_Of the word_ DEVIL, _as it is a proper name to the Devil, and any or all his host, Angels,_ &c. It is a question, not yet determined by the learned, whether the word _Devil_ be a _singular_, that is to say, the _name_ of a person standing by himself, or a _noun of multitude_; if it be a singular, and so must be used personally only as _a proper name_, it consequently implies one imperial _Devil_, Monarch or King of the whole clan of Hell; justly distinguish'd by the term THE DEVIL, or as the _Scots_ call him, _the muckle horn'd Dee'l_, or as others in a wilder dialect, _the Devil of Hell_, that is to say, the _Devil_ of a _Devil_; or (better still) as the Scripture expresses it, by way of emphasis, the _great red Dragon_, the _Devil_ and _Satan_. But if we take this word to be, as above, _a noun of multitude_, and so to be used _ambo-dexter_, as occasion presents, singular or plural; then _the Devil_ signifies _Satan_ by himself, or _Satan with all his Legions_ at his heels, as you please, more or less; and this way of understanding the word, as it may be very convenient for my purpose, in the account I am now to give of the infernal Powers, so it is not altogether improper in the nature of the thing: It is thus express'd in Scripture, where the person possess'd _Matt._ iv. 24. is first said to be possess'd of _the Devil_ (singular) and our Saviour asks him, as speaking to a single person, _what is thy name?_ and is answer'd in the plural and singular together, my name is LEGION, for _we are many_. Nor will it be any wrong to _the Devil_, supposing him a single person, seeing entitling him to the conduct of all his inferior Agents, is what he will take rather for an addition to his infernal glory, than a diminution or lessening of him in the extent of his Fame. Having thus articl'd with the _Devil_ for liberty of speech, I shall talk of him sometimes in the singular, as a person, and sometimes in the plural, as an host of _Devils_ or of infernal Spirits, just as occasion requires, and as the history of his affairs makes necessary. But before I enter upon any part of his history, the nature of the thing calls me back, and my Lord B---- of ---- in his late famous orations in defence of liberty, summons me to prove that there is such a thing or such a person as _the Devil_; and in short, unless I can give some evidence of his existence, as my Lord ---- said very well, I am talking of _nobody_. D--m me, Sir, says a graceless comrade of his to a great man, _your Grace_ will go to _the Devil_. D--m ye, Sir, says the D----, then I shall go _no where_; I wonder where you intend to go? Nay, to _the D----l_ too I doubt, _says Graceless_, for I am almost as wicked as my _Lord Duke_. _D._ Thou ar't a silly empty Dog, says the D--, and if there is such a place as _a Hell_, tho' I believe nothing of it, 'tis a place for fools, such as thou art.