3. The seed thus ripened is soon cut down, by the Sickle of his subtlety; whose policy to preserve his state Florentine, is beyond Machiavel's. His speed is no less; else he could not so soon put a Girdle about the loins of the earth.1 But what policy can there be in shortening the growth of sin? this trick rather enervates ⟨p. 116⟩his power, weakens his Kingdom. The Devil doth not ever practise this cunning; but then alone, when he is put to his shifts.2 For, some are so vile, that the Devil himself, would scarce wish them worse. Such are Atheists, Rob-altars, Usurers, Traitors, &c. But some living in the circun ference of the Gospel, are by mans awe and law restrained from professed abominations! what would you have him now do? Sure Satan is full of the Politics. 3Daemonas grammatici dictos volunt, quasi [Greek or Hebrew], id est, peritos ac rerum scios. He is a Devil for his craft. I call therefore the reaping, his Subtlety: for he might seem therein to dissolve his Kingdom, and spoil the height of sin, by cutting it down. But the sequel and success proves, he doth it rather to corroborate the power thereof, by making it fitter for application. Thus he dtransforms himself to an Angel of light; and is content to top the proud risings of palpable and outward Impieties, that he may more strongly possess the soul by hypocrisy. Thus there may be an expulsion of Satan from the house of the heart, quoad veter•m eruptionem, when his repossession is made stronger, quoad novam corruptionem. Common grace throws him out, but he finds the house empty, swept, and garnished, that is, trimmed by hypocrisy, and therefore enters and fortifies with eseven other spirits more wicked then the first. What he cannot do by notorious rebellion, he performs by dissimulation. So that as Sorcerers and Witches converse with evil spirits in plausible and familiar forms, which in ugly shapes they would abhor. So many would not endure him, ut rude cacodaemon, as a rough and gross Devil, in manifest outrageous enormities; who yet as a smooth, sleek, fine, and transformed Devil, give him entertainment. This then is his Harvest.
3. The seede thus ripend is soone cut downe, by the Sickle of his subtilty; whose policie to preserue his state Florentine, is beyond Machiauels. His speede is no lesse; else he could not so soone put a Girdle about the loynes of the earth.1 But what policie can there be in shortning the growth of sinne? this trick rather eneruates ⟨p. 116⟩his power, weakens his Kingdome. The Deuill doth not euer practise this cunning; but then alone, when he is put to his shifts.2 For, some are so vile, that the Deuill himselfe, would scarce wish them worse. Such are Atheists, Rob-altars, Vsurers, Traytours, &c. But some liuing in the circun ference of the Gospell, are by mans awe and law restrained from professed abominations! what would you haue him now doe? Sure Satan is full of the Politiques. 3Daemonas grammatici dictos volunt, quasi 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, id est, peritos ac rerum scios. He is a Deuill for his craft. I call therefore the reaping, his Subtiltie: for he might seeme therein to dissolue his Kingdome, and spoile the height of sinne, by cutting it downe. But the sequell and successe proues, he doth it rather to corroborate the power thereof, by making it fitter for application. Thus he dtransformes himselfe to an Angell of light; and is content to top the proud risings of palpable and outward Impieties, that hee may more strongly possesse the soule by hypocrisie. Thus there may be an expulsion of Satan from the house of the heart, quoad veter•m eruptionem, when his repossession is made stronger, quoad nouam corruptionem. Common grace throwes him out, but he findes the house empty, swept, and garnished, that is, trimmed by hypocrisie, and therefore enters and fortifies with eseauen other spirits more wicked then the first. What he cannot doe by notorious rebellion, hee •erformes by dissimulation. So that as Sorcerers and Witches conuerse with euill spirits in plausible and familiar formes, which in vgly shapes they would abhorre. So many would not endure him, vt rude cacodaemon, as a rough and grosse Deuill, in manifest outragious enormities; who yet as a smooth, sleeke, fine, and transformed Deuill, giue him entertainment. This then is his Haruest.
