A Divine Legacy Bequeathed Unto All Mankind, Chapter 5
CHAP. V. The Characters of True Conquerors through the Strength of Chriſt.
THE Enquiry is, How may this Conqueſt be made manifeſt to us, that we may ſing victoria with Deborah, ſaying, [Oh, my Soul, thou haſt trodden down ſtrength,] Judg. 5.21. and ſay with Paul, [I can do all things through Chriſt that ſtrengthens me,] Phil. 4.13. and we aremore than Conquerors in [all theſe things through him that loved us,] Rom. 8.37.
Anſwer, This may be known by many manifeſt Characters.
As the (1ſt) Character is, Can we ſay in the witneſſings of the Holy Ghoſt, together with the witneſs of our own Conſciences, as Rom. 9.1. that we find the Lord hath performed (in ſome meaſure) that firſt Goſpel-promiſe of Chriſt's breaking the Serpents Head in us? Gen. 3.15. Hath Satan loſt his Headſhip or Dominion over us, Rom. 6.14. he is limited, and muſt have leave to hurt Hogs, &c. This Text, Gen. 3.15. the Romiſh Church hath moſt groſly corrupted, aſcribing that Honourable Act to the Virgin Mary; the Hebrew is, [Hu Jeſhupheka Reſh] ille conteret Caput, not illa; for [Hu] is the Maſculine Gender, ſignifies He, not [Hi] the Feminine, which ſignifies [She:] and ſo Zerah, Hebr. for Seed, is Maſculine alſo. Therefore the Popiſh Reading [She for He] muſt needs be notoriouſly falſe, becauſe it gives the Glory of Chriſt to her, who her ſelf (as well as we) was ſaved by the Merit, Value and Vertue of Chriſt, as She her ſelf doth acknowledge, ſaying, [My Spirit rejoiceth in the Lord my Saviour,] Luke 1.47. Had She had no ſin (as the Romaniſts ſay,] then had She no need of this Saviour, whom She called [my Saviour;] and why did She (if ſtood in no need of him) ſo rejoice in him: The Greek word is [foreign,] ſignifying, as if She danced a Gallyard in her tranſports of joy in him, reckoning that her intereſt in this her Saviour did make it [Hilary Term,] that is, a Merry Time with her: Then if She her ſelf ſtood in need of a Saviour, how abſurd it is in the Papiſts to pray to her as to a Saviour for others. Chryſoſtom ſaith, [had not that bleſſed Virgin carried Chriſt [foreign] in her Heart, as well as [foreign] in her Arms, (as well as before in her Womb,) She had never her ſelf got into Heaven; therefore we muſt not ſet the Crown upon the wrong Head, upon the Mother of our Lord. but upon the Lord himſelf, to break the Serpents Head; and a wound in the Head is moſt dangerous and mortal, and therefore the Serpent doth ſecure his Head with the hazard of his whole Body, knowing that his Life lies in his Head moſtly, [Intorto Capite, ſequitur Corpus,] if the Serpent can ſcrew in his Head, he can eaſily wreſt in his Body. Now the Phraſe [Conterit Caput,] ſignifies he ſhall knock thee on the Head, he ſhall crack thy Crown; therefore this muſt be our ſerious enquiry, Whether Chriſt, in us, the hope of Glory, Col. 1.27. (who dwells in our Hearts by Faith, Epheſ. 3.17. and who is the Stronger Man) hath yet come upon this Strong Man, and overcome him, and taken from his Armour wherein he truſted, &c. Luke 11.21,22. Hath our Lord, in us, drawn the Dragon out of his Den, where he lived long peaceably, that is, in our Heatrs all the time of our ignorance? Acts 17.30. And hath he broke the Head of the Tempter, ſo that he leaves nothing for us to combat with, ſave only Tail-Temptations! And Chriſt ſtrengthens his Members both to carry on, and to compleat this Spiritual Combat, and to become more than Conquerors at the laſt, as bleſſed Paul acknowledgeth in three places of Holy Scripture. The firſt is, [It is not I that lives, but it is Chriſt that liveth in me, &c. Gal. 2.20.] The Second Place is Rom. 8.37. where he aſcribeth the Honour of our being Conquerors (as before to the Life of Chriſt in him, ſo) to the Love of Chriſt to him, and to all true Chriſtians: And the third place is Phil. 4.13. where he gives the glory of his one ſort of Omnipotency to the power of Chriſt in him.
The (2d) Character of a Conqueror is, If we find, by real experience, that we do gain ground of our Spiritual Enemies, (thoſe Tail-Temptations) as Joſhuah did win ground upon the curſed Canaanites in his daily Wars againſt them: Firſt, he conquered that Land which lay upon the far ſide of Jordan, and then paſſing over that River, he conquered them on the other ſide alſo, having the bleſſed Meſſiah along with him, who ſaid to Joſhuah, [as Captain of the Lord's Hoſt am I come,] Joſh. 5.15. yet ſometimes we find how hardly he got the Victory over the City Ai, when Achan's ſin proved too ſtrong for Joſhuah's proweſs, Joſh. 7.5. Inſomuch that he won ground of the Enemy (as it were) by Inches only, according to the word of the Lord, ſaving, [The Lord thy God will drive out thoſe Nations, before thee, by little and little, and not all at once, &c.] Deut. 7.22. and the Lord did order and over-rule it there for Iſraels good. Thus it is in our Spiritual Warfare, tho' God's promiſe is to tread down Satan under our Feet ſhortly, Rom. 16.20. yet God will not make his promiſes good too ſoon. It was for their own good, as in that fore-named Scripture, [leſt the Beaſts of the Field increaſe upon thee,] for he is a God of Judgment, and waiteth to give us his Mercies, when they may do us moſt good; and therefore [bleſſed are they that wait for him,] Iſa. 30.18. He gives his Mercy in the beſt Seaſon, tho' not ſoſoon as we do deſire; we long to conquer our Corruptions (thoſe curſed Canaanites) in one day, which our Lord hath ordered and ordained to be the work of our whole Lives; our Corruptions, as the Canaanites, are left yet unſubdued, only to prove us in our owning God, &c. Judg. 2.21,22. and Judg. 3.4. This mortifying of ſin, (as well as fortifying of grace,) is penſum Diurnum & Perpe…uum, both a daily and a perpetual Task. God will keep a Tedder at our Foot to keep us humble. Paul muſt have a Thorn in the Fleſh, a Meſſenger of Satan to buffet him, leſt he ſhould be exalted above meaſure with his late Rapture into Paradiſe, 2 Cor. 12.2,3,4,7. There will be work enough for the exerciſe of Grace, till it be turned into Glory. Notwithſtanding the Canaanites, with their Iron Chariots, were ſo ſtrong, that Iſrael could not drive them out, Joſh. 17.16. yet the faithful God, (as he is called,) Deut. 7.9. and who will not be ſlack, ver. 10. did promiſe that they ſhould drive them out, tho' they had Iron Chariots, and tho' they were ſtrong, Joſh. 17.18. the Lord of Hoſts was too mighty for them. Thus we complain concerning our Corruptions, that they fall not faſt enough by mortifying Grace; but we muſt know for our Comfort, [our FaithfulGod will not be ſlack, (as before) for killing our curſed Canaanites. He indeed may ſeem to be ſlow in our thoughts, yet he is never ſlack, but will be ever ſure; he will not ſuffer his faithfulneſs to fail, nor alter the thing that is gone out of his Lips, Pſal. 89.33. what he ſpeaks with his Mouth, he fulfils with his Hand, 1 Kings 8.24. he will do what he hath ſaid, 2 Sam. 7.25. whether ancient promiſes, Tit. 1.1,2. which never failed in any Age; no nor his Menaces neither, Zeph. 3.5. nor will he fail in this of treading Satan under our Feet ſhortly, Prov. 16.20. In the mean time let us enquire, Do we gain ground of our Spiritual Enemies? doth the Houſe of Saul in us wax weaker and weaker, and the Houſe of David in us grow ſtronger and ſtronger, as 2 Sam. 3.1. can we feel our Lord a deſtroying the works of the Devil in us, Heb. 2.14. 1 John 3.8. tho' as yet they be not altogether deſtroyed? Are we daily dying to ſin, tho' not as yet wholly dead to it? even this may enſure us of Victory at laſt; let us compare time with time: may we but experience, how heretofore the fleſhly law in thee had thy Sabbaths, thy Time, thy Strength, yea thy very Heart and Affections; but now by the power of Renewing Grace) the Law of the Spiritin thee hath reſcued (at laeſt) a little of all the aforeſaid, and ſubjected that little under the Law of the Spirit; ſo that thou finds thoſe two contrary Laws now in thee, to wit, the Law of the Members, and the Law of the Mind, warring againſt each other, &c. Rom. 7.15, to 23. which makes thee cry out, (as the betrothed Damſelf did in the field, when ſhe was aſſaulted by a man too ſtrong for her, Deut. 22.27. as Amnon was too ſtrong for Tamar, 2 Sam. 13.14.) ſo doſt thou cry out with Paul, [Oh wretched man that I am, who ſhall deliver me from the Body of Death? and thank God (with him) that Jeſus Chriſt our Lord is thy Deliverer; ſaying likewiſe, (as he did) ſo then with the Mind I my ſelf do ſerve the Law of God, but with the Fleſh the Law of Sin, Rom. 7.24,25. If we find our ſelves in no worſe a condition than that of the Holy Apoſtle himſelf, this cannot be uncomfortable and diſcouraging to us; the ſame conflict betwixt two contrary Laws is common to all Chriſtians: For as Paul had informed the believing Romans of it as above: So he affirms, yea, and Confirms the ſame Truth to the believing Galatians, ſaying, [walk in the Spirit, and ye ſhall not fulfil the luſts thereof; for the Fleſh luſteth againſt the Spirit, and the Spirit againſt the Fleſh, and theſe are contrary the one to the other; ſo that ye cannot do the things that ye would, &c.] Gal. 5.16,17. The meaning whereof is, that as we cannot do the good which we would do, becauſe the Fleſh doth hinder us; ſo we cannot do the evil which we would (by the unrenewed part of our wills) do, becauſe the Spirit hinders us. Now may we but find by ſound experience that the Law of the Spirit gains ground of the Law of the Fleſh in us; this is a comfortable Character, that we ſhall be Conquerors in this Spiritual Conflict. Thus Satan's Aſſaults now are feebler than heretofore againſt us, like that of the old Gauls, of whom it is ſaid, prior impetus eſt pluſquam Virorum, poſterior minus quam faeminarum, more than Men at firſt, but leſs than Women at laſt.
