He had thrown off a large part of his father's theology, but one part of it he could not throw off: he was one of the best biblical scholars of his time, and he could not break away from the fact that the sacred Scriptures explicitly recognise witchcraft and demoniacal possession as realities, and enjoin against witchcraft the penalty of death.

Therefore it was that in 1689 he published his Memorable Providences relating to Witchcrafts and Possessions.

The book, according to its title-page, was "recommended by the Ministers of Boston and Charleston," and its stories soon became the familiar reading of men, women, and children throughout New England.
Out of all these causes thus brought to bear upon public opinion began in 1692 a new outbreak of possession, which is one of the most instructive in history.

The Rev.Samuel Parris was the minister of the church in Salem, and no pope ever had higher ideas of his own infallibility, no bishop a greater love of ceremony, no inquisitor a greater passion for prying and spying.( 397) (397) For curious examples of this, see Upham's History of Salem Witchcraft, vol.i.
Before long Mr.Parris had much upon his hands.

Many of his hardy, independent parishioners disliked his ways.