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Euill Angels, are Angels who haue fallen from God. Iohn. 8.44. 2. Pet. 2.4. Epistle of Iude. 5.6. Ephes. 2.2.
The same are called deuils.
And they are the first authors of all sins, & do endeuour to seduce men by their temp∣tations, and to stirre them vp to sin, as also by
all meanes to turne them away from God, & to thrust them headlong into destruction.
The temptations of the deuill, are per∣swasions, sollicitings, and sturrings vp, by which he doth endeuour to draw men into sinne and destruction. After this manner he tempted our first parents. Genes. 3.1. So the deuill tempting Christ, sollicited him to distrust concerning Gods prouidence, as though God could not sustaine, and preserue him without bread. Mat. 4.3. he tempted him to rashnesse, and vnaduised boldnesse, that for the obtaining of glory, he might expose himselfe to vnnecessary daungers. vers. 6. he sollicited him to idolatry. vers. 8.
In euill Angels, we must consider both their office, and restraint.
If we respect their office, they are compel∣led to serue, and obey God in those workes, which it pleaseth God to performe by them.
Of this office there are two parts: For they are ordained both to afflict the godly, that their constancy might be proued. Iob. 1.12. and 2.6.7. 2. Corin. 22.7. as also to vexe the wicked, as officers, and tormentours ap∣pointed by God.
The restraint of the euill Angels, is the bounding, and limiting of their power and fury, that they are able to do no more, then God doth suffer them to do.
Their free will is to euill things onely. For seeing they are cast away from God for euer,
& are hardened in euill, they can do nothing, nor hereafter shall do any thing but sin, that is to say, onely to approue with their minde, and chuse with their will, those things which are euill, and displease God, and therefore they shall suffer euerlasting punishment. Iohn. 8.44. 1. Iohn. 3.8. Mat. 3.8. Mat. 25.41. Iude. vers. 6. Reuel. 20.10.