The doctrine of devils proved to be the grand apostacy of these later times. An essay tending to rectifie those undue notions and apprehensions men have about dæmons and evil spirits.

CHAP. I. Sir, you thought me too rigid, I thought I had been too remiss; This Text will de∣cide the point, Whether this Doctrine of Devils, and Witchcraft, be not Demo∣nomany, or the greatest Apostacy, that ever was, is, or can be, even in the worst of times?

THat these are the last times is no question, That in these last times, this Scripture hath been fulfilled in our ears, is altogether out of question.

For our ears sure, have in these last times been filled full, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, with Discourses, our eyes with Romances, and our heads with the Doctrine and belief of strange, and incredible things, of, about, and concerning Devils and Daymons. From whence in consequence, our Land of late, in the Rebellious times at least (not these of our Restauration I hope) hath been defiled and polluted, with blood of Innocents; and thence, I think it fol∣lows, beyond all controversy, or question: That the Doctrine of Devils, is a most a∣bominable Heterodox: yea, without this consequence of blood-guiltiness (which yet no doubt must aggravate), once, this it is an Apostacy, the great, or great∣est that ever was in the World, or perad∣venture ever shall, or can be. The Apo∣stacy of these days, when all things grow worse and worse, the very dreggs of all the former Apostacies; an Apostacy, not from an innocent ceremony, an adiaphorous, circumstantial, or laudable custom of the Church, in the external worship of the most august God; but from a fundamental one: not from one such only, but from many, the most, and most needful, if not from all such. viz. From all these Truths men∣tioned, chap. 3. vers. 16. The mystery of

godliness, viz. The manifestation of God in the flesh, his power, his augustness, his universal goodness, his general comfort to the World, and his glory; in a word, an Apostacy from all these things, that should maintain, and uphold Christs honour: And an Apostacy from all those comforts, be∣nefits, and beatitudes, that we could ex∣pect by him: This is clear all of it; and this also, that it is such an Apostacy, that God had an especial mind, desire, and care to prevent and caution the Church a∣gainst. The spirit speaketh it; The Spirit, not some Martyr, Doctor, Apostle, or Preacher; as either Paul, Apollo, Cephas, nay, nor any Angel from Heaven, these might all err. And he will not trust them barely with such a point, but speaks it him∣self, The spirit speaketh; and that not only tacitely intimateth, or in obscure terms hinteth, but plainly, openly, clearly; and that not in dark Parables, Similes, Alle∣gories, or enigmatical intimations, upon the imagination, but 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, in express terms, plain words; as a friend expresseth himself to his friend, mouth to mouth au∣dibly: And what the Spirit opposeth it self against, so directly, so plainly, so di∣stinctly, so immediately, must needs be a most transcendent, abominable, and pro∣digious

villany. In a word, it is an A∣postacy from the chief fundamentals of Christian Religion; which as it is the highest crime that can be committed, as being a deserting, a renouncing, and as it were abjuring of these points, that are most necessary for the upholding of Gods Honour, and the comfort of our Salva∣tion: So it is attended, with the most fear∣ful consequents, irremissibility, and dam∣nation inevitable, if perpetual. If we sin wilfully, after we have received the know∣ledg of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sin, but—Heb. 10.26. Which Text, as it is but rigorously legal, and cruelly Boanergical, to apply it to every sin after conversion; so it is a merci∣less pity, an unconscionable levity, a sow∣ing Pillows under mens Arm-holes, and the strengthning of the hands of most de∣sperate sinners, not to apply it to Apostacy, and to this Apostacy in special; yea, though it be not absolute and general. And indeed it may deserve their considera∣tion (and that, their best) that are con∣cern'd in it, Whether they that embrace this Doctrine of Devils, be not Witches indeed, both in Scripture-sense, and their own too; since they renounce Christ, God, and their Truths in many points

(and owning the Devil) would perswade others to do the like? So that I think, though there be many other great crying sins in the World, in this our World too, our Church and State, yet none greater, none so great as this; and therefore I may fitly, nay, must out of necessity (and woe unto me if I did not) set my self, especi∣ally, against this most desperate, and most dangerous Heterodox.