The Whole Armor of God, Exegesis · Treatise 2 · Part 6 · Section 87 – Section 95
§. 87. Of Satans aſſaulting our Faith.
THe laſt point yet remaineth,IX. Point. Satans wyles againſt Faith. which is, to diſcouer the manifold wiles which the Diuell vſeth againſt this heauenly gift, and to ſhew how they may bee auoyded. We hauehave heard before how he laboureth to ſpoile vsus of the Girdle of Truth,Satan moſt of all aſſaulteth our faith. Breſtplate of Righteouſneſſe, and Shooes of Patience; but his beſt wit and greateſt force is bent againſt the Shield of Faith. The firſt aſſault made againſt Eue, was in regard of her Faith,dGen. 3. 1. Hath God indeede ſaid, &c: ſo againſt Chriſt, (eMat. 4▪ 3. If thou bee the Sonne of God, &c.) Herein did he oft tempt thefPſal. 78. 22. 31. Iſraelites, yea & Moſes gNum. 20. 12alſo in the wilderneſſe.hLuk. 22. 32. This was it for which he deſired to winnow Peter; and for whichiTheſſ. 3. 5. Paul feared leſt hee had tempted the Theſſalonians. Lamentable experience ſheweth how mightily hee preuaileth by this temptation: in time of perſecution he bringeth men hereby to renounce their profeſſion: and hereby at all times he bringeth many to the very pit of deſpaire.
That which hath been before deliuered concerning the excellency,Reaſon. neceſſity, vſe and benefit of Faith, declareth the reaſon, why the Diuell ſo aſſaulteth it: for hee, being our Aduerſary walking about, and ſeeking whom to deuoure, eſpieth that Faith is it which eſpecially preſerueth vsus ſafe from being deuoured; that this is the victory which ouercommeth bothk1 Pet. 5. 9. himſelfe and his chiefe agent and inſtrument thel1 Ioh. 5. 4. world; and therefore with all might and maine endeauoureth to ſpoile vsus of this ſhield. It is therefore needfull we ſhould know what are his wyles, and how they may be auoyded.
His ſundry kindes of wyles may be drawne to two heads, namely thoſe wherby he laboureth either to keep men from Faith, or elſe to wreſt Faith from them. I will in order diſcouer ſome of the principall in both kinds, which are theſe.
§. 88. Anſwer to Satans Suggeſtion, that it is preſumption to beleeue.
1. Suggeſt. FIrſt, it is altogether impoſſible to attaine vntounto any ſuch gift as Faith is. Secondly, can any man be aſſured that Chriſt is his? Thirdly, whoſoeuer hath any ſuch conceit, preſumeth. Fourthly, to inforce this temptation the further, he alſo ſuggeſteth, that the ground of Faith (Gods word) is vncertaine. And fiftly, though that Scripture were the certain Word of God, yet the Miniſtery of it by man, is too weake a meanes to worke ſo great a worke as Faith is thought to be this Suggeſtion hath preuailed much with Papiſts.
Anſw. Firſt, that which hath been before deliuered concerning the getting of Faith, ſheweth that this is a lying Suggeſtion. Secondly, it hath been expreſly proued that a man may know he hath Faith. Thirdly, the differences betwixt Faith and preſumption ſhew, that aſſurance of Faith is no preſumption.
1 Faith driueth a man out of himſelfe:Differences betwixt faith and preſumption. becauſe the beleeuer can find no ground of confidence in himſelfe, therefore hee caſteth himſelfe wholly vponupon CHRIST.
Preſumption findeth ſomething in the man himſelfe to make him boaſt.
2 Faith reſteth on a ſure ground, which is Gods Word, that both commandeth vsus to beleeue, and promiſeth to performe that which we doe beleeue.
Preſumption relyeth onelyonly on a mans ſurmize and meere coniecture.
3 Faith is ioyned with the vſe of the means: both of thoſe meanes whereby it was firſt bred, and alſo of thoſe which God hath appointed for the nouriſhing of it.
Preſumption not onelyonly careleſly neglecteth, but arrogantly contemneth all meanes.
4 Faith is wrought by degrees: firſt by knowledge, then by griefe, after by deſire, as we heard*§. 20, 21, 22, 23, 24▪ & §. 41, 42, 43, 44, 44. before.
Preſumption is a ſudden apprehenſion of the mind.
5 Faith maketh a man worke out his ſaluation with an holy iealouſie, yea with feare and trembling: oft calling vponupon God, and depending on him.
Preſumption is ouer-bold.
