DAEMON,
〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Genius an Angel, ••ate. This word in the Holy Scripture, is always taken for the Devil, or a bad Genius. A••••leius gives us a short definition of the na∣ture of Daemons, and tells us that they have a rational Soul, a Body of Air, and that they are everlasting, tho' they are obnoxious to the same passions with Men. And that the Predictions, Augurs, Divinations, Answers of Oracles, Dreams and Magick Performan∣ces belong to them. He pretends that they carry Mens Prayers to the Gods, and bring to Men the Favours they obtain'd from them. He has written a whole Book of Socrates his God, or Socrates his Devil, according to St Austin. He gives an account of the Opinions of the Platonick Philosophers, who divided Intellectual Natures into three Orders, viz. Gods, Men and Daemons; i. e. of Inhabitants of Heaven, Earth and Air. They said that Daemons were Immortal like the Gods, but were obnoxious to Passions like Men, and lo∣ved the filthy Diversions of Theatres and the Fables of the Poets.
Cassianus has handled at large all Questions relating to Daemons in his Conferences, where he shews that there are Daemons of several kinds; some called Fauni, who love to play and laugh with Men, but do them no harm; others delight in hurting Men, and drawing them into all kind of Crimes. He tells us that Daemons were formerly Angels, whom God created before Corporeal Beings; but revolting against the Soveraign Power, they were precipitated into the Air, which is full of them; that God out of his goodness and mercy has not permitted that we should see them, lest the terror, example and conta∣gion of their Crimes should draw us into per∣dition.
St. Justin says, that God having created the Angels, some of them forsook the Law of their Lord, and were taken with a brutish passion for Women, and begot the Daemons; afterwards these rebellious Angels and the Daemons, brought uncleanness and wars upon the Earth, and that Poets having described these Wars, have introduced Jupiter acting in part therein. By this word Daemons, 'tis said, St Justin understands the Titans and Giants, whom Idolatrous Nations have worshipped as their Gods, and many of the Fathers have been of the same opinion with Justin, that they were begot by the disobedient Angels and Women.
Athenagoras has followed Justin's steps. Yet he has expresly observed, that Giants were begotten by the Apostate Angels and Women, and were called Daemons or Genius's, and that the Poets were not ignorant of it.
The Christian Religion teaches us, that Dae∣mons are spiritual things, who in the person of Lucifer the first Angel were precipitated in∣to Hall, because he would equal himself with God.
Doubtless the Pagans had some knowledge of the Books of Moses, and have made Fables of what is said in those Books of Angels and Daemons.