Among the children of the devil
We have lived our manner of life in the world, even in the world of the ungodly. Not only among the children of God, which would have been, by comparison, a little thing, but among the children of the devil, among those who lie in wickedness, in the wicked one. What a world this is! How thoroughly steeped in the spirit it continually breathes! As our God is good and does good, so the God of this world, and all his children, are evil and do evil, so far as they are permitted, to all the children of God.
Like their father, they are always lying in wait, or walking about, seeking whom they may devour. They use fraud or force, secret tricks or open violence, to destroy those who are not of the world. They are continually warring against our souls, and by old or new weapons, and by devices of every kind, they labor to bring them back into the snare of the devil, into the broad road that leads to destruction.
1771 text
10. We have had our conversation in the world; even in the world of the ungodly: not only among the children of God (that were, comparatively, a little thing:) but among the children of the devil, among those that lie in wickedness, ἐν τῷ πονηρῷ, in the wicked one. * What a world is this! How throughly impregnated with the spirit it continually breathes! As our God is good and doth good, so the God of this world, and all his children, are evil, and do evil, (so far as they are suffered) to all the children of God. Like their father, they are always lying in wait, or walking about, seeking whom they may devour: using fraud or force, secret wiles or open violence, to destroy those who are not of the world: continually warring against our souls, and by old or new weapons and devices of every kind, labouring to bring them back into the snare of the devil, into the broad road that leadeth to destruction.