6 Faith maketh a man depart from all iniquity, and keepe a cleere conſcience.
Preſumption is accompanied with much pollution, at leaſt inward.
7 Faith is moſt ſure in time of tryall, then is the ſtrength of it moſt manifeſted.
Preſumption like a Bragadocha then maketh greateſt floriſh when there is leaſt danger.
8 Faith continueth vntounto the end, and neuer falleth away.
Preſumption is ſubiect to decay totally and finally.
4 Of the certainty of Gods word we ſhal after ſpeak:
5 For mans Miniſtery it is Gods ordinance; & thence it hath that mighty power to worke Faith: for God who at firſt brought light out of darkeneſſe, can by weake meanes worke great matters: Beſides,a2 Cor. 4. 7 We hauehave this treaſure in earthly veſſels, that the excellency of that power might be of God, and not of vsus.
§. 89. Anſwer to Satans ſuggeſtion of the difficulty of getting Faith.
2 Suggeſt. IF it be not impoſſible to get Faith, yet it is ſo difficult and hard a matter, that not one of a thouſand who ſeeke it, obtaine it. Herein Satan preuaileth with idle, ſlothfull perſons,bPro. 22. 13 & 26. 13. who in all things which they ſhould enterpriſe, pretend more dangers and difficulties then needes, of purpoſe to find a pretence to their idleneſſe.
Anſwer. Though it bee hard to the carnall careleſſe man,Faith not hard to the willing. yet (as Salomon ſaith of knowledge, Pro. 14. 6.) Faith is eaſie to him that will beleeue; not that it is ſimply in mans power, but that Gods Spirit ſo openeth his vnderſtanding in the myſteries of godlineſſe, ſo worketh on his hard and ſtony heart, making the one capable, and the other pliable, as thereby the man is brought like ſoftened waxe eaſily to receiue the impreſſion of Gods ſeale. Though man in himſelfe be dead in ſin, yet Gods word is as powerfull to quicken him, as Chriſts was to raiſe Lazarus. Indeed many ſeeke, and find not, aske, and hauehave not: but why?dIam. 4. 3 Saint Iames giueth one reaſon, They aske, and ſeeke amiſſe. They ſeeke Faith in themſelues, and from themſelues: they ſeeke it by carnall and fleſhly deuices: they ſeeke it by their owne wit and reaſon. Saint Paul rendreth another reaſon,e2 Cor. 4. 4. The God of this world hath blinded their minds, that the glorious light of the Goſpell ſhould not ſhine vntounto them. Becauſe they oppoſe againſt Gods truth ſo farre as it is made knowne vntounto them, or wittingly winke at it, or turne from it, God giueth them ouer in iuſt iudgement to the power of Satan, who blindeth their minds. But if we repaire to the Author who giueth Faith, and to the ſpring whence it floweth; if we rightly vſe the right meanes of attaining it, and waite at the doore of Wiſedome till ſhee open vntounto vsus, vndoubtedly we ſhall find Faith and not miſſe of it.
§. 90. Anſwer to Satans ſuggeſtion of the ſmall need and vſe of Faith.
3 Suggeſt. FAith is a needleſſe thing. This conceit the Diuell putteth into the mind of two ſorts of people: firſt of proud Phariſaicall Iuſticiaries, who truſt to their owne righteouſneſſe: theſe thinke that the breſt-plate of righteouſneſſe is armour enough: Secondly, of ſecure, carnall Goſpellers, who imagine that a good hope (as they call it) is ſufficient, there needeth not aſſurance of Faith.
Anſwer. God maketh and ordaineth nothing in vaine: as for the proud Iuſticiary,Great neede of Faith. let him firſt know, that righteouſnes ſeuered from Faith, is no righteouſneſſe: though righteouſneſſe ioyned with Faith be of good vſe, yet ſeuered from Faith, it is of no vſe at all. Secondly, that the Breſt-plate of righteouſneſſe, which the beſt men euer in this World had, was full of crackes and holes, full of many defects and imperfections, through which Satan would ſoone hauehave wounded them euen to death, if they had not had this ſhield.
As for the ſecure Proteſtant, if euer hee feele the fire of Satans darts, he will find that all the aſſurance which poſſibly he can attaine vntounto, is little enough. That poore man which ſaid;fMar. 9. 24. I beleeue, Lord helpe my vnbeliefe: And the Diſciples which ſaid,gLuke 17. 5. Lord increaſe our faith, ſaw that a good hope was not enough.
