Divine Characters in Two Parts, Part 1 · Chapter 3

Divine Characters in Two Parts · Part 1 · Chapter 3

p. 13CHAP. III. Of Satan the Arch-hypocrite, and Father of hypocrites.

WHen the multitude wondring at the ſudden chang, ſaid,aa1 Sam. 10.11 121 Sam 10:11 is Saul alſo among the Prophets? one of the ſame place anſwered, But who is their Father? intimating that God, the Father of Prophets, was able to make Saul himſelf to Prophecy. Semblably, if any ſhall ſtand amazed at this multiplicity of hypocrites, let him conſider but who is their Father, and he ſhall ſee a ſufficient reaſon, both why they are ſo many, and why ſo wily. Hypocriſie is the devils dance, the Devil therefore may well lead the ring, which conſiſteth onelyonly of his own children: It is Pompa diaboli, the Devils pageant, therefore well may he be the Choragus, the leader of it. The Devil, I ſay, is both the architect and archetipe; the firſt forger, and the prime pattern or idea of this Myſtery;bbJohn 8.44John 8:44 a liar, and the Father thereof.

But we muſt ſever theſe Propoſitions, and handle them apart: Shewing, Firſt, how he is the chief hypocrite. Secondly, how he makes and begets hypocrites.

Touching the former, it is manifeſt, that howſoever from men we riſe to Satan to ſearch the fountaine of hypocriſie; yet from him to any other we cannot aſcend.Firſt Satan the Arch-hypocrite His fall. He corrupteth men, (as we ſhall hear) but who corrupted him? none but himſelf, not he that made him, for the Lord made all things good, and Angels in the higheſt degree of created goodneſſe; yea, of truth alſo; for in thatccJohn 8.44John 8:44 he abode not in the truth, it followeth that he was initiated and had his original in the truth: But from that truth he fell of his own accord and motion without any tempter, or devil to ſeduce him; from whence it ſeemeth reaſonable that God ſhould leave him and his curſed complices without any means of remedy, or hope of redemption, though the ſame God afforded favour to man who had been ſeduced by that evil one.

Being thus fallen from the integrity of his creation, and become an enemy to his Creator; he with his party of evil Angels,His malice againſt God. attempted to ſet up a contrary Kingdom of ſin unto that of God and goodneſs; whereto not being able to draw any of thoſe bleſſed ſpirits which had not joyned with him in his apoſtacy; he (being confined to theſeddEpheſ. 2.2 2. Man for Gods ſake. Diabolus invidia, & periit primus, & perdidit, Cypr. Epiſt. 18 But covered with hypocriſie.Eph 2:2 elementary and ſublunary natures) fixed the eye of his envy upon man, as beſt reſembling, in wiſdom and holineſſe, that God that had created him: him therefore he hated as a Satan; hating, he ſought to deſtroy him, as Abaddon and Apollyon. And becauſe he could not lay hands on him without ſentence from the Judge, he determined, as a devil to accuſe him, and that he might have whereof to accuſe him, he as the tempter reſolved to ſeduce him. Finally, that his tentations might paſſe unſuſpected, unheeded, as the Arch-hypocrite, he covered them with fraud and diſſimulation: …o here the generation of hypocriſie; Satans envy at mans felicity begat malice; malice begat miſchief; miſchief required accuſation; accuſation demanded temptation, temptation called in hypocriſie. For if he ſhould have told what he was, whence he came, and whereabout he went,Mat. 4. Zech. 3 Diſguiſing, 1. Himſelf.Matt 4Zech 3 he well knew he ſhould have received no better anſwer from man then he had from Michael our Prince: Avoid Satan, the Lord reprove thee Satan; he therefore diſguiſed both himſelf and his errand: Himſelf in the body of the Serpent, a creature, as in harmleſs ſubtilty more neer to man, ſo (by likelihood) in his mixture of colours more ſpecious and delightful to the eye then the reſt of bodily creatures. This inſtrument he managed, not as a trunk through which, but as the mouth by which he ſpake; he being as the ſoul, the Serpent as his body. Therefore the holy Ghoſt by Moſes taking him in this diſguiſe, ſaith of him, The Serpent ſpake, the Serpent was accurſed, and (by the Apoſtle) the Serpent beguiled Eve by his ſubtilty. The Serpent ever ſince hath born that reproach, not only inheriting the hatred of p. 14man-kinde, but alſo in being an everlaſting embleme of diabolical malice and ſubtilty.

In like manner he diſguiſed his errand: 2 His errand.for coming to murther, it behoved him to lie; for he knew he could not murder man without his own conſent, and that muſt be woon with a colour of friendſhip. Wherefore he pretendeth greater care of our felicity then was in God himſelf; and what the Lord had (as ſhould ſeem) through envy concealed, he (as a perfect friend that ſlighted his Lords favour in behalf of his fellow ſervant) came ſecretly to intimate: who would have dreamt of a devil in all this?

