ers, as unlawful, as that which lies
in the mid-way between Magick and Imposture, and partakes not a little
of both._ Men consult the Aspects of Planets, whose Northern or Southern
motions receive denominations from a _Caelestial Dragon_, till the
_Infernal Dragon_ at length insinuate into them, with a _Poison_ of
_Witchcraft_ that can't be cured. Has there not also been a world of
_discontent_ in our Borders? 'Tis no wonder, that the _fiery Serpents_
are so Stinging of us; We have been a most _Murmuring Generation_. It is
not Irrational, to ascribe the late Stupendious growth of _Witches_
among us, partly to the bitter _discontents_, which Affliction and
Poverty has fill'd us with: it is inconceivable, what advantage the
Devil gains over men, by _discontent_. Moreover, the Sin of _Unbelief_
may be reckoned as perhaps the chief _Crime_ of our Land. We are told,
_God swears in wrath, against them that believe not;_ and what follows
then but this, _That the Devil comes unto them in wrath?_ Never were the
offers of the _Gospel_, more freely tendered, or more basely despised,
among any People under the whole Cope of Heaven, than in this _N. E._
Seems it at all marvellous unto us, that the _Devil_ should get such
footing in our Country? Why, 'tis because the _Saviour_ has been
slighted here, perhaps more than any where. The Blessed Lord Jesus
Christ has been profering to us, _Grace, and Glory, and every good
thing_, and been alluring of us to Accept of Him, with such Terms as
these, _Undone Sinner, I am All; Art thou willing that I should be thy
All?_ But, as a proof of that Contempt which this Unbelief has cast upon
these proffers, I would seriously ask of the so many Hundreds above a
Thousand People within these Walls; which of you all, O how few of you,
can indeed say, _Christ is mine, and I am his, and he is the Beloved of
my Soul?_ I would only say thus much: When the precious and glorious
Jesus, is Entreating of us to Receive _Him_, in all His _Offices_, with
all His _Benefits_; the Devil minds what Respect we pay unto that
Heavenly Lord; if we _Refuse Him that speaks from Heaven_, then he that,
_Comes from Hell_, does with a sort of claim set in, and cry out, _Lord,
since this Wretch is not willing that thou shouldst have him, I pray,
let me have him._ And thus, by the just vengeance of Heaven, the Devil
becomes a _Master_, a _Prince_, a _God_, unto the miserable Unbelievers:
but O what are many of them then hurried unt