A Spiritual Trumpet Sounded to Christian Warfare, Appendix

A Spiritual Trumpet Sounded to Christian Warfare · Appendix

p. 219AN APPENDIX of certaine Sermon-Notes vponupon

GEN. 3.15.

I will put enmitie betweene thee and the woman.

Queſt. HOw may I know, whether I hauehave rightly conceiued, & doe rightly manage my enmitie againſt the deuill?

p. 220Marks of right enmitie againſt the deuill.Anſwer. By theſe markes:

1Firſt, if it be an enmitie of Gods ſetting, namely by the power of his holy Ordinances, ſet apart for that purpoſe. So our text ſaith, I will put enmitie betweene thee and the woman. Many hate the deuill, but it is only by the force of nature, conceiuing him to be a grim blacke fellow, with hornes, and ſtaring eyes, and clouen feet: or according to the common notions they hauehave receiued p. 221from others, from the talke of people, or the like vaine occaſion: Not from the word, for they are ſtrangers to it: nor from the miniſterie of the word, for they deſpiſe it, at leaſt neglect it, and will not be ruled by it.

Whereas a true Chriſtian conceiueth his hatred of the deuill in the miniſterie, or in a ſerious peruſall of the holy Scriptures. While hee attendeth theſe meanes, appointed for diſpoſſeſſing the ſtrong man, hee p. 222findeth a ſtronger than he ioyning himſelfe to him, and with him; euen the bleſſed Spirit of God, 1 Ioh. 4.4.1 John 4:4who is ſtronger than he that is in the world. So Chriſt profeſſed, Luk. 10.18.Luke 10:18that he ſaw Satan fall from heauen like lightning, to wit, in the Miniſterie of the Diſciples, whom hee ſent, and heard relating their good ſucceſſe. Let this be the touchſtone of your enmitie, and if it hold the trying, it is true: otherwiſe counterfet, and only pretended.

p. 223And this is a needfull condition, becauſe God only can maintaine, that enmitie which is neceſſary for vsus, and only an enmitie of Gods ſetting can preuaile againſt the deuill.

2Another marke is: If it be for God, for his ſake, for his glory, which was impeached by this enemie, and which we deſire to recouer to him againe. True enmitie, as it commeth from God, ſo it goeth to God, and leadeth vsus to him; p. 224therefore to hate this euill one, becauſe wee wil reuenge our Lords cauſe and quarrell. The moſt hate the deuill, after their faſhion: but why? only becauſe hee would draw them into hell with himſelfe: and if it were not for thoſe endleſſe torments, they would neuer ſtand vponupon hating the deuill. For we ſee, that when they can put thoſe torments out of minde, by iollitie and ſecuritie, they will bee as buſie as Bees, in doing the deuils p. 225worke, and caſt off all the faithfull ſeruice of God, it may be, ſcoffe at it, it may be perſecute it. So doe not they that hate him indeed: They conſider him as one that hath diſhonoured God, and would ſtill diſhonour him, and doth daily in many: and they would hauehave God honoured by many, but eſpecially by themſelues: And therefore he that hindreth, ſhall be the obiect of their indignation and dereſtation. A true naturall p. 222duplicate page p. 223duplicate page p. 224duplicate page p. 225duplicate page p. 226ſubiect indeed, goeth to warre for the ſafetie of the King and his kingdome, others for other reſpects: ſo here.

3The third marke is: If due reſiſtance bee made vponupon him, By vnlawfull things, conceiue here what things are lawfull.according to the counſell, Reſiſt the deuill, and he will flie from you. EueryEvery one will reſiſt him whom hee hates, will ſtand againſt him, vſe all poſſible violence, and repell him to his vttermoſt power. So if thou hate the deuill, and take him for thine enemie, thou wilt reſiſt p. 227him, and vſe him as an enemie: And it is a ſlim barred, when the parties agree in the maine matter of the contention. Yet ſo doe carnall perſons: They ſay they hate and defie the deuill with all their heart, and yet they yeeld him that, which he mainly ſtriueth for, namely ſinne and diſobedience againſt God.

