this world Mark how the Atheist contradicts â—imself to call his God a Gentleman it seems then his God is not a spirit It is not good to be too inquisitive after evil spirits True is that Adage Nemo lâ—edituâ— niâ—â—â— sciâ—so No man is hâ—â—ted but by himself A Diabolical contrivement A true Minister is at the Call of any that may want him Some evil company are so subtil as we cannot mediately finde out what they are The Christians God is but one God Deut. 6.4 Deceivers are here and there and every where Holy Anticipation is allowed Mark the fallacious way of arguing from a deceitful heart We must have à care of challengeing the Devil left therefore the Devil How Ironically do they speak Necessitas â—on habit legem Christians can't but shew themselves civilly to strangers The Devil can carry himself as civil and sober as any The young Mans Petition unto the Devil for concession In a matter of special concernment ' As there is no room for Gods children here below among the wicked so likewise there shall be no room above in Heaven for the wicked among Gods children The devil must have a word in Mitte Diabolum let the Devil alone The Devil makes a bargain with the young man The Bargain is accepted upon such and such conditions The Devil is a brag The Devil must have one to help him The Trinity provâ—d from five Considerations Vengeance will be executed upon the devil one day for appropriating Gods titles unto himself As long as faith is in a soul so long is the Reverence of a Deity continued The devil is a blasphemous spirit Observe the Combate between youth and the devil The devil is a lying spirit The youth through ignorance familiarizes too much with the devil Audacious blasphemy A doubting soul affects nothing so much as plainness Behold the devices of this fallen Angel thâ— Lord keep us from him The Devil can bring Scripture for a need When we are tempted we should rather say Get â—lee behind us Satan than to talk with him and ask him Questions The Devil is made up with nothing but lies How far does God somtimes suffer the Devil to usurp his Prerogative Oh poor young man my bowels do yearn after thee and all in thy condition yet I doubt not but God will raise thee up again and shew thee the vanity of thy ways O Devil pardon thy self Faith is batter'd The Devil rehearseth over his bargain that he might be sure for he is fearful of his prey Observe this plain contradiction for if he was God then he could not have been hindred moreover this denies the Omnipresence of God as well as his Omnipotence Here is Thanksgiving without occasion and a blessing of the devil insteaâ— of God Tâ—e trying of no way conscientious is the cause of maâ—y thaâ— comes to be nothing The devil and his companions are all one A cursed inquiâ—tion We are apt many times to welcom that which in the clâ—se conduceth to cur ruine The Devil proves there is no Providence by a Lie and corrects the young man for his illiteratâ—ness There are the whisperings of an evil spirit us well as a good Behold the Deviâ— The young Man speaks to the Devil after the Language of Canaan which ouâ—ht to be used with God only Hard thoughts of God are the fruits of Atheism When thâ— soul has hard thoughts of God the Devil will do what he can to multiply them The young man now accords with the Devil in everything A time appointed for the Contract The Devils salutation The young man is daunted An Interrogation He reasons with the Devil The Devil knows how to suit himsâ—If according to the constitutions of People The Devil makes many times as if he was but indifferent in those things which he is most earnest and desirous of The devil is an angry spirit We are apt many tiâ—es to consider when it is too late The Devil knows so well the advantage of consideration as that if he should give way to it he knows it would dash all his designes to pieces Blaâ—â—hemy The Author dares not write here what he did write lest it should prove a tentation Note thus far he went and further he had gone if divine Grace had not restrain'd him The devils Advice to the yong man Divine Providence interrupts The devil claims him before he is his The young man defies the devil A devilish machination it was that which had almost prevailed upon the young man in making of him to yield by putting Pen to Paper of which further observe The young man talks light-headed through the excessive teâ—n pâ—â—tâ—ons of the devil The danger of shunning good Councel He despairs It is the sin of young Converts to condemn and censure every thing which seems not at the first view right The misery of this young man contributes anxiety to the Minister An ambiguous speech The grounds of fear The Ministers suspicion The Minister seâ—ks aâ—â—er an interpretation of the young Mâ— is Proverb He â—eclare this Aâ—ostâ—ey The Ministers belief ' of the youth In what respect the devil is God The dev can transform him self into many shapes The