Satans Temptations in Three Parts, Part 3 · Chapter 20
CHAP. XX. The Nature of Idolatry. Satan's Deſign to corrupt the Worſhip of God. The Evidences thereof, with the Reaſons of ſuch endeavours. His general Deſign of withdrawing the Hearts of Men from God to his Service. The Proof that this is his Deſign, upon whom he prevails. That Profeſſions and Confidences are no Evidences to the contrary. His deceit of propounding Sin as a ſmall Matter. The Evidences of that Method, and the Reaſon thereof.
THus have I conſidered the Temptation as Blaſphemous. I proceed next to conſider it as Idolatrous, the words foreign, if thou wilt fall down and worſhip, do give us the true Notion of Idolatry. The Word which we call Worſhip comes from foreign, which ſignifies to kiſs, or from foreign which ſignifies a Dog, both being to the ſame purpoſe, and ſignifying any action of reverence by which we ſignify the reſpect of our Minds: to kiſs the Hand, or to Fawn as a Dog, are Geſtures which expreſs the Honour we would give, and being applyed to Divine Worſhip before, or with reſpect unto an undue Object, is Idolatry; and as ſuch, doth Chriſt reject it in his Anſwer, Thou ſhalt worſhip the Lord thy God, and him only ſhalt thou ſerve. We worſhip God, when in Ways and Actions commanded or preſcribed, we teſtify our belief and reſentment of his incommunicable Attributes. It is Idolatry, when either we uſe the ſame Actions of preſcribed Worſhip to that which is not God, or when we teſtify our reſpects to the true God in an undue way of our own deviſing. Here might I take occaſion to ſhew the Vanity of the Popiſh Subterfuges, their diſtinction of Latria and Dulia is (as Dr. Moore obſerves) hereby overthrown:Myſtery of Iniquity. lib. 1. cap. 9. Satan doth not here ſet himſelf up as the Omnipotent God, for he acknowledgeth one Superiour to himſelf, in that he confeſſeth that the Power he had of the Kingdoms of the World was given to him, Luke 4. 6. and therefore not the Latria, but the Dulia is required of him; and yet this Chriſt denies him as being Idolatry, in that no Religious Worſhip (for that muſt needs be the ſenſe of his Anſwer) is due to any but God alone. Their other diſtinction of worſhipping an Idol, (Saint, Angel, Croſs, &c.) and before ſuch a Creature, is alſo hereby cruſhed (as is commonly obſerved;) for what the Evangeliſt Matthew expreſſeth by foreign,Muſculus in loc. Luke calls foreign, before me: ſo that the Scripture makes no difference betwixt theſe two,Perkins in loc. ſhewing it to be Idolatry to uſe religious Worſhip to that which is not God, or before it, but theſe things I ſhall not proſecute, keeping therefore to my deſign I ſhall obſerve.
That it is one of Satan's great deſigns to corrupt the Worſhip of God.Obſ. 7. That this is ſo, will appear,
Firſt, If we conſider what varieties of Worſhip hath been in the World. God gave a fixed and ſtable Law, and yet this ſo little prevailed, that Men were upon new Inventions preſently. I ſhall not need to reckon up the (almoſt numberleſs) varieties of this kind among the Heathen. The Inſtance is plain enough, in thoſe that profeſſed the name of the true God, they were ſtill changing for new Faſhions in Religon, borrowing Patterns from their neighbours, ſo that if there were but a new Altar at Damaſcus, or a new Idol in any ſtrange City, they muſt preſently have the like, till (as the Prophet tells them) according to their Cities ſo were their Gods. He that will call to mind, that the Husbandman did firſt ſow good Seed in his Field, and that there is ſuch Varieity of Tares and falſe Worſhip, notwithſtanding the plain and poſitive Command of God, fixing and determining his Worſhip, muſt needs conclude that an Enemy, Satan hath done it.
