Increase Mather



Increase Mather (21 June 1639 – 23 August 1723) was a religious leader and educator in colonial New England.

Quotes

 * It were better that Ten Suspected Witches should escape, than that one Innocent Person should be Condemned.
 * Cases of Conscience Concerning Evil Spirits Personating Men, Witchcrafts, infallible Proofs of Guilt in such as are accused with that Crime (1692); a variant of this has become known as Blackstone's formulation, through its expression by William Blackstone in  Commentaries on the Laws of England (1765 - 1769).


 * Drink is in itself a good creature of God, but the abuse of drink is from Satan.
 * As quoted in The Truth About Alcohol (2005) by Barry Youngerman and Mark J. Kittleson, p. 129.