Discourses upon the Existence and Attributes of God

God is so Holy, that he cannot alter a Righteous Law, and man is so averse, that he cares not for, nay cannot fulfil one Tittle; so much doth the Nature of man swell against the Majesty of God. Now an enmity to the Law which is in every sin, implies a perversity against the Authority of God that enacted it.

2. All sin in its nature is the despoiling God of his sole sovereignty, which was probably the first thing the Devil aimed at. That pride was the sin of the Devil, the Scripture gives us some account of, when the Apostle adviseth not a novice, or one that hath but lately embraced the Faith, to be chosen a Bishop. 1 Tim. 3.6. Least being lifted up with Pride, he fall into the condemnation of the Devil; Least he fall into the same sin, for which the Devil was condemned. But in what particular thing this pride was manifest, is not so easily discernible; the ancients generally conceived it, to be an affecting the Throne of God, grounding it on Isaiah 14.12. How art thou fallen, O Lucifer, Son of the morning! for thou hast said in thy Heart, I will ascend into Heaven, I will exalt my Throne above the Stars of God. 'Tis certain the Prophet speaks there of the King of Babylon, and taxeth him for his pride, and gives to him the title of Lucifer, perhaps likening him in his Pride to the Devil, and then it notes plainly the particular sin of the Devil, attempting a share in the sovereignty of God; and some strengthen their conjecture from the Name of the Arch-Angel who contended against Satan. Jude 9. which is Michael, which signifies, who as God? or, who like God? The Name of the Angel giving the superiority to God, intimating the contrary disposition in the Devil, against whom he contended. 'Tis likely his sin was an affecting an equality with God in Empire, or a freedom from the sovereign Authority of God: Because he imprinted such a kind of persuasion on man at his first Temptation, Ye shall be as Gods,