But this is not all, for being fleſhed with ſucceſſe of his firſt attempt in the fall of man-kinde,Since the promiſe of redemption, he redoubleth his malice and fraud. though that pleaſed God to propound an antidote againſt this poyſon, unto the ſeed of the woman from out of the ſeed of the woman, yet he gave not over his curſed enterpriſe, but hath ever ſince endeavoured by the ſame Art to encreaſe tranſgreſſors amonſt men, and tranſgreſſions againſt God: Therefore he is ſaid (by our Saviour) to be a man-ſlayer, not in the beginning onelyonly, but alſoeeJohn 8.44John 8:44 from the beginning; man is the perpetual object of his malicious aſſaults, and now the more hated, becauſe God ſhewed more love in giving his Son, not only to takeffProv. 8.31Prov 8:31 delights, but alſo (in the fulneſs of timeggHeb. 2.16Heb 2:16) to take part with the children of men, Falen Angels, being for ever left forlorn.

This made him to ſet a work all his engines for the advancement of his damned party, and to make uſe of all his furniture for ſo deſperate a deſign, that he might be a Mediatour of death, (as Saint Auſtine ſpeaketh) in oppoſitionIn oppoſition to Chriſt. to him that was to be the Mediatour of life. He therefore laboured, not onelyonly to lead into captivity particular ſouls, but alſo to diſturb and diſtract all ſocieties of men. For it his task and trade to ſow diſſention in families, ſedition in States, ſchiſme in Churches. And here eſpecially he enforceth himſelf tohhMat. 13.19Matt 13:19 pick up the ſeed of the Word as much as he can come by, toii1 Theſ. 5.31 Thess 5:3 reſiſt and hinder the ſowers, to mix his ownkkMat. 13.25Matt 13:25 tares of errour with the Lords pure wheat of truth and ſound doctrine, for the diſmaying of the weak, and the perverting of unſtable ſouls.

Unto this war with the ſeed of the woman, his furnitureHis furniture of is exceeding great and dreadful; being a llLuke 11.21Luke 11:21ſtrong man armed, and not without aſſociates, and (which is above all) expert in all kinds of ſtratagems to circomvent and deſtroy.

His ſtrength1. Strength conſiſteth in the ability of his angelical nature, which (though much empaired by his fall, as we may conjecture by what we loſt in Adam our ſelves, and therefore far ſhort of the power of elect Angels) remaineth too ſtrong and powerful for us to encounter. By this, though he be not wiſe, yet he is exceeding cunnig and crafty to do miſchief,Aug. in Pſal. 90 Daemones vafri ſunt, non ſapientes.Ps 90 ſubjecting his wit to his will; and of Daemon a ſpirit, becoming a Cacodaemon, an evil ſpirit; by this he is able to inſinuate himſelf, not only into elementary bodies, as he did into the Serpents, but alſo into the cloſet of reaſonable ſouls. For though he knoweth not properly and directly the thoughts of mans heart, yet by many conjectures he can perilouſly aime at them, and by fantaſmes and familiar ſuggeſtions offer what he pleaſeth unto the view of our underſtanding.

Unto this his native ſtrength is every day added the Armour2. Armour of experience, which by long uſe, as by much hammering, is more and more confirmed. What may not he now hope to effect upon us, who prevailed with our firſt parents, when they were wiſer, and himſelf a novice. And if a little tract of age and exerciſe giveth us more inſights into humane affaires, muſt not he needs be more cunning then any Frier, who knoweth both his own ſins, and moſt of ours alſo; and is unto all wicked men, from father to ſon as wicked men, a ghoſtly father?

3. AuxiliariesNeither is he without the aſſiſtance of auxiliary forces, he hath in every of his our own fleſh as a trayterous party to favour his attempts, wherby he pleads a kind of poſſeſſion in all the ſons of Adam. Only the ſecond Adam was able to ſay, Now cometh the Prince of this world and hath naught in me mmJohn 14.30John 14:30; as for the world it is his Arſenal of munition, p. 15his ſhop of vanity, his pack of trumpery. As Ʋlyſſes in Scyros, among other knacks for Ladies, had a ſword to diſcover Achilles, and train him to Troy: ſo Satan hath in this his ware-houſe of the world a lure for every gazing ſoul; for the ſenſual pleaſure, for the muckworm wealth, for the ambitious honour, for the curious ſcience, that none who may either increaſe or advance his Kingdome, may eſcape.

But his art in diſguiſing his malicious purpoſe, and in fitting his ſeveral tentations,His arts in diſguiſing his tentations. is moſt obſervable; herein his hypocriſie chiefly appeareth, and that he is the chief of hypocrites; For as his will to do miſchief is more, ſo is his wit; and as he hath more wickedneſs to conceive, ſo is he more cunning to conceale it. If all hypocrites be actors, he is a very Roſcius. When he ſpeaketh a lie, then he ſpeaketh of his own (ſaith our Saviour); but it is either not as a lie; or not as his own. The lie owneth him, but he will not be ſeen to own the lie, yet he maketh it ſo much the more his own, by laying a counterfeit colour of truth upon that. An Angel of darkneſſe he is, but ſeldom ſo appears; nay, he transformes himſelf into an Angel of light; we muſt not imagin that he ſo ſeems by aſſuming any viſible ſhape, but by guilding over his ſuggeſtions, that they may ſeem and ſavour not of hell, but of heaven; not of diabolical darkneſſe and filthineſſe, but of angelical purity and light. If light be made to ſerve unto darkneſſe, oh how great is that darkneſs? Let us therefore take a view of ſome of his moſt noted and uſual artifices by which he both ſhrewdeth from, and inſinuateth himſelf unto thoſe whom he would deceive.

