Sin Stigmatized, Part 1 · Section 70
§ 70.
ANd as all kinds of ſinners are very induſtrious to tempt, How politick to fit their temptations to every mans humour.ſo are they very politicke, (in their generation) to uſe ſuch meanes as is moſt likely to prevaile. For as all Fiſhes are not taken one way, but ſome with a net, ſome with a dart, or dragg, others with a hooke; nor with one baite, but every fiſh with that baite which is agreeable to their nature and kind, for the wiſe Fiſher baites his hooke according to the appetite of the Fiſh: ſo Sathan by theſe his ſubſtitutes, doth moſt ſubtilely ſeduce every man according to the bent and ſtreame of his own nature, and inclinary diſpoſition. For as Iupiter transformed himſelfe into the ſhape of Amphitryo, to embrace Alcmena; into the forme of a Swan, to enjoy Leda; into a Bul, to beguile Iö; into a ſhower of gold, to winne Danäe: or as Neptune changed himſelfe into an Heyfer, a Ramme, a Flood, a Dolphin, onelyonly for the love of thoſe hee luſted after: or as Cataline in Rome, gate all the Gentlemen into his faction by feeding their humors, pleaſing the covetous, with gold; the glutton, with belly cheere and dainties; the ambitious with hope of honour and preferment; and the like: or as S. Paul became all things to all men, that hee might winne the more, 1 Cor. 9.22. ſo doth Sathan and his imps, become all things to all men, that they may pervert and ſeduce the more.
To which purpoſe, and for their greater advantage, they mark how every man is inclined; as, what hee loves, what hee hateth, what hee feares, what hee wants &c. and when they have the meaſure of a mans foote, then they will fit him; yea, let any man aske what he will, it ſhall goe hard, but he that offered the whole world to our Saviour, will accommodate his humour. As for example. Some Danae will not be won to play the whore, unleſſe her lover appeare in a ſhower of Gold; hee hath that way, by meanes of ſuch an inſtrument, for her. Some Naaman will not bow in the houſe of Rimmon, crouch at a Maſſe, but for his maſters favour; he hath that way for him. Another will not betray, or embrew his hands in innocent blood, without large promiſes of great matters; he hath that way for him, as promiſes (though they are the cheapeſt things men can part withall) are yet the ſtrongeſt inchantments, theſe bee the ſtrong lines of Rome, whereby ſhe catcheth ſo many; promiſes, whereof ſhe is as liberall, as ever was Antigonus, who was called Antigonus Doſon, and let ſuch Aſſes have no other Provender, but promiſes.
Indeed ſome are ſo cunning, that they will do more for a ſmall preſent benefit, then for the promiſe of a ten-fold value; Sathan is faine to ſtop their mouths with ready money: wherfore Gehazi ſhall have the Talents, Achan the golden wedge, &c. O that men were ſo warie, as to ſay, —timeo Danaos & dona ferentes!
Or is there a Bathſheba, ſo chaſt; an Vriah, ſo ſober; that the one will not be won to pollute the marriage bed; nor the other be made drunke, except they are ſolicited by a King; he hath that way for them: for even Kings are at his command, and ready to doe him ſervice in the buſineſſe of tempting; and it's hard to refuſe pledging, where a King begins a health to his ſubject; for temptation is then ſtronger, when it proceeds from a mighty inſtrument: the requeſts of great ones are commands, their very ſutes imperative. How many ſober, and religious Vriahs, have beene wrought to exceſſe by this meanes? How many Bathſhebahs, and Iane Shores have thus been won, to pollute both a royal and matrimonial bed: the very countenance of authority is authority enough with many.
Againe, is none ſo fit as the wife to tempt the husband? why then Adam ſhall be tempted by Eve, Ahab by Ieſabel, Iob by his wife.
Indeed a ſeducer dares not ſhew himſelfe, in a noted good mans company, in his owne colours; yea, vice ſtands abaſht at the glorious Majeſty of a ſoule well confirmed in goodnes: as Catoe's preſence ſtopt the evill practiſes of the Romane brutiſh Floralia: wherefore in ſome caſes hee either conceales himſelfe, or playes the Hypocrite, by appearing in the garments and habit of vertue. As for example. Is there a holy man of God, that will not vary a haires breadth from what his Maker commands? Sathan hath another Prophet to ſeduce him, by pretending that an Angell ſpake unto him by the word of the Lord, ſaying, thus and thus, 1 King. 13.18. Or is none ſo likely as Peter to prevaile with Chriſt? why then Peter ſhall take upon him the devils office, and, in a great deale of love, tempt his owne Lord and Maſter, Mat. 16.22.23. In a word, as he tempted the high Prieſts (thoſe arch-Hypocrites) by love of glory; and as the high Prieſts with money tempted Iudas to betray his Maſter, and deſtroy himſelf: ſo he tempts every man, by that way and meanes vvhichwhich he knovveth moſt prevalent vvith the party tempted.