Chapter 1

Preface

✦

Soe wR SORE aE NSE i oad inet SOOT

The Convers of the Juvilible Ceerly.

OBSERVATIONS

As well Hiftorical as Theclogical, upon the NATURE, the
NUMBER, and the OPERATIONS of the

seg
Be

Bo ty yee Tees OS: Accompany‘d with, : | ae
- Some Accounts ofthe Grievous Moleftations, by DAK
¢ MONS and WITCHCRAFTS,,.-which have lately

annoy’d the Countrey ; and the Trials of fome eminent
|» Matlefa&ors Executed upon occafion thereof; with feveral
~~ Remarkable Curivfiries therein occurring.

IL Some Counlils, Dire&ting a due Improvement of the ters
sible things, lately done,-by the Unutual & Amazing
-Rangeof EVIL SPIRITS, in Our Neighbourhood : &
~ the methods to prevent the Wrongs which thofe Evit
Angels may: intend againtt all forts of people among us ;
efpecially.in Accufations of the Intiocent. a
IH. Some Conjectures upon the great EVENTS, likely
to befall, the WORLD in General, and NEW-EN-
GLAND in Particular ; as alfo upon the Advances-of
-the ‘TIME, when, we fhallfee BETTER DAYES.
[V A fhort Nartative of a late Outrage committed bya
knot of WITCHES in Swedeland, very much Refen-

| bling, and fe far Explaining, Thar under which our parts
OF America have laboured !

By Cotton athe:
Buffon Reinwed, and Sold by Benjamin Harriss 1693

f Sibitmet by the Special
BE” Command of His. EX-
CELLENCY, the Go-
vernour of the Provitice of
the Maflachufetts-Bay ™m
Rew: oe

rs So Soe ee ee

"The Authors Defence,

Is as I Remember, the Learned. Scribonins,;

who Reports, that One of his Acquain-
‘ance, devoutly making his Prayers on the.behalf of
aPerfon molefted by EvilSpirits,received from thole
Evsl Spirits an horriole Blow over the Face; And
| may my felt Expect not few or {mall Bufferings
irom Evil Spirsts, for the Endeavours wherewith ¥
am now going to Erxcounter them. I am far from
Infenfible, That at this Extraordinary Time of the
Devils Coming down in Great Wrath upon us, there are
00 many Tongues and Hearts thereby Set on Fire
of Het; that the various Opinions about the
Witcherafts which of Later Time have Troubled
ys, are maintained by fome with fo much Clou-
dy Fary, as if they could never be fufficiently
stated, unlefs written in the Liquor wherewith
Witches ule to write their Covenants; and. that
ré who becomes an Author at fuch a Time,
nad need be, Fenced with Iron, and the Staff of a
spear. ‘The unaccountable Frowardne&, A fperi-
y, Untreatablenefs, and Inconfiltency of many
perfons, every Day gives a Vifible Expofition ef
hat paflage, An Evil Spirit from the Lord . came
pow Saul ; and MIiluftration of that Story, There
pet him two Poffeffed. with Devils; exceeding Fierce,
0 that yo man might pals by shas way. To. fend
: angele abroad

at ~~ mee
97) Si ert ¥
“ og P

LHe Authors Defence

abread a Book, among fuch Readers, were a
very unadvifed Thing if a man had not fuca
Reafons.to give as IT can bring, for fuch an“Un-
dertaking. Briefly, 1 hope it cannot “be faid,
They are all fo: Noy I hope the Body of this
People; are yer in {uch a Temper, as to’ be ca-
pable of Apriying their Thoughts, to make a Right
Uje, of the Stupendous and prodigious “Tbings
that are happening among us: and becaute |
was concernd, when I faw that no Abler Hand
Emirred-any E//zjes to Engage the Minds: of this
People in fuch Holy, Pious, Fruittul Improve-
ments, as'God would have to be made of His
Amazing Difpenfations now upon us, THERE-
FORE it is thac One of the Leaft among * the
Childten of New-Exgland, has here done, what
is done. None, but, The Father wha fees im Se
cret, ‘keows the Heart-breaking Exerciies, where-
with I have Compofd what is now ‘going .to
be Expofed; Left P fhould in any One! Thing,
mifs of Doing my Defigned Service for His Glo-
‘ty, and for His People; But fam now fome-
“what comfortably Affured of ~ Hrs favourable Ac-
ceptance; and, I way nor Fear 5 what can a Satan do
unto me! : |

Having Performed, Something of what ‘God Re-
quired, in labouring to fuit Hits Words unto” His
Works, atthis Day among us, and therewithal hand-
led'a Theme that has been fometimes counted fot
unworthy the’Pen, ever of a King, it'will eafily be
serceived, ‘that fome.fibordinate Ends have Been
cenfidered in thefe Endsavours, I

Lhe Authors Deleince
_, Thave indeed fet my felf to Countermine the
whole PLOT of the Devil, againft New-Eng and,
in every Branch of it, as far as one of myDarkne/s,
can comprehend fuch a Werk.of Darkne/s. may
add, that I have herein alfo aimed at the Informati-
- on and Satisfa@ion of Good men in another Coun-
trey, a Thoufand Leagues off, where Ihave,.ic may
be Mere, or however, more Confiderable, Friends,
than in My Owa; And 1 do what 1 can to have that
Countrey, now, as well as alwayes, in the beft
Terms with, My Own. But while I am doing thete
things, [have been driven a little to do fomething
likewiie for Aty felf ; I mean, by takiag off ‘the
fale Reports and hard Cenfires about my Opinion
in chefe matters, the Parters Portion, which my pur-
_ fit of Peace, has procured’ me among the Kee,
~My hitherto Unvaried Thowghts are here Publith-
ed ; and, I believe, they will he’ owned ‘by molt,
of the . Minifters’ of God in’ ‘thefe Coloniés:
hor can amends be well made me, for the wrong
done me, by other forts of Reprefentations.
In fine, For the Dogmatical part of my Difcourfe,
LT want no Defence ; for the Hiferica! part’ of it,
‘Uhave.a very Great One. The Lievtenant Go-
-vernour of New-England, having ‘perufed it, ‘has
done me, the Honour of giving me a Shield, under
the Umbrage whereo? IT now dare to walk Abroaci.