The beginning of reſiſtance vponupon the deuill.The beginning of this reſiſtance is by vnfained repentance: when a man mourneth for his ſinnes, and grieueth that hee hath ſo p. 228long ſerued the deuill: hee hates and loathes himſelfe in this reſpect, and ſeeth hee had periſhed for euer, if hee had gone on in the old trade of ſinne. And thoſe who feele not this godly remorſe and ſorrow, neuer yet knew indeed what the enmitie in our Text meaneth. By nature a man is only what the deuill made him, and of himſelfe he will ſo continue. Therefore hee muſt feele a perfect change, and hate and denie himſelfe; and ſo p. 229doing, he begins to vex that helliſh aduerſarie, who is troubled with nothing but the conuerſion of ſinners, and the companions thereof, with the meanes and effects.

The continuing and following of it.Afterward he is reſiſted by a carefull and watchfull courſe of life: while a man diſſolueth his workes by mortification, and endeauoureth after full holineſſe, and laboureth to keepe off his temptations by the armour of God. And this wee hauehave limited p. 230by certaine conditions and markes, in the treatiſe on Iam. 4.7. whereby much labour is now ſaued, and this diſcourſe becommeth ſhort which otherwiſe ſhould be large.

They therefore that ordinarily fall into the ſame ſinnes, and make little conſcience of their waies: They alſo that know in their own hearts, that they commit ſin ſecurely; without watchfulneſſe to the contrary, it is not againſt the purpoſe of their ſoule, they doe it p. 231freely, they humble not themſelues for it as an hainous matter, but entertaine it willingly, and hold it peaceably, with eaſe and quietnes of conſcience: All theſe, and all that faile habitually in any of the conditions of right reſiſtance, doe not hate the deuill in truth, but counterfeit an enmity, which at laſt they ſhall ſee was deceiptfull, and ſhall rue the time, that they framed to themſelues ſo childiſh an hatred againſt ſo manfull an enemie.

p. 2324Fourthly, if thou hateſt the deuill indeed, thou wilt auoide the places of his walke. For ſo doe men with them whom they hate. They will keepe aloofe off, and not willingly come neare thoſe places where ſuch vſe to haunt. The places which the deuill doth moſt vſe vntounto, are the dry places of the world, Luke 11.24.Luke 11:24as the Scripture ſpeaks; that is, ſuch as wherein is no moiſture or refreſhment for the ſoule, but ignorance and profaneneſſe raigneth, and p. 233a man ſhall rather be hindred than furthered in godlineſſe: As for example, blinde pariſhes where is no viſion, ale-houſes, play-houſes, ſmoke-houſes, and all vngodly meetings: Here the deuill hath a kinde of right, and ſpeciall power ouer the ſonnes of men; as in that inſtance of Tertullian, In meo eam inueni, Lib. de ſpectac. c. 26. Eiuſmodi daemoniis penetrabiles fiunt.I tooke her vponupon my owne ground; ſo anſwered the deuill to the Exorciſt, which adiured and asked him, why he inuaded a Chriſtian p. 234woman, being at a Play.

It is true, hee compaſſeth the earth to and fro, comes euen where the immortall ſeed of the word is ſowen, to ſteale it away, and enters into the holieſt cloſets where the heartieſt praiers are preferred vntounto God: And in none of theſe may wee bee ſecure. But in places of lewd reſort, and in the companionſhip of euill men, he is ſpecially preſent, as the King and chiefe man, ſpeaking, and ſcoffing, p. 235and working by his inſtruments, what himſelfe would if hee had fleſh to appeare in. Enmity in the heart againſt this wicked one will either keepe the feet altogether out of ſuch places, which is beſt and ſafeſt; or ſoone carry the feet from them, which is the next point of wiſdome. So doth the bleſſed man, Pſal. 1.1. Bleſſed is the man that walketh not in the counſell of the vngodly, nor ſtandeth in the way of ſinners, nor ſitteth in p. 236the ſeat of the ſcornefull.

Which maketh ſtrōgly againſt them that mingle themſelues with ſuch ſociety, and ſecurely frequent ſuch places, or liue contentedly in ſuch pariſhes. This is amity, not enmity. Howſoeuer, it is too much familiaritie: and an ill ſigne, that the heart is at too much league with the deuill. A good heart would keepe further off him.

