Defensive Armor Against Four of Satans Most Fiery Darts, Title page – To the reader 1
Defenſative Armour, Againſt Four of SATHAN'S MOST Fiery Darts: VIZ. TEMPTATIONS TO Atheiſtical and Blaſphemous Impreſſions and Thoughts, Self-Murther, Deſpair, and Preſumption.
WHEREIN Is Diſcourſed the Nature of theſe Temptations, the ſeveral Tempters to theſe Sins, the Arguments ordinarily uſed by the Tempters in the inforcing of them; and ſome proper Advice is offered to thoſe who are exerciſed with them.
By J. C. D. D.
Maxima pars fallitur quod non credunt has cogitationes eſſe tentationes Sathanae: Illae ipſae ſunt tela iſta iguita nequiſſimarum nequitiarum ſpiritualium in coeleſtibus. Luther.
LONDON, Printed for Benjamin Alſop, at the Angel and Bible over againſt the Stocks-market, and Ewderd Giles Bookſeller in Norwich, 1680.
TO THE Chriſtian Reader.
Reader,
IT is my Experience (after more than thirty years ſervice of God in the work of the Miniſtry) that hath brought forth theſe meditations to thy view, in which time, I have been ſent for to, and converſed with many, who have laboured under the three firſt of theſe horrid temptations, as to which this Diſcourſe offers ſomething of Inſtruction and Counſel, upon ſome of which they have had as ſad iſſues as can well be imaginable; and to all (the firſt of them at leaſt) hath been the moſt intollerable burthen and affliction, that a reaſonable Soul is capable of bearing. This hath put me upon frequent ſtudies, what to ſay or do for their relief. Who would not do his utmoſt, to lend an helping hand to a ſoul, crying out, That it feeleth an Hell upon Earth! to help a poor creature, whoſe ſleep departeth from him in the night, and in the day time he can find no place to reſt, but is uneaſie in his or her greateſt circumſtances of eaſe; whom he ſeeth trembling, that he is not able to ſpeak and continue a ſentence to him to its period. This I have ſeen, and mine Ears have heard. I have known ſome lying under one or other of theſe Temptations, months and years, and for a great part of the time under ſuch a burthen, that they have paſſionately ſaid, They would heartily forgive any that would take away their lives, and (which is moſt tremendous) for want of ſuch an executioner, I have known ſome do it with their own hands. Under the greateſt circumſtance: for content imaginably, bleſſed with a competent eſtate, acceptable relations, and wanting nothing but a quiet mind. O that it might be a warning to the Athieſts and Blaſphemers of this Generation. They know not how ſoon thoſe Atheiſtical and Blaſphemous Thoughts and Expreſſions, with which their hearts are filled, and which they make now the Ornaments of their Speech, may reflect to this degree upon them. I have obſerved in theſe diſtreſſes, perſons nearly concerned in ſuch as have been thus afflicted, at loſs for ſome Diſcourſe, purpoſely wrote upon theſe Arguments, which if they could not perſwade their friends in theſe paroxiſmes to read, yet they might read to them, or at leaſt from which they might be furniſhed with matter of proper diſcourſe or counſel to them. This hath made me ſpend ſome few hours upon this Argument, which tho it be not the general concern of Chriſtians (they being through the Goodneſs of God, but few of many, that are incumbred with the three firſt of the Temptations here ſpoken to) yet in another ſenſe are the general concern of all; none of us knowing which of us may not fall into theſe Temptations common to men: nor what friend or neighbour of ours may next ſtand in need of our help; and the moſt being at too great a loſs, how properly to apply themſelves to Chriſtians under theſe circumſtances. Indeed the laſt Temptation is of more general concern; we are all apt enough to receive temptations to Preſumption. Theſe conſiderations, together with my obſervation, that in theſe late years in which Atheiſm and Blaſphemy have been ſo rampant, and profanely triumphing almoſt at the end of every looſe and ungoverned Tongue; theſe Temptations have alſo been more frequent, hath made me willing to let theſe Meditations paſs into a publick view, that they may be of more than a private uſe. I ſhall think my ſelf abundantly rewarded for my pains, if but one Soul may be fore-warned or relieved by them, or any thing be ſaid in theſe ſheets, which any private Chriſtians may make uſe of for a word in ſeaſon, to any one Soul thus wearied. I weigh not the ſcoffs of thoſe who mock at theſe things; experience lets all that mind Religion know theſe Temptations are no Chimaera's, and thoſe who judge them meer Melancholick Delirations and the Effects of them, know not what they ſay, but muſt ſay ſomething, tho it be to diſcover their ignorance of the ways of Divine Providence, and no acquaintance with the Methods of Sathan. Such as theſe Meditations are, they are not intended for ſuch as are ſcoffers at wounded and troubled ſpirits; but for a relief for thoſe who feel ſuch wounds, and in whoſe hearts the infernal Plow-man hath made ſuch deep furrows: and for thoſe who know no Temptation of this nature hath befallen others, but ſuch as are common to men, and wherewith they alſo may be Tempted. Having told thee my deſign (good Reader!) I commend thee to God and theſe Sheets, and thee, to the Bleſſing of his Grace
Thy faithful Servant in the Goſpel of our Lord, J. C.