uise his Devil's Foot, or Hoof, but that it must
appear, under whatever Habit he shews himself; and the Reason I gave
holds good still, _namely_, that he may be more effectually conceal'd
when he goes abroad without it: For if the People were fully persuaded
that the _Devil_ could not appear without this Badge of his Honour, or
Mark of his Infamy, _take it as you will_; and that he was bound also to
shew it upon all Occasions, it would be natural to conclude, that
whatever frightful Appearances might be seen in the World, if the
Cloven-Foot did not also appear, we had no Occasion to look for the
_Devil_, or so much as to think of him, much less to apprehend he was
near us; and as this might be a Mistake, and that the _Devil_ might be
there while we thought our selves so secure, it might on many Occasions
be a Mistake of very ill Consequence, and in particular, as it would
give the _Devil_ room to act in the Dark, and not be discover'd, where
it might be most needful to know him.

From this short Hint, thus repeated, I draw a new Thesis, namely, That
_Devil_ is most dangerous that has no Cloven-Foot; or, if you will have
it in Words more to the common Understanding, the _Devil_ seems to be
most dangerous when he goes without his Cloven-Foot.

And here a learned Speculation offers it self to our Debate, and which
indeed I ought to call a Council of Casuists, and Men learned in the
_Devil_'s Politicks, to determine:

Whether is most hurtful to the World, the _Devil_ walking about without
his Cloven-Foot, or the Cloven-Foot walking about without the _Devil_?

It is indeed a nice and difficult Question, and merits to be well
enquir'd into; for which Reason, and diverse others, I have referr'd it
to be treated with some Decency, and as a Dispute of Dignity sufficient
to take up a Chapter by itself.

CHAP. VII.

_Whether is most hurtful to the World, the_ Devil _walking about without
his Cloven-Foot, or the Cloven-Foot walking about without the_ Devil?

In discussing this most critical Distinction of Satan's private Motions,
I must, as the Pulpit Gentlemen direct us, explain the Text, and let you
know what I mean by several dark Expressions in it, that I may not be
understood to talk (as the _Devil_ walks) in the dark.

1. As to the Devil's walking about.

2. His walking without his Cloven-Foot.

3. The Cloven-Foot walking about without the _Devil_.

Now as I study Brevity, and yet wou