Time Well Spent in Sacred Meditations, Part 138 – Part 144
Satans courſes, ſubtiltie, temptations.
1. Our common adverſary Satan never ceaſing Satans proceedings to dravv men and vvomen to deſtruction.to ſeeke our deſtruction doth chiefely labour, 1. to rock us aſleepe, and ſo quiet in ſecuritie, that we may not ſee the ſtate 1.of our ſoules. 2. if we be 2.awakened and look about how it is with us, then through our privie pride he drawes us to think better of our eſtate than it is, and by that meanes gets us aſleepe. 3. If this prevaile not, but our infirmities & 3.many wants doe humble us, then doth he with all his power beate us downe to diſcourage us and weaken our profeſſion. In all which ſeverall conditions, 1. Some doe wholly and Who are inſnared by him, and yeelde unto them and vvho not.long lye, and either aſleep ſee nothing, or are too wel pleaſed and jocond, or elſe altogether caſt downe and uncomfortable. 2. A better ſort goeth through all theſe, ſometimes aſleepe, ſometimes too much contented and ſo fall aſleepe againe, ſometimes oppreſſed with griefe, and after a while either lifted up or fall aſleepe againe, and thus they ſpend their dayes unconſtantly, and therefore indeede with little ſound rejoycing, and doe hereby lye open to many temptations on every ſide. 3. A third ſort, and indeede the beſt, through the ſtrength of grace received ſeldome fall aſleep, ſo as they ſee not how they walke, neither be ſo lifted up as to forget their wants; nor ſo caſt downe as to have no joy in the Spirit; but wiſely conſidering what is the condition of Gods true children in this world, and watching over their hearts eſpecially doe rejoyce in trembling, and goe on conſtantly in their chriſtian courſe, though with infirmity, yet rarely or never falling into any offenſive treſpaſſe or doubting of Gods favour.
2. Satan under a pretence of Repentance, Satans policie driving ſome to be too ſtrict, others too laviſh in the uſe of Gods creatures.brings many unto extream ſadneſſe and ſtrictneſſe in the uſe of Gods creatures, as under a pretence of lawfull libertie hee ſtirreth up others to exceſſive and unſanctified mirth, and an untemperate uſe of Gods creatures.
3. Wee muſt pray that the Lord give not out that Hovv farre vve are to pray unto God to reſtraine Satan.meaſure of leave to the devill to tempt us, which wee give out to ſinne to worke rebellion in us againſt his majeſtie, but that God would make Satan a Surgeon to open our ſinnes.
4. Its the policie of Satan to hide Gods preſent Satans policie in hiding Gods bleſſings ſetting before us our vvants.bleſſings upon us, that we may be unthankfull, and to ſet before us greater which we want, to make us murmur againſt God.
5. Satan is moſt ready What vvee are moſt unvvilling to.to make us unwilling to that which ſhall bee moſt for Gods glory, and the good of his Church.
6. This is a common Satans policie in hindering from the performance of one duty by ſetting men on another.practice of Satan, whereby hee much hindereth Gods children from many duties, even both by outward object and inward temptation to draw them to ſome other thing, (though lawfull) than at that time ought to be, and therein to hold them what he can whereby hee may keepe them from the duty, and alſo accuſe them of neglect of duty, and ſo at leaſt diſturbe their quiet, and make them unfit for other duties: it ſhall bee therefore high wiſedome for every true Chriſtian, both to diſcerne what is to be done in his time, and to watch ſtraitly that hee The remedie.bee not any way pulled therefrom. But if he cannot keep men from doing their duty, yet will he not His endeavour to corrupt men in doing their duty.ceaſe to corrupt thē in the manner of doing, either through hypocriſie or careleſſenes, and ſo either make thē cōtent thēſelves with that which is naught worth before God, or elſe oppreſſe them with feare that they have not done their duty in ſuch ſort as they ought. The remedie The remedie.is manifeſt, To have ſpeciall care over our hearts that they be ſound and fervent, humbling our ſelves in our wants, and comforting our hearts in the teſtimonie of a good conſcience.
