Part I. Section I.

_The Afflictions of_ MARGARET RULE.

WIthin these few years there died in the _Southern Parts_ a Christian _Indian_, who notwithstanding some of his _Indian_ Weakness, had something of a better Character of vertue and Goodness, than many of our People can allow to most of their Country-men, that profess the _Christian Religion_.[20] He had been a Zealous Preacher of the Gospel to his Neighbourhood, and a sort of _Overseer_, or _Officer_, to whose Conduct was owing very much of what good order was maintained among those Proselited _Savages_. This Man returning home from the Funeral of his Son, was complemented by an _Englishman_, expressing _Sorrow for his Loss_; now, tho' the _Indians_ use upon the Death of Relations, to be the most Passionate and Outragious Creatures in the World, yet this Converted _Indian_ Handsomly and Chearfully replid, _Truly I am sorry, and I am not sorry; I am sorry that I have Buried a dear Son; but I am not sorry that the will of God is done. I know that without the will of God my son could not have died, and I know that the will_ [2] _of God is always just and good, and so I am satisfied._ Immediately upon this, even within a few hours, he fell himself Sick of a Disease that quickly kill'd him; in the time of which Disease he called his Folks about him, earnestly perswading them to be Sincere in their _Praying unto God_, and beware of the _Drunkenness_, the _Idleness_, the _Lying_, whereby so many of that Nation disgrac'd their Profession of Christianity; adding, that he was ashamed, when he thought how little Service he had hitherto done for God; and that if God would prolong his Life he would Labour to do better Service, but that he was fully sure he was now going to the Lord _Jesus Christ_, who had bought him with his own Precious _Blood_; and for his part, he long'd to Die that he might be with his Glorious Lord; and in the mid'st of such passages he gave up the Ghost, but in such repute, that the _English_ People of good Fashion did not think much of Travelling a great way to his _Interment_. Lest my Reader do now wonder why I have related this piece of a Story, I will now hasten to abate that Wonder, by telling that whereto this was intended, but for an _Introduction_: know then, that this remarkable _Indian_ being a little before he Died at work in the Wood making of Tarr, there appeared unto him a _Black Man_, of a Terrible aspect, and more than humane Dimensions, threatning bittterly to kill him if he would not promise to leave off _Preaching_ as he did to his Countrey-Men, and promise particularly, _that if he preached any more, he would say nothing of Jesus Christ unto them?_ The _Indian_ amaz'd, yet had the courage to answer, _I will in spite of you go on to preach_ Christ _more than ever I did, and the God whom I serve will keep me that you shall never hurt me._ Hereupon the Apparition abating somewhat of his fierceness, offered to the _Indian_ a _Book_ of a considerable thickness and a _Pen and Ink_, and said, that if he would 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 than _Mercies_, and in some other things the Entertainment did a little vary.

_Sect._ 3. 'twas upon the _Lords Day_ the 10th of _September_, in the Year 1693. that _Margaret Rule_, after some hours of previous disturbance in the Publick Assembly, fell into odd _Fits_, which caused her Friends to carry her home, where her _Fits_ in a few hours grew into a Figure that satisfied the Spectators of their being preternatural; some of the Neighbours were forward enough to suspect the rise of this Mischief in an House hard-by, where lived a Miserable Woman, who had been formerly Imprisoned on the suspicion of _Witchcraft_, and who had frequently Cured very painfull Hurts by muttering over them certain _Charms_, which I shall not indanger the Poysoning of my Reader by repeating. This Woman had the Evening before _Margaret_ fell into her Calamities, very bitterly treated her, and threatn'd her; but the hazard of hurting a poor Woman that might be innocent, notwithstanding _Surmizes_ that might have been more strongly grounded than those, caus'd the pious People in the Vicinity to try rather whether incessant _Supplication_ to God [4] _alone_, might not procure a quicker and safer Ease to the _Afflicted_, than hasty Prosecution of any suppos'd Criminal, and accordingly that _unexceptionable course_ was all that was ever followed; yea, which I look'd on as a token for good, the Afflicted Family was as averse as any of us all to entertain thoughts of any other course.

