Satans Temptations in Three Parts, Part 1 · Chapter 1
CHAP. I. The Introduction to the Text, from a conſideration of the deſperate ruine of the Souls of Men. The Text opened, expreſſing Satan's Malice, Power, Cruelty and Diligence.
THe Souls of Men are precious, the whole World cannot repair their loſs; hence by God are all Men in particular charged with care and watchfulneſs about them. He hath alſo ſet up Watchmen and Overſeers, whoſe buſineſs it is to watch over Souls, and in the moſt ſtrict and careful manner, as thoſe that muſt give an account.
What can more ſtir up Men to the diſcharge of this Duty, than the frequent alarms which we have of the aſſaults of ſuch an Adverſary, whoſe buſineſs 'tis to deſtroy the Soul? The Philiſtims are upon thee Sampſon; he fights continually, and uſeth all the policy and skill he hath for the management of his ſtrength.
Beſides, 'tis a Conſideration very affecting, when we view the Deſolations that are made in the Earth; what Wounds, what Overthrows, what Cruelties, Slaveries, and Captivities theſe conquered Vaſſals are put to. It was (as ſome think) an inexcuſable cruelty in David againſt the Ammonites, when he put, them under Saws, 2 Sam. 12. 31.and Harrows of Iron, and made them paſs through th…e Brick-kiln; but this Spiritual Pharaoh hath a more grievous Houſe of Bondage, and Iron Furnace. Neither is this miſerable deſtruction ended, but will keep pace with Time, and ſhall not ceaſe, till Chriſt ſhall at his appearance finally conquer him and tread him down. If Xerxes wept to look upon his Army through the proſpective of devouring Time, which, upon an eaſy foreſight, ſhewed him the death of ſo great a company of gallant Men; we may well weep (as David at Ziglag) till we can weep no more: or (as Rachel for her Children) refuſing to be comforted, while we conſider what a great number of ſucceeding Generations, heaps upon heaps, will be drawn with him to a conſuming Tophet. And could we follow him thither, to hear the cries of his Priſoners, the roarings of his Wounded, where they curſe the day that brought them forth, and themſelves for their folly and madneſs in hearkning to his Deluſions; the dreadful out-crys of Eternity, and then their rage againſt Heaven in curſings and blaſphemings, while they have no mitigations, or eaſe, nor the refreſhment of a drop of Water to cool their Tongues, we would ſurely think we could never ſpend our time better, than in oppoſing ſuch an Enemy, and warning Men to fly from the wrath to come, to take heed they come not into his ſnare; with what earneſtneſs would we endeavour to perſwade Men? what diligence would we uſe to caſt Water upon theſe devouring Flames, and to pluck Men as Brands out of the Fire? 'Tis true, if Satan had dealt plainly with Men, and told them what Wages they were to expect, and ſet a viſible mark upon his Slaves, or had managed a viſibly deſtructive hoſtility, Men have ſuch natural principles of ſelf-preſervation, and of hatred of what appears to be evil, that we might expect they would have fled from him, and ſtill have been upon their guard: But he uſeth ſuch Artifices, ſuch Sleights and Couzenage, that Men are caſt into a ſleep, or a golden dream, while he binds them in Chains of Darkneſs, they ſee not their end, the Snare, nor the Pit; nay, he intoxicates them with a love of their miſery, and a delight in helping forward their ruin; ſo that they are Volunteers in his Service, and poſſeſſed with a madneſs and rage againſt all that will not be as willing as themſelves to go to Hell; but eſpecially if they put forth a compaſſionate hand to help any out of that Gulf of Miſery, they hate them, they gnaſh, upon them with their teeth, and run upon them with utmoſt violence, as if they had no Enemies but theſe compaſſionate Samaritans.
How great is this Myſtery of Darkneſs! Who ſhall be able to open the depths of it? Who ſhall declare it fully to the Sons of Men, to bring theſe hidden things to light? Eſpecially ſeeing theſe helliſh Secrets which are yet undiſcovered, are double to thoſe that have been obſerved, by any that have eſcaped from his power: He only whoſe prerogative it is to ſearch the hearts of Men, can know, and make known, what is in the heart of Satan; he views all his goings, even thoſe Paths which the Vultures Eye hath not ſeen; and can trace thoſe foot-ſteps of his, which leave no more print or tract behind them, than a Ship in the Sea, or a Bird in the Air, or a Serpent on a Stone.
Yet notwithſtanding we may obſerve much of his Policies, and more would God diſcover, if we did but humbly and faithfully improve what we know already. 'Tis my deſign to make ſome diſcovery of thoſe Haunts I have obſerved, if by that means I may be uſeful to you to quicken and awaken you. And firſt I ſhall ſet before you the ſtrength and power of your Enemy, before I open his Cunning and Craft.
There are found in him whatſoever may render an Adverſary dreadful.The Text opened.
As firſt; Malice and Enmity; foreign is a Law Term, and ſignifies an Adverſary at Law, one that is againſt our Cauſe; and the Text (as ſome think) heightens this Malice, (1.) by the Article foreign, which denotes an Arch Enemy. (2.) The Name foreign,Vid. Leigh. Crit. Sac. which ſignifies a Slanderer or Calumniator, (for the word is twice in the New Teſtament uſed for a Slanderer) ſhewing his hatred to be ſo great,The Accuſer of the brethren Rev. 12. 10. that it will not ſtick at lying and falſhood, either in accuſing God to us, or us to God. Nay it particularly hints,Gen. 3. 3. that when he hath in malice tempted a poor Wretch to ſin, he ſpares not to accuſe him for it,Job 1. and to load him with all things that may aggravate his guilt or miſery, accuſing him for more than he hath really done, and for a worſe eſtate than he is really in.
Secondly; His Power, under the metaphor of a Lion, a Beaſt of prey, whoſe innate property is to deſtroy, and is accordingly fitted with ſtrength, with tearing Paws, and a devouring Mouth; that as a Lion would rend a Kid with eaſe, and without reſiſtance, ſo are Men ſwallowed up by him, as with open Mouth; ſo the word foreign ſignifies,foreign. he can ſup them up at a draught.
Thirdly; His Cruelty, a Roaring Lion, implying, not only his innate property to deſtroy, which muſt be a ſtrange fierceneſs, but alſo that this innate Principle is heightned and whetted on, as hunger in a Lion ſharpens and enrages that diſpoſition, till he get his Prey; ſo that he becomes raving and roaring, putting an awful Majeſty upon Cruelty, and frighting them out of endeavours, or hopes of reſiſtance, and increaſing their miſery with affrightments and tremblings. Thus Satan ſhews a fierce and truculent temper, whoſe power being put forth from ſuch an implacable malice, muſt needs become rage and fierceneſs.
Fourthly; His Diligence; which, together with his Cruelty, are conſequences of his Malice and Power; he goes about, and ſeeks; he is reſtleſs in his purſuit, and diligent, as one that promiſeth himſelf a ſatisfaction or joyful contentment in his Conqueſts.