The Third Comfortable Character of a Conqueror is, that he is able to break the Ranks of the Van-guard, or Fore-front of his Enemies, and ſo force them to draw back. 'Tis a great encouragement to a General to ſet his Feet, and the Feet of his Army upon the ſame ground where his Adverſaries pitched their Battalia's againſt him; he knows, if once they begin to flinch, they will ſoon alſo begin to flee, eſpecially if he can gain theirmoſt advantagious ground from which (as from an higher ſtanding) they did moſtly annoy him: but much more if he can ſhatter and diſorder their Front, where the men of greateſt Gallantry are ever moſt politickly placed; if once they come into confuſion, and be (as we ſay) hand over head, then he doth more eaſily break in upon them, and ſo rout them out of the field. It was once a notable ſtratagem of an Engliſh General, that when he came up cloſe to the face of his Foes, he ordered his Army to make a loud and univerſal outcry [they run, in the Rear, they run, they run;] this Cry did ſo daunt the Front, (who feared it to be true) that thereby both the Van and the Rear did run away indeed. Thus is it with us in our Spiritual Warfare; our Spiritual Enemies do not war againſt us as is done in a Duel, (but one to one) but here is many againſt one; thoſe fleſhly luſts that fight againſt our Souls are not one only, but many in the plural number, 1 Pet. 2.11. And the manifeſt works of the Fleſh are many: There be no fewer than ſeventeen of them reckoned up, Gal. 5.19,20,21. and yet not all by much, for Paul comes off with (and ſuch like, &c.] Yea the ſame Apoſtle calls our Adverſary, [A Body of Sin,]Rom. 6.6. becauſe it wars againſt us in a full Body, made up of many of Satan's Warriors, a very great Army. Now if we go out in the ſtrength of the Lord as David did, Pſal. 71.16. and take the Captain of our Salvation, Heb. 2.10. along with us, (who teacheth our hands to war, and our fingers to fight, Pſal. 144.1.) then are we made able to run through a Troop with David, Pſal. 18.29. and to leap over the Wall, yea and to break even a Bow of Steel by our Arms, ver. 34. Alas, we have all cauſe to cry (as Leah did, Gen. 30.11. behold a Troop cometh, yea ſuch a Troop of fleſhly Luſts as overcomes Gad) for a while; but this is our comfort, that Gad doth overcome at laſt, Gen. 49.19. If we can but break the Ranks of our Spiritual Enemies, ſo that they cannot come up in a full Body againſt us as formerly, then is there hope in Iſrael concerning this thing, that we ſhall better conquer them one after another when they are ſcattered aſunder, (divide & impera, divide and rule ſaid Machiavel; but vis unita fortior eſt, ſtrength united is ſtrong;) eſpecially having God's promiſe of a Conqueſt, as the King of Babylon had to conquer Egypt, in whoſe behalf God ſaith, [I will put my Sword into his Hand, and will ſtrengthen his Arms, but I will break Pharaoh's Arms, and he ſhall groan before him with the groanings of a deadly wounded man,] Ezek. 30.24. accordingly if we can but ſay, that the Lord hath put his Sword into our Hands, even the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, Epheſ. 6.17. (wherewith our Saviour himſelf conquered Satan in all his three Aſſaults, Matth. 4.4,7,10. ſaying, Scriptum eſt, it is Written, againſt them all) then the Devil will leave us, as he did our Lord, ver. 11. (at leaſt for a Seaſon, L…ke 4.13.) and Angels came to bring Food to him after his forty days faſting. Thus likewiſe if the Lord will ſtrengthen our Arms alſo (as well as put his Sword into our Hands,) yea and break the Arms of that Great Dragon, Pharaoh, as he is called, Ezek. 29.3. then ſhall he lie groaning before us, (as in the example aforeſaid) with the groanings of a deadly wounded man. According both to the Church's Prayer, [awake, awake, thou Arm of the Lord, art thou not it that cut Rahab in pieces, and wounded the Dragon; Oh put on ſtrength as in the days of old,] Iſai. 51.9. and 27.1. and according alſo to God's promiſe, [thou ſhalt tread upon the Lion and the Adder, the young Lion and the Dragon ſhalt thou trample under Foot,] Pſal. 91.13. becauſe he hath ſet his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him, &c. ver. 14. yea and according to Chriſt's promiſe likewiſe; [They ſhall take up Serpents, and if they drink any deadly Poiſon, it ſhall not hurt them, &c.] Mark 16.17,18. NB. Note well, This extraordinary Gift laſted until Chriſt was publickly profeſſed in the World: Indeed this great Red Dragon will be wrongful to the Woman, (the Church) and to her Seed, Rev. 12.3,4,7,9,16,17. until our Lord come and lay hold on him, and chain him up, &c. Rev. 20.2,3. and tread down Satan under our Feet ſhortly, Rom. 16.20. In the mean time we muſt endeavour to ſay with David, even three times over, [tho' our Spiritual Enemies be as many as are all the Nations which compaſs us about, (even the Philiſtins, Ammon, and Amaleck, &c.) yet in the Name of the Lord we will deſtroy them; yea tho' they be ſo numerous as to compaſs us about; yea and again, they compaſs us round about, yet in the Name of the Lord we will deſtroy them: yet higher, tho' they compaſs us about like a ſwarm of Bees that carry poiſonful Stings with them, which in revenge they will loſe, and oft their very lives together, or at leaſt become Drones ever after; (juſt ſo to Satan's Imps, who matter not, carenot if they undo and damn themſelves for ever, ſo they may but ſpend their venemous Spight upon the poor Servants of God,) yet even of thoſe alſo, we muſt ſay on with David, that in the Name of the Lord we will deſtroy them, even three times over, Pſal. 118.10,11,12. and that with David's faith likewiſe, who ſaith before his Victory over them; [they are already quenched as the fire of Thorns,] ver. 12. alluding to what he had before ſaid of his Enemies, [before your Pots can feel the Thorns, he ſhall take them away as with a Whirlwind, both living, and in his wrath,] Pſal. 58.9. This is here a Compariſon taken from Raw-fleſh, which is pulled out of the Pot, before it hath felt the full force of the Fire; God's wrath ſhall ſweep them away, when they ſeem to be moſt vigorous and vivacious to look upon; David foreſaw their ſudden deſtruction: Oh that it were ſo with us, as it was with David, whoſe Faith was above his Fear; and Oh that we could foreſee the Fall of our Spiritual Enemies, as he did his Temporal, as it infallibly will be ſo, if the Seed of God be but really in us. Oh, what a ſhame it is, that a Pagan Dame Zereſh could foreſee the future Fall of her haughty Husband Haman, ſaying, [If Mordecai …e of the Seed of the Jews, before whom thou haſt begun to fall, thou ſhalt not prevail againſt him, but ſhalt ſurely fall before him,] Eſth. 6.13. the Hebrew is, [falling thou ſhalt fall,] that is, irrecoverably: This ſhe ſpake like a prudent Woman, that had obſerved how the Jews were noted for a Nation which was very dear to God, and which was oftentimes by an high hand delivered by him from their Enemies, as from Pharaoh, &c. poſſibly the Devil might put this Prophecy into her Mouth, (as Satan in the ſimilitude of Samuel had long before preached Saul's Funeral Sermon, 1 Sam. 28. from ver. 16, to 20.) However ſhe told Haman the truth, tho' it might come from the old Lyar the Devil, yet was it for Deviliſh ends; for as ſhe had been a bad Counſellor to her Husband heretofore; ſo now ſhe becomes a moſt ſad and cold Comforter to him. If this poor Pagan could argue thus aright from humane prudence, how much more may true Chriſtians, who learn better Leſſons in Chriſt's School, Epheſ. 