Dæmonologia Sacra; or, A Treatise of Satan's Temptations: In Three PartsGilpin, Richard
Religion
Dæmonologia Sacra; or, A Treatise of Satan's Temptations: In Three Parts
Gilpin, Richard
Devil -- Early works to 1800; Temptation -- Early works to 1800
1. Let us consider _the knowledge of Adam in innocency_; which being
found to be great, it will thence be easily concluded that Satan’s
knowledge is far greater. Two notable discoveries we have of Adam’s
knowledge, the one was his giving of names to all creatures, Gen. ii.
29, which was not only a sign of his dominion, but also a notable
instance of his understanding, seeing the names were given according
to the natures of creatures; whereof Bochartus gives a large account,
as the camel is called גמל, because it is apt to repay
injuries; the kite, דאה, from its sharpness of sight; the
pelican is named קאת, from its usual vomiting, &c.[91] The
consideration of the aptness of names imposed on creatures made Plato
acknowledge that it was a work above ordinary capacity. The other
discovery of Adam’s knowledge was his knowledge of the original of Eve
at first sight, Gen ii. 23; he said, ‘This is now bone of my bones,
and flesh of my flesh,’ &c. This instance Luther made use of to prove
the knowledge that we shall have of one another in heaven; which shews
that Adam’s understanding was then incomparably more sublime than
ours, and of a nearer approach to the knowledge which a state of glory
shall furnish us withal. To this might be added a further proof from
the rare inventions and excellent discoveries that some raised wits
have made, of things that have laid deep and far out of the view of
common capacities. As also those views, sights, and more than ordinary
comprehensions which the souls of men have had, when they were a little
freed from the clog and hindrance of the body, either in ecstasies or
by approaching death; all which put together will go far to prove a
very great measure of knowledge in Satan, if we take along with us this
foundation, that in all the works of God we find the highest knowledge
in the noblest being. Living creatures are more excellent than stones
or trees, and therefore hath God furnished them with senses, and hath
also distinguished them by higher degrees of sagacity, according to
their excellency above others. Thus the ape, fox, elephant, &c., have
such abilities above the worm and fly, &c., that some have questioned
whether they had not some lower degrees of reason: yet as these are
below man, so doth his reason far excel their greatest quickness of
sense. Angels are a higher being than man—for he made him ‘lower than
the angels’—and consequently their knowledge is proportionably greater.
So that if Adam in innocency understood the nature of things, how much
more exactly and fully must we imagine Satan to know them!
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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