young man did go very near in contracting with the Devil but he did totally contract with him as you will find in fine The young man prays for a deprecation of his misery Behold how his misery is augmented by many gradations An Exhortation to Thanksgiving Motives to Confession Observe the evil effâ—cts that do ensue the concealing of suggestions Nam multa possunt ostendi veteris Novi Testamenti exempla ubi lapsi remissionem peccatorum absolutionem à Christo Ecclesia sunt consecuti viz. David Manasse Petrus lapsa est Galatarum Ecclesia à Paulo ad poenitentiam revocata Paulus ipse Corinthium incestum jubâ—t recepi post poeni tentiam Aug. The young mans sins of omission and commission He cannot lift up his eyes to God Luke 16. Heb. 7.25 Ezek. 33.11 Psal. 32.5 Psa. 38.18 Joh. 14.6 Mat. 26.41 1 Thes. 5.17 Phil. 4.11 1 Tim 6.8 Eph. 4.27 Jam. 47. Eph. 4.27 2 Co. 11.2
know what heaven is live then as one that knows the same Oh go to the throne of grace and leave it not till thou doest find the grace of God and the Oyl of Consolation Pour'd into thy heart and for the order of your appearing unto God demean your self as the Prodigall Luke 15. Cry as David Psalm 38.18 For I will declare my Iniquities and will be sorry for my sins how thy state now is I know not and therefore after what maner to write to thee I know not I do believe your case is dreadfull by the oppression of my own spirlt and your being so long absent from me and whether now this may come to you I cannot tell therefore I shall desist from writing so amply as I would Aug. 16. 1672. Your Father in the Lord Jesus W. W. The young Man having received this Letter reades it and having read it he considers upon it and at last is affected exceedingly therewith but these two Deceivers coming unto him again doth through their vain discourse and diabolical concernment make this Youth to yield unto them so as that he forgets the Letter which came from his dear friend in which was conteined such wholesom seasonable and compassionate Instructions Demas and Apollyon So what now I hope you have not transgress'd Paulus Not I indeed Apollyon How then comes it to pass you look so sad Paulus I have by an unparalleld providence received a letter from one who lov'd me which is strange in regard that he knew not where I dwelt Apollyon Sha Providence there 's not such things as that for those things which you call Providence are only things which falls out by chance and you also talk illiterately and foolishly to say that was unparallel'd because such as this has bin common ere now Paulus Nay I do not know but none shall make me to believe any otherwise but that it was Miraculous if it will not hold with being unparallel'd Demas Pray let me speak a word in your ear Paulus With all my heart Good Sir Demas Pray now have a care of carrying your self foolishly left thereby you occasion him to depart as I told you once before Paulus Well I will Apollyon How are you compos'd in minde Paulus Not very well My Lord. Apollyon How can you call me Lord and adjoyn such an epâ—thite as my thereto whereas you have not given up your self unto me Paulus Will you accept of me Oh Lord Apollyon If I had meant otherwise I should not have ask'â— you Paulus Lord I am at your service do with me as seems good in thy sight Apollyon Has that God which you serv'd been good to you Paulus Truly I must needs say this that though I had many things of the other â—od whom I serv'd yet he would not give me all as I desir'd Apollyon That I believe and shall I tell you those many things which you had of him were not so reall as they were Presented to you being only shadows Paulus It 's likely so truely Apollyon Well if you are willing as you say to be my Servant meet me about five of of the Clock at night by the place where we use to meet and bring with you your Penknise Paper and Pen this is all only be sure to meet me without fail or else be it to your own peril Paulus I 'le be sure not to fail you Apollyon Till then farewell Reader Thus thou seest how this poor Convert is tossed up and down through the wiles and Machinations of Satan how Sollicitous have been the vety powers of Hâ—ll to destroy the soul of this young man how have they Combin'd together for the making of their stratagems effectual For once he went with an intent to meet the Devil and as he was entring into the appointed place the Spirit of God interrupted him by setting home this Scripture with such power Mat. 16.26 For what is a man profited if he should gain the whole world and lose his own soul At that he was forc'd to return home again and ask God for pardon and yet nevertheless Corruption being very prevalent and the Devil mighty busie he was thereby impuls'd to make another attempt in the like manner who accordingly did as you may understand by what shall follow Apollyon Well met my Paulus why doesâ— thou muse with thy self Paulus I am at a stand and know not