The Minister replied, "The Lord will stop thy malice against him." And then they all went to prayer again, which being ended, the Devil said, "Give me a spade and a shovel, and depart from the house for seven days, and I will make a grave and ly down in it, and shall trouble you no more." The goodman answered, "Not so much as a straw shal be given thee through God's assistance, even though that would do it." The Minister also added, "God shal remove thee in due time." The Spirit answered, "I will not remove for you; I have my commission from Christ to tarry and vex this family." The Minister answered, "A permission thou hast indeed, but God will stop it in due time." The Devil replied, "I have, sir, a commission which perhaps will last longer than your own." The Minister died in the year 1655, in December. The Devil had told them that he had given his commission to Tom to keep. The company enquired at the lad, who said there was a something put into his pocket, but it did not tarry. After this the Minister and the gentlemen arose and went to the place whence the voice seemed to come, to try if they could see or find any thing. After diligent search, nothing being found, the gentlemen began to say, "We think this voice speaks out of the children," for some of them were in their beds. The Foul-Spirit answered, "You lie; God shall judge you for your lying, and I and my father will come and fetch you to hell with warlock thieves:" and so the Devil discharged the gentlemen to speak any thing, saying, "Let him speak that hath a commission (meaning the Minister), for he is the servant of God." The gentlemen, returning back with the Minister, sat down near the place whence the voice seemed to come, and he opening his mouth spake to them after this manner: "The Lord will rebuke this spirit in his own time and cast it out." The Devil answering, said, "It is written in the _9th of Mark_, The Disciples could not cast him out." The Minister replyed, "What the Disciples could not do, yet the Lord, having hightned the parents' faith, for His own glory did cast him out and so shall He thee." The Devil replyed, "It is written in the _4th of Luke_, 'And He departed and left him for a season.'" The Minister said, "The Lord in the dayes of His humiliation not only got the victory over Satan in that assault in the wilderness, but when he came again his success was no better, for it is written (_John 14_), 'Behold the Prince of this World cometh and hath nothing in me,' and being now in glory He will fulfil His promise, and (_Rom. 16_) 'God shal bruise Satan under your feet shortly.'"