A Spiritual Trumpet Sounded to Christian Warfare, Treatise

A Spiritual Trumpet Sounded to Christian Warfare · Treatise

p. 1A SPIRITVALL TRVMPET.

IAMES 4.7.

Reſiſt the deuill, and he will flie from you.

I Thinke it not needfull to looke after any coherence betweene theſe words and the reſt of the context. Our Apoſtles p. 2purpoſe is to giuegive good counſell to theſe ſcattered Iewes as concerning the life and power of godlineſſe. For the forme of it, none more forward than they: and therefore hee preſcribes them ſuch ſubſtantiall duties, as might indeed commend them to God, as the other could not. Among the reſt this is one, Reſiſt the deuill, and he will flie from you.

The parts whereof are two, Parts 2.a Direction, and a Conſolation: or a Dutie directed vntounto, and the bleſſed Fruit promiſed p. 3to them that performe it.

Doctr. Reſiſtance to be made vponupon the deuill.From the former we learne, that it is the dutie of Gods people to make reſiſtance vponupon Satan, till they hauehave giuen him the foile. A deuill there is, moſt ſubtill and malicious, who ſeeks by all means poſſible, to rob vsus of the inheritance of the Saints in light, and make vsus miſerable like himſelfe: and our care muſt be, to oppoſe, to reſiſt, to diſappoint him. With S. Iames accords S. Paul, Eph. 4.27 p. 4GiueGive no place to the deuill: yeeld not an inch. And with them both agreeth S. Peter, 1 epiſt. 5, 8, 9. Your aduerſarie the deuill. Whom reſiſt ſtedfaſt in the faith: foreign, he ſtands againſt you, therefore doe you withſtand him: he will bee ſure to giuegive no ground, till he needs muſt, therefore turne not your backs vponupon him, ſtand your ground.

Here foure materiall queſtions come to be anſwered, Foure queſtions propoſed.the ſolution whereof will p. 5giuegive great light to the Chriſtian Combatant.

Queſt. I Queſt. 1. Wherein ſhould we reſiſt the deuill?

III. Reſiſt him in his owne perſon.Anſ. In two things. Firſt, in his owne proper ſuggeſtions. He makes not daintie of doing his worke, yea in his owne perſon, though the Defendant be neuer ſo meane and baſe in the world. None ſo good, but he hopes to make him bad: None ſo bad, but he hopes to make him worſe, or at leaſt to keepe him as bad as he is: therefore p. 6he refuſeth not to preſent himſelfe to any, but in a diuers manner; ſometimes viſibly, ſometimes and more commonly, inuiſibly; ſometimes pleaſingly, ſometimes terribly; ſometimes by outward obiects, ſometimes by inward motions, and that more ordinarily. Being a ſpirituall nature, he eaſily applieth himſelfe to our ſpirits, our fancies and minds: and, vnleſſe he be well watched and withſtood, he makes great battery vponupon the ſoule, p. 7darkens the iudgment, benummes the conſcience, perſwades the will, and diſtempers all the affections: and then doth his beſt to con…inue this diſorder.

1Motions to euill. Vnde venis? ab homicidijs, à ſanguinib. ab adulterijs, &c. Orig. in Iob 1.7Job 1:7As for example: The deuill put into Iudas his heart to betray Chriſt, and preuailed. Hee put into Dauids heart to number the people, and preuailed. He put into Eues heart to ſwallow the forbidden fruit, and her owne bane, and preuailed likewiſe. So at this day, by the inſtinct of the p. 8deuill it is, that men are carried along to pride, to couetouſneſſe, to vncleanneſſe, and the moſt loathſome courſes, Matth. 8.32.Matt 8:32as the ſwine into the lake. In this reſiſt him.

2Diſſwaſions from good: as 1. from zeale.Reſiſt him alſo in motions to lukewarmneſſe, or apoſtaſie. A chiefe part of his imploiment is, to hinder good, that either it may not be ſtrengthned, or not continued. It is he that diſſwades men from care in the purſuit of religion; What need they be ſo p. 9hot? and what encouragement doth the world giuegive them for ſuch peeuiſh courſes? Maſter, ſpare thy ſelfe, Matth. 16.22.Matt 16:22it ſhall not be ſo vntounto thee, thou needeſt not be at ſo much charges in the matter of pietie. Here is a dart of the deuill, here reſiſt him, and ſay as Chriſt to Peter, Verſ. 23.Get thee behinde me, Satan, for thou art an offence vntounto me.

Many a man he perſwades, 2. From conſtancie.not to hold out in his religious beginnings, ſhewes him the courſe of the world, p. 10the backe-ſlidings of ſome, the harſhneſſe of his courſes, and the pleaſures or profits that he might hauehave; and, Iob 2.9.Job 2:9Doeſt thou ſtill retaine thine innocencie? blaſpheme God, and die; forſweare thy profeſſion, and all; take thy ſwindge, and pleaſe thy ſelfe, thou wilt neuer be younger. This is the blacke voice of a blacke ſpirit. Herein reſiſt him.

II. In his inſtruments.Secondly, reſiſt him in the temptations of his inſtruments. That hee may leaue no ſtone vnturned, p. 11to aduantage himſelfe, or diſaduantage man, he furniſheth men with varietie of euill arts, and maketh them his factors, to deale for him in all places. For what? Though ſimple people take the deuill for their enemie, yet can they thinke ſo of their brethren? will their owne fleſh and bloud deceiue them? Yes: he hath many Agents whom hee ſets on worke to deceiue the world, Three ſorts of factors for the deuill.and loſeth not his labour.

p. 121Firſt, falſe prophets, or erroneous teachers, who corrupt the iudgment with falſe doctrine; as in Poperie, Browniſme, Arminianiſme, and other ſects, which creep in among Gods people by the flie inſinuation of ſeducers.

2Secondly, libertine teachers, who infect the life by handling the word of God looſely and deceitfully; as in profanation of the Sabbath, formalitie of worſhipping God, vſurie, &c. In all which, p. 13they nothing elſe but doe that openly, which Satan doth ſecretly: and therefore they are called his Miniſters, 2 Cor. 11.15.

3Thirdly, thoſe that are either ſcoffers, or hinderers, or perſecutors of the truth. Some can only barke againſt the Sunne, and doe no harme; as thoſe that put nicknames, and reſts, and flouts vponupon Profeſſors. Others hauehave authoritie alſo, as ouer children, and ſeruants; and theſe can diſhearten them by p. 14frownes, and checks, and vile vſage, to make them weary of holineſſe. Others hauehave fire and faggot to command, and any extremities they pleaſe; and theſe can violently make away the godly, till the houre of darkneſſe be ouerpaſt.

Al theſe receiue their power from the dragon, Reu. 13.4. and come with his commiſſion, as Chriſt intimates, Ioh. 14.30. The Prince of this world commeth: that is, in Iudas the traitor, in the Iewes my p. 15accuſers, in the ſouldiers my executioners, in the people that wagged their heads, railed on me, mocked mee, bid mee come downe from the croſſe, and ſaue my ſelfe.

Thus wee ſee, how Satan laieth about him both by himſelfe, and by his inſtruments, to put vsus to the worſe. In both theſe, ſuggeſtions inward, and temptations outward, we muſt make reſiſtance vponupon him. And this of the firſt queſtion.

Queſt. 2 Queſt. 2. With whatp. 16ſhould we reſiſt him? for of our ſelues we are bare, and naked, and vnable to encounter him.

Inſufficient weapons for this warfare, three kindes.Anſw. 1Aske coniurers & charmers, they will tell you, you muſt make circles, vſe ſpels, amulets, and I know not what.

2Aske ſimple people, and they will tell you, you muſt ſpet at the mention of him, bleſſe your ſelues from him, defie him heartily, and all his workes.

3Aske Popiſh Prieſts, and they will tell you, p. 17you muſt ſprinkle your ſelues with holy water, carry a Crucifix about you, and croſſe your ſelues well at your mouth, forehead, eyes, eares, breaſt, and other parts. Theſe are the ſtrawes which the deuill hath taught men to fight withall, and in the meane time laughs at them in his ſleeue: Exire ſe ſaepe dicit, & fall. t. epiſt. ad Magnum.often pretending (as Cyprian obſerued in Exorciſts) to goe forth, and leaue the ſeruant of God, but deceiuing, &c.

But aske counſell at the wiſdome of God, p. 18and we ſhall finde armour of proofe indeed. The word tels of ſpirituall ſcourges (as the ſame Father elſewhere calles them) wherewith the deuils are tortured; Torquentur ſpiritalibus flagris, & poteſtate diuiua: lib. ad Demetrianum.and of the power of God, whereby only they can be vanquiſhed.

The weapons that are ſufficient, in two heads.The meanes then of reſiſtance ſtand in two ſorts of Rules: 1. Of Preparation, 2. Of Oppugnation. With ſome things the Chriſtian muſt be furniſhed before hand, and ſome other things hee muſt p. 19vſe in the skirmiſh it ſelfe.

The firſt in three things: 1. Preparatiue.1. Sound illumination, 3. In ſpeciall.or knowledge. 2. Sound humiliation, or repentance. 3. Sound reformation, or holy life. Neuer goe into the field without theſe: for theſe are neceſſary, and they put metall into a man, as one that may be bold.

1. Knowledge. of 3. points.Firſt, the ſpirituall warrior muſt be carefull to get ſound illumination, that he may know why, & in what he muſt reſiſt. Therefore p. 20he muſt labour to ſee, 1firſt, Gods inſtitution, ordaining theſe conflicts; Ges. 3.15. I hauehave put enmitie betweene thy ſeed and her ſeed; he ſhall breake thine head, and thou ſhalt bruiſe his heele. Conſider, the battell is Gods, the quarrell is Gods, the armour Gods, the ſtrength Gods, and the valour and victorie are Gods alone. And ſay as Dauid, 1 Sam. 17.45.1 Sam 17:45I come to thee in the name of the Lord: I come not vnſent, without iuſt cauſe, commiſſion, p. 21or authoritie: no, the God of heauen preaſt me into the field, he gaue me my preſſemoney, and liuerie, and bade me fight, and ſo I will. Note.God makes peace for vsus with himſelfe, by the attonement of Ieſus Chriſt; with the creatures, by vertue of that couenant; with one another, by the operation of the Holy Ghoſt: but no peace with Satan; his ſin is vnpardonable, therefore himſelfe altogether vnpeaceable, vnreconcilable. Know this.

p. 222Secondly, know the prouiſion & furniture of the deuill. Be fully acquainted with his malice, and ſubtiltie, and vnweariableneſſe: how he is expert in his forces, and diligent in muſtering and exerciſing them to the very end of thy life. Be able to ſay as the Apoſtle, 2 Cor. 2.11. We are not ignorant of his deuices. How ſhall a Captaine be able to enter combat with the enemie, if he know not his power, plots, ſtratagems, ambuſhments? What p. 23King goeth to warre, Luk. 14.31.Luke 14:31and ſitteth not downe firſt, and taketh counſell, whether he be able with ten thouſand to meet him that commeth against him with twentie thouſand? Should he goe forth a little way, and then flie, or ſend for conditions of peace? Here therefore know, that the deuill is an old ſerpent, the wiſeſt of all beaſts, a beaſt of ſeuen heads, and eueryevery head hath many turnings and windings▪ Doe thy beſt to take an anatomie of them. Reade the p. 24works of thoſe godly men, who hauehave expounded Chriſts Temptations: Eſpecially learne what it is wherin thy ſelfe art moſt aſſaulted; and know theſe things more by practiſe, than by hiſtorie.

Thirdly, 3know thine owne impotencie and inſufficiencie for ſo great a combat, both in skill and power. He that knowes himſel…e aright, cannot preſume (as ſimple ones doe) that he can keepe himſelfe well enough; or p. 25as the ſonnes of Sceua, Act. 19.14.Acts 19:14who would needs ferret the fox out of his owne hole, to their owne ſhame & harme: But he will acknowledge his vnskilfulneſſe and faint-heartedneſſe, and ſay to himſelfe as Saul ſometime ſaid to Dauid, Alas, thou art a childe, thou art not able to fight with this man of warre, this Goliah of hell, 1 Sam. 17.33. He will flie out of himſelfe for ſtrength, betake him to the banner of Chriſt, and looke for the accompliſhment of p. 26the viſion ſhewed to Conſtantine, Pol. Virgil.foreign, that is (in the language of Scripture) to bee a conquerour, and more than a conquerour, through him that loued him, Rom. 8.37.

This as concerning illumination.

