Some tell us every single Man, every individual has a _Devil_ attending him, to execute the Orders of the (Grand Signior) Devil of the whole Clan; that this attending _evil Angel_, for so he is call'd, sees every Step you take, is with you in every Action, prompts you to every Mischief, and leaves you to do every Thing that is pernicious to your self; they also alledge that there is a good Spirit which attends him too, which latter is always accessary to every Thing that we do that is good, and reluctant to evil; If this is true, how comes it to pass that those two opposite Spirits do not quarrel about it when they are pressing us to contrary Actions, one good and the other evil? and why does the evil tempting Spirit so often prevail? Instead of answering this difficult Question, I shall only tell you, as to this Story of good and evil Angels attending every particular Person, 'tis a good Allegory indeed to represent the Struggle in the Mind of Man between good and evil Inclinations; but as to the rest, the best Thing I can say of it is, _that_ I think _'tis a Fib_. But to take Things as they are, and only talk by way of natural Consequence, for to argue from Nature is certainly the best Way to find out the _Devil_'s Story; if there are good and evil Spirits attending us, that is to say, a good Angel and a _Devil_, then 'tis no unjust Reproach upon any Body to say, when they follow the Dictates of the latter, the _Devil_ is in them; or they are _Devils_; nay, I must carry it farther still, namely, that as the Generality and greatest Number of People do follow and obey the evil Spirit and not the good, and that the predominate Power is allowed to be the nominating Power; you must then allow, that in short, the greater Part of Mankind has the Devil in them, and so I come to my Text. To this Purpose give me leave to borrow a few Lines of a Friend on this very Part of the Devil's Management. To Places and Persons he suits his Disguises, And dresses up all his Banditti, Who as Pickpockets flock to a Country Assizes, Croud up to the Court and the City. They're at every Elbow and every Ear, And ready at every call, Sir; The vigilant Scout plants his Agents about, And has something to do with us all, Sir. In some he has Part, and in some he's the Whole, And of some (like the Vicar of _Baddow_) It can neither be said they have Body or Soul, But only are _Devils_ in Shadow. The Pretty and Witty, are Devils in Masque, The Beauties are meer Apparitions; The homely alone by their Faces are known, And the Good by their ugly Conditions. The Beaus walk about like the Shadows of Men. And wherever he leads 'em they follow, But tak'em and shak'em, there's not one in ten But's as light as a Feather and hollow. Thus all his Affairs he drives on in Disguise, And he tickles Mankind with a Feather: Creeps in at our Ears, and looks out at our Eyes, And jumbles our Senses together.