The divine life in three treatises

Yea worse then so: ungodly men are children of the Devil, so called by Jesus Christ himself, Joh. 8. 44. because they have much of the nature of the Devil, and the lusts of their father they will do; yea they are taken captive by him at his will, 2 Tim. 2. 26. They are the servants of sin, and do the drudgery that so vile a Master sets them on, Joh. 8. 34. Certainly as ⟨p. 249⟩the spirits of the just are so like to Angels, that Christ saith, we shall be as they and equal to them; so the wicked are nearer kin to Devils then they themselves will easily believe. They are as like him as children to their Father: He is a liar, and so are they: He is a hater of God, and godliness, and godly men, and so are they: He is a murderer, and would fain devour the holy seed; and such are they. He envieth the progress of the Gospel, and the prosperity of the Church, and the increase of Holiness; and so do they. He hath a special malice against the most powerful and successful Preachers of the Word of God, and against the most zealous and eminent Saints; and so have they. He cares not by what lies and fictions he disgraceth them, nor how cruelly he useth them; No more do they, (or some of them at least:) He cherisheth licentiousness, sensuality and impiety; and so do they. If they do seem better in their adversity and restraint, yet try them but with prosperity, and power, and you shall see quickly how like they are to devils. And shall we delight more to converse with brutes and incarnate devils, than with God? Is it not a more high and excellent conversation to Walk with God, and live to Him, then to be companions of such degenerate men, that have almost forfeited the reputation of humanity? Alas, they are companions so deluded and ignorant, and yet so wilful; so miserable, and yet so confident and secure, that they are, to a believing eye, the most lamentable sight that the whole world can show us out of hell. And how sad a life must it then needs be, to converse with such, were it not for the hope that we have of furthering their recovery and Salvation!

Yea worse then so: ungodly men are children of the Devil, so called by Jesus Christ himself,