As then the Fathers had a cabalistical Notion of _Hell_, which modern _Divines_ are Strangers to; so they had of _Satan_, and the _Devil_ and his Angels. I own myself at a Loss for an express Testimony out of the Fathers about _Satan_ in the Text before us; but according to their Explications of _Satan_ in other Places, nothing more is meant by him here than, "That furious Principle and Temper in Man that is not only averse to Liberty in Religion, but for binding, restraining, and tying down the Church and Christian People to certain Opinions and Ways of Worship." In such a State of Bondage has the Woman of the Church been kept, by such a _Satan_, in one Order of Men or other, for all Ages past. And that this is a right and primitive Notion of _Satan_, I could prove by Authorities enough. _Origen_ tells us[113] of the Names of Kings in prophetical Scripture, which would be Enemies to Christ's Church; but such Kings never did, nor would personally exist; their Names, according to Interpretation, standing only for so many Sins and Vices, reigning in Mankind. To the same Purpose he says[114] _human Vices are Devils_: And _Satan_ himself, (as the Word signifies _Adversary_) is with him[115] and the antient _Jews_ too, no other than an _Aversness_ in Man to the Will of God. I could quote other Fathers to this Purpose; but being sparing of my Pains at present, I refer my Readers to my former[116] _Discourse_, in which they will see the Opinion of the Fathers about the _Devils_ in the Madman, and afterwards in the Herd of Swine; from which let them judge, whether the Fathers could have any other Notion of _Satan_ here, than what I have represented. It is certain, and may be easily prov'd, that by _Satan_, the _Dragon_ and the _Devil_, mentioned in the _Revelations_, nothing more is to be understood, than a furious, persecuting, satanical, and diabolical Temper in Man; and if what St. _John_ writes of _Satan_ be cabalistical and allegorical; the other Assertions of the Evangelists and Apostles about _him_ will of Course come under that Denomination; or the primitive Rule of Interpretation of Scripture according to the natural Signification of the Names of Persons and Places is not good.