Firſt, he hideth his malicious purpoſe,1. Hiding his purpoſe. till it be too late to prevent it. We have heard partly before, how firſt, he playeth the Tempter; ſecondly, the Devil; thirdly, the Satan. Firſt, he eggeth men to ſinne as a pandar. Secondly, he accuſeth them as a Promotor. Thirdly, he tormenteth them as an Executioner. Firſt, he makes uſe of ſinne which is the ſting. Secondly, of the Law, which gives ſtrength to ſinne. Thirdly, of death and hell, which is the hire of ſinne and curſe of the Law; Elſe his labour were in vaine; for without ſinne no Law nn1 Tim. 1.91 Tim 1:9, without Law no condemnation; There is much ſubtilty in this ordering of his battalions; but yet this is not all, for he can craftily cover all theſe, and in all play all hide. He can cover hatred by diſſimulation, accuſation by ſoothing, and temptation by a ſhew of truth and goodneſſe, as ſhall appear. In the mean time we ſee how he doth Serpere creep and grow upon us ere we be aware, and as we heare the noyſe of the Organ, but ſee not the Organiſt; ſo we ſhall heare from his Inſtruments, what is for his purpoſe, but have no ſight of him, till he ſees his time.

Secondly, per aliena (ſaith Saint Auguſtine) ducit ad ſua. He borroweth ſomewhat of Gods2. Borrowing of Gods. Aug. in Encherid. cap. 30. to draw us unto himſelf. As Sophiſters take premiſes of truth to infer a falſe concluſion. When the fallacy is in the form, it is not ſo eaſily perceived. He hathooJohn 8.44John 8:44 no truth in him, yet he utters many truths, but always with purpoſe to conclude a lie; and puts on truth, as the falſe Prophets didppZech. 13.4Zech 13:4 a rough garment to deceive. No counterfeit will paſſe without ſome mixture or ſuperinducture of pure mettal; no falſhood without ſome tincture of truth; no evil without ſome luſtre of good.

Thirdly, he tempereth counterfeit honey with true and proper gall;3. Tempering honey with his gall. Bern. Ep. 82 Omni abſynthio amariorem dulcedinem infundit (ſaith Saint Bernard;) and hereby many times he beguileth the taſte even of ſpiritual men, promiſing doubtful delights, to debar them from certain comforts; not purpoſing to give them what they vainly expect, but to take from them what they fruitfully enjoy and by ſeeming good, to embark them into certain evil: Peter wiſt not what he ſaid, when he would make Tabernacles on Mount Tabor; not they what they do, who upon leſſe cauſe have undervalued the profitable pains of action for the affected eaſe and imaginary glory of contemplation. But Satan well knoweth what he maliciouſly intendeth, which is,Aug. Hom. 35 Praepinavit per aſtutias ſuas mortem homini. to defraud the Church of their ſervice, and themſelves of their reward; yea, by this ſubtilty he carouſed death to us all in Adam, under colour to bring us neerer unto God; p. 16as the trayterous Monk poyſoned his Liege Lord by drinking an health to him.

4 Uſing ſtratagems, as a Fowler.Fourthly, he maketh not a faire open warre againſt us, but (as thoſe that make booty their only end) deſcendeth to all kindes of theeviſh ſtratagems. Solomon compareth the robber to aqqProv. 1.16, 17Prov 1:16Prov 1:17 fowler: Let us ſee a little how this fowler beſtirreth himſelf.

1. He hath his nets and pitfalsHis nets and pit-fals. in every path, or by the high-way-ſide at leaſt, to catch them who never ſo little ſtraggle from the path of uprightneſſe. And as men (ſaith Saint Auguſtine) by caſting ſtones into the hedge,Aug. in Pſ. 90Ps 90 drive the bird into the net that ſtandeth by; ſo Satan, by the reproaches, either of malicious enemies, or looſe profeſſors, driveth many a one out of the way of righteouſneſſe into therrActs 8.23. Prov. 29.6 Prov. 5.22.Acts 8:23Prov 29:6Prov 5:22 bands of iniquity; wherein, without the ſpecial mercy of God they are holden unto deſtruction.

2. He hath his callsHis calls. of evil counſellors,ssProv. 1.10Prov 1:10 Come with us, caſt in thy lot, &c. by which he bringeth many to the buſh.

3. He hath his ſeveral baitsHis baits. of pleaſure, profit, honour to inveigle us; yea, and (in ſhew) of honeſty too to delude us.

4. He hath his ſtales,His ſtales. not onelyonly dead ſtales, ſinners taken and ſlaine, and now ſtuffed and ſet up to take others (asttEccleſ. 9.18Eccl 9:18 one ſinner deſtroyeth much good) but alſo living ſtales,Diab ut plurimos fallat, etiam bonos in poteſtate ſe habere confingit Aug Quae. ex vet. Teſtam. cap. 27. that is, the Examples of the falls of Gods children, Noah, Lot, David, Peter, and others, of whom he maketh the world beleeve that they were willingly in his power, and do invite others to the like liberty in ſinning; whereas they were with him but asuuRom. 7.24Rom 7:24 priſoners ſtriving and mourning to be delivered, and are now by Gods Spirit ſet forth unto us, not as warrants to practice, but as warnings to avoid the like errours. Thus he is like Pirats that rob under the colours of thoſe whom they have ſurprized.

