The extraordinary affliction, and gracious relief of a little boy; supposed to be the effects of spiritual agency ... / Carefully examined, and faithfully narrated; with observations on demoniac possession, and animadversions on superstition.

  • Heaton, James
Date:
1822
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The extraordinary affliction, and gracious relief of a little boy; supposed to be the effects of spiritual agency ... / Carefully examined, and faithfully narrated; with observations on demoniac possession, and animadversions on superstition. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    95/166 (page 87)
    SeSSed. But whether that disease existedlndepend- ently of demoniac influence, or was only a conse-^ quence of it, was desirable to know. A medical gen* tleman who professionally attended the boy was consulted, in reference to his being alflicted with epilepsy as an independent or primary disease. He doubted whether there was any physical derange- ment at all, because no unequivocal uniform symptom could be discovered. He therefore thought, that the whole of his malady arose from some very ex- traordinary, unnatural, unaccountable derangement of mind. He was then requested, that if we should again succeed in relieving his mind, to come and examine the state of his health; to this he readily consented. On Wednesday, April 10th, a few friends enga* ged to meet together to seek divine assistance by earnest prayer, and, in the name of the Lord, to ad* iure the evil spirit. The time of this meeting was known but to few, lest we should be thronged and inconvenienced. It was cautiously concealed from the boy himself, because of his horrid antipathy to any thing religious, and because we wished to get him quietly through the town to Morice-street chapel vestry, a convenient and retired place. Our plan Was formed on Tuesday evening, after the boy was gone lo bed. When getting him up next morning, his mother desired him to have on his Sunday clothes. He considered awhile, and made signs to her that it was Wednesday, and he was unwilling to be dressed that day as on a Sunday. She told him she wished him to go and see his uncle, who lived at New Passage ; he was very ill, and would be glad to see him before he died. (He would, on his way, have to pass through Morice-street; and the inten- tion was, to detain him there till his mind was reliev- ed.) The boy shook his head, and signified he was very sorry for his aflircted uncle, but he did not wish to go to see him.