do such things as he; he would call them Fools and Noddies, and
charge them for being frighted with the talk of unseen Bugbears;
and would encourage them, if they would be men indeed, to labour
after the attainment of this his excellent art. He would often-
times please himself {90a} with the thoughts of what he could do in
this matter, saying within himself; I can be religious, and
irreligious, I can be any thing, or nothing; I can swear, and speak
against swearing; I can lye, and speak against lying; I can drink,
wench, be unclean, and defraud, and not be troubled for it: Now I
enjoy my self, and am Master of mine own wayes, and not they of me.
This I have attained with much study, great care, and more pains.
But this his talk should be only with himself, to his wife, who he
knew durst not divulge it; or among his Intimates, to whom he knew
he might say any thing.

Atten. Did I call him before an Atheist? I may call him now a
Devil, or a man possessed with one, if not with many. I think that
there cannot be found in every corner such an one as this. True,
it is said of King Ahaz, that be sinned more and more; and of Ahab,
that he sold himself to work wickedness; and of the men of Sodom,
that they were sinners exceedingly before the Lord. {90b}

Wise. An Atheist he was no doubt, if there be such a thing as an
Atheist in the world, but for all his brags of perfection and
security in his wickedness, I believe that at times God did let
down fire from Heaven into his Conscience. True, I believe he
would quickly put it out again, and grow more desperate and wicked
afterward, but this also turned to his destruction, as afterward
you may hear. {90c}