The Witchcraft Delusion in New England: Its Rise, Progress, and Termination, (Vol. 1 of 3)Mather, Cotton
History
The Witchcraft Delusion in New England: Its Rise, Progress, and Termination, (Vol. 1 of 3)
Mather, Cotton
Witchcraft -- New England
to Sea, and that there will be much _Lying_ and _Cheating_ in the
World; yet their foolish Admirers will not be perswaded but that the
Innocent _Stars_ have been concern'd in these Events. It is a disgrace
to the English Nation, that the Pamphlets of such idle, futil, trifling
_Stargazers_ are so much considered; and the Countenance hereby given
to a Study, wherin at last, all is done by _Impulse_, if any thing be
done to any purpose at all, is not a little perillous to the Souls of
Men. It is (_a Science_, I dare not call it, but) a _Juggle_, whereof
the Learned _Hall_ well says, _It is presumptious and unwarrantable,
and cry'd ever down by Councils and Fathers, as unlawful, as that
which lies in the mid-way between Magick and Imposture, and partakes
not a little of both_.[138] Men consult the Aspects of Planets, whose
Northern or Southern motions receive denominations from a _Cælestial
Dragon_, till the _Infernal Dragon_ at length insinuate into them,
with a _Poison_ of _Witchcraft_ that can't be cured. Has there not
also been a world of discontent in our Borders? 'Tis no wonder, that
the _fiery Serpents_ are so Stinging of us; We have been a _Murmuring
Generation_. It is not Irrational, to ascribe the late Stupendious
growth of _Witches_ among us, partly to the bitter _discontents_, which
Affliction and Poverty has fill'd us with: it is inconceivable, what
advantage the Devil gains over men, by _discontent_. Moreover, the Sin
of _Unbelief_ may be reckoned as perhaps the chief _Crime_ of our Land.
We are told, _God swears in wrath, against them that believe not;_ and
what follows then but this, _That the Devil comes unto them in wrath!_
Never were the offers of the _Gospel_, more freely tendered, or more
basely despised, among any People under the whole Cope of Heaven,
than in this _N. E._[139] Seems it all marvellous unto us, that the
_Devil_ should get such a footing in our Country? Why, 'tis because
the _Saviour_ has been slighted here, perhaps more than any where. The
Blessed Lord Jesus Christ [49] has been profering to us, _Grace, and
Glory, and every good thing_, and been alluring of us to Accept of Him,
with such Terms as these, _Undone Sinner, I am All; Art thou willing
that I should be thy All?_ But, as a proof of that Contempt which this
Unbelief has cast upon these proffers, I would seriously ask of the
so many Hundreds above a Thousand People within these Walls; which of
you all, O how few of you, can indeed say, _Christ is mine, and I am
his, and he is the Beloved of my Soul?_ I would only say thus much:
When the precious and glorious Jesus, is Entreating of us to Receive
_Him_, in all His _Offices_, with all His _Benifits;_ the Devil minds
what Respect we pay unto that Heavenly Lord; if we _Refuse Him that
speaks from Heaven_, then he that, _Comes from Hell_, does with a sort
of claim set in, and cry out, _Lord, since this Wretch is not willing
that thou shouldst have him, I pray, let me have him_. And thus, by the
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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