So when I first began to read Mather's book "Memorable Providence" was introduced and it stated that the book was to explain "A Faithful Account of Wonderful and Surprising Things." Now because this is written by Mather I assume he wrote that statement as well. I was in shock when reading it because it seems that Mather was almost excited by the whole situation. For a Reverend of the Puritans the word "Wonderful" seems like it would not be the first choice when describing the witch trials.
Now I understand that it is in traditional Puritan nature to think the world is out to get you but this whole witch thing seems like a bit much. And Mather seems to be making it worst. He says "Go tell mankind, that there are Devils and Witches." He wants to scare the crap out of everyone by telling them to be afraid of devils and witches as if to say that they are walking around town next to them. He is telling them that besides the fact that they need to pay attention to everything they do and say as it is but now they have to fear for their lives? I get the feeling that Mather wants to be the one the people go to and if they do not fear anything they have no need for him anymore.
When he describes the beginning the first person he introduces is John Goodman and his children as the afflicted. Mather even states right from the beginning that Goodman is "a sober and pious man." Goodman himself seems to never be effected by the witches. I just have to ask myself if they felt that the Devil was after the most pure of people then why was Goodman never effected? Obviously because his children were the ones "in charge" of the whole accusing.
Mather never questions the children but rather believes everything they tell him. In those days children never spoke unless spoken to first and they were often considered incompetent from my understanding, so why now are they taken seriously? First of all I think the children did what they did simply for the attention they received. They were treated with respect and looked to for advise which was a very uncommon thing back then. Secondly I think Mather believed them because he wanted something drastic to happen that would bring the people back to the church. The whole situation benefited both parties.
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I think the whole Mather getting excited thing is pretty funny, mostly because i got that a little too. But if your whole life was devoted to serving God, and turning away the devil, you would be pretty excited at a witch epidemic too. It was Mather's time to shine, and it seems like he took full advatage of it. I also think you make an interesting point about the children. He does blindly listen to them, and it seems like children in that time would never be taken seriously. But, what gets more attention than a child possesed by the devil?
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