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
HAVING thus far done the Service imposed upon me; I will further pursue
it, by relating a few of those Matchless CURIOSITIES, with which
the _Witchcraft_ now upon us, has entertained us. And I shall Report
nothing but with Good Authority, and what I would invite all my Readers
to examine, while 'tis yet Fresh and New, that if there be found any
mistake, it may be as willingly _Retracted_, as it was unwillingly
_Committed_.
_The First_ CURIOSITIE.
I. 'Tis very Remarkable to see what an Impious and Impudent _imitation_
of Divine Things, is Apishly affected by the Devil, in several of those
matters, whereof the Confessions of our _Witches_, and the Afflictions
of our _Sufferers_ have informed us.
That Reverend and Excellent Person, Mr. _John Higginson_, in my
Conversation with him, Once invited me to this Reflection; that the
Indians which came from far to settle about _Mexico_, were in their
Progress to that Settlement, under a Conduct of the _Devil_, very
strangely Emulating what the Blessed God gave to _Israel_ in the
Wilderness.
_Acosta_,[190] is our Author for it, that the Devil in 'their Idol
_Vitzlipultzli_,[191] governed that mighty Nation. He commanded them
to leave their Country, promising to make them _Lords_ over all the
Provinces possessed 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 Coffer of _Reeds_, supported by Four of
their Principal _Priests;_ with whom he still _Discoursed_ in secret,
Revealing to them the Successes, and Accidents of their way. He advised
them, when to _March_, and where to _Stay_, and without his Commandment
they moved not. The first thing they did, wherever they came, was to
Erect a _Tabernacle_, for their false god; which they set always in the
midst of their Camp, and there placed the _Ark_ upon an _Alter_. When
they, Tired with pains, talked of, _proceeding no further_ in their
Journey, then a certain pleasant Stage, whereto they were arrived, this
Devil in one night, horribly kill'd them that [44] had started this
Talk, by pulling out their Hearts. And so they passed on till they came
to _Mexico._'
The Devil which _then_ thus imitated what was in the Church of the _Old
Testament_, now among _Us_ would Imitate the Affairs of the Church in
the _New_. The _Witches_ do say, that they form themselves much after
the manner of _Congregational Churches;_ and that they have a _Baptism_
and a _Supper_, and _Officers_ among them, abominably Resembling those
of our Lord.[192]
But there are many more of these Bloody _Imitations_, if the
Confessions of the _Witches_ are to be Received; which I confess, ought
to be but with very much of Caution.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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