Satans Temptations in Three Parts, Part 1 · Chapter 15
CHAP. XV. Of Satan's keeping all in quiet, which is his ſecond Engine for keeping his Poſſeſſion, and for that purpoſe his keeping us from going to the Light by ſeveral ſubtilties; alſo of making us riſe up againſt the Light, and by what wayes he doth that.
SAtan's next Engine, for the maintaining his Poſſeſſion, is to keep all in quiet: which our Saviour notes, Luk. 11. 21. When a ſtrong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace. He urgeth this againſt thoſe that objected to him, that he caſt out Devils by Belzebub, which calumny he confuteth, by ſhewing the inconſiſtency of that, with Satan's Principles and Deſign; it being a thing ſufficiently known and univerſally practiſed, that no man will diſturb or diſpute againſt his own peaceable Poſſeſſion; neither can it be ſuppoſed Satan will do it, becauſe he acts by this common Rule of keeping down and hindring any thing that may diſquiet breach of Peace, is hazardous to a Poſſeſſion; an uneaſie Government occaſions mutinies and revolts of Subjects: yet we might think that (the wages of Sin, the light and power of Conſcience conſidered,) it were no eaſie task for the Devil to rule his Slaves with ſo much quiet as 'tis obſerved he doth; his skill in this particular, and the way of managing his intereſt for ſuch an end, we may clearly ſee, in Jo. 3. 20. Every one that doth evil, hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, leſt his deeds ſhould be reproved. From which place we may obſerve: (1) The great thing that doth diſquiet Satan's Poſſeſſion, is Light. (2) The reaſon of that diſquietment is, the diſcovery that Light makes, and the ſhame that follows that diſcovery. (3) The way to prevent that Light, and the reproof of it, is to avoid coming to it; and where it cannot be avoided, to hate it. 'Tis Satan's buſineſs then for keeping all in peace (1) To keep us from the Light; or if that cannot be, then (2) To make us riſe up againſt it. I ſhall make enquiry after both theſe projects of the Devil.
To keep us from coming to the Light, he uſeth a great many ſubtilties: as,
Firſt, for his own part, he forbears to do any thing that might diſcompoſe or affright entangled Souls: at other times, and in other caſes he loves to torment and affright them, to cauſe their Wounds to ſtink and corrupt; but in this caſe he takes a contrary courſe, he keeps off (as much as may be) all reflections of Conſcience; he conceals the evil and danger of Sin, he ſings them aſleep in their folly,Prov. 7. 23. till a dart ſtrike through their liver, and haſtens them to the ſnare, as a bird that knoweth not that it is for his life. They that ſhall conſider, that the heart of a ſinner is hardned through the deceitfulneſs of Sin; and that the greateſt part of the affrightment that moleſts the conſciences of ſuch, is from Satan's fury and malice; they will eaſily conceive how much his ſingle forbearance to moleſt, may contribute to the peace and eaſe of thoſe that are ſetled upon their lees: but beſides his forbearance, we may expect that what ever clouds or darkneſs he can raiſe to exclude the Light, or to muffle the eyes, he will not be negligent in the uſe of that power whatever he can poſitively do in the raiſing up the confidence of preſumption or ſecurity in the Minds of Men; what ever he can do to make them ſottiſh or careleſs, that ſhall not be wanting.
Secondly, he ſhews no leſs skill, and diligence by ſecret contrivances to hinder occaſions of reproof; and diſcovery; how much he can practiſe upon others, that out of pity and compaſſion to the Souls of Men, are ready to draw a ſinner from the errour of his way, and to ſave a Soul from death. We can ſcarce imagine what ways he hath to divert and hinder them, by what private diſcouragements he doth defer them, who can tell? He that could diſpute with the Angel about the body of Moſes to prevent the ſecret interment of it:Jud. 9. he that could give a ſtop of One and twenty days to the Angel that was to bring the comfortable Meſſage to Daniel, Deut. 34. 6.of the hearing of his Prayers, may more eaſily obſtruct and oppoſe the deſigns of a faithful reprover. Some time he doth this by viſible means and inſtruments, ſtirring up the Spirits of wicked men to give oppoſition to ſuch as ſeek to deliver their Souls from the blood of men, by faithful warnings or exhortations: The Devil was ſo careful to keep Jeroboam quiet in his ſinful courſe of Idolatry, that he ſtirs up Amaziah to baniſh Amos from the Court, leſt his plain dealing ſhould ſtartle or awaken the Conſcience of the King; Amos 7. 12, 13. Go, flee thee away into the land of Judah, &c. but Propheſie not any more at Bethel, for it is the Kings Chappel, it is the Kings Court.
