Book XI.

CHAP. VII.
or THE ORDER OF EVIL SPIRLTS, AND THEIR FALL, AND DIFFERENT NATURES-.
THERE are fome of the fchool of theologians, who diftribute the evil fpirits into nine degrees, as contrary to the nine orders of angels. Therefore, the firftof thefe, which are called falfe gods, who, ufurping the name of God, would be worlhipped for gods, and require facrifices and adorations; as that devil who faid to Chrift, “ If thou wilt fall down and worship me, I will give thee all thefe things,” fhewing him all the kingdoms of the world ; and the prince of thefe is he who faid, I will afcend above the height of the clouds, and will be like to the Molt High, who is called Beelzebub, that is, an old god. In the fecond place, follows the fpirits of lies, of which fort was he who went forth, and was a lying fpirit in the mouth of the prophet of Ahab ; and the prince of thefe is the ferpent Pytho, from whence Apollo is called Pythius, and that woman a Pythonefs, or witch, in Samuel, and the other in the gofpel, who had Pytho in her belly. Therefore, thefe kind of devils join themfelvesto the oracles, and delude men by divinations and predictions, fo that they may be deceived. In the third order, are the velfels of iniquity, which are called velfels of wrath : thefe are the inventors of evil things, and all wicked arts; as in Plato, that devil Theutus, who taught cards and dice ; for all wickednefs, malice, and deformity, proceeds from thefe, of which in Genejis , in the benedictions of Simeon and Levi, Jacob faid, “ velfels of iniquity are in their habitations, into their counfel let not my foul come;” which the Pfahmft calls velfels of death, Ifaiah , velfels of fury ; and ‘Jq&emiah, velfels of wrath ; Ezekiel, velfels of de- troying and flaying; and their prince is Belial, which flgnifies, without a yoke, and difobedient, a prevaricator, and an apoftate ; of whom Paul to the Corinthi- ans fays, “ what agreement has Chrilt with Belial ?” Fourthly, follow the re- vengers of evil, and their prince is Afmodeus, viz. caufing judgment. After thefe, in the fifth place, come the deluders, who imitate miracles, and ferve
conjurers
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TkeSfiint .An tic A rut
Pub . by Lackin/rfon & -Allen,.
R. Griffith J:uht.
"Harrell Del