(plates 22-24)
Once I saw a Devil in a flame of fire. Who arose before an angel that saton a cloud, and the devil utter'd these words: '
The worship of God is:honouring His gifts in other men. Each according to his genius, and lovingthe greatest men best: those who envy or caluminate great men hate God;for there is no other God, ' The angel hearing this became almost blue,but mastering himself grew yellow.
& at last white, pink,
& smiling, andthen replied: '
Thou idolater, is not God one? & Is not He visible in
Jesus Christ? And has not Jesus Christ given his sanction to the law often commandments, and are not all other men fools, sinners & nothings? '
The devil answer'd: '
Bray a fool in a mother with wheat. Yet shall not hisfolly be beaten out of him; if Jesus Christ is the greatest man, you oughtto love him in the greatest degree; now hear how He has given His sanctionto the law of ten commandments: did He not mock at the Sabbath, and somock the sabbath's god? Murder those who were murdered because of Him?
Turn away the law from the woman taken in adultery? Steal the labour ofothers to support him? Bear false witness when He omitted making a defencebefore Pilate? Covet when He pray'd for His disciples, and when He bidthem shake off the dust of their feet against such as refused to lodgethem? I tell you, no virtue can exist without breaking these tencommandments. Jesus was all virtue, and acted from impulse, not fromrules! When He had so spoken, I beheld the angel who stretched out hisarms, embracing the flame of fire & he was consumed and arose as Elijah.
Note: this angel who is now become a devil, is my particular friend; weoften read the bible together in its infernal or diabolical sense whichthe world shall have if they behave well. I have also the bible of hell,which the world shall have whether they will or no. One law for the lion &ox is oppression.
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