Satan a character of lofty dignity, and in placing him on an elevation not “less than archangel ruined.”  Hallywell, in his work on witchcraft, declares that “that mighty angel of darkness is not foolishly nor idly to be scoffed at or blasphemed.  The Devil,” says he, “may properly be looked upon as a dignity, though his glory be pale and wan, and those once bright and orient colors faded and darkened in his robes; and the Scriptures represent him as a prince, though it be of devils.”  Although our fathers cannot be charged with having regarded the Devil in this respectful and deferential light, it must be acknowledged that they gave him a conspicuous and distinguished—­we might almost say a dignified—­agency in the affairs of life and the government of the world:  they were prone to confess, if not to revere, his presence, in all scenes and at all times.  He occupied a wide space, not merely in their theology and philosophy, but in their daily and familiar thoughts.[E]

[Footnote E:  It is much to be regretted, that Farmer, after having written with such admirable success upon the temptation, the demoniacs, miracles, and the worship of human spirits, did not live to accomplish his original design, by giving the world a complete discussion and elucidation of the Scripture doctrine of the Devil.]

Cotton Mather, in one of his sermons, carries home this peculiar belief to the consciences of his hearers, in a manner that could not have failed to quicken and startle the most dull and drowsy among them.

“No place,” says he, “that I know of, has got such a spell upon it as will always keep the Devil out.  The meeting-house, wherein we assemble for the worship of God, is filled with many holy people and many holy concerns continually; but, if our eyes were so refined as the servant of the prophet had his of old, I suppose we should now see a throng of devils in this very place.  The apostle has intimated that angels come in among us:  there are angels, it seems, that hark how I preach, and how you hear, at this hour.  And our own sad experience is enough to intimate that the devils are likewise rendezvousing here.  It is reported in Job i. 5, ’When the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, Satan came also among them.’  When we are in our church assemblies, oh, how many devils, do you imagine, crowd in among us!  There is a devil that rocks one to sleep.  There is a devil that makes another to be thinking of, he scarcely knows what himself.  And there is a devil that makes another to be pleasing himself with wanton and wicked speculations.  It is also possible, that we have our closets or our studies gloriously perfumed with devotions every day; but, alas! can we shut the Devil out of them?  No:  let us go where we will, we shall still find a devil nigh unto us.  Only when we come to heaven, we shall be out of his reach for ever.”

It is very remarkable, that such a train of thought