5. He hath his ſtalking horſesHis ſtalking horſes. to hide him while he ſhooteth at us. Even good men are abuſed to bring his tentations the neerer, aswwMat. 16.22, 23Matt 16:22Matt 16:23 Peter to withdraw our Saviour from his paſſion; and Jobs three friends to remove him from his patience.

His gazing ſtocks.6. He bringeth men to agaze, that while they look at others paſſing by, he may have the fairer mark at them. Thus the Phariſee gazing at thexxLuke 18.11Luke 18:11 Publican, and denying his ſins, was not aware of pride that pierced him to the heart. Thus many fall into ſchiſme, while they have their eye upon nothing, but either the hereſies of the Romaniſts, or the defects of Churches Evangelical.

5. Working on prediſpoſitions.Fifthly, it is a ſpecial point of his policy, either to prepare, or to expect ſome prediſpoſitions in the ſubject, before he do give the aſſault: Courtiers and Politicians make great uſe of this art to know thoſe, Molles aditus, ſeaſonable and advantageous acceſſes, which give opportunity to deſignes. Joab was not to ſeek of this craft when he would bring Abſolon toyy2 Sam. 142 Sam 14 Court; for firſt, he perceived that the Kings heart was toward him, and yet for all that he thought fit to prepare him with a made tale of a woman of Tekoah: but Satan is his Crafts-maſter in this point, and the opportunities he expecteth, or worketh, are

1. Ignorance, or (which is all one) forgetfulneſſe,Ignorance or forgetfulneſs. whereby he takes or makes men diſarmed of that ſword of the Spirit which ſhould repel him; and either findes them blinde, orzz2 Cor. 4.3, 42 Cor 4:32 Cor 4:4 blindes the eyes of their minds, that the light may not ſhine unto them which ſhould diſcover him. The Philiſtines had too much advantage of the Iſraelites when they kept them all without weapons, and it is wiſdom (as we ſay) to aſſault on the blind ſide.

2. Security; Security.whenaaProv. 28.14Prov 28:14 fear, the watch-man of the ſoul is aſleep, the Fowler firſt emboldeneth the birds, and then ſpreadeth his nets; ſo Satan firſt removed the feare of death,bbGen. 3.Gen 3 ye ſhall not ſurely die; and then laid for the prey. There is alwayes ſome miſchief in hatching, when Satan is quiet and ſtirreth not.

3. Idleneſſe, Idleneſs.when the bow of the minde is unbent, and men give themſelves to keep the devils holiday.cc2 Sam. 11.2 Sam 11 Res age, tutus cris; buſineſſe is a barricado p. 17to tentations. When David went not forth to the warrecc2 Sam. 11.2 Sam 11 but ſent Joab and made much of himſelfe at home, then Satan drew him into the ſnare of luſt.

4. Ʋnwarrantable ſolitarineſſe; Solitarineſſe:woful experience approveth that of the Wiſe man, Woe to him that is alone: Deſerts are the devils dung-hill upon which our Saviour (I know not whether any other) found, and foyled him; he had need be an Angel that chuſeth alwayes to be alone, leſt Satan make a Devil of him.

5. Some notable diſtreſs: Diſtreſſe.As the Fowler taketh the opportunity of hard weather, ſo doth Satan of weakneſſe, terrour, aſtoniſhment. Simeon and Levi ſlew the Shechemites, when they were ſore of their circumciſion: So did Satan Achitophel and Judas, when they were wounded in conſcience. Peter was drawn to deny his Lord in the Prieſts Hall, beſet with enemies and Inquiſitors; and David in his feare ſaid, All men are lyars: Count worldly troubles forerunners of ſpiritual, and tribulations of tentations; for Satan watcheth as the Crow upon the ſick Sheep.

6. Scruple of conſcience; Scruple of conſcience.When a man is afraid of one extreame, Satan thruſts him forward to the other; If he cannot keep him in ſecurity and impenitency, he will urge him to diſpaire; as we ſee in the Apoſtles care fordd2 Cor. 2.7, 112 Cor 2:72 Cor 2:11 the inceſtuous; If he cannot put out the fire of zeal in the hearth, he will labour to make it break out of the chimney: If he cannot turne a man back, he will ſeek to ſhove him on his noſe.

His ſixth policy is to ſort his tentations according to the ſubject6. Sorting his tentations to the ſubject. he would work upon: He ſtriveth not againſt the ſtreame, but uſeth the tide of our affections; and chuſeth to drive the naile that will go; he tempteth ordinarily the young man, not to covetouſneſſe, but to pleaſures; the old, not to wantonneſſe, but to worldlineſſe; the rich, not to pilfering, but to oppreſſion; the poor, not to uſury, but to theft; the valiant, not to be baſe, but to ſpoile; the coward, not to ambition, but to treaſon; the wiſe, not to ignorance, but to ſubtilties; the ignorant, not to curioſity, but to a ſtupid and implicit faith; the ſick, not to riot, but impatience; the healthful, not to frowardneſſe, but to intemperance.

