Passions will not embrace the good unless encouraged by grace, but grace never works upon them except through an image of the good. The Salem witchcraft trials began in spring 1692. By middle summer, several of the accused had been executed. I believe that one of Mather's primary aims in writing Wonders was not to absolve anyone but rather to provide instruction for all involved on how to rationally deal with the phantasms presented to the passions by the devil. My view of Wonders as a document of instruction, leads me to the conclusion that it is a well thought out work with a definite structure and theme rather than a hastily put together apology, halfheartedly done by a reluctant and coerced Mather.
Wonders has three major parts.
The first two parts are accompanied by documentary evidence to support the arguments made in the respective preceding part. The argument in each of the three parts concludes, with advice for the reader on what to do next. This advice on what to do next includes warnings to control the passions with right reason so that actions will not be influenced by the devil. The misunderstanding Mather revered to is that which occurs when the devil inserts images into the passions and thus derails right reason. If we allow the Mad dogs of Hell to poyson us by biting us, we shall imagine that we see nothing but such things about us, and like such things fly upon all that we see.