Reverend

Reverend and Dear Sir,

d Yov Very much Gratify‘d me, as, well as put

> a kind Refpe& upon me, when you put

> into.my hands. Your Elaborate aiid moft {eaion-
2 able Dilcourfe, entitled The Wonders of The , Invifi-
ble World. And having now Perufed fo fruitful
2? and -happy 2 Compoimre, upon fach a Subject :
at this Jun@ture of Time, and confidering the
>Dlace that 1 Hold in the Court of Oyer and
'Terminer,. {till Labouring and proceeding in the
> Trial ot the perfons Accufed and Convicted for
© Witebcraft, 1 ond that Lam more nearly and high-
ly concerned than as a meer Ordinary Reader, to
b ? ExprefS my Obligation and ‘Thanktulneis to you,
© for fo great pains ; and cannot but hold my felf
| © many ways bound, evento the utmoft of what ts
“ proper for me, in my prefent Publick Capacity,
“to declaie my Ségular Approbatien thereot, uch
is Your Defign, moft plainly exprefed throughout
‘the whele ; dich Your Zeal for God 5 Your En-
© mity to Satan and his Kingdom ; Your Faithfulne/s
and Compalfion to this poor people ; such the Vi-
gour, but yet great Temper of your Spinit; Such
your In/tructios and Couniel 5 your CARE Of
‘TRUTH ; Your i/dom and Dexterity in allay-
‘ing and moderating, that among us, which needs
“ic; Such Your clear Difcerning of Divine Proe
© vidences and Periods, now running on apace tO»
© wards their Glorious Iffues in the World; and
© finally, Such your Good News of, The Shortne/s of
© the Devils Time ; That all Good Men mutt needs
ae © Defire

€
c
€

€ Defire the making of this your. Difcourfe, Publick -
to the World ; and will greatly Rejoyce that the
© ‘Spirit vi the Lord has thus Enabled you to Lift. up
© 4 Stendard againft the Infernal Enemy, that hath
© been Coming in like a Flood wpm us. Ldo therefore
© make it my particular and Larneft Requeft unto
© you, that as foon as may be, you will Commit the
-€ fame unto rhe PRESS accordingly.
| { am,
Your Affured Friend,
William Stoughton.

—& Live by Neighbours, that force me to produce thefe Un-
I deferved-Lines. But now, as when Mr. W4lfex, be-
holding a great Mutter of Souldiers, had it by a Gentle-
man then prefent, faid unto him, Sir, I'l tell you a” great

SS ES ne Te eR eee Oe SS SSS SSS SSS eS ae

a yee Tae

Thing 5, bere is a mighty Body of People; and there is mot
SEVEN of them all but what Loves, Mr. Wilfon 5 that
Gracious Man prefently & pleafantly Reply’d,Sir, I'M tel!
you as good'a thing as.that 5 here 1s a mighty Body of Peoples
and there is not fo much as ONE among them all, but Mr,
| Wilfon Loves bir. Somewhat fo; “Tis poffible that a-
mong, this Body. of People, there may be few, that Love
| the Writer of this Book ; but, give me leave to boaft fo
_ far, there is ot one among all this Body of People, whom
| this Mather would not Study to Serve, as well as to Leve.
With fuch a Spirit ef Love, is the Book now before us
written; Lappeal to all ehis b¥orld ; and if this World,
will deny me the Right of acknowledging fo much, I Ap-
| ‘peal to the Ofher, that it is, Not written with ae Evil Spis
pit: for. which caule, I hall not wonder if Evil Spirits,
be Exafperat d by what is #7ir2eu,as the Sadducces doubt-
} Jef were with what was Difeourfed in the Days of our Sa-
.viour. Lonly Demand the Fuffice, that others Read i, |
with the fame Spirit whicrewith I wrae it, "i
; ba | Enchantment? |

- Enchantments

$1. PT. was-as long
a Faithful Minifter

whole Name was Mr. Edward Symons, ‘did'in a Sermon

after wards. Printed, thus Exprefs himiélfe*;° * At Nem

and. the Glorious Day-Star to fhow it, felf ; ~-- Sed

*Venient Annis Secula Seris, there, will come ‘Times, in

“after-agds when the Clouds will over-fhadow and’ darken
© the: Sky there. Many now promile .to themfelves’ no-
“thing but fuccelfive Happinels there, which for.4 ‘Time
© through Gods Mercy. they may Enjoy 3 and I’ Pray

sno. Happinels perpetual... An: Obfervation, Or, Thad

almoft idan Infpiration,very difmaily now. verity‘d upon
us! jIc-has bees affirard by fome who belt knew New-

Eacland, That ‘the World will do New-England a great

piece of Injuitice, if it acknowledge not ‘a> meafure of

“Religion, Loyalty, Honefty and ‘Induftry,’ im‘ the peo-
ple there, beyond what is to, be found. with’ any ~ other

people for the Number. of them.” When 1 did “a few
eats ago, publifh a Book, which mentioned :a few

Memorable Wichcrafts, committed in this Country ; the
eer { 2 )

Excellent

SncowereDe

géellent\ Buster ‘graced the Second’ Edition of that
Book With’ Kind Preface; wherein’ he fees caufée to fay,
f any are Scandalized) that Neéw-England, a place of as

crious Pret), 48° any I can hear of, tinder “Heaven, floould
fe Troubled’ forniuch with itches, I thinks tis nb’ Wonder:

Where will theDevil how moft Malice, bur’ where. be 1s
aced and Eieth ‘mop 3 And’ T hope, the Country
will {Hl deerve arid anfwer;"the Charity. fo Exprefled

y that’ Reverend man of God “1: -Whofoever travels
over this’ Wildernefay' will fe Gt’ richly befpangled:: with »
Svangelical Churches, who Paftors are Holy, Able, &
Painful Overfecrs of their Flock, Lively Preachers, and