_Sect._ 4. The Young Woman was assaulted by Eight cruel _spectres_, whereof she imagin'd that she knew _three_ or _four_, but the rest came still with their _Faces cover'd_, so that she could never have a distinguishing view of the countenance of those whom she thought she knew; she was very careful of my reitterated charges _to forbear blazing the names_, lest any good Person should come to suffer any blast of Reputation thro' the cunning Malice of the great Accuser; nevertheless having since privately named _them_ to myself, I will venture to say _this_ of them, that they are a sort of _Wretches_, who for these many years have gone under as Violent _Presumptions_ of _Witchcraft_, as perhaps any creatures yet living upon earth; altho' I am farr from thinking that the Visions of this Young Woman were Evidence enough to prove them so. These cursed _Spectres_ now brought unto her a _Book_ about a _Cubet_ long, a _Book Red_ and _thick_, but not very broad, and they demanded of her that she would set _her Hand_ to that _Book_, or touch it at least with her _Hand_, as a Sign of her becoming a Servant of the _Devil_, upon her peremptory refusal _to do_ what they asked, they did not after renew the profers of the _Book_ unto her, but instead thereof, they fell to Tormenting of her in a manner too Hellish to be sufficiently described, in those Torments confining her to her _Bed_, for just _Six weeks_ together.

_Sect._ 5. Sometimes, but not always together with the _Spectres_, there looke't in upon the Young Woman (according to her account) _a short and a Black Man_, whom they call'd their Master--a Wight exactly of the same Dimensions and Complexion and voice, with the _Divel_ that has exhibited himself unto other infested People, not only in other parts of this Country but also in other Countrys, even of the _European World_, as the relation of the Enchantments there inform us, they all profest themselves Vassals of this _Devil_, and in obedience unto him they address themselves unto various ways of Torturing her; accordingly she was cruelly _pinch'd with Invisible hands_, very often in a Day, and the black and blew marks of the pinches became immediately visible unto the standers by. Besides this, when her attendants had left her without so much as one pin about her, that so they might prevent some fear'd inconveniencies; yet she would ever now and then be miserably hurt with Pins which were found stuck into her Neck, Back and Arms, however the Wounds made by the Pins would in a few minutes ordinarily be cured; she would also be strangely distorted in her Joynts, and thrown into such exorbitant _Convulsions_ as [5] were astonishing unto the Spectators in General; They that could behold the doleful condition of the poor Family without sensible compassions, might have Intrals indeed, but I am sure they could have no true _Bowels_ in them.

_Sect._ 6. It were a most Unchristian and uncivil, yea a most unreasonable thing to imagine that the Fitt's of the Young Woman were but meer _Impostures_: And I believe scarce any, but People of a particular _Dirtiness_, will harbour such an Uncharitable Censure,[23] however, because I know not how far the _Devil_ may drive the Imagination of poor Creatures when he has possession of them, that at another time when they are _themselves_ would scorn to _Dissemble_ any thing. I shall now confine my Narrative unto passages, wherein there could be no room left for any Dissimulation. Of these the first that I'll mention shall be this; From the time that _Margaret Rule_ first found herself to be formally besieged by the _Spectres_ untill the Ninth Day following, namely from the Tenth of _September_ to the Eighteenth, she kept an entire Fast, and yet she was unto all appearance as Fresh, as Lively, as Hearty, at the Nine Days End, as before they began; in all this time, tho' she had a very eager _Hunger_ upon her Stomach, yet if any refreshment were brought unto her, her Teeth would be set, and she would be thrown into many Miseries, Indeed _once or twice or so_ in all this time, her Tormentors permitted her to swallow a Mouthful of somewhat that might increase her Miseries, whereof a Spoonful of _Rum_ was the most considerable; but otherwise, as I said, her _Fast_ unto the _Ninth day_ was very extream and rigid: However, afterwards there scarce passed a day wherein she had not liberty to take something or other for her _Susttentation_, And I must add this further, that this business of her _Fast_ was carried so, that it was impossible to be dissembled without a _Combination_ of Multitudes of People unacquainted with one another to support the _Juggle_, but he that can imagine such a thing of a Neighbourhood, so fill'd with Vertuous People is a _base man_, I cannot call him any other.

