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. III. What this Doctrine of Devils is, and first negative, what it is not.

I Need not stop to prove that these are the latter times, as I said, nor that in these latter times iniquity shall abound, nor that then desperate Opinions, hellish Doctrines, and damnable Heresies will be broacht, abound, and be entertained. This is plain, Acts 20.30. 2 Pet. 2.1. But we need go no further than this present Text: The spirit speaketh expresly, that in the latter days some shall depart from the faith.—Apostacy, Apostacy from the Doctrine of Christ, to the Doctrine of Devils, will be rife in the latter days. Now the spirit speaketh expresly, That in the latter days, some shall depart from— This is it then that I pitch upon, That the belief, entertainment, or attention to the Doctrine of Devils, is the highest, gros∣sest, and most abominable Apostacy that ever was, or shall be: It is the Apostacy of the latter times. There is no darkness nor difficulty in the terms, plain and easie all to be understood. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, are Do∣ctrines,

Positions, or Teachings, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, of Devils or Daymons, good or bad, Angels or Fiends. The worship of Angels is an Idolatrous Apostacy, and the Do∣ctrine of Devils is no better, but much worse: And here 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, most properly, must signify not Angels at all, but Devils. Nor this Apostle, nor any of the rest in∣deed, in all their Epistles, ever using this word distinctly for Angels, or comprehen∣sively, as including Angels or Devils; but for Devils still distinctly, or bad Angels. The Helots were once Freemen of Laconia, but for some misdemeanour lost their free∣dom, and were made Slaves. Will any Man now that hears of the Helots, think, That the Knights and Gentlemen of Lacedaemon are meant by that term? For though in some ca∣techrestical sense, the whole Nation of the Lacedaemonians may be signified by that word, Helots, yea, the Gentlemen and Knights too possbly, to grant this also; yet that the Helots should signifie the Gentlemen ex∣clusively, in respect of those Slaves, were very harsh: The term properly belonging to the Slaves, not to the Gentlemen of that Countrey. So when the Apostle tells us there will be strange Doctrines concerning the 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 (〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, signifying properly and generally, Devils rather than Angels)

will any Man think that the Apostle means Angels exclusively in respect of Devils, and not Devils rather, or at least Devils as well as Angels; and this tast for my Opinion is enough. Besides, it is here put in opposi∣tion to those Angels, that lookt upon, ad∣mired and adored Christ, as manifested in the Flesh, Chap. 3.16. The good Angels adore and admire him, for the incompre∣hensible Mysteries and wonderful benefits that come in, of, by, or through his Incar∣nation, and for the excellency of his power shewn in stupend operations, for the good, the exceeding great good of his Church, far above all that they could do, yea think or dream of. Thus was he preached to the Gentiles, believed on ge∣nerally in the World, and for this, or thus, was he received deservedly into the high∣est Glory. But in the latter days some will be so far from holding this Truth, That they will give heed to such Doctrines con∣cerning Devils that will make them as ho∣nourable as Christ himself, equalizing them and him, if not preferring them before him, for power and mightiness of operati∣ons, as though these Devils deserved to be Canonized as well, and exalted to the right Hand of the Majesty on high. This may be the Paraphrase.

All the scruple is in the Grammar of the Text, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 without 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 or any other preposition, The Doctrine of Devils. It is possible some may be (and yet it is a wonder any should be) so stupid, as to think that doctrine of Devils intimates the doctrines preacht by Devils, They (the Devils) the Doctors, the Preachers and Promulgators of some Doctrines, and the audible Trumpeters of them: but this is a wild interpretation, for it supposeth, 1. That Devils are speaking things, have the Instruments of Speech, can speak distinct∣ly, and articulately what they will; and yet they are meer Spirits, immaterial and incorporeal Substances. A Spirit hath not Flesh and Bones, as ye see me have, Luke 24.39. 2. They should have the Pulpits and exercise there publickly; but How then should we know whether we ever heard a true Minister of the Gospel evan∣gelizing it; or else fiends from Hell demo∣nizing still. 3. This speech of the Spirit, would not seem to be so true; but rather improbable and incredible, since in One Thousand Six Hundred Years and more when we be come into the very last Times, we never hear of any such thing in truth; nor can possibly conceive how it can be: but yet the doctrine of Demons hath been

