upon all the Search into Things, that I am
able to make, amounts to no more than this; that upon any extraordinary
Emission of sulphureous or of nitrous Particles, either in a close Room,
or in any not very open Place, if the Quantity be great, a Candle or
Lamp, or any such little Blaze of Fire will seem to be, or to _burn
blue_; and if then they can prove that any such Effluvia attends or is
emitted from a Spirit, then when SATAN is at Hand it may be so.

But then 'tis begging the Question grossly, because no Man can assure us
that the Devil has any sulphureous Particles about him.

It is true, the Candles burn thus in Mines and Vaults, and damp Places;
and 'tis as true that they will do so upon Occasion of very damp, stormy
and moist Air, when an extraordinary Quantity of Vapours are supposed to
be dispers'd abroad, as was the Case when this happen'd; and if there
was any Thing of that in it on that _Monday_ Night, the Candles might,
perhaps, burn blue upon that Occasion; but that the _Devil_ was abroad
upon any extraordinary Business that Night, that I cannot grant, unless
I have some better Testimony than the _old Lady_ that heard the
Footman's out-cry but by halves, or than Mrs. _Betty_, who first fancied
the Candles _burnt blue_; so I must suspend my Judgment till I hear
farther.

This Story however may solve a great many of those Things which pass for
Apparitions in the World, and which are laid to the Devil's Charge, tho'
he really may know nothing of the Matter; and this would bring me to
defend _Satan_ in many Things, wherein he may truly be said to suffer
wrongfully; and if I thought it would oblige him, I might say something
to his Advantage this Way; however, I'll venture a Word or two for an
injur'd _Devil_, take it as you will.

First, it is certain, that as this Invisibility of the _Devil_ is very
much to our Prejudice, so the Doctrine of his Visibility is a great
Prejudice to him, as we make Use of it.

By his Invisibility he is certainly vested with infinite Advantages
against us; while he can be present with us, and we know nothing of the
Matter, he informs himself of all our Measures, and arms himself in the
best and most suitable manner to injure and assault us, as he can
counteract all our secret concerted Designs, disappoint all our Schemes,
and except when Heaven apparently concerns it self to over-rule him, can
defeat all our Enterprizes, break all our Measures, and do us Mischief
in almos