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account of my low condition, my foolish way of living for some time past, hath been so great that it hath deprived me of all the necessaries of life. To this the gentleman replies, with a kind of smiling countenance, if you will be contented to serve me, I shall supply you with a sufficiency of money all the days of your life. Likewise, you shall have a suffcient quantity of all the pleasant things you desire.
Now, this gentleman was the devil, come to tempt him, at which Alexander was so struck with amazement, that he readily thanked the gentleman, and told him that he would comply with his offer. The devil told him (for by this time he knew that it was the devil) that he was to be at his disposal thirteen years after that time. Then the devil, having given him a very large sum of money, did take his leave and depart. This wretch went home, and indulged himself in all kinds of wickedness. However, he would ⟨sometimes⟩ think upon his end that was ⟨fast⟩ approaching, and would sometimes ⟨cry⟩ out in bitterness of soul, oh! if I had ⟨liberty⟩ to address a throne of grace, as ⟨in⟩ former times. His appointed time ⟨drew⟩ very near, being the last year;
