Dr. Cotton Mather attacked the paper in a paragraph that shows what the paper contained: "We find a notorious, scandalous paper called _The Courant_, full freighted with nonsense, unmanliness, raillery, profaneness, immorality, arrogance, calumnies, lies, contradictions, and what not, all tending to quarrels and divisions, and to debauch and corrupt the mind and manners of New England." Increase Mather, also, assailed the _Courant_ over his own signature, denouncing it as a "wicked libel," because it represented him as one of its supporters, using language uncommonly expressive. "I do hereby declare," he said, "that, although I had paid for two or three of them, I sent him word I was extremely offended with it. In special, because in one of his _vile Courants_, he insinuates, that if a _minister of God approve of a thing, it is a sign it is of the Devil_; which is a horrid thing to be related! And he doth frequently abuse the Ministers of Religion, and many other worthy persons, in a manner which is intolerable. For these and such like reasons I signified to the Printer that I would have no more of their _Wicked Courants_. I, that have known what New England was from the Beginning, cannot but be troubled to see the Degeneracy of this Place. I can well remember when the Civil Government would have taken an effectual Course to suppress such a _Cursed Libel_! which if it be not done I am afraid that some _Awful Judgment_ will come upon this Land, and the _Wrath of God will arise, and there will be no Remedy_. I cannot but pity poor _Franklin_, who, though but a Young Man, it may be _Speedily_ he must appear before the Judgment Seat of God, and what answer will he give for printing things so vile and abominable?" It is quite evident that neither James nor Benjamin had that respect for the "Judgment Seat," which became Christians; but James replied in the _Courant_ to this onslaught, maintaining that Mather had garbled his quotations from the paper, or based his opinion on parts of paragraphs which did not convey the full and correct meaning. He turned the tables upon him, also, by declaring that, while Mather ceased to be a subscriber to his paper, "he sent his grandson every week to buy it; and, paying in this way a higher price, he was more of a supporter of the paper than ever." In the same issue, too, James said: "I would likewise advise the enemies of the _Courant_ not to publish any thing more against me unless they are willing to have the paper continued. What they have already done has been resented by the Town so much to my advantage, that above forty persons have subscribed for the _Courant_ since the first of January, many of whom were before subscribers to the other papers. And by one Advertisement more, the Anti-Couranters will be in great danger of adding forty more to my list before the first of March."