_Sect._ 7. But if the Sufferings of this Young Woman were not _Imposture_, yet might they not be pure Distemper? I will not here inquire of our _Saducees_ what sort of Distemper 'tis shall stick the Body full of _Pins_, without any Hand that could be seen to stick them; or whether all the _Pin-makers_ in the World would be willing to be Evaporated into certain ill habits of Body producing a _Distemper_, but of the _Distemper_ my Reader shall be Judge when I have told him something further of those unusual Sufferings. I do believe that the _Evil Angels_ do often take Advantage from _Natural Distempers_ in the Children of Men to annoy them with such further Mischiefs as we call _preternatural_. The Malignant _Vapours_ and _Humours_ of our Diseased Bodies may be used by _Devils_ thereinto insinu[6]ating as engine of the Execution of their Malice upon those Bodies; and perhaps for this reason one Sex may suffer more Troubles of some kinds from the _Invisible World_ than the _other_, as well as for _that reason_ for which the Old _Serpent_ made where he did his _first Adddress_. But I Pray what will you say to this, _Margaret Rule_ would sometimes have her Jaws forcibly pulled open; whereupon something _Invisible_ would be poured down her throat; we all saw her swallow, and yet we saw her try all she could by Spitting, Coughing and Shriking, that she might not swalow, but one time the standers by plainly saw something of that odd _Liquor_ itself on the outside of her _Neck_; She cried out of it as of _Scalding Brimstone_ poured into her, and the whole House would Immediately scent so hot of _Brimstone_ that we were scarce able to endure it, whereof there are scores of Witnesses; but the Young Woman herself would be so monstrously _Inflam'd_ that it would have broke a Heart of Stone to have seen her Agonies, _this_ was a thing that several times happen'd and several times when her Mouth was thus pull'd open, the standers by clapping their Hands close thereupon the distresses that otherwise followed would be diverted. Moreover there was a _whitish powder_ to us _Invisible_ somtimes cast upon the _Eyes_ of this Young Woman, whereby her _Eyes_ would be extreamly incommoded, but one time some of this _Powder_ was fallen actually _Visible_ upon her Cheek, from whence the People in the Room wiped it with their Handkerchiefs, and somtimes the Young Woman would also be so bitterly scorched with the unseen Sulphur thrown upon her, that very sensible _Blisters_ would be raised upon her Skin, whereto her Friends found it necessary to apply the _Oyl's_ proper for common _Burning_, but the most of these Hurts would be cured in two or three days at farthest: I think I may _without Vanity_ pretend to have read not a few of the best System's of _Physick_[24] that have been yet seen in these _American_ Regions, but I must confess that I have never yet learned the Name of the Natural Distemper, whereto these odd symptoms do belong: However I might suggest perhaps many a _Natural Medicine_, which would be of singular use against many of them.