Vertuous’ Livers’ and fitch’ as in their Several. Neigh-
nourly “Apociations; have had their’ Meetings’ whereat
Tecleliaftical matters ofcommon ‘Concerument are Con
adered’ ¥ Chirches,’ whote Communicants have been tc-
joully Examined about their Expetietices of Regenera-
lion as well as about their Knowledge, and’ Beleefi and
WBlamele Gonverfation, before their’ Admiftion to- the
Sacred Gomaiunion 3 although: others of lefs but Hope-
cul Attainments in Chriftianicy ‘ate not ordinarily deny‘d
Baptifm for themfélves and theirs’5: ‘Churches, which are
Shy of ufing any ‘thing’ iw the “Worlhip of God, for
which they ¢annot fee a Warrant of God: 3 bur with
whom yet’ the- Naines’ 6f “Congregational, Presbytertan,
Epifeopalian;' ot, “Antipedebaptrtt, “are fwallowed*up in
chat’ of, Chrifiz; Perfons ofall: thofe Perfwafions being
nGtually° taken into our*Fellowfhip,’ when: V/ible Godlsz
nefs has*Recommended: them -:-Churches, whic ulually
do within themfelves manage? their, owa Difcipline,
inder’ the: Condu&t of their “Elders ; but yet call in
the help ‘of Syneds upon Enfergencies, or Agprievances: :
Churches, Laftly, whercin Multitudes are growing Ripe
for Heaven every Day; and as talt as thefe are ee
| i 3 ken

‘like, do not make a Gentleman, but a Monfter, or

Enchantments

ken off, others are daily Rifing up. And:by. the prag
fence and power of the Divine Inftitutions thus mentainh}
ed in the Country, weare flill fo Happy, that, I fap}
pole, there isno. Land in the Univerfe more free from
the Debauching, and the Debaling Vices. of Ungodlinefsi
‘The Body of the People are hitherto fo difpofed, thats
Swearing, Sabbath-breakingy Wiring, Drunkennefs, and the!

Gobiim, wy the Vulgar ‘Eftimation. All this notwithiy
flanding; we muft humbly Confefs to our God, that
we are miferably, Degenerated from the Fir ft Love, , off
our Predeceflors ; however we boafte eur felves, 4 little
when Men would go -to-itrample. upon us,’ and. wel
Venture to fay, Whereinfocver any is beld (we {peak
foolifsly) we ave bold alfo. The firt Planters of thefe:
Colonies were a Chofen. Generation of men, who were!
firlk fo Pure, as to difrelifh many. things which they!
thought wanted Reformatien ele where ; and yet withali
fo Peaceable, that they Embraced a Voluntary Exile in
a Squalid, horrid, American Defart, rather than to Live
in Contentions with their Brethren. Thofe.Good. men’
imagined that they fhould Leave their Pofterity, in <a!
place, where they fhould never fee the Taroads of Pro-!
fanity, or Superftition; and a famous Perfon «returning!
hence could in a Sermon before the Parliament, profels,'
I have' now been feven years in a Country, where I never!
fam one man-drunk, or heard one Oath [warty oF beheld:
one Beggar in the Streétsy allthe while. Such great pers!
fons as Budeus, and others, who miftook Sir, Thomasi
Mores UTOPIA, for a Country really Exiltent, andi
{tirr‘d up fome Divines Charitably to undertake a)
Voyage thither, might mow have certatily found a|
Truth in their Miftake 3 New-England was a true. Urge!
pia. But alas, the Children, and Servants ef thofe Old:

; Ne Planters |

SEs ‘ 3 Ses Ek u . cy me ae <I Lhe . SSE SRS a

3,
4

€ncountrep

#lanters, mutt needs afford many, Degenerate Plants, and
Shee is now Rich ‘up a Number of people, other-
wife Inclined than our Foflua‘s and the Elders that oute
ized them. ~Thoie two things, our “Holy. Progenitors,
Nand our Happy) Advantagesy make Oyniffions of Duty,
dand fuch® Spiritual Diforders as the wholé World abroad
ais overwhelmed with, to be.as Provoking in as,.as, the
oft flagitious’ wickednefles Commirted in other places 5
dand the’ Minifters of God ate accordingly fevere in
Atheir Leftimonits. “But in Short, “Thole Interelts of
He Gofpel, which were the Errand of our. Fathers into
Tkhefe Ends of the Earth, have been too much Neglected
Jand Poltponéd, and the Attainments of an hand-fome
WE ducation, have becn too much undervalued, by Multi
Itudesy that have not fallea into Fxorbitancies of
Wickednefs + and fome, efpecially of our Young ones,
when they have get abroad from under the Restraints
Where laid upon them, have ‘become extravagantly and
abom‘nably Vicious. Hence tis, that tae Happinels of
New-England, has heen, but for. a Time, as it Was fore-
Witold, and not fer a Long Time, as jha‘s been delir’d
Mor vs. A Variety of “Calamity has long followid
(this Plantation; and .we ‘have dil the Reafon imagina-
WMle to afcribe it unto the Rebuke of Heaven upon us for |
‘oar manifold Apeftafies ; we.make no Right ule of our
‘Difafters, if we,do not, Remember whence we are fallen,
\l and Repent, and Do the fit works. ° But yet our
i) Afiictions may come under. a further Confideration
with us © there isa further ‘caufe of our Afflictions,
whofe Due mult be Givex hun.

> gm The New-Englanders, area People of God fettled
Ml in thofe, which were once the Devils Territories 5 and it
ij may eafily be fuppofed that the Devi was Exceedingly
ae ie as difturbed

