orld+. 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+, 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.

I live by _Neighbours_ that force me to produce these undeserved Lines.
But now, as when Mr. _Wilson_ beholding a great Muster of Souldiers, had
it by a Gentleman then present, said unto him, _Sir, I'll 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_ w