The Christian Warfare Part 1, Book 1 · Chapter 8
CHAP. VIII. Of Sathans policie.
§ Sect. 1 ANd thus much of the fleſh, which is the ſecond enemie that ioyneth with Sathan in working our deſtruction; and thus much alſo concerning the firſt part of our enemies power, which conſiſteth in the ſtrength either of himſelf or of his aides: now we are to conſider of the ſecond part, which conſiſteth in his warlike policie and skill, in imploying this his ſtrength to his beſt aduantage.
If our enemie had great ſtrength, and yet wanted policie, he might the more eaſily be reſiſted, and the ſooner vanquiſhed; for ſtrength without wit is like a giant without eyes. But as our enemie is exceeding ſtrong, ſo is hee alſo no leſſe ſubtill and politike, in imploying all his ſtrength to his beſt aduantage; and therefore as in regard of his ſtrength he is called in the Scriptures a lion, and a mightie dragon; ſo in reſpect of his ſubtiltie and wilines he is called a ſerpent, yea an old ſerpent, which being the ſubtilleſt of beaſts, hath his craft redoubled by his age and experience,Apoc. 12.9. Apoc. 12.9. and hereof he is called in the Scriptures, foreign, to ſignifie vntounto vsus his great knowledge.
No marueile therefore though Sathan ſhould be an expert ſouldier, ſeeing he is not onelyonly of wonderfull ſtrength, but alſo of great knowledge by creation; which though in reſpect of good things it was much decreaſed by his fall, yet in ſleights and ſtratagems it is much increaſed by his long experience from the beginning of the world, euen almoſt ſixe thouſand yeeres; which is ſufficient to make one wiſe that is by nature fooliſh and ſimple, and therefore much more Sathan, who is by nature very politike; being alſo a ſpirit, and hereby fit to diue as it were into the ſecrets of nature, and with incredible ſwiftnes to paſſe from place to place, readie to intrude himſelfe into all companies ſecretly, and to learne the nature, qualities and diſpoſitions of al men, againſt whom he fighteth. And though he cannot know our thoughts directly and certainly, for this is proper to God alone to bee the ſearcher of hearts, yet he hath ſuch intelligence from our affections, luſts, inclinations and outward actions, that hee can ſhrewdly geſſe at them, if he doe but a while keepe vsus companie, and ſee our diſpoſition and conuerſation. So that wee cannot giuegive Sathan the leaſt aduantage, but he is readie to take it and make vſe thereof to our ouerthrow; we can lay no plot againſt him but he diſcerneth it, and is readie to preuent it. And therefore in this reſpect our ſtate is like the king of Arams, 2. King. 6.12.2. King. 6.12. for Sathan our enemie knoweth all our counſailes and conſultations which wee take and hold in our moſt ſecret chambers.
§ Sect. 2 And thus you ſee what Sathans policie is: How we may defeate Sathans policie.againſt which we muſt oppoſe no leſſe wiſedome and skill, if wee will hauehave the victorie. Whereas therefore wee are fooliſh by nature, or wilie to beguile our ſelues; that wiſedome which we hauehave naturally being worldly and carnall, which is enmitie againſt God, Rom. 8.7.Rom. 8.7. and therefore more fit to betray vsus into the hands of our enemie, than to defend vsus from him; it behooueth vsus to goe out of our ſelues into the Lords treaſurie of wiſedome, and there to furniſh vsus with ſuch ſpirituall ſauing wiſedome, as ſhall be fit to oppoſe againſt the ſubtill policie of our ſpirituall enemie. That is, wee muſt continually heare and meditate in Gods word, which will make vsus wiſe and skilfull in deſcrying all Sathans ſtratagems, and alſo in preuenting them being diſcouered. For howſoeuer in the darke night of ignorance and error we may eaſily fall into his ambuſhments, yet the light of Gods word ſhining vntounto vsus, will plainly diſcloſe them to the eyes of the moſt ſimple.