rife, general and Catholick this thirteen or fourteen hundred years, and almost e∣very-where entertained. 4. One part of the Spirits caution here thus should seem vain, frivolous and needless, though it be ushered in with most grave, and in most so∣lemn terms: Now the spirit speaketh ex∣presly. And who after such a preparation, or preamble, would not expect some won∣derful strange or unusual things to follow, yea, some things that were inconceivable, or incredible without such a Divine Reve∣lation? And yet one part of this wonder∣ful Revelation should be but this, That Devils would speak lyes in hypocrisie, and have their Consciences seared,—which is a thing no Man can doubt of; if Devils speak, they'l speak lyes, as being lyars and hypocrites from the beginning; and that their Consciences are seared with an hot Iron, who can doubt, that considers what they are, Devils? 5. Forbidding to marry, commanding to abstain from meats, are things we know that came in, not by the Pulpetting of Devils, (though possibly, or rather but possibly by their suggestion) but by or through mens superstition, and covetousness. 6. One special means, and possibly the only means, That the Apostle proposeth here for the prevention of this

Doctrine of Devils, is, To Refuse pro∣phane and old wives tales, vers. 7. Re∣fuse, reject, and contemn those, and such Fables as those, the fictions of Poets, the legends of Romances, and wild Dreams of Dotards. Without giving heed to such things, Men had never been seduced into the credulity of this mad Doctrine, but attending to, and believing of such wild conceits, it is almost impos∣sible, but that they must be seduced into such Heterodoxes. We have a notable ex∣ample of this, in the second of Nice, (by some called the seventh general Council) wherein, there were by some most Grand and Reverend Men (as they are counted) such wild, mad, shameless, and incredible lyes reported; that a Man of any Witt, Reason, or but common sense, would think the reporters most impudent Lyers, that they Vyed who should invent the most shameless figments; and that they were mad and senseless Ideots, that would, or could believe them: And yet by these most monstrous fables, confirmed they that I∣dolatry of Image-worship. See how much prophane and old Wives tales, the dreams, lyes, & dotages of Men will prevail if heark∣ened unto: And therefore was it a needful Caveat of the Apostle to prescribe (Refusing

prophane, and old wives tales) for the pre∣venting of this wild Doctrine, the Do∣ctrine of Devils. If it be well observed 'twill be found undeniably true, That the ground and rise of this opinion, was alto∣gether from such Tales as the Council of Ancyra plainly declares. 7. The words, Prophane and old wives tales, seem to be set in opposition to these in the former verse (words of faith and good doctrine): As also the hearkner to such Tales, to be op∣posed to a good Minister of Christ, nou∣rished up in the words of Faith and good Doctrine; he must refuse prophane and old Wives fables, and thus shall he be secure against this damnable Doctrine of Devils; and Apostacy from the fundamentals of Christian Religion: Prophane and old Wives tales being the chief, if not only means of being seduced in this particular. 8. All the particulars of this Prophesie, are in our sense evidently fulfilled already: E. G. Forbidding to marry, and com∣manding to abstain from meats, giving heed to seducing spirits, and giving heed to the Doctrine of Devils or Daymons: For what is there that is more generally en∣tertained both in Papistry, yea, and in Protestantism too; than doting and dan∣gerous, if not damnable Doctrines, con∣cerning

Angels, Genii, Spirits, Souls of men spreeting, Fiends, Devils,—which may be all called Daymons. This Pro∣phesie in our sense, is fulfilled evidently enough in all the particulars; but not one particular of it so much, no not one, in Sixteen hundred years fulfilled, if by Do∣ctrines of Devils, Devils in the Pulpit, Preaching Devils, be understood: For in all this time, we do not yet read in any tolerable Author, yea, or Legendist, of so much as one Devil, that ever Preached so much as one Sermon, or vented one Doctrine out of the Pulpit, nor that for∣bad Marriage, or commanded by his Do∣ctrine to abstain from Meats. I will not hence infer, That those Doctrines (that forbid marriage, and command to abstain from meats) are tolerable still hitherto; because it cannot yet be proved, that they were the Dictates or Doctrines of Devils Pulpetting it: But this I will say, That it is more honourable, august, and credit∣able to the spirit of Truth, That such an interpretation should be embraced con∣cerning his words, as may make them con∣sonant to Truth by the event, at least within the compass of Sixteen hundred years, in one particular at least: Not such a one, as that in all that long, large and

