The Christian Warfare Part 1, Book 1 · Chapter 6
CHAP. VI. Of Sathans aides: and firſt of the world.
§. Sect. 1 ANd ſo much concerning Sathans ſtrength, being conſidered in himſelf. But beſides himſelf he hath the aide of other enemies to ſupplant vsus, who though they doe not make ſo terrible a ſhew, yet they are no leſſe dangerous, and all theſe are led vnderunder the conduct of two Captaine Generals, the World and the Fleſh.
By the world I vnderſtand impious carnall and vnbeleeuing men, with all their baites and inticements vntounto vanitie, and all their diſcouragements, afflictions and miſeries wherewith they hinder Gods children in trauailing the path of righteouſnes which leadeth to Gods kingdome. This wicked world, the diuels darling and chief champion, doth aſſault vsus on both ſides; on the right hand it encountreth vsus with proſperitie, offering vsus the baite of pleaſure,How the world tempteth by proſperitie. that thereby it may allure vsus to ſwallow the hooke of ſinne; it caſteth before vsus the golden apples of riches, that by ſtooping down to gather them, we may be hindred in running the Chriſtian race, and ſo loſe the goale and garland of euerlaſting glorie; it tempteth vsus with the honours and glorie thereof to diſhonour God, and to fall before Sathan, worſhipping him by our ſins; in a word, it promiſeth whatſoeuer our corrupt mindes deſire, if we will liue in ſinne, and turne aſide out of the narrow path into the broad way, which leadeth to deſtruction. And how prone wee are to liſten to theſe Syrens ſongs, it is but too manifeſt by lamentable experience: for doth not our firſt louelove waxe cold, and our former zeale of Gods glorie freeze as ſoone as the world fauneth vponupon vsus, and quencheth in vsus the heate of Gods ſpirit, by caſting on vsus the watriſh vanities of pleaſures, honours and riches? Doe not hereby religious ſeruants become irreligious maſters? and yong ſaints in ſhew, old diuels in truth? Doe we not ſee that as ſoone as Demas hath imbraced the world, he forſaketh Chriſt? yea that Peter himſelfe denieth his Maſter, when he hath baſted himſelfe by the fire of this wicked Caiphas? Are there not many who hauehave been forward profeſſors in the time of their aduerſitie and want, which caſt off the cloake of their profeſſion as ſoone as the warme ſunne of proſperitie hath ſhined vponupon them? Is there not many amongſt vsus who in the time of affliction could not be inforced by torments to prophane Gods name, by ſwearing an idle oath; or his Sabbaoths by following their pleaſures, or by doing the workes of their callings; and yet the ſame men after they hauehave fallen into wicked companie, who hauehave inticed them by their words and euil examples to taſte of the world and the vanities therof, will not ſticke to ſweare with the ſwearer, and follow their pleaſures on the Lords Sabbaoth with the moſt prophane? ſo hard a thing it is to reſiſt the world when it fauneth on vsus.
§ Sect. 2 But how hard ſoeuer it ſeemeth to fleſh and bloud, How we muſt reſist the temptations of proſperitie.yet muſt wee oppoſe our ſelues againſt this enemie alſo: for without a fight wee can neuer obtaine victorie, and without victorie we ſhall neuer receiue the crowne of glorie. And to the end that we may be prouoked to fight againſt the world and the vanities thereof, we are to know, that though it faune vponupon vsus, yet it is our mortall enemie; though it flatteringly profeſſe it ſelfe our friend, yet in truth it fighteth againſt our ſoules vnderunder Sathans banner, for hee is the prince thereof, Ioh. 12.31. though it hauehave hony in the mouth,Ioh. 12.31. yet there is deadly poyſon in the taile, for the end thereof bringeth deſtruction; though it offer vsus many pleaſing things to allure vsus, yet they are but baites which intice vsus to come within the compaſſe of Sathans nets of perdition. Let vsus conſider, that though it maketh a ſhew, and ſeemeth a pleaſant place like the paradiſe of God, yet it is a Sodome of ſinne, which one day the Lord will deſtroy with fire and brimſtone:Gen. 13.10. and therfore let vsus with righteous Lot haſte out of it, neuer turning back with a deſire to enioy the vanities thereof, for the world wholy lieth in wickedneſſe, as it is 1. Ioh. 5.19.1. Ioh. 5.19. Let vsus remember that it is impoſſible to ſerue God and this Mammon, Matth. 6.24. 1. Ioh. 2.15.Mat. 6.24. to louelove the world and God alſo: For if any man louelove the world, the louelove of the father is not in him, 1. Ioh. 2.15. and as the Apoſtle Iames telleth vsus, The amitie of the world is enmitie with God: and whoſoeuer will be a friend of the world, Iam. 4.4.maketh himſelfe the enemie of God, Iam. 4.4. Neither let vsus deſire the louelove of the world, for it loueth thoſe onelyonly which are her owne, as for thoſe whom Chriſt hath choſen out of it, Ioh. 15.19.thoſe the world hateth: nay therefore hateth them becauſe Chriſt hath choſen them, as it is Ioh. 15.19.