Next, 2. Repentance.the ſpirituall warriour muſt looke carefully to ſound humiliation. If hee will looke his enemie in the face, and fight the field manfully, he muſt firſt make all ſure at home, and ſee, that there be no home-bred enemies, p. 27and lurking traitors within his owne walls. See Ioſh. 7.10.11, 12. EueryEvery ſinne is an aduerſarie to thy ſoule, yea a tyrant, and muſt not be ſuffered to reigne in thy mortall body, leſt it ſet God at ods with thee. If there were no deuill in hell, yet ſomething in thy ſelfe is ſufficient to foile thee. Sinne is abſolutely euill, as Satan is not. Therefore vnrooſt this curſed brood, humble thy ſelfe before God, put away the accurſed thing: ſo p. 28ſhalt thou be able to ſtand, where otherwiſe thou muſt needs fall. It is our Apoſtles method in this place; firſt, ſubmit your ſelues to the Lord; then, reſiſt the deuill: and verſe 10. Humble your ſelues in the ſight of the Lord, and he ſhall lift you vp; higher than Satan can reach you, or pull you downe.

3. Holineſſe and integritie of life.Further, the ſpirituall warriour muſt hauehave a ſpeciall care of ſound reformation, or holy conuerſation. For this is that which Satan p. 29moſt laboureth againſt, either to preuent it, or interrupt it; and that which moſt confounds him in his enterpriſes: therefore it is called the breaſt-plate of righteouſneſſe, Epheſ. 6.14. becauſe it keepes off gun-ſhot, darts, ſpears, and all the deuils munition. As Iob, by ſound holineſſe in his heart and life, ſwome thorow a great ſtreame of violent oppoſitions. Pro. 28.1. The righteous is as bold as a Lion: and ſo eueryevery good man ſindes, that vprightneſſe p. 30is a great prop to boldneſſe and confidence.

II. Oppugnatiue.Now to the Rules of Oppugnation: that is, ſuch as whereby he may either ſet vponupon Satan, or keepe him off from giuing him the ſtab. A Chriſtian prepared, and furniſhed as before, muſt ſee, that he take vntounto him the whole armour of God, Eph. 6.13.Eph 6:13and vſe it, and ſtill keepe it about him.

In 5. ſeuerall peeces.The ſeuerall peeces hereof are theſe:

Firſt, 1the word of God is the ſword of the Spirit, p. 31Epheſ. 6.17. able to cut off Satans temptations, and preſerue our graces. Chriſt ſtill reſiſted him with this, It is written; Matt. 4. Luk. 4.Matt 4Luke 4which put him ſo to a Non-plus, that he was not able to replie vponupon him in the ſame kinde. This ſhewes vsus the validitie of the word: It is profitable to exhort, to reproue, to conuince, and inſtruct in righteouſnes, 2 Tim. 3.16. No error in doctrine or manners, but may be ſuppreſſed by it: no truth, no holy duty but is begun, p. 32and continued, and perfected by it: Therefore buckle this ſword of the Spirit vponupon thee; Pſal. 119.11.Ps 119:11Hide the word in thy heart, that thou maiſt not ſinne against God. Oppoſe Scripture to all temptations; as of earthlineſſe, Col. 3.1, 2. Seeke the things which are aboue: ſet your affections on things aboue, and not on things vponupon earth. Of pride and vaine-glory, Phil. 2.3. Let nothing be done through ſtrife or vaine-glory, but in lowlineſſe of minde let each p. 33eſteeme other better than themſelues. Of looſeneſſe & timorouſneſſe in matter of religion, Reu. 3.19. Repent, and be Zealous: and if any tell you this is peeuiſh, or the like, tell them againe, No, it is good to be alwayes Zealouſly affected in a good matter, Gal. 4.18.

Secondly, faith in the Sonne of God is a ſpeciall weapon for reſiſting the deuill: 1 Pet. 5.8, 9. Whom reſist, ſtedfaſt in the faith; firmly aſſenting to the whole truth, eſpecially p. 34of the Goſpell, with application of it to ones ſelfe for iuſtification, and direction, and ſaluation. Eph. 6.16. Aboue all, take the ſhield of faith, wherewith yee ſhall be able to quench all the fierie darts of the wicked. Faith, how it is ſo helpfull in this warfare.And thus faith can helpe vsus, partly for that it lateth hold vponupon Chriſt, who hath broken the Serpents head, and put away the enmitie, and reconciled the Father to vsus: (ſo it can well ſtand betweene vsus and Satan; for,Rom. 8.33, 34.Rom 8:33Rom 8:34 how can hee condemne, p. 35when God iuſtifieth?) and partly, in that it drawes vertue from Chriſt, both in the example of his life, and by the power of his death and reſurrection, to ouercome as he hath ouercome: He is the Head, and his influence quickneth the whole Chriſtian, to beſtirre himſelfe as the member of ſuch a powerfull Head.

3Thirdly, another peece of our ſpirituall armour is hope, to wit, an aſſured expectation of the mercy of God, p. 36that he will ſurely prouide meanes for vsus to hold out in grace vntounto glory. This is called the helmet of ſaluation, 1 Theſſ. 5.8. And why a helmet? Becauſe when Satan raineth downe his ſnares as thicke as haile (from the high places where he hath his abode, Eph. 6.12.) and vexeth the Chriſtian with threats of hell and damnation, then hope lifteth the heart vpward, to a power that is higher than he, who hath ſaid, I will not leaue thee, Heb. 13.5.Heb 13:5nor p. 37forſake thee. It lookes to God aboue hope, and againſt hope; ſaying, Surely he is faithfull, though I be vnfaithfull: He hath called me effectually, and though I of my ſelfe be not able to doe his will, yet he will doe it: 1 Theſſ. 5.24.1 Thess 5:24He hath begun a good worke in me, and will ſurely finiſh it: As for thee, Satan, thou art a lier, I beleeue thee not; I will vſe the meanes of perſeuerance conſcionably, and then a button for thee; thou art a dogge in a chaine, p. 38wounded with a deadly wound, and the God of peace will tread thee ſhortly vnderunder my feet, Rom. 16.20.

Fourthly, 4Patience is a ſpeciall part of the Chriſtians Armour: Hereby he ſhal be able to poſſeſſe his ſoule, which otherwiſe will be loft through fretfulneſſe and impatience, Luk. 21.19. Satan is inceſſant in his malice, to wearie vsus out by importunitie. Hee preuailes too often in his enterpriſes, to the diſturbing of our peace p. 39and confidence: and hangs diuers clogs at our heeles, to keepe vsus from fighting; as namely, the frownes of acquaintance, the vnnaturalneſſe of friends, the reuilings of neighbours, & the violence of ſecular authoritie; that, if one cannot diſhearten vsus, another may, or all put together, may not faile. So that we hauehave need of patience, Heb. 10.36.Heb 10:36that wee may receiue the promiſes. Therefore while wee walke among theſe ſnares, and thornes, p. 40and rubs in our way, we muſt get our feet ſhod with the preparation of the Goſpell of peace, Eph. 6.15.

Fiftly, 5Prayer is the bond that ties all the other peeces together: as there, verſe 18. Praying alwayes with all praier and ſupplication in the Spirit, and watching therunto with all perſeuerance. Praier how it is helpfull.Pray, to eſpie a temptation when it commeth: pray, to bee able to vſe the armour which God hath put vponupon vsus, to be reſolute and couragious p. 41for the truth, to be deliuered from euill, that wee may not enter into temptation, or be left to our ſelues and Satans courteſie: And when the battell goeth ſore againſt vsus, crie aloud (as Iehoſaphat in the armie) for aid and ſuccour from God, and ſay, Lord rebuke Satan, magnifie thy power in confounding him, and ſtrengthning mee, and giuegive me grace to reſiſt vntounto bloud.

Theſe are the maine weapons for reſiſting p. 42Two ſubſidiarie aids.the deuill: For the better managing whereof, vſe theſe two helps.

1Firſt, keepe thy ſelfe in ſuch a temper, that thou maiſt alway enioy the benefit of a good and a pure conſcience. Dubbe it not with the filthineſſe of any ſinne: let none be admitted willingly, or wittingly, nor continue vnrepented of: for this would choake thy conſcience, when it ſhould hauehave a voice to checke thee. Yea labour on the contrary, to fortifie and cheare it p. 43Hic murus aheneus eſto, Nil conſcire ſibi, nulla palleſcere culpa.vp with the ſweet teſtimonie of vprightneſſe and integritie: So ſhall it be bold to ſpeake for thee, and anſwer Satan. Marke alſo the motions, and checks, and recoilings of it: and make a good vſe of them; becauſe this tends to the application of the former weapons.

Secondly, 2bee ſure thou liueſt indeed in the Communion of Saints. As thou beleeueſt it, ſo make vſe of it; which is, by ioyning thy forces with the reſt p. 44of Gods people. Pray for the brethren who endure the ſame skirmiſhes abroad in the world: help them with thy counſell, and experiences: and be as readie alſo to take profit from them: ſuffer the word of admonition, yea craue it, depend vponupon their lips that they may feed thee: deſcrie what policies of Satan thou haſt met withall, and wherein he is moſt happily repulſed: Compare trials, and conqueſts, and counſels: Ioyne all together, p. 45and you ſhall all ſpeed the better: So did the Apoſtles and Diſciples againſt the rage of the deuill in his inſtruments, the chiefe Prieſts and their whole Councell, Act. 4.23-31.

And this be ſpoken of the ſecond queſtion.

Queſt. 3 Queſt. 3. In what manner ſhould we reſiſt the deuill? or what are the conditions of ſound reſiſtance?

1. Reſiſt the deuill betimes.Anſw. Firſt, reſiſt him earely and timely; and that, both in reſpect of thy life, and in p. 46reſpect of any one ſin, whereby hee would hauehave euill done, or good left vndone.

1. In the beginning of thy life, 3. reaſ.For the former: Begin thy life with this holy combat, and end it in the ſame. Thy whole being on the face of the earth, from thy birth-day to thy dying-day, is a continuall warfare. Thou art borne in a campe, among ſouldiers and armour: Thy Parents by their profeſſion are of the traine band, fighting vnderunder the conduct and colours p. 47of the Lord Ieſus: And canſt thou expect immunitie? expect it not: no part of thy life is free from hazzards; therefore let none be free from watchfulnes, from reſiſtance.

And the equity hereof ſtands vponupon three other reaſons.

1Firſt, remember there is an old grudge betweene thee and Satan in this very reſpect. He was enuious & ſpightfull at the proſperitie of mankinde, as ſoone as it began: could not endure to ſee man ſo p. 48happy, and himſelfe ſo miſerable: laid about him, how to ſtrip our fathers and vsus of all thoſe robes of bleſſedneſſe, wherewith God had cloathed vsus, and leaue vsus naked to his owne condemnation: and hee neuer ceaſed till he had effected his purpoſe. And is not this a good argument, to reſiſt him timely? What braue or generous ſpirit can put vp ſuch an iniurie? What? no reuenge for ſo great an indignitie? Ioh. 8.44.John 8:44Shall Satan bee a man ſlayer p. 49from the beginning, and wilt not thou be a deuill-ſlaier (at leaſt a reſiſter of the deuill) from thy beginning? Did hee owe thee a ſpight, when thou hadſt done him no wrong, and doeſt thou owe him no ill-will, ſince he hath done thee the greateſt wrong that can be? Conſider his forwardneſſe to vndoe thee, and be thou as forward to oppoſe him.

2Secondly, conſider this, that God hath ſcarce euer raiſed vp p. 50any notable inſtrument to repaire his decaied Church, and defeat Satan of his malicious purpoſes, but he hath preſently beſtirred himſelfe to ſuppreſſe and hinder it, and make it forceleſſe. Abel was a moſt faithfull and holy man, very hopefull, and likely to eſtabliſh the pure worſhip of God in his familie and poſteritie, if he had liued: therefore what ſhould the deuill but cut him off quickly, and ſhed his bloud by his owne brother? p. 51Iehoſua was willing and ready to doe much good for the Temple of the Lord at Ieruſalem: therefore what ſhould Satan but ſtand at his right hand and reſiſt him? Paul, Zech. 3.1.Zech 3:1immediately vponupon his conuerſion ſet himſelfe to preach the Goſpell, and plant Churches among the nations: therefore what ſhould Satan but ſet himſelfe to ſtirre vp tumults, and doe his beſt eueryevery way to hinder him? The Church, 1 Theſſ. 2.18.1 Thess 2:18the Spouſe of Chriſt, is a woman, Reuel. 12.1. p. 52cloathed with the Sun, that is, in the robes of Chriſt the Sun of righteouſneſſe: Mal. 4.2.Mal 4:2and the moone vnderunder her feet, that is, diſeſteeming and trampling vponupon all theſe vaine and tranſitorie things in the world: and hath vponupon her head a crowne of twelue ſtarres, that is, profeſſeth the doctrine of the twelue Apoſtles, which ſhee accounts her crowne and glory. This woman, being married to Chriſt, is often with childe by her husband, to the ſubuerſion p. 53of the kingdome of darkneſſe. Now marke the diſpoſition of the Prince of darkneſſe in this caſe, verſ. 4. He ſtill plaieth rex in the Church, caſteth downe a third part of the ſtarres from heauen to earth, that is, many Preachers and Profeſſors of the truth, partly by erroneous doctrine, and partly by a prophane courſe of life. But eſpecially if there be a childe to be …orne, who ſhall rule all nations with a rod of iron, that is, mightily p. 54ſubiect them to the obedience of the Goſpell; if ſo, now hee vſeth more than ordinary diligence to ſpoile the birth, and deuoure the childe: ſo ſaith the Spirit, The dragon ſtood before the woman which was ready to be deliuered, to deuoure her child as ſoone as it was borne.

