[47] This Amalgamation of Creeds was often attempted by the more catholic Portion of the Community, and as often defeated by the more dogmatical Part, from the first Settlement of the Country to this Day. When there is but one Interest to serve, and when that one Interest is agreed upon, then will a millenial Amalgamation of Creeds take place.
[48] In the first Settlement of the Country, when all, or nearly all were within the Pale of the Church, or directly under the Eye of the Minister or a Magistrate, there was little Need of Courts, Constables and Lawyers; but in a growing Community those Days must necessarily be of limited Duration; and as there never was a Community of any considerable Numbers, in Times past, wherein there were no Monsters or Goblins, such a Community is hardly to be expected to be found in Time to come.
[49] It is human Nature for People to resent being taunted with Faults, whether they be real or imaginary. While a few will reform the many will cling to Error with more Tenacity. Thus the enormous Crime of Slavery—few Men were so depraved by Nature as to maintain that it was right, in reasoning with themselves; while, when it was harshly denounced as a vile Felony, Anger took the Place of Reason in the Slaveholder, and here Argument only served to rivet firmer the Fetters intended to be removed. So it was with other less heinous Offences.
[50] This and similar Expressions were in frequent Use by nearly all the early Writers on American Affairs. "In this Howling Wilderness," "in these goings down of the Sun," &c., &c.
[51] This "famous Person" was Mr. Giles Firmin. See N. E. Hist. and Gen. Reg. iv, 11; also Felt, Eccl. Hist. N. Eng., ii, 48. Nathaniel Ward has a very similar Passage: "I thank God that I have lived in a Colony of many thousand English almost these twelve Years, am held a very sociable Man, yet I may considerately say, I never heard but one Oath sworne, nor never saw one Man drunk, nor never heard of three Women Adulteresses in all this time, that I can call to mind."—Simple Cobber, 67, Pulsifer's Edition, 1843. The Reader will find much that is highly interesting respecting the Worthies mentioned in this Note in Mr. J. Ward Dean's Life of Nathaniel Ward, now ready for Publication.
[52] Ideas similar to these are often met with in the Magnalia and other Writings of the Author. But he was by no means singular in his Notions regarding the Devil. Most of the Divines of Dr. Mather's Day inculcated the same Sentiments, to say nothing of those of a later Day.
[53] This frank Acknowledgment that Witchcraft was "snarl'd" and "unintelligible," would seem to have been a sufficient Reason for letting it alone. But Reason and Superstition cannot exist together.
[54] It is not very clear to what particular Case the Author refers. See Hist. and Antiqs. Boston, 283, 309. "More than forty Years ago" is too indefinite for present historical Purposes.
[55] It has long been perfectly clear that the Devil did get in his Juggles, and that he did succeed, almost beyond Belief, in confounding the Understanding of the whole Community, and particularly that of our Author. Respecting Witchcraft in Sweden, &c., consult Dr. Anthony Horneck's Relation of the Swedish Witches.
[56] It is not strange that English Writers talk about the "Colony of Boston," when our own best informed Natives speak in this careless Manner about the "Province of New-England."