Let vsus remember yt it wil be to ſmal purpoſe to enioy theſe worldly pleaſures of ſinne for a ſeaſon, and in the end plunge our ſelues into euerlaſting death; that the worlds muſicke is but the Syrens ſong, which allureth vsus to make ſhipwrack of our ſoules on the rockes of ſinne, and while it tickleth the eare it woundeth vsus to the very heart; that though the cup which it offereth be of gold, and the drinke ſweete in taſte, yet it is deadly poyſon in operation; for they that drinke thereof are ſo lulled aſleepe in pleaſures and ſecuritie, that they neuer awake out of their ſpirituall lethargic; or if they doe, yet like Sampſon, without ſtrength to reſiſt the ſpirituall Philiſtines, after the world (like Dalila) hath lulled them a while in her lap of carnall pleaſures. Let vsus remember, that they who drinke of this cup of voluptuous vanities, muſt afterwards drinke of that cup ſpoken of Pſal. 75.8. that is,Pſal. 75.8. that is, the cup of Gods wrath; and ſhall be tormented in fire and brimſtone for euermore,Apoc. 14.10. as it is expounded Apoc. 14.10. Let vsus remember that the worlds chiefe good is vncertaine in getting, and momentanie and mutable in the poſſeſſion, it being eueryevery day readie to leaue vsus, or wee to leaue it. Laſtly, let vsus remember that for this ſhort, inconſtant, and vaine ioy, we loſe an eternall waight of vnſpeakable glorie, and plunge our ſelues into grieuous and endleſſe miſerie. What therefore will it profit vsus to gaine the whole world, and loſe our owne ſoules, as our Sauiour ſpeaketh,Mark. 8.36. Mark. 8.36.
And if wee hauehave theſe meditations continually running in our mindes, then ſhall we eaſily ſtop our eares at the firſt hearing of this Syrens ſong; then ſhall we conſtantly go forward in our pilgrimage towards our heauenly home: and though honours ſtand before vsus, riches on the one hand, pleaſures on the other, alluring vsus to enter into the broad way which leadeth to deſtruction; yet ſhall we not forſake the ſtraight path which leadeth vntounto life euerlaſting, how vnpleaſant ſoeuer it ſeemeth to fleſh and bloud.
§ Sect. 3 But if the world cannot thus preuaile, then doth ſhe turne her, ſmiles into frowns, How the world tempteth by aduerſitie.her allurements into threats, her beds of pleaſures, into miſeries and afflictions, her glorious offers of honours and riches, to proude menacings of pouertie and ignominie; all which being terrible in the eyes of fleſh and bloud ſo farre preuaile with ſome, that they moue them to make ſhipwracke of faith and a good conſcience; and being wearie in trauailing through this deſart and vnpleaſant wilderneſſe vntounto the land of promiſe, they deſire to returne back into the bondage of the ſpirituall Pharaoh, that they may quietly ſit by the fleſh-pots of Egypt,Numb. 11.5. and glut themſelues with the cucumbers and pepons of carnall pleaſures: that is, they chuſe rather to walke in the broad way which leadeth to deſtruction, becauſe it is delightfull, than in the narrow way which leadeth to euerlaſting life, becauſe they muſt paſſe through the briars of affliction and thornes of tribulation, before they can receiue the crowne of glorie; they preferre the pleaſures of ſin for a ſeaſon, before the recompence of reward, which God hath promiſed, euen the eternall ioyes of the kingdome of glorie. So vnpleaſant a thing it is for fleſh and bloud to denie it ſelfe, and to take vp the croſſe and follow Chriſt.
