EVIL ANGELS. a There are alfo other Angels, which kept not their first Eftate, but left their own Habitation. b And thefe Angels that finned, God fpared not, but caft them down to Hell, and delivered them into Chains of Darkness, to be referved unto the Judgment of the great Day. And the great Dragon was caft out, that old Serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the World; that Accufer of our Brethren, which accufeth them before God Day and Night; he was caft out, into the Earth, and his Angels were caft out with him: neither was their Place found any more in Hea ven. d The lying Spirit, in the Mouth of the falfe Prophets; the familiar Spirits; and Spirits of Divination, which Men enquired of, that they might make known unto them what they fhould do; and the evil and unclean Spirits, with which Men were poffeffed, and grievously vexed; all thefe were evil Angels, or Devils. e The things which the Gentiles facrificed, they facrificed to Devils, and not to God. For, they worshipped Devils, and Idols of Gold, and Silver, and Brafs, and Stone, and of Wood. f And in the latter Times, fome fhall depart from the Faith, giving heed to feducing Spirits, and Doctrines of Devils. b C a Jude 6. 2 Pet. 2. 4. Jude 6. Rev. 12. 9, 10, 9, 8. Rev. 16. 14. dr Kin. 22. 22. Luke 6.26. Lev. 19. 31. Acts 16. 16. Deut. 18. 10. 1 Sam. 28. 7, 15. Luke 8. 2. Mar. 1. 27, 32, Mat. 15. 22. Mar. 1. 32. I Cor. 10. 20, Rev. 9. 20. I Tim. 4. I. a The a The Devils believe, that there is a God, and tremble; and they know Jefus, who he is, the Holy One of God, the Son of the Moft High. For, with Authority, he commanded the unclean Spirits, and they obeyed him: And, when they faw him, they fell down before him, and cried, faying, Thou art the Son of God. b He gave, alfo, his Difciples Power and Authority over all Devils, and unclean Spirits; and even the Devils were subject unto them, through his Name. Our Adverfary, the Devil, is come down unto us, having great Wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a fhort time; and, he goeth to and fro in the Earth; and walketh up and down in it, as a roaring Lion, feeking whom he may devour. d This is Beelzebub, the Prince, and chief of Devils; who is alfo ftyled, The Prince, and God of this World, the wicked One, the Enemy, and Tempter of Mankind; who had the Power of Death, till Chrift, through Death, deftroyed him. e How art thou fallen from Heaven, O Lucifer, Son of the Morning! Thou, who faidft, I will exalt my Throne above the Stars of God, I will be like the Moft High: behold, thou art fallen, as Lightning, from Heaven. f This is the Prince of the Power of the Air; the Spirit that now worketh in the Children of a Jam. 2. 19. Mar. 3. 11. Mar. 1. 24. Mar. s. 7. Mar. 1. 27. b Luke 9. 1. Mat. 1o. 1. Luke 10, 17. 1 Pet. 5. 8. Rev. 12. 12. Job 1. 7. 1 Pet. 5. 8. a Mat. 12 24. Luke 11. 15. John 12. 31, 2 Cor. 4. 4 Mat. 13. 19, 39. 1 Theff. 3. 5. Heb. 2. 14. 13, 14. Luke 10. 18. f Eph. 2, 2. G 3 If. 14. 12, Difobe Difobedience: and the working of Satan, is, with all Power and Signs, and lying Wonders, and with all Deceivablenefs of Unrighteoufness, in them that perish. a The Devil was a Murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the Truth, because there is no Truth in him. When he fpeaketh a Lye, he fpeaketh of his own; for he is a Liar, and the Father of it. b The Kingdom of Heaven is like unto a Man which fowed good Seed in his Field; but while Men flept, his Enemy came and fowed Tares among the Wheat. He that foweth the good Seed is the Son of Man, the Field is the World; the good Seed are the Children of the Kingdom; but the Tares are the Children of the Wicked One; and the Enemy, that loweth them, is the Devil. In this, the Children of God are manifeft, and the Children of the Devil; whofoever doth not Righteoufnefs, is not of God, neither he that loveth not his Brother. d He that committeth Sin, is of the Devil. For the Devil finneth from the beginning. And they that are of their Father the Devil, will do the Lufts of their Father. e Cain was of that Wicked One, and flew his Brother, because his own Works were Evil, and his Brother's Righteous. f The God of this World hath blinded the Minds of them which believe not, left the Light of the glorious Gofpel of Chrift fhould fhine unto them. a Some hear the Word of God, but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the Word out of their Hearts, left they should believe and be faved. b Sometimes, when the unclean Spirit is gone out of a Man, he returneth again, and taketh with him seven other Spirits, more wicked than himself, and they enter in, and dwell there; and the laft State of that Man is worfe than the first. c Wherefore take unto you the whole Armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the Wiles of the Devil. For we wrestle not against Flesh and Blood; but against Principalities, against Powers, against the Rulers of the Darkness of this World, against spiritual Wickedness in high places. d Be fober, be vigilant; left, by any means, as the Serpent beguiled Eve through his Subtlety, the Tempter should tempt you also, and fo your Minds fhould be corrupted from the Simplicity that is in Christ. e For Satan himself is transformed into an Angel of Light; and therefore it is no great thing, if his Minifters also, viz. False Apostles, and deceitful Workers, be transformed as the Minifters of Righteousness. f Behold, Satan hath defired to have us, that he may fift us as Wheat. Let us therefore watch, and pray, that we enter not into Temptation; left Satan fhould get an Advantage of us, and a Luke 8. 12, 11. Mark 4. 15. Luke 8. 12. b Mat. 12. 43, 44, 45. dr Pet. 5. 8. 2 Cor. 11. 3. 1 с Eph. 6. 13, 11, 12. Thefl. 3. 5. 2 Cor. 11. 3. f Luke 22. 31. Mat. hinder 2 Cor. 11, 14, 15, 13, 15. 26. 41. 2 Cor. 2. 11. 1 Theff. 2. 18. G 4 hinder us, in running the Race that is fet before us. a If we do not give place to the Devil, but refift him, ftedfaft in the Faith, he will flee from But it is difficult for them to recover themfelves out of the Snare of the Devil, who are taken Captive by him at his Will. us. b If any Man, that is called a Brother, be a Fornicator, or Covetous, or an Idolater, or a Railer, or a Drunkard, or an Extortioner, or fuch like wicked Perfon; it is fo judged, and ordered by the Apostles, that, in the Name of our Lord Jefus Chrift, when we are gathered together, with the Power of our Lord Jefus Chrift, fuch a one be delivered unto Satan, for the Destruction of the Flesh; or, that he may learn not to blafpheme; that the Spirit may be faved, in the Day of the Lord Jefus. I Theff. 2. 18. Heb. 12. 1. ь Eph. 4. 27. 1 Pet. 5. 9. 1 Cor. s. II, 13, 3, 4, 5. CHAP. |