An Essay on Demonology, Ghosts and Apparitions, and Popular Superstitions: Also, an Account of the Witchcraft Delusion at Salem, in 1692Thacher, James
Philosophy
An Essay on Demonology, Ghosts and Apparitions, and Popular Superstitions: Also, an Account of the Witchcraft Delusion at Salem, in 1692
Thacher, James
Superstition; Witchcraft; Witchcraft -- Massachusetts -- Salem
clear and palpable vision, on any principles of nature or philosophy
with which he was acquainted, was deeply distressed, yet perfectly
sensible of his insufficiency for such an undertaking, he neglected
attempting to fulfil it. After an interval of two or three years, the
vision was repeated, with nearly the same circumstances, except that
the aspect of the person who appeared to present himself, was more
severe, and expressive of displeasure at his past delinquency. Mr
Wilson repeated his former reasonings on his want of health, and want
of talents, with other topics. But the answer was still the same; a
repetition of the injunction, and assurance of the necessary ability,
and ultimate success. His distress was raised to the highest degree in
the conflict of his mind between what he thought a sensible
demonstration of a supernatural requisition, and an invincible
consciousness of his own incompetency, and his fear of doing an injury
to true religion by his failure. After consulting several of his
friends upon the subject, he at length addressed a letter to the
author, stating all the circumstances which have just been detailed.
He was answered with the general reasonings contained in this lecture,
to convince him that his vision was merely a consequence of nervous
affection, resulting from bodily disorder. Three letters passed
between Mr Wilson and the author, reasoned on the part of Mr Wilson
with great calmness and good sense, admitting all the objections to
such an apostolic undertaking as that to which he was urged, both from
scripture and from his own peculiar deficiency of power and talents,
but pleading the impulse of a sensation as clear and strong, and, to
his mind, as real as he had ever felt. But it was replied that there
were other considerations combined with the whole system and harmony
of nature, which ought to have greater authority with a rational mind
than any single and individual impression of sense, which evidently
violates its general order. The correspondence came to this issue at
last, that, as he agreed with the church as she now exists, in most of
her doctrines, and especially in the moral precepts of religion, he
should begin his course by inculcating only those principles in which
all were agreed, and if he found the promise of his vision verified in
his returning strength and successful eloquence, he would then have
sufficient encouragement to proceed further. He actually came to New
York with the intention to put this experiment into execution, but
died in that city shortly after his landing. He published one
discourse introductory to the design.
ILLUSIONS.
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