Ny |

- “been Abortive, many an Ebenezer has been, Erected unto,

Crchantments all
F ai
ciiturbed, when he perceived fuch a people. here accor
pluibing the Promife of old made unto our Blefled Jefusy,
That Be fhonld have the Utmoft parts of she Earth for Fis}
Pofiefion. “There was not a. greater Uproar among: thd
Ephefians, when the Gofpel was firft brought among them, |
then there was amon 8 The Powers of the Air ( after whon |
thofe Ephefians walked ). when firft the Si/ver Trumpets ou}
the Goipel here made the Foyful Sound. The Devil thus)
Irritated, immediately try’d all forts of Methods to aver 4
tum this poor Plantation: and-{o much of the Churclay,f
as Was Fled inte this Wilderne/s, immediately , found, The,
Serpent caf? cut of his Mouth, a Flood for the carrying of ay
avy, J belteve, that hever were more Satawicz! Devices,
ufed for the Unierling of any People underthe ‘Sun, thanih

what ha ve been Employ‘d for the Extirpation of the ‘Me,
which God thas here P/anted, Cafting cut rhe. Heathen ang}
Preparing a Room before ity and caufing it to take deep Roots}
and fill the Land: fo that it fent its Boughs unto the Attlanuc,|
Sea Battward, and its Branches unto the Connecticut. Rs-,
ger Weltward, and the Fylls were covered with the S/sadow |

thereof. Put, All thofe Attempts of Hell, have hitherto,

wing obiaincd Help from God. we continue to this. Day. Where- |
fore the Devil is now making one Attempt=:more upon.
us; an Attempt more Difficult, more Surptizing, more,|
fnarl'd with unintelligible Circumftances than any that we,
have hitherto Encountred 5; an Attempt, fo Critical, .that,
if we get well through, we fhall foon Enjoy Halcyon Days,
with all the Vidtures of Hell, ‘Tredden under our Feet. He,

has wanted his Incarnate Legions, to Perfeeute us, as the,|

People of God, have in the other Hemifphere been Per- |
fecuted : he has therefore drawn forth his more Spiritual.)
ones to make an Attacque’upon us. We have been ad-

: ey vifed,

the Prine of God, by His Poor People’ here; and, Ha-,

encountyed
fed, by fome Giedible Chriftians, yet alive, thatia Males.
Stor, acculed of, Wtcheraft aswell as Murder, and Eixes
ted in: this place more than Forty Years ago, did then:
ve Notice, of, dx Horrible PLOT againfi the Country, by
WVITCEICRAFT, and a Foundation of WIICHRAFT thew
aid, which if it were not feafonably Difcovered,, would, pie-
zbly Blow up, and pull down all the Churches in the Coun-
~ And we have now with Horror. feen the Difcovery
At facha Witchcraft! An Army of Devils is horribly
roke in, upon the place which is the Center and alter a
att, the-Fir/l-born of our. Englifh. Settlements : and. the
Joufes of the Good People there, are fll'd with the dole-
31 Shrieks of their Children and Servants, ‘Tormented by
avifible Hands, with ‘Tortures altogether preternatural.
\fter the Mifchiefs there Endeavoured, and fince im part
Conquered, the terrible Plague, of, Evil Angels, hath made
-s progrefs into fome other places, where other perions
Mave been in. like manner- Diabolically handled. “Phete
! pus poor, Afiliéted Neighbours, quickly after they
Moccome Infetted and Infefted with thefe Demons, arrive
io a Capacity of Difcerning thofe which they conceive
Whe Shapes of their ‘Troublers; and notwithftanding the
Great and Juft Sufpicion, that the Demons might Impofe
he Shapes of Innocent Perfons in their Spettral Exhibiti-
bns upon the Sufferers, ( which may perhaps prove no
imal part of the Witch-Plot in the iflue ) yet many of
the perfons thus Reprefented, being Examined, feveral of
‘hem have been Convicted of a very Damnable Wéch-
craft : yea, more than. One Twenty have Confefed, that
they have Signed unto a Book, which. the Devil fhow'd
: ~~ and Engaged in his Hellifh Defign of Bewitchr |

Ming, and Ruining our Land. 1% know not, at leaft J
i know not, how far the Delufrons of Satan may be Inter-

Ivyoven into forme Circumftgnces of the Coxfelfians 5 but.
eer aM eee OORT? | amor one

t
;
|
| i
|
| |

= a 5

Enuchantnents
one would thiak,-alP the Rules of Underftanding Hu- ry
mane AHfayrs are at an\ end,if after fo' many moft Vo-||
luntary Harmonious Conjefionsmade by Intelligent pérfons| }
of all Ages, in fundry Towns, at feveral."Times, wel}
mult not Believe the main ffrokes wherein thole Confefficns|)
all agree: efpecially when we have a thoufand preter
natural ‘Things every day before our eyes; wherein thei}
Confefiors do acknowledge their Conccinment, and givel
Demonttration of thei being fo' Concerned. «If the Des A
vils now can ftrike thé minds of mén, with any Poifens o H
i5 fine a Gompofition and Operation, that {Cores of In= }
nhecent People fhall Unite, 1% Confefions of a Crime,
Which’ we fee atually committed; it is'a thing ‘prodigi.
ous,’ beyond the Wonders’ of the foimer Ages, and it:
threatens no’ lef8 than a fort of # Diffolution upon the |
World. Now, by thee Confeffions ‘tis Agreed, That,
the Devil has madé adreadful Knot of Witches in the,
Ceuntrys and by the'help of 1rcbes has dreadfully En-
creafed that Knot: Thar thele Witches have driven a Trade
of Commiffioning their Confederate Spirits,to do all forts,
of Milchiefs to'the' Neighbouts; whereupoa’ there have,
Enfued fich Milchiévotis coffequerices upon the Bodies,
and Eftates of the'Neighhourhood, #s could not other)
wile be accounted for’ yea, That at prodigious wih
Meetings, the Wrerches have procecdeéd fo far, as to. Cont
cert. and Confalt the Methéds of Rooting out the Chritt= |
an Religion fron this Counery; and'fetting up’ inftead of
it, perhaps a tore grols Dizbolifis, than ever the World}
faw before? And Yet it will be a thing little fhort of Me
racleyit info joredd-a Butinels, as this, the Devil’ {hould
Not get in fome of his'Jugeles, to confound the Difcover¥
ef all the reft. | bres

$.°3. Doubiley rhe. "Thoiighis of “gaaniy wiles
if cely'

sige a Great Scandal againft New-England, from thé
Accuted, or Sufpect-

y waere per-
nit the Devils to hook, two or three wicked Seholars,
ito Witcbcraft, and then by their Affiftance to Range
With their Poifoneus Infinuations, among Ignorant, En-
ious, Difcontented People, till they have cunnin Bly

iJ ANY

become a prey te
WExes like a Flame of Fires and, who walks in the midft
If the Golden Candlefticks. Moreover, There are. many
parts of the World, who if taey do upon. this Occafion
nfult. over this People of God, need only to. be told
the Story of what happened at Jovm, in the Dutchy

wef Gulic, where, a Popifh, Curate, having: ineflectually

mry‘d many Charms, to Fject the Devil out of a Dam-
\fel there poffeffed, he Pajfionately: bid the Devil come
lout of her, into himfelf ; but the Devil anfwered him,

cid miki’ Opus eft cum tenrare, garm Nevin ri
| ure

Enchantinents

Fure - Optimo um Poftefurus ? that is, WRbat nced. ¥\}
meddle with oney whom'E am fire to have and hold at) hk
the Lajt Days as my own forever. ! I

