after.

Some tell us every single Man, every individual has a _Devil_ attending
him, to execute the Orders of the (Grand Signior) Devil of the whole
Clan; that this attending _evil Angel_, for so he is call'd, sees every
Step you take, is with you in every Action, prompts you to every
Mischief, and leaves you to do every Thing that is pernicious to your
self; they also alledge that there is a good Spirit which attends him
too, which latter is always accessary to every Thing that we do that is
good, and reluctant to evil; If this is true, how comes it to pass that
those two opposite Spirits do not quarrel about it when they are
pressing us to contrary Actions, one good and the other evil? and why
does the evil tempting Spirit so often prevail? Instead of answering
this difficult Question, I shall only tell you, as to this Story of good
and evil Angels attending every particular Person, 'tis a good Allegory
indeed to represent the Struggle in the Mind of Man between good and
evil Inclinations; but as to the rest, the best Thing I can say of it
is, _that_ I think _'tis a Fib_.

But to take Things as they are, and only talk by way of natural
Consequence, for to argue from Nature is certainly the best Way to find
out the _Devil_'s Story; if there are good and evil Spirits attending
us, that is to say, a good Angel and a _Devil_, then 'tis no unjust
Reproach upon any Body to say, when they follow the Dictates of the
latter, the _Devil_ is in them; or they are _Devils_; nay, I must carry
it farther still, namely, that as the Generality and greatest Number of
People do follow and obey the evil Spirit and not the good, and that the
predominate Power is allowed to be the nominating Power; you must then
allow, that in short, the greater Part of Mankind has the Devil in
them, and so I come to my Text.

To this Purpose give me leave to borrow a few Lines of a Friend on this
very Part of the Devil's Management.

To Places and Persons he suits his Disguises,
And dresses up all his Banditti,
Who as Pickpockets flock to a Country Assizes,
Croud up to the Court and the City.

They're at every Elbow and every Ear,
And ready at every call, Sir;
The vigilant Scout plants his Agents about,
And has something to do with us all, Sir.

In some he has Part, and in some he's the Whole,
And of some (like the Vicar of _Baddow_)
It can neither be said they have Body or Soul,
But only are _Devils_ in Shad