Neuer doth there peepe a ſpeciall beautifull plant in the garden of God, but incontinently hee doth what he can to crop it away. Therefore ſee herein his malice, and learne p. 55by himſelfe to reſiſt him early. Shall he be watchfull for euill, and we not watchfull for good, or to preuent euill?

Thirdly, 3remember thou madeſt a vow at the beginning of thy life in baptiſme, that thou wouldeſt bee a faithfull ſouldier for Chriſt, from that time forward, euen to thy liues end. Euer ſince thou waſt baptized, thou waſt bound by thine owne ſolemne promiſe, to this reſiſtance againſt Satan: p. 56Therefore looke to it. Where is the word of an honeſt man? where the word of a Chriſtian? If thou haſt not hitherto reſiſted the deuill, begin now, foreſlow no more time.

2. In the firſt propoſall of any temptation. Centere caput ſerpentis, i…caue primam peccati inſinuationem, Cornelia Lapide in Geneſ. 3.Gen 3Againe, reſiſt him early (as in reſpect of thy life, ſo) in reſpect of any ſinfull motion put into thy minde, whether to call thee from good, or egge thee on to euill. Theſe are matters that need no deliberation, and to conſult with fleſh and bloud in theſe caſes, p. 57is moſt dangerous. What ſhould fire doe neere to gunpowder, or flax? Yet ſuch is our corrupt nature to the temptations of Satan: eaſily conceiues miſchiefe, and brings forth confuſion. And what ſhould Satan, that ſubtill fox, be ſuffered to ſet foot within the doores of the houſe of our ſoule? wil he not ſoone winde in his whole body?

If Eue will vouchſafe to enter parly with the ſerpent, and make a demurre concerning p. 58the commandement, will hee not ſoone worke her to pride, infidelitie, rebellion, and apoſtaſie? Therefore it will be good for the ſonnes of Adam, Geneſ. 39.Gen 39to doe as Ioſeph did toward his laſciuious Miſtreſſe. Being ſollicited to follie, hee neuer fumbles for the matter, neuer ſaith, I pray giuegive mee time and leiſure to conſider of it, yet I cannot, but I may hereafter: no, but he giueth her a plaine deniall at firſt, Verſ. 8, 9.God forbid that I ſhould doe this thing p. 59and ſinne againſt God, againſt my maſter, againſt thee his wife, my owne ſelfe, and the holy couenant of the Lord.

Stultis vaniſ que promiſſionibus nullus à corde Chriſtiano dari debet acceſſus, ſed primis utillation bus obuiare debet ambigens manu. Cyp. de ieiumo & tentat.Hee that meanes to foile ſpirituall wickedneſſes, muſt giuegive the onſet betimes. He muſt not ſtraine his wits, and trie whether hee can ſtretch his conſcience to ſwallow ſome iniquitie or other, and then deuiſe ſome ſhift or excuſe to couer the filthineſſe, but giuegive it a cleare repulſe at the firſt propoſall.

p. 60And this is the firſt condition of right reſiſting the deuill.

II. Reſiſt the deuill couragiouſly.Secondly, reſiſt him couragiouſly. Here we ſay to Gods people, as Iahaziel the Leuite ſometimes ſaid to Iehoſaphat, and the men of Iudah, going to fight againſt a great multitude of Moabites and Ammonites, 2 Chron. 20.15. Feare you not, neither be afraid for this great multitude; for the battell is not yours, but Gods: Feare not the whole legions of helliſh infernall ſpirits, p. 61nor faint becauſe of their forces; for if you knew all, you would ſee you hauehave ſmall reaſon to be afraid. In the warres of men, there are many things that put courage into a man; as for example, goodneſſe of the cauſe, valour of the Captain, truſtineſſe of the fellow-ſouldiers, and weakneſſe of the enemie. All this, and more than this, may be ſeene in this conſideration.

14. grounds of courage in this fight.Firſt, whoſe is the battell? not ours, but Gods: therefore moſt p. 62iuſt, moſt holy, moſt equall and reaſonable. It is only to preſerue his glory to him alone, by the killing of ſinne, and the maintaining of his owne Ordinances: and conſequently to deliuer poore captiue ſoules from hell and damnation. And why ſhould Satan rob God of his honour, and his people of ſaluation? Who would not be manfull in ſuch a quarrell?

2Secondly, who is our Captaine? is it not the Lion of the tribe of Iudah? p. 63is it not he, who ouerthrew the deuill alone in a ſingle combat? Hee, Reu. 12.7, 8.Rev 12:7Rev 12:8who thruſt downe the dragon and his angels, that their place was no more in heauen? He, who hath him in chaines, and confines him when he liſt, to the bottomleſſe pit? Who would not doe his beſt ſeruice vnderunder ſuch a victorious leader?

Thirdly, who are our fellow-ſouldiers? are they not the righteous, who are bold as lions? are they▪ not p. 64ſuch as will reſiſt vntounto bloud, Heb. 12.4.Heb 12:4and neuer giuegive ouer till the field bee won? Are not the holy Angels on our ſide, Heb. 1.14.Heb 1:14who are the fierie chariots, and glorious armies of the Lord of hoſts? and doe not all the godly, in all parts of the world, cloſely follow the ſame cauſe? Who would not bee couragious, when hee ſtands with ſuch champions?

4Fourthly, who are our enemies? are they not the enemies of God and al godlineſſe? p. 65tortured with the torments of an accuſing conſcience, and partly with the torments of hell? Are they not of a crauenly brood, which will ſhe if they be reſiſted? Who would not ſtand out the brunt of the battell, when hee knowes his enemies ſhall run away?

Thinke on theſe things, and be not offended either with the multitude, or the blackneſſe, or the violence, or the importunitie of Satans temptations, therfore to flinch back, p. 66and ceaſe fighting. Remember it is his nature to doe his beſt againſt thee, by doing the worſt, in the worſt manner that may be; and when he hath ſpent his powder, he muſt be gone.

This is the ſecond condition: Be couragious.

III. Reſiſt him vniuerſally.Thirdly, reſiſt the deuill vniuerſally, in all his feats and arts of deceiuing. Quench all the fierie darts of the wicked, Epheſ. 6.16. One poiſoned dart is enough to kill thee, p. 67one luſt to condemne thee. Satan is like that Champion who ſaid, Let me ſmite him once, 1 Sam. 26.8.1 Sam 26:8I will not ſmite him the ſecond time. Keepe but one ſinne, which either the Miniſterie, or thy conſcience checketh, and Satan deſires no more; that one is too much. What auailes, whether a man die of the peſtilence, or of the famine? by a ſword, or by a bullet? if he die, it is all one to him. Therefore giuegive no place to the deuill: labour to be as Chriſt, who was p. 68good enough for him at eueryevery turne; the Prince of the world came, and found nothing in him; he outſtood all Satans malice, and fruſtrated all his policie, Luk. 4.13. When he had ended all the tentation, he departed from him for a ſeaſon.

IV. Reſiſt him wiſely.Fourthly, reſiſt the deuill wiſely: March craft with ſubtiltie, and oppoſe ſerpentine wiſdome to the wiſdome of the ſerpent. A man that hath a wilie and politicke fellow to p. 69deale withall, had need ſummon his wits together, and doe his beſt to defeat his counſels: So in this caſe, the Chriſtian who hath to doe with Satan, may, and muſt vſe many points of heauenly policie. Let him therefore conſider oftentimes with himſelfe, in his retired thoughts,

1Three points of wiſdome in reſiſting the deuill.Firſt, that the deuill is exceeding ſubtill to counterfet a truce, and make as though hee were our friend, and meant vsus no harme; only to make vsus ſecure, p. 70and heedleſſe of what wee hauehave to doe: for eaſe ſlaieth the fooliſh, Prou. 1.32. See the ſtraragem of the Danites againſt careleſſe Laiſh, in Iudg. 18.7.27.28. then thinke vponupon the deuill: and learne to ſuſpect that eſtate, which is without ſuſpicion, without iealouſie, without watchfulneſſe.

2Secondly, ponder vponupon this, till it bee firmly ingraffed in thy minde, that the deuill is as malicious and dangerous in ſmall ſins as in great ones; in p. 71thoſe that ſeeme to fawne, as well as thoſe that make the haire ſtand on end, they are ſo odious. For why? he knowes well how to make a little ſinne a ſhooing-horn to draw on a greater. He that will be brought by cuſtome to ſweare neatly, and dallie with oathes, faith and troth, or the like, will alſo bee brought by a ſtronger occaſion to ſweare bloudily and roaringly. He that in eaſe and peace fals backe from his care and diligence p. 72in good duties, may feare he ſhall eaſily be induced by perſecutions to fall quite away. A ſcorner now, will be a Bonner hereafter. Theeues doubt not, if they can put in a little boy at a window, but the houſe is their own. So here. For why? A ſmall ſinne entertained and cheriſhed, ſtifleth the conſcience, ſtrengthneth corruption, deadeth the heart, and grieueth Gods Spirit. Know this, and with-ſtand Satan in ſuch, as well as in other p. 73ſinnes. Here is wiſdome.

Thirdly, 3let the Chriſtian thinke on this policie; that hee ſhall wiſely and mightily reſiſt the deuill, if hee make a countertraine, to vndermine the vnderminer: That is, let him vſe the vttermoſt of his power, to chaſe away the works of darkneſſe from himſelfe, and his familie, and the place where he liueth: alſo to ſet vp the worſhip of God in all places, and eſtabliſh it where it is, and p. 74maintaine, and grace, and adorne it: for this is quite contrary to the deuils machinations. It was notable policie in Scipio, when no meanes would ſerue to driue Hannibal out of Italie, then to ſet vponupon Carthage, and ſo draw him homeward, to defend his owne. So that Chriſtian, who is continually infeſted by the malicious temptations of the deuill, may deale very wiſely, if he vex him againe, by enlarging the kingdome of grace: not only ſauing p. 75himſelfe harmeleſſe, but diſaduantaging this his deſperate aduerſarie by all means poſſible.

V. Reſiſt him conſtantly.Laſtly, reſiſt the deuill conſtantly: not for a day, or for a monethmonth, or for a yeere, or two, or three, or moe, but to thy liues end. Luk. 22.28.Luke 22:28Abide with Chriſt in tentation. This is the right, and the bleſſed reſiſting. What credit is it for the Lords ſouldier, to ſtand one day, and run away the next? what good, or what comfort, to be free to day, p. 76and a bondſlaue tomorrow? Therefore be aduiſed by the Apoſtle, Eph. 6.13. Hauing done all, ſtand: being foiled, begin afreſh: make another skirmiſh, and another, and another: and neuer ceaſe reſiſting, till the deuill ceaſe tempting and moleſting thee, and the crowne of conqueſt be ſet vponupon thine head.

This is the ſolution of the third queſtion.

Queſt. 4 Queſt. 4. Why, and for what reaſons ſhould I reſiſt the deuill? p. 77and what are the grounds of this oppoſition?

Anſw. There cannot want abundance of arguments, to ſhew this fit and neceſſary: Specially in 3. heads.Reaſons for reſiſtance, 3.

IFirſt, conſider who is thine Antagoniſt, or the partie whom thou reſiſteſt. He is that euill one, he is Satan, he is the deuill. And either of theſe hath weight enough to vrge this reſiſtance.

1Firſt, he is that euill one, foreign, 1 Ioh. 5.18. The deuill, euill many wayes.1 John 5:18exquiſitely euill, euill (according p. 78to the deriuation of the word) with pains and induſtrie; ſo euill, that none goeth beyond him, none commeth neere him in wickedneſſe. And he is euill, both by his wilfull departure from God, the chiefe good, and by a tranſcendent naughtineſſe which is now inherent, and ſeemeth all one with his nature. Euill, by occaſioning the fall of mankinde, from the top of goodneſſe, to the gulfe of extreme wickedneſſe: as alſo by ſtirring vp p. 79and drawing forth the corruption of mans heart. Euill, by diſgracing and diſcountenancing all the wayes he can, all that is good, both good men, and good matters: And by aiming in all his proceedings at mans greateſt euill. Now who that hath any ſparke of grace or goodneſſe in him, will not picke a quarrell againſt ſuch a one, and ſtoutly maintaine the quarrell being once begun? Shall ſimple people be afraid of the deuill, when p. 80they heare him deſcribed to be a blacke grim fellow, with clawes, and hornes, and all things terrible; and ſhall not wee doe our beſt to keepe out of his clutches, when wee heare he is ſo euill, ſo incurably and deſperately euill?

