now set his hand unto that _Book_, he would require nothing further of him; but the Man refused the motion with indignation, and fell down upon his knees into a Fervent and Pious Prayer unto God, for help against the _Tempter_, whereupon the _Demon_ Vanish't. This is a Story which I would never have tendered unto my Reader, if I had not Receiv'd it from an honest and useful _English Man_,[21] who is at this time a Preacher of the Gospel to the _Indians_; nor would the probable Truth of it have encouraged me to have tendered it, if this also had not been a fit introduction unto yet a further Narrative. _Sect._ 2. 'Twas not much above a year or two, after this Accident (of which no manner of Noise has been made) that there was a Prodigious descent of _Devils_ upon divers places near the Centre of this Province; wherein some scores of _Miserable People_ were Troubled by horrible appearances of a _Black-Man_, accompanied with _Spectres_, wearing these and those Humane Shapes, who offer'd them a _Book_ to be by them sign'd, in token of their being Listed for the Service of the _Devil_, and upon their [3] denying to do it, they were _dragoon'd_ with a thousand Preternatural Torments, which gave no little terror to the beholders of these unhappy _Energuments_. There was one in the _North_ part of _Boston_ seized by the _Evil Angels_ many Months after the General Storm of the late _Inchantments_ was over, and when the Countrey had long lain pretty quiet, both as to Molestations and Accusations from the INVISIBLE WORLD, her Name was _Margaret Rule_, a Young Woman, She was born of sober and honest Parents, yet Living, but what her own Character was before her Visitation, I can speak with the less confidence of exactness, because I observe that wherever the _Devils_ have been let loose to worry any Poor Creature amongst us, a great part of the Neighbourhood presently set themselves to inquire and relate all the little Vanities of their Childhood, with such unequal exaggerations, as to make them appear greater Sinners than any whom the Pilate of _Hell_ has not yet Preyed upon: But it is affirm'd, that for about half a year before her Visitation, she was observably improved in the hopeful symptoms of a new Creature; She was become furiously concern'd for the everlasting _Salvation_ of her Soul, and careful to avoid the snares of _Evil Company_. This Young Woman had never seen the affliction of _Mercy Short_,[22] whereof a Narrative has been already given, and yet about half a year after the glorious and signal deliverance of that poor Damsel, this _Margaret_ fell into an affliction, marvellous, resembling hers in almost all the circumstances of it, indeed the Afflictions were so much alike, that the relation I have given of the one, would almost serve as the full History of the other, this was to that, _little more than the second part to the same Tune_; indeed _Margarets_ case was in several points less remarkable