Seven Treatises, Treatise 5 · Chapter 2
CHAP. 2. Of Sathans properties and attempts againſt vsus in generall: and our helpe againſt them.
TO begin therefore firſt generally, euen he it is, Sathan I meane, that withſtandeth vsus in eueryevery good thing, (as I hauehave ſaid before) and leadeth vsus amiſſe many waies,1. Pet. 5.8. although we ſee our ſelues ſet free from the infernall woe. And therefore it is,Iob. 1.7. that our hearts cannot ſo ſoone be raunging though it be neuer ſo litle, but he is readie to meete with them and ſet them forward in ſome euill;The diuell meeteth with vsus on eueryevery ſide: and by his moſt ſlie ſubtiltie, he faſteneth our liking and our affections there, before we can be aware of it: ſo that we maruell after, to ſee ſuch a ſuddaine vnſetledneſſe in vsus, and ſuch a chaunge from a wel-ordered courſe wherein we were before. And hereby it is alſo, (of him I meane) that we can deale about nothing but we may poſſibly, and be oft times, ſnared with it: he knowing how to vſe all outward objects to our hurt,Both by proſperity to ſnare vsus and by croſſes to vexe vsus, at home and abroad, as wealth, beautie, friends, libertie, peace, and all bleſſings; and contrarily, loſſes, ſickeneſſe, diſgrace, &c. If that we be at home, he workes by domeſticall affaires: if abroad, he taketh occaſion from thence. So that whereſoeuer, or whatſoeuer we do or be occupied in, the Scripture teacheth vsus, that he is about vsus how good ſoeuer we be, if not in vsus as in the men of this world: and that which is moſt daungerous of all,VVhen we leaſt ſuſpect it. he doth moſt craftily deceiue vsus when we do leaſt ſuſpect it. More particularly to lay foorth this, I cannot here conueniently.
If therefore men be ignorant or vnexperienced of his working and properties in themſelues, it is not to be maruailed at though they beare their deadly wounds about them through his vnceſſant malice and ſubtiltie: for it is not poſſible, but that eueryevery naturall man one way or other ſhould be deepely bewitched, made ſenſleſſe and fooliſh with pleaſures, profites, dreames of earthly happineſſe to come, feare, ſecuritie, hard-heartedneſſe, or ſome ſuch like. And this is the eſtate of the world at this day; euen thus are all vnbeleeuers deceiued, and holden (as it were) in bands; and cannot, either ſeeke or deſire, or know how to get out. But if any be more expert, and hauehave their hearts exerciſed in diſcerning good and euill, & how both are wrought and what hindereth both; if God teach them to know this myſterie and ſecret, of Sathans caſting miſtes before their eyes to rocke them faſt aſleepe in ſinne, and hauehave had proofe of theſe things in themſelues; they ſhall farre more eaſily ſee into it, and know by the helpe that God hath left them, how to ſhunne his deadly wounds, and to ſee his poyſoned baites, and to auoide them.
It is not to be denyed, but that in this manner, Sathan beſetteth all people, (though litle obſerued and ſeene of vnbeleeuers) and moſt of all, vsus,Luc. 22.31. whome he is openly and reſolutely ſet againſt. All of vsus therefore are to know his enterpriſes, properties, practiſes, vigilancie, his malice at all times, and in all actions and companies: and how by his diuerſe ſleights he dealeth according to the occaſions offered, and as our weakeneſſe may moſt eaſily be diſcouraged. But what then? are we therefore to faint? God forbid.VVe may not faint though we hauehave the diuell againſt vsus. I ſay further, (as before) if he doth not onelyonly kindle the concupiſcence that is within vsus and our owne luſts, to be more ſet on fire to do the euill which we are inclined to; but alſo baiteth the outward things with poiſon, which we deale about, that he may dazle our eyes, and caſt vsus from our hold, that is, that we may not keepe ſtill in the Chriſtian courſe: yet ought we not for all this to be diſmayed.
For we know, that euen theſe,Reaſon why. although they cannot but trouble vsus for the preſent time, yet ſhall turne to our exceeding good, by making vsus to ſet more ſtore by Gods protection then we did before, and to abide vnderunder his gouernment more continually; ſeeing we do ſo ſoone ſmart when we ſhake it off (as it were) neuer ſo litle. When therefore we ſhall perceiue our ſelues to be hindered and diſtracted from our peaceable courſe and continuance in a daily good courſe, God would hauehave vsus know that we ſhould not faint and be diſcouraged; but in confidence and full perſwaſion of recouerie, and obtaining fauour, confeſſe humbly both our wandring and vnſetledneſſe of heart, and much more our hearkening to Sathans deluſions, (whereby we were ſo farre eſtranged from God) and forſake them, that we may find mercy.