Seventhly, he cunningly ordereth his tentations,7. Ordering his tentations. ſo as the leaſt ſuſpected may make way for the other: His approaches are per cuneos & cuniculos; As a wood-cleaver firſt enters a ſmall wedge to let in a greater till the tree be in pieces; or as one that kindleth a fire firſt, with a ſmall breath cheriſheth the weak embers (Impoſitum cinerem, & ſopitos ſuſcitat ignes) till all be on a light fire, in like manner dealeth Satan; with Cain, envy made way to malice, malice to murder, murder to deſpair: with Judas, covetouſneſſe let in theft theft treaſon, treaſon deſpaire, and deſpaire ſelf-murder: Yea, holy David was thus circumvented; idleneſſe was the harbinger for luſt, luſt for adultery, adultery for murder, and murder for diſſimulation. No leſſe, in bleſſed Saint Peter, preſumption produced curioſity, curioſity fear, fear denial, denial perjury As a Serpent having gotten in his head, traileth in his whole body; ſo doth Satan eaſily winde in the greater ſins: when we once have given entrance to the leſſe; ſo dangerous a thing it is to hatch the Cockatrices egges, and to neglect the introductions unto ſinne by which, ere men be aware, the conſcience is ſplit and wrackt.

Eighthly, when he ſeeth men ſtand upon their ſtrength,8. Offering parley. he ſeeketh to over-reach them by conference. Like the great thieves of the world, who labour to get by treaties what they cannot ſeize upon by main force. Take heed of him when he falls to parley, and count the truth half loſt, if thou yeild to have it diſputed; our mother Eve could never make her party good, when once ſhe had yeelded to put it to the queſtion, Hath God ſaid indeed, &c? Parley cheriſheth traytors, and be ſure the devil intends thereby to ſift thee, and either (as Rabſhakeh) to diſmay the well affected, or rather (aseeJud. 9.1, &c.Judg 9:1 Abimelech) to find or raiſe up a treacheous party within thee; it is no wiſdome nor ſafety to capitulate with an irreconcileable enemy.

Laſtly, even in ſeeming to go out, he enters the farther in,9. Feigning flight. hypocrical profeſſion p. 18is like Popiſh exorciſme, or holy water, at which the devil laughs when he ſeems to flie: He retires himſelf (it is true) and gives thee leave to ſhut the door after him; but he leaves an unſanctified heart to keep poſſeſſion for him, and to make cleane the houſe againſt his return; ſo going out, not by compulſion, but compoſition; not by fine force, but by compact, he returneth as into his own, with ſeven ſpirits worſe then the former, which Saint Auguſtine Aug. Quaeſt ſuper Evangae. 9calleth Septinariam ſimulationem, ſevenfold hypocriſie. Thus divers turning Proteſtants for preferment, become ſeven times more the children of hell then they were before: It is a notable deceit to make men in love with bondage under the name offf2 Pet. 2.192 Pet 2:19 liberty. Satan playeth faſt and looſe with looſe hearts, and in ſeeming to looſe, bindeth them the faſter; as the Jeſuite, (and their ſpawne the Quakers) draw all to their Covents that they can lay hands on, under pretence of preaching and teaching gratis; but know, the devil is never ſo dangerous, as when he is moſt tame; he will give thee leave to defie and ſpit at him, to inſult and tread upon him, to bridle and ſaddle him, ſo he may carry thee to hell: We may ſhut up this point of the ſtratagems of Satan with the words of the holy Ghoſt touching the watchmen of Ephraim; ggHoſ. 9 8.Hos 9:8He is a ſnare of a Fowler in all his wayes and hatred againſt the houſe of God.

Notwithſtanding we muſt not think that he hath onelyonly ſtratagems and policies to uſe: there are times alſo wherein he uſeth plaine dealing,At times he uſeth plain dealing. and pulling off his viſor profeſſeth himſelf to be the deſtroyer and devourer of ſouls. Thoſe times are, as I conceive, theſe four;

Firſt, when he thinketh his authority ſhall weaken the credit of the truth.1. When his teſtimony may diſcredit truth. For then the more he ſheweth himſelf in his colours, the leſſe is that beleeved which he ſeems to affirm. Thus raging in the man poſſeſſed, he confeſſed ChriſthhMat. 8.29, 31Matt 8:29Matt 8:31 to be the Son of God, and after left the print of his malice in the drowned ſwine, not to give credit to that Doctrine, but to make it be accounted a doctrine of devils. In like manner by the mouth of the Pythoneſſe, iiActs 16.17.Acts 16:17he acknowledged the truth of the Goſpel, and the calling of the Apoſtles, knowing that nothing could ſo much undermine the authority of that truth, as his confeſſion and approbation, who was the known enemy thereof. Nothing is more pernicious then plaine dealing policy.

Secondly, when he hath wicked men at a vantage,2. When he hath men at a vantage. and now feareth they may bethink themſelves, for then he hurrieth them into the ſnares of perdition, as Huntſmen with loud cries do force their prey into their nets. Thus he dealt with Saul, Achitophel, Judas, not giving them time to bethink themſelves, but urging and precipitating them to a ſpeedy reſolution of ſelf murder, like the ſwine that were carried violently into the ſea.

