The answer to the literature question you have presented above would be character, plot, and setting. The three basic elements of all novels are plot, character, and setting. Harriet Beecher Stowe wrote the very successful novel in 1852 using these basic elements.
The main idea of the passage above from Cotton Mather's "The Wonders of the Invisible World" is to justify the outcome of the trials. Thank you for posting your question. I hope this answer helped you. Let me know if you need more help.