The Witchcraft Delusion in New England: Its Rise, Progress, and Termination (Vol. 2 of 3)Mather, Cotton
History
The Witchcraft Delusion in New England: Its Rise, Progress, and Termination (Vol. 2 of 3)
Mather, Cotton
Witchcraft -- New England
Father Prayed for perhaps half an Hour, against the power of the Devil
and Witchcraft, and that God would bring out the Afflictors. Witnesses
of the best Credit, can depose, that his Prayer was not a quarter of
an Hour, and that there was no more than about one clause towards the
close of the Prayer, which was of this import; and this clause also
was guarded with a singular wariness and modesty, _viz._ If there were
any evil Instruments in this matter God would please to discover them:
And that there was more than common reason for that petition I can
satisfie any one that will please to Inquire of me. And strange it is,
that a Gentleman that from 18 to 54 hath been an Exemplary Minister
of the Gospel; and that besides a station in the Church of God, as
considerable as any that his own Country can afford, hath for divers
years come off with honour, in his Application to three Crown'd Heads,
and the chiefest Nobility of three Kingdoms, knows not yet how to make
one short Prayer of a quarter of an hour, but in _New-England_ he must
be Libell'd for it. There are divers other down-right mistakes, which
you [22] have permitted yourself, I would hope, not knowingly, and with
a Malicious design, to be receiver or Compiler of, which I shall now
forbear to Animadvert upon. As for the Appendix of the Narrative I do
find myself therein Injuriously treated, for the utmost of your proof
for what you say of me, amounts to little more than, _viz._ Some People
told you, that others told them, that such and such things did pass,
but you may assure yourself, that I am not unfurnish'd with Witnesses,
that can convict the same. Whereas you would give me to believe the
bottom of these your Methods, to be some dissatisfaction about the
commonly receiv'd Power of _Devils_ and _Witches_; I do not only with
all freedom offer you the use of any part of my Library, which you may
see cause to peruse on that Subject, but also if you and any else, whom
you please, will visit me at my Study, yea, or meet me at any other
place, less inconvenient than those by you propos'd; I will with all
the fairness and calmness in the World dispute the point. I beg of God
that he would bestow as many Blessings on you, as ever on myself, and
out of a sincere wish, that you may be made yet more capable of these
Blessings, I take this occasion to lay before you the faults (not few
nor small ones neither) which the Paper contained, you lately sent
me, in order to be Examined by me. In case you want a true and full
Narrative of my Visit, whereof such an indecent Traversty (to say the
best) hath been made, I am not unwilling to communicate it, in mean
time must take liberty to say, 'Tis scarcely consistent with Common
Civility, much less Christian Charity, to offer the Narrative, now
with you, for a true one, till you have a truer, or for a full one,
till you have a fuller. Your Sincere (tho' Injur'd) Friend and Servant,
C. _MATHER_.
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