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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A33367	Look about you, for the devil that you fear is in you, or, The right devil unfolded in his descent, form, education, qualification, place and nature of torment : with many other divine secrets, never from the beginning yet extant till this last witness, so beneficial both for the seed of gain, and the seed of faith / written by Laur. Claxton.	Claxton, Laurence, 1615-1667.	1659 (1659)	Wing C4579; ESTC R32621	55,901	151

was the moderate wise and high read Consultations in the breasts of the Rulers given into a particular moderate wise high learned man much read in the Law and the Prophets to tempt and if possible to perswade Christ to yield to this his high and learned Position but you may read this man-devils mountain was too weak and too low for the high immortal God to rest or cast himself down upon for to that end he came not into this kingdom to be King but to fulfil his own determined will in destroying him that had the power of death even the devil yea that devil-man that would if possible have deceived God himself and so returns his positive Answer Get thee hence Satan for it is written Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God and him onely shalt thou serve that is thou oughtest to be ruled by me and not I by thee therefore depart my kingdom is not of this world but of that world which is everlasting immortal and to all eternity Upon which that man-devil leaveth him tormented for not prevailing and Christ refreshed by his Messenger from his glorious Kingdom above the stars Question If this be infallible what you have here written then may you ask me How comes it the Learned of this world could not as well as this Witness make known this hidden divine Secret seeing they give themselves wholly to finde out the true interpretation of the Scriptures Answ What ever the Learned of this world dream of finding out the invisible things of Eternity by searching into Scripture Records and comparing them together yet know this the Divine Majesty hath locked up all the principal Secrets of the Scriptures in his own spiritual breast that he by an immediate inspiration may dispose of them into the spirits of elect men and angels most advantagious for his own glory and their consolation therefore minde what you read and seriously observe that the Scriptures runs not in the line of Reason but in the line of Faith Inspiration or Revelation according to those sayings in the Hebrews and other Records By Faith the divine Work of Creation and wonderful Mystery of Redemption was and is known with the immortal eternal Glory and everlasting shame of mens persons in the end of the world but of the contrary you shall never read in any place of Scripture that any man in the least knew the things of eternal Glory by any kinde of rational comprehension wharsoever I confess the natural Reason of man is a very good handmaid if it be well qualified with the spiritual dame of divine Faith for illustrating of the things of God unto weak comprehensions but as for truly understanding the invisible things of God by the highest reason that ever was in man or angel it is utterly impossible as beforesaid and that because though the spirit of reason were never so pure yet you may know reasons nature is but a desire after the knowledge of the divine nature of that Spirit from whence reason had its living being but of the contrary spiritual Truth or Faith is of the divine nature of God himself and therefore in what soul soever that Heavenly Seed is sown it springeth up in that spirit all variety of divine knowledge with glorious raptures in reference unto life eternal by vertue of an intercourse with the eternal Spirit from whence it came Moreover I confess a man that is indued with a Solomon-like gift of natural reason may be able to comprehend all words whether they are spoken in a good form sense or language or no yea and such a man may be mighty in disputes about the glorious things of Eternity but as for thy real understanding whether there were or be any such eternal things or no thou hast no certain knowledge of that at all but thy bare thoughts onely which if equally weighed in that balance it may be true or it may be false and all this is for want of an infallibility of Truth it self therefore though the divine things of the eternal Majesty be nothing else but spiritual purity of an infallible truth in themselves yet unto that rational wise man they are nothing but non-sensical blasphemy or lying tales till his reason is confounded in him by a true and heavenly Faith Now thou that hast perused this Epistle if thou understandest what thou readest mayest behold how infallibly I have proved both by Reason Faith and Scripture that there is no other devil but what is in man and woman also how this devil came to be a devil so that if thou wilt not because thou canst not believe much good may that imaginary devil do thee yet by the way let me tell thee one word which is irrevocable that thou canst not now really nor at thy resurrection shalt finde or in thy self feel any other devil but thy soul onely which if it were possible for thee then to utter thy self thou wouldest tell me what now I write to thee was the naked truth but then even then I shall be far enough from thee in that I shall be with the Lord above the Stars this thou shalt finde