4.20. where we are taught to believe, that [whoſoever is born of God, doth not commit ſin, for the Seed of God remaineth in him, and he cannot ſin, becauſe he is born of God,] 1 John 3.9. foreign, that is, he dare not drivethe Trade of Sin, the Seed will bring forth Fruit like it ſelf, ſo far as he is made a partaker of the Divine Nature, 2 Pet. 1.4. He cannot ſin ſinningly, ſo as to be transformed into the image of ſin; he cannot do wickedly with both hands earneſtly, Mic. 7.3. he is not paſt feeling to work all uncleanneſs with greedineſs, for he hath not ſo learned Chriſt, Epheſ. 4.19,20. Sin cannot carry it away without ſome Counter-Buffs. So 'tis farther ſaid, [We know that whoſoever is born of God, ſinneth not; (to wit, that ſin unto Death, the unpardonable ſin; no not other ſins, as other Sinners that are the Slaves of Satan,) but he keepeth himſelf ſo, as that the wicked one cannot touch him, (that is, with any of his deadly touches: He cannot thruſt in his venemous Sting ſo far as to deſtroy the Seed of God in him, that is begotten of God, as he doth into the very Spirits of thoſe called the Serpents Seed, even the World that lieth in wickedneſs, 1 John. 5.18,19. with ver. 16. From whence we may argue, and upon better grounds than that Pagan Dame, before-named, did; that if the Seed of God be in us, if we be begotten and born of God, none of thoſe Principalities and Powers of Hell, nor any of thoſe Rulers of the Darkneſs of thisWorld, nor any Spiritual Wickedneſs in high places, (as the phraſe is, Epheſ. 6.12.) ſhall ever be able to prevail againſt us, but they ſhall ſurely fall before us. They may indeed ſometimes (in caſe of ſome Divine Deſertion) put us foully to the Foil, but they can never give us a total and a final Fall; for God ſo puts his fear into the hearts of his Covenanted People, that they ſhall not depart from him; but he will cauſe them to fear him for ever, Jer. 32.39,40,41. for here lies the Riches of the Covenant of Grace, that tho' (for ſome glorious ends of unſearchable Divine Wiſdom) it ſometimes doth permit a fall, even in the choiceſt and chiefeſt of the Favourites of Heaven; yet it always doth enſure Repentance after the Fall, as it was in the caſe both of David and Peter; they both did fall foully, but neither of them did fall finally, they both got up again by the helping hand of their Heavenly Father: And this may be a little illuſtrated by the example afore-named of Mordecai and Haman. If a Jew fall before a Perſian, (as Mordecai did before Haman,) yet may he get up again and prevail, as did Mordecai againſt Haman; but if a Perſian or any Gentile doth but begin to fall before a Jew, he ſhall not be able to ſtop from falling down, nor to riſe up again, as did Haman before Mordecai; he did fall to the loweſt and utmoſt ebb of diſgrace and miſery; yea and tho' he was advanced on high upon the higheſt Gallows, (that we read or hear of) which he had erected for the Jew Mordecai, yet he did moſt fatally fall into the bottomleſs Pit of Hell alſo, to be an eternal Companion with proud Lucifer, and his faln Angels, &c. All this may afford matter of great encouragement to us in our Chriſtian Warfare, that the Seed of God, in us, will ſpring up gradually, (notwithſtanding the many bitter Blaſts of Hail and Snow that fall upon it) and will in due ſeaſon bring fortn a moſt happy Harveſt, as Pſal. 126.5,6. but we muſt be careful to war this good warfare, 1 Tim. 1.18. and fight this good fight of Faith, 1 Tim. 6.12. both in God's Arms, (which makes our Bow to abide in ſtrength, Gen. 49.24. and which ſtrengthens us with a kind of omnipotency in doing all things, Phil. 4.13.) yea and in God's Armour alſo, Epheſ. 6.12. to 19. whereby we may be able not only to ſtand our ground, but alſo to quench all the fiery Darts of the Devil; yea and if we reſiſt him ſtedfaſt in the Faith, we ſhall put him to the flight, and win the Day, and ſo wear the Crown of Conquerors, Jam. 4.7. 1 Pet. 5.8,9. Let us all along obſerve the Apoſtle's Rule, [Whatſoever we do in Word and Deed, let all be done in the Name of the Lord Jeſus,] Col. 3.17. David acknowledges, it was by God's ſtrength, and not by his own, &c. In all thoſe fore-named places of the Pſalms, and in 2 Sam. 22.30,33,34,35,36,37, &c. wherein he ſaith, [that God was his ſtrength, and that girded him with ſtrength, ſo to rout the Ranks of his Enemies, and ſo to beat them down that they could never riſe up any more, &c.] and this was when he hurl'd (as it were) the force of God himſelf at the Face of great Goliah; he aſcribes all the Glory both of his Valour and of his Victory unto God's ſtrength, and not unto his own, &c.
The 4th Character of a Conqueror is, to take the Conquered captive, and to clap them up cloſe Priſoners, as Joſhuah did with his five conquered Kings, ſhutting them up in the Cave at Makedah, and rolling great Stones to the Mouth of the Cave, that they might be kept there cloſe Priſoners, until the time of their execution, Joſh. 10.18. and when he brought them to be executed, he made his Captains to ſet their Feet upon the Necks of thoſe five Kings, and then he hanged them up upon five Trees, ver. 24, 26, &c. Even ſo our Joſhuah, or Jeſus, doth all thoſe Offices of Love for us, as that Joſhuah did for Iſrael; our Lord aſcendeth up on high, he leadeth captivity Captive, &c. Pſal. 68.18. and Epheſ. 4.8. and then he ſaith afterward, [as for thoſe my Enemies, that would not have me to reign over them, bring them forth, and ſlay them before me,] Luke 19.27. This phraſe [of leading captivity captive] is an alluſion to the Roman Conquerors, who rode through the City, (Rome) up to the Capitol in their Triumphant Chariots, leading their conquered Captives all along, with their Hands bound behind them, to be diſpoſed of afterwards according to the pleaſure of the Conqueror, either to preſent Death, or to perpetual Impriſonment. Thus likewiſe our Lord, (who rideth on Conquering, and to Conquer upon the white Horſe of the Goſpel, Rev. 6.2.) doth lead Captivity Captive, that is, thoſe Spiritual Enemies that formerly did captivate us: Our Lord doth now (through grace) captivate them, and they are principally Three, (which make up this Captivity,) that our Lord leads Captive for us:
The Firſt is the Fleſh, whereof Paul complaineth, that the Law of the Members did not only war againſt the Law ofhis Mind; but it alſo brought him into Captivity to the Law of Sin, and made him cry out, Oh wretched man, &c. yet did he look through this Black Cloud at Chriſt his Deliverer, Rom. 7.23,24,25. as it is ſaid, If we be in Chriſt, and he in us, then have we crucified the Fleſh, with the Affections and Luſts, Gal. 5.24. When Chriſt came into the World, it was our ſins that crucified Chriſt; and ſo when Chriſt comes into our Hearts, he likewiſe crucifies our ſinful Fleſh in us; as the body of ſin did crucifie Chriſt, ſo Chriſt doth crucifie the body of ſin: Now to crucifie is not to kill outright at one blow, but it is to put to a long and lingering Death, no Member being free from pain; ſo if the mortifying grace of Chriſt, (which is the virtue and power of his Dea…, as an holy Life is the virtue and power of his Reſurrection, Phil. 3.10.) be in our Hearts by the indwellings of Chriſt there, Epheſ. 3.17. then the Body of Sin is nailed ſo faſt, that it cannot ſtir either Hands or Feet, inſomuch as it will certainly die, tho' it be not preſently dead; yea tho' it ſuffer many ſore throbs before it perfectly die: 'Tis like thoſe Beaſts in Daniel, [whoſe Dominions were taken away, yet their Lives were prolonged for a Time and a Seaſon,] Dan. 7.12. Now Repentance is the Nail, that pierceth this Body of Sin; and the renewing of our Repentance doth put the Old Man in us to new Torments, till at laſt it die.
