It seems, the Fellow's desire to be assur'd of 21 Years Life, was chiefly, that during that Time, he might be as wicked as he would, and should yet be sure not to be hang'd, nay, to be free from all Punishment; upon this Foot 'tis said he commenc'd Rogue, and committed a great many Robberies and other villanous Things; now it seems the _Devil_ was pretty true to his Bargain in several of those things; particularly, that two or three times when the Fellow was taken up for petty Crimes, and call'd for his old Friend, he came and frighted the Constables so, that they let the Offender get away from them: But at Length having done some capital Crime, a Set of Constables, or such like Officers, seiz'd upon him, who were not to be frighted with the _Devil_, in what Shape soever he appear'd; so that they carry'd him off, and he was committed to _Newgate_ or some other Prison as effectual. Nor could Satan with all his Skill unlock his Fetters, much less the Prison Doors; But he was try'd, convicted, and executed. The Fellow in his Extremity, _they say_, expostulated with the _Devil_ for his Bargain, the Term of 21 Years it seems not being expir'd. But the _Devil_, it is said, shuffl'd with him, told him a good while, he would get him out, bid him have Patience and stay a little, and thus led him on, till he came as it were within Sight of the Gallows, that is to say, within a Day or two of his Execution; when the _Devil_ cavill'd upon his Bargain, told him, he agreed to let him live 21 Years, and he had not hindred him, but that he did not Covenant to cause him to live that Time; that there was a great deal of Difference between doing and suffering; that he was to suffer him to live, and that he did; but he could not make him live when he had brought himself to the Gallows. Whether this Story were true or not, for you must not expect we Historians should answer for the Discourse between the _Devil_ and his Chaps, because we were not privy to the Bargain: I say, whether it was true or not, the Inference is to our Purpose several Ways. 1. It confirms what I have said of the Knavery of the _Devil_ in his Dealings, and that when he has Stock-jobb'd with us on the best Conditions he can get, he very seldom performs his Bargain. 2. It confirms what I have likewise said, that the _Devil_'s Power is limited; with this Addition, that he not only cannot destroy the Life of Man, but that he cannot preserve it; _in short_, he can neither prevent or bring on our Destruction.