_Sect._ 8. But there fell out some _other matters_ far beyond the reach of _Natural Distemper_: This _Margaret Rule_ once in the middle of the Night Lamented sadly that the _Spectres_ threat'ned the Drowning of a Young Man in the Neighbourhood, whom she named unto the Company: well it was afterwards found that at that very time this Young Man, having been prest on Board _a Man of War_ then in the Harbour, was out of some dissatisfaction attempting to swim ashoar, and he had been _Drowned_ in the attempt, if a Boat had not seasonably taken him up; it was by computation a minute or two after the Young Womans discourse of the _Drowning_, that the Young Man took the Water; At another time she told us that [7] the _Spectres_ bragg'd and laughed in her hearing about an exploit they had lately done, by stealing from a Gentleman his _Will_ soon after he had written it; and within a few hours after she had spoken this there came to me a Gentleman with a private complaint, that having written his _Will_, it was unaccountably gone out of the way, _how_ or _where_ he could not Imagine; and besides all this, there were wonderful _Noises_ every now and then made about the Room, which our People could Ascribe to no other Authors but the _Spectres_, yea, the Watchers affirm that they heard those fiends clapping of their hands together with an _Audibleness_, wherein they could not be Imposed upon: And once her Tormentors pull'd her up to the _Cieling_ of the Chamber, and held her there before a very Numerous Company of _Spectators_, who found it as much as they could _all do_ to pull her down again.[25] There was also another very surprising circumstance about her, agreeable to what we have not only _read_ in several Histories concerning the _Imps_ that have been Imployed in _Witchcraft_; but also known in some of our own afflicted: _We once thought we perceived something stir upon her pillow at a little distance from her, whereupon one present laying his hand there, he to his horror_ apprehended that _he felt,_ tho' none could see it, _a living Creature,_ not _altogether unlike a Rat, which nimbly escap'd from him:_ and there were diverse other Persons who were thrown into a great consternation by feeling, as they Judg'd, at other times the same _Invisible Animal_.

_Sect._ 9. As it has been with a Thousand other _Inchanted_ People, so it was with _Margaret Rule_ in this particular, that there were several words which her _Tormentors_ would not let her hear, especially the words Pray or Prayer, and yet she could so hear the letters of those words distinctly mentioned as to know what they ment. The standers by were forced sometimes thus in discourse to spell a word to her, but because there were some so ridiculous as to count it a sort of _Spell_ or a _Charm_ for any thus to accommodate themselves to the capacity of the Sufferer, little of this kind was done. But that which was more singular in this matter, was that she could not use these _words_ in those penetrating discourses, wherewith she would sometimes address the _Spectres_ that were about her. She would sometimes for a long while together apply herself to the _Spectres_, whom she supposed the _Witches_, with such _Exortations to Repentance_ as would have melted an Heart of _Adamant_ to have heard them; her strains of Expression and Argument were truly Extraordinary; A person perhaps of the best Education and Experience and of _Attainments_ much beyond hers could not have exceeded them: nevertheless when she came to these Words _God_, _Lord_, _Christ_, _Good_, _Repent_, and some other such, her Mouth could not utter them, whereupon she would sometimes in an Angry _Parenthesis_ complain of their Wickedness in stopping that _Word_, but she would then go [8] on with some other _Terms_ that would serve to tell what she ment. And I believe that if the most suspicious Person in the world had beheld all the Circumstances of this matter, he would have said it could not have been dissembled.