7. Through the ſubtle Faith and obedience joyntly to be urged.malice of Satan working on our corrupted nature it commeth to paſſe, that if faith be taught, moſt abuſe it to libertie in ſinne; if obedience be urged, to put confidence therein for juſtification, they are therefore joyntly to bee urged, yet faith as the inſtrumentall cauſe of juſtification, workes as the effects of the man juſtified.
8. Its a matter much to be bewailed as cauſe of A fault in moſt that they like and embrace Satans aſſaults.great danger to many a ſoul, that Satan our ſworn enemie in every part of our life ſo annoying us, yet moſt, ſeldome or never, ſee or avoid his aſſaults but rather like and embrace them.
9. Satan being a Spirit Satans familiarity vvith us.hath a very familiar though ſecret communion with our ſpirits.
10. Its ſafeſt in all temptations to keepe the Thecourſe to be taken in every temptatiō.meane, neither to be quiet without griefe, for then Satan will account we bee his without any paines, neither to be too unquiet as without comfort, for then Satan will be the prouder and bolder to take more paine to overcome us.
11. As Satan tempting Adam, overcame him A compariſon betvveene Satans tempting of Chriſt and Adam.and all in him, ſo tempting Chriſt, as he could not overcome him, ſo neither ſhall he us in him.
12. Satans temptations follow our affections: Satans temptations follovv our affections.if wee lightly account of him hee bleares our eyes with Gods m…rcies, if we be pricked with conſcience of ſinne, then he ladeth us with the judgements of God making us as ready to aggravate our ſinnes, as by the former to extenuate them.
13 Subtilty, and violence Diſtinctions betvveene Satans and the fleſhes temptations.are the chiefeſt diſtinctions betweene the temptations of the devill, and of the fleſh.
14. When Satan cannot drive into ſecurity he Whom Sat…n cannot one vvay vanquiſh he ſeeketh to overcome another.laboureth to diſcourage that they may have no heart to good exerciſes, and ſo make ſmall uſe of them, for as they who eate with ill ſtomacks have leaſt ſtrength by their meate; ſo nothing more hinders our profiting by good exerciſes than want of comfort in them. This policie of Satan many not Many hereby enſnared.obſerving, doe of purpoſe diſcomfort themſelves, thinking the ſame beſt, and ſo take corraſives for cordials. The remedie Th… remedie.hereof is this, that ſuch as be hindered by diſcouragement ſhould in their meaneſt diſcharge of duties feede on theſe comforts. 1. the nature of God ſo proclaimed and proved more tender, pittifull and ready to beare with, pardon, and accept our leaſt endeavours (in truth) than parents the frailties of their children. 2. that in our weakeſt duties▪ there is ſome conſcience and fruit.
The Scriptures.
1. Men that dig in mines for any treaſure even The Script…res the veine of hevvenly treaſure.for the hope of gaine labour ſore before they finde any veine, and many times miſſe, but when they finde the ſilver veine with what cheerefulneſſe doe they labour? it makes them forget their paine though ſore, and otherwiſe tedious: now wee who ſtudie the Scriptures are even in the veine of heavenly treaſure, how much then ſhould we bee encouraged?
2. The Scriptures barely read without particular Not enough barely to read the S…riptures.looking into the ſeverall doctrines contained therein is like a comming into a treaſurie, wherein we ſee many coſtly things folded up, and ſome ends appearing out, but when they be all uncovered then doth their glory more affect us for the preſent, and leave a deeper impreſſion of their excellencie: ſo in the Scriptures by the particular view of the excellent doctrines, our memory is more confirmed, beſides our preſent uſe therof.
3. Its a moſt worthy A vvorthy travaile for Students in divinitytravaile for Students in divinity to referre all their ſtudie firſt for the true ſenſe of the Scripture, which onelyonly will make a man a grounded Divine to teach, and confute all errour; and ſecondly for the right uſe in himſelfe and others for amendment of life and all godly duties.
4. Wee muſt redeeme Time to be redeemed to read the Scriptures.time even from our ordinary callings to read the holy Scriptures.
Selfe-love.
This is a dangerous deceit and bewrayes an unſound To abſtain from ſin for by-reſpects dangerous.heart, that when our ſinne is like to bee reproachfull to us, then wee can hold in for our credits ſake, but in our private dealings there is no ſuch ſtay: and indeed if it bee obſerved wee ſhall finde that this ſelfe-love is a greater cauſe of leaving much ill, and doing good than the true love of God which ariſeth from a ſound faith.