Secondly, If we call to mind, how in all Ages there hath been a conſtancy in this inconſtant Variety, we hear of it among the Heathens. We read enough of it among the Jews, and when they were out of the humour of more ſhameful Idolatries, they yet corrupted the Worſhip of God by their Traditions; and of theſe they were ſo fond, that they cauſed the Law of God it ſelf to give place to them, and made it void by them. The times of the Goſpel were not free; though Chriſt came to ſeek ſuch Worſhippers, as ſhould worſhip him in Spirit and in Truth, yet before the Apoſtles Deaths, while yet they were perſwading to the contrary, there aroſe up ſome that corrupted the Worſhip, by leading the People back again to the Jewiſh Ceremonies, and others laboured to bring in worſhipping of Angels, and at laſt to eat things offered to Idols with greater defilements. Since the Apoſtles days the ſame Deſign hath been carried on in the Churches. Rome hath patched together a great deal of Jewiſh and Heatheniſh Ceremonies; and when the Man of Sin ſhall be revealed, yet an higher Flood of ſuch Abominations is to be expected. Who hath wrought all this but Satan? this is ſtill the ſame deſign, and though the work be not in all parts like it ſelf, yet the whole of it evidenceth the working of the ſame Spirit in all.
Thirdly, Let us obſerve how early this began. We cannot ſay, but that in the days of Adam, (who doubtleſs had received particular Commands from God, in which he would not fail to inſtruct his Children;) they were ſeeking to themſelves many Inventions. Gen. 4. 26. At the Birth of Enos (as ſome conjecture) there were ſuch defilements brought into uſe in Worſhip, that Seth had reſpect to it when he called his Son Enos Sorrowful, as lamenting that Prophanation which was then begun in calling upon the Name of the Lord, for ſo do many interpret that Paſſage, which in our Engliſh we read thus, Then began Men to call upon the Name of the Lord, the word in the Original is foreign, which ſignifieth both to prophane, and to begin, and may be as properly tranſlated, then prophaned they in calling upon the Name of the Lord. And there are ſeveral reaſons that move learned Men to fix upon this Tranſlation:Druſius. Lightfoot. Tremel. &c. As (1.) That it is not probable that Men began then to call upon God, or publickly to do ſo (as ſome would interpret) and not before, as the preſent Engliſh would imply. (2.) That Age was noted as corrupt, and therefore it is noted (as a rarity) that Enoch walked with God. (3.) The Rabbins generally tranſlate foreign to Prophane; but if we ſhould grant the preſent Engliſh, Then began Men to call upon the Name of the Lord, It would imply that the Worſhip practiſed by Adam and Abel had been corrupted, and now it was reſtored again and reformed, which will make the Corruption of Worſhip to be yet more early. And after that we read of corruption crept into the Family of Seth (as well as now in the Family of Cain) ſo that the Worſhip of God ſtood not long in its Honour,Gen. 6. 2. though Adam and Seth were alive to inſtruct them; which ſhews that it was a rebellious departure from the way, fomented and brought on by the malignant Spirit Satan.
Fourthly, But to make all ſure, the Scripture lays all theſe kinds of corruption of Worſhip at Satan's Door. The defilements of Worſhip taught in Thyatira by Jezebel, Rev. 2. 24.are called the depths of Satan; 2 Theſſ. 2. 9.the Corruptions introduced by Antichriſt, are from the workings of Satan. What was promoted by falſe Apoſtles to that purpoſe they had it from their great Teacher Satan,2 Cor. 11. 13, 14. who transforms himſelf for ſuch ends into an Angel of Light: ſo that nothing can be more plain than that this is an old and conſtant Deſign of Satan.
The particular ways by which Satan effects this Deſign I ſhall not now touch, but ſhall in lieu of that give you the reaſons of his endeavours this way.
Firſt, He knows that this is a Sin of an high provocation. Worſhip is the proper Tribute that is due to God, and 'tis peculiarly his Prerogative to preſcribe the way and manner of it; neither of theſe Honours will he give to any other, but will expreſs his jealouſy when any invaſion is made upon theſe his ſole Prerogatives. Now his Worſhip cannot be corrupted, but one of theſe at leaſt will in ſome degree or other be touched. If we ſet up another Object of Worſhip, we deny him to be God: if we worſhip him in a way of our own invention, we deny his Wiſdom, and ſet up our ſelves above him, as if we could order his Worſhip better than he hath done in his Word.
