Seven Treatises, Treatise 5 · Chapter 3
CHAP. 3. Of the diuels troubling the weake beleeuer about his faith: and if he do not preuaile against him one way, he ſeeketh by another.
AND firſt for the former, to declare how he troubleth the weake faith of Gods children (for I omit to ſhew, how he leadeth them captiues who are in his ſnares, being taken priſoners of him to do his will, and how forcibly he holdeth backe ſuch as do but begin to looke after eternall life; that they ſhall be long in cheaping but neuer buying, although it be without mony:) his malice,Sathans malice againſt weake and new called Chriſtians. Reu. 12.17. crueltie and diligence do euidently appeare in the new borne Chriſtians, which are made the children of God by faith; as S. Iohn ſaith: The dragon made war with the remnant of the womans ſeed which keepe the commaundements of God, and hauehave the teſtimonie of Ieſus Chriſt. How many heauie diſcouragements he preſſeth downe their weake faith withall, that they may ſhake it off vtterly, and be perſwaded infinite times that they hauehave none at all, Chriſts words to Peter do prooue, ſaying: Simon, Simon, Luc. 22.31.Sathan hath deſired to winow you, that is: to ſcatter and caſt you out. And how mightily he preuaileth with many for a ſeaſon ſo farre, that they are altogether in a maner without comfort, the diſperſed Churches in the Apoſtles time knew then, and they now know beſt who hauehave felt and found it ſo.
Alſo it would hardly be beleeued, if both Scripture and experience were not cleare witneſſes in this behalfe, how he terrifieth them with their owne wants, ignorances, infirmities and vnworthineſſes: alſo with feare of ſhamefull falles, which it ſeemeth to them that they are vnlike to auoide; and the rather when he brings to their remembrance ſuch good ſeruants of God, as hauehave fallen in the like manner before them.
Beſides theſe, what vnſetlings doth he worke in them whiles he feareth them with this, that for all their care they ſhall neuer hold out in their faith and holy courſe of life vntounto their end; but by perſecutions, and other afflictions, which ſhall be ſtirred vp againſt them, or by other prouocations they ſhall be turned backe? All which with many other, he oppreſſeth them with: and all to the end they may caſt away their hope and confidence, & conclude reſolutely, that they hauehave no faith. The which though the ſleepie and drowſie profeſſors are not moued with: yet with his weake children it ſo preuaileth, that they hauehave no greater affliction. And in that our Sauiour himſelfe was mightily ſet vponupon by him about this thing, Whether he were the ſonne God or no: what other thing did it ſignifie then this, that none of vsus ſhould eaſily attaine to this honour, to know our ſelues to be the children of God and reſt quietly therein, but we ſhould find Sathan (our aduerſarie) a moſt mightie hinderer of vsus in our going about it?
For wherein can he ſhew his malice more fully, or verifie the Scripture more clearely,Mat. 13. Gen. 3. which ſaith: That he is enuious man? and again: That there ſhall be enmitie betwixt the ſeed of the woman and the Serpent, and that he ſhould treade vponupon his heele?The ſmall taſt of true faith, is moſt ſweet to the vveake. 1. Ioh. 5.13. Indeed, this is to be graunted, that euen their weake faith which they hauehave, is ſweet vntounto them; and God doth ſometime ſhew them, how happie a thing it is to be in his fauour and freed from condemnation, Saint Iohn thus ſpeaking to them: I write vntounto you that beeene, that you may know ye hauehave eternall life. And by reaſon of the litle taſt and fruite of their weake faith, God ſo vpholdeth them, that they can neuer be contented to forgo it: and therefore would they moſt chiefly be occupied in thinking of it, to nouriſh and ſtrengthen it (if they knew how and were able) as being their chiefe treaſure.
