Page:History of the Devil, ancient and modern (2).pdf/4

 2. He fears God. This you have the Devil's

own authority for; and that in a confeſſion againſt

himſelf. 1. He confeſſes Chriſt to be the Son of

God; but no thanks to him for that, for it does

not need the Devil's evidence 2. He acknow-

ledges he may be tormented. 3. He acknowledges

that there is a time appointed when he ſhall be

tormented. But when, and by what means this

ſhall be executed, I think as needleſs, as it is im-

poſſible to know on this ſide the blue blanket.

I will, I confeſs, come very much within the

compaſs of this part of my diſcourſe, to give an

account, or at leaſt to make an eſſay towards it,

of the ſhare the Devil has had in the ſpreading

religion in the world, and of dividing and ſubdi-

viding opinions in religion; perhaps to eke it out,

and make it reach the farther; and alſo to ſhow

how far he is, or has made himſelf miſſionary of

the famous clan for propagating the faith. It is

true, we find him heartily employed, in almoſt

every corner of the world, promulgating errors;

but that may require an hiſtory by itſelf.

I think it no injury at all to the Devil, to ſay

that he had a great hand in the old holy war, as

it was ignorantly and enthuſiaſtically called; ſtir-

ring up the Chriſtian princes and powers of Europe

to run a madding after the Turks and Saracens,

and make war with theſe impatient people above

a thouſand miles off, only becauſe they had enter-

ed into God's heritage when he had fairly turned

it into a common, and laid open for the next

comer, ſpending their nation's treaſure, and em-

barking their kings and people (I ſay) in a war

above a thouſand miles off, filling their heads

with that religious madneſs, called in thoſe days,

Holy Zeal, to recover the Holy Land, the Se-

pulchres of Chriſt and the ſaints, and, as they

called falſely, the Holy City, tho' true religion