Secondly, If the Worſhip be corrupted, all the Exerciſe of the Affections of the Heart, and all the Service it ſelf is loſt, and become unacceptable; he knows that ſuch Worſhippers ſhall meet with this Anſwer, who hath required this at your hands?
Thirdly, Corruption in Worſhip, Satan by long experience knows to have been the ground of thoſe hatreds, quarrels, perſecutions and troubles under which the Church hath groaned in all ages, every difference impoſing their way and perſwaſion upon all diſſenters, to the diſturbance of Peace, breach and decay of Love, hinderance of the growth of Piety, to the biting and devouring of one another.
Fourthly, Beſides God is provoked by this to leave his Sanctuary, to remove his Glory and his Candleſtick; to make his Vineyard a deſolation, and his Churches as Shilob.
Fifthly, Satan is the more induſtrious in this, becauſe his ways are capable of many advantages to further his deſign, and many ſpecious pretences to cover it. In Col. 2. 8. he made uſe of Philoſophy to corrupt Religion, and by unſound Principles of ſome Heathens famous for that Learning, introduced worſhipping of Angels; what that could not effect he laboured to perform by the Traditions of Men, and where that came ſhort, the rudiments of the World (the Moſaical Ceremonies were ſo called here, and in the Epiſtle to the Hebrews) were his Engine by which he battered the plain Worſhip of the New Teſtament. And as to pretences the Apoſtle doth there, and elſewhere note, that Deceny and Order, Humility, Wiſdom, and Self-denyal, are things very taking, and yet uſually pretended for ſuch bold Innovations as may corrupt the pure ſtreams of the Sanctuary.
Hence may I leave with you a few Memorials.Applic.
Firſt, This may make us jealous of any alterations in the way of God's Worſhip. We have reaſon under the moſt plauſible pretexts to ſuſpect the hand of Satan, becauſe 'tis one of his main buſineſſes to corrupt the Worſhip.
Secondly, This may juſtify thoſe that out of a conſcientious fear of complying with Satans deſign, dare not admit of a Pin in the Tabornacle beſide what God hath preſcribed, nor leave behind a Shoe Latchet of what he hath enjoyned.
Thirdly, This will tell us that that Worſhip is beſt and ſafeſt that hath leaſt of Mixture of humane Invention. We cannot offend in keeping cloſe to the Rule, though the Worſhip thereby become more plain, and not ſo gorgeous in outward appearance. We may ſoon overdo it by the leaſt addition, and cannot be ſo certain of God's acceptation, as we are of pleaſing the Senſes of Men by ſuch introducements.
This motion of Satan, Fall down and worſhip me, is now in the laſt place to be conſidered as a particular inſtance of Satans general deſign, of drawing the hearts of Men from God, his Service and ways, to the pleaſures of Sin: as if he ſhould ſay to him, follow my advice, give up thy ſelf to my Service, and thou ſhalt be gratified with all the delights that the World can give thee: to this doth the bait here offered moſt fitly agree. Hence Obſerve,
That it is Satans general deſign to withdraw the hearts of Men from God,Obſ. 8. that they may be enſlaved to him in the Service of Sin.
That the Devil doth level all his endeavours to this, cannot be doubted: For (1.) he hath a Kingdom in this World, from which he is denominated the Prince of this World. And this is not only a rule of Exteriour force, ſuch as Conquerous have over their captivated Slaves, who are compelled to ſubject their Bodies, while yet their minds are full of hatred againſt him, who hath thus forced them to ſubjection; but it is a rule over the Hearts and Affections of Men, working in the Children of Diſobedience a love and liking of theſe ways, and begetting in them the Image of Satan; ſo that what work he impoſeth they are pleaſed withal, and love to have it ſo: Therefore he is not only called their Prince, but their God, and their Father; Ye are of your Father the Devil, in that with a kind of inward devotion they will and endeavour to perform the Luſts which he propounds to them.
