The Modern History of the DEVIL.
PART II.
I HAVE examined the antiquities of Satan's hiſ-
tory, and brought his affairs down from the
creation as far as our bleſſed Chriſtian times; eſpe
cially to the coming of the Meſſiah, when one
would think the Devil could have nothing to do
among us. I have indeed but touched at ſome
things which might have admitted of a farther
deſcription of Satan's affairs, and the particulars
of which we may all come to a farther knowledge
of hereafter; yet I think I have ſpoken to the
material part of his conduct, as it relates to his
empire in this world; what has happened to his
more ſublimated government and his angelic ca-
pacities, I ſhall have an occaſion to touch at in
ſeveral ſolid particulars as we go along.
The Meſſiah was now born, the fulneſs of time
was come that the old ſerpent was to have his
head broken, that is to ſay, his empire or domi-
nion over man, which he gained by the fall of our
firſt father and mother in paradiſe, received
a downfal or overthrow.
It is worth obſerving, in order to confirm what
I have already mentioned of the limitation of Sa
tan's power, that not only his angelic ſtrength
ſeems to have received a farther blow upon the
coming of the Son of God into the world, but he
ſeems to have had a blow upon his intellects; his
ſerpentine craft and devil-like ſubtilty ſeem
have been circumciſed and cut ſhort; and inſtead
of his being ſo cunning a fellow as before, when,
as ſaid, it is evident he outwitted all mankind,
not only Eve, Cain, Noah, Lot, and all the pa-
triarchs, but even nations of men, and that in
their public capacity: and thereby led them into
abſurd and ridiculous things, ſuch as the building
