The PREFACE

TO THE

SECOND EDITION.

This Second Edition of this Work, notwithstanding a large Impression ofthe First, is a Certificate from the World of its general Acceptation;so we need not, according to the Custom of Editors, boast of it withoutEvidence, or tell a F——b in its Favour.

The Subject is singular, and it has been handled after a singularManner: The wise World has been pleased with it, the merry World hasbeen diverted with it, and the ignorant World has been taught by it;none but the malicious part of the World has been offended at it: Whocan wonder, that when the Devil is not pleased, his Friends should beangry?

The strangest thing of it all is, to hear Satan complain that theStory is handled prophanely: But who can think it strange that hisAdvocates should be, what he was from the Beginning?

The Author affirms, and has good Vouchers for it (in the Opinion ofsuch whose Judgment passes with him for an Authority) that the wholeTenor of the Work is solemn, calculated to promote serious Religion, andcapable of being improv’d in a religious manner. But he does not thinkthat we are bound never to speak of the Devil but with an Air ofTerror, as if we were always afraid of him.

’Tis evident the Devil, as subtle and as frightful as he is, hasacted the ridiculous and foolish Part, as much as most of God’sCreatures, and daily does so. And he cannot believe ’tis any Sin toexpose him for a foolish Devil, as he is, or shew the World that hemay be laugh’d at.

Those that think the Subject not handled with Gravity enough, have allthe Room given them in the World to handle it better; and as the Authorprofesses he is far from thinking his Piece perfect, they ought not tobe angry that he gives them leave to mend it. He has had theSatisfaction to please some Readers, and to see good Men approve it; andfor the rest, as my Lord Rochester says in another Case,

He counts their Censure Fame.

As for a certain Reverend Gentleman, who is pleased gravely to dislikethe Work (he hopes, rathe