I doubt not but the title of this book will amuse some of my reading friends a little at first; they will make a pause, perhaps, as they do at a witch's prayer, and be some time resolving whether they had best look into it or no, lest they should really raise the _Devil_ by reading his story. Children and old women have told themselves so many frightful things _of the Devil_, and have form'd ideas of him in their minds, in so many horrible and monstrous shapes, that really it were enough to fright the _Devil_ himself, to meet himself in the dark, dress'd up in the several figures which imagination has form'd for him in the minds of men; and as for themselves, I cannot think by any means that the _Devil_ would terrify them half so much, if they were to converse face to face with him. It must certainly therefore be a most useful undertaking to give the true history of this _Tyrant of the air_, this _God of the world_, this terror and aversion of mankind, which we call _Devil_; to shew what he IS, and what he IS NOT, where he IS, and where he IS NOT, when he is IN US, and when he IS NOT; for I cannot doubt but that the _Devil_ is really and _bona fide_ in a great many of our honest weak-headed friends, when they themselves know nothing of the matter. Nor is the work so difficult as some may imagine. The _Devil_'s _history_ is not so hard to come at, as it seems to be; His original and the first rise of his family is upon record, and as for his conduct, he has acted indeed in the dark, as to method in many things; but _in general_, as cunning as he is, he has been fool enough to expose himself in some of the most considerable transactions of his Life, and has not shewn himself a politician at all: Our old friend _Matchiavel_ outdid him in many things, and I may in the process of this work give an account of several of the sons of _Adam_, and some societies of 'em too, who have out-witted _the Devil_, nay, who have out-sin'd _the Devil_, and that I think may be call'd out-shooting him in his own bow. It may perhaps be expected of me in this history, that since I seem inclin'd to speak favourably of _Satan_, to do him justice, and to write his story impartially, I should take some pains to tell you what religion he is of; and even this part may not be so much a jest, as at first sight you may take it to be; for _Satan_ has something of religion in him, I assure you; nor is he such an unprofitable _Devil_ that way, as some may suppose him to be; for tho', in reverence to my brethren, I will not reckon him among the Clergy; No not so much as a gifted Brother, yet I cannot deny, but that he often preaches, and if it be not profitably to his hearers; 'tis as much their fault, as it is out of his design.