_And now ye that are Fathers in the Churches, Guides to the People, and the Salt of the Earth_. I beseech you consider these things; and if you find the Glory of God diminisht by ascribing such power to Witches and Devils; His truths oppos'd by these notions; and his People aspersed in their Doctrines and Reputations, and indangered in their Lives; I dare not dictate to you, you know your duty as Watchmen, and the Lord be with you. But if you find my belief contrary to sound Doctrine, I intreat you to shew it me by the Scripture; And in the mean time blame me not if I cannot believe that there are several Almighties; for to do all sorts of wonders, beyond and above the Course of Nature, is certainly the work of _Omnipotency_. So also, he that shall Commissionate or Impower to these, must also be Almighty; and I think it not a sufficient _salvo_, to say they may be restrain'd by the most High; and hope you will not put any hard Construction on these my Endeavours to get information (all other ways failing) in things so needful to be known; praying the Almightys Guidance and protection, I am Yours to the utmost of my Power, R. C. [_A Letter to Mr._ S. W.] [38] Boston, _Sept. the_ 20_th_, 1695. Mr. _Samuel Willard_. _Reverend Sir_, MY former of _March_ the 18th. directed to the Ministers (and which was lodg'd with yourself) containing several Articles, which I sent as my belief, praying them if I erred to shew it me by Scripture, I have as yet had no Answer to, either by word or writing, which makes me gather that they are approved of as _Orthodox_, or at least that they have such Foundations, as that none are willing to manifest any opposition to them: And therefore with submission, _&c_. I think that that late seasonable and well-design'd Dialogue intituled, _Some miscellany Observations,[63] &c._ of which yourself is the suppos'd Author (and which was so serviceable in the time of it) is yet liable to a male construction, even to the endangering to revive what it most opposes, and to bring those practices again on Foot, which in the day thereof were so terrible to this whole Countrey: The words which I suppose so liable to Misconstruction, are _pag._ 14. B. _Who informed them?_ S. _the Spectre_. B. _very good, and that's the Devil turned Informer. How are good Men like to fare against whom he hath particular Malice_!