The number of Seaven.
The number of ſeaven is oft uſed in the Scriptures, Why the number of ſeaven is often uſed in Scripture.for that God foreſeeing mans unbeleefe provided many things to call him to the remembrance of the creation, and ſo bring him to meditating, beleeving, and truſting in God.
Sickneſſe.
Its moſt meete in the A neceſſary courſe to be taken about the providing a miniſter to inſtruct the infected.time of a contagious ſickneſſe that there be one Miniſter to teach the whole, and another to viſite the ſicke, and that by choice of the people: if people admoniſhed will not take this order, a godly paſtor may in wiſedome to his power provide for both, ſpeaking to the infected a farre off: if any danger come, he is free.
Sinne.
1. As he that once could not abide to taſte bitter or ſowre things when hee was in health may juſtly ſuſpect that his ſtomack and body is out The tryall of a mans ſelfe by his love or hatred of ſin.of frame when he can well away therewith: ſo he that could not once abide any corruption of ſinne in himſelfe or others, and now can, is to feare his ſoule is ſick; and therefore no man though never ſo godly otherwiſe, but is to ſuſpect himſelfe and to be grieved when he can paſſe over his infirmities, or ſee ſinne in others without earneſt griefe.
2. Hee that will profit in true repentance, muſt not by viewing the ſinnes What muſt bee done of him that vvould profit in true repentance.of others, whether preachers or people, be drawne from ſight of his owne in his particular calling of Magiſtrate, Miniſter, Parents, &c. but muſt ſo ſee thoſe, that firſt he caſt out the beame out of his owne eye.
3. The Lord puniſheth Sin not repented, puniſhed.every ſinne not repented of, either in our ſelves or in our poſterities.
4. The conſcience of Conſcience of ſin vvhat it breedeth in the godly.Gods graces, with the conſcience of ſinne breedeth an hell in the hearts of Gods children: when wee are given to ſinne wee are blinde even in the ſight of our owne dangers and cuſtome of ſinne, which preach ſuch iniquity unto Miſerable to be given to ſinne.us, that neither Gods judgements can terrifie us, nor his mercies move us.
5. Wee ſhall never Hovv ſin may be leftthroughly leave ſinne, untill we know and acknowledge ſinne to bee ſinne, and bee truly ſorrowfull for the ſame.
6. This above many things is to be lamented in The ache of ſin vvill be carryed to our graves.the lives of moſt profeſſors, that by long cuſtome in ſinne it is ſo confirmed, that we ſhall carry the ach thereof to our grave, as bruiſed men in their youth.
7. Wee may comfort our ſelves for particular Hovv to comfort our ſelves for particular ſins.ſinnes, if being admoniſhed wee bee humbled for them as David and Iehoſaphat; but if being admoniſhed we ſtill lye in ſinne, and ſo tye one ſinne to another, then are wee to feare Gods wrath, for it is the generall falling into ſinne, not one particular which diſpleaſeth God.
8. There is no ſinne, The ſeede of every ſinne is naturally in every man.whereof every man hath not the ſeed in himſelfe which without the Lords merciemercy would in time breake out.
9. A good helpe to avoide ſinne is to remember Hovv to avoide ſin.what puniſhments we have felt for ſinne, and what are threatned.
10. Though it be very Hovv to finde out our ſpecial ſinne.hard to finde out our ſpeciall and ſecret ſinnes, yet by oft examining our ſelves, acquainting our ſelves with our owne eſtate, by often prayer that God would reveale them, by often hearing, reading, meditating the word, by marking the checks of our conſciences and reproches of our enemies we may be much helped therein.
11. Some ſins againſt knowledge are of frailtie The kinds of ſinne.and be remiſſible; others are not, being of a rebellious and finall obſtinacie, which is not in thoſe who feare it, and carefully avoide Who ſin not of finall obſtinacie.it, rejoycing that its not in them.
Slander.
By well doing to ſtop the mouthes of ſlanderers Hovv to ſtop the mouthes of ſlanderers.is the onelyonly remedie of all ſlanders.