vast tract of Time, there can be found not one particular instance for the proof, so much as of one particular of these several predicated, to be fulfilled, likely to be fulfilled, or countenanced by the success; but this might very well have been passed over as a meer Need-not: But that some men are mad in their opinions, conceits, and dreams; and as That was, so it is ab∣surd, to say, That the suggesting, or in∣jecting of wicked Doctrines into mens hearts, is that which is here meant. Let it be at present supposed (and no Demono∣logist I think will oppose the supposition) That the Devil then did, and now doth, inject wicked thoughts, heresies, villanies into mens hearts; yet then, he being e∣qually Devil, and Men equally seduceable by him, then, as now, That he should in∣ject villanies more multitudinous for num∣ber, or more abominable for nature, now, than then, can hardly be supposed. 2. It is the general opinion of Demonologers, That by Obsession, and Possession, the Devil domineered more unrestrainedly o∣ver the World in the Primitive times, than in these latter; and if so, Why not by injections too as much? I see not. 3. That Doctrines as wild, were broached about the time the Apostles wrote, as ever were

in any time afterward (except it be this Doctrine of Devils here spoken of) is beyond controversy, as is evident by the mad Doctrines of the Simoniani, Pyletii, Hyminaei, Alexandrii, Nicholaitani, Py∣thagoraei, Gaulonitae, Nazaraei, Judaeo-Pa∣gani, Mosco-Christiani, Platonici, Her∣mogonistae, Pharisaei, Sadducaei, Essaei, He∣rodiani, Egyptii, Gnostici.—4. Again, had the Apostle meant Doctrines suggested by Devils, or Doctrines so wicked and abominable, as none but Devils would, or could be supposed the Authors of them, he might have said, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, devilish Doctrines, or, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Endoctrinating or Teaching Devils; as afore 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, deceiving spirits. And yet 5. I add, The Doctrines here by the Apostle mentioned, are but poor, small, petty, trivial, and inconsidera∣ble Heterodoxes, in comparison of those broached concerning Devils in these latter days: What are Prohibitious of Marriage, and Injunctions for the abstinence from some kind of meats, in comparison of comparing, yea, of preferring of Saints and Martyrs, yea, Devils and Witches, and abhor such base Varlots with, or before Christ, for stupendious miracles? Did the Holy Ghost speak so expresly against those

lesser, smaller, pettyer and more trivial Heterodoxes, and omit to speak against those greater, grosser, more villainous, yea, most blasphemous, most idolatrous, and most sacrilegious Doctrines? 6. Some of the Ancients, as Epiphanius by name, adds 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 to 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Fables or idle Tales, and Doctrines of Devils; somewhat consonant to that, ver. 7. Refuse prophane and old wives fables. Doth not this shew the subject, not the delators of those Fa∣bles? Old Wives, old Grannams, old Gos∣sips, old Mother Mid-nights, will spend whole Nights and Days, in Tales and Fa∣bles concerning Devils and Daymons. 7. (Giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils): As well followed by 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, which may very, nay most properly may, if not, must be ren∣dered, by or through the hypocrisie, kna∣very, or deceit of Lyers, Fablers or Tale∣tellers: Somewhat answerable to what we read, Eph. 4.14. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉;—And Rev. 18.23. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, by the Legends, Fictions, and monstrous Fables, of Monks, Fryers, and other such vain varlots, are the People seduced into most absurd opini∣ons concerning Devils. These words here, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉

Rev. 21.27. Intimate but one and the self∣same kind of Persons, Fablers, Taletellers, Inventers or Forgers of Lyes, the broach∣ing or suggesting of such Doctrines by De∣vils, cannot be then the thing here meant. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, is, by or through here, intimating the cause, instrument, or means, as in the pla∣ces above cited; Eph. 4.14. Rev. 18.23. and many hundred places besides.