The Second Enemy (which Chriſt conquers and captivates in us, and for us) is the World, for he ſaith to us, [be of good chear, I have overcome the World,] John 16.33. hence the Apoſtle uſeth the word [foreign which ſignifies, we are more than Conquerors by Chriſt's Love,] Rom. 8.37. becauſe all our work that Chriſt hath left us to do, is only to conquer an Adverſary which is already conquered to our hand, before hand: Juſt as Joſhuah did to his Captains, he delivers the five conquered Kings to them, (as above) and they had no more to do, than to ſet their …eet upon the Necks of the conquered; even ſo our Jeſus hath ſubdued our Iniquities, Mic. 7.19. and hath overcome the World, John 16.33. already for us, ſo that we are made ſure of Victory before hand, in our head Chriſt, Phil. 4.13. and we now have need to do no more, but to trample all things under our Feet, (where the moſt wiſe God did at firſt place them, Pſal. 8.6,7,8.) and over which we ſhould triumph in Chriſt, as the Apoſtle ſaith, [now thanks be unto God, who cauſeth us always to triumph in Chriſt,] 2 Cor. 2.14. And indeed to be a Triumpher, is to be more than a Conqueror, for Conquering goeth before, and Triumphing always follows after; and ſuch a Triumpher was this ſame Apoſtle, who ſaith, [God forbid that I ſhould glory, ſave in the Croſs of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, by whom the World is crucified unto me, and I unto the World,] Gal. 6.14. as if he had ſaid, the World and I do well agree; as it careth not for me, ſo I care as little for it; I look upon it only as a dead thing, as an overgrown Dunghil; I love not to ſuck her two fair Breaſts (or rather her two foul Botches) of Profit and Pleaſure. He had learnt that high Leſſon in Chriſt's School, of knowing both how to abound with Humility, and how to want with content, &c. Phil. 4.12,13. 'Tis ſaid when the World is ſet in our Hearts, Eccleſs. 3.11. (which ought to be under our Feet, as before;) when we are given up to the carking cares about things of this preſent evil World, (as it is called, Gal. 1.4.) alas, how ſick are ſome (called Saints) of this dry dropſie, &c! May we not well ſay, there is as yet no fitneſs that the Saints ſhould rule the World, (according to the Notion of ſome Opinioniſts,) while the World ſo much doth rule the Saints. Itmay be feared that it is no eaſie matter to find, among many Profeſſors, any ſuch mortified men as Paul was, and ſuch a Crucifix of Mortification, who could cry Quits with the World, as before it is ſaid. The Scripture indeed tells us, [whoſoever is born of God, overcometh the World, and who is he that overcometh the World, but he that believeth that Jeſus is the Son of God; and this is the Victory that overcometh the World, even our Faith,] 1 Joh. 5.4,5. This is not only becauſe by our faith in Chriſt, we are aſſured of the Victory before we have accompliſhed our good fight of Faith; but alſo becauſe it is the Nature of Faith to put the Soul upon more noble Exploits, as well as Projects, than thoſe that are about the baſe things of this lower World: 'Tis ſaid, that Chriſt hath made us Kings and Prieſts unto God his Father, Rev. 1.6. which is called a Royal Prieſthood, 1 Pet. 2.9. So that this faith in Chriſt giveth the Soul ſuch a Royal Spirit, as raiſeth it above thoſe things that are below, as worldly things are ſtiled, Col. 3.1,2. If ye be riſen with Chriſt, ſeek and ſet your affections upon things that are above, and not upon things that are below upon the Earth. Faith lifts up the Soul above both the frownings and the flatterings of the World; when we are affrigh…d with the Frowns of the World, Fa… preſents the Torments of Hell to us, which are far worſe than what the moſt frowning World can inflict upon us; and on the other hand, when we are allured and enticed with the Flatteries of the World, then Faith repreſents to us the Joys of Heaven, which do infinitely tranſcend all the glittering Glories of this ſublunary periſhing World; as Scipio Affricanus ſaid, [Vellem, ſi non eſſem Imperator,] I would, were I not an Emperor; and Themiſtocles [take thou it up, for thou art not a General;] ſo it ſhould be below Chriſtians, &c. Yea, and Faith gives us not only a ſight and taſt of the Grapes of Canaan, the moſt lovely and deſirable Fruits thereof, but alſo feeds us with Hidden Manna, Rev. 2.17. If we be but overcomers, as we paſs along through this Wilderneſs to our Heavenly Canaan: Thus Moſes by Faith deſpiſed the Treaſures and Pleaſures of Egypt, when he choſe to ſuffer affliction with the People of God, rather than to enjoy the Pleaſures of Sin for a Seaſon; eſteeming the Reproach of Chriſt greater Riches than all the Treaſures of that Land, (which had been the Granary of the World but a little before in Joſeph's time;) for he had reſpect unto the Recompence of Reward; and by the Eye of his Faith he ſaw him that was inviſible, Heb. 11.24,25,26,27. that whole Chapter demonſtrateth by numerous Inſtances, how Faith is a World-conquering Grace: And thus it was alſo with Caleb and Joſhuah, who no ſooner had taſted of the goodly Grapes of Canaan, but they preſently loathed the Garlick and Onions of Egypt; they longed not at all after them, as the other Murmurers did, even the whole Multitude, Numb. 14.6,7,8. ſaying, 'tis a Land worth all our Hazards, &c. How much more is Heaven worth all our Hardſhips! Thus our Lord ſaith, [the Kingdom of Heaven ſuffers Violence, and the Violent take it by force, Matth. 11.12. Such a Violent and Valiant Conqueror was Luther, (as before) who when the Pope tempted him with a Cardinal's Cap, to take him off from promoting Reformation, he bravely anſwered [Valde proteſtatus ſum, me nolle ſic a Deo ſatiari, that is, my God ſhall not put me off with ſuch petty things; for I breath after better, I am born to better things by my New Birth. And long before Luther, even Origen did make the ſame choice that Moſes had made before him, in chooſing rather to be a poor Preacher (or Catechiſt) in Alexandria, than he would deny the Faithand turn Apoſtate, as his fellow-pupil Plotinus did, to procure to himſelf the great Grandeur and Splendor of this World: As likewiſe I cannot but record it here, how the Strengthening power of Chriſt made my ſelf able to do the like, &c. when the Duke of York had impriſoned me; and after a long time the Duke of Buckingham came to releaſe me; he then did offer to me one of the fatteſt Benefices in the Church of England, if I would conform, for he was informed by my Patron, and his Father-in-law (the Lord Fairfax) that I was a great Scholar, and had knowledge in all the learned Languages, &c. as he was pleaſed to uſe theſe Phraſes, and many more to the ſame purpoſe, adding, how much advantage might redound to our Church, (as well as to my ſelf) might I but be one of them, &c. My Anſwer then was this, [I thank your Grace for your Great Offers, but I could not buy my Repentance at ſo dear a rate, in wronging the Light of my own Conſcience; for I make it my Exerciſe, (my Recreation) to keep it void of Offence both toward God, and toward Man, Acts 24.16. All the Favour I requeſt of your Grace at this time, is only my Releaſement from Priſon,] at which the Lord ſo inclined his Heart to releaſe me,and that without putting any Bonds upon me, &c. Ever ſince that time my prayer hath been that of Agur, [Lord, give me neither Poverty nor Riches, but feed me with Food convenient for me, &c. as Prov. 30.6,7,8. Indeed it is a ſhame the World ſhould captivate us, when we ſhould captivate the World.
