Brethren, I can from a troublesome Experience tell you, that when once you come to Renounce the Service and (as then you must) oppose the Interest of the Devil, he will quickly persecute you with his unwearied Molestations; and you are yet in too good terms with him, if you do not already find him, You Adversary going about like• Roaring Lion, When Sampson was entering upon the work of God, […] was not long before the Lion Roared on him, ⟨p. 48⟩For my own part, I mourn bitterly to think, that I have done so little towards Destroying and Confounding the Kingdom of the Devil; for which, the writing and spreading of Books is none of the least Expedients; but something I have done; and the Wicked One, has like a Dragon, been spitting Fire at me for it. While I was preparing for the Press, one of those little Books which I have sent abroad, the Devil from the mouth of a possessed person, in the Audience of several standers by, threatened me with much Disgrace for what I was about. Whereupon presently and ever-since, those great Agents of the Devil, the modern leaders of the poor deluded Quakers, have in one Pamphlet after another been loading of me with most virulent and malicious Reproaches, in hopes, That some will stick; but the dirt they cast happily proves like that of Oysters; it more cleanses than defiles, The same disturbance, that was given to the Devil by that little Book, I am willing should arise unto him from all the rest of my poor composures; and I suppose he will have it from This, which particularly treats him as our Enemy, and professedly pursues a victory over him. This (which was once a) Land of Uprightness, now is not without some people in it, than which I believe, the Devil has not more devoted and resolved Vassals in all his Territories; people that have sinned against, until they have sinned away, all the strivings of Gods Holy Spirit, and that are now full of all fraudulence and craftiness, and the Enemies of all Righteousness. ⟨p. 49⟩I do expect that if their father can have his will, these will quickly be inspired with a rage that will vent it self a thousand ways against all my poor Endeavours to annoy that Wicked One. And since, 'tis especially by Printing of Sermons that I labour to give most provocation to the Devil, 'twill be no more surprise to me, if I find the Devil assaying by the Printing of Slanders to take his Revenges on me;
Brethren, I can from a troublesome Experience tell you, that when once you come to Renounce the Service and (as then you must) oppose the Interest of the Devil, he will quickly persecute you with his unwearied Molestations; and you are yet in too good terms with him, if you do not already find him, You Adversary going about like• Roaring Lion, When Sampson was entring upon the work of God, 〈…〉 was not long before the Lion Roar'd on him, ⟨p. 48⟩For my own part, I mourn bitterly to think, that I have done so little towards Destroying and Confounding the Kingdom of the Devil; for which, the writing and spreading of Books is none of the least Expedients; but something I have done; and the Wicked One, has like a Dragon, been spitting Fire at me for it. While I was preparing for the Press, one of those little Books which I have sent abroad, the Devil from the mouth of a possessed person, in the Audience of several standers by, threatned me with much Disgrace for what I was about. Whereupon presently and ever-since, those great Agents of the Devil, the modern leaders of the poor deluded Quakers, have in one Pamphlet after another been loading of me with most virulent and malicious Reproaches, in hopes, That some will stick; but the dirt they cast happily proves like that of Oysters; it more cleanses than defiles, The same disturbance, that was given to the Devil by that little Book, I am willing should arise unto him from all the rest of my poor composures; and I suppose he will have it from This, which particularly treats him as our Enemy, and professedly pursues a victory over him. This (which was once a) Land of Uprightness, now is not without some people in it, than which I believe, the Devil has not more devoted and resolved Vassals in all his Territories; people that have sinned against, until they have sinned away, all the strivings of Gods Holy Spirit, and that are now full of all fraudulence and craftiness, and the Enemies of all Righteousness. ⟨p. 49⟩I do expect that if their father can have his will, these will quickly be inspired with a rage that will vent it self a thousand ways against all my poor Endeavours to annoy that Wicked One. And since, 'tis especially by Printing of Sermons that I labour to give most provocation to the Devil, 'twill be no more surprise to me, if I find the Devil assaying by the Printing of Slanders to take his Revenges on me;
