a second time accused, "flew into New York government." They were hardly witches enough for that; they only "fled." But I will pursue this collation no further. These specimens will serve the intended purpose. The foot-notes to this edition of Calef, which are of little value, bear no distinguishing mark; so that the ordinary reader is never able to tell who made them, and rarely when they were made. The account at the end, about Giles Cory, was not published by Calef, neither was it furnished by the editor of the present volume. It appeared for the first time in the edition of 18 23. We come now to the second tract in this volume,- Mather's "Wonders of the Invisible World." I have made no collation of this with the tract from which it is printed, to test its verbal accuracy; but I am astonished to find that the editor should have omitted, from the body of the work, about twenty-four pages, being the relation of the trials of persons for witchcraft. A note at the place of this omission, page 430, would seem to intimate that it was made because the same matter had been already printed in the Calef tract. This, however, is no sufficient excuse for destroying the integrity of a book. But there is a more serious ground of complaint. The editor should have printed from the author's edition of this work, - the Boston edition, or the first London edition, which is a reprint of that; since "The Third Edition," the one he has used, is only an abridgment. What comn. prises more than fifty pages of the first London reprint, and more than one hundred pages of the smaller-sized original Boston edition, printed under Mather's own eye, is wanting in this third edition. If we add to this the portion which the editor of the new volume has omitted from this third edition, we have but a fragment left to us here of Mather's original work. Now we submit whether an infliction of this nature upon the literary community is not simply monstrous. "It is most tolerable and not to be endured." That a person should attempt to reproduce an old book, or to reprint it in any form, without consulting the original edition, or the author's last edition, if he had published more than one, when all of them were accessible, is evidence that, as an editor, he but faintly realized his duty. The fact that the volume we have just described is published here in the heart of New England, and finds ready purchasers, is an alarming indication; and this leads to another reflection. It probably matters but little to three fourths of the purchasers of this volume, or of others which the press is so rapidly throwing off, whether they are correctly edited or not. It would seem as if nobody but a few plodders reads anything now-adays save newspapers and pamphlets. Books are sold in large quantities; but are they bought to be read? The quiet satire of Dibdin, on the Bibliomaniac, may not be wholly inapplicable to others, "here and now." "'I will frankly confess,' rejoined Lysander,' that I am an arrant Bibliomaniac, -that I love books dearly, - that the very sight, touch, and, more, the perusal-''Hold, my friend,' again exclaimed Philemon,'you have renounced your profes-.sion, you talk of reading books, - do Bibliomaniacs ever read books?'" Many persons buy books as they buy upholstery, for the eye, not for the mind. "Put me down," says Jones, "for a copy of all your large papers, whatever you publish." The press is stimulated to produce what has already been sold in advance; and, in a bookselling affair, what inducement is there to secure that care which would be necessary where a book has to be sold upon its merits. But these books will by and by fall into the hands of readers. "When the hurlyburly's done," and quiet times succeed the present excited state'of the public mind, we shall find leisure to read and to criti cise; and we anxiously hope that the many elegant volumes now rapidly publishing among us will stand the test of examination better than the one whose title is placed at the head of this notice. I will add, in conclusion, that John Russell Smith of Soho Square, London, published in I862 a charming reprint in duodecimo of this tract of Mather's, from the first London edition of I693. It is accompanied by a reprint of Increase Mather's "Cases of Conscience Concerning Witchcraft," &c., originally published in Boston, and republished in London in that year, with ten pages of prefatory matter " collected by Deodat Lawson." DELTA.