Secondly, This Kingdom is contrary to God's Spiritual Kingdom; that being of Darkneſs, this of Light: and it is managed by Satan with an envious competition and Corrivalſhip to that of God; ſo that as God invites Men to the Happineſs of his Kingdom, and ſends his Spirit in his Word and Ordinances to perſwade them, Satan doth the like, he ſends out his Spirit which the Apoſtle calls the Spirit of the World, 1 Cor. 2. 12. and imploys all his Agents to engage Men for him; he requires the Heart as God doth, he promiſeth his rewards of Pleaſure, Honour, Riches, if they will fall down and worſhip him. Now 'tis ſo natural to proſecute an Intereſt thus eſpouſed in a way of oppoſition, eſpecially to any other that ſet up for themſelves in a contradictory Competitorſhip, that the very natural Laws of Satans Kingdom will engage him to ſtand up for it, and to enlarge it all he can.
Thoſe upon whom he prevails are of two ſorts.
Firſt, Some are viſibly in his Service: theſe anſwer the Character which was given of Ahab, 1 Kings 21. 20. Who ſold himſelf to work Wickedneſs in the ſight of the Lord. The firſt expreſſion ſhews, that ſuch are wholly in Satans Power and Diſpoſal, as things ſold are in the Poſſeſſion and Power of the Buyer, they are at Satans will; if he ſay to them, Go, they go: and if he ſay, Come, they come: their Bodies and Spirits are Satan's, they are not their own: and they are his for the ends of Sin, for that imployment only, ſo that they are wholly corrupt and abominable. The latter expreſſion that he did ſo in the Sight of the Lord, manifeſts their ſhameleſs impudency in Sin, that they declare their Sin as Sodom, and hide it not, that they do not Bluſh, but openly wear the Devils Livery, and avouch his Service: As the works of the Fleſh are manifeſt, ſo theſe in their practice of ſuch works, are manifeſtly Satans Subjects. Theſe kind of Men are frequently in the Old Teſtament ſtiled Sons of Belial, foreign vel a foreign non et foreign Jugum abſque Jugo, vel a foreign non & foreign ſupra, vel a, foreign non & foreign profuit homo inutilis.a name very ſignificant, ſhewing either their devoting of themſelves to the Devils Service, in that they reject the Yoke of God's Law, in that they break his Bonds, and caſt his Cords from them, or their Pride that they will have none above them, not conſidering that there is a God, or that the moſt High rules, or their averſneſs to what is good, being wholly unprofitable, and to every good work reprobate.
Secondly, Some are ſecretly his Servants, they come to the Devil (as Nicodemus did to Chriſt) by Night; they will not openly profeſs him, but yet their hearts are wholly his: ſuch are called by the name of Hypocrites. The Phariſees and Scribes ſeemed to declare for God, called themſelves Abrahams Seed, Faſted, gave Alms, made long Prayers; and yet were a Generation of Vipers, and of their Father the Devil. The ſecreſy of this underhand engagement to Hell is ſuch, that many who are in a league with the Devil, and at an agreement with Death, do neither know nor believe it concerning themſelves. For,
Firſt, This private Covenant may be, where there are the greateſt ſeeming deſilements of Satan, and high Profeſſions of Service to God. The Phariſees (as have been ſaid) were the Devils Servants, under all the fair ſhew they made of Religion, and zeal for the Law, and yet when Chriſt plainly told them that they were not Abrahams Seed, but the Devils Seed, they with high indignation and ſcorn throw back the accuſation to Chriſt, Thou art a Samaritan, and haſt a Devil, we are Abraham's Children; ſo little believed they the truth when it was told them.
