Defensive Armor Against Four of Satans Most Fiery Darts, Chapter 12
CHAP. XII.
Further Directions. Not keeping the Devils Counſel, not deliberating or parlying with Satan. Giving their Thoughts what lawful Diverſions they can. Whether they ſhould ſhun Precipices, coming near Wells, or Ponds, and keeping cloſe to all Means of Grace, whether more publick or Private.
5. FIthly, Let Chriſtians under the Impetus of theſe Suggeſtions take heed of keeping the Devils Counſel, or admitting any Parley or Deliberation with him about this point of hearkening to the Motion. May it be the lot of any of our Souls at any time to come under ſuch Impreſſions? Oh let us never conceal them from our Faithful Miniſters, nor from our Chriſtian Friends, nor from our neareſt Relations: Not from the firſt and ſecond, becauſe they are the Ordinance of God unto us, to give us Spiritual Counſel and Aſſiſtance; to ſhew us the unreaſonableneſs of the Motion, the danger of the Temptation; it is their work to Pray with us and to Pray for us: It is the work of the Miniſter to Interpret and Declare to us the Mind and Will of God. A Brother, a Spiritual Friend, is born for an hour of Adverſity: The Temptation, while diſcovered, will preſs us harder, and we ſhall the leſs know what to ſay to the Tempter, and how to Reſiſt our great Adverſary; nor ſhould we conceal our ſelves from our neareſt Relations; for though they ſhould not be ſo able as an Intelligent, Godly Divine, or Knowing Chriſtians; to fortify us with Reaſons, and Arguments, yet they will be concerned to Watch us, eſpecially when they diſcern the Impreſſions more violent, for ſometimes Impreſſions of this nature are ſo violent and ſtrong, that they hurry poor Creatures to a preſent deſtroying of themſelves, and the Wicked Action is done in a Moment. And again, Chriſtian, If thou wouldeſt be able to ſtand againſt this Fiery Dart; never admitt a Parly or Deliberation with the Tempter about it, That Soul is in a great degree Conquered, that is prevailed with to deliberate upon an Action ſo apparently contrary to the Revealed Will of God. Get thee behind me Satan, was Chriſts Anſwer to the Tempter; Luke 4. 8. When he Tempted him to Worſhip him: He would not ſo much as once think upon the Motion.
6. Sixthly, Let Chriſtians under theſe Aſſaults give their Thoughts as much lawful Diverſion as they can. I ſay lawful, for we muſt take heed of caſting out one Devil by another; but there is lawful Diverſions enough, ſuch are viſitings of good People, diligent Attendance upon our honeſt Labours in our Callings, giving our ſelves any honeſt Imployment, by our Exerciſe in which, our Thoughts may be taken off from fixing upon the Impreſſions made upon them. I have often ſeen it, that Perſons under theſe Circumſtances have been very hardly perſwaded to this; but it is Men and Womens duty in theſe Caſes in a thing which (as this is) is within their power, and onelyonly contrary to their humour to force themſelves, and if in this they be wanting it is a Preſumptuous Sinning.
7. Seventhly, I know not what I ſhould ſay to that piece of Advice which ſome give Souls under theſe Aſſaults. Not to ſhun the ſight, or handling, or coming near any Inſtruments, or Means which they may make uſe of to deſtroy themſelves, as Knives, Ropes, Wells, Precipices; &c. It is true, it is good for us to go on in our ordinary way truſting in God, and not fearing the Tempter; but in an hour when the Impreſſion is very ſtrong upon the Tempted Soul: Whether it be adviſable or no I cannot tell, for Chriſtians thus Tempted, to come too nigh Pricipices or Places of deep Waters, or ſuch Inſtruments as they may make a ſudden uſe of, to do himſelf or herſelf Evil; at leaſt not without a cloſe and narrow Watch upon them: for the truth is, in the heat and violence of ſuch Impreſſions, Men and Women oft times have little uſe of their Reaſon. As to this thing therefore I think Chriſtians ought to Rule themſelves by the Circumſtances of the preſent hour, and this cannot be fixt for a general Direction: I will add but one thing more, and with that ſhut up this Diſcourſe.
8. Let ſuch Chriſtians above all others, keep cloſe to the uſe of all Means of Grace, whether more Publick or more Private. The Means of Grace are the Word, the Sacraments, and Prayer. The Word is to be Read and Heard. We Read the pure Word of God without any thing of Mans Invention: This hath been mightily Powerful. The Story of Aguſtine I have told you of, who under great Diſtreſs, and Terrour of Conſcience, was Relieved by Obeying a Voice he thought he heard out of the adjoyning Room, Tolle & Lege, Take up the Book and Read; upon which he took up a Bible by him, and Read what God Bleſſed to his Relief. The Word Preached hath ſomething of Mans Mixture, but if faithfully opened and applied, is Gods Ordinance for the Staying and Comforting of People. The Miniſter is Gods Interpreter, and he ſhould be one of a Thouſand. I look upon it as the great Miſery of Souls under theſe Temptations, they can ſeldom be perſwaded to Read, or to hear the Word; and verily where it is thus, the Devil hath prevailed a great way. I would that ſuch Chriſtians would ſeriouſly think what they do in neglecting Means of Grace in their power to uſe, if they expect any help from God. Nor would I have ſuch a Chriſtian neglect a Sacrament, if he be one that hath formerly declared his Right: Theſe Temptations while yeilded to, are our Miſery not our Sin; who knows whether God may not Bleſs the Sign and Seal of a Dying Crucified Chriſt, for them to let them know there is no Reaſon they ſhould Kill or Crucifie themſelves. But above all, let them not omit Conſtant Fervent Prayer, and that both Ordinarily and more Solemnly. Great is the force of Prayer, it calls in the help of the Almighty; both for a Deliverance from the Tempter in his own time, and for his Aſſiſtance and upholding the Soul while it pleaſeth him to keep the Soul, in this Spiritual Combate.
FINIS.