The Third Enemy that Chriſt captivateth for us, is the Devil himſelf, who maketh uſe of our fleſhly Luſts as his Soldiers that he preſſeth, yea and preſſeth forward too to war againſt our Souls, 1 Pet. 2.11. and this preſent evil World, Gal. 1.4. is this Tempter's large Shop, where he is fully furniſhed with all ſorts of Tempting Tools; his Bag for the Covetous, his Bed for the Laſcivious, and his Board for the Luxurious, Luſt of the Fleſh, Luſt of the Eyes, and Pride of Life, as before. Now when this Stronger Man (our Lord Jeſus) comes upon this Strong Man thus armed, Satan, and overcomes him, &c. Luke 11.22. he ſpoils him with all his Principalities and Powers, he leads Captivity Captive, Epheſ. 4.8. and makes a ſhew of him openly, as Tam…rlane did Bajazet the Great Turk, whom he ſhut up in an Iron Cage, made like a Grate, and formed in ſuch a ſort, as that on every ſide he might be ſeen, and ſo carried him up and down to be ſcorned and derided by his own People as he paſſed along through all Aſia. Thus our Lord, and our Champion made the Devil a publick ſpectacle of ſcorn and deriſion, triumphing over him in it, Col. 2.15. He hath already conquered him, taken his Armour from him wherein this Strong Man truſted; he hath won the Field, and hath trodden him under his own Feet before hand for us, and he will tread Satan under our Feet ſhortly, Rom. 16.20. and he will give to us the ſame priviledge that Joſhuah did to his Captains, namely, to ſet our Feet upon the Necks of all our Spiritual Enemies, for this is God's doom upon all our Spoilers, that [when they have done their ſpoling-work, they themſelves ſhall be ſpoiled, Iſai. 33.1. As Satan formerly took us alive [as foreign] ſignifies, and led us captive at his will, 2 Tim. 2.26. So he himſelf ſhall be led captive, as our Lord hath long ago promiſed, Rev. 13.10. as if he had ſaid [be of good chear,] your Spiritual Adverſaries, (yea even Antichriſt himſelf) ſhall all meet with their match, as Goliah did with David, and this Strong Man with the Stronger Man; as they have been long leading you into Captivity, ſo they themſelves ſhall be led into Captivity, they ſhall all Drink as they have Brewed; they ſhall have Blood to drink, for they are worthy, becauſe they have ſucked the Blood of God's Saints, Rev. 16.6. Talia quiſque luat, qualia quiſque facit, God will pay them home in their own Coins. [It is a righteous thing with God, to recompence Tribulation to them that trouble us,] 2 Theſ. 1.6. to fill them with the evil of their own ways, as Prov. 14.14. and God will trouble thoſe Troublers of Iſrael, yea and that to all Eternity, becauſe if they and we could live together, they would trouble us for ever in this lower World. Now this is the bleſſed priviledge of every New Creature, whereas ſin and Satan did formerly lord it over the Soul, the Soul by this happy change becomes (through Grace) to lord it over ſin and Satan, and then it is, that the Lord ſaith to us, as he ſaid by the Mouth of Moſes unto Iſrael, [Thoſe Egyptians, that purſue you thus this day, ye ſhall ſee them again no more for ever, Exod. 14.13. unleſs it be as they lay dead upon the ſhoar. Thus converting Grace gives a mortal Wound to the Body of Sin, and cauſeth it to lie a dying ever after; and how can ſuch as are dead (or at leaſt dying) to ſin, live any longer therein, and continue in it! Rom. 6.1,2. Oh that we may beable to ſay (our Conſciences bearing witneſs in the Holy Ghoſt, Rom. 9.1. that Chriſt in us hath led Captivity captive for us, &c.
The Fifth Character of a Conqueror is, to pull down the Strong Holds of the Conquered: He will in no wiſe ſuffer thoſe noiſom Neſts of Rebellion to be kept ſtanding any longer, but with all expedition he labours to demoliſh them, to pull them down from Top to Bottom, and to leave them all level with the ground. We ought all of us to make a moſt ſtrict ſcrutiny, and a moſt ſerious enquiry, whether this Stronger Man, (the Captain of our Salvation, Heb. 2.10.) hath made the Weapons of our Spiritual Warfare even ſtrong enough and mighty through God, for the pulling down of the Strong Holds of Satan in us, and caſting down all vain imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth it ſelf againſt the Knowledge of God; yea and bringing into Captivity every thought to the obedience of Chriſt in us,] 2 Cor. 10.4,5.
NB. Note well here, (1ſt) The Apoſtle's modeſty, not we (ſaith he) but our Weapons are mighty, and not through us that wield them, but 'tis through God that works in and by them; 'tis not I, ſaith he, but the grace of God in me, 1 Cor. 15.10.
(2dly) The Strong Holds of Satan in us are many; 'tis in the plural number; there be ſundry ſtrong Forts, Caſtles, Trenches, Bulwarks, all Cages of Unclean Beaſts, inhabiting in our Hearts; we have naturally in us a whole legion of Domeſtick Devils, as the Man in the Goſpel had, Mar. 5.2,9. We are top-full of evil Imaginations, of carnal Reaſonings, and wholly filled with all unrighteouſneſs, Rom. 1.29. ſo that [quiſque ſibi Satan eſt] every Man becomes a tempting Devil to himſelf, and is drawn away of his own Luſt, and enticed, Jam. 1.14,15. Satan hath only a perſuading ſlight, but not any enforcing might; 'tis our own carnal Concupiſcence that carries the chiefeſt ſtroke in all our ſins, which indeed is a compound of many Fleſhly Luſts, that all war againſt our Souls, 1 Pet. 2.11. as we read of Joſhuah, how he conquered one and thirty Kings of the curſed Canaanites, houghing all their Horſes, and burning all their Chariots with fire (as before) yea, and thoſe Kings of Canaan are named one by one, Joſh. 12.9, to 24. And as we alſo read of David, how one Gyant after another did fall by his hands, Goliah one, Jeſhbibenob one, Sippii one, Lahmi one, and then that Monſter of Mankind is mentioned, who was a doubleMonſter, both in his Stature, and in the number of his Fingers and Toes, having upon each Hands and Feet a Finger and a Toe more than ordinary, twenty four in all; yet all thoſe monſtrous Gyants fell by the Hands of David, and by the Hands of his Servants, 1 Chron. 20.4,6,8. Thus the ſame may be ſaid ſo of thoſe Souls upon whom Chriſt (this Stronger Man) hath made a Conqueſt, and reſides there as a Conqueror; that Soul may reckon up (one by one) all the conquered Tyrants who have ruled over it formerly with rigour. As,
(1ſt) With Joſhuah, Pride, and its King, one, Paſſion, and its King, one; Concupiſcence, and its King, one; Covetouſneſs, and its King, one; Unbelief, and its King, one; Hypocriſie, and its King, one; and ſo on forward, until the ſame number amount up to the number of one and thirty, as in Joſh. 12.9, to 24. and ſo likewiſe the Soul may,
(2dly) Reckon with David, many monſtrous Temptations have been conquered by Chriſt in me the hope of Glory, Col 1.27. I have had monſtrous temptations to Atheiſm, to Blaſphemy, to Self-murder, to Filthy Uncleanneſs, and to many more ſuch Abominations, &c. as 1 Chron. 20.4, to 8▪ But now bleſſed be the Free Grace of God toward me, my ſpiritual Joſhua, my ſpiritual David, even my dear Redeemer, the Lord, ſtrong and mighty, the Lord mighty in Battle, Pſal. 24.8. that Elſhaddai, (which Abenezra reads, that Conqueror) the King of Glory, even he hath conquered and captivated all thoſe monſtrous Tyrants and Tempters; he hath pulled down alſo their Strong Holds in me, and for me: And tho' as ſome Caſtles (wherein the Enemy ſeated themſelves in our late Civil Uncivil Wars) proved ſo ſtrong, that a double Difficulty did attend them. For,
(1ſt) It was a Work of great Difficulty to conquer thoſe ſo ſtrongly fortified Forts; they ſtood it out many a long Siege, and coſt the Lives of many brave Soldiers, yet at the laſt were taken by the beſieging Commander: And then, when publick Authority commanded that thoſe Receptacles of Rebellion muſt be demoliſhed, and raced down to the very Foundation. Then,