what to do Apollyon At a stand why so Paulus You know O Lord the business which we are met about and the weightiness thereof therfore I hope reason will shew why I look so Apollyon Friend As for my part it matters not whether or no you consent to what I require it was for your happiness that I requir'd this from you but to conclude take notice that I will not be made a fool by such an one as you Go therefore to your other God and see what â—e can do for you for I scorn to receive you Paulus Good Lord fret not your self so for I am not going away from you only I desire deliberation suiting with a work of so great a concernment as this Apollyon Nay call not me Lord except you were my servant and as for your deliberation you have had time enough already Paulus Ha but I never did deliberate upon it till now Apollyon If so be you could not deliberate when you had time enough expect it not now Paulus Well if so you will not give me leave to satisfie my self herein I know not what to say to you Apollyon You know not what to say to me say somthing or nothing and if in this you be not satisfied a Fig for you Paulus Be not angry I pray Apollyon Here is cause to be angry when you deal thus with me who am so fully God Consider the aggravation that does attend it therefore in this one minute resolve me either in the negative or affirmative Paulus What would you have me to do Apollyon Only this Put Pâ—n to Paper and write thus Paulus Well I will write thus For Apollyon Proceed why stay you your hand Paulus I know not what the matter is for I cannot move my hand Apollyon You had as good go on now seeing that you have written the first word viz. For for you are mine by what you have done already Paulus I defie you as yet for I know what I have done Apollyon A Nuncupâ—tiâ—â— Well is as good as a written one so that what you have not done by Pen you have done by word of Mouth and therefore it is all one Observ. I. The young man supposing him with whom he had conferr'd so long to be the Devil breaks forth into these breathings of spirit unto the true God whom once he serv'd viz. Now now now O precious Saviour give me somthing for my faith to act upon by making of thy self unto me â— present
days of your Youth Consider I pray you these following things First Consider your Youth God requires Eccl. 12.1 Remember your Creator in the days of your youth Secondly it is a Question whether you may live to an old Age which if not what will become of you Thirdly grant that you live to an old Age it is a Question whether the day of grace may last so long Fourthly if the day of grace should last so long it is a question whether you will not through the pains and imbecilities of old Age be rendred incapable to serve God Fifthâ—y Consider you may serve God when it is too late but you can never serve him too soon Paulus Verily this is true I cannot deny it but do you not think that God is more glorified by an old Convert then by a young Evangelus When you have such suggestions as these endeavor to make them abortive at their birth for any will tell you that there is nothing more acceptable unto God then when a young man offers up the Flower of his Age unto him yea and what does conduce more unto Gods glory then the same Paulus Well I am now convinc'd of my folly especially of confiding in good works for salvation Evangelus Well bless God for it and now seeing through infinite mercy an insufficiency in good works to save you what think you of God Paulus Why I think that he is a Spirit Evangelus He is so my friend and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth Paulus This I knew a great while ago Evangelus Very good are there more Gods then one Paulus Yâ—a surely there must be three Gods God the Father God the Son and God the Holy Ghost Evangelus Know Friend that thou art wofully ignorant for though there be three Persons in the Godhead yet thâ—se three are but one in substance all this while there is but one individual Deity as the Fire does contain in it three Properties 1. It s self 2. Heat 3. Light So though there be but three ways of subsisting in the Godhead yet all this while it is but individual Paulus Pray Sir is there any Scripture for this Evangelus Yea Scripture enough see Deut. 6.4 Hear O Israel the Lord our God is one Lord Isa. 44.6 I am the first and I am the last and beside me there is no God Isa. 45.22 Look unto me and be ye saved all the ends of the Earth for I am God and there is none else So 2 Cor. 8.4 5 6. and Eph. 4.5 1 Tim. 2.5 Paulus I confess these Scriptures do hit me for how many times have I read the Bible over and yet do not remember these places Evangelus You minded then well what you read for certainly if you had read diligently and with a desire to know you would have given a more pertinent Answer to such a Fundamental and Practical Point of Divinity as this But this is not all our Souls are spirits Angels are spirits and