He spoke of the danger of pity -- in some cases a commendable and Christian virtue , but inapplicable to this pernicious sect . He observed that such was their devilish obstinacy in error that even the little children , the sucking babes , were hardened and desperate heretics . He affirmed that no man without Heaven 's especial warrant should attempt their conversion lest while he lent his hand to draw them from the slough he should himself be precipitated into its lowest depths . The sands of the second hour were principally in the lower half of the glass when the sermon concluded . An approving murmur followed , and the clergyman , having given out a hymn , took his seat with much self-congratulation , and endeavored to read the effect of his eloquence in the visages of the people . But while voices from all parts of the house were tuning themselves to sing a scene occurred which , though not very unusual at that period in the province , happened to be without precedent in this parish . The muffled female , who had hitherto sat motionless in the front rank of the audience , now arose and with slow , stately and unwavering step ascended the pulpit stairs . The quaverings of incipient harmony were hushed and the divine sat in speechless and almost terrified astonishment while she undid the door and stood up in the sacred desk from which his maledictions had just been thundered . She then divested herself of the cloak and hood , and appeared in a most singular array . A shapeless robe of sackcloth was girded about her waist with a knotted cord ; her raven hair fell down upon her shoulders , and its blackness was defiled by pale streaks of ashes , which she had strewn upon her head . Her eyebrows , dark and strongly defined , added to the deathly whiteness of a countenance which , emaciated with want and wild with enthusiasm and strange sorrows , retained no trace of earlier beauty . This figure stood gazing earnestly on the audience , and there was no sound nor any movement except a faint shuddering which every man observed in his neighbor , but was scarcely conscious of in himself . At length , when her fit of inspiration came , she spoke for the first few moments in a low voice and not invariably distinct utterance . Her discourse gave evidence of an imagination hopelessly entangled with her reason ; it was a vague and incomprehensible rhapsody , which , however , seemed to spread its own atmosphere round the hearer 's soul , and to move his feelings by some influence unconnected with the words . As she proceeded beautiful but shadowy images would sometimes be seen like bright things moving in a turbid river , or a strong and singularly shaped idea leapt forth and seized at once on the understanding or the heart . But the course of her unearthly eloquence soon led her to the persecutions of her sect , and from thence the step was short to her own peculiar sorrows . She was naturally a woman of mighty passions , and hatred and revenge now wrapped themselves in the garb of piety . The character of her speech was changed ; her images became distinct though wild , and her denunciations had an almost hellish bitterness . `` The governor and his mighty men , '' she said , `` have gathered together , taking counsel among themselves and saying , ` What shall we do unto this people -- even unto the people that have come into this land to put our iniquity to the blush ? ' And , lo !
the devil entereth into the council-chamber like a lame man of low stature and gravely apparelled , XXXXX a dark and twisted countenance and a bright , downcast eye .
about at by from in like that though while with