Cotton Mather published his account of his experiences with the Goodwin children as soon as he could, but not before their father, also named John, added a written postscript. John Goodwin understood that whatever took place in this family was just. Surely God was afflicting his children because had failed in “admonishing and instructing” them. Still, that did not make it much easier for him to see his children suffer, “those little bodies, that should be temples for the Holy Ghost to dwell in, should be thus harassed and abused by the devil and his cursed brood.” His own helplessness made it worse, for “doctors cannot help, parents weep and lament over them, but cannot ease them.” Many people suggested that he try “tricks”—the kind of folk magic often used against witches—but Goodwin resisted. And in the end it was fasting and prayer, and the help of the ministers led by Mather, that delivered his children back to him.