the Dâ—vils are spirits what difference is thâ—â—â— then between God and these Paulus Why I suppose he is bigger then all of them Evangelus Bigger then all of them this is no solid Answer God he is an increated Spirit all others are created God he is an infinite Spirit all others are finite Paulus Nay this is very good Evangelus Well I am glad you like it but what difference is there between the Devils and the Angels Paulus Why I suppose they are both Spirits and both Angels only the Angels in Heaven are the good Angels and the Devils are the evil ones Evangelus Thou sayest right the Devils thâ—â— are now in Hell were once righteous Angels but through pride and malice they are now become of all creatures the most miserable but where do the Devils inhabit Paulus I suppose the Devils do dwell in Hell it being a Place prepared for them and the wicked Evangelus The habitation of the Devils is partly in Hell and partly in the Air The Devils do dwell in the Air unto the Day of Iudgement and usurping the same on purpose that they might rule in the hearts of men But what difference is there between the spirits and our souls for our souls you know are spirits Paulus Nay I believe now you ask me that which you cannot answer your self Evangelus Think not so friend for the Angels were the firsâ— Creatures that God made whereas our souls are not the Angels are not covered with flesh but our souls are the Angels are perfect spirits but our souls through union with their bodies are imperfect and impure but enough of this what think you now of Iesus Christ Paulus Who is Jesus Christ why he is the Son of God Evangelus It is true my friend he is so for God the Father testifies it Mat. 3.17 The Chuâ—ch acknowledgeth it Matth. 16.16 And the Devils confess it Luke 4.41 But who do you think of these were first God the Father or God the Son Paulus There is a question indeed surely the Father must be before the Son Evangelus Yea friend that is true it is so in natural generation but here it is not for Christ Iesus is co-eternal with his Father and equal with him in Power and Glory Paulus This will not stand by reason Evangelus Divine Mysteries are not to be apprehended by carnal reason for he who would see by an eye of Faith must shuâ— out the eye of Reason and what think you now of the Holy Ghost Paulus Why I suppose he is God too is he not Evangelus Yes he is so see 1 John 5.7 For there are three that bear Record in Heaven the Father Word and Holy Ghost and these three are one Paulus Nay this is very evident you bring Scripture I say to prove what you say Evangelus Well if so be you do believe what I have said concerning the blessed Trinity say with me God the Father God the Son and God the Holy Ghost and these three are one Paulus God the Father God the Son and God the Holy Ghost and these three are one Evangelus Right what think you now of the Creation of the World did God make the World of somthing or of nothing Paulus Of somthing surely for out of nothing nothing can be made Evangelus Friend what do you think Creation signifies Paulus Truly I know not very well Evangelus Why it signifies a making all things of nothing Paulus Say you so Evangelus Yea and have you not read that the World was made only by the especial word of his Power not that we should understand that any word did really proceed from God but only that he will'd it Paulus Did God do you say only speakâ— thâ— word and was this World made I cannot believe this except you bring me Scripture Evangelus If Scriptures will convince you I 'le bring you Scriptures enough See Psal. 33.9 For he spake and it was done he commanded and it
Paulus Truly I know not very well it was a man but what to make of him I know not For he has undertaken to bring me a Gentleman that is as fully God as he whom I and you serve Evangelus Oh fie why are you so deceived as to think any such thing what evil company have you commun'd with know you not that there is but one God and that is our God what a blasphemous wretch was he that told you from whence did he come and where doth he dwell Paulus His name is Demas he came out of the Countrey his place of abode for a time is in the City and about ten of the Clock this Morning I am bound by vertue of Promise to come and see him and the Gentleman Evangelus Well although you have promised toâ— come and see him yet I do intend to prevent you Paulus No pray Sir say not so for if Iâ— should disappoint him he would thenâ— reflect upon us and our Religion and cause the honour of Christianity to lie at stake if you are loth to let me go alone do you then go with me Evangelus I nor you neither shall go if they will come to us well and good but for us to come to them I do not approve of it therefore think not of going though you have promised remembring the Proverb It s better somtimes to break a Promise then to keep it Paulus How if they should come to me after you are gone