2. foreign oſor, inimicus.Secondly, he is Satan, an enemie, an aduerſary▪ Euil is alwaies oppoſite to good: Therefore hee whom we hauehave found ſo euill, muſt needs proue Satan, Satan, to whom he is an enemie.a ranke aduerſarie to all that good is.

p. 811Firſt, vntounto God: He ſtretcheth his ioynts, and mainly bandeth his forces againſt the Maieſtie of God primarily and principally, and againſt others for his ſake. He maligneth that inexhauſt fountaine of infinite grace that is in him, thwarteth his moſt holy and righteous counſels; diſgraceth, defaceth, and extenuateth his moſt glorious works; and ſeeketh to rob him of his glory, peculiar to himſelfe alone. Thus our Sauiour noted p. 82him for an aduerſarie (Matt. 4.10. Auoid. Satan; for it is written, Thou ſhalt worſhip the Lord thy God, and him only ſhalt thou ſerue:) whereas before, he was only called a tempter, and the deuill.

So in the inſtitutions which God hath appointed for the good of his people, whether ſpirituall ordinances, or temporall encouragements: Here he fully ſets him ſelfe to croſſe the Lord in all his intendments. He knowes, that the more p. 83meanes he giueth vsus to ſet vsus forward in his ſeruice, the more hee looketh to be worſhipped, Luk. 12.48.Luke 12:48and the more he will require at our hands: and, if great fauours be abuſed, the more is he diſhonoured, and his ſeruants endangered. If he can get Adam to ſinne, in innocencie, in Paradiſe, then he hath made a whole world of ſinners, and a hell full of fire-brands. If he can worke Dauid to adulterie, 2 Sam. 12.14.2 Sam 12:14and ſo to murder, he wounds all religion p. 84thorow his ſides, and makes the Name of God to be blaſphemed greatly for his ſake. Whence would he hauehave had Chriſt to fall, but from a place where were ſtaires to goe downe? Caſt thy ſelfe downe from hence, Luk. 4.9. And where doth he more beſtirre himſelfe, than in places where people hauehave greateſt meanes of knowledge and good conſcience?

Secondly, 2he is an enemie to Chriſt, the promiſed ſeede, who p. 85came into the world to deſtroy the works of the deuill. 1 Ioh. 3.8.1 John 3:8If hee cannot breake his head, hee will be ſtill nibbling to bruiſe his heele. Gen. 3.15.Gen 3:15If hee muſt not meddle with his Deitie, he will vex and torment his Humanitie to the vttermoſt. And when hee cannot ſingle with him in his owne perſon, being now in heauen, he will be ſure to iuſtle at his members. In the dayes of his fleſh, hee ſtil ſet vponupon him either by himſelfe, or by his Agents. After that ſolemne p. 86conſtict at his Inauguration, he left him but for a ſeaſon, Luk. 4.13. Continually he ſent his meſſengers to tempt him, as namely the Scribes, and Phariſes, and other petty tempters. So that his whole life was nothing elſe but a continuall warfare againſt the kingdome & power of darkneſſe.

33Variè diabolus amulatus est veritatem. Tert. aduerſ Prax. c. 1Thirdly, hee is an enemie to the Goſpell; to the proceedings, and the preuailing of it. Faine hee would hauehave ſuppreſſed it in the cradle p. 87and infancie of it, that it ſhould neuer hauehave beene preached. If that cannot be, the Preachers of it ſhall be ſet vponupon on eueryevery ſide, to make them deſiſt. If that will not fadge, falſe Apoſtles and falſe brethren ſhall be raiſed vp, to mingle falſhood with truth, and jumble together the Law and the Goſpell. If that miſchiefe be preuented, then he will turne himſelfe to another corner, and giuegive letters of commendation to the Apoſtles, to make p. 88them ſuſpicious and odious: Act. 16.17. Theſe men are the ſeruants of the moſt high God, which ſhew vntounto vsus the way of ſaluation. One way or other hee will hinder the pure and powerfull preaching of the word; as Paul ſaith, 1 Theſſ. 2.18.1 Thess 2:18Wee would hauehave come vntounto you (euen I Paul) once and againe, but Satan hindred vsus: If not, he will doe his beſt to hinder the fruitfull and faithfull practiſe of the word ſo preached. Hee makes the heart of man to p. 89frame many obiections againſt it, as, that it is either an enemie to Ciuill States, or needleſſe, or comfortleſſe, or preiudiciall to his thriuing in the world, to his credit, or commoditie.

Fourthly, 4hee is an aduerſarie to eminent men, who ſtand vp in the gap, and ſet themſelues to deale between God and his people, either in Church or Common-wealth. Peter muſt be winnowed, Luk. 22.31.Luke 22:312 Cor. 12.7.2 Cor 12:7and Paul muſt be buffeted by the meſſenger of p. 90Satan. Which of the Lords Worthies hath he not confronted, perſecuted, and (if hee could) taken out of the Church, in any age or ſtate thereof? It grieueth him much, that there is any one found, who ſeeketh the weale and peace of Ieruſalem. One godly Miniſter in a whole country ſhall be picked out, aboue all the reſt, to be a butt of contradiction, defamation, ſcoffes and reproaches. So in Magiſtracie.

Fiftly, 5he is an enemie p. 91to all good order among men, eſpecially in the beſt things. He enuieth the flouriſhing eſtate of a Chriſtian Kingdome, and doth what he can to vndermine and blow it vp. He enuieth to people the ſetled courſe of a powerfull Miniſterie, and doth what he can to interrupt and diſſolueit. He enuieth to Chriſtians the liberties and benefits of the communion of Saints, and doth what he can to make them weary of their holy exerciſes, or p. 92otherwiſe diſunite and ſcatter them, by arts and tricks that he will deuiſe: Whence the Apoſtle wiſheth the Corinthians to be wiſe, and temper their iuſt ſeueritie with due merciemercy, 2 Cor. 2.11. leſt Satan get an aduantage of vsus, to wit, in making the inceſtuous perſon deſpaire through extremitie of rigour, and conſequently hindring others from ſo ſeuere a religion. He is ready to make his beſt of any thing: Therfore looke to him, ſpoile him of p. 93his purpoſe, preſerue your liberties by all meanes poſſible.

6Laſtly, he is an enemie to thy ſelfe in particular, in thy body, and ſoule, and goods, and friends. Hee enuieth thee eueryevery good day that thou paſſeſt, eueryevery benefit that thou receiueſt from God, and eueryevery bit of bread that doth thee good. Hee grudgeth at thy proſperitie, as ſometime at Iobs. Hee ſtill goeth about, ſeeking whom he may deuoure, 1 Pet. 5.8. not what, as of the p. 94eſtate, but whom, as of the man. Hee oweth thee a ſpight as well as any. Then giuegive him as good as hee brings. Who can put vp ſo much iniurie, and bee patient? How canſt thou chuſe but reſiſt him who is an enemie to all theſe?

3The deuill ſo called in ſix reſpects.But ſee further into his nature: In the third place, he is the deuill; that is, he is a traducer, a calumniator, an accuſer. And this depends vponupon the two former properties. For, hee that is ſo perfectly euil, p. 95and ſo ſtrongly malicious as we hauehave ſeene, will neuer ſticke to traduce, and calumniate, and falſly accuſe all that he deales withall.

1Diabolum ſe fecit, deferen do de Deo, & quidem falſum. Tert. aduerſ. Marc. l. 2. c. 10.And firſt, hee accuſeth God to man, telling him he is a hard Maſter, reapes where hee ſowed not, and gathers where he ſcattered not, as the grumbling fellow in the Goſpell had learned to ſpeake; and as they in the Prophet, Mal. 3.14. What profit is it to ſerue the Lord, or to keepe his ordinances, or to walke mournfully p. 96before him? None at all, it is altogether vaine. Or if not, yet nothing to that which Satan beſtowes vponupon his ſeruants: Hee will giuegive a world to Chriſt, if hee will fall downe and worſhip him: Did God euer giuegive ſo much to one man, for one outward reuerence, at one time? Alas they are all pidling matters that he giues, nothing comparable to the brauerie and iollitie which is in the world.

2Secondly, hee accuſeth man to God, as the p. 97holy man Iob, chap. 1.9. Doth Iob feare God for nought? or is it not for his flocks of cattell, and great proſperitie? doeſt thou thinke he loueth thee for thy ſake, and not his owne rather? And this is the nature of this curſed fiend, that he firſt prouoketh vsus vntounto ſinne, (promiſing vsus pleaſure, profit, impunitie, and ſafetie enough,) and then goeth and puts vp a bill of enditement againſt vsus: firſt he diſſwades vsus from care, and conſcience, and p. 98conſtancie in good duties, and then accuſeth vsus to God, of heauineſſe, hypocriſie, and diſtractedneſſe. Thence he is called the accuſer of the brethren, which accuſed them before God day and night, Reu. 12.10.

3Thirdly, he accuſeth man to man. One ſpeciall peece of his imploiment is, to breed diſcord and contention among brethren. It is hee that ſtirreth vp iealouſie, ſuſpicions, and vncharitable ſurmiſes, in one neighbour p. 99againſt another: that he doth in malice, what proceedeth from charitie: that he informeth him of ſomewhat out of curioſitie, not out of conſcience: that he affecteth a peeuiſh ſingularitie in matter of religion, and not obedience to God. He ſaith to one man of another, as the Nobles ſaid to Hanun concerning Dauid, 2 Sam. 10.3.2 Sam 10:3Doth Dauid indeed reſpect Hanun? canſt thou thinke hee loueth thee in deed and in truth? Still he caſteth ſuch bones, and demurres, p. 100to ſeparate betweene deare friends.

4Fourthly, he accuſeth man to himſelfe. It he be an holy man, one that feareth God, and endeuoureth to perfection in the way of godlineſſe, he will make him beleeue, that he is but an hypocrite in all he doth, not a iot of ſinceritie is in him; therefore a caſt-away, a reprobate, a firebrand of hell. On the contrary: If a man be careleſſe▪ and diſſolute, and looketh not which end goeth forward in p. 101things of his ſoule, him he will make beleeue, that his eſtate is better than it is; oh he is out of all hazzard, cocke-ſure of eternall life, and what need he feare? Iuſt like the flatterers of the tyrant Dionyſius, who would licke vp his ſpettle, and proteſt it was as ſweet as Nectar or Ambroſia, the food of their gods. Thus all the ſinnes of the godly are mortall, and cannot be pardoned; al the ſins of the wicked are veniall, & cannot be puniſhed.

p. 1025Fiftly, the deuill accuſeth vertues for vices, and vices for vertues; and makes men fall into that curſe of the Prophet, Eſa. 5.20. Woe vntounto them that call good euill, and euill good, that put darkneſſe for light, and light for darkneſſe; that put bitter for ſweet, and ſweet for bitter. What now adayes is forwardneſſe in religion accounted, but fooliſh giddineſſe? and what luke-warmeneſſe, but diſcreet moderation? How often is extreme earthlineſſe p. 103ſhrowded vnderunder the name of good husbandrie, and pride vnderunder the name of decencie, and apiſhneſſe in complements vnderunder the name of good manners, and exceſſiue prodigalitie vnderunder the name of good nature? Who hath taught this ſtrange impoſition of new names, but that Grand Lier, the maſter of falſhood?

6Sixtly, he accuſeth in his inſtruments. The deuill maketh men to bee accuſers, ſycophants, picke-thanks, p. 104deuils, (as the word ſtandeth in the originall, 2 Tim. 3.3. foreign) Such was Doeg againſt Dauid, Ziba againſt Mephiboſheth, the falſe witneſſes againſt Chriſt, and thoſe wicked wretches who informed the Heathen Roman Emperors, Euſeb. hiſt. eccleſ. l. 9. c. 3.that the Chriſtians of the Primitiue Church affected a temporall kingdome, and would diſpoſſeſſe them of their throne, vnleſſe they were the better lookt vntounto.

Now doth Satan p. 105thus ſay and vnſay, alter and change, put in and put out, and turne things vpſide downe, that we cannot ſee the truth of our eſtate as we ſhould? Who then would not reſiſt this accuſer, this traducer, this ſlanderer, this broacher of lies, and maſter of miſſe-rule?

Adde vntounto all this, that he is one who will not be ouercome by faire meanes: there is no winning of a deuill with kindneſſe: that will not ſerue the turn: Hee will ouerthrow p. 106thee, if thou doe not ouerthrow and chaſe him away. Therefore reſiſt him.

IIState precor veſtri memores, memores quo que Chriſti: Quae ſit veſtra tribus, quae gloria, quis Deus, & Rex, Quis Dominus, meminiſſe decet. Prudent. in Pſychom.Next conſider, who thy ſelfe art, that muſt make reſiſtance vponupon Satan. Who art thou? Thou art a man, a reaſonable creature: therefore, as a man, prouide as well as thou canſt, for thine owne ſafetie. Thou art a ſinner, taken in the ſnare of the deuill, and led captiue by him to doe his will, 2 Tim. 2.26. therefore deliuer thy ſelfe, as a bird out of the ſnare of p. 107the fowler. Thou art a Chriſtian; therefore muſt partake of Chriſts powerfull grace and anointing, and bee a King, to conquer his and thine enemies. Thou art a baptized perſon, and vowedſt enmitie againſt the deuill, when thou receiuedſt the ſeale of righteouſneſſe, and entredſt into the Church: therefore performe the word of an honeſt man. Thou art one of the Angels of Michael; therefore muſt fight with him againſt the p. 108dragon and his Angels. And one of a band of Lions; for the righteous are bold as Lions, Prou. 28.1. The ſame combat is performed by thy brethren abroad in the world, 1 Pet. 5.9. therefore reſiſt ſtedfaſtly (it is the Apoſtles argument) and ſtand it out: ſometimes one dieth in the field by cowardly vndermining, and ſometimes another, but the Lords Champions goe ſtill away with the victorie.

