He is not only a father, but also the son of another father. If
ye know once his father, by and by ye shall know his children. For he
that hath the devil to his father, must needs have devilish children. The
devil is not only taken for father, but also for prince of the world,
that is, of worldly folk. It is either all one thing, or else not much
different, to say, children of the world, and children of the devil;
according to that that Christ said to the Jews, "Ye are of your father
the devil:" where as undoubtedly he spake to children of this world. Now
seeing the devil is both author and ruler of the darkness, in the which
the children of this world walk, or, to say better, wander; they mortally
hate both the light, and also the children of light. And hereof it
cometh, that the children of light never, or very seldom, lack
persecution in this world, unto which the children of the world, that is,
of the devil, bringeth them. And there is no man but he seeth, that
these use much more policy in procuring the hurt and damage of the good,
than those in defending themselves. Therefore, brethren, gather you the
disposition and study of the children by the disposition and study of the
fathers. Ye know this is a proverb much used: "An evil crow, an evil
egg.
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