Thirdly, when he maketh himſelf now ſure of his prey,3. When he is ſure of his prey. then for their greater terror and his greater glory, he letteth them ſee the face, and feel the force of their tyrannous conquerour. As Hunters, when the beaſts are hampered in the toile, come with their darts and inſtruments of death: For ſo Satan hath not only his nets, but alſo his darts; fiery darts, not onelyonly inſinuating, but alſo commanding tentations; the former to win them into his power; the latter to exerciſe his helliſh power over them; the former to diſarme them of wholſom and timely fear; the latter to inſult over them, when they are now paſt hope.

Fourthly, when rage deprives him of reaſon, and fury drives him from his fence.4. When rage puts him out of his fence. For as men in deſperation forget their cunning, ſo doth Satan; when he ſaw that Chriſt began that judgement, whereby he was to be caſt out: his malice made him do that, which apparently tended to the prejudice of his kingdom in haſtening the death of him, who was by dying to deſtroy both death and him. And in like manner in theſe laſt dayes ſeeing hiskkRev. 12.12, &cRev 12:12 time to be but ſhort, he waxeth wrath and woad, and in great rage perſecuteth the woman and her ſeed which keep the Commandments of God, and have the faith of Jeſus Chriſt.

Secondly, Satan the father.Thus we have ſeen how Satan is the arch-hypocrite, and now it remaineth to ſhew how he is the Father of all hypocrites.

That all wicked men are in the power of Satan,1. O all wicked men who are his ſubjects. it needeth no proof ſeeing the Apoſtle p. 19ſaith,ll1 John 5.19.1 John 5:19 the whole world lieth in evil, or in that evil one. HemmEph. 2.2.Eph 2:2 worketh in them, and leadeth themnn2 Tim. 2.262 Tim 2:26 according to his will. Heoo2 Cor. 4.42 Cor 4:4 blindeth them as horſes, that they may turn the better in his mill; they are his ſlaves body and ſoul,ppJohn 8.44John 8:44 becauſe his lusts they not only do, but will do. They are his tenants, and hold of him both their preſent portion in this world, and their place aſſigned in the world to come. Living, they pay him the rent of a guilty conſcience, and dying the heriot of a damned ſoul.

But there is yet a neerer relation betwixt him and them. For they are not only his Subjects, but hisqqJohn 8.44John 8:44 children andrrGen. 3.15Gen 3:15 ſeed: His ſeed.not onelyonly of his partie, but of his nature. Therefore the firſt diviſion of mankinde is into the ſeed of the woman, and the ſeed of the Serpent. Saint Auguſtine fetcheth the foundation of his two adverſe Cities farther off, to wit, from the diviſion of good and evil Angels. But there is ſome difference; good Angels differ from good men, becauſe thoſe were never pilgrims; and evil Angels from evil men, becauſe thoſe are all gone forth, never to return. Again, good Angels unto good men are onelyonly companions, and guards in the way of well-doing: But evil Angels unto wicked men, are among the cauſes and councellors of evil; wherefore wicked men are ſaid toss1 John 3.81 John 3:8 be of the devil; but good men, not of good Angels, but of God, and of Chriſt: And how wicked men are of the devil, our Saviour ſheweth when he telleth the malicious Jews what was their proper pedigree; Ye are of your Father the devil; and the bleſſed Apoſtle,John 8.44John 8:44 when he blaſoneth the arms ofttActs 13 10Acts 13:10 Elymas, O full of all ſubtilty and miſchief, thou ſon of the devil; wicked men therefore are of the devil, not as made by him, but as mar'd and made wicked by him; not as naturally begotten, but as ſpiritually corrupted by him; for ſinne is the devils ſeed, as grace is calleduu1 John 3.91 John 3:9 the ſeed of God. Of that ſeed are wicked men begotten, not as men, but as wicked; and from that ſeed we all by nature bear the image and ſuperſcription of Satan; and in whomſoever that ſeed is not mortified, they ſhew themſelves children of that Father by imitation; ye do that, ſaith our Saviour,Non naſcendo; ſed imitando, Aug. which ye have ſeen with your Father; Fathers affect to bring up their children in their own trade, and children are apt to do what their fathers do before them, imitation is enough to denominate even ſtrange children; for which cauſe all heardſemen are ſaid to be the ſonnes of Jabal, and all Muſicians the ſons of Jubal, which phraſe is interpreted when Tubal-Cain is ſaid to be thewwGen. 4.20, 21 22Gen 4:20Gen 4:21 inſtructer of all artificers; How much more may Satan be called the father of wicked men, who firſt were corrupted in Adam by his poyſonous tentation; Secondly, begotten in his likeneſſe; Thirdly, brought up in his School; Fourthly, remain ſtill practitioners in his helliſh Myſtery, who ſee him, and love to ſee and follow him, appearing familiarly to them in unghoſtly counſellors, in ſenſual objects, in diabolical ſuggeſtions? And ſo great is the communion between him and them, that the Holy Ghoſt forbeareth not to give unto the devil the name of man xxMat. 13.28Matt 13:28; and unto a man the name of Devil yyJohn 6.70John 6:70; to ſhew, that men ruled by the devil, are devils incarnate.

