Page:History of the Devil, ancient and modern (2).pdf/6

 have had a viſible hand in; ſuch as the Pariſian

maſſacre, the Flemiſh war under the Duke d'Al-

va, the Smithfield fires in the Martin days in

England, and the maſſacres in Ireland; all which

would moſt effectually convince us, that the De-

vil has not been idle in his buſineſs: but I may

meet with theſe again in my way; it is enough,

while I am upon the generals only, to mention

them thus in a ſummary way.

To come to a regular enquiry into Satan's af-

fairs it is needful we ſhould go back to his ori-

ginal, as far as hiſtory and the opinion of the

learned world will give us leave.

It is agreed by all writers, as well ſacred as

profane, this creature we now call a Devil, was

originally an angel of light, a glorious ſeraph;

perhaps the choiceſt of all the glorious ſeraphs.

See how Milton deſcribes his original glory:

And again the ſame author, and upon the ſame

ſubject:

The glorious figure which Satan is ſuppoſed to

make among the thrones and dominions in hea-

ven is ſuch as we may think the higheſt angel in

that exalted train could make; and ſome think

as above, that he was chief of the archangels.

Hence that notion, that the firſt cauſe of his

diſgrace, and on which enſued his rebellion, was

occaſioned upon God's proclaiming his Son gene-

raliſſimo, and with himſelf ſupreme ruler in hea-

ven; giving the dominion of all, his works of