The Lord would hauehave none of his to be raunging from vnderunder his wings, and much leſſe (if any be fallen through infirmitie, or beguiled by Sathans ſubtiltie) would he hauehave them thinke, that he will therefore ſhake them off: who hath made it manifeſt and well knowne in the Goſpell:Luc 15.6. That he ſeeketh vp that which is wandering and loſt. This muſt be throughly perſwaded vntounto Gods children, that they may neither be diſcouraged (as they muſt needes be otherwiſe) in their fals, from ſuing to God: and yet,1. Ioh. 2.1.2. not boldly abuſing his lenitie, but well encouraged by his great louelove to returne to him againe. For although the diuell be a mightie enemie and cruell,Properties of the diuell. Reu. 12.10. Reu 12.3. for which cauſe he is called A great red dragon; and The accuſer of the brethren; and as ſubtile, vigilant and malicious, as he is ſtrong: yet they for their parts are not naked and altogether vnarmed: neither doth their ſtrength reſt in themſelues, but they deriue and draw it from one that is mightier then he. They hauehave libertie,Coloſ. 1.11. nay commaundement to be ſtrong in the might of Gods power, that is: to be fully perſwaded, that if there be any ſtrength in God himſelfe, (who we know holdeth all diuels in ſubiection) theirs it is, and for them, and they may take it for their owne: euen as if any poore man in a purchaſe ſhould hauehave by a rich friend laid out for him and freely beſtowed on him, whatſoeuer he ſhould want. Yea, one part of their armour (I meane faith) is able alone to ouercome all lets which they ſhall meete with, and to thruſt backe euen the fierie darts of the diuell, which burne and ſting moſt ſharpely.
They muſt alſo conſider, who and what manner perſons they are; not enemies to God as in times paſt, but beloued, deare and precious vntounto him, euen ſonnes and daughters;Other reaſons to ſtrengthen againſt Sathan. 1. Pet. 2.9. 2. Cor. 6.18. Rom. 5 10. Rom. 8.1. and therefore not like to be vnnaturally forſaken or left to themſelues in their neede and neceſſitie: and if when they were enemies they were reconciled by his death, how much more being reconciled, ſhall they be ſaued by his life? and being alreadie deliuered from the greateſt feare, that is, of damnation, they may be well perſwaded, that the combates which remaine to be betwixt Sathan and them, cannot be deadly and to their ouerthrow, but to exerciſe their faith; that after they hauehave truſted God a litle and waited vponupon him,Heb. 10.36. to ſee his helping hand here, they may after their conflicts receiue their reward.
This I ſpeake not to make any ſlacke and careleſſe, but to encourage them againſt theſe lets which follow,Incouragemēts may not make vsus ſlacke. which by his ſubtiltie ſhall ſeeme greater then they are: that they may not be faint-hearted and diſcomforted, ſeeing there is no cauſe. For it hath pleaſed the Lord and ſo he hath promiſed, by ſtriuing,Iam. 4.7. Heb. 10.37. reſiſting Sathan, and ſuffering a litle, afterwards to take them into glorie: (as our Sauiour himſelfe did go that way, Heb. 12.2.) and yet not to be without honor, euen here (if we iudge rightly) where and whiles (to the iudgement of the fleſh) they are in the middeſt of reproch. This caueat I giuegive vntounto the beleeuers before hand, putting them in remembrance that I muſt oftentimes call them backe to the conſideration thereof: that they may be vpholden in the greateſt likelihoods of danger.
And they muſt be warned to learne wiſedome by their experience, that when they ſhall be able in ſundrie trials to eſcape and bee deliuered from the foile and perill which they feared,VVe muſt learne wiſdom by experience. Rom. 5.4. and to ſee that God hath vpholden them therein by faith in his promiſe and hope in his helpe, and that thereby they hauehave bene taught to vſe ſuch meanes as hauehave brought a good end of their cō flicts; they may afterwards be emboldened to waite for the ſame grace again, in the like neceſſities and ſtraights: and ſo to grow to hauehave that acquaintance and communion with God, that they may with confidence looke to obtaine greater things at his hands then theſe, and to encourage and hearten on others (who are weake) to do the ſame.
Now if any ſhould feare, that all this looking to our ſelues is more then needes:Our greatest prouiſion against Sathan, cannot be too much. he is to know, that if our hearts were ſound, and ſo kept without liking of euill (as ſometime the meaneſt Chriſtian feeleth it,) there were no danger to be feared, no not from the diuel himſelfe, much leſſe the world, according to that of Salomon: Keepe thy heart with all diligence, for thereout commeth life:Prou. 4.23. and they who hauehave any experience, find nothing more true, then that they walke at great libertie, when their hearts are well ordered. But ſeeing few can heare this ſaying, that our hearts ſhould be holden in ſubiection to Gods will from time to time, and our deſires and thoughts (though fond and fooliſh) captiuated; therefore Sathan taketh his aduantage thereby, to make them ſlaues and bondmen to his ſuggeſtions and deceitfull inticements, to bereaue and make them voide of all ſound iudgement; and thus, to come to do thoſe things which ſometimes they were aſhamed of, or at leaſt hauehave iudged very hardly of others for doing them.Rom. 2.1.
And thus it commeth to paſſe, that beſides the hinderance we hauehave by our euill hearts, when we ſhall hauehave conſidered and well pondered how many wayes the diuell letteth and hindereth vsus, we ſhall ſee good cauſe to prouide the ſtrongeſt helpe and defence that we can againſt the ſame. Now then, that it may more clearely be ſeene, what daunger and feare we are in by him, which may eaſily breake off our courſe in godlineſſe;Al Sathans purſuings of vsus, tend either to ouerthrow our faith, or to hinder a godly life. ſome of his bad ſleights and practiſes are more particularly to be laid foorth, which though they be many and diuerſe, yet may be fitly drawne to theſe two heades: Either they do all ſet againſt our faith; or elſe directly ayme at the extinguiſhing and burying of godly life in vsus: wherein if the diuell can preuaile againſt vsus, he hath gotten what he would, and we hauehave loſt that wherein our glorie ſtood.