[38] It is said that the learned Joseph Glanvil was made a "Fellow of the Royal Society" for an elaborate Treatise which he wrote on "The Vanity of _Dogmatizing_." If that entitled the said Joseph to be thus distinguished, no one ought any longer to question our Author's Claim to the same Distinction. Glanvil was as earnest a Defender of Witchcraft in his Time as Doctor Mather was a few Years later; and his Books, like this of the Doctor's, are entirely neglected except by the curious Investigators of the Progress of Society. [39] Thus speaking of New England was strictly correct then, though it reminds us of what our English Brethren used to say at a much later Period in Reference to Boston,--speaking of it as "the Colony of Boston," "the Colony of New England," &c. [vii] REVEREND AND DEAR SIR, _YOU very much gratify'd me, as well as put a kind Respect upon me, when you put into my hands, your elaborate and most seasonable Discourse, entituled,_ The Wonders of the Invisible World. _And having now perused so fruitful and happy a Composure, upon such a Subject, 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 convicted for Witchcraft, I find that I am more nearly and highly concerned than as a meer ordinary Reader, to express my Obligation and Thankfulness to you for so great Pains; and cannot but hold myself many ways bound, even to the utmost of what is proper for me, in my present publick Capacity, to declare my_ singular Approbation _thereof. Such is your Design, most plainly expressed throughout the whole; such your Zeal for God, your Enmity to Satan and his Kingdom, your Faithfulness and Compassion to this poor People; such the Vigour, but yet great Temper of your Spirit; such your Instruction and Counsel, your_ Care of Truth, _your Wisdom and Dexterity in allaying and moderating that among us, which needs it; such your clear discerning of Divine Providences and Periods, now running on apace towards their Glorious Issues in the World; and finally, such your good News of_ The Shortness of the Devil's Time,[40] _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. I am,_ Your assured Friend, WILLIAM STOUGHTON.[41] FOOTNOTES: [40] This has Reference to what is intimated in that Part of the present Volume, entitled--"The Devil Discovered."