The Black Devil, Part 3
2. By Quality
He is Vncleane; and that in regard of his
Condition.
Perdition.
Condition or property in himselfe: Perdition, which he doth worke vponupon others; for hee labours to infect man, that he may make him, both in wickednesse, and wretchednesse, like himselfe.
1. Vncleane, in respect of his owne Condition. The Deuill was by creation good. God made him an Angel of light; he made himselfe an Angel of darknesse. Gen. 1. 31.God saw eueryevery thing that he had made: and behold, it was very good. If eueryevery parcel of the Creators workmanship was perfect; without denial those Angels which once stood before his face, and attended the hests of the Lord of hosts, were principally perfect. Therefore the deuill, as he is a creature, is good: according to S. Augustine. Ipsius Diaboli natura, De Ciuit. Dei. lib. 19. cap. 13.in quantum natura est, non est mala. The nature of the deuill, insomuch as it is a nature, is not euill. But Iohn. 8. When he speaketh a lye, he speaketh of his Iohn 8, 14.owne. He deriued his nature from God, but the depriuation of it from himselfe. He was good by generation, is euill by degeneration. In that he is Euill, or Deuill, he may thanke himfelfe for it. A Spirit of Gods, vncleane of his owne making. Quòd spiritus, a Deo est: quòd impurus, a seipso.
2. Vncleane, by his operation and effects.
His labour & delight is to make man as vnclean, as himselfe. He striues to make Iudas his heart foule with couetousnesse, Absalons with treason, Gehesis with bribes, Cains with murder, Ieroboams with Idolatry, nay euen Dauids with adultery. God is Purity: and Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shal see Math. 5. 8.God. But a soule soyld and foyld with lust, drunkennes, swearing, hypocrisie, auarice, is an vncleane habitacle for an vncleane spirit: a fowle euill, for a fowle deuill. EueryEvery sinne is vncleane; but there is one sin called vncleannes: as if it were more immediatly deriued from the Deuill, and more naturally pleasing him. Heereby God is robbed of that he bought with so deare a price, & the member of Christ 1 Cor. 6. 15.is made the member of an Harlot. It is continually ioyned with fornication, adultery, whore-hunting. Ephes. 5. 3. 5. Colos. 3. 5. Saint Paul reasons against this sin, by an argument drawne ab absurdo; to couple that body to an Harlot, which should mystically be vnited to Christ. Not vnlike that of the Poet:
Humano capiti ceruicem iungere equinam. And Horat.howsoeuer this debauched age, with a monstrous impudence, will call it either no sinne, or peccadillo, a little sinne; yet it hath that power and effect, to make men as like to the Deuill, as an vncleane body may be to an vncleane spirit. Call it what you wil, blanch it with apologies, candy it with natures delights, parget it with concealments; vncleannes is vncleannes still, and like the Deuill. Vnlesse (as in the Legend of Saint Anthony; that when his Host set him a Toade on the table, and tolde him, it was Sedul.written in the Gospel, De omni quod tibi aponitur, comedes: Thou shalt eat of such things as are set before thee: hee with the signe of the Crosse made it a Capon ready roasted.) you can metamorphose Satans poysons, Toades and Serpents, feculent and banefull sinnes, into nutrimentall vertues, wash the Black-mores skin white, and make leprosies faire and sound; the sinne of vncleannesse will make you like this vncleane spirit.
Let all this teach vsus, not to hate the essence, but the workes of the Deuill. His nature, abstractiuely consider'd, is good; but as hee is wicked, and a prouoker to wickednesse, hate him. In regard of his excellent knowledge gather'd by long obseruation, and comprehension of the seminary vertues, he is called Daemon. 2. For his enuy, emnity, Satan. 3. For his command, Beelzebub. 4. For his power, the strong man. 5. Lastly, for his pollution, an vncleane spirit. Continually Deuil, because he striues continually to Doe euil. As these prauities shew themselues in him by domination, and denomination, hate him. So doe all: so say all. An obstinate sinner returnes an honest reproofe, with I defie the Deuil: I will shielde my selfe from Satan as well as my admonisher: the foule fiend shall hauehave no power ouer me. Yet still deafes himselfe to the cry of his owne Conscience, that hee may liue the more licentiously. But alasse! Satan is not such a babe to be outfaced with a word of defiance. He can beare a few invectiues, so hee may bee sure of the soule: like an Vsurer, that can endure to bee raild on, so his money comes trolling in. Let the foxe hauehave his prey, though with curses. But it is a lamentable course to defie a Lyon, yet runne into his clutches. Be not vncleane, and be secure.