Page:Saducismus Triumphatus.djvu/79

Rh, and perhaps in as much variety of Place and State, as among our selves; so that 'tis not one and the same Person that makes all the compacts with those abused and seduced Souls, but they are divers, and those 'tis like of the meanest and basest quality in the Kingdom of darkness: Which being supposed, I offer this account of the probable design of those wicked Agents, viz. That having none to rule and tyrannize over within the circle of their own Nature and Government, they affect a proud Empire over us, (the desire of Dominion and Authority being largely spread through the whole circumference of degenerated Nature, especially among those whose Pride was their original Transgression) every one of these then desires to get him Vassals to pay him Homage, and to be employ'd like Slaves in the Services of his Lusts and Appetites; to gratifie which desire, 'tis like enough to be provided and allow'd by the constitution of their State and Government, that every wicked spirit shall have those Souls as his property, and particular Servants and Attendants, whom he can catch in such compacts; as those wild Beasts that we can take in Hunting, are by the allowance of the Law our own; and those Slaves that a Man hath purchas'd are his peculiar Goods, and the Vassals of his Will. Or rather those deluding Fiends are like the seducing Fellows we call Spirits, who inveigle Children by their false and flattering Promises, and carry them away to the Plantations of America, to be servilely employ'd there in the works of their profit and advantage. And as those base Agents will humour and flatter the simple unwary Youth, till they are on Shipboard, and without the reach of those that might rescue them from their Hands: In like manner the more mischievous Temper studies to gratifie, please and accommodate those he deals with in this kind, till Death hath launch'd them into the Deep, and they are past the danger of Prayers, Repentance and Endeavours; and then he useth them as pleaseth him. This account I think is not unreasonable, and 'twill fully answer the Objection. For though the matter be not as I have conjectur'd, yet 'twill suggest how it may be conceiv'd; which nulls the pretence, That the Design is unconceivable.