Thirdly, In order to the keeping out the Light from the conſciences of Men, he inſinuates himſelf as a lying Spirit, into the mouthes of ſome of his mercenaries; and they ſpeak ſmooth things and deceit to Satan's Captives; telling them, that they are in a good condition; Chriſtians good enough, and may go to Heaven as well as the preciſeſt: 'tis a fault in unfaithful Miniſters, they do the Devil this ſervice, God highly complains of it. Jer. 6. 14. They have healed alſo the hurt of the daughter of my people ſlightly, ſaying, Peace, peace, when there is no peace. Ezek. 13. 10. They have ſeduced my people, ſaying, Peace, and there was no peace: and one built up a Wall and others daubed it with untempered morter. Beſides, this Stratagem is the more likely to prevail, becauſe it takes the advantage of the humours, and inclinations of Men, who naturally think the beſt of themſelves, and delight that others ſhould ſpeak what they would have them; ſo that when Men by the Devil's inſtigation propheſie deceit to ſinful Men, 'tis moſt likely they ſhould be heard, ſeeing they deſire ſuch Prophets, and love to have it ſo.
Fourthly, Satan keeps off the Light, by catching away the Word after it is ſown. This policy of his, Chriſt expreſly diſcovers, Math. 13. 19. When anyone heareth the Word of the Kingdom and underſtandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was ſown in his heart: ſuch opportunities the Devil doth narrowly watch; to be ſure he will be preſent at a Sermon, or good diſcourſe, and if he perceive any thing ſpoken that may endanger his peaceable Poſſeſſion, how buſie is he to withdraw the heart, ſometime by the ſight of the Eyes, ſometimes by vain thoughts of buſineſs, occaſions, delights, and what not; and if this come not up to his end, then he endeavours, after Men have heard, to juſtle all out by impertinent Diſcourſes, urgencies of Imployment, and a thouſand ſuch divertiſements, that ſo Men may not lay the warning to heart, nor by ſerious meditation to apply it to their Conſciences.
Fifthly, He ſometimes ſnuffs out the Light by Perſecution. Thoſe hearers Mat. 13. 20, 21. that had received the Word with ſome workings of affections and joy, are preſently offended when Perſecution, becauſe of the Word, ariſeth. By this, he threatens Men into an acquieſcency in their preſent condition, that if they depart from iniquity, they ſhall make themſelves a prey: Bonds, Impriſonments, and Hatreds (he ſuggeſts) ſhall abide them, and by this means he ſcares Men from the Light.
Sixthly, He ſometimes ſmothers and choaks it with the Cares of the World. As thoſe that received Seed among Thornes; by earneſt engagements in buſineſs, all that time, ſtrength and affection which ſhould have been laid out in the proſecution of Heavenly things, are wholly taken up and ſpent on outward things; by this means that Light that ſhines into the hearts of Men, is neglected and put by.
Seventhly, He ſtaves off Men from coming to the Light, by putting them upon miſapprehenſions of their Eſtate, in judging themſelves by the common opinion. Satan hath ſo far prevailed with Men, that they are become confident of this conceit, That Men may take a moderate liberty in Sinning, and yet nevertheleſs be in a good condition; that Sin is not ſo great a matter in God's eſteem, as in the judgment of ſome rigorous preciſian, that he will not be ſo extream to mark what we do amiſs, as ſome ſtrict Profeſſours are. What can be of greater hindrance to that ingenuous ſearch, ſtrict examination, and impartial judging, or ſhaming our ſelves for our iniquities, (which the Light of Scripture would engage us unto) than ſuch a conceit as this? and yet that this opinion is not only common, but ancient, is manifeſt by thoſe warnings and cautions given by the Apoſtle to the contrary. Gal. 6. 7. Be not deceived, God is not mocked; whatſoever a Man ſoweth, that ſhall he alſo reap. Eph. 5. 6. Let no man deceive you with vain words, for becauſe of theſe things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of diſobedience. If it had not been uſual for Men to live in Uncleanneſs, Covetouſneſs and ſuch like offences (which he calls ſowing to the fleſh) and yet in the midſt of theſe, to think they were not under the hazard of Wrath; or if Men had not profeſſedly and avowedly maintained ſuch an opinion, it had been ſuperfluous for the Apoſtle to have warned us with ſo much earneſtneſs, Be not deceived, let no man deceive you with ſuch vain words.