(2dly) Appeared another Difficulty in pulling them down; it was found the Stones were ſo ſtrongly cemented together, that they did abide many a luſty Blow, and they did bear many a ſtrong Stroke, yea much Time, Coſt and Pains were ſpent, yet all would not do, no not any Underminingof the Walls, until at the laſt the whole Fabrick was blown up with many Barrels of Gun-powder, prudently lodged in the very Bowels of them; and all this little enough to level them even with the ground; for we have a plain proſpect of the Scars of thoſe Caſtles ſtill remaining unto this day; even ſo it is with the Strong Holds of Satan in us: As 'tis a Work of great Difficulty to overcome them; ſo 'tis no leſs to level them, and quite to bring them down to an utter demoliſhment, ſome Scars will ſtill remain in us. Wherefore how ought we to double our Diligence in that moſt Neceſſary, yet much Neglected Duty of Self-examination! the Apoſtle uſeth a double Spur to ſtir us up unto a ſerious Self-trial, ſaying, [foreign] prove your ſelves, and try your ſelves, as the Gold-ſmith does his Coin, or the Lapidary his Stones upon a lydius lapis, or Touch-ſtone, to diſcover them from ſuch as be counterfeit. The fineal Trial of our Eternal Eſtate doth indeed belong immediately … ſolely to the Court of Heaven, but the diſcerning of our ſincerity and ſingleneſs of Soul God-ward, appertain to the Court of our own Conſciences for our own comfort; for if our own Hearts condemn us, God is greater than our Hearts, and will condemn us much more, &c. 1 John 3.20,21. As the Deciſive part belongs to God, ſo the Diſquiſitive part belongs to us: Therefore it is added, [know ye not, that Chriſt is in you except ye be Reprobates,] 2 Cor. 13.5. which follows that of the ſame Apoſtle [about the pulling down of the Strong Holds of Satan, &c. 2 Cor. 10.4,5. through the indwellings of Chriſt. This is ſo needful a Duty, that the Precept is double, Zeph. 2.1. Gather up your ſelves, gather up your thoughts, excutite vos, iterum excutite, (as Tremellius renders it, ſhake your ſelves, and better ſhake your ſelves in Self-examination; the omiſſion whereof, as it is much eaſie, ſo it is moſt dangerous. How happy are ſuch Souls, who can ſay in the witneſſings of the Holy Ghoſt, that this Stronger Man hath raiſed Batteries, and ſprung ſeveral Mines againſt the Strong Holds of Satan in them, that the Lord hath battered the Walls thereof with his Battering Rams, and with his Great Cannon of a Soul-ſearching Miniſtry, and with his Spirit of Burning (ſo called, Iſai. 4.4. becauſe it burns up the combuſtible matter of our Corruptions, refining our Droſs, and kindling up Repentance unto Life, &c.) and that Chriſt hath been luſtily hammering the Sidesand Corners of thoſe Strong Holds, with the great Hammer of his Word, and with the ſtrong Hand of his Spirit; thus ſaith the Lord, [Is not my word like as a Fire, and like an Hammer that breaketh the Rock in pieces,] Jer. 23.29. the Workman's Hammer, which Jael took in her Right Hand to nail great Siſera faſt to the ground, Judg. 4.21. and 5.26. was a fair reſemblance of this mighty Work of the Right Hand of the Almighty God upon this Strong Man Satan. All ſuch Souls (I ſay) who can truly experience thoſe effectual operations of an indwelling Chriſt in them, muſt not be diſcouraged, although they find and feel this work of Mortification, or putting to Death (as the word foreign ſignifies, Rom. 8.13.) to be an hard and tedious Work; and although after the Walls, be in part demoliſhed, yet ſome Relicks will remain, and much Rubbiſh we meet with to be removed, (for we may ſay with Joſhuah, that we are not yet cleanſed from the iniquity of Baal-peor, that Idol of opening, in Luſtful Contemplations, and Heart-adulteries, Matth. 5.28. even unto this very day, Joſh. 22.17.) notwithſtanding all theſe difficulties, yet may we be well aſſured that the Strong Tower of Babel in us, ſhall …n due time tumble down, &c. for all theWorks of God are perfect Works, Deut▪ 32.4. That work which the Lord begins, he will certainly finiſh, Phil. 1.6. He will not leave his Work done to half part only, and ſo to be carried on to perfection by ſome other hand, &c. for our Lord doth ſave to the utmoſt all that come to God by him, Heb. 7.25. The Angel of the Covenant will redeem us, as he did ou… Father Jacob, from all evil, Gen. 48.16 and deliver our Souls, as he did David's out of all adverſity, 2 Sam. 4.9. and th… Lord that ſtood with Paul, ſtrengthne… him, and delivered him out of the Mout… of the Lion, and (as he ſaith) ſhall deliver me farther from every evil work 2 Tim. 4.17,18. This is great encouragement to us, if indeed we be ſeriouſly at the work of battering down the Wall of Satan's Strong Holds in us; and i… order of doing this the more effectually we muſt place our Souls under the moſ… powerful Miniſtry, ſo that every Sabbat… and every Sermon may promote, in ſom… meaſure, the battering down of its Wall… If thoſe two Brethren in Iniquity did di… down the Wall of Shechem's Houſe wit… a wicked Mind for defiling their Siſte… Gen. 49.6. How much more ought w… with a godly Mind to be digging dow… the Walls of the Strong Holds of Satan who hath defiled, and is ſtill in defiling our precious Souls, ſo as to damn them for ever. From the Hiſtory of the Walls of Jericho we may learn this Divine Leſſon, or this Myſtery of Godlineſs, as Joſhua did compaſs round about Jericho with the Ark of God, and his Conquering Army, the compleat time of ſix days, every day once; yet the Walls did not fall all that time, tho' they might be ſhattered, and put into a trembling poſture, and ſeverely ſhaken, while this was in doing; but upon the ſeventh, or Sabbath-day, they then did compaſs it ſeven times, as before they had compaſſed it but once every ſix days, Joſh. 6.2,3,4. and then it was, that together with the Prieſts blowing of the Trumpets, and the loud Shoutings of the People, that the Walls of Jericho fell flat to the ground, ſo that the People round about went up into the City, every Man ſtraight before him, and took the City, ver. 5, and 20. and all this is ſaid to be effected by Faith, [by Faith the Walls of Jericho fell, after it had been compaſſed ſeven days,] Heb. 11.30. So after the ſame manner may the Walls of our Myſtical accurſed Jericho within us, fall: If the Ark of God's Preſence be with us, and we paſs all along before it, as they did, Joſh. 6.8.and if we ſpend our time in Spiritual Meditation, and not make any Noiſe with our Vo…s, until our bleſſed Joſhuah bid us Shout, as it was there, ver. 10. and if the Pri ſts blowing the Trumpets of Rams Ho…s, keep going on continually with us, as ver. 13. which ſheweth, how there muſt be the grace of perſeverance; we muſt hold up, hold on, and hold out to the end; and the nearer we draw to our long Home, then ought we to be much more labouring for a compleat Conqueſt, as it was in Iſraels caſe there. Their toil and travel was not greatly troubleſome in their compaſſing Jericho, but once at a time in all the ſix days; but upon the ſeventh day, they had the Task of compaſſing the City ſeven times, one immediately after another, and therefore it is ſaid [that they roſe up early at the dawning of that day,] ver. 25. even ſo ought we to lay out our continual endeavours to pull down the Walls of the Strong Holds of Satan, even all the ſix days of our Lives; yet ſhall we not find this demoliſhing work perfectly effected, until the evening of our eternal Sabbath. Whence we learn likewiſe, that as upon every Sabbath-day we ſhould take ſeven times more pains for the mortifying of ſin, and for the fortifying of grace, than we doupon all the ſix days of the Week, &c. So when our laſt Sabbath approacheth, we ſhould ſtir up our ſelves to the utmoſt of our ability, that we may then work out our Salvation with fear and trembling, Phil. 2.12. that we may make our Calling and Election ſure, 2 Pet. 1.10. and that we may make ſure work for a better World, before we go hence to be ſeen no more, &c. All this muſt be done by Faith alſo, then down goes our Jericho. Then our Lord Chriſt will ſay of us, as he ſaid of his Golden Church at Thyatira, [I know thy Works, that thy laſt be better than thy firſt,] Rev. 2.19. Tho' our beginning was but ſmall, yet our latter end ſhould greatly encreaſe, Job 8.7. Our laſt days ſhould be our beſt days in our earneſt purſuit for Heaven. As the Stone deſcending from an high Tower, the nearer it approaches to its center, the faſter it flies and falls; ſo the nearer we come to the end of our Race, we ought to run with the greater ſpeed, that no Man, no Devil, no Thing, may take our Crown from us; which is promiſed only to thoſe that overcome, Rev. 3.11.12. For as old David literally ſpake to his Captains, [whoſoever getteth up into the Gutter, and ſmiteth the Jebuſites, and the Blind and the Lame (Idols) the hatred of David's Soul, he ſhall be my General, &c.] 2 Sam. 5.8. This Royal Motion Joab embraceth, (that he might recover the King's Favour which he had loſt by his barbarous Murdering of brave Abner,) 1 Chron. 