IIIFinally, conſider we p. 109what miſchiefe hee would bring vponupon vsus, Miſchiefes of being foiled.if he could once foile vsus.

1. Priuatiue.Firſt, all the liuelihoods of a Chriſtian, all his graces, and all his aſſurances, hee would quite take away. His deſire is, Luk. 22.31, 32Luke 22:31Luke 22:32to winnow the Saints, and make their faith faile: that by the failing thereof, all the labours of a godly Miniſterie may bee loſt, as the Apoſtle inferreth, 1 Theſſ. 3.5. Or if hee cannot bring them vntounto flat infidelitie, hee p. 110will ſeeke to pull them from that integritie and ſimplicitie which becomes the Goſpell of God our Sauiour, 2 Cor. 11.3. Hee will endeuour to make them vaine, formall, hypocriticall, fantaſticall, or vnfruitfull; or to draw them from their conſtancie in doing good, and reſiſting euill. And hereby he aimes at their ſpirituall beggerie, that is, to rob them of all their hopes, and comforts, and aſſurances, all the ioyes of the holy p. 111Ghoſt and a good conſcience, and all the glorie of the kingdome of heauen. Now, ſhall a man fight for his purſe, or goods, and not reſiſt for ſo great a patrimonie of Saints?

2. Poſitiue.Secondly, all euill followeth immediatly vponupon thy ouerthrow. For now thou art the deuils owne childe, an vtter enemie to God and the things of God, furious and outragious by little and little, deſperately euill, & heire of condemnation, like thy father himſelfe in p. 112ſinne and puniſhment, and thy torments ſhall be endleſſe, eaſleſſe, remedileſſe.

Reſiſt therefore, and betimes preuent ſo great miſchiefe.

And thus the foure queſtions are fully anſwered, both for clearing the point, and directing the Chriſtian Warriour. Let vsus now deſcend to the vſes hereof.

Vſe 1 A reproofe & diſgrace to the eaſie life of many.And firſt, this ſerues to bring out of requeſt the ſecure and eaſie condition of many people, who neither p. 113doe, nor wil, nor thinke they hauehave need to ſuſpect themſelues. Wee may well ſay of them with the Prophet, Pſal. 73.4, 5.Ps 73:4Ps 73:5They hauehave no bands vponupon them, either in their life or death, neither doe they come into trouble as other men; They are fat, and ſtrong, and liuely, and in very good liking; They hauehave the world at will, and more indeed than heart can deſire; All admire, and follow, and attend them, and ſpeake well of them, Oh the only men in p. 114towne or country: and they can thinke, and ſpeake of others, and doe to them what themſelues pleaſe, yet all muſt be well.

Others of a meaner ranke can ſpend their dayes iollily, and ſmoothly, and contentedly; neighbourly men, & good Churchkeepers; not only giuegive way to religion, but ſome countenance; and ſo pop into their graue, as fruit gathered when it is ripe.

And doe you diſlike or condemn this eſtate, p. 115Vide ne fortè ideo non ſit bellum, quia pax peruerſa eſt. Aug. de verbis Apoſt. ſerm. 12.will ſome man ſay? I anſwer, Yes, and I hauehave iuſt cauſe ſo to doe: for it is as dangerous a condition as thoſe who are openly prophane, if not more. But howſoeuer, it cannot be good, it cannot be ſafe. For, hath not the opening of this text diſcouered, that the life of a Chriſtian here is the life of a ſouldier? HaueHave we not heard of warre, and fighting, and ſtriuing, and reſiſting? And hauehave wee not ſeene, that this buſtling is grounded vponupon reaſons p. 116very ſufficient? Whence then is this generall careleſneſſe, and vniuerſall vnfeelingneſſe, which poſſeſſeth the hearts of the ſonnes of men? Is it indeed a pleaſant, or an eaſie thing to be a warriour? No trouble, no feare, no diſtraction in a campe? No wounds, or bloudſhed in an armie? Were hee not a foole that would goe into a battell aray, and yet ſay, Ezek. 13.10.Ezek 13:10Peace, Peace, where there can bee no peace? Examine the matter by common p. 117reaſon, and you ſhall finde it euidently true. Then looke backe vponupon Satan, and thinke if you can, that he is more idle or weake to follow his skirmiſh, than men are to follow theirs. Nay, he is more malicious, more puiſſant, more vnweariable. No truce can be taken, no fauour expected, no conditions of peace accepted, vnleſſe wee yeeld him all that hee asketh: and, what that is, let any one iudge.

Therefore (my brethren) let theſe things p. 118worke vponupon our hearts, and perſwade vsus for time to come to fight, and fight valiantly. Let vsus know, that wee hauehave a moſt peſtilent, and terrible, and bloud-thirſtie enemie. And knowing it, we cannot in reaſon but doe our beſt to preuent his purpoſes. Let vsus be ſober, and temperate in all things, not ſuffering our ſelues to be clogged with any diſtract-full hindrances, within vsus, or without vsus; as they that run in a race, and ſtriue for the maſterie. p. 1191 Cor. 9.25.1 Cor 9:25And not only be ſober, but watch, 1 Pet. 5.8. Be ſober, be vigilant. And not only ſo, but pray, Matt. 26.41. Watch and pray, that yee enter not into tentation. And more than that, Endure hardneſſe, as a good ſouldier of Ieſus Chriſt, 2 Tim. 2.3. Be not entangled with the affaires of this life, ſtriue lawfully.

Vſe 2 A caueat to the godly againſt ſecuritie and lukewarmneſſe.Secondly, this ſerueth as an antidote, or preſeruatiue to the children of God, to keepe them holily conſtant in that ranke p. 120wherein the Lord hath placed them. Oftentimes it commeth to paſſe through the weakneſſe of their fleſh, and the heauineſſe of their ſpirit, and the occaſions they hauehave in the world, and their familiaritie with good duties, that they doe euen ſtand at a ſtay, and know not well which way to turne themſelues. To ioyne with prophane ones, they dare not, they cannot: it is againſt their profeſſion, and conſcience, and ſaluation. p. 121And to exceed themſelues in the work of holineſſe, they know not how. They are ſure, that more grace ſhould and may be obtained, but wherein, or how? Thus in a maze (as it were) and doubtfull what to doe, they eaſily incline to a temperate mediocritie, and reſt content with ſome of the power, 2 Tim. 3.5.2 Tim 3:5but more of the forme of godlineſſe: Grace they intend ſtill to purſue, but without due affection: Holy exerciſes they will ſtill obſerue, both p. 122at home & at Church, but coldly, ſleepily, brokenly, vnfeelingly, vnfruitfully.

This lukewarmneſſe of theirs, carnall perſons ſee, and laugh at it: themſelues ſee, and bewaile it, and wiſh it were with them as ſometimes it was at their firſt conuerſion; to bee forward, and zealous, and doe the worke of the Lord diligently. But how may this be, or what ſhould they doe?

Here now I anſwer by vertue of this text, p. 123Reſiſt the deuill. Many meanes they hauehave to ſhake vp their ſecuritie: as for example, To conſider deeply and ſeriouſly the multitude and hainouſneſſe of their ſinnes, both before their regeneration, and ſince: To recount their extreme beggerie in themſelues, and vnworthineſſe to receiue the leaſt fauour from the Lord: To prize highly the bloud of the Couenant wherewith they are redeemed: and the like. But p. 124eſpecially let them be carefull to remember, and carry in minde, this neceſſary doctrine of the Chriſtian Warfare. For, if the noiſe of drums and trumpets, if the fourbiſhing of ſwords, and the glittering of armour, and the trailing of pikes, will not ſtirre vp a mans ſpirits, what will? This therefore let the Chriſtian man conſider, and thus let him ſay with himſelfe:

What? hauehave I no enemie, with whom to exerciſe my ſelfe? p. 125Are there no deuils abroad in the world or in hell? Hath my purſe enemies on the high-way, and my goods enemies about my houſe; and my body enemies, and my ſoule no enemies? Much adoe I finde in getting and keeping a ſmall worldly eſtate about me: and doth it aske no feare or paines, to get and keepe poſſeſſion of the kingdome of heauen? What? no oppoſition? Did all p. 126the earth ſit ſtill, Zech. 1.11, 12.Zech 1:11Zech 1:12and at reſt, while Ieruſalem was vnderunder an heauie indignation, threeſcore and ten yeeres; and ſhall I, who profeſſe my ſelfe one of the citizens of the new Ieruſalem, ſit ſtill, and at reſt, while the whole world of Beleeuers is hot in the battell? How doth this hang together? Should I not weepe with them that weepe, and be ſorrie with them that ſorrow? HaueHave I not p. 127too iuſt cauſe ſo to doe?

Why, what doe I thinke of Satan? Is he ſo louing, that he will ſpare me, or ſo weake, that he will feare me? Is he witleſſe, that he cannot deceiue me by ſubtiltie, or idle, that he will not? Was hee too good for our firſt parents in innocencie, for Noah a Patriarke, for Dauid a Prophet, for Peter an Apoſtle, for Demas an Euangeliſt, for Ananias and Sapphira p. 128two famous Profeſſors, and many Worthies of the Lord? and is it not likely hee will get ground of me? Me? Alas ſilly creature that I am! who am I, to ſtand in the hands of ſo ſtout a Champion, eſpecially vnarmed!

Therfore hearken, O my ſoule, and all that is within me, muſter vp your forces, and come into the field. I hauehave hitherto ſpotted, & ſlept, and ſnorted in p. 129the cradle of ſecuritie: I little dreamt of an enemie, at leaſt to be ſo neere as indeed he is, like Saul and Abner in the campe when Dauid might hauehave ſmote off their heads, 1 Sa. 26.8.15. An hundred to one, but I had beene deſtroied ere this time. Oh bleſſed be God who hath deliuered mee out of the mouth of the Lion, and the paw of the Beare, and hath giuen mee time to ſee mine errour! p. 130By the grace of my Lord Ieſus, I will hereafter keepe more conſtantly to my colours, & fight vnderunder the bannet of my owne Lord.

Thus therefore I argue: Is he a fox, and not ſubtill? Is he a ſerpent, and not wilie? and, if hee be ſubtill & wilie, hath he no feats or tricks to put vponupon mee? Becauſe I in ſimplicitie thinke him no harme, doth hee thinke mee none? Is he not now at this p. 131preſent time, about ſome ſtratageme to vndermine mee? Doth hee not lay ſiege to the Caſtle of my ſoule, either to ſcale the walls of my faith, or to batter the bulwarke of my patience, or to pull downe the turrets of my zeale and fortitude? Hath hee not ſome fetch or other, to draw mee from my hold, and then ſome ambuſhment, to ſurpriſe me vnawares? Yes: he hath a thouſand p. 132wayes to circumuent ſuch a ſimple freſh-water ſouldier as I am: as many turnings and windings, as anſractuous Meandrus; as many heads as the ſerpent Hydra, as many eyes as the neuer-ſleeping Argus, Therefore ſeeing the vncircumciſed Philiſtims are ſtill ready to come vponupon me, and binde me if I ſleepe, I will ſurely looke vntounto them, I will vp and ſhake my ſelfe, and p. 133follow my Chriſten courſe more warily, more watchfully.

The Lord grant that thou maieſt.

Vſe 3 Thirdly, let this be a word of exhortation to all of vsus, ſo to reſiſt the deuill, th…t he may flie from vsus. The moſt hold it fit to reſiſt him; but few agree vponupon the right manner. Therefore let vsus deale thorowly in this buſineſſe, and neuer reſt till wee know wee reſiſt as wee ought.

Queſt. How may I know that?

p. 1341Markes of right reſiſting the deuill.Anſw. Firſt, if thou reſiſteſt thine owne corrupt and rebellious fleſh, by mortification, humiliation, watchfulneſſe, and the conſcionable vſe of holy meanes. For the deuill and our owne fleſh are of the ſame kinde in reſpect of ſinne, and fight equally againſt the ſoule: as 1 Pet. 2.11. Abſtaine from fleſhly luſts, which warre againſt the ſoule: and Iam. 4.1. Luſts warre in the members. This is an home-bred enemie, lurking within our p. 135owne walls. Of it ſelfe it worketh many ſtratagems againſt vsus, by mouing to the acts of pride, malice, reuenge, oppreſſion, contempt of the Goſpell, and the like. And the deuill is no readier to craue its aſſiſtance, than it is to afford it: working ſlily as he doth, and ſecretly: that the Chriſtian almoſt needs not to aske that queſtion, How ſhall I diſcerne the temptations of Satan from the euill motions of mine owne heart? Some difference p. 136there is, and a deuill may be eſpied by the ſuddenneſſe, and horribleneſſe, and vnnaturaineſſe, and importanacie of his ſuggeſtions. The motions of nature are more ſlow, and more ſutable with nature, and not ſo violently purſued as thoſe are. But for the moſt part, we need not obſerue any ſuch diſtinction; the fleſh eaſily agreeing with the deuill, and the deuill ſhaping his temptations to the deſire of the fleſh.

p. 137This a good Chriſtian knowes, and therfore he lookes homeward principally: Eſpecially ſeeing the deuill cannot foile him without himſelfe, but himſelfe can deſtroy himſelfe without the deuill. So that well was it ſaid, Ier. 17.9.Jer 17:9The heart of man is deceitfull and wicked aboue all things, euen aboue that foule ſpirit, as foule and as blacke as he is.