Eighthly, 'Tis uſual for Satan to ſtill and quiet the ſtirring thoughts of Sinners with hopes and aſſurances of ſecreſie. As children are quieted and pleaſed with toyes and rattles, ſo are Sinners put off, and diverted from proſecuting the diſcoveries that the Light would make in them, by this confidence, that though they have done amiſs, yet their miſcarriages ſhall not be laid open, or manifeſted before Men. 'Tis incredible how much the hopes of concealment doth ſatisfie and delight thoſe that have ſome ſenſe of Guilt. Sometime Men are Impudent,Iſa. 3. 9. that they declare their Sin as Sodom, they hide it not: But before they arrive at ſo great an Impudency, they uſually ſeek deep to hide their counſel from the Lord, and their works are in the dark; and they ſay, who ſeeth us? and who knoweth us? Iſa. 29. 15. Like thoſe fooliſh Creatures that think themſelves ſufficiently concealed by hiding their heads in a Buſh, though all their bodies be expoſed to open view. Iſa. 28. 15. Thoſe that made lies their refuge, and under falſhood hid themſelves, became as confident of their ſecurity, as if they had made a covenant with death, and were at an agreement with hell; and when they have continued in this courſe for ſome time with impunity, the Light is ſo baniſhed, that they carry it ſo, as if God obſerved their Actions done in the dark,Job. 22. 13. as little as Men do. How doth God know? (ſay they) can he judge through the dark clouds? thick clouds are a covering to him that he ſeeth not; and hence proceed they to promiſe themſelves a ſafety from judgements, When the overflowing ſcourge ſhall paſs through, it ſhall not come nigh unto us, for we have made lies our refuge, &c.
Ninthly, Satan keeps them from going to the Light by demurrs and delays. If the Light begin to break in upon their Conſciences, then he tells them, that there is time enough afterward: Oh (ſaith he) thou art young and haſt many days before thee, 'tis time enough to repent when you begin to be old: or, thou art a Servant, an Apprentice under command, thou wanteſt fit opportunities and conveniencies for ſerious conſideration defer till thou becomeſt free, and at thine own diſpoſal. That this is one of Satan's deceits to hinder us from making uſe of the Light; (beſides what common experience may teach every Man) may be clearly gathered from the exhortations of Scripture, which do not only ſhew us, the way wherein we ought to walk, but alſo preſs us to a preſent embracement of that Counſel;Heb. 3. 7. To day, to day, while it is called to day, harden not your hearts. 2 Cor. 6. 2.Now is the accepted time; Now is the day of Salvation. Remember thy Creator in the days of thy youth before the evil day comes: Eccleſ. 12. 1.if ye will enquire, Iſa. 21. 12.enquire, yea return, come. This haſty urgency to cloſe with the offered occaſions, plainly accuſe us of delays, and that it is uſual with us to adjourn thoſe thoughts to a fitter opportunity, which we are not willing to comply with for the preſent.
By theſe nine devices he keeps the Light from enſnared Sinners, or them from coming to the Light. But if all this cannot draw a curtain before the Sun, if its bright beams breaks through all, ſo that it cannot be avoided, but there will be a manifeſtation and diſcovery of the hidden things of darkneſs; then Satan uſeth all his art and cunning to ſtir up in the hearts of Men their hatred againſt the Light.
