Richard Baxter's dying thoughts upon Phil. I, 23 written for his own life and…

§4. 4. And I have felt, and heard, and known from others, of such a sort of Temptations, as show themselves to be the acts of malicious Spirits, Enemies to Mankind. The advantages that Satan taketh of a corrupted Fantasy, which hath once taken in such an Image as may be his matter to Work upon, is very remarkable. I have known a worthy, learned, Pious Person, ⟨p. 47⟩who from his youth to old Age, upon such an advantage, hath been so tempted with Pleasure to torment himself, even his own Flesh, as that for many years together in a partial melancholy at divers fits he was not able (though Conscience also tormented him for it) to forbear. Many by an immodest look or touch, have given Satan such a power upon their Phantasies, as no Reason, Conscience, or resolution could of a long time overcome. Few men, I think that observe themselves, have not at sometime had experience of such inward temptations, as show that the Author of them is an invincible Enemy. All which tell us, 1. That there are Individual Spirits. 2. Yea, Devils that seek Man's misery. 3. And that by the way of sin, and consequently that a future happiness or misery must be expected by us all.

§4. 4. And I have felt, and heard, and known from others, of such a sort of Temptations, as shew themselves to be the acts of malicious Spirits, Enemies to Mankind. The advantages that Satan taketh of a corrupted Phantasie, which hath once taken in such an Image as may be his matter to Work upon, is very remarkable. I have known a worthy, learned, Pious Person, ⟨p. 47⟩who from his youth to old Age, upon such an advantage, hath been so tempted with Pleasure to torment himself, even his own Flesh, as that for many years together in a partial melancholy at divers fits he was not able (though Conscience also tormented him for it) to forbear. Many by animmodest look or touch, have given Satan such a power upon their Phantasies, as no Reason, Conscience, or resolution could of a long time overcome. Few men, I think that observe themselves, have not at sometime had experience of such inward temptations, as shew that the Author of them is an invincible Enemy. All which tell us, 1. That there are Individual Spirits. 2. Yea, Devils that seek Man's misery. 3. And that by the way of sin, and consequently that a future happiness or misery must be expected by us all.