Page:History of the Devil, ancient and modern (2).pdf/7

 creation, as well already finiſhed, as not then be-

gun, to him: which poſt of honor (ſay they)

Satan expected to be conferred on himſelf, next

in honour, majeſty and power to God the ſu-

preme.

In a word, Satan withdrew with all his fol-

lowers male-content and ſhagrined, reſolved to

diſobey this new command, and not yield his obe-

dience to the Son. The learned agree in opinion,

that the number of angels which rebelled with

Satan was infinite; and Mr Milton ſuggeſts in

one place, that there were the greateſt half of

the angel body, or ſeraphic hoſt.

Be their number as it is, numberleſs millons

and legions of millions, that is no part of my

preſent enquiry; Satan the leader, guide and ſu-

perior, as he was author of the celeſtial rebellion,

is ſtill the great head and maſter Devil as before,

under his authority they ſtill act not obeying, but

carrying on the ſame inſurrection againſt God

which they began in heaven; making war ſtill

with heaven, in the perſon of his image and

creature man, and tho' vanquiſhed by the thun-

der of the Son of God, and caſt down headlong

from heaven, they have yet reſumed, or rather

not loſt, either the will or the power of doing

evil

After we have ſeen him ſo ignominiouſly toſſ-

ed out of heaven, we ſhall enquire a little what

he is. We believe there is ſuch a thing, ſuch a

creature as the Devil; and that he may ſtill with