Note 59 — PART II.
Reading edition
It would no doubt puzzle the Devil himself to explain that Term, Plastic Spirit. It appears to have been made use of for the same Reason that a certain Fish discolors the Water when pursued by an Enemy.
The following Ideas respecting the Devil then entertained may not be out of Place in this Connection: "The Devil is the oldest Sinner, and the most cursed Creature in all the World. It is said, Isa. 65, 20. That the Sinner of an hundred Years shall be accursed. But then what shall the Sinner be that is more than 5000 Years old? The Devil and all the Angels that sinned with him, are Sinners of above 5000 Years old, and will therefore become the most accursed and damned Creatures in the whole Universe at the Great Day."—Dr. I. Mather, Angelographia, 120.