Some ſay of Mary Magdalen, Luke 8.2.Luke 8:2that ſeuen deuils were caſt out of her, that is, ſeuen deadly p. 138ſinnes, pride, adulterie, and the reſt. And we may almoſt ſay, So many ſinnes as thou cheriſheſt and maintaineſt, Quot peecata, tot daemonia.willingly and with delight of thy heart, ſo many deuils thou lodgeſt vnderunder the roofe of the houſe of thy ſoule. Matt. 12.43.Matt 12:43They are vncleane ſpirits, becauſe they beare rule ouer men by the vncleanneſſe of their hearts and liues.

Now examine thy ſelfe by this marke. So truly and faithfully as thou watcheſt againſt p. 139the corruptions of thy nature, ſo truly and faithfully thou reſiſteſt the deuill. And thoſe are eaſily proued liers, who ſay they defie and ſcorne the deuill, yet obey their owne luſts, vſe no diſcipline toward their vnrulie hearts, but take their owne ſwindge in any or all vngodlineſſe: No, no, they agree with him well enough: he deſireth no better weapons againſt vsus, than thoſe out of our owne armourie.

Secondly, 2thou reſiſteſt p. 140the deuill, ſo long as thou deſirest to reſiſt: and this deſire is euer accompanied with care and watchfulneſſe. None in the Lords field is yet ouercome, who deſireth to ouercome; yea they that fall by the ſleights of Satan, and are taken away by violence, yet falling in this quarrell, Heb. 12.4.Heb 12:4and reſiſting vntounto bloud, they are ſtill conquerours, and more than conquerors. God, who accepteth the will for the deed, accepteth the faithfull purpoſe of p. 141reſiſtance for reſiſtance it ſelfe, euen when the Tempter doth ſomewhat preuaile, & make battery vponupon the ſoule. Chriſt taketh notice of the willingneſſe of the ſpirit in his Apoſtles, Matt. 26.41.Matt 26:41when hee ſeeth great weakneſſe in their fleſh.

And this note ſerueth principally for the comfort of afflicted ſoules, which crie out of themſelues as foiled, and ſuch as hauehave caſt vp the buckler to the deuill, in way of voluntary yeelding; yet p. 142minding to goe on in the skirmiſh as truſtily as euer, and keeping the ſame way as before. They muſt know, that their caſe is good enough, and they ſhall be accepted according to what they hauehave, 2 Cor. 8.12.2 Cor 8:12and not according to what they hauehave not; yea according to that which they deſire to hauehave. A man in warre that is halfe dead, doth what he can againſt the enemie, by ſpurning, by ſupplanting, or otherwiſe: And ſo doe you againſt the grand enemie p. 143of your ſoules, therefore ſhall not bee accounted to hauehave reuolted, but ſhall bee crowned as well as the reſt, and (it may bee) among the firſt. Only continue this deſire, care ſtill to maintaine the Lords right, and watch ſtill to diſappoint the aduerſarie: This ſhall be reckoned to you for perfection of valour.

The third marke of reſiſtance is this: 3If thou grieueſt when thou art foiled, and ſeekeſt to recouer thy ſelfe, and p. 144make amends by better truſtineſſe. Vndoe the works of the deuill, by morning for them, by repentance, by running to the enſignes of Chriſt, and by doing the contrary works, of what kinde ſoeuer: and now know thou haſt reſiſted. For the deuils purpoſe is, that thou ſhouldeſt continue vnderunder a foile; and hee knowes, that if he cannot get thee to lie ſtill in the ſinne committed, it will doe him no good, nor thee harme. It is one kinde of reſiſtance, p. 145to recouer our ſelues after our falls. Otherwiſe, which of the Lords Worthies did euer reſiſt him? 1 Chron. 21.1. 2 Sam. 24.1.1 Chr 21:12 Sam 24:1Satan ſtirred vp Dauid to number the people, and he numbred them; which was his great ſinne, ſo mortally puniſhed: but Dauids heart ſmote him for this fact, and hee made his recantation, ſaying, I have ſinned, Verſ. 17.I hauehave done wickedly, let thine hand be against me, and my fathers houſe: and ſo Satan was altogether diſappointed of p. 146his malicious proiect againſt him.

The fourth marke is: 4If thou art troubled when thou ſeeſt the works of darkneſſe goe forward, and gladded to ſee any thing on foot that ouerthrowes the kingdome of the deuill. For he that reſiſteth him aright, would hauehave him reſiſted and reiected eueryevery where, by others as well as by himſelfe: hee would hauehave none obey him, or ſubmit to his gouernment: he is a rebell, and an vſurper, and therefore why p. 147ſhould hee hauehave any place, to rule in any parts of the Lords territories? Salomon ſaith, When the righteous are in authoritie, the people reioyce: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourne, Prouerb. 29.2. We may applie it to this: A good man is ſorrowfull, when he ſeeth any ſent into a place, either for Magiſtracie or Miniſterie, who is likely to aduance Poperie or prophaneneſſe, to diſcourage and weaken the hands of the godly, to p. 148hearten the wicked, and doe miſchiefe any way among ſimple people; or when hee ſeeth the people themſelues ſet vponupon wickedneſſe. It is euen a death to him, and his zeale doth almoſt conſume him, Pſal. 69.9. Ioh. 2.17.Ps 69:9John 2:17as is ſaid of Dauid and our Sauiour. And on the contrary, it is ioy to his heart, to heare or ſee a good man come into a place where hee may doe good, or hinder euill; to ſee a faithfull Miniſter ſet ouer a people, or good orders taken p. 149for the curbing of ſin. For now he hopes the power of the kingdome of darkneſſe muſt totter, and now it is likely the ſtrong holds of the ſtrong man ſhall bee caſt downe, & much good will be done in ſuch a place. Therefore hee cannot but reioyce: why ſhould hee not? And while he doth ſo reioyce, hee hath further cauſe of ioy in this alſo, that he is an enemie to the deuill, and the deuill to him.

The ſift marke is, p. 1505Care in the vſe of the meanes, whereby the deuill is reſiſted. He that vſeth phyſicke, reſiſteth the diſeaſe: and hee that is conſcionable in ſharpning the ſpirituall weapons before mentioned, doth reſiſt the deuill. So much diligence as a man vſeth in ſearching, and applying, and laying vp the word, in ſtrengthning his faith, in confirming his hope, in fortifying his patience; ſo much as hee ſtriueth in praier, to be conquerour; ſo much as hee p. 151endeuoureth to keepe his conſcience cleare, and to keepe with the Lords armies, by whom the ſame skirmiſhes are fulfilled: ſo much ſinceritie he hath in following this combat with the deuill. And they that ſay they reſiſt him, yet neglect theſe weapons, care not for the word read or preached, thinke not of increaſing their faith, or any of thoſe graces, nor make conſcience of holy exerciſes, doe lie in ſo ſaying: Though they p. 152ſhould ſpet ſo long, that they ſpet out their lungs, yet the deuill would not flie from them; but keepe poſſeſſion, and that quietly enough. For he is not expelled, but by diuine authoritie and power. Hee that meaneth to foile him indeed, will ſo conſider, and be ſo diligent in vſing the approued meanes of reſiſtance.

The ſixt marke is, 6Feare leſt thou reſiſteſt not in the due manner. This a careleſſe Chriſtian neuer hath: yea p. 153he is more confident in his ſtrawes and toies, than the godly is in weilding the armour ſet apart by God himſelfe. For moſt part, a carnall man thinketh not of reſiſting the deuill, till he is euen readie to fall headlong into his condemnation, and then he beſtirreth himſelfe, after his faſhion. Or he can ſee the deuill in his owne wicked practiſe, but it is after the ſinne committed, rather than before: And not in ſmall ſinnes, but in great and p. 154crying ſins only, which the world taketh notice of, or ſuch as bring preſent puniſhment, & ſhame among men. Or if he begin at any time to reſiſt the deuill, hee doth it ſo faintly, and ſillily, and by halues, that hee neuer getteth out of his clutches. And when he is moſt in heart, together with ſome watchfulneſſe, and that againſt all ſinnes as he thinketh, yet then he is vnconſtant, and leeſeth the victorie one day which hee got the other. p. 155But howſoeuer, in all his ſtriuing, euen at the beſt, hee is neuer fearfull or iealous ouer his deceitfull heart, but thinkes hee doth well enough, and he doubts not at all. Whereas a true Chriſtian feares he doth not as he ſhould, and recompenceth his failing in the matter, by his care in the manner of reſiſting the deuill.

The ſeuenth marke is, 7Vnfained thankfulneſſe to Chriſt; who giueth ſtrength to reſiſt, and to ouercome. This is a ſigne, that we reſiſt p. 156vponupon a good ground, and by a right power; not by our owne wittineſſe; or skilfulneſſe. We acknowledge wee are of our ſelues ſilly, & inſufficient for ſuch a combat, and therefore, after it is finiſhed, we muſt not liue to our ſelues, or ſacrifice to our owne yarne, as if our owne bow and ſword had ſaued vsus; but as the Pſalmiſt ſpeakes, Pſal. 44.3. Thy right hand, and thine arme, and the light of thy countenance becauſe thou badſt a fauour vntounto p. 157vsus: therefore to thee will we liue, for thee will we die. Thus the Saints caſt all the honour of the victorie vponupon Chriſt, their head and commander, Reu. 5.10, 11, 12. Thou haſt redeemed vsus to God by thy bloud, and haſt made vsus Kings and Prieſts vntounto God, and wee ſhall reigne on the earth, &c. They ouercome the dragon by the bleud of the Lambe. Reu. 12.11. & therefore the Lambe ſhall hauehave the honour of their conqueſt. And they will ſpecially expreſſe p. 158their thankfulneſſe in holineſſe of life, obſeruing the lawes of their Generall, and keeping within his campe, and vnderunder his banner, without mutinie, outrage, filthineſſe, or any vnbeſeeming behauiour. But where it is otherwiſe, the deuill is not rightly reſiſted. Where Chriſt gets no honour in an holy and refined conuerſation, he neuer aſſiſted ſuch againſt Satan. For, wherefore are wee redeemed out of the hand of our enemies, p. 159Luk. 1.74, 75.Luke 1:74Luke 1:75but that wee ſhould ſerue our Redeemer in holineſſe and true righteouſneſſe all the dayes of our life?

Laſtly, 8this may be ſome ſtay to a troubled and afflicted heart: If the deuill reſiſteth thee, thou reſiſteſt him: yea, therefore hee reſiſteth thee, becauſe thou reſiſteſt him. For he fighteth not with his own: why ſhould he? or to what end? While the ſtrong man keepeth poſſeſſion, all is in peace: as while the Iaylor hath his priſoners p. 160ſure enough, hee lets them lie together in quietneſſe enough. But, as hee beſtirreth himſelfe, if any of them giuegive him the ſlip, ſo if any man at any time begin to get out of the power of Satan, by whom hee was taken captiue at his pleaſure to doe his will, preſently vproares and tumults are made, and the deuill hath officers eueryevery where (wicked and vngodly men) who will vſe all expedition in ſending Huy and cry after the eſcaped p. 161Chriſtian; and, if either violence, or ſubtiltie, or promiſes, or threats, or any thing will reduce him to his ancient bondage, hee ſhall not long continue a free man.

Take this therefore for a note of oppoſition againſt the deuill, if he maintaine oppoſition againſt thee. Iam. 1.2.Jas 1:2Count it all ioy, when thou falleſt into diuers temptations. Though they be troubleſome and tedious to a holy heart, which hateth and abhorreth them, & would p. 162faine be rid of them, yet hauehave they their vſe alſo for good, and aſſure the Chriſtian by ſtrong conſequence, that his eſtate is ſafe enough, and ſo long as he continueth making reſiſtance, he need not feare. A happie man he is, that ſeeth the deuill profeſſing himſelfe his enemie.

