If ever the story of any man's adventures in the world were worth making public,and were acceptable when published,the editor of this account thinks this will be so.
The wonders of this man's life exceed all that(he thinks)is to be found extant;the life of one man being scarce capable of a greater variety.
The story is told with modesty,with seriousness and with a religious application of events to the uses to which wise men always apply them(viz.)to the instruction of others by this example,and to justify and honour the wisdom of Providence in all the variety of our circumstances,let them happen how they will.
The editor believes the thing to be a just history of fact;neither is there any appearance of fiction in it.And however thinks,because all such things are dispatched,that the improvement of it,as well to the diversion as to the instruction of the reader,will be the same;and as such he thinks,without farther compliment to the world,he does them a great service in the publication.
Daniel Defoe
