Text: The black devil or the apostate Together with the wolf… by Thomas Adams | AskReformation

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Reader, this Book stands at the mercy of thy capacity for thy censure. Perhaps thou wilt judge it done for oppositions sake; the Black Devil to the White: perhaps for imitation; perhaps for affectation. Thou mayst for me causes enough in thy imagination to produce it, yet miss the right. It was to show thy self, and all other perusers, the blackness of Sin; and among the rest, of Apostasy. Would you not behold Impiety in the true colours: you may for bear. If you would, look here, and detest it. If you will take out a good lesson, and hate to do it; neither you nor I shall have cause to repent our labours. Once we must give account, what we have heard, and seen, and done; when the pleasures of Sin, like old surfeits, shall give a bitter reluctancy in the stomach of the conscience; and we are going to Gods cold earth. Learn we now to prevent the doing of that, which we shall one day be sorry to have done. ⟨image 4⟩There is no man living, but shall repent of his wickedness, either on earth, or in hell. Read and be instructed. If you find just faults here, I submit my weakness to your censure. In omnibus meis scriptis, non modo pium Lectorem, sed liberum correctorem ¹desidero. But to those Censurers, Qui vel non intelligendo reprehendunt, vel reprehendendo non intelligunt, ²I wish either a more sound understanding, or more sober affection.

REader, this Booke stands at the mercy of thy capacity for thy censure. Perhaps thou wilt iudge it done for oppositions sake; the Blacke Deuill to the White: perhaps for imitation; perhaps for affectation. Thou mayst for me causes enough in thy imagination to produce it, yet misse the right. It was to shew thy selfe, and all other perusers, the blacknesse of Sinne; and among the rest, of Apostacie. Would you not behold Impiety in the true colours: you may for beare. If you would, look here, and detest it. If you will take out a good lesson, and hate to doe it; neither you nor I shall haue cause to repent our labours. Once we must giue account, what we haue heard, and seene, and done; when the pleasures of Sinne, like old surfets, shall giue a bitter reluctancie in the stomacke of the conscience; and wee are going to Gods colde earth. Learne wee now to preuent the doing of that, which we shall one day be sorry to haue done. ⟨image 4⟩There is no man liuing, but shall repent of his wickednesse, either on earth, or in hell. Reade and be instructed. If you finde iust fau•ts heere, I submit my weaknesse to your censure. In omnibus meis scriptis, non modo pium Lectorem, sed liberum correctorem ¹desidero. But to those Censurers, Qui vel non intelligendo reprehendunt, vel reprehendendo non intelligunt, ²I wish either a more sound vnderstanding, or more sober affection.

1Aug in Prooem. Lib. 3. de Trin.
2Idem co•tra Fa•stum, Lib. 22. Cap. 34.

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6. He enters in with his crew; not purposing to be as a Guest, but a Tenant; not a Tenant, but a Land-Lord; not a Land-Lord, but a King, a Commander, a Tyrant: till at last he may presume of an indubitate right. As Usurpers that come to a Kingdom by a violent or litigious title, are at first so modest & dainty, that they sign not their Grants, Edicts, and such public Acts in their own particular and singular names, but require the conscription, and evident consent of their Counsel. But once established by succession, and unrivalled by opposition, they grow peremptorily confident in their own right and power, and in their most tyrannous acts dare sign, Teste meipso. So Satan at first erection of his Kingdom in the Jews, conscious of his unjust title, was content to admit the help of fond Ceremonies, Tales, Traditions, &c. to make for him against Christ, whose Kingdom he usurps. This he condescended to out of a mannerly cozenage, and for the more subtle insinuation into the Jewish hearts. But now established in his Throne and confirmed in his title, by their hard-hartednes, and wilful obstinacy in rejecting their Messiah; he ⟨p. 5⟩is bold to sign all his oppositions to the Gospel with a Teste meipso.

6. He enters in with his crew; not purposing to be as a Guest, but a Tenant; not a Tenant, but a Land-Lord; not a Land-Lord, but a King, a Commander, a Tyrant: till at last he may presume of an indubitate right. As Vsurpers that come to a Kingdome by a violent or litigious title, are at first so modest & dainty, that they signe not their Graunts, Edicts, and such publike Acts in their owne particular and singular names, but require the conscription, and euident consent of their Counsell. But once established by succession, and vnriual'd by opposition, they grow peremptorily confident in their owne right and power, and in their most tyrannous acts dare signe, Teste meipso. So Sathan at first erection of his Kingdome in the Iewes, conscious of his vniust title, was content to admit the helpe of fond Ceremonies, Tales, Traditions, &c. to make for him against Christ, whose Kingdome hee vsurpes. This he condiscended to out of a mannerly couzenage, and for the more subtle insinuation into the Iewish hearts. But now established in his Throne and confirmed in his title, by their hard-hartednes, and wilfull obstinacy in reiecting their Messias; hee ⟨p. 5⟩is bold to signe all his oppositions to the Gospell with a Teste meipso.

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The material circumstances concerning both Fort and Captain, hold and holder, place and person, may be generally reduced to these three. ⟨p. 8⟩The unclean Spirits Egress; forsaking the Hold, wherein we have his Unroosting: wherein observe the | Person | going out Manner Measure of Unresting, or discontent, which appears in his Travel. He Walks. Trial. In dry places. Trouble. Seeking rest. Event. Findeth none. Regress; striving for a reentry into the he lost; considered Intentively; wherein are regardable his Resolution. I will. Revolution. Return. Descript. of his seat. House Affection to the same place, My house, whence I came out. Inventively. For he findeth in it Clearness. It is empty. Cleanness. Swept. Trimness. Garnished. Ingress; which consists in his fortifying the Hold; manifested by his Associates; for he increaseth his troops, who are described by their Nature. Spirits. Number. Seven. Measure of Malice, more Wicked. Assault; to the repossessing of the place; testified by their Invasion. They enter. Inhabitation. Dwell. Cohabitation. They dwell there together.

The materiall circumstances concerning both Fort and Captaine, hold and holder, place and person, may be generally reduced to these three. ⟨p. 8⟩The vncleane Spirits Egresse; forsaking the Hold, wherein wee haue his Vnroosting: wherin obserue the | Person | going out Manner Measure of Vnresting, or disconteut, which appeares in his Trauell. He Walkes. Tryall. In dry places. Trouble. Seeking rest. Euent. Findeth none. Regresse; striuing for a reentry into ye he lost; consider'd Intentiuely; wherinare regardable his Resolution. I will. Revolution. Returne. Descript. of his seat. House Affection to the same place, My house, whēce I came out. Inventiuely. For hee findeth in it Clearnesse. It is empty. Cleannesse. Swept. Trimnesse. Garnished. Ingresse; which consists in his fortifying the Hold; manifested by his Associates; for he encreaseth his troopes, who are describd by their Nature. Spirits. Number. Seven. Measure of Malice, more Wicked. Assault; to the repossessing of the place; testifyed by their Invasion. They enter. Inhabitation. Dwell. Cohabitation. They dwell there together.