Secondly, This may conſiſt with ſome deſignement and intention to give God Glory. The Jews though they ſubmitted not to the Righteouſneſs of God, yet (by the Teſtimony of Paul) they had a Zeal to God. The very Heathens that ſacrifice to Devils; had not formal intentions ſo to do, as appears by their inſcription on the Altar at Athens, Acts 17. 23. To the unknown God. The true God, though unknown, they propounded as the Object of their Worſhip, yet falling into thoſe ways of devotion which the Devil had preſcribed, theſe intentions could not hinder but that they became his Servants.
Thirdly, Men may be Servants to Satan under great aſſurances and confidences of their Intereſt in God; many go to Hell that have lived with Lord, Lord in their Mouths; thoſe mentioned in Eſa. 48. 2. that had no intereſt in Truth and Righteouſneſs when they ſolemnly ſware by the name of the Lord, yet they called themſelves of the Holy City, and ſtayed themſelves upon the God of Iſrael.
If it ſeem ſtrange to any that theſe Profeſſions,Object. Intentions, and Confidences are not enough to ſecure Men from this charge, but that they may be ſecretly Slaves to Hell. I Anſwer,
Firſt,Anſw. That thoſe do not neceſſarily conclude that the Heart of ſuch Men is right with God. Formality, natural Conſcience, and the power of Education may do much of this: for though we grant that ſuch are not conſcious to themſelves of any real deſign of ſerving Satan, yet they may either ſo far miſs it in the way of their Service, offering that as well pleaſing to God, which indeed he hates (and that through wilful and affected Ignorance;) as thoſe of whom Chriſt ſpeaks, Joh. 16. 2. that ſhould think the killing of God's Children a peice of acceptable Service; Or they may be ſo miſtaken as to the Sincerity of their Hearts, that they may think they have a deſign to pleaſe God in doing of what he requires in order thereunto, when indeed it may not be ſingly for God, but for themſelves that they work, in a ſelf-gratification of their natural Zeal for their way; or their Eſteem, Credit, and Advantage may privately influence them, rather than a Spirit of Life and Power.
Secondly, The work which they do, and the Ends they ſerve, will be evidence againſt profeſſions and intentions. 'Tis a ſure rule, that the work ſhews to whom Men are related as Servants, and it is laid down as a certain Standard to meaſure the Hearts of Men by, when pretences and perſwaſions ſeem to carry all before them. Rom. 6. 16. His Servants ye are to whom you obey. 1 Joh. 3. 8, 10. He that committeth Sin is of the Devil: in this the Children of God are manifeſt, and the Children of the Devil; that is, when it becomes a queſtion to whom a Man belongs, whoſe Child and Servant he is, it muſt be determined by the works he doth: if he engage in the ways of Sin, he is of the Devil, let him profeſs what he will to the contrary. This ſame Ballance Chriſt uſeth to try the truth of the Jews pretences to God, Joh. 8. 34. Whoſoever committeth Sin, is the Servant of Sin; they boaſted high, but he ſhews them that ſeeing their deſigns and works were Hatred, Envy, Murther, &c. which are apparently from Satan, it was evident they had learned theſe of him; and he concludes by this proof, ver. 44. that they were of their Father the Devil. Thus may we ſay of thoſe that pretend they honour God, they defie the Devil, they intend well, if yet they give themſelves up to the pleaſing of the Fleſh, if worldly minded, if they live in Pride, Strife, Envy, Maliciouſneſs, &c. which are works of the Devil, it is not all their pretences that will intitle them to God; but they are (for all this) the Devils Servants, as doing his works.
This may put Men upon enquiries,Applic. who are ye for? whoſe Servants are ye? There are but two that can lay claim to you, and theſe two divide the whole World betwixt them, there is no ſtate of Neutrality, you are either God's Servants, or the Devils, ye cannot ſerve them both; now if the Lord be God, ſerve him. Satan's Service is Baſe, Diſhonourable, Slaviſh; the Service of God, Freedom, Honour, Life and Peace: there is indeed no compariſon betwixt them. Happy then is that Man that can ſay the Lord is his Lot and Portion, that can come into God's Preſence, and there in his Integrity, avouch the Lord for his God; that can ſtand upon it, My Soul hath ſaid unto the Lord, thou art my God, and I have none beſides thee; other Lords have had dominion over us, but we will make mention of thy Name only.
