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    the introduction of evil , the support and continuance of it ; and though we suppose , * as these persons do , that this invisible enemy of God and goodness will , finally be subdued , we shall be compelled to admit , that his power and knowledge are little less than infinite ; that the former is often successfully exerted to destroy the harmony of creation , to corrupt and vitiate the hearts of men , and to introduce sin and misery into the world ; that his acquaintance with the thoughts of men , by which he is able to adapt his evil sxiggestions to their peculiar circumstances , very nearly approacheth to that of the Being , ct searcheth all hearts , " and

    that he is inferior to God in the duration of his empire , rather than in the extent of it , and chiefly distinguished by the malignant nature of his designs . If we imagine ourselves subject to his

    power , we shall be apt to consider ourselves less culpable than we really are , when we deviate from the path of rectitude ; for it will justly be considered as an alleviation of guilty if not a sufficient apology for it , that the

    possibility ot resistance was almost beyond our power , and we shall be discouraged from making the attempt if we suppose , that we are hourly exposed to the artifices of an insidious and potent adversary , who has * been so far successful in

    the accomplishment of his designs , as to have introduced evil and misery into the world , contrary to I he intentions and appointment of the great Creator and Lord of all . Must it not be admitted , that the conduct of those unenlightened ¦ heathens , who believe in the existence of such an evil being , is

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    not altogether irrational , in pay . ing him religious homage , to induce him to suspend those calamities of which he is supposed to be the author ? For if he be independent of God , such homage is justifiable ; and if he be riot he must be his instrument , and if that be admitted , God is the author of evil , and that in a sense , which is more derogatory to his perfections than to admit that he is so in a strict and philosophical sense , but that such evil is necessary and unavoidable ; that it is only evil in the view of limited

    nishes , it will ultimately terminate in the establishment of . the greatest passible sum of - virtue aacf happiness . It may be said , that the exist- * ence and agency of such a being

    and imperfect beings , and as they are the voluntary though subordinate agents of producing it ; and that , as it gradually

    dimiis supported by the language of scripture ; that if this notion appear to be founded on such authority , we are bound to adopt it ; and that our ideas must be regulated by those views , which Jesus and his apostles have given

    ot the character , dominion and influence of this powerful and mischievous being . But admittjng that these passages , which it may be useful to examine , and " which I shall attempt in the sequel of this essay , admitting that

    these passages were more numerous , and that the Jews adopted the notion of the agency of such a being , the existence of such a powerful enemy of God and virtue is by no means a necessary consequence-. The absurdities ^ which were adopted by the Jews , from the idolatrous and supersti-

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    On the Existence of the D-eviL 135

• Citation
  • Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), March 2, 1809, page 135, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1734/page/15/