It is a record of reports on witchcraft, supposed Satanism, sea-deliverances, accidents, apparitions, and unaccountable phenomena in general.
The work is thought to have influenced Cotton Mather, the writer's son, in his involvement with witch trials in colonial New England.
[2] This resulted three years later (1684) in the production of a work by President Increase Mather of Harvard College, which was originally entitled An Essay for the Recording of Illustrious Providences.
[2] The book also contains a remarkable of sea-deliverances, accidents, apparitions, and unaccountable phenomena in general; in addition to the things more strictly pertaining to witchcraft.
[4] Helen Rex Keller writes, "It is rather remarkable to learn from this work that modern spiritualistic performances — rappings, tippings, trances, second sight, and the like — were well known to the grave fathers of New England, although they unfortunately looked upon them as far more serious matters than do their descendants to-day.