prites_ and _Dev'ls_ come in their stead.
And now a counterfeiting Dame
Usurps _Religion_'s sacred Name,
But no more like in _Heart_ or _Face_,
Than _F--x_'s deeds to deeds of Grace.
Visit her at her _T-tt--m_ Seat,
You'll find she is an errant Cheat.
For _Satan_, Man's invet'rate foe,
Whose greatest joy is human woe,
Repining at the heav'nly Plan,
That promis'd so much Good to Man,
Us'd all his Malice, Wit, and Pow'r,
The World's great Blessings to devour.
Well the _malicious Spirit_ knew
Whence _Man_ his chief resources drew
Of Happiness, and saw confest,
Where all was good, _Religion_ best;
And at her unpolluted Heart
He aim'd his most envenom'd Dart.
He knew the Interest of _Hell_
Cou'd never on the _Earth_ go well,
While _pure Religion_ did maintain
O'er Man a sanctimonious reign.
With her he wag'd malicious War,
He might, if not destroy her, mar
Her Face; might with false Lights misguide,
And make her Combat on his side.
Highly did his _Ambition_ burn
Heav'n's Arms against itself to turn.
Nor would his _Malice_ triumph less,
To _damn_ where _God_ design'd to _bless_.

For this _the Fiend_ to Earth ascends,
To try his Int'rest with his Friends.
Long in his fiery Chariot hurl'd,
He had explor'd the pendent World;
Long had he search'd without avail,
Each _Meeting_, _Dungeon_, _Court_, and _Jail_,
Each _Mart of Villainy_, where _Vice_
Presides, and _Virtue_ bears no Price,
Where _Fraud_, _Hypocrisy_, and _Lies_
Are selling while the Devil buys.
Long had he search'd, but could not find
An _Agent_ suited to his Mind,
Who cou'd transact his Business well,
And do on Earth the work of Hell;
That he might at his leisure go,
And manage his Affairs below.--

Tir'd and despairing of a Friend
On whom he safely might depend,
At _T-tt--m_ he alights from Air--
_Magus_, that _Sorcerer_, was there.
Pleas'd _Satan_ somewhat nearer drew,
Look'd thro' him at a single view,
Bless'd his good Luck, and grinn'd aghast--
"'Tis well, for I have found at last,
The Thing I long have sought, in _Thee_,
_An Agent in Iniquity_.
Thus let me mark Thee for my own,
And from henceforth for _mine_ be known."

Then with out-stretched claws his Eyes
He _twisted_ diff'rent ways--the _Skies_