_Sect._ 10. Not only in the _Swedish_, but also in the _Salem_ Witchcraft the Inchanted People have talked much of a _White Spirit_ from whence they received marvellous Assistances in their Miseries; what lately befel _Mercy Short_[26] from the Communications of such a _Spirit_, hath been the just Wonder of us all, but by such a _Spirit_ was _Margaret Rule_ now also visited. She says that she could never see his _Face_; but that she had a frequent view of his bright, Shining and glorious Garments; he stood by her _Bed-side_ continually heartning and comforting of her and counselling her to maintain her Faith and hope in God, and never comply with the temptations of her Adversaries; she says he told her, that _God had permitted her afflictions to befall her for the everlasting and unspeakable good of her own soul, and for the good of many others, and for his own Immortal Glory, and that she should therefore be of good Chear, and be assured of a speedy deliverance_; and the wonderful resolution of mind wherewith she encountered her Afflictions were but agreeable to such expectations. Moreover a Minister having one Day with some Importunity Prayed for the deliverance of this Young Woman, and pleaded that she belong'd to his Flock and charge; he had so far a right unto her as that he was to do the part of a Minister of our Lord for the bringing of her home unto God; only now the _Devil_ hindred him in _doing_ that which he had a _right_ thus to do, and whereas He had a _better Title_ unto her to bring her home to _God_ than the _Divel_ could have unto her to carry her away from the _Lord_, _he_ therefore humbly applied himself unto _God_, who alone could right this matter, with a suit that she might be rescued out of _Satans Hands_; Immediately upon this, tho' she heard nothing of this transaction she began to call that Minister her _Father_, and that was the Name whereby she every day before all sorts of People distinguished him: the occasion of it she says was _this_, the _white Spirit_ presently upon this transaction did after this manner speak to her, _Margaret, you now are to take notice that_ (such a Man) _is your Father, God has given you to him, do you from this time look upon him as your Father, obey him, regard him as your Father, follow his Counsels and you shall do well_; And tho' there was one passage more, which I do as little know what to make of as any of the rest, I am now going to relate it; more than three times have I seen it fulfilled in the Deliverance of Inchanted and Possest Persons, whom the Providence of God has cast into my way, that their Deliverance could not be obtained before the _third Fast_ kept for them, and the third day still obtain'd the Deliverance, altho' I have thought of _beseeching of the Lord thrice, when buffered by Sa[9]tan_, yet I must earnestly Intreat all my Readers to beware of any superstitious conceits upon the Number _Three_, if our God will hear us upon once Praying and Fasting before him 'tis well, and if he will not vouchsafe his _Mercy_ upon our _thrice_ doing so, yet we must not be so discouraged as to throw by our Devotion but if the Soveraign _Grace_ of our God will in any particular Instances count our Patience enough tryed when we have Solemnly waited upon him for any determinate Number of times, who shall say to him, what doest thou, and if there shall be any Number of Instances, wherein this Grace of our God has exactly holden the same course, it may have a room in our humble _Observations_, I hope, without any Superstition; I say then that after _Margaret Rule_ had been more than five weeks in her Miseries, this _White Spirit_ said unto her, _Well this day such a Man_ (whom he named) _has kept a third day for your deliverance, now be of good cheer you shall speedily be delivered_. I inquired whether what had been said of that Man were true, and I gained exact and certain information that it was precisely so, but I doubt lest in relating this Passage that I have used more openness than a Friend should be treated with, and for that cause I have concealed several of the most _memorable things_ that have occurred not only in this but in some former Histories, altho indeed I am not so well satisfied about the true nature of this _white Spirit_, as to count that I can do a Friend much Honour by reporting what notice this _white Spirit_ may have thus taken of him.