and this I shall be as sure as God is God for believe me whether thou wilt or no I do not write now as formerly I have done viz. hab nab as a man onely indued with reason but take notice I write from that revealed Seed-spring within me Now to the seed of Cain his Education CAP. II. The Seed of Cain his Education or bringing up undeniably proved against any of his tribe that shall oppose it AS touching this I shall not need to spend much ink or paper and that because not onely Scripture but likewise experience doth confirm that there is none of the Seed of Faith so honorably educated as the rich sort of the seed of Cain for indeed to whom doth the wisdom and government of this world belong to but to them and therefore nothing that in the bounds of reason can be attained unto but his seed enjoys it nay they are so exactly educated in the affairs of this world that by their reason they are able to comprehend all words whether they are spoken in a Philosophical form sense or language nay many of them are not onely mighty in disputes as touching the Government of this their kingdom but they are also able in dispute about the glorious things of Eternity though they understand not the matter disputed of in the least for as Paul saith 1 Cor 2. 14. Neither can they know them because they are spiritually discerned for their education in the greatest knowledge is but natural and therein they are able to dictate unto the unlearned of their seed laws and rules to preserve this their kingdom in peace among themselves for you must understand what wisdom Learning can teach them shall not be wanting and the wisdom they attain unto is not that spiritual or divine Wisdom for this onely belongs to the Seed of Faith As

in man for I 'le assure thee there is some this day in London and Country also that in my hearing hath said God is a devil and that he hath done that he cannot make good that God is a tyrant a Cock and a Bull a Horse and all such like cursed terms also that devil-man hath said That if God did damn him he would damn God nay it hath been spoken That God durst not damn him and that God was more beholding to him then he was to God Also a man hath said That the blood of Christ was of no more value then the blood of a dog if these be not the seed of Cain and at the great and terrible day shall be raysed devils then let them say the Lord spoke not by me nay there is a swarm or brood of this cursed seed of Cain that deny a God or at least they make him a cloak for all their lascivious lust running after the steps of their father Cain in all manner of wickedness And what is their saying If I can but have my Money-god let it come right or wrong its all one to me I will not put it forth to usury but I will spend it freely upon my lust and as for this glorious personal God I own no such God for what say they Our God is an infinite formless spirit or an infinite nothing or an infinite all that is to say all in beasts all in fish all in fowls all in herbs trees and plants all in men and their wickedness too even thus this cursed seed do believe that just holy glorious God to be the Author of all their uncleanness so that true is that saying Psal 50. 21. Thou thoughtest I was altogether such a one as thy self but at the mighty day of my account thou shalt then have all thy sins set in order before thee and the sentence of this despised God pass upon thee And whereas thou saith The devil is a murthering persecutor of Gods precious ones Well what devil was that think you that from the beginning to this day persecuted the people of God was it a devil without man or in man Surely the Scripture with our experience can to any sober man make it appear it was no other devil but man As instance who persecuted the Prophets of the Lord of old was it not the Priests and Elders of Israel Who was it that persecuted Christ Jesus was it not their children the holy devout Jews that murthered the Lord of glory Who persecuted the Apostles was it not the same generation of the cursed seed of Cain Who put the Martyrs to the fire was it a devil without a form or was it not a devil in Queen Marys form Who is it now that persecutes the substantial light or life of the seed of faith is it not the devil in man or man-devil Nay had it not been for the late Lord Protector whose soul was merciful to tender consciences O had it not been that God had honored him before and above all in wisdom to go in and out before Parliaments and the Priests of this Nation what a bloody persecuting day had here been in England and yet you cry out of the devil for a persecutor when it is the devil in you so that you see there is no other devil but what is that cursed seed of Cain O therefore look about you for the devil that you fear is in you Now to the last and greatest appeal the seed of Can can make for himself is this If there be no other Devil but what is in man or woman then Kings may be devils Magistrates devils Lawyers devils Merchants devils Soldiers devils Doctors devils and Preachers devils and so at the day of judgement few other but devils shall arise Answ What a Catalogue of great men is here recorded thou supposing such men as these its pity to damn them or at least God will have more mercy on them then on the poor ragged feed of Cain and that because of their greatnes Surely if possible thou wouldst turn God from being God and that because he saith He will have mercy on whom he