A Child of Light Walking in Darkness, Part 1 · Chapter 7
CHAP. VII.
More particularly, how Satan workes upon thoſe three principles in us: Firſt, on Carnall reaſon.
SEeing therefore the exerciſe of his power lyes in that darkneſſe which is in us; let us more particularly ſee how able and powerfull he is, to work upon thoſe ſeverall principles of Carnall reaſon, guilt of conſcience, jealouſies, and feares.
Firſt on carnall reaſon, on which he chiefly worketh in this ſort of temptations, the ſtrength wherof lyes in falſe reaſonings; wherein, if in any thing, he hath the advantage.
Firſt,§. 1. his abilities to forge and invent falſe reaſonings and arguments to overthrow our faith,Satans abilities to invent falſe reaſonings, are (as they muſt needs be conceived to be) exceeding great: who for his knowledge is called foreign, as well as Satan, for his malice; and for his ſubtility in out-reaching us, a Serpent: who when young, outwitted our firſt parents, he beguiled Eve through his ſubtlety, ſayes the Apoſtle, 2 Cor. 11. 3. then, when their reaſon was not depraved; but now hee is growne that Old Serpent, increaſed by ſo long a time of experience,Rev. 17. 9. and we are become children, apt to be toſſed to and fro, Epheſ. 4. 14. He hath had time enough to improve his knowledge in; a ſtudent he is of 5000. yeares ſtanding; that hath loſt no time, but as he is ſaid to accuſe day and night, Rev. 12. 10. ſo is able to ſtudy both day and night; and hee hath made it his chiefe, if not whole ſtudy, to enable himſelfe to tempt, and plead againſt us; It is his trade, therefore as men are called Lawyers, or Divines from their calling; ſo hee the tempter and the accuſer from his imployment; & by this his long experience & abſervation he hath his foreign 2 Cor. 2. 11. his ſet and compoſed machinations; his foreign Epheſ. 6. 11. his methods of temptations, which are ſtudied and artificially moulded, and ordered; even ſuch ſyſtemes and methods of them, as tutors and profeſſors of arts and ſciences have, and doe reade over againe and againe to their Auditors: The Apoſtle calls them darts, verſe 16. and he hath an whole ſhop, and armory of them ready made and forged; which for the acuteneſſe, and ſubtill ſophiſtry that is in them, are called depths of Satan, Revel. 2. 24. Which depths, and his continuall exerciſe in this great controverſie in all ages:if in any point, are moſt to bee found in this; for he is more eſpecially verſed in this great queſtion and diſpute whether a man bee the childe of God or no, more then in any other: all other controverſies hee hath had to deale in but in particular ages, as occaſionally they were ſtarted; but this hath beene the ſtanding controverſie of all ages, ſince God hath had any children on earth; With every one of whom more or leſſe, he hath at one time or another had ſolemne diſputes about it: ſo as he knowes all the advantages, windings, and turnings in this debate; all the objections, and anſwers, and diſcuſſions in it. And as other controverſies; the longer they are on foote, and the further they have bin caryed along, the more they are enlarged, improved and grow more ſubtle: So muſt this needs alſo, eſpecially in this latter knowing age of the world; and by reaſon alſo of that ſeeming neere ſimilitude which hypocriſie holds unto the truth and power of grace, (which hath fazled and entangled this controverſie) The objections and difficulties which a beleever meets with in beating out a right judgement of his eſtate,which of all controverſies is the moſt ſubtill and intricate. are greater then in any controverſie the world ever knew; and afford ſtranger knots, and require as acute diſtinctions to diſſolve them as the Schoole knowes any. And indeed ſuch, as, did not the holy Ghoſt ſometimes cut, ſometimes untie them for beleevers, by witneſſing with our ſpirits that wee are the ſons of God, bare reaſon alone could never determine in it. Now Satan through long experience, and obſervation hath all theſe at his fingers ends; and hath reduced them all to common places long ſince; He hath ſtill obſerved, and laid up what anſwers have relieved the ſpirits of beleevers in ſuch and ſuch a doubt caſt in by him; and then ſtudies a further reply againſt the next time, or for the next beleever he ſhall have to doe with.
