Pyrobolia, seu de ignitis Sathanae telis, commonefactio theologica

For Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Same chapter, verse 14.

Be sober, watch: for your adversary the Devil, like a roaring lion, walks about, seeking whom he may devour. 1 Pet. 5:8.

He was a murderer from the beginning, and did not stand in the truth: for there is no truth in him. John 8:44.

VI. The Ministers of Satan.

When Satan ejaculates his fiery darts mediately, he uses sometimes the works of Seducers, so that he may harm the Soul; sometimes the works of the World, so that he may also affect the Body evilly; sometimes also the ministry of inanimate things, whether useful or harmful, so that he may turn a man's trust away from God, and lead him to the point where he attributes more than is right to created things. According to these sayings, it is said of Seducers:

It is no great thing therefore, if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of justice: whose end shall be according to their works. 2 Cor. 11:15.

O foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you, that you should not obey the truth? Gal. 3:1.

Concerning the World, however, it is said: Adulterers and adulteresses, do you not know that the friendship of the World is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wishes to be a friend of the world is constituted an enemy of God. James 4:4.

Everything that is in the world, the desire of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the World. 1 John 2:16.

Concerning impious trust, acquiescing in creatures, it is said:

As those who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served created things beyond the Creator, who is blessed forever, Amen. Rom. 1:25.

The covetous man is an idolater. Eph. 5:5.

VII.

But as even the impious serve the judgments of God, often unwittingly, so, which you might wonder at most, even the Saints, either laboring under a sudden infirmity of faith, or preoccupied in some offense, or impelled by fear of men, or carried away by simulation, contrary to their own mind and will, harm themselves and others with fiery Darts, circumvented by some wonderful trickery and stratagem of Satan.

These are illustrious examples:

Moses and Aaron, at the Waters of Contention, did not believe Jehovah so as to sanctify Him before the Israelites, and they inflicted fiery Darts upon themselves and many others, and were a stumbling block. And therefore, the opportunity of bringing them into Canaan was denied to them. Num. 20:10. Ps. 104:41.

David, having committed both adultery and homicide, caused the enemies of Jehovah to blaspheme horribly: and for that reason he suffered punishment. 2 Sam. 12:14.

Confession failed in the mouth of Peter; indeed, he finally began to curse himself, and to swear, saying: I do not know the man. Matt. 26:74.

Peter, simulating Judaism, and withdrawing and separating himself from those who had believed from the Gentiles, through fear of those who were of the Circumcision, did not walk with a straight foot, as was befitting the truth of the Gospel: and Barnabas was also carried away into the same simulation along with many others: for which reason Paul gravely and rightly rebuked Peter; but he modestly and prudently allowed himself to be admonished and reproved.

Observing these and other examples, let us, the Pious, noting the arts of Satan, be providentially careful, lest through imprudence we render mutual aid to Satan, our enemy, as he attacks either ourselves or other Saints.