Mary Rowlandson defined herself as a “civilized” Christian compared to the Native Americans, depending on her Bible to get her through the trial she was in. In contrast, Increase Mather used the supernatural in order to reaffirm his beliefs. While they both used two different ways to cope with their unique situation, Rowlandson and Mather found a way to reaffirm their faith. In Illustrious Providences, Mather provides evidence of the supernatural world by documenting accounts of the devil at work. While furthering Mather’s own belief in this realm, he also reiterates his faith in God by saying, “in this essay, I design no more than a Specimen ; And hav-ing (by the good hand of God upon me) set this Wheel a going, I shall leave it unto others,
