Discourses upon the Existence and Attributes of God

3. Let it be considered also by us that own the Scripture, that the Devil deems it ⟨p. 10⟩impossible to root out this sentiment. It seems to be so perpetually fixed, that the Devil did not think fit to tempt man to the denial of the Existence of a Deity, but persuaded him to believe he might ascend to that Dignity and become a God himself, Gen. 3.1. Hath God said? and he there owns him ver. 5. Ye shall become as Gods. He owns God in the question he asks the Woman, and persuades our first Parents to be Gods themselves. And in all stories both Ancient and Modern, the Devil was never able to Tincture mends minds, with a professed denial of the Deity, which would have opened a door to a world of more wickedness than hath been acted, and took away the bar to the breaking out of that evil, which is naturally in the hearts of men, to the greater prejudice of human societies. He wanted not malice to raze out all the Notions of God, but power: He knew it was impossible to effect it, and therefore in vain to attempt it. He set up himself in several places of the ignorant world as a God, but never was able to overthrow the opinion of the being of a God: The impressions of a Deity were so strong as not to be struck out by the malice and power of Hell.

3. Let it be considered also by us that own the Scripture, that the Devil deems it ⟨p. 10⟩impossible to root out this sentiment. It seems to be so perpetually fixed, that the Devil did not think fit to tempt man to the denial of the Existence of a Deity, but perswaded him to beleive he might ascend to that Dignity and become a God himself, Gen. 3.1. Hath God said? and he there owns him ver. 5. Ye shall become as Gods. He owns God in the question he asks the Woman, and perswades our first Parents to be Gods themselves. And in all stories both Ancient and Modern, the Devil was never able to Tincture mends minds, with a professed denial of the Deity, which would have opened a door to a world of more wickedness than hath been acted, and took away the bar to the breaking out of that evil, which is naturally in the hearts of men, to the greater prejudice of human societies. He wanted not malice to rase out all the Notions of God, but power: He knew it was impossible to effect it, and therefore in vain to attempt it. He set up himself in several places of the ignorant world as a God, but never was able to overthrow the opinion of the being of a God: The impressions of a Deity were so strong as not to be struck out by the malice and power of Hell.