The fift marke is, 5an earneſt begging of ſtrength from God, againſt p. 237the deuill, together with a faithfull depending vponupon him for ſuch ſtrength: as a man wil make all the friends hee can, to diſappoint and annoy one whom he hates: he will call in company, and not truſt his owne only prouiſion, and rather get too many on his ſide, than want helpe: ſo heere: A ſpeciall peece of our Chriſtian armour is praier, as the Apoſtle reckoneth, Epheſ. 6.18. Praying alwaies with all praier and ſupplication in the Spirit, &c. We had p. 238need craue wiſdome to eſpie temptations when they come, and grace to repell them, and power to reiect the pleaſures of ſinne, or other wages of vnrighteouſneſſe whatſoeuer: And that God would maintaine in vsus this godly enmitie, and keepe it for euer in the purpoſe of our heart, to hate that enemie; whom otherwiſe, of our ſelues we are ready to louelove and ioyne withall, as a very friend.

They that are not ſo carefull, are too too p. 239careleſſe. Hee can doe little, that cannot call for helpe againſt an enemy. Yet naturall men thinke themſelues good enough for the deuill. Good hearts, and good faith, and a good deale of ſpetting, ſhall chaſe him quite away. So they forſake the rocke of their health, and forget the ſtrong God of their ſaluation.

Sixtly, 6if thou hateſt the deuill aright, then, as neere as thou canſt, thou wilt giuegive him no aduantage from thy ſelfe. A man that hates p. 240another who beares him no good will, but watcheth all opportunities againſt him, will bee ſure for his owne part to let fall nothing (in word or deede) which may diſaduantage himſelfe, or aduantage that his aduerſarie. So wilt thou watch againſt this enemie. The deuill doth often get ground of vsus through our owne folly; as namely, by the paſſions of anger, feare, and the like; by naturall affections, as louelove to parents, children, kinſmen; p. 241by refections of nature, as about meat, and drinke, and ſleepe, and apparell; by wordly buſineſſes, and the diſtractions that attend them; by couetouſneſſe, by earthlineſſe, by too much cloſeneſſe and niggardlineſſe: So hee got within Iudas: and within Peter, by fearefulneſſe: and by choler and furie, he gets within vsus not ſeldome, as the Apoſtle ſeemes to argue, Ephe. 4.26, 27. Be angry, and ſinne not: let not the Sunne goe downe vponupon your wrath: p. 242Neither giuegive place to the deuill.

Which bends mainly againſt them that are altogether open and looſe in ſuch things; no watchfulneſſe, no iealouſie ouer their deceitfull hearts; and ſo giuegive the deuill as much aduātage againſt them, as hee deſireth. And this is of all other the moſt killing miſchiefe, when hee worketh in our troubled affections, and deſtroyeth ere we be aware.

The laſt marke of right enmity is, 7a zealous p. 243endeuour to thruſt downe the Kingdome of the deuill in others: as a man that hates another, will doe him al the miſchiefe he can, hinder his profit, impeach his credit and good name, incenſe his friends, and raiſe vp enemies againſt him. Thus the Apoſtles went vp and downe, ſhaking the ſtrong holds of Satan, and caſting downe eueryevery high thing that exalted it ſelfe againſt the knowledge of Chriſt. 2 Cor. 10.4, 5. Thus if one who hath p. 244authoritie, doth vſe his authoritie for the ſuppreſſing of diſorders, the ſhaming and puniſhing of euill members, the preſeruing of the holineſſe of the Lords Sabbaths: If one that is rich, will be at charges to ſet vp, and hold vp the Ordinances of God, eſpecially the preaching of the word, which giueth the deuill the greateſt blow hee can receiue: If Maſters of families doe chaſe away riotous and wicked perſons, and ſet good in the roome, and p. 245ſeeke to make all an holy company to the Lord: If priuate Chriſtians, and one neighbour to another, ſhall vſe admonition in due ſeaſon, call one another from ſinfull courſes, and to the houſe of God, or any other way further the ſanctification and ſaluation of their brethren: They ſhall doe worthy offices againſt the deuill, and ſhew themſelues to be his right ſworne enemies. Chriſt our Captaine, who ſtrucke at the head of the ſerpent, p. 246was for this purpoſe manifeſted, that he might deſtroy the workes of the deuill, 1 Iohn 3.8. So alſo doth eueryevery true Chriſtian, who partakes of his anointing: Hee alſo will manifeſt himſelfe, what hee is, and whoſe he is, by endeauouring eueryevery way hee can, to deſtroy the workes of the deuill. And they that are not thus affected, hauehave not yet the right enmitie in their hearts: they profeſſe to hate the deuill, but louelove him well enough.

p. 247Vſe I Three ſorts of men reproued.A reproofe it is to diuers.