_Sect._ 11. On the last day of the Week her Tormentors as she thought and said, approaching towards her, would be forced still to recoil and retire as unaccountably unable to meddle with her, and they would retire to the Fire side with their Poppets; but going to stick Pins into those Poppets, they could not (according to their visions) make the Pins to enter, she insulted over them with a very Proper derision, daring them now to do their worst, whilst she had the satisfaction to see their _Black Master_ strike them and kick them, like an _Overseer_ of so many _Negro's_, to make them to do their work, and renew the marks of his vengeance on them, when they failed of doing of it.[27] At last being as it were tired with their ineffectual Attempts to mortifie her they furiously said, _Well you shant be the last_. And after a pause they added, _Go, and the Devil go with you, we can do no more_; whereupon they flew out of the Room, and she returning perfectly to herself most affectionately gave thanks to God for her deliverance; her Tormentors left her extream _weak and faint_, and overwhelmed with _Vapours_, which would not only cause her sometimes to Swoon away, but also now and then for a little while discompose the reasonableness of her Thoughts; Nevertheless her former troubles returned not, but we are now waiting to see the good effects of those troubles upon the Souls of all concern'd, And now I suppose that some of our Learned _wit[10]lings_ of the _Coffee-House_, for fear lest these proofs of an _Invisible-world_ should spoil some of their sport, will endeavour to turn them all into sport, for which _Buffoonary_ their only pretence will be, _they cant understand how such things as these could be done_ whereas indeed he that is but Philosopher enough to have read but one _Little Treatise_, Published in the Year 1656, by no other Man than the Chyrurgion of an _Army_, or but one Chap. of _Helmont_,[28] which I will not quote at this time too particularly, may give a far more intelligible account of these _Appearances_ than most of these _Blades_ can give _why_ and how their _Tobacco_ makes 'em Spit; or which way the flame of their Candle becomes illuminating, as for that _cavil, the world would be undone if the Devils could have such power as they seem to have in several of our stories_,[29] it may be Answered that as to many things the _Lying Devils_ have only known them to be done, and then pretended unto the doing of those things, but the true and best Answer is, that by these things we only see what the _Devils_ could have _powers_ to do, if the great God should give them those powers, whereas now our Histories affords a _Glorious Evidence for the being of a God_, the World would indeed be _undone_, and horribly _undone_, if these Devils, who now and then get liberty to play some very mischievous pranks, were not under a daily restraint of some _Almighty Superior_ from doing more of such Mischiefs. Wherefore instead of all Apish _flouts_ and _jeers_ at Histories, which have such undoubted confirmation, as that no Man that has breeding enough to regard the Common Laws of _Humane Society_, will offer to doubt of 'em, it becomes us rather to adore the goodness of God, who does not permit such things every day to befall us _all_, as he sometimes did permit to befall some few of our miserable Neighbours.