But beſides this theoreticall wiſedome ſeated in the vnderſtanding, there is alſo a practicall or operatiue wiſedome required in Gods word, which ſheweth it ſelfe in our affections and actions. And it conſiſteth in the feare of the Lord, that is, true godlineſſe and ſinceritie of heart. Of this Iob ſpeaketh, chap. 28. verf. 28.Iob. 28.28. Pſal. 111.10. The feare of the Lord is wiſedome, and to depart from euill is vnderſtanding. So Pſalm. 111.10. The feare of the Lord is the head or beginning of wiſedome. And Pro. 28.7. he is called a wiſe ſonne which keepeth the law. Pro. 28.7.So that our chiefe wiſedome conſiſteth in the feare of the Lord, and in a godlie endeuour of performing obedience to the Lords commandements.
If therefore we would attaine vntounto ſuch ſpirituall wiſedom that we may reſiſt our ſpirituall enemie, wee muſt be conuerſant in hearing and reading the word of God, meditating therein with the Prophet Dauid both day and night; Pſal. 1.2.and withall we muſt by all meanes ſeeke the feare of the Lord, labouring to leade our liues in a conſtant courſe of true godlines. And though wee are full of infirmities, yet at leaſt let vsus hauehave an holie endeuour to perfourme ſeruice vntounto God, in truth, vprightnes, and integritie of heart. And ſo wee may aſſure our ſelues that though we be neuer ſo ſimple and fooliſh by nature, yet ſhall wee be wiſe enough to withſtand and ouercome our ſpirituall enemies: for the Lord who is wiſedome it ſelfe will direct vsus in our waies, and he alſo will ſo infatuate this curſed Achitophel, and turne his wiſedome into fooliſhnes, that wee ſhall neuer thereby be hurt or circumuented.
But on the other ſide, though wee be neuer ſo wiſe in carnall wiſedome, and though our heads be a ſtorehouſe of politike ſtratagems, yet if wee neglect Gods word, and voluntarily giuegive our ſelues ouer vntounto ſinne and diſobedience, we ſhal be ſo beſotted with follie, that Sathan will eaſily deceiue and circumuent vsus. An example whereof wee hauehave in our firſt parents, who though they were more wiſe by creation than euer were any liuing (Chriſt excepted) yet when they caſt the word of God behinde their backe, giuing more credit to Sathans ſuggeſtions, and withall tranſgreſſed Gods commandement; their wiſedome was turned into ignorance and follie, and they became an eaſie pray to their malitious enemie. And whereas they thought by that meanes to hauehave gone beyond the Lord in policie, and to hauehave obtained a farre greater meaſure of knowledge and glorie, they were in ſteed therof beſotted with follie, and ouerwhelmed with ignominie and ſhame, by being made the bondſlaues of ſinne and Sathan. And thus alſo the heathen neglecting the true worſhip of God, and giuing themſelues to idolatrie, became fooles, whileſt they profeſſed themſelues very wiſe,Rom. 1.22. as the Apoſtle witneſſeth, Rom. 1.22. for the Lord deſtroyeth the wiſedome of the wiſe, and caſteth away the vnderſtanding of the prudent, 1. Cor. 1.19.as it is 1. Cor. 1.19.
Seeing then our chiefe wiſedome conſiſteth in the ſtudie of Gods word, and in vprightnes of hart, integritie, Chriſtian ſinceritie and ſimplicitie, and in a holie care of perfourming obedience to Gods will, let vsus therefore continually meditate in Gods word,Pſal. 119. and with the Prophet Dauid make it our counſellor, Pſal. 119. And whenſoeuer Sathan doth aſſault and tempt vsus to ſinne, let vsus hauehave recourſe to this our counſellor the word of God, there inquiring whether that whereunto we are tempted be lawfull or no; and if it tell vsus that it is a ſinne, let vsus with all care and conſcience auoide it: for though Sathan lay ouer it neuer ſo faire a gloſſe, and intice vsus to the committing thereof, by offering vntounto vsus the greateſt pleaſures, riches and honours of the world, yet let vsus aſſure our ſelues that he thereby ſeeketh to circumuent vsus; and to purchaſe worldly vanities, he inticeth vsus to ſell our ſoules; and therefore in Chriſtian wiſedome let vsus auoide his ſtratagems.