will have mercy And with our God there is no respect of persons So that mark what is said What is a King what is a Magistrate what is a Doctor what is a Lawyer what is a Soldier what is a Merchant what is a Preacher though their houses be full of gold and silver and their body richly clad with Jewels and raiment What is all this to the Judge of Justice its but as filthy raggs no nor the persons of such men are no more esteemed then the dunghil begger Nay what doth the Lord say Not many wise not many mighty not many noble men shall be saved but the poor persecuted for his names sake are his beloved Again he saith It is easier for a Camel to go through the eye of a needle then for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of heaven Do you hear will ye believe or understand that these sayings needs no interpretation however you may slight it take notice that what I now say you shall finde it that since God became flesh there is no promise in Scripture to those that truly knows him and so professeth him shall be rich in this world As find me out ten among ten thousand from the first of Matthew to the last of the Revelation that were true believers so living and so dying I say thou canst not find out half that number that were really of the seed of faith and rich in this would so few they were then and so few now that I think it should make the rich of this world to tremble for though you can pass the Scripture with some evations of your own and defer the application of them as concerning your selves yet from my Seed-spring this you shall know that those sayings It is easier for a Camel to go through the eye of a needle then for a rich man to enjoy in his own soul the eternal truth there being such antipathy betwixt them that they accord like two contrary elements viz. fire and water no society till one hath conquered the other As instance the riches and glory of this world it elevates the soul beyond its bounds it finds so much content here that that truth that will not maintain this perishing fleshly glory with all its lust and pride Oh it is as hard a saying as that of Christ to the young man in the Gospel when truth presents it self to a rich worldly man and yet this man a great professor of the letter and makes a great flutter in vain repetition to a God thou knows not yet I say when the eternal truth tenders it self to thy soul in a poor persecuted distressed condition and tells thee I the Lord of glory had not a bed to lay my head on and those that will raign with me in that endles glory to come must forsake all take

But Secondly in the next place I shall give you to understand that this wilderness here spoken of was not a wilderness yielding fruit for the supporting of life where nothing but wilde beasts void of reason doth inhabit as the seed of Cain doth imagine and the learned of that seed do vainly teach though this wilderness was the same that John quotes in Mat. 3. 13. saying The voice of one crying in the wilderness prepare ye the way of the Lord c. Now let any sober man judge the black darkness that is over the learned to think that Iohn should cry the message of the Lord to a wilderness of wood and wilde beasts that hath no understanding to receive it and as great a darkness it is for thee to think that any devil without man or devil-man could so far overcome Christ as to lead him into such a wilderness no no therefore take notice that wilderness Iohn preached in and this wilderness Christ was lead up into was onely the wilderness of mans heart whose hearts are as barren as a natural wilderness that beareth no fruit as unto the true knowledge of things appertaining unto eternal life O minde what you read it was the wilderness of mans heart and not such a wilderness as Moses led the people of Israel through for neither did Iohn preach nor was in any such wilderness 3. It s said Christ fasted forty days and forty nights but from what he fasted is not in the least mentioned therefore I affirm that as Moses fasted forty days and forty nights in the mount from natural food so did Christ fast forty days and forty nights in the spiritual that is Christ did baptize none with the Holy Ghost nor with fire neither did he do any miracle for the space of six weeks and the original of this was that he might be tempted of the subtile serpentine devil-man as aforesaid which made that devil-man say If thou be the Son of God command that these stones be made bread however thou that readest mayest not apprehend this yet let me tell thee that man-devil did not mean the hard stones that we tread upon no more then Iohn when he said God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham Oh what absurdity is it in any man to think that God would of natural dead stones raise them up spiritual living children no no when the devil-man said Command that these stones be made bread which was this Command this stony heart of mine and the stony hard hearts of the Pharisees and Sadduces that sent me command them to be made hearts of flesh by baptizing of us with the Holy Ghost and with fire whereby I and others may so believe that we may become true bread unto Christ for in Iohn 4. 