Secondly,§. 2. as he hath thus throughly ſtudied this controverſie,Satan knowes how beſt to ſuit his falſe reaſonings to all ſorts of beleevers. and knowes all the windings and falſe reaſonings in it: So withall, by his daily ſtudiing and conſidering Men, he knowes how beſt to ſuit, and make uſe of thoſe reaſonings, both to perſons and ſeaſons. It is the ſole buſineſſe of thoſe evill ſpirits to ſtudy men; for this end they goe up and downe the earth; and he hath common places of men, and their ſeverall frames and temper of ſpirit, as well as of temptations; he knowes all the ſeverall rankes and claſſes of men in the ſtate of grace; and according to their rankes, with what ſort of temptations to encounter them. For mens temptations are various and manifold, 1 Pet. 2. 6. even as the gifts and operations of the Spirit are, 1 Cor. 12. 4, 5. Now he having beaten out this controverſie with all ſorts, knowes how to lay the diſpute, how to order, and marſhall, and apply objections, and weild his blowes with moſt ſucceſſe and advantage. That as Phyſitians, having obſerved the ſeverall workings of medicines of all ſorts, upon ſeverall ages, & conſtitutions; & what ſeverall iſſues and effects they have had, doe therefore accordingly preſcribe and apply ſeverall medicines, according to the ſeverall and differing conditions of their patients, though ſicke of the ſame diſeaſe: Thus Satan, he by obſervation finding the hearts of ſome men anſwering to ſome others, even as face to face in water, as Solomon ſayes, and more alike, and withall remembring what reaſonings have alwayes taken moſt with ſuch a ſort or ſtrain of Chriſtians, whoſe corruptions and whoſe graces were much alike unto thoſe in this or that man hee hath now to deale with; accordingly he makes uſe and application of theſe reaſonings againe.The conditions of men are exceeding various, and ſo are capable of ſeverall ſorts of temptations. 1 The temper of mens ſpirits we know is divers, and ſo is capable of diverſity of ſuggeſtions. Men of melancholly and jealous ſpirits, he plyes with reaſonings and ſuggeſtions that will moſt take with their ſpirits. And againe 2 the operations of graces, as of ſinne, are various in thoſe ſeverall tempers. And 3 Gods dealings with, and workings upon his children are as various as either: ſome he humbleth much, ſome are led on with comfort; ſome he workes on with a ſudden and marvellous light, as if the Sun ſhould riſe on the ſudden, at midnight; and on others, inſenſibly and by degrees, as when the dawning ſteals upon the day; ſome have had a falſe & a counterfeit work before; ſome were never enlightned untill ſavingly; and this variety affords riſe, & occaſion for ſeverall temptations. So as what kinde of work any other Chriſtian hath had, is apt to be made an exception to another that wants it. I was never thus humbled ſayes one, nor I thus comforted ſayes another; I had a ſudden violent worke indeed, which came in like a ſpring tide, but now the tide is fallen, and my firſt love abated, ſayes a third; I had ſome workings and enlightnings heretofore ſayes another, and I was deceived then, and I may be ſo now alſo; and ſo he hath that vaſt tuſke ſet him, to compare a counterfeit work with a true. Thus every ſeverall way of working lyes open to ſeverall exceptions; and as we ſay, that every calling earthly hath its ſeverall and proper temptations: to the ſeverall wayes and maner of effecting this calling heavenly, have their ſeverall veines and currents of temptations. All which Satan knowes, and hath often traced; and accordingly knowes how to ſit them to men, and to proſecute them the moſt advantagious way. So in like maner hee takes the compaſſe of every mans knowledge, notions, and apprehenſions; according unto which, as our knowledge is more or leſſe, we are alſo capable of ſeverall temptations. Many reaſonings and objections, which like ſmall haile-ſhot could not reach, or make any dint at all upon men of parts and knowledge, that ſoare high out of the gun-ſhot of them; and who have on the whole armour of God, as the Apoſtle ſpeakes Epheſ. 6. are in compleat armour, abounding in all faith and knowledge; yet are fitteſt to levell with, at ſuch as are more ignorant, and fly low, and have but ſome few broken pieces of that armour to defend ſome parts with: but on the contrary thoſe other of his great ſhot, which he diſchargeth on men of knowledge, they would bee ſhot, and cleane fly over the others heads, and not come neer ſuch ſmaller veſſels. All in Thyatira knew not Satans depths, nor were capable of them, Rev. 2. 24. Thus ignorance, and want of knowledge of the meaning of the Scriptures, and of the wayes of grace chalked forth therein, how doth Satan abuſe, to the diſquietment of many poore and good ſoules that want much knowledge, by putting falſe gloſſes on them? how many weake ſoules do ſtick in ſhallowes, and are ſometimes a long while … with groſſe miſtakes? and like ſmall birds, are held long under with limed ſtrawes of frivolous objections, which great ones fly away with. S. Paul being a man of knowledge was not eaſily taken with ſuch chaffe,Satan fitly knowes how to apply his temptations We are not ignorant of his devices, (ſayes hee 2 Cor. 2. 11.) and therefore Satan takes another courſe with him, and comes with downeright blowes, and falls a buffet in him, 2. Cor. 12. Thus doth Satan take meaſure of the bore (as I may ſo ſpeake) of every mans underſtanding and fits them with objections proportionable, of ſeverall ſiſes. And as the Apoſtles in his Sermons prepared milk for babes, but ſtrong meat for ſtrong ment ſo doth ſatan in his temptations, apply and ſuite them to mens notions and apprehenſions, ſtill framing objections according to their reading.
