Memorable Providences, Title page – Dedication
MEMORABLE PROVIDENCES, Relating to VVITCHCRAFTS And POSSESSIONS.
A Faithful Account of many Wonderful and Surprising Things, that have befallen several Bewitched and Possessed Persons in New-England.
Particularly, A NARRATIVE of the marvellous Trouble and Releef Experienced by a pious Family in Boston, very lately and sadly molested with EVIL SPIRITS.
Whereunto is added, A Discourse delivered unto a Congregation in Boston, on the Occasion of that Illustrious Providence.
As also A Discourse delivered unto the same Congregation; on the occasion of an horrible Self-Murder Committed in the Town.
With an Appendix, in vindication of a Chapter in a late Book of Remarkable Providences, from the Calumnies of a Quaker at Pen-silvania.
Written By Cotton Mather, Minister of the Gospel.
And Recommended by the Ministers of Boston and Charleston
Printed at Boston in N. England by R. P. 1689.
Sold by Ioseph Brunning, at his Shop at the Corner of the Prison-Lane next the Exchange.
To the Honourable WAIT WINTRHROP Esq
Sr.
BY the special Disposal and Providence of the Almighty God, there now comes abroad into the world, a little History of several very astonishing Witchcrafts and Possessions, which partly my own Ocular Observation, & partly my undoubted Information, hath enabled me to offer unto the publick Notice of my Neighbours. It must be the Subject, and not the Manner or the Author of this Writing, that has made any people desire its Publication; For there are such obvious Defects in Both, as would render me very unreasonable if I should with about This or Any Composure of mine, O That it were printed in a book! But tho there want not Faults in the Discourse, to give me Discontent enough, my Displeasure at them will be recompensed by the Satisfaction I take in my Dedication of it; which I now, no less properly than cheerfully make unto Your Self; whom I reckon among the Best of my Friends, and the Ablest of my Readers. Your Knowledge has Qualified You to make those Reflections on the following Relations, which few can Think, and tis not fit that all should See. How far the Platonic Notions of Daemons which were, it may be, much more espoused by those primitive Christians and Scholars that we call The Fathers, than they seem countenanced in the ensuing Narratives; are to be allow'd by a serious man, your Scriptural Divinity, join'd with Your most Rational Philosophy, will help You to judge at an uncommon rate. Had I on the Occasion before me handled the Doctrin of Daemons, or lanched forth into Speculations about magical Mysteries, I might have made some Ostentation, that I have readd something & thought a little in my time; but it would neither have been Convenient for me, nor Profitable for those plain Folkes, whose Edification I have all along aimed at. I have therefore here but briefly touch't every thing with an American Pen; a Pen which your Desert likewise has further Entitled You to the utmost Expessions of Respect & Honour from. Though I have no Commission, yet I am sure I shall meet with no Crimination, if I here publickly wish You all manner of Happiness, in the Name of the great Multitudes whom you have laid under everlasting Obligations. Wherefore in the name of the many hundred Sick people, whom your charitable and skilful Hands have most freely dispens'd your no less generous than secret Medicines to; and in the name of Your whole Countrey, which hath long had cause to believe that you will succeed Your Honourable Father and Grandfather, in successful Endeavours for our Welfare; I say, In their Name, I now do wish you all the Prosperity of them that love Ierusalem. And whereas it hath been sometimes observed, That the Genius of an Author is commonly Discovered in the Dedicatory Epistle, I shall be content if this Dedicatory Epistle of mine, have now discovered me to be,
(Sir) Your sincere & very humble Servant,C. Mather.