But the diuell knoweth, that there are all thoſe wayes which I hauehave before ſpoken of, and many other, to diſmay them and trouble their minds about the ſame; and that their weakneſſe is eaſily wrought vponupon, (for he watcheth his beſt oportunitie) whereby he may driue them into feare, doubting, heauineſſe and ſuch like. And the want of outward bleſſings in many doth much increaſe it, from the which they ſhall neuer be free long together, but eueryevery while be troubled,How they ſhold helpe themſelues againſt all lets that trouble them about faith. till they grow better acquainted with the nature and propertie of Gods promiſes, namely, how true, vnchaungeable, and perpetuall they be; euen as God himſelfe alſo is: alſo except they prize them aboue all other things, and ſend vp earneſt prayers to God daily and oft for this faith to be rooted in them: which they muſt do moſt willingly and gladly, as in the firſt treatiſe I admoniſhed, that it being more and more daily ſetled in their hearts, they may feele their doubting and feare to vaniſh as faſt, as they perceiue their hold in the promiſes of God to waxe ſtronger: and by thoſe meanes, by which I taught the weake beleeuer there to ſtrengthen his faith, let him looke to be vpholden againſt the lets which I hauehave mentioned before, or any other whatſoeuer may trouble him.
It is alſo to be graunted, that God doth ordinarily ſtabliſh mens faith the ſooner and more eaſily by the cleare,Further helpes. ſound, and moſt skilfull and wiſe applying of Gods promiſes by his Miniſters and meſſengers, whom he appointeth to that worke: (and as this is done more weakely and darkely, the greater and longer is their combat & conflict:) but how cleare and plaine ſoeuer the wil of God about our ſaluation be to vsus, who hauehave experience of the truth which is taught vsus; yet it is not ſo by and by to them who do but newly imbrace this glad tidings, although they would moſt gladly enioy the ſame. How much more then, when they are yet but weakely grounded, and in this eſtate do want an able miniſterie to ſet them forward: (which is many poore Chriſtians caſe:) alas, how much more (I ſay) muſt they needes be kept long at one ſtay, or (which is worſe) forget and looſe the hold which once they had?
But although they be free from this daunger; yet the diuell working vponupon their infirmities, caſteth many moe miſts before their eyes then we can reckon vp, whereby he keepes them vnderunder. Yet all this is done by the moſt wiſe prouidence of God, diſpoſing euen theſe hinderances which Sathan layeth in their way, to the moſt earneſt ſtirring vp of them to faſten and lay hold on his merciemercy; beſides the which, they ſee nothing but deadly vnquietneſſe. And this vſe all ſuch weake ones are to make of their doubting,VVhat vſe vveake beleeuers ſhould make of their diſcouragements. Prou. 8.33. 1. Theſ. 3.2. & 10. Ezek. 34 4. Eſa. 61.1. feare of condemnation, and the trouble of mind which goeth with it: and therefore to giuegive daily attendance vponupon the miniſterie of the word, which doth helpe to ſupply that which is wanting in their faith: to receiue helpe priuately of their teachers, and others who are experienced; and as well themſelues to vſe daily to meditate vponupon Gods promiſes, as alſo to pray oft and earneſtly to God that nothing may hold them back or be a let from ſafe reſting vponupon the ſame; eſpecially ſeeing their hearts are ſo ſet vponupon and poſſeſſed with the louelove and deſire thereof, that nothing can ſatisfie them without it. For do they not ſee, by all that hath bene ſaid to this purpoſe from the firſt entring into this matter, that they are the perſons to whome Chriſt ſaith: Beleeue? and again:Mat. 7.7. Mat. 92.20. Seeke and ye ſhall find? and alſo to whome he ſaith: I came not to breake the bruiſed reede, nor to quench the ſmoking flaxe? Yea they are thoſe to whom he ſpeaketh, as he did to Peter: I hauehave prayed for thee, that thy faith faile not;Luc. 22.31. Ioh. 7.37. and to whom he ſaith: Seeing ye thirſt after the water of life, I will giuegive it you. But if they be ſtayed by theſe meanes in time, (as it is the thing to the which they muſt come) and be vpholden thereby, the Lord ſo bleſſing them; yet the diuell giueth them not ouer, euen then, as though he were vanquiſhed and ouercome. For the preſent time indeed, he being thus reſiſted, flyeth from them (as Saint Iames ſaith) hauing done his beſt, and yet hath not preuailed againſt them: which to their ſingular comfort they may obſerue,Iam. 4.7. that this their experience may bring them ſure hope of victorie againe in the like conflict. But (as I ſaid) he hath not giuen them ouer,The diuell leaueth not off to troub…e the weake beleeuer, though he be vanquiſhed. Luk. 4.13. as though he feared they were too mightie for him: but departeth for a litle ſeaſon, as it is written; that as one taking breath, or gathering new ſtrength, yea rather as one chafed, he commeth more eagerly and fierce afterwards. Now, if he can driue them from their hold; the diſcomfort which they take thereby, doth weaken that courage and labour to be wel gouerned in their liues, which was in them before, how ſmall and weake ſoeuer it ſeemed to them to be:Mat. 12.45. and therefore they that hauehave ſuch tender conſciences, and being (as I may rightly tearme them) bruiſed reedes, to the end they may not be broken and ſo holden bake from their chearefull proceeding in the true ſeruice of God, muſt thus be ſtayed vp (as I hauehave ſaid) and recouer themſelues from time to time, euen as oft as they ſhall be aſſaulted and diſcouraged. And this, with that which I ſaid in the firſt treatiſe, may (through Gods bleſſing) be a remedie to the weake ones in ſuch a caſe.