If theſe be marks of right enmity, then how many are there, that muſt needs ſay (if they will ſpeake truth) that they neuer yet hated the deuill as they ought? But ſpecially, three ſorts of people come here to be reproued.

1. They that thinke not … this enmitie.Firſt, ſome liuing ciuilly and vnblamably among men, are altogether ſecure of this helliſh enemie, and neuer imagine, that either the deuill practiſeth any p. 248thing againſt them, or they ought to watch againſt him. They thinke not at all on ſuch matters. They cannot tell, whether there bee any ſuch enmitie or no, or ſhould bee. Yea many take it for their happineſſe, that they are neuer troubled with thoughts about the deuill: Oh they are in good caſe, and God hath bleſſed them fairely, that they feele not the afflictions of conſcience which ſuch and ſuch feele, and need not complaine as they doe. p. 249And they neuer eſpie the deuil till afterward, that is, when hee hath got them to doe what hee would hauehave them doe; it may bee, neuer but in the great and groſſe ſinnes of others, Oh the deuill was buſie and great with him that cōmitted murder, that hanged himſelfe, or did ſome notorious wickedneſſe. But they neuer watch before hand, to ſee or preuent him: And they are preſumptuouſly confident, that they are ſafe, and the deuill ſhall neuer be ſo p. 250great with them, as hee was with ſuch & ſuch: That is all their preparation, that is all their care to keepe him out.

But as for the ſhaking and ſupplanting of his Kingdome in their brethren, here they are deepely ſecure, and doe nothing at all: neuer care to execute any of thoſe things, in the ſeuenth: The neuer ſee the power of Satan in mens hearts and liues: They know what it is, and how miſerable, to bee corporally poſſeſſed of the p. 251deuill, and wiſh meanes may bee had to releaſe them; but, what it is to be ſpiritually poſſeſſed of him, they know not, therefore deſire no meanes for their good. Indeed how ſhould they tender the welfare of others, & hauehave compaſſion on the ſoules of others, who neuer knew their owne bondage, nor rightly pitied their owne ſoules?

2. They that embrace the contrary amitie.Secondly, ſome are ſo farre from waging enmitie againſt the deuill, that they hauehave entred into moſt neere p. 252amitie with him, and giuegive vp themſelues to be ruled by him at his pleaſure. There ſeemes to be but one head, and one heart, and one hand, and one aime betweene them. Their counſels, and affections, and actions, and intentions are one and the ſame; only for rebellion againſt God. I meane all prophane perſons, who goe on in a conſtant and cuſtomary practiſe of any ſinne, or many ſinnes. If they ſhould doe the deuill a ſpight by daily p. 253frequenting of alehouſes, by tipling, by gaming, by ſwearing, or any ſuch abominations, then they were bitter enemies to him, and they would ſpight him cruelly: for, this they doe day by day, nothing more. But eueryevery wiſe man ſeeth, that this pleaſeth the deuill exceedingly, and he is delighted in nothing ſo much. Therefore his they are, and of them Saint Iohn ſaith, 1 Iohn. 3.8.1 John 3:8He that committeth ſinne, is of the deuill. They agree with p. 254him, as the ſilly Iſraelites with Abſalom in his conſpiracie, 2 Sam. 15.11. They went in their ſimplicitie, and knew not any thing. They are traitors to God ere they be aware, and ſerue Gods greateſt enemie, whom they pretend to hate. None of thoſe vile perſons will yeeld hee is the ſeruant and childe of the deuill, but will ſcorne the motion, and profeſſe the quite contrary. But that is nothing, and wee muſt proue ſhortly, that p. 255wicked men are the ſeed of the helliſh ſerpent. EueryEvery one is borne a limbe of the deuill, and hee whom grace altereth not, doth ſo continue, reſembling his father in the groſſeſt wickedneſſe; yet ſome more, ſome leſſe, as children are like their parents, ſome more than others.

