Increase Mather

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

• 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.