ans, Priests,
Impostors, Heretics, blind guides. In them simplicity, fear, blind zeal,
ignorance, solitariness, curiosity, pride, vainglory, presumption, &c. his
engines, fasting, solitariness, hope, fear, &c._

We are taught in Holy Scripture, that the "Devil rangeth abroad like a
roaring lion, still seeking whom he may devour:" and as in several shapes,
so by several engines and devices he goeth about to seduce us; sometimes he
transforms himself into an angel of light; and is so cunning that he is
able, if it were possible, to deceive the very elect. He will be worshipped
as [6366]God himself, and is so adored by the heathen, and esteemed. And in
imitation of that divine power, as [6367]Eusebius observes, [6368]to abuse
or emulate God's glory, as Dandinus adds, he will have all homage,
sacrifices, oblations, and whatsoever else belongs to the worship of God,
to be done likewise unto him, _similis erit altissimo_, and by this means
infatuates the world, deludes, entraps, and destroys many a thousand souls.
Sometimes by dreams, visions (as God to Moses by familiar conference), the
devil in several shapes talks with them: in the [6369]Indies it is common,
and in China nothing so familiar as apparitions, inspirations, oracles, by
terrifying them with false prodigies, counterfeit miracles, sending storms,
tempests, diseases, plagues (as of old in Athens there was Apollo,
Alexicacus, Apollo [Greek: loimios], _pestifer et malorum depulsor_),
raising wars, seditions by spectrums, troubling their consciences, driving
them to despair, terrors of mind, intolerable pains; by promises, rewards,
benefits, and fair means, he raiseth such an opinion of his deity and
greatness, that they dare not do otherwise than adore him, do as he will
have them, they dare not offend him. And to compel them more to stand in
awe of him, [6370]"he sends and cures diseases, disquiets their spirits"
(as Cyprian saith), "torments and terrifies their souls, to make them adore
him: and all his study, all his endeavour is to divert them from true
religion to superstition: and because he is damned himself, and in an
error, he would have all the world participate of his errors, and be damned
with him." The _primum mobile_, therefore, and first mover of all
superstition, is the devil, that great enemy of mankind, the principal
agent, who in a thousand several, shapes, after diverse fashions, with
several engines, illusions, and by several names hath deceived t