Thirdly,§. 3. he is able indiſcernably to communicate all his falſe reaſonings,Satan is able indiſcernably to communicate the moſt ſpirituall falſe reaſonings; and in ſuch a maner as to make them take. (though never ſo ſpirituall,) which hee doth forge and invent, and that in ſuch a maner as to deceive us by them, and to make them take with us.
Firſt, he is able not onelyonly to put into the heart ſuggeſtions and ſolicitations unto ſenſuall and worldly objects; ſuch as that into Iudas heart, to betray his maſter for money, Iohn 13. 2. and to tempt maryed couples ſevered,To ſuggeſt even the moſt ſubtill and abſtracted reaſonings about things ſpiritual. to incontinuancy, 1 Cor. 7. 5. But alſo the moſt ſubtill and abſtracted reaſonings concerning things ſpirituall, which are utterly remote from ſenſe, he can inſinuate and impart according to the meaſure and capacity of mens apprehenſions. Therefore we are ſaid to wreſtle with them about things heavenly, and out intereſt therein is often made the matter of the contention, and the ſubject of the queſtion: ſo that phraſe Epheſ. 6. 12. foreign; when it is ſaid, We wreſtle with ſpirituall wickedneſſes in heavenly, is rather to be underſtood of [heavenly things] then of heavenly places;] the word ſignifying rather ſupercaeleſtiall, in the higheſt heavens; whither (if rendred of places) the devils never came ſince their fall; and it being uſed elſewhere for [heavenly things] as Heb. 8. 5. and the prepoſition [foreign] or [In] being likewiſe ſometimes put to expreſſe the object matter about which a thing is converſant, as Matth. 11. 6. Bleſſed is hee that is not offended in mee, that is, with or about me, & for my ſake; it may congruouſly be ſo here meant as noting to us, that the price about which wee wreſtle with Satan, the ſtake, are not things worldly, as honours, riches, and the like, but things heavenly, which concern our ſouls and eſtates hereafter. Now the contention being about heavenly things, and ſpirituall bleſſings, it cannot bee tranſacted but by reaſonings ſuitable; that is, ſpirituall falſe reaſonings abſtracted from ſenſe and fancy: and in this reſpect they are termed ſpirituall wickedneſſes; becauſe in ſuch wickedneſſes they deal & trade in eſpecially, or as much as in thoſe that are ſenſuall; as tempting to unbeliefe, deſpaire, blaſphemy againſt God, of which ſort are all thoſe tēptations we have now in hand. And that he is able to convey and ſuggeſt ſuch ſpirituall thoughts and reaſonings of what ſort ſoever, appeareth many wayes: as by injecting blaſphemous thoughts againſt God ſuch as doe ſometimes tranſcend the wit and capacity of the receiver of them; and is manifeſt likewiſe by Sauls propheſying even from the immediate dictating & ſuggeſtion of an evill ſpirit as is expreſly ſaid, 1 Sam. 18. 10. in the like maner to which, haply the Sibylls alſo propheyed: but more evid… it is in all thoſe damnable hereſies which have been broached in all ages; as in the primitive times among the Romanes, the broachers whereof are made the Emiſſaries of Satan, therefore Rom. 16. … Paul having branded them unto the Romans, that taught falſe doctrines among them, and having inſtructed them againſt them, hee gives this encouragement about them, ver. 20. That God ſhould treat dawne ſatan under their feet ſhortly, having reſpect to Satans work in thoſe errors mentioned, v. 16. Satan being the main author of them. Thus in the Church of Thyatira, thoſe curſed heretiques who appla… ded themſelves, and were admired by their followers for the depths and profoundneſſe of the learning ſhewne in thoſe hereſies they broached: Depths as they ſpeake, Rev. 2. 24. But if they call them depths ſayes the Apoſtle, I will call them Depths of ſatan [Depths of ſatan as they ſpeake,] for the devill was the maſter and the author and ſuggeſter of them: ſo in after-times Apoſtacy is aſcribed to ſpirits of errour, that is, Devils, which he foretelleth men ſhould give heed unto, 1 Tim. 4. 1. & in the working of ſatan, 2 Th. …. 9. it was He that ſharpened their wits, and pens. Now then by the ſame reaſon there is no reaſoning about our eſtates, though never ſo ſpiritual, but he can ſuggeſt it as well as he did thoſe depths of hereſies to the broachers of …. So as Satan cannot onelyonly make thoſe falſe reaſonings which our owne hearts forge more ſpecious, and probable, and ſuggeſt further confirmations of them, which are enough to add unto this darknes; but he is alſo able to put in new, which himſelf invents, of what kinde ſoever they be.
