Batteries Upon the Kingdom of the Devil, Title page – Part
Batteries upon the Kingdom of the Devil.
SEASONABLE DISCOURSES UPON Some Common, but Woful, INSTANCES, WHEREIN Men Gratifie the Grand Enemy of their SALVATION.
By Mr. Cotton Mather, Author of The late Memorable Providences relating to Witchcrafts and Possessions; and of Early Piety exemplified.
LONDON, Printed for Nath. Hiller, at the Princes-Armes in Leaden-Hall-Street, over-against St. Mary Axe. 1695.
TO My Worthy Nephew Mr. Cotton Mather.
Dear Sir,
HEre you have by the Press returned to you those Sermons of yours, which you some Years ago prepared for the Publick. Such were the Hazards and Deaths which they were in, that I believe their thus coming forth was lately altogether unexpected by you, and is now a great Surprizal to you. For surely you had no reason but to give them up as for ever lost in this World, (as I have in brief given an account in an Epistle to the Reader prefixed) however you might relieve your self with this Faith, that your good Will and Labour therein was with the Lord. Possibly that sentence of Death which they were under might be some discouragement to you, and occasion some sad Thoughts. He who then helped you to receive it with a Gracious Submission to him, without whom not a Sparrow lights on the ground, and who numbers the very Hairs of our Heads, and hath a Soveraign Right (which may neither be controlled nor questioned) to dispose of us, and all ours, as pleaseth Him, now lets you see it was not in vain to commit them unto Him. Whatever the Workings of your Heart were under that disappointment, I am perswaded you will now receive them as a return unto, and a token of the acceptance of those Prayers which you followed them withal when you first took up a purpose to Publish them, and did accordingly commit them unto Him who hath so Faithfully, so Marvellously preserved them, and hath now at last, through so many Deaths, brought them forth unto Light. Now God, who is able to make all Grace abound towards you, and doth minister Seed to the Sower, and preserve it when perishing, increase his Gifts and Grace in you, and multiply your Seed sown and the Fruits thereof, to your Comfort, the Good of many, and the Glory of his own Grace. So prayeth,
(Dear Cozen) Your Affectionate Unkle Nath. Mather. London, Dec. 15. 1693.
TO THE READER.
IT hath been observed concerning some Persons designed by God for Eminent Usefulness in their day, that great Dangers and great Deliverances have befallen them in their beginning times. Somewhat such alike Fate hath attended these Sermons. They have been in Perils on the Sea, in Perils by Robbers, in Perils among Papists and Publick Enemies, in Perils in a strange Land, yea in Deaths often. But there hath been a wakeful Eye, and a mighty Hand of Providence over them all along. They were by the Author designed and prepared for the Publick, and to that end written out for the Press, and sent some Years ago for Old England from New, in a Vessel which fell into the Hands of a French Privateer, by whom both Ship and Passengers were carried into France. But a Person there who had some acquaintance with the Privateer, obtained of him these and other Papers which were of no value to him, who was then Possessor of them. That Person sent them to a Correspondent he had in London; who occasionally giving a Worthy Acquaintance of mine a view of them, he presently discerned what these Discourses were, and for what designed, and by him they were shown to me. At first sight I knew the Hand in which they were written, and on further Perusal could not but perceive on them very discernable impresses of the Spirit of their Author, of whom the nearness of my Relation forbids me to say any thing, only this I must testifie, that these Sermons are assuredly his true and genuine Issue.
The forementioned Wakefulness of the Eye of Providence over them in all the Hazards and Deaths which they have passed through, and at last, in his own time, so bringing them forth unto the Publick, may give a ground of hope that God hath designed them for further Usefulness and Service.
The Subjects treated on are weighty, of general concernment, and never out of season; although perhaps in some of them the Author might have an eye more especially to the present circumstances of many in that place where they were first meditated and uttered. The Holy Ghost himself took occasion to indite many parts of Holy Scripture from some present Occurrences in a small part of Gods People: And these hath he preserved and consecrated to the use of the whole Church all the World over unto the end of time. Nor is it a new thing for Holy Men of God, not immediately inspired, to publish to the World those Labours of theirs to which they were first stirred up by some emergencies among that People where they were set. A great Divine tells us, That the Case of those to whom he ministred was one thing by which he was much influenced in pitching on the Subjects which he Preached on. Dr. Owens Preface to Spiritual-mindedness. Such a communication of Gifts, and the Fruits of them, is one sweet and happy improvement of the Communion of Saints.
The manner of this Authors treating on these Subjects is such, as that it is apparent he did indeavour to approve himself to God therein; and therefore I doubt not, but as others of his Labours have, so these will commend themselves to every Mans Conscience in the sight of God, especially of those who are Spiritual, and by reason of use have their Senses exercised to discern between Good and Evil. The Blessing of God go along with them.
Nath. Mather.
THE CONTENTS.
I. SAcred Exorcisms: Or, The Case and Cure of Persons Possessed by the Devil. Page 1.
II. The Dumb Devil cast out: Or, The Horrible Sin of a Prayerless Life Discovered. p. 43.
III. The Stage-Player unmasked: Or, The Signs and Woes of a Wretched Hypocrite. p. 67.
IV. The Door of Hope: Or, An Antidote against the Sin of Despair, in them that have been most guilty of other Sins. p. 95.
V. Honey at the End of the Rod: Or, Help for the Internal Distempers, with which External Afflictions are usually accompanied. p. 117.
VI. The Golden Curb: Or, Sober Checks given to Rash Passions. p. 143.
VII. An Appendix: Describing, The Great Ambition of a Good Christian. p. 173.
THE Righteousness of God through Faith upon all without difference who believe. In Two Sermons on Rom. 3.22. By Nath. Mather, Preacher of the Gospel. 1694.
THE Conquests and Triumphs of Grace: Being a brief Narrative of the Success which the Gospel hath had among the Indians in New-England. By Matthew Mayhen. 1695.
Both Printed for Nath. Hiller at the Princes Arms in Leaden-Hall-Street over against St. Mary Axe.