Numberless devices
The devices by which the subtle god of this world (2 Corinthians 4:4) labors to destroy the children of God, or at least to torment those he cannot destroy, to perplex and hinder them in running the race set before them (Hebrews 12:1), are as numberless as the stars of heaven or the sand on the seashore. But it is of one of them only that I now propose to speak (though exerted in various ways), by which he endeavors to divide the gospel against itself, and by one part of it to overthrow the other.
1771 text
1. THE devices whereby the subtle god of this world, labours to destroy the children of God, or at least to torment whom he cannot destroy, to perplex and hinder them in running the race which is set before them, are numberless as the stars of heaven or the sand upon the sea-shore. But it is of one of them only that I now propose to speak, (altho’ exerted in various ways) whereby he endeavours to divide the gospel against itself, and by one part of it to overthrow the other.