Christ's fidelity the only shield against Satans malignity. Asserted in a sermon delivered at Salem-village, the 24th of March, 1692. Being lecture-day there, and a time of public examination, of some suspected for witchcraft. / By Deodat Lawson, formerly Preacher of the Gospel there. ; [Six lines of Scripture texts]

To all my Christian Friends and Acquaintance; the Inhabitants of SALEM VILLAGE.

Christian Friends.

THE Sermon here presented unto you, was Delivered in your Audience; by that unworthy Instrument, who did formerly spend some years among you, in the work of the Ministry, though attended with manifold sinful failings and infirmities, for which I do implore, the Pardoning Mercy of God in Jesus Christ, and in|treat from you the Covering of Love. As this was prepared, for that Particular Occasion, when it was delivered amongst you; so the Publication of it, is to be Particularly recommended to your service.

My hearts desire, and Continual Prayer, to God for you ALL is; that you may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus Christ, and accordingly that all means He is using with you, by Mercies & Afflictions, Ordinances and Providences, may be Sanctifyed, to the building you up in Grace and Holyness, and preparing you for the Kingdom of Glory. We are told by the Apostle, Acts 14. 22: That through many Tribulations, we must enter into the Kingdom of God. Now since (besides your share in the Common Calamities, under the burden whereof, this poor people are groaning at this time the Righteous and Holy God, hath been pleased

to permit a sore and grievous affliction to befall you such as can hardly be said to be Common to men viz. By giving liberty to SATAN; to range and rage amongst you, to the Torturing the Bodies, and Distracting the Minds, of some of the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 sheep and Lambs, of the Lord Jesus Christ. And (which is yet more astonishing) he who is THE ACCU|SER of the Bretheren, endeavours to introduce as Criminal, some of the visible Subjects of Christ's Kingdom, by whose sober and godly Conversation in times past, we could draw no other 〈◊〉〈◊〉 than that they were real members of His Mystical Body, representing them, as the Instruments of his malice, against their Friends and Neighbours.

I thought meet thus to give you the best assistance I could, to help you out of your dis|tresses. And since the wayes of the Lord, in his Permissive, as well as Effective Providence, are unsearchable and his doings past finding out. And Pious souls, are at a loss, what will be the Is|sue of these things. I Therefore how my knees, unto the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ that he would cause all grace to abound to you, and in you, that your poor place may be delive|red, from those breaking and ruining Calamities, which are threatned as the Pernicious consequen|ces of Satan's malicious Operations. And that you may not be left to bite and devour one another, in your Sacred or Civil society, in your Relations or Families: to the destroying much good, and

promoting much evil among you: So as, in any kind, to weaken the hands, or discourage the Heart, of your Reverend and Pious Pastor, whose fami|ly also, being so much under the influence of these troubles, Spiritual sympathy, cannot but stir you up, to assist him as at all times, so Especially at such a time as this: He (as well his neigh|bours) being under such awful Circumstan|ces. As to this discourse; my humble desire, and Endeavour is, that it may appear to be, according to the form of sound words and in Expressions every way Inteligible to the meanest Capaci|ties. It pleased GOD; of his Free Grace, to give it some acceptation, with those that heard it, and some that heard of it; desired me to Transcribe it, and afterwards to give way to the Printing of it. I present it therefore, to your Acceptance; and Commend it, to the Divine Benediction: And that it my Please the AL|MIGHTY GOD, to manifest his Power, in putting an end, to your sorrowes of this Nature, by Bruiseing Satan under your feet shortly. Caussing these and all other YOUR and OUR troubles, to work together for our good Now; and salva|tion in the day of the Lord; Is the unfeigned desire, and shall be the uncessant Prayer of,

Less then the Least, of all those that serve, in the Gos|pel of our Lord Jesus. Deodat Lawson.