The Witchcraft in New England. Calef Robert

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СКАЧАТЬ there were as many in New as in Old England who raised their Voices against Prosecutions for the supposed Crime. Hence it is very obvious that mental Darkness was as dense in Old as in New England, at the Time of the Delusions of which we are speaking.

      Superstition was then bounded only by the Limits of what was termed Civilization. The Light of Science for the last two hundred Years has considerably relieved Mankind from that deadly Incubus, and it is gratifying to believe that the March of Mind is onward and that a future of pure Light is before the World of Humanity. Like dark Spots on a Planet, some Superstitions seem almost as unaccountable, and their Removal appears about as difficult, so long have we been accustomed to tolerate them.

As late as 1668 it was asserted by an eminent English Writer, a Member of the Royal Society,[23] that "Atheism is begun in Saducism. And those that dare not bluntly say, There is NO GOD, content themselves, (for a fair Step, and Introduction) to deny there are SPIRITS, or WITCHES. Which Sort of Infidels, though they are not ordinary among the meer vulgar, yet are they numerous in a little higher Rank of Understandings. And those that know anything of the World, know, that most of the looser Gentry, and the small Pretenders to Philosophy and Wit, are generally Deriders of the Belief of Witches, and Apparitions."

      Hence there were but two Horns to the Dilemma in which every one found himself—he must believe in Witchcraft and all the other degrading Attendants on that Belief, or he must be viewed and scorned as an Atheist, and as an Unbeliever in everything that was good!

It was difficult for People to distinguish between Miracles and Witchcraft, especially when the most learned Men,[24] in Order to make the Miracle of the Ascent of the Saviour appear reasonable, argued that "He went as far towards Heaven as he could on Foot, even to the Top of Mount Olivet." And when Elijah was to fast forty Days, "that there might be no Waste of miraculous Power, God would have him eat a double Meal before entering upon the Term of fasting!" With such wretched Absurdities were the Minds of People of that Time enslaved. The Superstitions of the Greeks and Romans were not greater. And although there is a steady Progress in intellectual Improvement, and a Time is believed to be approaching when the World will be as free from the Cheats and Impostures of the present Day, as some of the present Day are of those of previous Ages; yet it is in a Measure discouraging, when we see the Thousands ensnared by such transparent Jugglery as that which has peopled the Salt Lake Regions, and drawn other Thousands in our Midst to witness Feats that never did nor never will happen, except in the deluded Brains of those who desire to be thus deluded.

      FOOTNOTES:

      [1] A Jesuit of Loraine. His Book was a "Magical Disquisition."

      [2] In three Volumes, royal Octavo, Glasgow, 1856–9.

[3] This Part of this Introduction was written not long before the Southern Rebellion began.

[4] The Mysterie of Witchcraft, P. 363.

[5] Ibid, 211.

[6] Anatomy of Melancholy, 221, Edition in Folio, 1651.

[7] Strype's Annals, I, P. 8.

[8] Epistle to Sir Roger Manwood, P. 1.

[9] Epistle to Sir Roger Manwood, Chap. i, Pp. 1 and 2.

[10] Scot, Discoverie, Chap. ii, P. 4.

[11] Discourse of Devils and Spirits, P. 543; annexed to the Discoverie of Witchcraft.

[12] See Gent. Magz., XLIX, P. 449; Vol. VII, P. 556.

[13] Nashe's Lenten Stuff, 1599, as quoted by Reed, in his Shakespeare, Vol. X, Pp. 5, 11.

[14] King James's Works, as published by James, Bishop of Winton, Folio, 1616, P. 91.

[15] Discoverie of Witchcraft, Vol. I, Chap. 3, Pp. 7–9.

[16] Todd's Spenser, iv, 480–1. Faerie Queene, B. iii, Cant. 7, Stan. 6.

[17] Discoverie of Witchcraft, Book i, Chap. 4, Pp. 9–11.

[18] James's Works, by Winton, P. 116.

[19] James's Works, by Winton, P. 117.

[20] Discoverie of Witchcraft, Book iii, Chap. 1, 2, Pp. 40–2.

[21] Works, apud Winton, Pp. 112, 113.

[22] King James's Works, apud Winton, Pp. 111, 135–6.

[23] Joseph Glanvill, in his Blow at Modern Saducism.

[24] Spencer's Discourse concerning Prodigies, London, 1665.

      MEMOIR OF THE AUTHOR.

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      COTTON Mather was born in Boston, February 12th, 1662–3. In his Youth he was remarkable for his Progress in Knowledge, and soon became extensively known for his varied Acquirements. At the Age of Twelve he entered Harvard College, and graduated in due Course. He was thrice married: 1st, when in his twenty-fourth Year, to Abigail, Daughter of Col. John Phillips, of Charlestown; 2d, to Widow Elizabeth Hubbard, Daughter of Dr. John Clark; and 3d, to Lydia, Widow of Mr. John George, Daughter of the Rev. Samuel Lee, sometime of Bristol in Rhode Island. By the last Wife he had no Children, but by the others he had fifteen, nine of which were by the first.

      The Father of Mr. Mather was Dr. Increase Mather, Pastor of the North Church, of Boston, of whom the СКАЧАТЬ