Vſe 4 A cenſure of ſcorners, who diſlike ſuch diſcourſes.Fourthly, we ſee by all this, how wide they are from the right, who like not ſuch treatiſes, ſuch practiſes, ſuch care in examining ones ſelfe; but ieſt, and p. 163ſcoffe, and put off all this ſo neceſſarie a dutie with a ſcornfull tuſh. Tuſh (ſaith one) what doe you tell vsus of a deuill? when did you ſee him? and how doe you know him ſo well? and why doe you affright people with ſuch words of terrour? And Tuſh (ſaith another) what needs all this preaching about this matter? a goodly Sermon! and, Hee names the deuill almoſt at eueryevery word. So ſome hauehave ſaid of the former diſcourſes, p. 164ſimple and blindfolded creatures that they are: The Lord open their eyes, that they may ſee how the god of this world hath blinded them, 2 Cor. 4.4.2 Cor 4:4and get out of his ſnare. But others hauehave a tuſh too, and it is caſt againſt them that are ſo carefull in reſiſting the deuill, as wee hauehave proued allſhould be: Oh it is a fit of melancholie, a ſillineſſe, a childiſhneſſe: and, What man, take a good heart, put ſuch thoughts out of your minde, Come, follow p. 165the world as wee doe, make your ſelfe merry, and leaue theſe vncouth cogitations to them that are ſo peeuiſh.

Note this.But ſtay, O man: this is not to reſiſt the deuill, but to ſcorne him. If this troubled perſon ſhould take this counſell, he ſhould not ouercome this grand enemie of his ſoule, but take truce with him, and ſo, by pleaſing himſelfe in a fond and vaine peace, ſhould loſe his owne ſaluation; as thou in all likelihood p. 166muſt loſe thine. Therefore bee aduiſed what thou wilt doe: theſe are no ieſting matters: Heare what the Apoſtle ſaith, Reſiſt the deuill, and for time to come yeeld it a duty both lawfull and neceſſarie, that the people of God ſhould thus care, and labour, and ſtriue in reſiſting, and thou with them.

Vſe 5 This heartneth the godly.Finally, here is commendation and encouragement for them that ſo reſiſt the deuill. And it ſhall be of worth, againſt all calumnies p. 167and ſcoffes of thoſe ieſters, whatſoeuer they be. Know (O ſouldiers of the Lord) that you are in the right way. You hauehave rightly iudged of your life, to be (as it is) a warfare. You fight the good fight of faith, and are ſure of victorie; which, when it is atchieued, there is a crowne of righteouſneſſe prepared of old, which ſhall certainly be put vponupon your heads. You take Gods part againſt his and your enemies, and therefore he will take p. 168your part, ſuſtaining you, and …iling them. You are the Angels of Michael, and ſhall ſee the time, when the great dragon (the deuill) ſhall be quite caſt out, and vtterly excluded from heauen, no more to moleſt, and vex, and diſquiet your righteous ſoules. And for the preſent, during the time of this conflict, know for your comfort, that notwithſtanding all his wiles, and tricks, and cloſe following of his buſineſſe, yet vponupon your p. 169reſiſtance hee muſt auoid and be gone. If you vſe the armour deſcribed, and vſe it in the due manner before ſpoken of, hee cannot ſtand before you. So often as he giueth onſet, doe you giuegive him battell; and then leane vponupon this faithfull promiſe, full of conſolation (which comes now to be handled)

And he will flie from you.The ſecond generall part of this text.

The euent of other battels is doubtfull, victorie altogether vncertaine: Though the p. 170cauſe be good, and the men valorous, & ſtand the field ſtoutly, yet they may goe away vanquiſhed, as the Iſraelites a long time before the Beniamites. But here the conqueſt is certaine: before any ſtroke is giuen, wee know wee ſhall ouercome: eueryevery one that will reſiſt, ſhall chaſe away his enemie, though himſelfe be neuer ſo weake, his enemie neuer ſo ſtrong and puiſſant.

Queſt. But how may wee vnderſtand this flight p. 171of the deuill? and how doth he flie away, who is ſo inceſſant in temptations?

I anſwer: Firſt, Anſw. I Homil. 7. in Ioſue.Origen thinkes, that the Saints of God, reſiſting the helliſh tempters when they prouoke vntounto euill, doe diminiſh the armie of the deuils, and (as it were) kill many of them: ſo that it is not lawfull for that ſpirit, which is ouercome of an holy man, liuing chaſtly and graciouſly, againe to ſet vponupon any other man. But this is not p. 172ſo: for the ſame deuill, which had beene repelled by our Sauiour in his firſt temptation, did trie him with a ſecond, and a third.

Therfore ſecondly, 2others (by the relation of Lombard) thinke, Lib. 2. diſtinct. 5 H. lit.that this of Origen muſt be vnderſtood only of that vice, wherein the foule ſpirit was ouercome: as for example, If he ſollicit any good man vntounto pride, and be foiled, hee may not againe ſollicit vntounto pride, either the ſame man, or any other. But p. 173this is wholly vncertaine, and not materiall to the comfort of a Chriſtian; as our text doth intend. For if one deuill ſhould leaue ſuch a ſinfull motion, another would follow it, and diſquiet him as much as the other could poſſibly; eſpecially there being ſo many legions of them, one to ſucceed another in their miſchieuous intendments. And what cares the deuill, by what ſinne he gains a ſoule, if hee may be ſure to gaine it? Either p. 174of the extremes will ſerue his turne ſufficiently: or an habituall neglect of good, as well as the wilfull perpetration of euill.

3A twofold flight of the deuill.Therefore thirdly, the plaine anſwer is this: There is a twofold flying away, forced vponupon the deuill by the power of God, and this his promiſe: One partiall and temporarie, the other totall and finall.

1Partiall and temporary.That, when the child of God is enabled by the wiſdome and grace of God, to reiect any p. 175wicked ſuggeſtion, and ſo is rid of the Tempter for that time: and, ſo often as the deuill reneweth his temptation, ſo often the Chriſtian reneweth his courage, in reſiſting him, and therefore ſtill remaineth conquerour. The deuill left Chriſt but for a ſeaſon, Luk. 4.13. and no longer doth hee leaue the members of Chriſt. He goeth away, and returneth, and then muſt goe away againe, and ſo continueth paſſing to and fro, beaten p. 176and ouerthrowne ſo often as he is reſiſted. Faine he would return and re-enter into his old houſe, to take and keepe more ſure poſſeſſion: but if a repulſe be giuen him, he muſt take the repulſe, and flie away.

2Totall and finall.This, that is, the totall and finall flight of the deuill is at the end of the warfare, and of the Chriſtians life, when he moſt beſtirreth himſelfe, becauſe his time is but ſhort, Reu. 12.12.Rev 12:12and he would faine lay hold on the righteous p. 177ſoule which hee long moleſted, to carry it among his own fiends, in eternall torments. Here he is preuented of his purpoſe perfectly. The Spirit of God aſſiſteth the Chriſtian heart, and vpholdeth it with faith, with patience, with remembrance of the promiſes, with the ſenſe of Gods mercy, and all conuenient ſupplies, according to the ſeuerall and particular occaſions. Luk. 16.22.Luke 16:22And at laſt the Angels take the ſoule (as the ſoule of Lazarus) and p. 178carry it into Abrahams boſome, in endleſſe bleſſedneſſe. And now the whole skirmiſh is finiſhed, the field won, the good fight of faith fought to the vttermoſt, and the deuill fled away for euer and euer.

The point is this:

Doctr. The deuill, reſiſted, fleeth neceſſarily.All the Lords Warriours, who reſiſt the deuill as they ought, ſhall ouercome, and be rid of him. They are as ſure of victorie, as of trouble. His preſence is not ſo tedious and tireſome, but his abſence p. 179(which is moſt certain) ſhall be as ioyous and comfortable. We fight not at vncertaintie, but know wee ſhall ouercome. It was for want of reſiſtance, that our firſt parents were deceiued, and are of the forbidden tree: that Dauid lifted vp his heart, and numbred the people: that Iudas betrayed his Maſter, and ſo fell into his owne place: and, that euer any was ſubdued by the deuil, was for want of reſiſtance. They that would ouercome, did p. 180ouercome, and could not be foiled. Our Sauiour reſiſted, and ſaw the deuill flying from him. The Apoſtles and Diſciples reſiſted, and ſaw him fall like lightning from heauen. Saint Paul reſiſted, and found grace ſufficient againſt the meſſenger of Satan that buffeted him. In a word, all the Angels of Michael that fought againſt the dragon, did ſo thruſt him to the walls, that hee was caſt out, and his place found no more. Where the Chriſtian p. 181findes a heart & hands, the deuill muſt finde wings and heeles. And why?

Reaſon 1 Firſt, becauſe of the faithfull promiſe of the mightie God, who is able to doe this for vsus, and hath ſaid hee will doe it. And hee hath ſaid ſo, both here, Reſiſt the deuill, and he will flie from you; and elſewhere, The God of peace ſhall bruiſe Satan vnderunder your feet ſhortly, Rom. 16.20. where the Apoſtle ſpeakes of them that are wiſe vntounto good, and ſimple p. 182concerning euil; which is all one with reſiſting of the deuill. To ſuch he is a God of peace, and will in a little time put an end to all their conflicts. For, faithfull is he that hath promiſed, who alſo will doe it.

2Vincatur neceſſe eſt, quia Chriſtus quem confitemur, inuictus eſt. Cyp. de exhort. Martyr.Secondly, the valour of our Captain is ſuch, that the enemie cannot ſtand before him or vsus. He himſelfe, by himſelfe, did in ſingle combat put him to the worſe, and made him auoid: by whoſe conduct and conqueſt wee p. 183alſo ſhall goe away victors. Wee goe not forth againſt theſe helliſh wickedneſſes, in our owne name and ſtrength, but in the name and ſtrength of God, & by the power of Chriſt, who was neuer ouercome yet, but ouercame in eueryevery skirmiſh. Reu. 12.11. They ouercame him by the bloud of the Lambe. And hereof wee may aſſure our ſelues, before we ſet foot out of our tents and campe; as the Church of old, Pſalm. 44.5. Through p. 184thee will we puſh downe our enemies: through thy Name will we tread them vnderunder, that riſe vp against vsus. The ſame voice of Chriſt, that ſent away the deuill from himſelfe (Auoid Satan) will ſend him away from vsus alſo, when our temptations (as his) are ended.

3Thirdly, the validitie of our armour is greatly preualent for the foile of this enemie. For the excellencie of it, it is called the armour of God: Eph. 6.13.Eph 6:13and for the compleatneſſe of p. 185it, it is called whole armour of God. And becauſe of this, God will not hauehave his workmanſhip ſo much diſparaged, as to ſuffer him that vſeth it, to take a repulſe, or ſuffer the armour it ſelfe to be broken and mangled.

The edge of the ſword of the Spirit was neuer yet blunted by the hardineſſe of the enemie: no, They ouercame him by the word of their teſtimonie, Reu. 12.11. The Word of God is of an inuincible p. 186nature: not one tittle of it can paſſe away: it will vphold him that holds it forth, ſo that he cannot periſh in his afflictions.

The ſhield of faith was neuer yet bored or pierced thorow by any darts of the deuill, came they neuer ſo thicke and violent. No: this is the victorie which ouercommeth the world, 1 Ioh. 5.4.1 John 5:4(both the Prince of it, and the malice, and the allurements, and the affrightments of it) euen our faith. Faith, as much as a graine of p. 187muſtard ſeed, can doe wonders.

The helmet of ſaluation was neuer yet beat off the head of Gods Warriour, So hope is called, 1 Theſſ. 5.8.1 Thess 5:8by any ſnares of fierie temptations which the deuill rained downe vponupon him. No: our hope is a ſure anchor, ſo ſtedfaſt in apprehending his Obiect, that it entreth into that within the veile, Heb. 6.19.

By our patience wee may poſſeſſe our ſoules, Luk. 21.19.Luke 21:19euen when our enemies are moſt vrgent vponupon vsus, and ready to p. 188tire vsus out. Euen then, when we louelove not our liues to the death, wee ſhall ouercome the dragon, Reuel. 12.11.

By effectuall and feruent praier wee ſhall preuaile much. Iam. 5.16.Jas 5:16The Lord neuer heareth that voice which the Archangell ſpake, The Lord rebuke thee, Iude 9.Jude 1:9but preſently he conſenteth, and ſaith, The Lord rebuke thee, O Satan, euen the Lord that hath choſen Ieruſalem, rebuke thee, Zech. 3.2.

So of all the parts of our Chriſtian armour, p. 189they are all ſo cutting, and wounding, and deadly in ſlaying, that the enemie (as Ahab) muſt die of the blow, and be glad to retire.

