16.A Memorable Fancy, Plates 22-24
Once I saw a Devil in a flame of fire, who arose before an Angel
that sat on a cloud, and the Devil utter'd these words.
The worship of God is, Honouring his gifts in other men each
according to his genius, and loving the greatest men best; those
who envy or calumniate great men hate God, for there is no other
God.
The Angel hearing this became almost blue, but mastering himself
he grew yellow, ＆ at last white pink ＆ smiling, and then
replied,
Thou Idolater, is not God One？ ＆ is not he visible in Jesus
Christ？ and has not Jesus Christ given his sanction to the law
often commandments, and are not all other men fools, sinners, ＆
nothings？
The Devil answer'd： bray a fool in a morter with wheat, yet
shall not his folly be beaten out of him; if Jesus Christ is the
greatest man, you ought to love him in the greatest degree; now
hear how he has given his sanction to the law of ten
commandments： did he not mock at the sabbath, and so mock the
sabbaths God？ murder those who were murder'd because of him？
turn away the law from the woman taken in adultery？ steal the
labor of others to support him？ bear false witness when he
omitted making a defence before Pilate？ covet when he pray'd for
his disciples, and when he bid them shake off the dust of their
feet against such as refused to lodge them？ I tell you, no
virtue can exist without breaking these ten commandments; Jesus
was all virtue, and acted from impulse, not from rules.
When he had so spoken： I beheld the Angel who stretched out his
arms embracing the flame of fire, ＆ he was consumed and arose as
Elijah.
Note. This Angel, who is now become a Devil, is my particular
friend; we often read the Bible together in its infernal or
diabolical sense which the world shall have if they behave well.
I have also： The Bible of Hell： which the world shall have
whether they will or no.
One Law for the Lion ＆ Ox is Oppression.
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