and who were restrained at the time of the flood; and
hence he is spoken of as their chief, “the prince of
devils;” and no doubt as a superior order of being he
exercises some degree of control over the others.
These fallen angels, “demons,” have probably
very little to interest them amongst themselves;-evil
beings apparently always prefer to make game of the
purer, and apparently take pleasure in corrupting and
degrading them. The history of these demons, as given
in the Scriptures, would seem to show that the evil
concupiscence which led to their fall, before the flood,
still continues with them. They still have their ph-
cipal pleasure in that which is lascivious and degrad-
ing; and the general tendency of their influence upon
mankind is toward working mischief against the well-
disposed, and the debauchery of those over whom they
gain absolute controt
We are well aware that many Christian people
have reached the conclusion that the Lord ad the
apostles were deceived, when they attributed to the
works of demons condaA that is now considered human
propensity and mental unbalance and fits.
But all
should admit that if our Lord was in error on this sub-
ject, his teachings would be an unsafe guide upon any
subject.
Notice the personality
and intelligence attributed
to these demons in the following Scriptures – “Thou
believest that there is one God; thou doest well; devils
also believe and tremble. ” (Jas. 2 : 19.) Do human pro-
pensities “believe and tremble ? ” The demons said to
our Lord, “Thou art Christ, the Son of God! And he,
rebuking them, suffered them not to speak [further],
for they knew that he was Christ.”
(Luke 4: 41.)