32 34. there saith Christ I have meat to eat that ye know not of meaning his dispute with the woman of Samaria as touching this it was his meat and drink to do the will of his Father which will was to baptize his Elect with the Holy Ghost and with fire without which no man could have eternal life abiding in him 4. Then the devil taketh Jesus up into the holy City and setteth him on a pinacle of the temple Observe that the City and pinacle of the Temple were both in the self same place yet understand that the Temple and the City signifie one and the same thing as from the words of Paul Defile not the temple of God whose temple ye are yea ye are the temples of the holy Ghost and the city of the living God as is recorded in the Corinthians and Hebrews and yet you shall finde though the Saints are the City and Temple of God that the Scripture calls the Nation of the Jews the holy City so that I know that was the holy City that the devil-man took Christ up into and there in the most eminent or highest place of the Temple stated his temptation in the pinacle that is nothing else but the high temptation that this devil used out of his own high spirit of reason saying Cast thy self down that is submit unto this people which in Moses time were the onely Nation or City of God do but submit to be Governor or King in condescending to us there can no harm befal thee in that he hath given his angels charge concerning thee thou being the Son of God and our King we shall conquer the whole world but Christs kingdom not being of this world he tells them as at other times Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God It might well be called the high temptation of the devil that if it had been possible to unthrone Christ of his immortal Crown and Kingdom and crowned him King over a mortal bloody and perishing kingdom I say as in relation to the strength and subtilty of this temptation a man might well be called devil 5. Again the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world and the glory thereof and saith All these will I give thee if thou wilt fall down and worship me Answ If you could understand the Scriptures you shall read it calleth rich wicked men Mountains and poor believing men Valleys as saith Isaiah chap. 40. verse 4. Every valley shall be exalted and every mountain shall be made low there is very little of the New Testament to be understood in the letter but spirit onely therefore saith Christ My words are spirit and life so that if thou couldest see with an eye of Faith then thou couldest with me acknowledge that this exceeding high mountain which the devil shewed Christ and all the kingdoms of the world with the glory of them were all in the devils own heart for if you minde the Chief Priests and Rulers from whence this devil-man was sent they in their Councel instructed him that if that Christ to whom he was sent would but come and submit yea side with them for submitting you must understand is no less then to worship that if Christ Jesus would but submit to be their king and governor then they would assure him he should have all the kingdoms of the world for thou being the Son of God no earthly king can stand before thee for in so doing we shall have the rule and government of the whole world and the glory thereof which if thou wouldst but condescend to this we could make our words truth that Herod Pilate and Cesar would give place to thy crown and dignity by which we should become a greater people then ever we were these and such like thoughts was in the Priests and Rulers which they thought they had so wisely compacted together as a mountain not onely strong and great but a high mountain over-topping all other mountains whatsoever So that now you have the interpretation of that Scripture which till this last Witness could never be rightly understood that the high mountain there spoken of

it as the onely truth saying It is not I but the Lord in me of my self I can do nothing and he is all in all with many such like Scriptures they will produce for to satisfie their devilish lust perswading themselves that God is an infinite formless Spirit an infinite Nothing or an infinite All in this their beastly reason so that well comes in that saying of David Psal 50. 21. These things hast thou done and kept silence thou thoughtest I was altogether such a one as thy self as if he should have said Thou thoughtest it was I that committed adultery that did cozen and lye with the innocent thou thoughtest it was I in thee that moved thee to swear whore and cheat thy fellow mortals but thou shalt know that I am a God that is not an infinite nothing for out of nothing comes nothing as also thou shalt know that I am not an infinite All in thy filthiness for the day is at hand that I will reprove thee and that god in thee as in Romans 1. thou hast changed the truth of God into a lye in supposing there is no other God but what is in thee and so worship me as a God filled with all unrighteousness fornication wickedness covetousness maliciousness envy murther debate deceit an inventer of all evil things Thus in part you have heard how this ranting devil is qualified and acted forth and that not onely to all maner of women but man burning in lust with man and women with women as before related and the more it is to be observed that what they do in this nature they affirm it to be just yea to do as they would be done unto for you that knows them as much as I shall finde their tongues tipt with these and such like words but in their actions as you have heard they have sold themselves to commit wickedness and that with greediness never finding themselves more happy then when they are a whoring