But befides ali this, give me. Ecave to add ; it isto bette sit
hoped, “Chat among “the - perfons ‘reprefetited by thel+
Speétres which now afhict our Neighbours, there’ will be: i
found /ome that sever explicitly: contra@ed with. any of
the Evil Angels. The Witches haye not onl intimated, :
but f6me of them acknowledged} 'T ha ar they f. ep eve | |
the Reprefentations of Initocens Perfons, to’ Cover and fhels i
ter themfelves in their Wich ratts 5. now, altho’ our good if
God has hitherto generally preferved us, from‘thy Abuferb
therein Defizn’d by tl thie Dei ls tor. us, yer who’ of us cath ib
Exactly State, How} far our God “may Ser éur Chaftifement ' |
per mit the Devil to préceed tn {ned “an Abii fe> Te was the ch
Retult of 4Difcourte, fatély heldar Mecting: of fome f
very Pious, atid Learned, Miniters among us, “Thar rhe‘
Devils may ‘fediteri mes havea permiffion'to Reprefent ‘an Innosit
cent Perfon, 2s To name RE Ig fuicls as are under Diabolical Mo) rf
lestations : But that fuch Things are Rare. and Extraordinary; »

rectally, when'fuch Matters-come be fore Cisil -Fudi sehres i
The Opinion Exprefled with fo much Caution: and Judg="f
ment, ieems'to be the ¢ prevail ming Senfe of many ‘others;
who are then Eminent ly Cautious ‘and“Judicious; and ih
have both Argument and Hiftery to Courntenance them ia /\
it. Itis Rave Eynd Extraordinzs, tor an Honeft Naboth to f
have his Life i felf Sworn away;by two. Children of Belial:
and yet no Infringement hereby made on, the Reétoral:
Righteoufnels of our Eternal Soveraign, whofe Fadgmentsit
ave a Great Deep, and who gives none Account of Hits

matters, “Thus, shoes the Appearance ‘of*Intocent)
Perfons, | In Spectral Exhibitions adthcting ‘the Neighbour=!
hood, ‘be a thing Rare and Extr gt limaty 3. yet who. catty
be ture, that the great Belial of Fell auth needs be! ,
alwayes)

| ‘EntenntreaD

ways Yoked tp, from this Piece of Milchicf ? "The beft

nah that ever fived has been called a Witeh: and why
Hay dot this too ulual dnd unhappy Symp:om of, A Witch,

vena Spectral Reprefentation, betall a perfon that shail
Ie none ofthe worlt? Is it not poffible? the Laplanders
Weill tell us “tis poflible: for Perfons to be unwittingly atten-
| ed with officious Demons, bequeathed unto them, and im-
Hos'd tipon them, by Relations that have been W%rches.

QR vaye, allo, Whether ata ‘Time, when the Devils with
is Witches. are engag’d in an actual ar upon a people,
| 5me cercain fheps oF éurs, in fuch a War, may not be fol-

How'd with uf appearing fo and fo for a whileamonethem
4 the Viflons of oar aitlicted Forlorns! And, Who-can cer-
hinly fay what other Degrees, & Methods of finning,belides
hat of a Diabolitz! Compatt, may give the Devilsadvantages

p act in the Shape of them that Have mifcarried? _Befides

hat may happen for a while, to try the Patience ofthe Vir-
‘uous. May'not fomethat have been ready upon feeble
rounds uncharitably to Cenftireand Reproach other peo
le, be panifhed for it by Speétres for a while expofing them
}o Cenfure and Reproach? And furthermore, | pray, that
t may be confidered, Whether a World of Magical Tricks
(>ften uféd'in the World, may notinfentibly oblige. Devils
ro wait upon the Super ititious “Ufers of them A. Wautty.
Writer againit Sadducifm, has this Obiervation,.. “Phat
perforis, who never’ made any Exprefs Contract. with
Apoflate Spirits, yet niay ACt flrange Things by Dza-
balick Ads, Whiclt they procure by. the ule of thote
wicked Forms and Avis, that the Devil frlk Imparted:
unto his Confederates. And he adds, We know nor;
but the Laws of the Dark Kingdom, may Enjoyn a. pai
ticular Attendence upoit all thofe. that prattife their M-=
Wfievies, whether they kiow them to be theirs or no. Some
pot: they that have bees she out upon, as Lmplofing
i St ee jae 8 one es

weed YY i
— wel

z i
Sse =

aa EES

eee
=

DiS eS aaa

SSS =

Cucvyintinents

Evil Spirits to Hurt. our Land,-have been -known to
be moft bloody Fortune-Tellers ; and tome of them have |
Confefled, That when they told Fortuncs, they would]
pretend the Rules of Chiremancy and the like Ig norant|§
Sciences, but indeed, they had no Rule. (they faid ih
but this; The Things were then Darted into their Minds.\h
Darted ! Ye Wretches; By whom, I pray. Surely, by}
none bur the Devi’s; who, tho’ perhaps. they did -not|
exactly Foreknew all the thus Predicted’ Contingencies |}

et having once Foretold them, they. ftood* bound in|)
Lrenotit now, to ufe their Intercft; whichsalas, in T/is.|}
World, 1s very great, for the Accomplifhment of tl cits)
awn Predictions. ‘There are others, that have ufed mot}

wicked Screcries to ‘gratify their unlawful Curiefities, or §
to prevent Inconveniencies if Man and Beaft. 5 sercericss.|
which T will not “Name, ft I fhould by |Neming, ;
Teach them. New, fome Devil is evermore Invited in- |
to the Service of the Perfon that fhall pradtife _thefe ;
Werchcrafts 5 and if they have gone on Impenitently in |}
thefe Communions with any Devi/, the Devil may per=.
haps become ‘at laf a Fomaliar to them, and fo effume |
their: Livery, that they. cannot fhake him off _ in any. +]
way, but that One, which I would moft heartily. pre- |
feribe unto them, Namely, That of a deep and: long |
Repentance. Should thele hapieties, have been committed ,
in. fuch a place as New-England, for my. part I fkould not |
wonder, if when Devils are Expofing the Grofier, Watches ‘|

among us, God permit them, to bring in thele Lefer cnes |
with the reft, for their perpetual Humuiliat’cn.. “In the If,
fue therefore, may it not be found, that New-Ewgland is |
not fo Stock’d with Rattle Snakes, as was imagined ? l
S 4. But Ido not believe, that the progrefs of 1tch |

craft among ws, is all the Plot, which the Devil is mana-
ging in the Hrchorafe now upon us. ; tis judg‘d, That,
. UNG il

