Page:History of the Devil, ancient and modern (2).pdf/9

 his actions and connections. This we are con-

vinced of, when we come to ſpeak of his ſhape, or

perſonality of ſubſtance; and as we ſhall have

occaſion to ſay a good deal on that ſcore after-

wards, we leave the reader, from the credibility

of the witneſſes, to attach what degree of belief

he pleaſes to it. Only we are certain, whatever

his puiſſance is as prince of the power of the air,

it is limited here, and that in two particulars:

firſt, he is limitated from aſſuming a body, or

body ſhapes with ſubſtance: and ſecondly, from

exerting ſeraphic powers, and acting with that

ſupernatural force, which as an angel he was cer-

tainly veſted with before the Fall and which we

are not certain is yet taken from him: or at moſt,

we do not know how much it may or may not be

diminished by his degeneracy, and by the blow

given him at his expulſion. This we are certain,

that be his power, greater or leſs, he is reſtrained

from exerciſing it in this world; and he who was

once equal to the angel who killed 180,000 men

in one night, is not able now without a new com-

miſſion, to take away the life of one Job, nor touch

any thing he had.

But let us conſider him then limited and re-

ſtrained as he is, yet he remains a mighty, a ter-

rible, an immortal being, far ſuperior to man as

well in the dignity of his nature, as is the dread-

ful powers he retains ſtill about him. It is true

the brain ſick heads of our enthuſiaſtics print him

blacker than he is; and as I have ſaid, wickedly

represent him clothed with terrors that do not

really belong to him; as if the power of good

and evil was wholly veſted in him, and that he

was placed in the throne of hie Maker, to diſtri

bute both puniſhments and rewards, in this they

are very wrong, terrifying and deluding fanciful

people about him, till they turn their heads and