The Drunkards Character, Section 184 – Section 185
§ 184.
THirdly,3 They are better proficients then Gods people. 1 Because▪ the Devill blinds them and … shewes the sweetnesse of fin hides the thought of punishment. as Sathan hath many advantages above Gods servants, in getting Disciples, and keeping such as he hath gotten; so, no lesse in making them proficients in evill: for it cannot be denied, but Sathans servants thrive more under him in sinne, then Gods servants can doe in grace: the reason is this, Sathan, who is the god of this World, blindeth the minds of all unbeleivers, that the light of the glorious Gospell of Christ should not shine unto them, 2 Cor. 4. 3. 4. Eph. 2. 2. 2 Thes. 2. 9. 10. for as Sathan is the Prince of darkenesse, so he rules in the darknesse of the understanding, dealing with wicked men, as Faulkeners doe with their Hawkes; who, that they may carry them quietly, and doe what they list unto them, first blind their eyes with a hood.
Hercules when he stole away the golden Aples from the Hesperides (who, as the Poets feigne, had an Orchard of them) first, slew the Dragon that kept them: the keeper and watch of our soules is the understanding; now if Sampson's eyes be once puld out, the Philistins may bind him with fetters, put him in prison, make him grind at the mill, make him a subject of scorne, and what not? If the Raven can but first pick out the poore sheepes eyes, he may easily prey upon the whole body: if the Eagle can but throw dust in the Harts eyes, she makes it nothing afterward to kill him: if the Dragon have once bereaved the Elephant of sight, his whole body easily becomes a prey to his fury: all these, namely, the Philistins, the Raven, the Eagle, and the Dragon, are fit emblems of Sathan, who first seizeth upon the eye of the understanding, and then preyes freely upon the rest of the soule.
And indeed, what may not an enemy doe to him which wants his sight? If the Assyrians be once blinded, how easily may one leade a thousand of them, into the mid'st of any Samaria, even to their ruine? 2 King. 6. 18. 19. Yea, how impossible is it for a man, not to ruine himselfe, when he wants his sight? Polyphemus, so soone as Vlysses had puld out his eye, runs reeling and rushing against every rocke, untill he had dasht out his braines. So much darknesse as is left in the soule, so much roome is there left for Sathan to deceive us. While the candle is out, it is safe for rogues to play their trickes in the darke. Indeed, he will afford his servants any degree of knowledge, whether it be divine, humane, or mundane, so it be not a practicall, experimentall, and saving knowledge: he will allow them an understanding, like that of the Scribes and Pharisees, which was enough to condemne them, but not to save them: yea, let the Devill, like Nahash, onelyonly obtaine our right eyes of faith to be puld out, it fufficeth, he cares for no more, he will then let us enjoy our peace, our pleasure, and what other priviledges we doe desire.
It is more true of vertue and God's truth, then it was of that Creetish beauty, no man loved her, that never saw her; no man ever saw her, but he loved her: neither could concupiscence bring forth sinne, without the consent of Reason; and this would never consent, so long as the eyes are open. Wherefore the Devill to utter his damned commodities, dealeth as some tradsmen about their bad wares, puts out the true lights, and sets up false lights in their stead. If the light of knowledge might freely shine in the soule, Sathans suggestions would soone make him ashamed, and vanish with all his workes of darkenesse. If temptations might be but turned about, and shewen on both sides, the kingdome of darkenesse would not be so populous. But when the Tempter sets upon any poore soule, he shewes the baite, hides the hooke; all sting of conscience, wrath, judgement, torment is concealed, as if they were not; nothing may appeare to the eye, but pleasure, profit, and seeming happinesse in the enjoying of our desires; those other wofull objects are reserved for the farewell of sinne, that our misery may be seene and felt at once. Thus he delt with David in his adultery and murther, he presented to him, through the false glasse of the flesh, the pleasurable and over amiable delight of his sinne; but concealed that shame, that griefe, those wounds of conscience, those broken bones, Psal. 51. and sharpe corrections that were to follow, that he could not so much as thinke of them: and so he dealt with our Saviour, he shewed him all the kingdomes of the world, and glory thereof; but there was also much griefe as well as glory in the world, he would shew him none of that: so in every sinne there is farre more gall and bitternesse, then hony and sweetnesse; yet he suffers not our deceitfull hearts to take any notice thereof, till it be too late; as it fared with our first Parents, who could not see what they did, until they had eaten the forbidden fruite: but then, saith the Text, were their eyes opened; the Divell that shut them before, opened them them, Gen. 3.
Yea, for the most part he labours to keepe men blind, during the presumption of their lives; and only opens their eyes, in the desperation that waits on their death, or in Hell, as it …ared with the rich man; who never lift up his eyes to Heaven untill he felt those flames: like the Syrians▪ whose eyes were never opened, till they were in the midst of their enemies: sin shuts up mens eyes, but punishment opens them.
§ 185.
ANd so much of the advantages,Not to …e overcome by their alurements we must …e that Sathan and his instruments have above Gods servants, in getting, and keeping, and improving their converts: wherby it appeares, that he who will not be overcome by them,
must be
watchfull.
wise.
valiant.
As well watchfull, to defeate; and wise, to … their crafty alurements; as valiant, to despise their cruell impositions for that we may be the better for what we have heard, these three uses would be made thereof; else, evill were as good not seene, as not avoided; our happinesse is in the prevention, not prevision of them, wherfore.
First,Watchful since the Devill, and the World are ever practising to lift us out of vertues seate, and study nothing but our destruction, by tempting and enforcing us to sinne; let us be watchfull, ever prepared, alwayes ready, and standing upon our guard; like as wise and experienced Souldiers, when they looke every minute for the approach of their enemy, doe both wake and sleepe in their armour, least they should be surprised at unawares: or like wise Mariners, who alwayes prepare and make ready their tackling, that a storme (which they cannot looke to be long without) may not take them unprovided: well may we sheath our swords, but put them off we may not: yea, let us, in vigilancy and watchfulnesse over our selves, imitate the Nightingale, which sleepes with her breast upon a thorne; for feare of the serpent, that continually studies her ruine. The Philistines could not blind Sampson so long as he was awake; wouldst thou not be overcome? be not secure. Yea, wouldest thou be secure? continually buckle unto thee the whole Armour of God, prescribed by St. Paul, Eph. 6. 13. to 19. and walke circumspectly, Eph. 5. 15.
The traveller that hath money in his purse, rides with a Pistoll by his side: yea, the rich Merchant will not step over into the Low-countreyes, without a Man of Warre at his heeles, least he should meete with a Dunkerker by the way. An assaulted city must keepe a carefull watch, and so must thou, if thou wilt keepe out of their snares: we see they are busie and subtile, therefore it behoves us to be circumspect. When the theife compasseth the house, let the owner guard the house. If a Castle be besiedged and not defended how shall it stand? whereas, in vaine does the theife looke in at the window, when he sees the master standing on his guard in the roome; besides, it is easier to keepe an enemy out by bolting the doores, then to thrust him out, being once got in.