I Live by Neighbours that force me to produce these Undeserved Lines. But
now, as when Mr. Wilson,[108] beholding a great Muster of Souldiers, had it by a
Gentleman then present said unto him, “Sir, I'l tell you a great Thing:
here is a mighty Body of People; and there is not Seven of them all but what
Loves Mr. Wilson;” that Gracious Man presently and pleasantly Reply'd,
“Sir, I'll tell you as good a thing as that; here is a mighty Body of People,
and there is not so much as One among them all, but Mr. Wilson Loves
him.” Somewhat so: 'Tis possible that among this Body of People there
may be few that Love the Writer of this Book; but give me leave to boast so far,
there is not one among all this Body of People, whom this Mather would not
Study to Serve, as well as to Love. With such a Spirit of Love, is the Book now
before us written: I appeal to all this World; and if this World will deny me the
Right of acknowledging so much, I Appeal to the Other, that it is Not written
with an Evil Spirit: for which cause I shall not wonder, if Evil Spirits be
Exasperated by what is Written, as the Sadducees doubtless were with what was
Discoursed in the Days of our Saviour. I only Demand the Justice, that others
Read it, with the same Spirit where-with I writ it.[109]
But I shall no longer detain my Reader, from His expected entertainment,
in a Brief Account of the Trials which have passed upon some of the Malefactors
Lately Executed at Salem, for the Witchcrafts whereof they stood Convicted.
For my own part, I was not Present at any of Them;
[110] nor ever Had I any
personal prejudice at the persons thus brought upon the Stage; much less at the
Surviving Relations of those persons, with and for whom I would be as Hearty
a mourner as any man Living in the World: The Lord Comfort them! But having
Received a Command so to do,
[111] I can do no other than shortly Relate the Chief
Matters of fact, which occurr'd in the Trials of some that were Executed, in an
Abridgment collected out of the Court-Papers, on this occasion put into my
Hands.
[112] You are to take the Truth, just as it was; and the Truth will hurt no good
man. There might have been more of these, if my Book would not thereby have
been swollen too big; and if some other worthy hands did not perhaps intend
something further in these Collections;
[113] for which cause I have only singled out
Four or Five, which may serve to Illustrate the way of dealing, wherein
Witchcrafts use to be concerned; and I Report matters not as an Advocate but as
an Historian.
They were some of the Gracious Words inserted in the Advice, which many
of the Neighbouring Ministers did this Summer humbly lay before our Honorable
Judges, “We cannot but with all thankfulness acknowledge the success
which the Merciful God has given unto the Sedulous and Assiduous endeavours
of Our Honourable Rulers, to detect the abominable Witchcrafts which have been
committed in the Country; Humbly Praying that the discovery of those mysterious
and mischievous wickednesses, may be perfected.”[114] If in the midst of the
many Dissatisfactions among us, the publication of these Trials may promote such
a pious Thankfulness unto God, for Justice being so far executed among us, I
shall Re
joyce that God is Glorified; and pray that no wrong steps of ours may ever sully
any of His Glorious Works.
[115]