But though the world be farre more terrible to looke vponupon when it frowneth, then when it fawneth, yet is it farre leſſe dangerous. For oftentimes this poyſon of aduerſitie is ſo tempered and corrected with thoſe holeſome preſeruatiues of faith, hope, patience and humilitie, that in ſteed of killing vsus, it doth but purge away our corrupt humours of ſinne; though the world whip vsus, yet thereby it correcteth vsus, and makes vsus better; though it burne vsus in the fire of afflictions, yet it doth not conſume, but rather refine vsus from our droſſe; though like a ſtormie winde it ſhaketh vsus, yet in ſteed of blowing vsus downe, it cauſeth vsus to take more deepe roote in all vertue and goodnes: in a word, as it plaieth the ſchoolmaſter in ſcourging vsus, ſo alſo in inſtructing & teaching vsus to know God, and to know our ſelues; to know the vanitie of the world, and to labour after a more permanent felicitie.
§. Sect. 4 Notwithſtanding, How we are to arme our ſelues againſt aduerſitie.howſoeuer by the grace and bleſſing of God, aduerſitie (the worlds churliſh ſonne) oftentimes worketh theſe good effects; yet in it ſelfe it is a temptation, and that a ſtrong one, to draw vsus from God, by cauſing vsus to murmure and repine: yea as Sathan ſaid of Iob, to curſe God to his face, to enuie all who ſeeme vntounto vsus more happie then our ſelues, to deſpaire of Gods merciemercy, and to vſe vnlawfull meanes, that thereby we may better our eſtate. And therefore it behoueth vsus to arme our ſelues againſt the violence of this enemie alſo, leaſt building our houſes vponupon the ſands of ſecuritie they be ouerturned, when the winds of afflictions and floods of aduerſitie and perſecution blow and beate againſt vsus. And to this end we are to remember, firſt, that theſe fatherly corrections are euident teſtimonies to aſſure vsus that we are not baſtards, but Gods deare children, whom he gently chaſtiſeth, that wee may not be deſtroyed with the world;Heb. 12.6, 7, 8. that now Chriſt hath choſen vsus out of the world, ſeeing the world hateth vsus;Ioh. 15.19. that now wee are the friends of God, when the world (Sathans eldeſt ſonne) becommeth our enemie: for ſo long as we are of the world the world loueth vsus, for it loueth her owne. Secondly, let vsus continually remember the recompence of reward, & then ſhal we with Moſes volūtarily chuſe rather to ſuffer aduerſitie with the people of God, Heb. 11.25.26.than to enioy the pleaſures of ſin for a ſeaſon; eſteeming the rebuke of Chriſt greater riches, than the treaſures of Egypt, as it is Heb. 11.25, 26. Thē ſhall we endure to be tried and purified in the fornace of afflictions, if we know that after we are found to be pure gold, the Lord will lay vsus vp in his treaſurie of euerlaſting happines. Laſtly, let vsus remember, that eternall bleſſedneſſe is promiſed to thoſe that mourne with a godly ſorrow, and eternal woe denounced againſt thoſe who pamper themſelues with worldly delights.Matth. 5.4.10. Matth. 5.4. Bleſſed are they that mourne, for they ſhall be comforted. So verſ. 10. Bleſſed are they which ſuffer perſecution for righteouſnes ſake, for theirs is the kingdome of heauen. Luk. 6.21.25.Luk. 6.21. Bleſſed are ye which hunger now, for ye ſhall be ſatisfied: bleſſed are ye that weepe now, for ye ſhall laugh. And verſ. 25. Woe be vntounto you that are full, for ye ſhall hunger: woe vntounto you that now laugh, for ye ſhall waile and weepe. And leaſt the tediouſneſſe of our troubles ſhould diſcourage vsus, or the waight of them preſſe vsus downe, the Apoſtle telleth vsus, that they are but light and momentanie, cauſing notwithſtanding vntounto vsus a farre moſt excellent and eternall waight of glorie,2. Cor. 4.17. 2. Cor. 4.17. Why therefore ſhould this little ſpot of foule way, cauſe vsus to ſtand ſtill, or goe out of our courſe, which leadeth to euerlaſting happines?