An essay for the recording of illustrious providences

It fell out once that the Devil came to Mr. Earl in Mr. Liddal's shape, and as Mr. Earl's custom was, he did propose to the seeming Mr. Liddal his cases of Conscience, but found that Mr. Liddal did not Discourse after his ordinary rate, which made him suspect whether he was not imposed upon by a deceitful Daemon. The next Day going to Mr. Liddal's House, he enquired whether he was with him the Day before, Mr. Liddal told him that he was not; then said Mr. Earl it was my Enemy ⟨p. 216⟩in your shape. What a miserable Man am I, that know not when I speak with my Enemy or with my Friend? To which Mr. Liddal replied, if you would know when you speak with a Spirit or with a Man, remember and follow the advice of Christ; who when he appeared to his Disciples after his Resurrection, and they thought he had been a Spirit, and were therefore troubled; he said to them, bandle me and see, for a Spirit hath not Flesh and Bones as you see me have, Luk.24.39. This Advice Mr. Earl followed. For not long after the Devil coming to him in Mr. Liddal's shape, he went to take hold on his Arms, but could feel no substance, only a vanishing shadow. It seems that this Mr. Earl was once an Atheist, that did not believe that the•e was either God or Devil, & would of on walk in solitary and dismal places, wishing for the fight of a Spirit; and that he was first assaulted by a Devil in a Church-yard. And though God mercifully gave him Repentance yet he was miserably haunted with an evil Spirit all his days. I find that Mr. Clark in his first Vol. of Examples, Chap. 104. P.510. hath some part of this strange Providence, but he mentions not Mr. Earl's Name. A Gentleman worthy of credit affirmed this Relation to be most certainly true, according to ⟨p. 217⟩the particulars which have been declared. I have thought it therefore not unworthy the publication.

It fell out once that the Devil came to Mr. Earl in Mr. Liddal's shape, and as Mr. Earl's custom was, he did propose to the seeming Mr. Liddal his cases of Conscience, but found that Mr. Liddal did not Discourse after his ordinary rate, which made him suspect whether he was not imposed upon by a deceitful Daemon. The next Day going to Mr. Liddal's House, he enquired whether he was with him the Day before, Mr. Liddal told him that he was not; then said Mr. Earl it was my Enemy