than ever; yet it cannot be said that the Protestant Interests
in general are stronger than formerly, or so strong as they were in 1623
under the victorious Arms of the _Swede_; On the other Hand, were it
possible that the Popish Powers, to wit, of _France_, _Spain_,
_Germany_, _Italy_ and _Poland_, which are intirely Popish, could
heartily unite their Interests, and should join their Powers to attack
the Protestants, the latter would find it very difficult, if not
impossible, to defend themselves.

But as fatal as such a Union of the Popish Powers would be, and as
useful as it would be to the _Devil_'s Cause at this time, not the
_Devil_ with all his Angels are able to bring it to pass; no, not with
all his Craft and Cunning; he divided them, but he can't unite them; so
that even just as 'tis with Men, so 'tis with _Devils_, they may do in
an Hour what they can't undo in an Age.

This may comfort those faint-hearted Christians among us, who cry out of
the Danger of a religious War in _Europe_, and what terrible Things will
happen when _France_, and _Spain_, and _Germany_, and _Italy_, and
_Poland_ shall all unite; let this Answer satisfy them, The _Devil_
himself can never make _France_ and _Spain_, or _France_ and the Emperor
unite; jarring Humours may be reconcil'd, but jarring Interests never
can: They may unite so as to make Peace, _tho' that can hardly be long_,
but never so as to make Conquests together; they are too much afraid of
one another, for one to bear, that any Addition of Strength should come
to the other. But this is a Digression. We shall find the _Devil_
mistaken and disappointed too on several other Occasions, as we go
along.

I return to Satan's Interest in the several Governments and Nations, by
vertue of his Invisibility, and which he carries on by Possession; 'tis
by this Invisibility that he presides in all the Councils of _foreign
Powers_, (for we never mean our own, that we always premise;) and what
tho' it is alledged by the Criticks, that he does not preside, because
there is always a President; I say, if he is not in the President's
Chair, yet if he be in the President himself, the Difference is not
much; and if he does not vote as a Counsellor, if he votes in the
Counsellor, 'tis much the same; and here, as it was in the Story of
_Ahab_ the King of _Israel_, as he was a _lying Spirit_ in the Mouths of
_all his Prophets_, so we find him a Spirit of some particular evil
Quality or other,