The Drunkards Character, Section 101
§ 101.
IT is betweene the seed of the Serpent; and the seed of the Woman,Let us turn openlyprophane theirquarrell is at … end. as betweene Turkes and Chrictians, the Turkes call and account Christians as Dogs; but let the same Christians turne Turkes, and they shall bee highly reckoned of: so let us turn openly prophane, their quarrell is at an end; nothing but our goodnesse is the whetstone of their envie: so that one notable proofe of saving grace in us, is, the exercise of their malice against us, Iohn 15. 19. Alasse! had we continued the Divels subjects, we should have beene let alone.
The Israelites were never set upon by Pharaoh and all his forces,Sathan disturbs not his own…. untill they were gone out of his land: the blind man, nor his parents were ever troubled of the Iewes, untill Christ cured him of his blindnesse: nor the diseased man grudged at for eight and thirty yeares together, till Christ said unto him, take up thy bed, and walke; but then as hee carries his bed, so he carried reproaches: so long as S. Paul joyned with the high Priests and Elders to make havock of the Church, hee was no whit molested by them; but when hee became a Convert, and preach'd in the name of Iesus, who so hated and persecuted as he? If the Church travell, and bring forth a male, it is in danger of the Dragon's streames, but not else; that Goliah defies none, but the Host of the liveing God; Sathan meddles not with his owne, they are as sure as temptation can make them, they meddle not with repentance, and hee meddles not with them: to sinne hee would have our paths smooth, and calme, and pleasant, winning us forward; but if wee turne our feet towards S…on, then he encounters, and blocks up our way with temptations, yea, then this Ahab will wage cruell war with, and fight against us, untill hee recovers his Ramoth Gilead, that is, our soule, I Kings 22. 3. otherwise he is more subtile, then to spend his malice on them that doe him ready service: carnall drunkards need no entreaty (much lesse be forced) to bee officious, for they have a free will to that which is evill, it is only a Iob that the divell delights to vex with anguish, hee knowes an Absolom will runne laughing to hell; it is some Peter whom Sathan desires to winnow, Luk. 22. 31. some are all chaff; he wil not meddle with them; Ephraim is joyned with Idols, let him alone, Hosea 4. 17. let him alone, saith God, let him alone, saith Sathan; he is as fast as I would wish him, so all is in peace, Luk. 11. 21.
But let them take it for a fearefull signe of a dead heart,No greater t…mptation then not to be tempted. when they feele not Sathans buffetings, for there is not a greater temptation, saith Gregrory, then not to bee tempted, why? they shall not feele his hate, till they feele his heate, even his unquenchable fire in the burning lake. Alasse! hee ceaseth to tempt them whom hee hath already wonne, but the godly are enemies, therefore they must looke to be assaulted.
Neither were he his craftsmaster, if he did otherwise. Doth any Prince or Generall make warre with his owne subjects or souldiers, that march under his colours? no, but with rebells and enemies. What Jayler layes more bolts upon the shackled malefactor, that loves his Prison, and would not change? this is for such as have attempted to breake Prison. Besides, there is great reason why the godly are tempted more then the wicked, because the wicked doe him service in this particular, and tempt others.
Again, the crafty thiesfe will not break into an empty house, but where he may finde some good booty: the empty Traveller sings before the thiefe, and may passe unmolested; it is the ful purse which invites the highway man. The Pirat never spends his shott upon Cole-Ships, but lets flie at the rich Merchant: so if the Divell and his instruments, drunkards, set upon us, it is a good argument, and we may presume there is the Treasure of grace, at least the beginnings of it; for where there is no light, there is no shadow.
As Christ was no sooner baptised, and the Spirit descended on him, but presently Sathan had a bout with him; yea, as lacob was no sooner conceived in the wombe, then Esau strove with him, Gen. 25. 22. so every true Christian begins his warre with his being, both our births are accompanied vvith teares; so that vvhen once vvee put our endeavours to godlinesse, expect no quiet, for a Christians life can no more bee vvithout sorrovves, then the Sea can bee vvithout vvaves and flovvings.
And yet our case vvould be far vvorse,Our case would be … worse … should be … peace … them. if vve should yeeld unto them, both here, in respect of our consciences; and hereafter, in respect of our soules. As I have read of a Christian, that to save his life, turned Turke; but this could not save him, for they presently in derision hanged him up, vvith these vvords, Morieris in fide, Turca, hovv ever thou livest, thou shalt dye a Turke.