σαρδόνυξ, Rev. xxi, 20. A precious stone which seems to have
its name from its resemblance partly to the sardius and partly to the
onyx. It is generally tinged with black and blood colour, which are
distinguished from each other by circles or rows, so distinct that they
appear to be the effect of art.
SATAN signifies an adversary or enemy, and is commonly applied in the
Scriptures to the devil, or the chief of the fallen angels. By
collecting the passages where Satan, or the devil, is mentioned, it may
be concluded, that he fell from heaven with his company; that God cast
him down from thence for the punishment of his pride; that by his envy
and malice, sin, death, and all other evils came into the world; that,
by the permission of God he exercises a sort of government in the world
over subordinate apostate angels like himself; that God makes use of him
to prove good men, and chastise bad ones; that he is a lying spirit in
the mouth of false prophets and seducers; that it is he, or his agents,
that torment or possess men, and inspire them with evil designs, as when
he suggested to David, the numbering of the people, to Judas to betray
his Lord and Master, and to Ananias and Sapphira to conceal the price of
their field; that he is full of rage like a roaring lion, and of
subtlety like a serpent, to tempt, to betray, to destroy, and to involve
us in guilt and wickedness; that his power and malice are restrained
within certain limits, and controlled by the will of God; in a word,
that he is an enemy to God and man, and uses his utmost endeavours to
rob God of his glory, and men of their souls. See DEVIL and DEMONIACS.
its name from its resemblance partly to the sardius and partly to the
onyx. It is generally tinged with black and blood colour, which are
distinguished from each other by circles or rows, so distinct that they
appear to be the effect of art.
SATAN signifies an adversary or enemy, and is commonly applied in the
Scriptures to the devil, or the chief of the fallen angels. By
collecting the passages where Satan, or the devil, is mentioned, it may
be concluded, that he fell from heaven with his company; that God cast
him down from thence for the punishment of his pride; that by his envy
and malice, sin, death, and all other evils came into the world; that,
by the permission of God he exercises a sort of government in the world
over subordinate apostate angels like himself; that God makes use of him
to prove good men, and chastise bad ones; that he is a lying spirit in
the mouth of false prophets and seducers; that it is he, or his agents,
that torment or possess men, and inspire them with evil designs, as when
he suggested to David, the numbering of the people, to Judas to betray
his Lord and Master, and to Ananias and Sapphira to conceal the price of
their field; that he is full of rage like a roaring lion, and of
subtlety like a serpent, to tempt, to betray, to destroy, and to involve
us in guilt and wickedness; that his power and malice are restrained
within certain limits, and controlled by the will of God; in a word,
that he is an enemy to God and man, and uses his utmost endeavours to
rob God of his glory, and men of their souls. See DEVIL and DEMONIACS.