(2) That this is sooth, it seemeth by this that followeth. The devil is a spirit, and of his own nature he hath no body, more than hath an angel. But yet nevertheless what time that he or an angel shall take any body by leave of God, to make any ministration to any man in this life; according as the work is that he shall minister, thereafter in likeness is the quality of his body in some part. Ensample of this we have in Holy Writ. As oft as any angel was sent in body in the Old Testament and in the New also, evermore it was shewed, either by his name or by some instrument or quality of his body, what his matter or his message was in spirit. On the same manner it fareth of the fiend. For when he appeareth in body, he figureth in some quality of his body what his servants be in spirit. Ensample of this may be seen in one instead of all these other. For as I have conceived by some disciples of necromancy, the which have it in science for to make advocation of wicked spirits, and by some unto whom the fiend hath appeared in bodily likeness; that in what bodily likeness the fiend appeareth, evermore he hath but one nostril, and that is great and wide, and he will gladly cast it up that a man may see in thereat to his brain up in his head. The which brain is nought else but the fire of hell, for the fiend may have none other brain; and if he might make a man look in thereto, he wants no better. For at that looking, he should lose his wits for ever. But a perfect prentice of necromancy knoweth this well enough, and can well ordain therefore, so that he provoke him not.

(7) Which they themselves shall suddenly be sure to see, with great terror, anguish and eternal despair, as also to their shame and scorn: of which the devils are a terrible example, who were once the fairest and brightest angels in heaven, as I shall reveal, write and manifest here following. I will suffer God's impulse, I am not able to withstand it. Of the Divine Quality.

(91) But when Lucifer exalted himself, and kindled his qualifying or fountain spirits, then the animated or soulish spirit went forth in the tone out of or from all the bodies of Lucifer's angels into the Salitter of God, as a fiery serpent or dragon, and imaged and framed all manner of fiery and poisonous forms and images, like to wild, cruel and evil beasts.

(71) Now when king Lucifer, together with all his angels, kindled himself, then the wrath-fire rose up instantly in the body, and the gracious amiable and blessed light was extinguished in the animated or soulish spirit, and became a fierce, furious, devilish spirit, all according to the kindling and will of the qualifying or fountain spirits.

(35) But seeing the devils kindled themselves out of pride, wantonness and wickedness; therefore they were quite thrust out from the birth or geniture of the light; and they can neither lay hold of nor comprehend it eternally.

(48) And the serpent makes answer: "Behold, O Adam, the nature of thy Adversary!" The serpent disappears in a blinding sunburst of radiance and in its place stands an angel resplendent in shining, golden garments with great scarlet wings that spread from one corner of the heavens to the other. Dismayed and awestruck, the Adam falls before the divine creature.

(152) Thus you have here the true description of an expulsed angel or of a devil, as also the cause thereof, and that not written in a similitude only, but in the spirit, through that power out of which all things are come to be.

(63) Here I will shew you exactly the pith, kernel and heart of Lucifer, and then you will see what a devil is, or how he is become a devil. Therefore take heed, and do not invite or entertain him as a guest, for he is the archsworn enemy of God, and of all angels and men, and that in his eternity.

(35) Thus it befell the pride of Lucifer: he triumphed a little while with his kindled light; but when his light was spent and burnt up, then he became a black devil.

(37) No! Lucifer would receive no light other than his own, for he scorned the light of the Son of God, which did shine without, distinct from his body, seeing he had such a glittering light in himself, and so he elevated himself more and more, till his water was quite dried up and burnt, and his light was quite put out; and then all was done with him. ["This water here, is the water of eternal life, generated in the light of the Majesty, but in the centre it is like the sulphur or brimstone spirit, or like unto aquafortis, or the water of separation."] Concerning the fall of all his angels, one might ask: Question. How comes it, that at this time all his angels did also fall? Answer.

(41) When king Lucifer, together with his angels, was so gloriously, beautifully and divinely created, as a Cherubim and king in God, then he suffered his bright, beauteous form to befool him, in that he saw how noble, glorious and fair a spirit rose up in him.

(53) By this you may understand what great power the spirits of the expelled angels have had in the heavenly nature; and of what manner of substance this perdition or corruption is; how in their place they have corrupted and spoiled nature in heaven with their horrible kindling, from whence the horrible fierceness which is predominant in this world exists.

(81) Hence taketh its original that the devil is called [Rev. xii. 9] the old serpent; and also, that there are adders and serpents in this corrupted world, moreover, all manner of vermin or venomous broods of worms, toads, flies, lice and fleas, and all such like things whatsoever; and from hence also tempestuous weather of lightning, thundering, flashing, and hailstones take their original in this world. Observe:

(34) The birth or geniture of light, munificence and welldoing to be an eternal hellish pain and torment; the food of pleasing relish to be an eternal abomination and stink, a loathing of all fruits; and the house of Lebanon and cedars to be a stony and rocky house of fire; the sweet scent or relish to be a stink, and a house of ruin and desolation, an end of all good; the divine body to be a black, cold, hot, eating, corroding, and yet not consuming devil, who is an enmity against God and his angels: And so he has all the heavenly hosts or armies against him. Now observe:

(11) The holy angels live in the power of meekness, of the light and joyfulness: The devils live in the power of the rising or elevating quality of fierceness, terror and darkness, and cannot comprehend the light, into which condition they precipitated and cast themselves through their pride and elevation of themselves; as I shall shew afterwards, when I shall write of the creation.

(95) These are the seven kinds, species, forms or manners of sin's beginning, and eternal enmity against God. Now followeth briefly concerning the four new little sons of Lucifer, which he has generated in himself in his corporeal regimen, for which he was expelled from his place, and is become the most horrible devil. Of the First Son, Pride. Now it may be asked, What moved Lucifer to this, that he would needs be above God? Answer.