That Satan is a great Prince,1 Christ himself stiles him the Prince of the world, John 14. Princes have their thrones where they sit in state; Satan hath his, Rev. 2.13. Thou dwellest where Satan hath his throne; and that such a one as no earthly Prince may compare; few Kings are enthroned in the hearts of their subjects, they rule their bodies, and command their purses, but how ⟨p. 184⟩oft in a day are they pulled out of their thrones by the wishes of their discontented subjects: But Satan hath the heart of all his subjects. Princes have their homage and peculiar honour done to them; Satan is served upon the knee of his subjects, the wicked are said to worship the devil, Rev. 13.4. No Prince expects such worship as he, no less then religious worship will serve him, 2 Chron. 11.15. Jeroboam there is said to ordain Priests for devils, and therefore he is called not only the Prince, but the god of this world, because he hath the worship of a god given him. Princes such as are absolute have a Legislative Power, nay, their own will is their law, as at this day in Turkey, where their Laws are writ in no other Tables, then in the proud Sultans breast; thus Satan gives law to the poor sinner, who is bound and must obey, though the Law be writ with his own blood, and the creature hath nothing but damnation for fulfilling the devils lust; 'tis called a Law of sin, Rom. 8.2. because it comes with authority; Princes have their Ministers of State, whom they employ for the safety and enlargement of their Territories: So Satan his, 2 Cor. 11.15. who propagates his cursed designs, therefore we read of doctrine of devils. Princes have their Arcana Imperii, which none knows but a few Favourites in whom they confide: thus the devil hath his mysteries of iniquity, and depths of Satan we read of, which all his subjects know not of, Rev. 2.24▪ these are imparted to a few Favourites, such as Elymas, whom Paul calls full of all subtlety, and child of the devil; such, whose consciences are so debauched, that they scruple not the most horrid sins, these are his white boys. I have read of a people in America, that love meat best when 'tis rotten and stinks. The devil is of their diet, the more corrupt and rotten the creature is in sin, the better he pleaseth his tooth; some are more the children of the devil then others. Christ had his beloved disciple;
That Satan is a great Prince,1 Christ himself stiles him the Prince of the world, John 14. Princes have their thrones where they sit in state; Satan hath his, Rev. 2.13. Thou dwellest where Satan hath his throne; and that such a one as no earthly Prince may compare; few Kings are enthroned in the hearts of their subjects, they rule their bodies, and command their purses, but how ⟨p. 184⟩oft in a day are they pull'd out of their thrones by the wishes of their discontented subjects: But Satan hath the heart of all his subjects. Princes have their homage and peculiar honour done to them; Satan is served upon the knee of his subjects, the wicked are said to worship the devil, Rev. 13.4. No Prince expects such worship as he, no lesse then religious worship will serve him, 2 Chron. 11.15. Jeroboam there is said to ordain Priests for devils, and therefore he is call'd not only the Prince, but the god of this world, because he hath the worship of a god given him. Princes such as are absolute have a Legislative Power, nay, their own will is their law, as at this day in Turkey, where their Laws are writ in no other Tables, then in the proud Sultans breast; thus Satan gives law to the poor sinner, who is bound and must obey, though the Law be writ with his own blood, and the creature hath nothing but damnation for fulfilling the devils lust; 'tis call'd a Law of sinne, Rom. 8.2. because it comes with authority; Princes have their Ministers of State, whom they employ for the safety and enlargement of their Territories: So Satan his, 2 Cor. 11.15. who propagates his cursed designes, therefore we reade of doctrine of devils. Princes have their Arcana Imperii, which none knowes but a few Favourites in whom they confide: thus the devil hath his mysteries of iniquity, and depths of Satan we reade of, which all his subjects know not of, Rev. 2.24▪ these are imparted to a few Favourites, such as Elymas, whom Paul calls full of all subtilty, and childe of the devil; such, whose consciences are so debauched, that they scruple not the most horrid sins, these are his white boyes. I have read of a people in America, that love meat best when 'tis rotten and stinks. The devil is of their diet, the more corrupt and rotten the creature is in sinne, the better he pleaseth his tooth; some are more the children of the devil then others. Christ had his beloved disciple;
- 1Doct.