— Encountren

the Devil Rais‘d the Storm, whereot weread in the Eighth
chapter of Matthew, on purpote to overfett the little Vet
el, wherein the Dilciples of. Qur Lord, were Embarqued
with Him. Andit may betear‘d, that in the Horrible Tem-
cf, whichis now upon ourfelves, the defign of the Devil
to fink that Happy ferclement of Government, where-
With Almighty, God, has gracioully enclined their Majetties
IP favour us. Weare bleffed witha GOVERNOUR, than
qvhom no man can be more willing..to ferve their Mayetties

r this their Province: He iscontinually venturing his A/
odo it: and were not the Interefts of His Prince, dearer

IP him, than hisown, he could not but foon be weary of
pe Helm, whereat he firs, We are under.the Influence of
| LIEVTENANT GOVERNOUR, who not only by
eing admirably asconplifhed both.with Natural and Ac-
uired Endowinents, ts fitted for the Service of Their Ma-
} ties, but alfo with an unfpotted Fidelity, applys |himfelf
) that Service: Our COUNCEELOURS are lome2 of oug
ypolt Eminent perfons,and as Loyal Subjects to the Crown,
s hearty lovers of their Countrey. . Our Conttitution alfo
attended with fingular Priviledges ; All which Things
ro by the Devil exceedingly Eavy'd unto us. And the De-
| will doubelefs take this occilion, for the Railing of fugh
omplaints and clamours, as nary-b2 of pernicious confe-
ence, unto fome part of our prefent Setrlement, ifhe can
far Impofe. But that which moft of all Threatens us,
_ our prelent Circunaltances, a3 the M ifunderfianding, aud
\f the Anim yity, whereinto the THtcheraft now Raging,
1s Erchinted us. . The E ndcailing, firlt, of our Spirits,
nd thea of our. Aff iyrs, is evidently, as confiderable a>
‘anch of the Hellith oe Bene maaan now. vexXes Us,
any on2 “Fhing whatever. The Devil has made us
Wee a Troubled Soa; and the Mire and Mud, begins now
[9 to.heaveun apace. Even, Good and Wife Men,
| ase B2 fultes

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——————— ==
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Enchantinents

fafter themfelves to fall into their Paroxy/ins 3 and the Shake}
which the Devil is now: giving us, fetches up the Dirt}
which before Jay fill, at the Bottom of our finfil Hearts.|f
If we allow the Mad Doss of Hell to poifon us by. Biting}
us, we fhall imagine that we fee nothing but fuch “Things|
about us, and like fuch Things fly upon all thar we fee.}
Wrere it not for what is IN US, for my part, [ fhould not}:
fear a Thoufand Legions of Devils; *tis by our Quarrels}
that’ we fpoil our Prayers; and if our Humble, ‘Zealous,
and United, Prayers, are once Hindred, alas, the. Philistines
of Hell have cut our Locks for us ; they will then blind:
ussmock us,ruine us.In Truth,I cannot altogether blame it, H
if people are a litte Tran{ported,when they conceive all the!
Secular Interefts of Themfclves and their Families, at the!
Stakesand yer, at the {ight of thefeHeart-Burnings, | cannot’
forbear the Exclamation of the Sweet-fpirited Austin, in|
his Pacificatory Epiftle, to %erem on his Conteft with!
Ruffin,O miferaer miferanda Conditio ! O Condition, truly!
miferuble | But what fhall be done to cure thefe Diftracti-'
ons ? [tis wonderfully neccflary, that fome Healing dt="|
tempts, be made at this ime; and J muft needs contels, if
T may {peak {6 much, like a Nazianzen, I am fo defirous:
of 2 fhare in them, that if, Being thrown Over-board, were!
needful to allay the Storm, I fhould think, Dying, a ‘Trifle!
to be undergone, for fo great a Bleflednefs. !
S 5. 1 would moft importunately in the firft place, en-!
treat every man to maintain an Holy Jealoufy over his
awn Seul, at this Vime, and think,May ot the Devil make!
ane, the ignorantly,€9 unrwillingly sto be an Inftrument of doing!
fomething that he weuld have to be donc? For my part! freely!
own my Sufpicion, Left fomething of Eychantment, have
-yeach’d more Perfons and Spirits among us, then we are}
well aware of. Bur then, let us more generally. Agree to!
maintain a kind Opinion, one of another. ‘That Charity
without!

