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
Thirdly, 'tis to be supposed, that some Devils are more peculiarly
_Commission'd_, and perhaps _Qualify'd_, for some Countries, while
others are for others. This is intimated when in _Mar._ 5. 10. The
Devils _besought_ our Lord much, _that he would not send them away
out of the Countrey_. Why was that? But in all probability, because
_these Devils_ were more able _to do the works of the Devil_, in such
a Countrey, than in another. It is not likely that every Devil does
know every _Language;_ or that every Devil can do every _Mischief_.[80]
'Tis possible, that the _Experience_, or, if I may call it so, the
_Education_ of all Devils is not alike, and that there may be some
difference in their _Abilities_. If one might make an Inference from
what the Devils _do_, to what they _are_, One cannot [7] forbear
dreaming, that there are _degrees_ of Devils. Who can allow, that
such Trifling _Dæmons_, as that of _Mascon_,[81] or those that once
infested our _New berry_, are of so much Grandeur, as those _Dæmons_,
whose Games are mighty Kingdoms? Yea, 'tis certain, that all Devils
do not make a like Figure in the _Invisible World_. Nor does it look
agreeably, That the _Dæmons_, which were the Familiars of such a Man
as the old _Apollonius_, differ not from those baser Goblins that
chuse to Nest in the filthy and loathsom Rags of a beastly Sorceress.
Accordingly, why may not some Devils be more accomplished for what is
to be done in such and such places, when others must be _detach'd_ for
other Territories? Each Devil, as he sees his advantage, cries out,
_Let me be in this Countrey, rather than another_. But _Enough_, if not
_too much_, of these things.[82]
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