Page:History of the devil, ancient and modern (3).pdf/4

 (4) appointed when he ſhall be tormented; But when and by what means this ſhall be executed, I think as needleſs, as it is impoſible to know on this ſide the blue blanket. It will I confeſs, come very much within the com- paſs 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 ſubdividing opinions in religion ; perhaps, to eke it out, and make it reach the further; and alſo to ſhew 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 al- moſt every corner of the world promulgating er- rors; 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 ; ſtirring up the Chriſtian Princes and powers of Europe to run a madding after the Turks and Saracens, and make war with the innocent people above a thouſand miles off, only becauſe they entered into God's heritage when he had fairly turned it into a common, and laid open for the next comer; ſpending their nations trea- ſure, and embarking 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 ſepulchres of Chriſt and the ſaints, and as they called falſely the Holy City, though true religion ſays it was the accur ſed city, and not worth ſpending one drop of blood for. This religious bubble was certainly of Satan, who, as he craftily drew them in, ſo like a true devil, he left them in the lurch when they came there, faced about to the Saracens, animated the immortal Saladin against them, and managed ſo dextrouſly that he left the bones of about thirteen or fourteen hundred thouſand