-_ gncountved

without which, even our Giving cur Bodies te be Burned,
kvould Profit Nerhing, wifes to proceed by this Rute, Ir ds
hind, it7s not exfily provoked, it ts thimks. no Bort, it belzeves
Vall things, hopes all things. Bur if we diffegard this Rule,
Vof Charity, we {hall indeed give out Bedy Politic to be. Bur-
Wied. Uhave'heard ivaffrmed, ‘Phat in the Late Great
TFlood upon Connefticut, thofe Creatures which could net
Wut have Quarrelled ar another ‘Time, yet now being’ dri
Ten together, very Agrecably ffood’ by one another. I
Jam fare we fhall-be worfe than Bruizifh, ik we fly upon

‘one another, at a ‘Time when the Floods of Belial make us
afraid. On the one Side, ['alas, my Pen, mutt thou write
the word, Side, in the Bufinefs ? | there are very worthy
men, who having been calla by “God, when and.
J where this #ischerafr, firft’ Appeared upon the Stage,

to Encounter it, are earneltly defirous. to have it
1Sifted unto the Bottom of it. And, I. pray;
}which of us all, that fhould live under the continual
I] Impreffions, ‘of the "Vortures, Outcries, and Havocks,
I which Devils ‘eonfefledly Coramiffioned by. Witches,
‘make among their diftrefled Neighbours, would nothave
a Bia/s that way, beyond other men? Perfons this ‘way
‘difpofed, have been men eminent for Wifdame and Ventite,
and men. aéted by a noble principle of Confcience: Had
1 not Confeience of Duty to God, prevailed above other Con-
| fiderations with them, they weuld not for all. they’ _are
4 svorth in the world,-have meddled in this Thor7y Bufinefs

Have there been apy Difputed Methods ufed, in Diicovering
i the Wirks of Dar mefs > Itimay be none,,but what have
had gre at Precedents in other parts of the world’: which
may, tho* not th Fuftify, yet much Alleviate a mile

HM take in us, if there fhould happen to be found any’ furch
if miltake,in fo Darka

latter. "hey have done, what they
have done, with multiply‘d dddreftes to God, for his. gui-
Le 2: danice

|
|
|
|
|
I

euchantinents
dance, andhave not been Infenfible how much they have |!
expofed themfelves ia what they have done. . Yea, they |:
‘Would gladly contrive, and receive, an expedient, how the }}
Shedding of Blood, might be {pared, by the Recovery of |
Witches, not gone beyond the reach of Pardon And after |
all, They invite allGood men,in Terms to this purpote, Be= \\
ing amazed, at the Number, and Quality of thofe Accufed, of MN
Late, we do not know, but Satan, by his Wiles, may have. \
Enwrapped fome- Innecent. perfons, and therefore fhould Ears
nefily and Humbly defire, the, moft Critical Enquiry upon the
place, to find owt the Fallacy 3 that there may be nome of the
Servants of the Lord, with the VE rfhippors of Baal. 2 |
may alfo add, That whereas, if once a 144tch do inge- |
nuoutly confefS among us, ao more Sp28res do. in their
Shapes after, this, "Trouble the Vicinage:; if, any Guilty
Creatures will accordingly to fo good purpofe. Confefs
their “Crime'to any Minifter of God, and get out of
the Snare of the Devil, as no Minifter will difeover {uch
a Confcientious Confeffion, fo I believe. none in the Au-
thority, will prefs him to Difcover it ; but Rejoyce in,
A Soul fav'd from Death. Onthe other Side [ if [ mutt
again ule the word, Side, which yet I hope, to Live,
to blot out J there are very worthy men, who. are.
not a Little Ditfatisfy‘d at the Proceedings in the Pro-
fecution of this Mschoraft. And why ° Not becaufe
they would have any {uch Abominable Thing Defend-
ed from the Strokes of Impartial Juftice. No, thofes
Reverend Perfons who gave in this Advice unto the,
Honourable Council, © That Prefumptionsy Whereupon
© Perfons may be Committed, and myc more Convittions,
“whereupon Perfons may be Condemned,- as Guilty of.
" Vitchcrafts, ought certainly to be more Conliderable,
‘than barely the Accufed Perfons being reprelented by;
“a Speétre, unto the Afficted ; Nor are Alterations
; ‘ made

Encountred

“made in.the Sufferers, by a Leok or Touek of the Ae
-cufed, to be efteemed an Infallible Evidence of Guilt ;
‘but frequently Liable to be Abufed -by. the Devils: Leger-
W demains: 1 fav, Thole very men of God, moft-Con-
cientioufly Subjoined this Article, to that Advice, -~Ne~
verthele{s, we cannot but Humbly ’ Recommend unto the
Government, the Speedy and Vigorous Profecution of fuchy as
rave rendred rthemfelves Obnoxious according to. the bef
Divettions | given in the Laws of God, and the wholfome. Stas
utes of the Englifh Natien, for the Detedion of Witchcraft.
Only, Tis a meft Commendable, Cautioufnels, in. thofe
Gracious men, to’ be very Shye left the Devil get fo far in-
© our Faith, as that for the. fake of many. Truths
vhich we fmd he tells us, we come at length, to, believe
iny Lies,..wherewith he may) abufe: us. :, whereupon,
vhat a Defolation of Names would foon enfue, belides
, thoufand. .other Pernicious Confequences, 2? » and left
sere fhould be any fuch Principles taken up,as when put
nto Pra€tice mult unavoidably \caule . the Righteous to
evifh with the Wicked ;: or, procure the Bloodfhed of.
ny Perfons,. like the Gibecnites,, whom fomé Learned
nen fuppofe to. be under, asfalfe. Notion of Witches, by
aul Exterminated.. ‘They.would have all, Due fteps
aken for the ExtinGtion of 47ches ; but.they would
ain have them.to beSure ones; nor is it from any thing,
put the Real and Hearty Goodnefs of fuch men, that they
ve Loth to furmife IZ.of other mén, till there be, the.
alleft Evidence, for the furmifes. As for the Honou-
able Fudges, that have been, hitherto in. the Commif-,
om, they are Above my Confideration ; wherefore, Iwill
nly fay thus much of them, That fuch of them asf |
ave the Honour.of a Perfonal Acquaintance with, are
Men of an Excellent Spirit’; and as at firft they went
sbout the work for which they were Commution ds
, i ania ae oa? with