Secondly,To ſuggeſt them in ſuch a maner, as to take and deceive us. he is not ſimply able to ſuggeſt them, but to inſinuate them in ſuch a maner, as to take with us, and deceive us; yea, and often to ſet them on with a deep impreſſion. Therefore in thoſe places forementioned, it is not ſimply ſaid, that there ſhould be ſpirits which ſhould ſuggeſt errors; but ſo ſuggeſt them, as that men ſhould give heed unto them: 1 Tim. 4. 1. and 2 Theſſ. 2. (where the working of thoſe very ſame ſpirits is ſet forth, ver. 9.) it is not onelyonly ſaid, that they were ſent as from God to delude, but with ſtrong deluſions; ſuch, as ſhould have a ſtrength put into them, to prevaile, ſo as that men ſhould beleeve them. So alſo, that lying ſpirit which God ſent, and who perſwaded Ahab by a lye in the mouthes of his falſe Prophets: commiſſion is not ſimply given to him to ſuggeſt a lye, but ſo as it ſhould prevaile with Ahab; ſo 2 Chron. 18. 21. And the Lord ſaid, thou ſhalt entiſe him, and thou ſhalt alſo prevaile. And as he is thus able (when God gives leave) to delude wicked mens underſtandings with falſe reaſonings in matters of hereſie and falſe doctrine, by reaſon of that totall darkneſſe that is in them: So he is able (if God give leave (as ſometimes he doth) to bring ſtrong deluſions upon the mindes of Gods children alſo, through falſe reaſonings about their owne eſtates, by reaſon of that darkneſſe which in part remaines in them: by meanes of which he may work the ſame effects for a time, and in a certaine degree in a godly man, which in another, as was before obſerved. Thus the beleeving Galatians, eſpecially ſome of them, were ſo farre bewitched (as his word is) as for a time to aſſent to that great errour in point of juſtification: And this by reaſon of that folly and darkneſſe which remained in them, as he intimates, when he ſayes; Oh ye [fooliſh] Galatians, who hath [bewitched] you, that ye ſhould not obey the truth: Gal. 3. 1. And if in the very doctrine of Juſtification it ſelfe, beleevers were thus for a time deluded, (which is rare) then much more may they, and ordinarily are they miſled in the application of faith, in the beleeving their owne perſonall juſtification, which is the point in hand.A caution. OnelyOnly this is to be added here for caution ſake: That it is true, that Satan cannot enforce an act of aſſent to any falſhood upon the underſtanding of any man. For how then ſhould they have all beene dawned for beleeving that lyed 2 Theſſ. 2. 11, 12. which ſhould not have been unleſſe it were their owne ſinne; which is as true of all other temptations as that. Though Satan pat the thought into Iudas heart, John 13. 2. yet his owne conſcience ownes it wholly as his owne act, Mat. 27. 4. I have ſinned, &c. Neither yet doth hee is immediately concurre to produce ſuch an act of aſſent in us;Tentationis poteſt eſſe cauſa efficacax, at non peccati: poteſt neceſſitarehomines ad ſentiendam tentationem non ad conſentiendam. as God doth, when hee worketh ſaith in us: for then Gods power and aſſiſtance in working good, ſhould bee no more then Satans in working evill. And yet the Scripture phraſes goe farre in aſcribing unto Satan herein, when it ſayes of thoſe that beleeved not the Goſpell; that the god of this world hath blinded their mindes that beleeve not: 2 Cor. 4. which notes out a ſuperadded working of blindnes unto their own naturall blindnes. As alſo when he ſayes, that the Prince of the aire is foreign, that workes effectually, &c. Epheſ. 2. 2. And alſo that of the Corinthians whileſt unregenerate, who as then are ſaid to be caried and led away after dumbe Idolls, 1 Cor. 12. 