The Wonders of the Invisible World

The Authors Defence.

'TIs as I Remember, the Learned Scribonius, who Reports, that One of his Acquaintance, devoutly making his Prayers on the behalf of a Person molested by Evil Spirits, received from those Evil Spirits an horrible ◊low over the Face: And I may my self Expect not few or small Buffetings from Evil Spirits, for the Endeavours wherewith I am now going to Encounter them. I am far from Insensible, That at this Extraordinary Time of the Devils Coming down in Great Wrath upon us, there are too many Tongues and Hearts thereby Set on Fire of Hell; that the various Opinions about the Witchcrafts which of Later Time have Troubled us, are maintained by some with so much Cloudy Fury, as if they could never be sufficiently Stated, unless written in the Liquor wherewith Witches use to write their Covenants; and that he who becomes an Author at such a Time, had need be, Fenced with Iron, and the Staff of a Spear. The unaccountable Frowardness, Asperity, Untreatableness, and Inconsistency of many persons, every Day gives a Visible Exposition of that passage, An Evil Spirit from the Lord came upon Saul; and Illustration of that Story, There met him two Possessed with Devils, exceeding Fierce, so that no man might pass by that way. To send abroad a Book, among such Readers, were a very unadvised Thing if a man had not such Reasons to give as I can bring, for such an Undertaking. Briefly, I hope it cannot be said, They are all so: No, I hope the Body of this People, are yet in such a Temper, as to be capable of Applying their Thoughts, to make a Right Use, of the Stupendous and prodigious Things that are happening among us: and because I was concern'd, when I saw that no Abler Hand Emitted any Essayes to Engage the Minds of this People in such Holy, Pious, Fruitful Improvements, as God would have to be made of His Amazing Dispensations now upon us, THEREFORE it is that One of the Least among the Children of New-England, has here done, what is done. None, but, The Father who sees in Secret, knows the Heart-breaking Exercises, wherewith I have Composed what is now going to be Exposed; ◊est I should in any One Thing, miss of Doing my Designed Service for His Glory, and for His People; But I am now somewhat comfortably Assured of His favourable Acceptance; and, I will not Fear; what can a Satan do unto me!

Having Performed, Something of what God Required, in labouring to suit His Words unto His Works, at this Day among us, and therewithal handled a Theme that has been sometimes counted no◊ unworthy the Pen, even of a King, it will easily b◊ perceived, that some▪ subordinate Ends have bee◊ considered in these Endeavours.

I have indeed set my self to Countermine the ◊◊ole PLOT of the Devil, against New-England, 〈…〉 every Branch of it, as far as one of my Darkness, 〈…〉 comprehend such a Work of Darkness. I may 〈…〉, that I have herein also aimed at the Information and Satisfaction of Good men in another Coun◊◊y, a Thousand Leagues off, where I have, it may 〈…〉 More, or however, more Considerable, Friends, 〈…〉 in My Own; And I do what I can to have that ◊ountrey, now, as well as alwayes, in the best Terms with, My Own. But while I am doing these things, I have been driven a little to do something likewise for My self; I mean, by taking off the false Reports and hard Censures about my Opinion 〈…〉 these matters, the Parters Portion, which my pur◊◊◊ of Peace, has procured me among the Keen. My hitherto Unvaried Thoughts are here Publish◊d; and, I believe, they will be owned by most, of the Ministers of God in these 〈…〉 nor can amends be well made me, for the wrong done me, by other sorts of Representations.

In fine, For the Dogmatical part of my Discourse, I want no Defence; for the Historical part of it, I have a very Great One. The Lievtenant Governour of New-England, having per◊used it, has done me the Honour of giving me a Shield ▪ under the Umbrage whereo◊ I now dare to walk Abroad.

Reverend and Dear Sir,

YOU Very much Gratify'd me, as well as 〈…〉 a kind Respect upon me, when you pu◊ into my hands. Your Elaborate and most seasonable Discourse, entituled, The Wonders of The Invisi◊ble World. And having now Perused so fruitf◊◊ and happy a Composure, upon such a Subje◊◊ at this Juncture of Time, and considering the Place that I Hold in the Court of Oyer and Terminer, still Labouring and proceeding in the Trial of the persons Accused and Con◊icted fo◊ Witchraft, I find that I am more nearly and high◊ly concerned than as a meer Ordinary Reader, ◊word Express my Obligation and Thankfulness to yo◊ for so great pains; and cannot but hold my 〈…〉 many ways bound, even to the utmost of what 〈…〉 proper for me, in my present Publick Capacity to decla◊e my Singular Approbation thereof. Suc◊ is Your Design, most plainly expressed throughou◊ the whole; such Your Zeal for God; Your E◊◊mity to Satan and his Kingdome; Your Faithfulnes◊ and Compassion to this poor people; Such the V◊◊gour, but yet great Temper of your Spirit; Such your Instruction and Counsel; your CARE O◊ TRUTH; Your Wisdom and Dexterity in allaying and moderating, that among us, which needs it; Such Your clear Dis◊◊rning of Divine Pr◊◊vidences and Periods, now ◊unning on apace to◊wards their Glorious Issues in the World; and finally, Such your Good News of, The Shortness of the Devils Time; That all Good Men must needs Desire the making of this your Discourse, Publick to the World; and will greatly Rejoyce that the Spirit of the Lord has thus Enabled you to Lift up a Standard against the Infernal Enemy, that hath been Coming in like a Flood upon us. I do therefore make it my particular and Earnest Request unto you, that as soon as may be, you will Commit the same unto the PRESS accordingly.