3. They that helpe the deuill, in ſtead of hindring him.Thirdly, ſome there are, who, in ſtead of hating the deuill, and hindring him as they ſhould, doe rather gratifie him, and helpe him what they can. I p. 256doe not ſay they purpoſe to doe him a good turne, and meane abſolutely to ſet him vp for the king and god of the world; but in effect they doe as much: they doe that which doth aduance the deuill and his kingdome among men: Let them bee tried by their works, as our Sauiour argued with the Iewes, and then, though they ſay neuer ſo often they are the children of Abraham, and of God, yet they will be found to be the children of the p. 257deuill, Iohn 8.44.John 8:44for his works they doe: More; they are indeed his friends, his louing and deare friends, for his works they ſet forward, and procure as many as they can, to ioyne with them in the ſame wickedneſſe. As for example: how many are there, who ſet themſelues to make their brother drunken, and lay him vnderunder the table? How many, who force oathes vponupon their neighbour, and twit a man for a Puritane, who will not rap p. 258out a fearfull oath, as they would hauehave him? How many, that begin miſſe-rule and vile diſorders in a place, and that with a ſtrong hand, and a ſtiffe necke, purpoſely to draw others from the obedience of the Miniſterie, & make them like to themſelues in an vnreformable obſtinacie? and ſo in other inſtances. Woe vntounto them: for they lend the deuill their helping hand, and ſtriue againſt true holineſſe, which hee alſo ſtriueth againſt. This is p. 259not enmitie, but amitie in the higheſt degree. Let them looke before hand what the end will be.

Vſe 2 Motiues vntounto enmity againſt the euill ſpirits.And let vsus all labour for this enmitie, ſo limited and deſcribed, as wee hauehave ſeene: Vſing for ſpurres and motiues, theſe enſuing conſiderations.

1Firſt, what are thoſe euill ſpirits vntounto God? Moſt vile rebels, and deadly enemies: Placed at firſt in a moſt blisfull eſtate, with God and his holy Angels, in the higheſt heauens: p. 260but through pride, or vnbeleefe, or ſome other act of diſobedience, they fell away, and left their firſt habitation; chuſing rather to leaue God and his bleſſedneſſe, than their owne opinion conceiued of, and within themſelues. And they are ſtill ſpightfull againſt his Maieſtie, oppoſe his honour, reſiſt his counſels and ordinances, obſcure his glory, deface his image on man, and trouble the order of the creatures. Now what good p. 261ſubiect doth not hate to the death, one that is an arrant traitor, ſtill practiſing againſt his Prince? So ſhould we be affected in this caſe, toward this enemie.

2Secondly, what are the euill ſpirits to vsus? As full of malice as they can hold. They tempt vsus to euill, and diſſwade vsus from good. They ſeeke to corrupt vsus in iudgement, and moleſt vsus in our worſhipping of God. They intercept good means, and what mercies of God they p. 262poſſibly can. They accuſe vsus, and raiſe vp ſlanderers, perſecutors, other enemies; with ſtormes, and tempeſts, and witches, and other miſchiefes, to diſturbe and fret vsus, and worke vsus to impatience, blaſphemie, atheiſme; as he ſaid of Iob, Iob 1.11.Job 1:11Touch him now, and hee will blaſpheme thee to thy face; and ſo he intended in his owne wickedneſſe againſt him, vſing alſo his wife to that purpoſe, chap. 2.9.Doeſt thou yet retaine thine innocencie? blaſpheme p. 263God and die. And there is no poſſibilitie hee ſhould be better affected to vsus: therefore hate him.