This Temptation though it were in it ſelf horrid, and as a Brood of Vipers knotted together, which at once could ſend out ſeveral ſtings, and make many wounds (as hath been noted;) yet in the way of propounding, Satan ſeems to inſinuate the largeneſs of his proffer, and the ſmalneſs and inconſiderableneſs of the Service required: as if he ſhould ſay, See how free I am in my Kindneſs, I will not ſtick to give thee the Kingdoms of the World, and the Glory of them, and all this for ſo ſmall a matter, as bowing before me, or doing me a little Reverence. This gives us to Obſerve,
That when Satan doth deſign no leſs than to enſlave Men to his Service, Obſ. 9yet he will propound Sin as a ſmall thing, or but one act of Sin, as a thing not valuable, to engage them to him. Not but that he deſires to run Men to exceſs in Wickedneſs, and delights to ſee them with both hands earneſtly work Iniquity with greedineſs; yet where he ſees the Conſciences of Men ſquemiſh, and that they cannot bear Temptations to open and common Prophaneneſs without danger of revolt from him, there he ſeems modeſt, and requires but ſome ſmall thing at leaſt at firſt, till the ways of Sin become more familiar to them, and then when they can better bear it, he doubles the tale of Bricks, and with greater confidence can urge them to things of greater Shame and Enormity. That this is his way, appears,
Firſt, from the common Argument which he uſeth at firſt to thoſe whom he would draw off from a more careful Converſation which is this: Do ſuch a thing, it's but for once, and but little, others do the like and demur not; or the beſt do as great matters as this comes to; 'tis but a ſmall thing, conſidering the Strait or the Advantage that may accrew. This is his uſual Note to candidate Iniquity, as experience of all doth teſtify.
Secondly, That this is ſo, is alſo evident from a Conſideration of the ſeveral ways and courſes of Sinners. Some are tempted and overcome by one kind of Sin, and not at all urged to others. Some go to Hell in a way of Covetouſneſs: Others are pretty unblameable in moſt of their carriages, but are overcome by a proud Humour: Others are given to Drink, and yet will not Steal nor deal falſely: Others take a more cleanly way to Hell, rely upon their own Righteouſneſs, or are engaged in Error, and their Life otherwiſe ſmooth and fair. The Jews in Chriſt's time were only engaged againſt Chriſt, and for their Traditions, but not moleſted with Temptations to open Idolatry as formerly. Thoſe who are Ignorant, are not troubled with Temptations to deſpair, or inward Terrours. The Reaſons of his dealing thus are theſe;
Firſt, He ſees that one Sin heartily proſecuted, is enough to ſignify Homage to him, and to give him Poſſeſſion. As we take Poſſeſſion of Land by a Turf, or a Twig: ſo by one Sin admitted with full purpoſe of Mind, Satan is let into the Heart. As a Penny will be ſufficient earneſt for a Bargain of a thouſand Pound: ſo may one Sin be a Pledg or earneſt for the whole Soul in a League with Hell.
Secondly, He knows that one Sin perſiſted in may be enough to deſtroy the Soul; as one Wound may Kill, one Leak may ſink a Ship.
Thirdly, He knows that one Sin breaks the Covenant of God, and turns the Heart from him, if Men give up themſelves to it.
Fourthly, One Sin wilfully purſued, makes a Man guilty of the Breach of the whole Law, it deſtroys love and reſpect to God, undervalues his Authority, contemns his Threatnings and Promiſes.
Fifthly, One Sin is enough to make way for more, where Satan would have more, yet at firſt he is pleaſed with it as a hopeful beginning; it makes room enough for the Serpents Head, and then he will afterward eaſily wind in his whole Body.
This may warn us not to be imboldned to any Sin by the plea of diminution; Applic.not to venture becauſe it may ſeem little, or be but for once. A true Chriſtian ſhould be a perfect Ʋniverſaliſt, he ſhould be univerſally againſt all Sin, and univerſally for All Duty.