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 [vi] going to be exposed, lest 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!_[36] 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 not unworthy the Pen, even of a King,[37] it will easily be perceived, that some subordinate Ends have been considered in these Endeavours. I have indeed set myself to countermine the whole PLOT of the Devil, against _New-England_, in every Branch of it, as far as one of my _darkness_, can comprehend such a _Work of Darkness_. I may add, that I have herein also aimed at the Information and Satisfaction of Good Men in another Country, a thousand Leagues off, where I have, it may be, more, or however, more considerable Friends, than in _My Own;_ And I do what I can to have that Country, now, as well as always, 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 myself; I mean, by taking off the false Reports, and hard Censures about my Opinion in these Matters, the _Parters Portion_ which my _pursuit of Peace_ has procured me among the _Keen_. My hitherto _unvaried Thoughts_ are here published; and I believe, they will be owned by most of the Ministers of God in these Colonies; nor can amends be well made me, for the wrong done me, by other sorts of _Representations_. In fine; For the _Dogmatical_[38] 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_[39] having perused it, has done me the Honour of giving me a _Shield_, under the Umbrage whereof I now dare to walk Abroad. FOOTNOTES: [35] The only known Work of "Learned Scribonius" is that entitled _De Compositione Medicamentorum_ Liber," the best Edition of which is said to be that of Padua, 1655, in 4to, with Notes by Rhodius. He was of Rome in the Time of Claudius. His Book is a Sort of Repository of Prescriptions, which Prescriptions were of about as much value, in a medical Point of View, as later ones were for determining what Persons were Witches. _Nouveau Dict. Hist. a Lyon_, 1804. [36] This Self Complacency is somewhat surprising, considering this Record was made while above an hundred poor Wretches were lying in the Jails of Boston and Salem! [37] The Author doubtless has Reference to the _Dæmonology_ of James I. See _Introduction_.