Now if by Gods bleſſing and their diligence, they find ſome ſtay to their faith, and reſt to their ſoule thereby; and then become more ſecure by reaſon of their former good ſucceſſe (as it is too common a thing, that Gods children ſhall ſoone waxe too ſecure,VVhen the diuell preuailes not against the beleeuer one way, he attempteth another: By dravving him to preſumption. and voide of that ſerpent-like wiſedome till they hauehave bene taught by longer experience:) let them know, that he watcheth his oportunitie to ſet vponupon them ſome other way; and namely, to drawe them to preſumption and too bold truſting in God without certaine ground of his promiſe: and he taketh occaſion thus to do, from their former beleeuing in God, and leaning to his fauour in time paſt when they ſped ſo well thereby. This ſubtiltie is ſo ſecretly wrought, that they ſhall hardly perceiue, yea or ſo much as ſuſpect the ſame, eſpecially hauing ſmall knowledge and being vncircumſpect in obſeruing their thoughts and waies. And whiles they thinke their eſtate to be right happie & good, they are led through this boldneſſe into ſome euill:VVhat fruite that bringeth foorth. as, into priuie pride, or a good opinion of thēſelues, &c. ſleight and negligent vſe of meanes publike or priuate; and thereupon, an aduenturing perhaps to do that which is ſhamefull and reprochfull to them.
This the diuell did hope to bring our Sauiour Chriſt vntounto, when he ſawe his firme confidence which he had in his Father, at his firſt tempting him to diſtruſt:Mat. 4.5. for then he perſwaded him vponupon the hope he had in God, to caſt himſelfe downe from the pinnacle of the temple, and not to feare any daunger. But though he found no ſuch thing in him as he looked for; yet in Peter, he aſſaying the ſame, was not diſappointed. For he hauing with great commendation made profeſſion of his faith, was too preſumptuouſly caried immediatly to giuegive counſell to his maiſter (which boldneſſe was intollerable) but ſuch counſell as tended to his diſhonour, and our vtter vndoing if it had bene yeelded vntounto, namely: Not to giuegive himſelfe for the ſinnes of the world; for the which cauſe he was reproued and repelled, and that moſt iuſtly, with the name of Sathan, for that he had in that action ſo rightly reſembled Sathan, who had thruſt him forward vntounto ſuch great boldneſſe.
And do not many by the like occaſion fall and offend daungerouſly? As, becauſe they are the children of God,Many, ſeeing they beleeue, thinke they ſhall be allowed in their actions done of ignorance: and for that they truſt in him, and therfore knowing and confeſſing that they are beloued of him, they hope he wil not ſuffer them to fall greatly, but will keepe them though they ſee not how? They are perſwaded (although falſely and amiſſe) that the things which they do in ignorance and vnbeliefe, are yet to be allowed and commended in thē becauſe they meane no euill; and being (as I ſaid) beloued of God, they preſume aboue that which they ought; and that they may promiſe much to themſelues (that they are priuiledged from offending) becauſe there is ſomewhat in them more then in others. Yea, when men grow to hauehave any hold of the aſſurance of Gods merciemercy, it is litle knowne of many, how the diuell taketh occaſion from that which is good, yea the beſt thing in them, to hold them back from honouring God (in ſuch ſort as his children ſhould do:) but keepeth them in blindneſſe, that they ſhall not ſee that to be euill which they do, though it be very offenſiue and palpable.