11.6. and he conquered the City out of the hands of the curſed Jebuſites, which was after called Sion, and the City of David. So our David Myſtical maketh a more Royal Motion to us, ſaying, [To him that overcometh, will I grant to ſit with me in my Throne, even as I alſo overcame, and am ſet down with my Father in his Throne,] Rev. 3.21. in which place [foreign] for [foreign,] that is, [even as] for [becauſe,] ſo the ſenſe is, [becauſe I alſo overcame,] therefore is it from Chriſt's love to us that we are made to over, overcome, (as foreign ſignifies,) Rom. 8.37. it was his helping hand that made David able to run through a Troop, and to leap over the Wall, Pſal. 18.29,34. as before. And here is a greater Reward promiſed than Joab's Generalſhip, which ſoon periſhed with himſelf. But here is a Crown (with this Inſcription upon it) [Vincenti dabo] to him that overcometh will I give it, Rev. 2.10. and 6.2. and not only to wear a Crown among Royal Heads, but alſo to ſit upon Thrones above all Chairs of State. Therefore it moſt highly concerns us to enquire, whether (with Joab) we have ſcaled the Walls of the Strong Holds of Satan, whether we have gained the Gutter, which is done when we are bleſt with an hearing Ear to the word of Life; for the Ear is (as it were) the Gutter that conveys even the Waters of Life into the Soul of Man; for thus it is ſaid, [Hear and your Souls ſhall live] Iſai. 55.3. and [Faith cometh by Hearing the Word of God,] Rom. 10.17. We muſt enquire likewiſe, whether (with Joab alſo) we have ſmitten thoſe curſed Canaanites (the Jebuſites) namely our own Carnal Corruptions; enquire (I ſay) what Rule we have obtained over our own Spirits; [he that is ſlow to Anger, is better than the Mighty; and he that ruleth his Spirit, is more honourable than he that conquereth a City,] Prov. 16.32. This is not only Manly, but Godly alſo: Whereas he that hath no Rule over his own Spirit, is like a City that is broken down and without Walls, Prov. 25.28. Such perſons are like ſecure Hazor, that had neither Gates nor Bars, Jer. 49.31. thoſe Souls are not fenced in with the fear of God; and the Strong Man Satan, well armed, and furniſhed for every evil Work, (as the Man of God is furniſhed for every good Work, as before, 2 Tim. 3.17.) keeps ſtill the poſſeſſion of his Strong Hold in them, and they were never yet bleſt with a Viſit from that bleſſed Stronger Man, (the Lord Jeſus) to diſpoſſeſs him. Oh thrice happy are they, to whom Chriſt ſaith (as he did to that Demoniack, Mark 9.25.) [Come out of the Man, thou Unclean Spirit, and enter no more into him.] As none by the Roman Law were allowed to have the honour of riding Triumphantly in the City of Rome, until he had obtained five Victories in the Field over his Enemies, &c. So none of us can ever expect to triumph as Conquerors in Heaven, unleſs we have got the Victory over all our five Senſes; for even all the Members of our Bodies, as well as all the Faculties of our Souls, muſt be reſcued from Satan, and brought into obedience to Chriſt, 2 Cor. 10.5.
The Sixth Character of a Conqueror is, Wholly to diſarm the Conquered. Thus the Stronger Man, when he had come upon the Strong Man, and had overcome him, he took away all his Armour wherein he truſted, Luke 11.22. that is, thoſe that were his offenſive Weapons, to wit, the World, Sin and Death, wherewith he hath prevailed over all the Sons and Daughters of faln Adam, (after he had foil'd Adam himſelf) for ſome thouſands of Years untothis day. And Satan, finding all theſe Weapons ſo ſucceſsful, is ſaid to truſt in them, as Goliah did in his Armour, which made him triumph before his Victory, ſaying to David, [come, and I will give thy Fleſh to the Fowls of the Air, and to the Beaſts of the Field,] 1 Sam. 17.44. as if David had been ſome Boy, to be frighted with his big Boaſts of his Carnal Confidence: and in ver. 45. David tells us how Goliah truſted in his Armour, ſaying to him, [thou comeſt unto me with a Sword and Spear, &c.] that is, thou truſteſt in thy own Strength, and in thy Armour, &c. [but I come to thee in the Name of the Lord, &c. who will deliver thee this day into my hand,] ver. 46, 47. which was accordingly accompliſhed. Thus he who is call'd both David's Son, and David's Lord, Mat. 22.45. The Stronger Man encounters the Strong Man, that truſts in his Armour, and ſpoils him thereof, Col. 2.15. even in a Duel too as David did Goliah; for Chriſt trod the Winepreſs alone, Iſai. 63.1,2,3. When the fulneſs of time came, this ruddy David appeared with his Garments dyed Red with the Blood of his Enemies; and as David put Goliah's Armour in his Tent, 1 Sam. 17.54. ſo our David hath buried all the Damning Power of the Devil'sArmour in his own Grave, Rom. 6.4. Col. 2.12. Thus this Alligory may be farther enlarged, as David carried the Head of Goliah to Jeruſalem, and (as ſome ſuppoſe) ſet it up upon a Pinacle of the Temple, (where Satan ſet our Saviour by God's permiſſion afterwards) as an high Monument of his Happy Victory: This David did, after he had ſhewed this ſame Head to Saul, ver. 57. And as for Goliah's Sword (wherewith David had beheaded the Gyant with his own Weapon,) this likewiſe was laid up in the Tabernacle, wrapped in a Cloath behind the Ephod, 1 Sam. 21.9. where we are told, how David prevailed with the High Prieſt Ahimeleck to reſtore it to him again, as before it had been his own, won by his Valour, and therefore he accounted no other Sword like that, which would be a ſtanding Remembrancer of his former Atchievements by the mighty preſence of the Lord his God, wherewith he did encourage himſelf in the day of his great Diſtreſs, 1 Sam. 30.6. even ſo our Myſtical David deſtroyed him who had the power of Death, that is, the Devil, with his own Weapon, Heb. 2.14. Chriſt's Death was the Death of Death, and of the Devil alſo, who had the power of it; Chriſt came to this end, that he might deſtroy the works of the Devil, 1 John. 3.8. Accordingly, Oh how happy are thoſe Chriſtians, who, (through Chriſt that ſtrengthens them) have got the head of the Tempter, or of ſome ſtrong Temptation into their Hand, as David had the Head of Goliah in his Hand,) and can ſhew it to the King of Kings, as he did to the King of Iſrael, as before; and who have got alſo thoſe [foreign] Weapons of Wickedneſs (as the Greek word ſignifies, Rom. 6.13.) which formerly warr'd againſt their Souls, 1 Pet. 2.11. But now are wrapped up in a Cloth behind the Ephod in the Tabernacle of the Lord; and who likewiſe go (with David) to the High Prieſt of our Profeſſion, (as Chriſt is called, Heb. 3.1.) and have got a better Sword of him, than that of Goliah, even the Sword of the Spirit, which it the Word of God, Epheſ. 6.17. of which it may be better ſaid, than was ſaid of the other, [there is none like that;] for if the word of Chriſt do but dwell richly in us, as it ought to do in all wiſdom, Col. 3.16. and as it did in Chriſt himſelf, (aeque equally for Quality, non equaliter, not equally for Quantity;) for then we may comfortably hope, that with this Sword we ſhall conquer the great Goliah of Hell, as our Lotd did only byhurling three ſmooth Stones of Sacred Scriptures at his Head, as David did at the Head of Goliah, and gave him his mortal wound. Then indeed are we Conquerors in Chriſt, and then may we ſay with David alſo, [the Snare is broken, and our Souls are delivered,] Pſal. 124.7. We ſhould be careful to keep all our Monuments and Remembrancers of our former Conqueſts over both Satan's Temptations, and of our own Carnal Corruptions, as wrapped up in a Napkin behind the Ephod of a Sanctified Memory, even in everlaſting Remembrances; then former experience may ſtrengthen our preſent Faith, Pſal. 77.10,11. and then no Weapon formed againſt us can ever proſper, as the Lord hath promiſed, Iſai. 54.17.