Fourthly, 4the deuill is indeed an enemie, but an enemie already ouercome, and ſmitten with his deathswound. Chriſt hath ſpoiled principalities and powers for vsus, and triumphed ouer them openly vpō his Croſſe, Col. 2.15. ſo that all our reſiſtance is (as it were) but the kicking of a curſt beaſt, whoſe p. 190throat is already cut; to let out his life-bloud, whereby hee doth yet ſpurn againſt vsus. There was no more for the Captaines of Iſrael to doe, after the battell ended, but onelyonly to tread vponupon the fiue heathen Kings whom Ioſhua had ouercome, Ioſ. 10.24. Come neere, put your feet vponupon the necks of theſe Kings. The like is the voice of our victorious Ioſhua: Come, here are enemies foiled to your hands, vp and trample vponupon them. Chriſt puls p. 191out the ſting of the old helliſh ſerpent, and then ſaith in the words of the Pſalmiſt, Ipſi Chriſto applicat Irenaeus, l. 3. c. 38.Thou ſhalt tread vponupon the lion and adder; the young lion and the dragon ſhalt thou trample under feet, Pſal. 91.13. Chriſt put the deuill to his wings, when himſelfe had beene violently tempted: And euer ſince he hath beene ſo crazie and fearfull, that the weakeſt member of Chriſt, vſing the ſame method and meanes of reſiſting, hath beene able to chaſe him away. p. 192Alſo by vertue thereof, the ancient Beleeuers who were before Chriſt in time, (being the fore-ward in this barrell) did nor flie before their enemie, but made him to flie, and that eueryevery way as efficaciouſly as wee can doe.

Fiftly, 5our owne weake and fraile condition requireth ſuch reſpite … ſome times. Sometimes the deuill muſt be gone, that wee may be a little refreſhed and reuiued. Wee need a breathing time; p. 193and therefore it ſhall not be as the deuill will, who would alwayes moleſt vsus, and get that by importunitie, which by perſwaſion he could not get: but, will he, nill he, he muſt ſometimes vaniſh. The Lord knows our frame, and how we are but duſt, eaſily foiled with long vexation: therefore in compaſſion to our infirmitie, he ſtinteth our aduerſarie, what he ſhall doe, and how long he ſhall ſtay, and when he ſhall auoid; and will p. 194not ſuffer vsus to be tempted aboue that wee are able: An iſſue there is of our trials, and hee will, with the temptation, make a way to eſcape, that wee may bee able to beare it, 1 Cor. 10.13. The Lord knowes, 2 Pet. 2.9.2 Pet 2:9how to deliuer the godly out of temptations: both when the fit time is, and what are the meanes, and what is the meaſure of his ſeruants ſtrength.

Likewiſe, hee will hauehave them hauehave time, to prepare themſelues for other skirmiſhes: p. 195To repaire the breaches which Satan made, to fortifie their holds where they are weake, to trie their weapons in better manner, to gather their grounds of comfort together, for magnanimitie and vnweariableneſſe.

Finally, they ſhall hauehave ſome ſpace allotted, that they may enioy comforts from God, and the ioy of their ſaluation. Temptations are vncouth, and blacke, and terrible, and vex a good p. 196heart, and diſquiet the minde with an holy indignation: During which time, the Chriſtian cannot take his portion of reioycing in the Lord, as the word doth allow him. Therfore a time ſhall bee, when this harſhneſſe and bitterneſſe ſhall be gone, and the contrary ſweetneſſe ſucceed in the place.

Vſe 1 Conſolation to the godly.Heare this, yee armies of the Lord, and be comforted. Reioyce ye heauens, and yee that dwell in them; Now is come ſaluation, and p. 197ſtrength, and the kingdome of our God, and the power of his Chriſt: for the accuſer of our brethren is caſt downe, which accuſed them before our God day and night, Reu. 12.10.12. The deuill (as malicious and ſubtill as he is, yet) when he is reſiſted, muſt flie away. Hee is of a crauenly brood, and cannot ſtand where he findes a valiant opponent. Let this therefore ſtop all voices of vnquietneſſe, and eſpecially the voices of deſperation, p. 198whereby the Chriſtian doth many times too much trouble himſelfe. O (ſaith hee) I finde not this doctrine true: the deuill doth not ſo flie from mee, as you ſpeake, but is euer aſſailing mee with thoughts of blaſphemie, with idle, and filthy, and vnlawfull motions: A fourefold anſwer to complaints of Satans tediouſneſſe in tempting.I finde almoſt continuall temptations. To whom I anſwer:

1Firſt, you ſay well, that the deuils temptations are almoſt continuall: for I know they p. 199are not continuall altogether and wholly. You finde ſome refreſhing betweene-whiles. And is not this ſome comfort? Doth it not flie away, though it be but for a while? And did he leaue your Lord and Sauiour otherwiſe? It is ſufficient, that the ſeruant be as his Maſter, and not in better eſtate, Matt. 10.25.

2Secondly, our whole life on earth is a time of warfare, and no part of it can be ſecure from the Tempter. Know p. 200therefore, if he ſhould ſtay till death, yet then he muſt be gone. If he flie not at noone, yet he muſt and will flie by night. Only reſiſt, and his backe ſhall be turned vponupon you firſt or laſt. Stay the time, and wait when it will be. And take heed you looke not for more immunitie from trouble, than your preſent condition will permit.

3Thirdly, you ſay the deuill doth not flie from you: Looke and conſider how well you reſiſt him: It may be, p. 201you ſhall finde by examination, that he ſtaieth the longer with you by your owne default. According to our reſiſtance is his flight: and according to our manfulneſſe, his cowardlineſſe. No wonder if he ſtand his ground where hee is faintly and heartleſly oppoſed. Our Sauiour tells vsus, that ſome deuils are not caſt out but by faſting and praier: Matt. 17.21.Matt 17:21So alſo, ſome temptations and moleſtations cannot bee vanquiſhed, but by extraordinary p. 202care and ſtriuing.

4Fourthly, when the people of God hauehave their hearts teſtifying with them, that they hauehave done their beſt in reſiſting the deuill, and yet he flieth not away ſo perfectly as they deſire, let them know this is matter of comfort rather than of ſorrow, and, if they could remember their grounds, they ſhould rather reioyce than be troubled. So ſaith Saint Iames, chap. 1.2. My brethren, count it all ioy, p. 203when ye fall into diuers temptations. For this is a ſigne, that the deuill hath not yet won vsus. He is not ſo ſilly and vnwiſe, as to trouble his owne. It is good to hauehave him our enemie, and we may well bee ioyous in this, euen in the very midſt of all the throng. Woe vntounto vsus, when the deuill begins to be our friend. If we be not tried and iudged, as other of Gods people are, wee hauehave the more cauſe to trie and iudge our ſelues.

p. 204Vſe 2 Fond to leaue godlineſſe for a ſuppoſed perpetuitie of moleſtation.Againe, wee ſee by this doctrine, how fond it is to feare perpetuall moleſtation, and ſo leaue the power and ſound practiſe of godlineſſe. Many thinke, and ſome are not aſhamed to ſay, that if they ſet to ſuch & ſuch exerciſes, they ſhall leade a melancholie life euer afterward: Oh this profeſſion of the Goſpell, which Miniſters vrge ſo much, is a tedious and vncomfortable profeſſion; they ſhall be ſtill troubled with p. 205the deuill, & the world will bee vponupon their backs, and manifold vexations they muſt endure. Amongſt the many errors committed in this argumentation, the anſwer to the chiefe is this: that there is no enemie they ſhall meet withall in theſe diſtaſted wayes of holineſſe, No enemie in Chriſtianitie but muſt flie.but if he be reſiſted, hee muſt flie away. It is impoſſible he ſhould ſtand, if we our ſelues be willing to chaſe him away. 1Our text is plaine concerning the great and p. 206moſt hideous enemie, whom wee muſt encounter. And as plaine is the Scripture concerning the other enemies: 21 Ioh. 5.4. EueryEvery one that is borne of God, ouercammeth the world: euen when it commeth againſt vsus with tribulation, and diſtreſſe, and perſecution, and famine, and nakedneſſe, and perill, and ſword: In all theſe things wee are more than conquerors, through him that loued vsus, Rom. 8.37. 3As for our owne fleſh, and the luſts thereof, p. 207which warre againſt our ſoules, the Lord hath giuen vsus his owne Spirit, to take part with vsus againſt them: that, as the fleſh luſteth againſt the ſpirit, Gal. 5.17.Gal 5:17ſo the ſpirit alſo ſhall luſt againſt the fleſh, and the body of ſinne ſhall be at laſt deſtroyed.

As for them that will hauehave peace without fighting, and hope to paſſe away their liues comfortably, not troubling themſelues with the deuill and his temptations, nor incurring the diſpleaſure of the p. 208world, nor yet watching the corruptions of their owne euill hearts; wee enuie them not their peace, but pitie them; hoping, and wiſhing, and deſiring God in our praiers, that he will rowſe them vp out of their fondneſſe, and ſet them forth to know, and meet, and reſiſt, and ouercome their enemies.

Vſe 3 Be heartie in reſiſting: the euent will giuegive leaue.Thirdly, let the people of God be encouraged hereby, to goe on ſtoutly in reſiſting the deuill; and that in the full meaſure, and p. 209due manner, before deſcribed. Let them buckle to them the whole armour of God, and ſtill trie it, as Dauid did Sauls, before he went againſt Galiah. Let them repaire breaches, and recouer loſſes, and regaine time, and bee euer watchfull to ſaue themſelues harmleſſe; yea to diſaduantage the enemie, and worke him what diſpleaſure they can: which is, by furthering holineſſe to the vttermoſt, both in themſelues and others. Let them be bold as p. 210the righteous are affirmed to be, and goe forth to the fight confidently, aſſuring themſelues of a comfortable returne, and ſaying as he to Goliah, This day will the Lord deliuer thee into mine hand, and I will ſmite thee, and take thine head from thee, 1 Sam. 17.46. I know the euent will be gladſome, and therefore (by Gods grace) I will reſiſt vntounto bloud, to the laſt gaſpe.

Well, hold that reſolution, and the victorie is thine, with p. 211the ſpoiles, and crowne of it.

Vſe 4 Fourthly, in as much as the deuill flieth away in this life but only for a while, therefore vſe well the times of reſpite, and of his abſence. Remember he will come againe. Prouide for Satans return and re-entry.The vncleane ſpirit, when hee is gone out of a man, findeth no reſt any where: all places are drie, and vncomfortable vntounto him: and therefore he reſolueth with himſelfe, I will returne vntounto my houſe, from whence I p. 212came out, Luk. 11.24. Though he muſt hauehave the full foile at laſt, yet he will come and doe miſchiefe as long as he can. And ſome he hath gained by importunitie. Others, whom he could not winne, hee endangered ſhrewdly; put them to much diſqoietneſſe; got them to commit great errors, eſpecially comming vponupon them vnawares, and ſoone after his departure from them. Wiſdome would therefore, that eueryevery breathing time be well p. 213improued, and rather preparation made for a new encounter, than triumphs for the old. Wiſe ſea-men prouide for a ſtorme in a calme: and wiſe Captaines ſtand vponupon their guard as well after a battell, as before; fearing, leſt (as the Amalekites) they loſe more by their ſecuritie, 1 Sam. 30.20.1 Sam 30:20than they got by their proweſſe and magnanimitie. Let the ſame minde and wiſdome be in Chriſtians alſo: ſtill to be in expectation of the deuill and his hoſtilitie, p. 214and prouide for him accordingly. And let them thinke it enough, that they be at laſt rid of him, neuer to bee again moleſted. When they hauehave finiſhed their courſe, & fought the good fight of faith, then the crowne ſhall be ſet vponupon their heads: out now is their probation.

Vſe 5 Follie to excuſe our ſelues by blaming the deuill.Laſt of all, note here, how falſe it is to ſay the deuill is the cauſe of thy ſinne, and hee muſt beare the blame of it. No: he was not reſifted: if he had, he p. 215muſt hauehave fled away: this promiſe of God is moſt faithſull, and hee that made it, is able to make it good; that (vponupon thy reſiſtance, the only neceſſary condition) it ſhould hauehave beene performed. Yet this is the ordinary allegation of carnal people, when they are taken in any groſſe ſin: Oh the deuill owed them a ſpight, and now he hath paid them: the deuill tempted them, and they could not chuſe, and they hope they ſhall not be blamed p. 216for it. Smaller ſins they ſee not, nor the deuils malice in them: and greater ſinnes they put off wholly to him. So for no ſinnes they betake them to ſerious repentance, neuer ſee any need of Chriſt, neuer craue mercy at the hands of God as they ought, nor entertaine the due watchfulneſſe, for preuenting the like miſchiefe another time. Such muſt know, that their ſinne cannot be ſo poſted off, but will come home to them againe. That the p. 217deuill tempted them, is the deuils ſinne, and he ſhall be damned for it: but, that themſelues conſented, and yeelded to his temptation, is their ſinne, and let them take heed they be not damned for it likewiſe. Eue ſaid, Gen. 3.13.Gen 3:13the ſerpent beguiled her, and ſo he did: but that would not ſerue her turne. Take heed of ſaying and pleading as ſhee did, leſt the like ineuitable neceſſitie of vndergoing the puniſhment befall thee alſo. Happie is he only, that p. 218reſiſteth the deuil: from ſuch an one only, hee ſhall flie away. The Lord make vsus all wiſe, and watchfull, and valorous, to eſpie his aſſaults, and oppoſe him in his ſtratagems, that ſo we may be for euer freed from that miſerie and condemnation, which hee and his angels are adiudged vntounto.