But of all wicked men hypocrites may beſt claim this kindred, or rather wicked men, as in regard of all ſinnes, ſo eſpecially of their hypocriſie.2. More ſpecially of hypocrites. Other ſinnes transforme men into beaſts, as drunkenneſſe into ſwine, cruelty into lyons, craft into foxes luſt into horſes, &c. but hypocriſie into devils, therefore Judas is called a devil; and falſe teachers compared to Satan rr2 Cor 11 32 Cor 11:3the ſubtil Serpent, transforming himſelf into an Angel of light: Miſchief is not all, there muſt be ſubtilty ssAct 13.10Acts 13:10quartered with miſchief to blaſon a ſon of the Devil; a lie is not enough, it muſt bett1 Tim. 4 1, 2.1 Tim 4:11 Tim 4:2 a lie through hypocriſie, to note a doctrine of devils; this maketh men a uuDeut. 32.5.Deut 32:5perverſe and crooked generation, reſembling the crooked Serpent of whom they are deſcended; by this, Satan filleth their hearts to lie unto God, as is ſaid of Ananias; Satan ſo taught Adam wwJob 31.33Job 31:33, and Adam man-kinde, though ſome exceed others in the practice of that common leſſon: for Satan hath not only his vulgar profeſſors, but his Prophets, his Apoſtles and Martyrs too. He would ſeem an Angel of light, whoſe office is to have the Teſtimony of Jeſus, no marvel then if his champions have aſſumed the titles of Angelical and Seraphical Doctors: By theſe hexx2 Cor. 11.32 Cor 11:3 corrupteth the mindes of men from the ſimplicity that is in Chriſt; or this double Serpent cannot abide ſimplicity, either in doctrine, worſhip, p. 20or converſation. Of him men learn to be one to another, as Dan. yyGen. 49 17Gen 49:17a Serpent by the way, an Adder in the path to bite the horſe heels, that the Rider may fall backwards. Of him they learn to hate the image of God inzzGal. 4.29Gal 4:29 ſuch as are born after the Spirit, and yet toaaProv. 26.26Prov 26:26 cover their hatred by deceit. Of him they learn tobb2 Tim. 3.32 Tim 3:3 accuſe and calumniate, whence we reade of men-devils, and women-devils. Of him they learn to be tempters andcc1 Tim. 3.111 Tim 3:11 ſeducers one to another. The Serpent was a devil to the woman, and the woman a Serpent unto the man, and ſince that time every man is by nature a tempter, a Serpent, a devil both to himſelf and others; To himſelf; for,ddJames 1.14Jas 1:14 whoſoever is tempted, is drawn away by his own concupiſcence and entiſed; To others; for company, counſel, example in ſinning are forcible perſwaſions, Homo homini aut Deus eſt, aut Daemon. He that is not Gods inſtrument for the good of his brother, is the Devils agent for his deſtruction, as Ahabs Prophets helped their Maſter to hell, andeeRev. 2.14.Rev 2:14 Balaam that taught Balack to lay a ſtumbling block before the children of Iſrael. Satan hath ſo ſtrong a party in man-kind, that he need not now to tempt any more by the Serpent. The hypocrite will ſerve that turn, who aſſociateth, and as it were incorporateth into himſelf the unclean ſpirits, and (as Saint Bernard ſpeaketh) una cum eis efficitur Daemon; He is both the devils child, and his harlot (as Lucretia to Pope Alexander) to make him a fruitful father of lies.

But in enlarging theſe things, I finde my ſelf in danger to touch upon divers particulars which will more fitly and fruitfully offer themſelves in their proper places; Wherefore it ſhall ſuffice that hypocriſie is the devils craft, in which wicked men are free by their fathers copy, and that he ſendeth up out of hell theſe falſe Samuels, as walking Ghoſts and phantaſmes to delude the credulous world.Application. Whence it followeth that we have need in the through-fare of this world (which is the devils dominion) of a threefold Caution.

