15. But sin also is called spirit, as I have
already said; only in another and opposite sense, as when it is said,
The spirit of whoredom caused them to err Hosea iv. 12.. The name “spirit” is
given also to the unclean spirit, the devil; but with the
addition of, “the unclean;” for to each is joined its
distinguishing name, to mark its proper nature. If the Scripture
speak of the soul of man, it says the spirit with the addition,
of the man; if it mean the wind, it says, spirit of
storm; if sin, it says, spirit of whoredom; if the devil, it
says, an unclean spirit: that we may know which particular
thing is spoken of, and thou mayest not suppose that it means the Holy
Ghost; God forbid! For this name of spirit is common to many
things; and every thing which has not a solid body is in a general way
called spirit Origen, de
Principiis, i. § 2: “It is the custom of Holy
Scripture, when it would designate anything contrary to this more dense
and solid body, to call it spirit.”. Since,
therefore, the devils have not such bodies, they are called
spirits: but there is a great difference; for the unclean devil,
when he comes upon a man’s soul (may the Lord deliver from him
every soul of those who hear me, and of those who are not present), he
comes like a wolf upon a sheep, ravening for blood, and ready to
devour. His coming is most fierce; the sense of it most
oppressive; the mind becomes darkened; his attack is an injustice also,
and so is his usurpation of another’s possession. For he
makes forcible use of another’s body, and another’s
instruments, as if they were his own; he throws down him who stands
upright (for he is akin to him who fell from heaven Luke x. 18.); he twists the tongue and distorts the
lips; foam comes instead of words; the man is filled with darkness; his
eye is open, yet the soul sees not through it; and the miserable man
gasps convulsively at the point of death. The devils are verily
foes of men, using them foully and mercilessly.