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have had a viſible hand in; ſuch as the Pariſian
maſſacre, the Flemiſh war under the Duke d'Al-
va, the Smithfield fires in the Martin days in
England, and the maſſacres in Ireland; all which
would moſt effectually convince us, that the De-
vil has not been idle in his buſineſs: but I may
meet with theſe again in my way; it is enough,
while I am upon the generals only, to mention
them thus in a ſummary way.
To come to a regular enquiry into Satan's af-
fairs it is needful we ſhould go back to his ori-
ginal, as far as hiſtory and the opinion of the
learned world will give us leave.
It is agreed by all writers, as well ſacred as
profane, this creature we now call a Devil, was
originally an angel of light, a glorious ſeraph;
perhaps the choiceſt of all the glorious ſeraphs.
See how Milton deſcribes his original glory:
Satan, ſo call him now; his former name
Is heard no more in heaven; he of the firſt,
If not the firſt archangel; great in power,
In favour and pre-eminence.
Par. Loſt, book v.
And again the ſame author, and upon the ſame
ſubject:
—Brighter once amidſt the hoſt,
Of angels, then that ſtar the ſtars among.
Ib. book vii.
The glorious figure which Satan is ſuppoſed to
make among the thrones and dominions in hea-
ven is ſuch as we may think the higheſt angel in
that exalted train could make; and ſome think
as above, that he was chief of the archangels.
Hence that notion, that the firſt cauſe of his
diſgrace, and on which enſued his rebellion, was
occaſioned upon God's proclaiming his Son gene-
raliſſimo, and with himſelf ſupreme ruler in hea-
ven; giving the dominion of all, his works of