3Thirdly, what are thoſe ſpirits in themſelues? Euill, onelyonly euill, continually euill, greedie to doe euill, watchfull thereunto, and gaping after eueryevery opportunitie to further it. They louelove neither God nor man, no not them that are one with them and obey them in all things. They louelove nothing properly, but ſinne and miſchiefe. p. 264This they intend principally, fully, willingly, maliciouſly. Therefore alſo all their ſinnes are ſinnes againſt the holy Ghoſt; therefore can neuer bee pardoned, neither in this life, nor the life to come. They are reprobates, held in the chaines of blacke darkneſſe againſt the iudgement of the great day. Briefly, there cannot be the like obiect for our hatred, in all the world: therefore hate them.

4Fourthly, GOD, whom we muſt follow p. 265as deare children, Eph. 5.1.Eph 5:1doth hate them vnreconcileably. He hath appointed no Redeemer, nor Mediator for them; hath made no promiſe of life to them, nor couenant of mercy, nor giuen them the leaſt hold of him, whereby they might be reconciled: But contrarily, he hath written in the Scripture the ſentence of their condemnation, hath nominated his children to bee their Iudges, 1 Cor. 6.3. and hath appointed them in the meane p. 266time to exerciſe all hoſtilitie againſt the deuill, both here; and Epheſ. 4.27. GiueGive no place to the deuill: and Iam. 4.7. Reſiſt the deuill, and hee will flie from you, and elſewhere. Then follow your Captaine. Doe as yee ſee mee doe, ſaid Gideon.

5Fiftly, the faithfull ſeruants of God hauehave ſtill held vp this oppoſition againſt him; being the Angels of Michael, who fought with the dragon, and ouercame him. Yea they p. 267reioyced, that the deuils were ſubdued vntounto them, Luk. 10.17. ſee Epheſ. 6.12. And though good men hauehave ſometimes beene ſore ſhaken, and foiled, yet they hauehave got ground againe, and recouered their loſſes, and done him the more hurt for his miſchiefe againſt them; ſhaking his kingdome the more manfully. Then ioyne with theſe armies of the Lord, and march on with them. And know, that none is on their ſide, p. 268but ſuch as are againſt God; none but carnall and worldly men, none but the ſeed of the ſerpent, the children of the deuill; none but they whoſe example muſt be odious to vsus as hell it ſelfe. Count that fight good, which good men maintaine, and euill men traiterouſly let alone, or ioyne with the aduerſarie.

6Sixtly, the hatred of the deuill is the companion, if not the ground of true grace. God is not loued, nor p. 269feared, nor ſerued, nor any way truly regarded, till this enmitie againſt the deuill bee wrought in the heart. Thus the termes of our conuerſion are deſcribed, Act. 26.18. To turne them from darkneſſe to light, and from the power of Satan vntounto God. And therefore, as our Sauiour Chriſt ſaith, Yee cannot ſerue God and Mammon, Matt. 6.24.Matt 6:24and, The one muſt be hated, that the other may be embraced; ſo ſay I, that the deuill muſt be hated if God muſt be p. 270loued, wee cannot louelove or ſerue both together. Well a man may play on both ſides, pretending louelove to God while hee doth what the deuill would hauehave him doe, and pretending an hatred of the deuill while he perſecuteth the will and worke of God: But indeed and in truth he cannot louelove God, till the deuill be truly and vnfainedly hated. And, where is no true louelove of God, there is no true faith, nor hope, nor patience, nor humilitie, p. 271nor any ſound grace whatſoeuer.

7Adde hereunto theſe meditations. We hate leſſer enemies, and for ſmaller occaſions, and why not this, for the greateſt occaſion that can be? He ſpoiled vsus of the grace of creation, and, if hee could, would ſpoile vsus of the grace of regeneration alſo. He caſt vsus downe from our happie eſtate, wherein wee were firſt placed, and would caſt vsus downe from that happineſſe, which Chriſt hath recouered p. 272for vsus, with the purchaſe of his owne bloud.

8Beſide, this enmitie is the beginning of our returne to God, and of our reconciliation with him; as here to our firſt parents. God loues not vsus, till wee hate the deuill, and that vnfainedly.

9And finally, we muſt know, that if wee deceiue our ſelues with a falſe hatred in ſtead of a true, the time ſhall come, when wee ſhall hate the deuill whether we will or no; and hate p. 273our ſelues, who would be ſo ſillily deluded, and ſhall for euer curſe both: for he and his angels are caſt out, and their place is found no more in heauen.