——
SS

Aaa a

SS SSeS

See a
== ===
=

Se
SS SSSSSSS> = ===

==. 5

= ===

SS SS Ses =

Bers

——

_ Read dhe Third to 1 Ke Colfians, and the Fiftecnth' Were it

gm MRG@e Baa 4
Enthantniienits
eith avery great Averfiod, fo they have fHlP beeh uttdér :
Hearebreaking Soliiditudes, how they plight therein beik,
ferve, both God and ‘Man’ ih ‘fine; Have’ thete been, 4
Faults ‘oni any Side fallen ‘inte ? Surely; “They have |
at-wordt been but ‘the Faults of a well -meaning Sgnor ance.
On every Side then; Why fhould not we Endeavour with
Amicable Correfpondencies, to help one anothe¥ out of |}
the Swares, wherein the Devil would Involve’ us?* "To'|f
Wvangle the Devil, out-of the Country, ‘will’ be truly: a th
New ‘Experiment ! f Alas, wé'aré not Awaréof the Deoi/ if?
we'do Hotithiaky thache aims at Enflaming ug ofle againft if
another $ 8 fhall we fatter our (elves to be DervileRidden'? y
ony by aly: Unatlvifeablenefs, contribttte pnto- the" We, 4
acting chour Breaches 2°16 fay no motes" Théte is a
Bob lithed dnd aCredible Relation, which affirms, That:
very lately ia part oP England, where fome of the Neigh ;
bourhood were Quortelling, a RAVEN; from the Top of |
a Tilee very Ar ROSEY find Uxaccountably cry’d out, iM

}

imyfelftorchute wt fort of Bird J would be transfor= >
medime, t would fay, Ovrhat Phad° winks lake a Dove’ i
Nevertheless Lavitbfor Ouce do "the Office, which as it!
{eems, Heaven font that Ren “Uyton ;:even to’ beg, Wi2k |
rhe Peace of God may Rule in our Hearts. i
SiG! Vis neceilary that we Unite in every Thing: but
there are! efpiecially a Things wherein our Cxzon moll
carry us alone togecher! “We ate 'to Unite it our! Endea®;
voursto Deliver our Diftrefled NeidhBeurs, front the hor=if
rible Annoyances and Mloleitations with which’ ‘adécadful
Witch age is now pereutiig. of ‘theme T6 ‘have ‘anit
Handiity any thing, that may {tifle or obftfudt 9 Regtlitty
Detection of that ateher aft; ts what we “may Avell: witht;
ati Hoy Bear, Avoid. Their May si good cbc
an nevevery day-be Torn to picces, by Masti rch |
E53

Van

Crncountred
*, and thefé bloody Felons, be wholly left Unprofecuted.
Che [itcheraft isa Bufinels, that will not be Stan’d,
vithout plunging us into fore piaiucs and of Long Continu-
nce. But then, weare to Unite in fuch Metheds, for this
Detiverance, as may be unaueftionably Sfe ; Left, The
atter Tend be worfe then the Beginning. And_ here,
vhat I fhall fay ? J will venture to fay, thus much; That
ve ate Safe, when we make juft as much Ue of all Advice
vom the Invifible World, as God fends it for. Itisa Safe
‘rincipley That when God Almighty permits ap'y. Spirits
‘om the Unfeen Regions, to vifit us with Suyprifing In-
>rmations, there is then fomething to be Enguired after 5
veate then to Enguire of one another; What Canfe there
» fer fuch Things ? The peculiar Government of God,over
1¢ Unbodied Intelligences, is a faficient Foundation for
: is Principle. When there has been a Murder Commit-
ed, an Apparition of the {lain Party'‘Accufing of any many
iitho* fuch Apparitions have oftener {poke True than Fale,
' not enough to Convict the man, as Guilty of that Mu--
ers but yet ittsa fufficient Occalion for Magiftrates to
lake a particular Exngus?y,whether fuch’a man have affor«
lied any ground for fuich an Accufation. Even {0, a Speéi~
i, exactly Refembling fuch or fucha perfon, when the
Xeighbourhood are ‘Tormented by fuch Speétres, may
jeafonably make Magiftrates Inquilitive, whether thé per-
jpn fo Reprefénted have done or faid’ any thing that may,
vie their Confederacy withEvil Spirirs;altho’ ir may be
cfeCctive enough in point of Comvittionsefpecially at aT ime,
When *tis poffible; fome Oer-powerful Conjurer may have
ot the skill “of thas Exhibiting the Shapes of all forts’ of

thom due Exquiries thus provoked, might have made ob«
oxious unto Juftice, Quare, Whether if God would have

9, to progted gny further than bare Enquiry, upon what
| bie fel?» Repos

}pcrfons,on purpofe to {top the profecution of theWretches

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Senfble Things, whereu,o7, aman. is to: be elteemed a

€Enchanhurents
Report’ there may come againft any man, from the Werld |
of Spirits, He will not by Hits Providence at. the fame
time have brought into. our Hands, thefe more Evident &||

Criminal. But 1 will venture to fay this further; Chat it wilh}?
beSafe,to account tacNames as well as theLves of ourNeighs|#
bours, too confiderable Things to be brought under a i if

dicial Procefs, until ir be found by Humane Objervations,that\)

the peace. of Mankind, 1s thereby difturbed.. We are!}
Humane Creatures 5 and we are Safe while we fay, they
muft be Humane Witneftes; who alfo have in the particular
Act of Seeing jor Hearing, which enables them to be 4745/9
wefies, had no more than, Humane. Affifencess; that. arc to't
‘Turn the Scale, when Laws are,to be Executed. mit
upon this Head, J. will further add ; A Wilejand a Jun}
Magiftrate, may {0 far give way to 4 common Sea zt
of DiflatisfaStian,as, to forbear Acting up te Hea
of his own perfwalion, about, what may be qudg'd: Cons’?
viitive, of a Crime, whole Nature fhall be fe abitrufe anu! |
ebfcure, as to raifle much, Difputanon. ‘Tho’ -he may nog!
Do what he {hould Leave Undone, yet he may.Leaye Um
done fomething that elle he--could’ Be, when, the Publick"
Satetys, males at Eexigenerss aut quiidimsieA ybbexe ;

§ 7.1 was going to make one Venture more 5,that 1s, te"
offer Some Safe Rules, far the finding out.,of the 1irabay
which are ‘at this Day our Aceurfed Treublers;s but, tht

SoS Ree Opa en vache 2 Tank wb Te a > Thc il
SU ANAD e. S eS inte tv Gari hg peste 9 PR yh ers a oe eee
r eee Shae PL SS
a ae be ‘

— Cncountred

An Abftract of Mr. Perkin’s way for the
Difcovery -of Witches.

NY. There are Prefamptions, which do at leat Probably
vd ConjeSturally nete ore to be a Witch. Thefe, give Occa-
on to Examine, yet they are no Sufficient Canfes of Conviétion.