As a preſeruatiue againſt this poyſonous temptation, wee muſt labour for all the aſſurance of Faith that wee can.
§. 90. Anſwer to Satans ſuggeſtion of the damage ariſing from Faith.
4 Suggeſt. FAith is hurtfull to a mans credit, honour, profit, pleaſure, &c. Herein Satan preuaileth with worldlings, whoſe hearts are onelyonly on things here below.
Anſwer. Firſt, the price of Faith,Great is the worth of Faith. yea of one graine of Faith, is of more worth then all the treaſure in the world: this that goodhMat. 13. 44. Merchant well knew, who ſold all to buy it.
Secondly, they who are wounded with Satans fiery darts, would willingly forgoe all credit, wealth, and pleaſure that the World poſſibly can giuegive, for a dramme of Faith.
Thirdly there can be no true credit, honour, &c. without Faith: all are ſanctified by Faith, otherwiſe they are meere ſhadowes and ſhewes.
§. 91. Anſwer to Satans ſuggeſtion of Mans vnworthineſſe.
5 Suggeſt. FAith is too good and precious a thing for poore wretched ſinners to hauehave: herein hee preuaileth with diſtreſſed fearefull Chriſtians.
Anſwer. Mans vnworthineſſe no hinderance of Faith.For remouing of this, wee muſt remember what was*§. 28. 29. before deliuered of Gods free grace, and rich bounty, which is not reſtrained by our vn worthineſſe.
If the Diuell by theſe, or ſuch like meanes cannot keepe vsus from getting faith, he hath other wiles to wreſt it from vsus, which follow.
§. 92. Anſwer to Satans ſuggeſtion of mans imperfection.
6 Suggeſt. THy Faith is not ſound, but counterfeit: for it is mixed with many imperfections, tranſgreſſions, weakeneſſes, doubtings; there is no growth or increaſe of it: many weake Chriſtians are brought hereby to ſtagger.
Anſwer. Imperfect Faith may be true & ſound.Oft proue thy Faith, eſpecially by the cauſes, and by thy louelove, andaHeb. 13. 18. true deſire to liue honeſtly: Know that eueryevery thing here is imperfect, yet that truth and imperfection may ſtand together: ſtriue againſt theſe imperfections, and vſe the meanes for encreaſe of Faith.
§. 93. Anſwer to Satans ſuggeſtion of truſting to meanes.
7 Suggeſt. THere are meete helps afforded for all diſtreſſes: why may not men truſt to them? Is it not good to ſeeke to the Phyſician in ſickneſſe? to truſt vntounto number and proweſſe of men in warre? and to friends in time of need? Thus he maketh many to caſt away the ſhield of Faith, their confidence in God, and to truſt vntounto outward meanes, asb2 Ch…. 16 12 Aſa.
Anſwer. All meanes are ſubordinate to Gods Prouidence, and guided thereby:Subordinate meanes take not away the vſe of Faith. therefore in the vſe of them wee muſt looke vntounto God, and depend on him, and call vponupon him for a bleſſing: neither ſupply of meet meanes, nor want of them, muſt any whit leſſen our truſt in God, but to God muſt all the glory be giuen, whatſoeuer the meanes be.
§. 94. Anſwer to Satans ſuggeſtion of apoſtacy.
8 Suggeſt. THou canſt neuer hold out: thy Faith will not onelyonly be in vaine, but thy latter end is like to be worſe then the beginning: How many hauehave fallen away in all ages, and daily doe fall away?
Anſwer. Faith falleth not cleane away.There are meanes to preſerue and increaſe Faith, as well as to get it: let them be well vſed, and thy Faith ſhall neuer faile:Luke 22. 32. Remember Chriſts prayer for Peters Faith: as for others, wee cannot ſo well know the …oundneſſe of their Faith as of our owne.
§. 95. Direction againſt Satans ſtormes.
IF he preuaile not by any of theſe, or ſuch like ſubtill ſuggeſtions, he will try by all the ſtormes and troubles he can, to ſhake and ouerthrow our Faith.
We muſt therefore be like ſound Oaken Trees, which the more they are ſhaken, the deeper roote they get in the earth; and know for our comfort, the Diuel can raiſe no greater ſtormes then God in wiſedome permitteth him.Virtus fidei inper…cutis ſecura eſt. Chryſ. in Mat. 20. hom. 37. God in the end will turne all to our good, as he dealt with Iob, (Iob 42. 10. &c.) ſo that if we beleeue, we ſhall ſurely be eſtabliſhed. Faith maketh men ſecure in perils.