2. All which phraſes would ſeeme to argue, not onelyonly a further power of working on mens judgements, then when one man doth endeavour to corrupt and perſwade another man in a morall way: (becauſe he ſuggeſteth indiſcernably, and with more frequency and importunity, and holdeth the minde more to the object, and preſenteth an army of confirmations at once, and is able ſo to marſhall them, as the minde can ſcarce reſiſt; and puts all theſe upon the Spirit with a violent and imperious affirmation:) But further alſo it would ſeeme to imply ſome kinde of phyſicall working; though not immediately on the ſpring of the clocke, yet upon the wheeles and weights of it, I meane the paſsions in the body, and the images in the fancy; though not upon the underſtanding immediately: all which, what influence they have to ſway the judgement and pervert it, experience ſhewes.
Fourthly,§. 4. he is further able to follow and continue his reaſonings as occaſion is,Satan is able to continue the diſpute, and often, to make replies to the anſwers of his falſe reaſonings. and to keepe up the diſpute, and hold out arguments with us, and out-reaſon us; by putting in new replies to our anſwers, and ſo to maintaine and manage and cary along the diſpute, and to come up with freſh ſupplies: which in this reſpect is called wreſtling; Epheſ. 6. 12. We wreſtle not with fleſh and blood, but principalities and powers, it being (as the bodily wreſtling) tranſacted by reiterated aſſaults, and attempts to overcome and get the victory; hee as it were going about to ſtrike up our heeles, as wreſtlers doe: that is, to take away from under us thoſe reaſonings which ſupported us, by cavillling objections; which kinde of ſpirituall wreſtlings how often have we experience of in ſpirituall agonies? In the houre of temptation beleevers finde conflicts and bandyings of diſputes, rationally caried along, and pertinent objections brought in againſt thoſe anſwers, which they ſecretly meditate of: In which caſe therefore Divines bid men not to diſpute with that cunning ſophiſter. Thus many when death hath approached have found that they have had their reaſonings for their eſtates, and thoſe evidences they have had recourſe unto, taken away & confuted as faſt as they have thought of them. And that Satan hath this dexterity and ſkill thus to manage ſuch kinde of diſputes with us, is further evident, in the framing of hereſies, wherein he aſſiſts the contrivers of them with pertinent conſiderations to backe and confirme their notions, in their private meditations, ſtudies, and contrivements. And indeed if Satan were not able and ſkilfull thus to oppoſe and reply, theſe kind of temptations which conſiſt in diſputes could not be managed: for otherwiſe, Satan in thē did diſpute with us, but as if one of us ſhould reaſon with a dumb man that can heare, but his anſwers cannot be known, & ſo we know no way what reply to make. Therfore ſurely Satan hath ſome way, more or leſſe a gueſſe and inkling, often what may be the anſwers of the heart againe: which were it otherwiſe, the glory alſo which God hath by the victory gotten over Satan in theſe temptations, were much obſcured, and Satans confuſion leſſe; for the victory of our faith in theſe diſputes, and the reſiſtance it makes, lyes chiefly in thoſe replies which are made, wherby it quencheth all his darts: whereof the devill, when he is once ſenſible, and perceives it, he is confounded; for then, when he is once ſenſible and apprehenſive that he is reſiſted, doth he fly from us, as the Apoſtle ſpeakes, Iames 4. 7. and that of his owne accord, as the expreſſion there imports; even as a foiled and diſgraced ſouldier. And this we may ſee in his cariage in thoſe his tēptations of Chriſt; which were managed by mutuall diſputes; and the foiling of ſatan, was by the anſwers out of Scripture which Chriſt gave,Mat. 4. 11. by which being confounded, he left him (as the text ſayes) as out of pride, aſhamed that he was foiled. So that Satan ſome way or other is able to gueſſe at, and diſcernes the replies in our hearts to his objections; as well as to make and caſt in objections.