The Wonders of the Invisible World Essays

The Wonders of the Invisible World Essays The Wonders of the Invisible World Essay The Wonders of the Invisible World Essay Essay Topic: Invisible Man Name: Course:Instructor:Date: The Wonders of the Invisible World Mather’s religious and academic aloofness is evident in the excerpt when he describes the first planters as holy and pure people who lived out of their own volition in a desert, rather than live in prosperity with their fellow brethren. Mather’s religiousness is revealed when he affirms that a person came back with the proof that a country existed where people did not commit any sin by swearing, people did not suffer any poverty since no beggars could be found in that land, and people did not partake alcohol. Mather affirms that the young people have strayed from the gospel ways shown to them by their guardians when they go abroad hence the happiness of that place has turned to calamity. He further declares that people owe their dues to God, who when people fall into temptation and ask for forgiveness, offers it. Mather also asserts that the occupation of God’s people in New England, which was the devil’s territory, have caused a lot of disturbance to the devil who is not happy with the occupation. He further asserts that the devil views this as the fulfillment of the promises given to Jesus that he shall posses most of the earth. He says that the devil has employed satanic devices to deal with the people who God has brought to this land. Mather writes that the devil keeps attacking them in many different ways each day and when the people triumph, they will enjoy happy days ahead. He writes on how some Christians from earlier times evidenced the murder of a malefactor accused of witchcraft, who swore that there would be an attack on the land by witchcraft to bring down the church. He states, â€Å"†¦a horrible plot against the country by witchcraf t, and a foundation of witchcraft then laid, which if it were not seasonably discovered would probably blow up and pull down all the churches in the country† (Mather 215). Mather’s academic aloofness is evident in how he describes the trials of Salem, and the evidence put forth in court by the various witnesses called upon to testify. He says that he will no longer hold back the entertainment to his readers of the trials on Salem executions. To Mather, these trials are some amusements of some sort yet it is an individuals’ life at stake. He clarifies that he holds no prejudice against these people yet he is a strong advocate of riding off the community of witchcraft. He states: â€Å"For my own part, I was not Present at any of Them; nor ever Had I any personal prejudice at the persons thus brought upon the Stage; much less at the Surviving Relations of those persons, with and for whom I would be as Hearty a mourner as any man Living in the World: The Lord Comfort them!† (Mather 214). Mather describes the detailed trial of Bridget bishop who was accused of being a witch who bewitched and tormented the people from the neighborhood. His aloofness is seen when he addresses a crowd and says that they should not be deceived by the devil, for he changes tactics and pretends to be the angel of light. As he puts it, â€Å"The Mind of God in these matters, is to be carefully look’d into, with due Circumspection, that Satan deceive us not with his Devices, who transforms himself into an Angel of Light, and may pretend Justice and yet intend Mischief† (Mather 248). This was when one of the people accused of witchcraft declares their innocence and proceeds to say the Lord’s Prayer. He justifies the executions by saying that their death has brought about relief to persons who were bewitched by the victims. He further says that witchcraft is to blame for the suicide attempts that have been occurring in the community due to the spells cast on people by the witches. As he puts it, â€Å"As I am abundantly satisfy’d, That many of the Self-Murders committed here, have been the effects of a Cruel and Bloody Witchcraft, letting fly D?mons upon the miserable Seneca’s† (Mather 249). Therefore, the executions should bring forth happiness to the community because this evil has been rid off from the community. Work Cited Mather, Cotton. The Wonders of the Invisible World: Being an Account of the Trials of Several Witches Lately Executed in New England. London: John Russell Smith, 1862. Print. Bookrags. From the Wonders of the Invisible World (1693) by Cotton Mather. bookrags.com, 1991. web January 26 2012.