For would it be thought, that ſuch might be brought to be ſo blinded in that which they do,And they think alſo, that they are iniuried, if they be not approued therein. as to thinke, that if their courſe be not liked (when it is indeed iuſtly to be miſliked) nor their opinions approued though they be fond and vnſound, yet that they are hardly dealt withall of thoſe which think ſo of them? And thus it commeth to paſſe, that many dare be bold to neglect good meanes publickly and priuately; or to vſe both very negligently, ſleightly and vnreuerently, which ſometime they durſt not do; and to make light account of a ſin in word or deed, which ſometime they would not alow ſo much as in thought. And thus many priuate mē take vponupon thē to expound the Scriptures, hauing no gifts of interpretation, toungs or knowledge thereto; becauſe they thinke that the children of God may and ſhould do ſo. Such dreames and fantaſticall pangues Sathan raiſeth in the hearts as well of ſuch as hauehave had ſome taſt and feeling of Gods fauour, as of others who hauehave gone about the ſame (fooliſh fleſh too eaſily liking of, and conſenting thereto:) that if Chriſt be with them, and God louelove them, vnderunder that colour all ſhould be borne with that they do. Wherein who ſeeth not that Sathan driueth at this, that their profeſſion may be made ridiculous among other, and they themſelues after ſome ſore foile, may be diſcouraged from their profeſſion altogether. I muſt needs ſay it is lamentable, that ſuch as God hath inlightned ſometimes with ſome ſure hope of his fauour and of the life to come, ſhould ſo be deceiued and made to degenerate: but yet that it may be ſo, by Sathans malitious and ſubtile vndermining of thoſe which are not ſetled and conſtant, the oft rehearſing of ſuch offences in Peter by name, and in other of the chiefeſt Apoſtles, doth plainely proue; although it is greatly to their ſhame, and litle to their comfort which are in this eſtate: neither ſhall they need to glorie much or pleaſe themſelues therein; becauſe ſuch as hauehave attained to greater grace then they, are no other way but by the power of Gods ſpirit guiding their hearts, preſerued from ſuch like offences.
But this I hauehave ſpoken firſt, that I may admoniſh thoſe who hauehave found themſelues deliuered from the feare of Gods wrath ſometimes; yet,Let all weake beleeuers take heed of the leaſt preſumption. to beware of all boldneſſe and preſumption in the leaſt maner, and to looke carefully to the preſeruing and maintaining of their faith by all means, and learne to liue by it while they hauehave Gods word a light to their ſteps: for by it they abide in Gods fauour, and are further vpholden in their Chriſtian courſe; and without it, if they will be bold to venture as litle children without a ſtay, they ſhall ſoone ſee to their coſt what danger they may grow vntounto.
Secondly, that they may aduiſedly conſider (their faith and confidence aſſuring them of ſo great good things from God daily) that this louelove of God conſtraineth them to giuegive themſelues ouer to God as they are able: and therefore in reuerence and holy feare to carie themſelues ſo, as they hauehave the word a lanterne and light to their ſteps,Pſal. 119.105. and to ſuſpect all other boldneſſe to be raſh preſumption; which the Diuell according to his wonted maner and cuſtome laboureth to draw them into, that he may hinder them as much as he can, from inioying the full fruite of their faith here, although he cannot altogether depriue them of ſaluation it ſelfe. In humilitie let them thinke baſely of themſelues, that they may keepe farre from this bold preſumption.
And let not this be ſpoken to the weake Chriſtians onelyonly,Let ſtronger Christians alſo be vvell armed againſt preſumption. although they are moſt eaſily deceiued thus for want of knowledge or ſound experience: but let the beſt alſo know, that it falleth out oft times in one houre or day, when men waxe ſomewhat more careleſſe in vpholding faith and a good conſcience, which commeth not to paſſe in manie yeares. And for ſuch as are in feare and danger of this,Mat. 15.27. & 28. Prou. 28.14. let them know, that the greateſt meaſure of faith doth bring anſwerable meaſure of humilitie, and teacheth ſuch to feare their owne infirmities and Sathans crueltie, and to obſerue themſelues leſt they fall; and haſt not, no not in the ſmalleſt maner, to lay hold of Chriſts merciemercy while they walke preſumptuouſly: and ſo afterward let them keepe well when they are well, rather then boldly to tempt God by doing the contrary. And this let all ſuch take for their remedie againſt that ſubtiltie of the Diuell in drawing them to preſumption.