_Sect._ 12. And what after all my unwearied Cares and Pains, to rescue the _Miserable_ from the Lions and Bears of _Hell_, which had siezed them, and after all my Studies to disappoint the Devils in their designs to confound my Neighbourhood, must I be driven to the necessity of an _Apology_? Truly the hard _representations_ wherewith _some Ill Men have reviled my conduct_, and the Countenance which other Men have given to these representations, oblige me to give Mankind some account of my Behaviour; No Christian can, I say none but evil workers can criminate my visiting such of my poor flock as have at any time fallen under the terrible and sensible molestations of _Evil Angels_; let their Afflictions have been what they will, I could not have answered it unto my Glorious _Lord_, if I had withheld my just _Counsels_ and _Comforts_ from them; and if I have also with some exactness observ'd the methods of the _Invisible World_, when they have thus become observable, I have been but a Servant of Mankind in doing so; yea no less a Person than the _Venerable Baxter_, has more than once or twice in the most Publick manner invited Mankind to thank [11] me for that _Service_. I have not been insensible of a greater danger attending me in this fulfilment of my Ministry, than if I had been to take Ten Thousand steps over a Rocky Mountain fill'd with _Rattle-Snakes_; but I have consider'd, he that is wise will observe things, and the _Surprising Explication_ and confirmation of the _biggest part_ of the _Bible_, which I _have seen_ given in these things, has _abundantly paid me_ for observing them. Now in my visiting of the Miserable, I was always of this opinion, that we were Ignorant of what _Powers_ the _Devils_ might have to do their mischiefs in the shapes of some that had never been explicitly engaged in _Diabolical Confederacies_, and that therefore tho' many _Witchcrafts_ had been fairly detected _on Enquiries_ provoked and begun by _Specteral Exhibitions_, yet we could not easily be too jealous of the _Snares_ laid for us in the _devices of Satan_; the World knows how many _Pages_ I have Composed and Published, and particular gentlement in the Government know how many _Letters_ I have written to prevent the excessive Credit of _Specteral Accusations_, wherefore I have still charged the _Afflicted_ that they should _Cry_ out of no body for Afflicting of 'em. But that if this might be any Advantage they might _privately_ tell their minds to some one Person of _discretion_ enough to make no _ill use_ of their communications, accordingly there has been this effect of it, that the Name of _No one_ good Person in the World ever came under any blemish by means of any _Afflicted_, Person that fell under _my_ particular cognizance, yea no one Man, Woman or Child ever came into any troube for the sake of any that were _Afflicted_ after I _had once begun_ to look after 'em; how often have I had this thrown into my dish, that many years ago I had an opportunity to have brought forth such People as have in the late storm of _Witchcraft_ been complain'd of, but that I smother'd all, and after that storm was rais'd at _Salem_, I did myself offer to provide Meat, Drink and Lodging for no less than Six of the Afflicted, that so an Experiment might be made, whether _Prayer_ with _Fasting_ upon the removal of the distressed might not put a Period to the trouble then rising, without giving the _Civil Authority_ the trouble of prosecuting those things which nothing but a Conscientious regard unto the cries of Miserable Families, could have overcome the Reluctancies of the Honourable Judges to meddle with;[30] In short I do humbly but freely affirm it, there is not that Man living in this World who has been more desirous than the poor Man I _to shelter_ my Neighbours from the Inconveniences of _Specteral Outcries_, yea I am very jealous I have done so much _that way as to Sin_ in what I have done, such have been the Cowardize and Fearfulness whereunto my regard unto the dissatisfactions of other People has precipitated me. I know a Man in the World, who has thought he has been able to Convict some such _Witches_ as ought to Dye, but his respect unto the Publick _Peace_ has caused him rather to try whether _He_ [12] _could not renew them by repentance_: and as I have been Studious to defeat the _Devils_ of their expectations to set people together by the Ears, thus, I have also checked and quell'd those forbidden curiosities, which would have given the _Devil_ an invitation to have tarried amongst us, when I have seen wonderful _Snares_ laid for _Curious_ People, by the secret and future things discovered from the _Mouths of Damsels possest with a Spirit of divination_; Indeed I can recollect but one thing wherein there could be given so much as a Shadow of Reason for _Exceptions_, and that is my allowing of so many to come and see those that were _Afflicted_,[31] now for that I have this to say, that I have almost _a Thousand times_ intreated the Friends of the Miserable, that they would not permit the Intrusion of any Company, but such as _by Prayers_ or other ways might be helpful to them; Nevertheless I have not absolutely forbid all Company from coming to your Haunted Chambers, partly because the Calamities of the Families were such as required the Assistance of _many friends_; partly because I have been willing that there should be _disinterested Witnesses_ of all sorts, to confute the Calumnies of such as would say _all was but Imposture_; and partly because I saw God had Sanctified the Spectacle of the Miseries on the Afflicted unto the Souls of many that were Spectators, and it is a very Glorious thing that I have now to mention--The Devils have with most horrendous operations broke in upon our Neighbourhood, and God has at such a rate over-ruled all the Fury and Malice of those Devils, that all the Afflicted have not only been _Delivered_, but I hope also savingly brought home unto God, and the Reputation of _no one_ good Person in the World, has been damaged, but instead thereof the Souls of many, especially of the rising Generation, have been thereby awaken'd unto some acquaintance with _Religion_, our young People who belonged unto the _Praying Meetings_ of both Sexes, a part would ordinarily spend whole _Nights_ by whole Weeks together in _Prayers_ and Psalms upon these occasions, in which Devotions the Devils could get nothing but like _Fools a Scourge for their own Backs_, and some scores of other young People who were strangers to real Piety, were now struck with the lively demonstrations of _Hell_ evidently set forth before their Eyes, when they saw Persons cruelly Frighted, wounded and Starved by Devils and Scalded with burning _Brimstone_, and yet so preserved in this tortured estate as that at the end of one Months wretchedness they were as able still to undergo another, so that of these also it might now be said, Behold they Pray in the whole--the Devil got just nothing; but God got praises, Christ got Subjects, the Holy Spirit got _Temples_, the Church got _Addition_, and the Souls of Men got everlasting _Benefits_; I am not so vain as to say that any _Wisdome_ or _Vertue_ of mine did contribute unto this good order of things: But I am so just, as to say I did not hinder this Good.[13] When therefore there have been those that pickt up little incoherent scraps and bits of my _Discourses_ in this fruitful discharge of my Ministry, and so traversted 'em in their abusive _Pamphlets_, as to perswade the Town that I was their _common Enemy_ in those very points, wherein, if in any one thing whatsoever I have sensibly approved myself as true a Servant unto 'em as possibly I could, tho my Life and Soul had been at Stake for it. Yea to do like _Satan_ himself, by sly, base, unpretending _Insinuations_, as if I wore not the Modesty and Gravity which became a Minister of the Gospel, I could not but think myself unkindly dealt withal, and the neglects of _others_ to do me _justice_ in this affair has caused me to conclude this Narrative with complaints in _another hearing_ of such Monstrous Injuries.[32]