This is his Second grand piece of Policy to keep all in quiet under his command, to which purpoſe,
Firſt, He endeavours to draw on a hatred againſt the Light, by raiſing in the minds of Men a prejudice againſt the perſon that brings or offers it: if he that warns or reproves, expreſs himſelf any thing warmly, or cuttingly againſt his brothers Sin, this the Devil preſently makes uſe of; and thoſe that are concerned think they have a juſt cauſe to ſtop their ears, and harden their necks, becauſe they conceive, that anger, or ill-will, or ſome ſuch baſe thing did dictate thoſe (though juſt) rebukes. The Devil turned the heart of Ahab againſt the faithful warnings of Micaiah upon a deep prejudice that he had taken up againſt him; for ſo he expreſſeth himſelf to Jehoſaphat, 1 King. 22. ….I hate him, for he never propheſieth good u…o me. In this caſe, Men conſider not how juſty, how truly, how profitably any thing is ſpoken, but (as ſome Inſects that feed upon Sores) they paſs by what is ſound and good, and fix upon that which is corrupt and putrid, either through he weakneſs and inobſervancy of the reprover, or pretended to be ſuch, by the prejudice of the party which doth altogether diſable him to put a right conſtruction upon any thing.
Secondly, If this help not, then he ſeeks to get the advantage of a provoked, paſſionate, or otherwiſe diſtempered fit, and then hatred is eaſily procured againſt any thing that comes in its way.
Thirdly, Satan endeavours to engage our hatred againſt the Light, by preſenting our intereſt as ſhaken, or endangered by it. If Intereſt can be drawn in, and made a party, 'tis not difficult to put all the Paſſions of a Man in arms, to give open defiance to any Diſcovery it can make. That great rage and tumult of Kings and People mentioned in Pſal. 2. combining and taking counſel againſt the Lord, and his Laws, is upon the quarrel of Intereſt: their ſuſpitions and jealouſies that the ſetting up of Chriſt upon his Throne would eclipſe their power and greatneſs, makes them (out of a deſperate hatred againſt the Light) fall into reſolves of open Rebellion againſt his Laws: Let us break his bands aſunder, and caſt away his cords from us. This pretence of Intereſt ſtrengthned the accuſation of Amaziah againſt Amos, Chap. 7. 10. Amos hath conſpired againſt thee in the midſt of the houſe of Iſrael: the Land is not able to bear all his words. No wonder then if Jeroboam inſtead of hearkning to the threatning, baniſh him out of the Land. We find the like in Aſa (a good man) the Devil ſtirs up his hatred againſt the Seer,2 Chr. 16. 10. he was wroth with him, and put him in the Priſon-houſe, for he was in a rage againſt him. The ground of that rage was this; the King's Intereſt (in his apprehenſion) was wrapt up in that League with the King of Syria, verſ. 2, 3. ſo that he could not bear ſo plain a reproof, which directly laid the Axe to the Root of ſo great an Intereſt, as the ſafety of the King and Kingdom, which ſeemed to depend ſo much upon that League.
Fourthly, Satan ſtirs up hatred againſt the Light from the unavoidable Effects of Light, which are diſcovery and manifeſtation. Epheſ. 5. 13. All things that are reproved are made manifeſt: for whatſoever doth make manifeſt, is Light. Now the iſſue of this manifeſtation is ſhame, which however it be the daughter of Sin and Light, yet would it naturally deſtroy the Sin that bred it; and therefore Repentance is uſually expreſſed by being aſhamed and confounded: but that Satan might avoid this, he turns the edge of ſhame, againſt the Light, which ſhould have been employed againſt Sin. Jer. 2. 26.When Men therefore have ſinned, and are as a Thief when he is taken, ready to fall into the hands of ſhame; for the avoiding of that,Job 24. 13. they rebel againſt the Light. The ground of this hatred, Chriſt in Joh. 3. 20 tells us, is, leſt their deeds ſhould be reproved, and they forced to bear their ſhame; to this end they are put upon it to hide themſelves from ſhame, by lyes, pretences, excuſes, extenuations, or by any fig-leaf that comes firſt to hand. And as thoſe that live in hotter Regions curſe the Sun, becauſe it ſcorcheth them; ſo do theſe curſe the Light: and inſtead of taking its help, raiſe up an irreconcileable Enmity againſt it; and ſo run from it.