The Christian Warfare Part 1, Book 1 · Chapter 20
CHAP. XX. Of three other ſtratagems which Sathan vſeth.
§. Sect. 1 A Fourth pollicie which Sathan vſeth to entrap vsus in his ſecret ambuſhments is this.How Sathan moueth vsus to propound bad ends to good actions. When by the violence of his tentations he cannot altogether reſtraine vsus from doing that which is good: then he will tempt vsus to doe good actions to bad ends. In giuing of almes he will moue men to propound this end that they may be ſeene of men; in doing of good workes, he will tempt them to forget Gods glorie, and to ſet before them as their maine end of all their good actions, the meriting of heauen; and if men will needes appeare vertuous and religious, he will intice them to vſe outward vertues as a cloake to hide their inward vices, and religion as a faire vizard to couer their foule impietie. And thus he tempteth men to vſe all outward ſhewes of humilitie, to the end they may the better diſguiſe their hidden pride and ambition, as we may ſee in the example of Abſolon; and all complements of curteſie and louelove, as a maske to hide their enuie and malice. And thus he allureth men to profeſſe religion, heare ſermons, and vſe glorious ſpeeches, that they may (ſeeming religious and men of good conſciences) hauehave their ſhoppes the better cuſtomed, and their words credited, and ſo hauehave the fitter opportunitie of deceiuing them who for their profeſſion repoſe truſt in them.
§. Sect. 2 A fift pollicie whereby hee ſeeketh to ſurpriſe vsus is by tempting men to vſe wicked meanes for the accompliſhing of good ends, and to doe euill th… good may come thereof;How Sathan moueth vsus to vſe euill meanes for the effecting good ends. and thus he tempted Saul to tranſgreſſe Gods commaundement in reſeruing the fat of the cattell to the end he might ſacrifice therewith vntounto the Lord; and Iſaac to ſay that Rebecca was his ſiſter to ſaue his life; and Peter to vſe diſſimulation that he might not offend the Iewes.Galat. 2. And thus he tempteth men to tell officious and profitable lies for the auoyding of greater euils; he moueth ſeruants to giuegive their maiſters goods to the poore without their priuitie or liking, and ſo to commit theft that they may giuegive almes; he tempteth nonreſidents to poſſeſſe many liuings that they may keepe good hoſpitalitie, and ſo ſtarue the foule to feede the body; and citizens to vſe all fraud and deceite that they may prouide for their familie. Which pollicies of Sathan are exceeding daungerous; for hardly can we eſcape them both, namely doing good things to bad ends, or vſing of euill meanes for the atchieuing of good purpoſes: but the more difficult the thing is, the greater muſt be our care; the more ſecret and daungerous Sathans ambuſhments are, the more diligent and watchfulnes muſt we vſe in auoyding them. In all our actions therefore let vsus be carefull to propound vntounto our ſelues good ends, and vſe good meanes for the accompliſhing of our honeſt and godly purpoſes; for if we neglect the firſt, we ſhall bewray our hypocriſie and impietie, if the latter we ſhall pollute a faire worke with filthie tooles, and ſhew our diffidence in God in not dairing to vſe thoſe godly and honeſt meanes which he hath commaunded and commended vsus, vnleſſe we boulſter and prop them vp by our owne fooliſh inuentions, and wicked practiſes. And whenſoeuer wee are moued to propound euill ends of our good actions, or to vſe euill meanes for the accompliſhing of good ends, let vsus aſſure our ſelues, that they are not the motions of Gods ſpirit, but the ſuggeſtions of Sathan, at leaſt ſo farre forth as we are tempted to the euill of the end or meanes; and therefore we are to purge the wheate from the chaffe, the pure gold from the droſſe, and to doe the workes of God for thoſe ends, and by thoſe meanes, which he hath appointed.
§. Sect. 3 A ſixt pollicie which Sathan vſeth,How Sathan tempteth vsus to be proud of our vertues. is to take aduantage of our vertues to plunge vsus headlong into vice; for example when we hauehave mortified our ſinnes, and are plentifull in all good workes, he taketh occaſion thereby to puffe vsus vp with pride, and a phariſaicall conceite that wee are not as other men are; yea if we be ſo humble that hee cannot make vsus proud of any thing elſe, he will labour to make vsus proud of our humilitie. Let vsus not therefore be retchleſſe and ſecure, but hauehave an eye to our hearts, euen in our good actions: and when we entertaine any excellent vertue, let vsus take heede leaſt pride thruſt in with it, ſeeing moſt commonly it attendeth vponupon vertue, and taketh vp his ſtanding where it lodgeth, for we are not quite at libertie, and out of the daunger of Sathans thraldome, ſo long as pride like a iaylour attendeth on vsus.