FOOTNOTES:

[20] There were two noted Christian Indians on Martha's Vineyard a little previous to the Time the Above was written; viz., _Hiacoomes_ and _John Tokinosh_. It is to one of these, probably, that the Writer refers. See _Book of the Indians_, B. ii, 118; or p. 182, Edition 1851. See also Appendix to _Elect. Serm._ of 1698, p. 90, _et seq._

[21] Perhaps Capt. Thomas Tupper. See _Noyes's Election Sermon_, 1698, p. 95. There were also _Eldad_ and Samuel T.--Sewall's _MSS._

[22] Nothing is learned of this Person beyond what is to be found in this Work. There were Persons early at Newbury of the same Name.

[23] If the learned Author were living at this Day he would doubtless gladly blot out many Pages of his own Matter, as being a more _dirty_ Work than any he then complained of.

[24] It would be curious, if not admirable, at this Day could we know what medical Books the Doctor did possess at that Time. Doubtless Galen and Paracelsus were conspicuous on his Shelves.

[25] Mr. Calef has not commented so severely on this Part of the Story as it merited, and as he might have done with propriety.

[26] Mr. Savage has found quite a Number of _Short_ Families, but gives us no _Mercy_ with them. See his _Genealogical Dictionary_.

[27] This Relation is pretty nearly equal to anything told of the Swedish Witches by Dr. Horneck. This Author will be further noticed.

[28] Jean-Baptiste Van-Helmont, a Resident of Brussels, born in 1577. He was so noted a Physician and Naturalist, that he was reputed a Magician, for which he was thrown into Prison. He made his Escape and fled into Holland, where he died in 1644.

[29] The Writer nowhere informs us how much Power the Devil has. By some of his Assertions it seems that it is unlimited. Indeed he (Dr. Mather) has told us that this Continent in reality belonged to the Devil. If that was actually the Case, it certainly was an infringement on his Rights for Europeans to intrude themselves here at all.

[30] This will be found remarked upon hereafter. The Author makes a large Handle of Mr. Baxter's Commendations of his Story of the Goodwin Children; which Story he afterwards printed in the _Magnalia_, Book vi, 71, &c.; and adds: "When it was reprinted at London, the famous Mr. Baxter prefixed a Preface unto it, wherein he says, '_This great Instance comes with such convincing Evidence, that he must be a very obdurate Sadducee, that wilt not believe it._'"--_Ibid.,_ 75.

[31] It was besides hinted that there were Times when the Numbers admitted to the Afflicted were not above the _singular_ Number. But this was doubtless a mischievous Attempt of the _Sadducees_ to implicate some one who might be rather zealous to detect _Witchcraft_ when alone with the Afflicted. The Doctor was very indignant at this, as will appear.

[32] It would have been highly gratifying had the Author informed his Readers what he meant by "the neglect of others." The "another hearing" will be found explained by and by.