A saint or a brute the certain necessity and excellency of holiness, &c. ...…

18. And I must needs say that I am the more assured that your words against Religion are false, because I know that they please▪ the Devil, who is the Father of lies; and are just such as he would have you speak, and would speak himself if he had but liberty, and his appearance would not mar h•• cause. When thou art railing at Godliness, and saying that this Religion is the trouble of the world, and that the servants of Christ are but a company of busy hypocrites, just so would the Devil have thee speak. I can prove it fully from the Scriptures, and from his Nature and designs. You could not speak more agreeably to his mind. If he had hired you, and written down every word which he would have you speak, you could not more punctually obey him. Do you plead against Holiness, and for a careless and ungodly life? Do you despise the righteous, and justify the wicked? Just so would the Devil have you do. If he stood by you and prompted you (as indeed he doth, though you do not know it) those are the very words that he would have you say. Indeed when he is compelled, ⟨p. 195⟩the Devil himself speaketh better then you: as in Acts 16. 17. he saith, [These men are the servants of the most high God, which show unto us the way of salvation] These are better words then yours: But when he is left to himself, and speaketh of his own, he speaketh just as you do: and shall we believe you when the Devil sets you on, and you speak the words of the lying spirit?

18. And I must needs say that I am the more assured that your words against Religion are false, because I know that they please▪ the Devil, who is the Father of lyes; and are just such as he would have you speak, and would speak himself if he had but liberty, and his appearance would not marr h•• cause. When thou art railing at Godliness, and saying that this Religion is the trouble of the world, and that the servants of Christ are but a company of busie hypocrites, just so would the Devil have thee speak. I can prove it fully from the Scriptures, and from his Nature and designs. You could not speak more agreeably to his mind. If he had hired you, and written down every word which he would have you speak, you could not more punctually obey him. Do you plead against Holiness, and for a careless and ungodly life? Do you despise the righteous, and justifie the wicked? Just so would the Devil have you do. If he stood by you and prompted you (as indeed he doth, though you do not know it) those are the very words that he would have you say. Indeed when he is compelled,