Evangelus Then send for me and I dare to meddle with them if they come upon our own grounds â—hereby God suffers him to conquer us what we do in a way of Disputation with must be onely in our own defence Reader Now take notice that after the departure of this Minister these two Deceivers comes unto this sweet Convert One of which proves no otherwise then the Devil as you shall finde by the sequel of the story Demas and Apollyon How now who taught you to break your Promise did your Priests Paulus No other businesâ— did intervene so as yet I could not come according to promise Demas Well this is the Gentleman of whom I spoke and Promised to bring to you Paulus Is it so I pray you Sir sit down for you are very welcom Apollyon I thank you Sir Paulus I did promiss to inform a friend of mine concerning you Whâ— promised to come unto me and to make one of our Company Demas What is he I pray Paulus He is a Minister of the Gospel Demas Oh it is no matter foâ— him another time weâ— serve as well as now 〈◊〉 moreover I brought thâ—â— Gentleman with me oâ— ly to speak concerninâ— affairs privately among our selves Apollyon It will not be convenient to have anâ— besides our selves Paulus Well Sir what you please Apollyon Sir I understand here by my friend that you are under some sore Conflict wherefore I was desir'd occasionally by our self and instrumentally by him â— e Demas to visit you and so consequentially to administer somthing of â—omfort unto you in order to which I must have you to promise me these three several things First to deny the God whom now you serve Secondly â—o abstain from the Company which you frequent Thirdly to believe what I shall say unto you Paulus To any thing that is reasonable â— shall yield especially if you can but â—move your self to be God and him whom I serve to be no God the proâ—ation of which I expect through â—ertue of promiss made by your friend Demas Well that he can do Apollyon Yes and easily too Reader Note how Demas doth appâ— himself to Apollyon prescribing aâ— ter what manner the Conferenâ— shall be carried on with convenâ—ency Demas The only Method as I suppose carry on this Conference among 〈◊〉 selves is Good Sir by letting hiâ— produce those Arguments which has so prove a God and so you to aâ— swer as he brings them and pray 〈◊〉 me how you like it Apollyon I like it very well how do yoâ— like it Sir Paulus I do like it very well also provideâ— you will not let the plainness of 〈◊〉 Arguments make any thing invalid Apollyon Well produce your Arguments coâ— cerning the certainty of a God Paulus I shall after this manner express myself And first of all the Creatures do testify the truth of a Deity and him whom I serve in regard that it is he who gaveth being of all things viz. The beings of the Heavens and of the Earth and all things contained therein Secondly that kind of Gubernation which is among all Creatures whether humans divine or diabolical does evidence the one supream Government which is of God Thirdly the great impression of a Deity upon the hearts of men evidenced by the accusations of a guilty conscience and likewise by that Worship which Heathens do ascribe unto fa se god which being considered it doth exceedingly demonstrate that there is a true God though they be ignorant of him Fourthly I do believe there is a â—od and that it is him whom I serve because the Scriptures do directly make an obvious discovery and revelation of him Fifthly and lastly I do believe that all what I have said is true because the Devils in Hell would tear us in pieces were it not for the Existence of an Almighty God Apollyon Well all this we do not deny for whaâ— you have said as yet does prove me as much God as any other therfore you must begin again Paulus Nay I would not for a thousand of Worlds think any otherwise but that there is a true Godâ— and he it is whom I serve Apollyon Nay but I 'le prove to the contrary and will affirm that the God whom you now serve is a diabolical Spirity and likewise is one whom I shall in Process of time inflict my wrath upon for his carriage both to me and all mankinde Paulus Why is not that God whom I serve now in Heaven and surely if so then he is the true God Apollyon That is true he is in Heaven but it is only by usurpation Paulus Whose Throne is Heaven then Apollyon It is the Throne of the true God Paulus Who is the true God Apollyon He who now doth talk with you Paulus How come you to be out of your place then Apollyon I came out of my place for your sake Paulus Sir I am in great distress pity me therefore and do not argue sophistically with me who am not able at this time to answer you Apollyon Have a care you do not by me as the woman of Samaria did when I appeared visibly on earth to the whole world for the sake of mankind Paulus O what shall I do Apollyon Believe in me that you may have life Paulus Lord have mercy upon me Apollyon Why do you doubt I am a Spirit do