or drinking which to them is a pure truth as any sentence in Holy Writ for they do not esteem that sin which the Scripture records for sin in that they do not know what to make of that glorious personal God nor his writing looking upon it as a History of mans invention for say they the Scripture is a meer Map of Contradiction so that such devils of this kinde in their hearts do not believe it no more then another writing onely for fear of the Law they will say as you say for what do they affirm A lye and a truth is all one to us and so whatsoever we do is righteous just and good and when we die we shall be swallowed up into the infinite Spirit as a drop into the Ocean and so be as we were and if ever we be raised again we shall rise a horse a cow a root a flower and such like and so turn the world round as before as for hell or damnation it is all here so if they can but escape prison sickness and want of money they fear no other hell or torment hereafter whatsoever Now let any sober man consider the devils quality that acts forth this sort of this cursed seed and as for their language if there were a devil without man that had any dealings with man if possible they would curse and swear that devil out of his name and wits for some of this sort when they are in company with their cursed tribe what oath or oathes was ever heard by the ear of man but they have it and that with authority from their father Cain they maintain it and that seemingly from Scripture and so will take oath against any one they have a revenge to if their false oath will prevail they will do it Thus much of the white light ranting devil 2. The next sort of this cursed seed are qualited and acted forth in most wickedness like unto the first onely the difference is the white ranting devil doth approve of all his wickedness to be righteousness when this black ranting devil doth judge it a sin and yet though his tongue will rayl on the white ranting devil and in what company soever he comes he will speak against these cursed actions and that because he doth not onely know them to be evil but he is afraid his wife husband children or parents should know of it and not onely that but he is afraid the Law will take hold of him and so punish him if not put him to death for it these and such like are the motives inducing him to speak against that with his tongue which his heart burneth and lusteth after but however all these outward fears attend him yet this lust or devil is so desiring after a beautiful maid or another mans wife that though he will say it is a sin and hath read the wrath of God due for it yet he will hazard not onely his credit in this world but the loss of his soul in the world to come and the ground of this his dangerous attempt ariseth from these and such like thoughts I may escape as well as others and I will be sure that none shall see me lye with any woman neither doth any of my neighbors suspect me so that before I will lose the society of such a rare creature in whom my soul is wholly ravisht with the thoughts of what pleasures and delights I shall have with her I will hazard both soul and body for what saith such a sort of devil as this as for the world I will play may cards so wisely that none shall hear or know of it and though it be a sin it is not the greatest neither am I the first or shall be the last and therefore I shall make as good shift as another and besides that I know that God is a merciful God and though in my strength and youth of my body I do now and then break forth a little I hope the Lord if I do but on my death-bed cry him mercy he will forgive me Ah poor dark deluded soul dost thou think that when the righteous just upright heart hath much ado to finde mercy and yet thou wicked ungodly man thinkest it is easie for such as thou no no thou shalt finde that as in the strength of nature and health of body thou hast spent thy time in satisfaction of thy lust when all that thy pleasure is at an end then in a small measure shall be presented unto thee what thou shalt be at the day of resurrection for alas poor heart thou thinkest the God of Truth is like thee a man of lies and by thy corrupt petition to turn the will of God as with a petition thou canst turn the will of man but then to thy cost thou shalt finde he is a God that changes not which in the last Chapter I shall shew thee at large Now to the matter in hand as touching thy quality and acting forth in thy Carriage and Language that

from my Seed-spring I speak it if there were a devil without man as there is not that devil would tremble to behold thy carriage and hear thy expressions for pride doth so much attend thee that thou knowest not how to fashion thy garment nor which way to hang thy Cloak upon thee now being richly clad thou knowest not well what to think of thy self that whether thou be a god or a man thy garments so glitter and thy heart so proud and carriest thy head so high that the poorer sort of thy seed stands cap in hand to thee yea gazing after thee that thou art so puffed up with the thought of this that thou thinkest in thy self none in the world like unto thee for beauty and proper person so richly adorned with jewels of gold and silver that thou thinkest every one that looks upon thee admires thee from hence it is thy devil or soul is so ravisht with the vain glory of this perishing world that thou art never better but when thou art abroad shewing thy