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CHAP. XCV. Satan hurting by Obsessions, Possessions, &c.
BY Obsessions, I mean immediate Attempts and Assaults made upon the Disturbed Person by Satan or his Agents, in such a manner, as to discover themselves plainly to be of the Diabolical kind: By Possessions, the Insults of Satan in the very Body of the Person; and this last way of Vexation I look upon as one of the worst, when the Devil hath Power, not only to Besiege the Town, but to Enter the very castle, and Domineer there; and though there are some very late Authors, that resolve all the History of the Demoniacks in the Gospel into Phy∣sical Distemperature of the Brain, or Hypochondria, yet I think they will be hard put to it, to solve all the Difficulties and strange Occurrences of subsequent History.
1. Mr. John Bruen of Stapleford in Cheshire, Records the Story of a Boy, called Thomas Harrison of Northwich, about Eleven or Twelve Years of Age, possessed with the De∣vil; who by his Torments was brought so low, that he was almost nothing but Skin and Bone; yet for the space of Twenty four Hours every day (having only one half hour respite, which they call'd his Awaking time, and wherein they gave him some Food) he was of that extraordinary strength, that if he folded his hands together, no Man could pull them asunder; if he rolled his Head, or tossed his whole Body, no Man could stay or restrain him: He would, to the great Astonishment of the Hearers, Howl like a Dog, Mew like a Cat, Roar like a Bear, Froth like a Boar; when any pray'd with him, his passions were stron∣gest, his Rage and Violence greatest, ready to flye in their Faces, and to drown their Voices by his yellings and outcries: If any one came near him with a Bible, though under his Cloak, and never so secret, he would run upon him, and use great violence to get it from him; and when he could get any, he rent them in pieces. Sometimes he would lie along, as if stark Dead, his Colour gone, and Mouth so wide open, that he would on a sudden thrust both his Hands into it. And notwithstanding his great weakness, he would Leap and Skip from his Bed to the Window, from thence to the Table, and so to Bed again, with that nimbleness and agi∣lity, as no Tumbler could do the like; and yet all this while his Legs grown up close to his Buttocks, so that he could not use them. Sometimes we saw his Chin drawn up to his Nose, that his Mouth could scarce be seen; sometimes his Chin and Forehead drawn almost together like a bended Bow; his Countenance fearful by yawning, making mowes, &c. The Bishop hearing of the strange Torments of this poor Child, sent for him: His Parents brought him, and once the Bishop pray'd with him, but the Boy was so outragious, that he flew out of his Bed, and so frighted the Bishop's Men, that one of them fell into a Swoon, and the Bishop was glad to lay hold on the Boy, who ramped at the Window to have got out; hereupon this Bishop granted a License for a private Fast in the Child's Father's House, for his Help and Re∣lease, and that in these Words:
Having seen the bodily affliction of this Child, and observed in sundry Fits, very strange Effects and Operations, either proceeding from some Natural and unknown Causes, or some Diabolical Practices; we think it fit, and convenient, for the Ease and Deliverance of the said Child, from his sad grievous Affliction, that Prayer be made publickly for him by the Minister of the Parish, &c. and that certain Preachers, namely these following, Mr. Gerrard, Mr. Har∣vey, Mr. Pierson, &c. these, and none other, to repair to the said Child by turns, as their Leisure will serve, and to use their Discretion by private Prayer and Fasting, for the Ease and Comfort of the Afflicted.
- ...Richard Cestrens.
- ...Griffith Vaughan.
- ...David Yale.
- ...Hugh Barcly.
Which accordingly was performed by two Godly Ministers, and by Mr. Bruen, with divers others; yet God gave not Deliverance at that time. When he was in his Fits, without either understanding or knowledge of what he did or said, he would often say,
Jesus saith (for so he began all his Speeches) the Devil, when he comes, takes away my Hear∣ing, Seeing, Ʋnderstanding, Hands, Legs, that I should have no Senses, nor Limbs to Glorifie God withal.
Jesus saith, if they would have cast out the Evil Spirit, they should have come better provided.
Jesus saith, some Men did think that he that Prayed had a better Faith than the other, but he had not.
Jesus saith, I have but three Devils; it is like one of the Spirits will go out of me, and take Counsel of a great number of foul Spirits, and come again, and trouble me worse.
Jesus saith, that some Folk will say, that the Witch will not look one in the face; but she will look here-away and there-away, &c. Mr. William Hind, in the Life of Mr. Bruen.