The firſt, in regard of Satan himſelf, The great Impoſter of the world, leaſt he circumvent us with his methods and wiles.1. Beware of his wiles. We had need go ſtudy this black art, not to practiſe, but to avoid it; The knowledge of his art of offence is unto us the art of defence; O what wiſdome is required in a Chriſtian that muſt take heed of an Angel of darkneſſe, under the ſhew offf2 Cor. 11.142 Cor 11:14 an Angel of light: O what watchfulneſſe, that muſt not take an Angel of lightggGal. 1.8Gal 1:8 upon his own report; the wound of the Scorpion is cured by his own blood; So the wiſdom of the Serpent is needful againſt this Serpent, and ſpiritual prudence to diſcern and withſtand theſe ſpiritual wickedneſſes; No truſt in revelations either againſt or beſides the word. We muſt queſtion ſuch apparitions, as Joſhuah did the AngelhhJoſh. 5.13.Josh 5:13 Art thou for us or for our adverſaries? ſo is this the perſwaſion of him that hath called us? He that ſpeaks not according to that rule, Hic niger eſt, iiEſay 8.20Isa 8:20there is no morning light in him. Say not as the ſeduced charmer, I am in league with him, he will do me no harm; it is not ſafekkEſay 28.15Isa 28:15 covenanting with hell, nor taking Phyſick of an enemy. He hath nothing to give thee but death. Can any good come out ofllHeb. 2.14Heb 2:14 deaths dominion? ſay not, I hate and defie him with all my heart, yet living in a courſe of ſinne He is a baſe tyrant that ſeeketh not thy love, but thy ſervice, and that unto thine own deſtruction. He is content thou ſhouldſt ſpit at his name, ſo thou cheriſh his nature, and wrong the Lord to do him a pleaſure: Say not, he is an enemy indeed, but far off. Alas his home, his hold (till Chriſt caſt him out) is within thee, thine heart is his forge, thy corruptions his inſtruments, thy leud companions his very black Angels and ſub-devils. Fear him not ſo much for his horns and claws, as for his tentations. Many make God the authour of their ſin, and Satan of their puniſhment; but it is Satan that craftily ſeduceth thee, and God that juſtly puniſheth thee, and that by delivering thee into his hands to torment thee. If thou willingly admit him as a tempter, thou ſhalt ſurely fall into his hands as thy tormentor; ſay unto the Lord, the adverſary and enemy is this wicked Satan; but dwell thoummPſal. 91.1, 3. Aug. in Pſ. 130Ps 91:1Ps 91:3Ps 130 in the ſecret of the moſt high, and he will deliver thee from the ſnare of this Hunter. A Chriſtian (as the woman in the Revelation) hath wings given him to fly above the reach of this dragon, and may ſay (with Doedatus) non poſſidet aethera Satan; yea, the Lord will turn his malice into good unto thee. Little knoweth Satan (ſaith Saint Augustine) what good cometh of him, even when he rageth moſt like himſelf. p. 21The Lord though he ſuffer him to ſift, yea and buffet his dear children, yet will not give the ſoul of his turtle into the power of the dog.

Our ſecond caution muſt be to take heed of petty hypocrites, vice-devils.2. Take heed of ſub-devils. Evil men are the ſuburbs of hell, but hypocrites are his exchange. Every wicked man is the devils cuſtomer, but hypocrites are his brokers, his chapmen, his retailers they buy of him to ſell unto others: Every ſinner is deceived by him, but the hypocrite is his apprentiſe in the art of deceit;nn2 Tim. 3 132 Tim 3:13 deceiving and being deceived, no marvel they make ſo good a ſhew, and paſſe ſo currant in the world, ſeeing Satan joyneth with them, to advance his party and kingdome; but he croſſeth and diſgraceth all that ever he can the ſincere Chriſtian. Hence we ſee that Papiſts (with all the miſchief they do) can hardly get enemies, nor true hearted profeſſors, friends. Men are ready to plead for them.ooMal. 2.10Mal 2:10 Have we not all one Father? and it is true enough in the ſenſe before delivered; but according to their underſtanding of a Father;ppMat. 3.9Matt 3:9 God is able of ſtones, of infidels to raiſe better children unto Abraham; we ſhould therefore learn rather of the Prophet, to handle roughly the Miniſters ofqq2 King. 6.322 Kgs 6:32 this murtherer, and give them their anſwer without the door, for certainly the ſound of their Maſters feet is behinde them: Let not ſhews and titles deceive us. Satan ſmiles to ſee Gods image derided under his name; and his embraced under the name of Chriſt. Reject not truth becauſe he alledgeth it (for that he aimes at;) but reject his authority and communion, as havingrrActs 8.Acts 8 neither part nor lot in that buſineſs. See God in every truth, though uttered byss2 Chr. 35.212 Chr 35:21 Pharaoh; and Satan in every falſehood, though fathered upon Peter.ttMat. 16.23Matt 16:23

Our third and moſt important Caution reſpecteth our ſelves, that we make our ſelves free, not of, but from this trade of devils:3. Be not of the devils trade. this ſinne of hypocriſie; I would not (ſaith theuu1 Cor. 10 201 Cor 10:20 Apoſtle) that ye ſhould have fellowſhip with devils. Hypocriſie is not only a communion, but a fornication with the unclean ſpirits. Wilt thou make thy ſoul his harlot? thy wit his bawd? thy profeſſion his midwife? thy practiſe his baſtard? Shall he make thy minde his tiring houſe? thy life his pageant? thy heart his quiver? thy tongue his bowewwJer. 9.3Jer 9:3? Wilt thou do as ſome fooliſhly proud, who ſpoile a good complexion by painting? The King of heaven will never take pleaſure in a borrowed beauty. He had rather ſee in thee ingenuous defects, then counterfeit perfections. Painting is not intended to pleaſe chaſt eyes,Pſalme 49.11Ps 49:11 and therefore is but an harlotry varniſh; no more is hypocriſie accommodated unto the pure eyes of Chriſt, and therefore it is but a deviliſh dawbery; though it make many a ſinne-burnt ſoule ſeeme faire to carnal beholders.

In fine, our ſinful nature is a Paſiphae; the devil not only a Taurus to adulterate her, but a Dae…alus to build for every Minotaure a labyrinth of hypocriſie, but the knowledge of our ſelves and of God muſt be the clew of Ariadne to bring us in; and the power of the Word and Spirit of God more then the force of Theſeus to ſubdue theſe monſters.