bravery with thy servants standing bare head before thee in the open streets as also to your Church you go and what is the load-stone drawing you thither onely because you would be looked upon as good Church-men and to have the praise of the world also to shew your fine rags as aforesaid and to see and be seen who outstrips thee in apparel or what new fashion is invented this and onely this is the greatest load-stone inviting you otherways if thou wentest to hear sin reproved and thereby become humble for that thy rude carriage and corrupt behavior then it would appear in thy language but thou art so much a stranger to sobriety of speech that upon every occasion thou hast these and such like expressions God damn me I will have my will the devil take thee for thy pains what are you mad you damn'd whore I think the devil is in thee the devil confound me body and soul if I be not revenged on thee the devil rot thee and the pox of God take thee for a pocky devilish whore by his life blood heart and wounds I will be the death of thee with many such wretched blasphemous expressions that the moderate devil doth even tremble to hear the language of this dark ranting devil In these not excluding the light ranting devil but as far over boots and shoes are they in these and such like cursed language so that before I pass to the next sort of the seed of Cain I shall parly a little with thee about these wicked tearms aforesaid Dost not thou desire to be saved this I am sure thou wilt acknowledge and yet thou callest upon God to damn thee how canst thou think to be saved when thy tongue will witness that many times thou hast said God damn me and whereas thou saith the devil take thee for thy pains thou little thinkest that thou art that devil Oh freind time is coming that thou shalt finde thou and such as thou art the onely devil and therefore for the time remember when ever thou saith the devil take thee then thou must take her or take him to whom thou utterest those words it is thou devil-man thy self must take them and when thou saith thou art mad I think the devil is in thee thou speakest truth not knowing it and so when thou saith If I be not revenged of thee the devil confound me soul and body now if thou be not revenged as many times thou art not then thou art justly confounded and if thou do revenge thy self thou art also confounded in that thou shouldest leave that to the Lord For revenge is mine saith the Lord I will not thou I will as I see cause revenge it so that in this thou hast sealed thy condemnation and whereas thou saith the pox of God take thee ah poor ignorant soul thy tongue declares what a corupt ulcerated humor doth run in the veins of thy soul and body that thou thinkest God like thy self when he declares himself a God all holiness and purity glorious immortal that no mortal corruption could in the least touch him for it is written Thou wilt not suffer thy holy one to see corruption and that such a devil as thou shalt say the pox of God when it is really and truly the pox of thy devil lust within thee as aforesaid I told thee how thou wouldest hazard not thy credit and estate but thy soul also for a beautiful yet pockey creature in whom and for whom thou hast not onely beggered thy wife and children but corrupted thy body that thy nose or thy bowelts rot within thee and yet thou so audaciously shalt say the pox of God when it is the pox of a whoring lustful devil thy self and then in all thy discourse thou must swear by his life when thou hast nothing to do with it in that his life is death in thee and to thee for thou hatest in thy life to be conformable to the life of Christ and therefore take notice thou hast no share nor benefit in his heart blood or wounds it was never spilt nor wounded for them that are far better qualified then thou yet the blood or wounds of the Lord was not for any of the seed of Cain but he was onely wounded and spilt his hearts blood for the seed of Adam or Abraham that blessed Seed of Faith therefore thou wretched soul let this my short parley with thee be for ever a Memento to look into thy soul and there thou shalt finde the devil that tempts or infuseth thee to utter all this diabolical language but true is that saying in John from the blessed tongue of Christ Ye are of your father the devil and the lusts of your father ye will do for from him to you comes cursing oathes and lies who is the father of it As let but any sober man observe their quality in this and you shall have them swear and say God forgive me whore and cry God forgive me lye and say God forgive me thus thou thinkest it is nothing but with one and the same tongue say and unsay to lye cheat whore swear and be drunk and onely say I have sinned God forgive me and so commit the like wickedness again and again and thinkest this will serve thy turn but alas for thee the portion prepared shall at the great day lie heavy upon thee as read Matth. 12. 36 37. verses I say unto you that every idle word that men shall speak they shall give account thereof at the day of judgement for by thy words thou shalt be justified and by thy words thou shalt be condemned for out of thy own mouth he will judge thee as thou shalt read at large in the next Chapter that shall shew the place and nature of the devils torment 3. The next sort of the seed of Cain are qualited and acted forth to all maner of covetousness and worldly mindedness insomuch that