The Seventh Character of a Conqueror is, to put his Laws upon the Conquered according to his will and pleaſure; as Jehoſhaphat and Jehoram did by the aſſiſtance of Eliſha, who ſaid to them, [this is but a light thing with the Lord (to give you Water in your want,) but he will deliver the Moabites into your hands,] 2 Kings 3.17,18. [but ye ſhall ſmite every fenced City, and ſhall fell every good Tree, and ſtop all Wells of Water, and mar (Hebr. grieve) every good piece of Land with Stones,] (as if it were a grief to any good Soil to become uſeleſs and unfruitful,) ver. 19. all this was done to Moab, ver. 24, 25. Thus alſo if we be Conquerors, we muſt endeavour to batter down all the ſtrong holds of Satan in us with Sling-ſtones, (as was the cuſtom of that time, which is now done by mighty Bullets out of the Mouths of great Cannons.) The Slingers went about Kirhareſeth, and broke down only the Towers of it; this was the will and pleaſure of the Conqueror, not quite to demoliſh the Walls of it, as he did the other Cities: It were well if we could ſling ſuch ſmooth Stones (as David did at Goliah's Head) eſpecially ſuch of the Holy Scriptures as our Miſtical David did at the Devils Head, Matth. 4.3,7,10. So ought we to ſling ſuch Stones at the Tempter, that we may knock down the Turrets of Pride and Preſumption, &c. which Glory is our Shame, Phil. 3.19. This we muſt do at the leaſt, tho' we cannot quite demoliſh the Walls and Foundation. Oh that we could go thus far, and Oh that we could (with thoſe Conquerors of Iſrael,) cut down every tall Tree, (which are of the Devil's planting and watering) that bring forth only wild and ſower Grapes, paltry Hedge fruit, as Crabs and ſuch Traſh in us; and Oh that we could mar▪ (or grieveevery piece of (Terra Diaboli) the Devil's Land in us, (as one part of America is called) which bears no Fruit, but the unfruitful works of Darkneſs, ſo called Epheſ. 5.11. And Oh that it were a grief to us (as before) to become uſeleſs and unfruitful in our Places and Stations; Oh that we could mar or grieve every inordinate Affection in us, which do mar or grieve our pretious Souls: Yet farther, Oh that we could likewiſe ſtop up every Well of Water, namely, all thoſe filthy Iſſues of Sin, which nothing can heal us of, ſave only a believing Touch of our dear Lord Jeſus, Matth. 9.20. And yet a little higher, Oh that we could ſow thoſe Lands (we have already conquered out of the hand of the Strong Man, by the helping hand of the Stronger Man, our pretious Redeemer, our Goel) with no other thing but Salt as Abimelech did, Judg. 9.45. the City of Sechem, which he not only pulled down, but he alſo ſowed it with Salt, as a token of its utter extirpation. This was the cuſtom of Conquerors which they uſed againſt Cities of greateſt provocation and affronts to them, becauſe Salt is taken in Scripture, not only for a Sign, but alſo for a Cauſe of Barrenneſs, Gen. 19.26. Deut. 29.23. Judg. 9.45. Pſal. 107.34. and Zeph. 2.9. for Salt made the Land in thoſe hot and dry Countries utterly barren and deſolate when it was ſown upon it; as nothing but Nettles and Salt-pits were found in Moab, when it was devoted to perpetual Deſolation. And thus it is with all Spiritual Conquerors, (through Chriſt's love to them, and his ſtrength in them;) they pray to the Lord that all their fleſhly Luſts, (which war againſt their Souls, 1 Pet. 2.11.) may even every one, the beſt beloved of them may be put to death, (as the word foreign, Rom. 8.13. ſignifies.) In order hereunto, when thoſe Spiritual Enemies have received their Mortal Wound, whereof they muſt die, tho' it be of a long lingering death, (like thoſe People that die of Conſumptions;) and this Deadly Wound is always given to them at our firſt Converſion; yet all along (if we be right Conquerors in Chriſt) we muſt ſtill pray to the Lord, that the Deadly Wound (then given) may never be healed any more, as that was which the Apocaliptick Beaſt had gotten, and was healed again, Rev. 13.3. Our earneſt Petition to the Lord muſt be, that he may put rhe ſame Curſe upon our Luſts, which he put upon the fruitleſs Fig-tree, ſaying, [Let no Fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever, and immediately the Fig-tree withered away,] Matth. 21.19. at which his Diſciples marvelled, &c. ver. 20. Accordingly we ſhould deſire an everlaſting Barrenneſs may come upon thoſe wild Olive Trees (our fleſhly Luſts ſo called, Rom. 11.24.) wild by Nature, yea and upon that Root of Bitterneſs, (to wit, original Concupiſcence) which ſpringeth up (too too often) to trouble us, Heb. 12.15. We muſt beg hard of the Lord, that all theſe ſinful Soils may be ſowed with Salt, even to a perpetual Deſtruction, that we may learn (in Chriſt's School) to deny all Ungodlineſs and worldly Luſts, (which is the negative part of a Chriſtian,) and likewiſe to live ſoberly (as to our ſelves,) juſtly, (as to all men) and holily (as to the great God) in this preſent World, Tit. 2.12. This is the poſitive part of a Chriſtian; where, Note well, that three Adverbs (Sobre, Juſte & Pie) do much exceed the three Adjectives (Sobrius, Juſtus & Pius,) for in thoſe latter are included only Acts of Grace; but in the former are included the Habits of Grace; for it is not one ſingle Act or two, but a conſtant Habit of Grace, (notwithſtanding ſome interruptions in our way) that gives the denomination of a true Chriſtian. Now this excellent ſtate can never be attained, unleſs we firſt become Conquerors, (through Chriſt) ſo as to be able to give Laws to our Luſts, (which are called deceitful Luſts, Epheſ. 4.22.) and deal with them as Joſhuah dealt with the Gibeonites, who made them [hewers of Wood, and drawers of Water,] Joſh. 9.21. Tho' they had deceived him but once, yet our deceitful Luſts have deceived us even times, and days without number; and in all other Scripture-inſtances, we find that evermore the conquered become Tributaries to the Conqueror. As,
(1ſt) Thoſe Canaanites that could not be driven out, yet they did ſerve Iſrael under Tribute, Joſh. 16.10. according to the Law of Moſes, Deut. 20.11.
(2.) Thus the Tribes of Iſrael, when they became ſtrong, did put the Canaanites to Tribute, as Ephraim, Judg. 1.28. and Napthali, ver. 33. and the Danites, (by the help of Joſeph his Brother) ver. 35.
(3.) Thus likewiſe did David unto Moab, after he had caſt his Shoe over it, &c. Pſal. 60.8. as its Conqueror, treading them under foot; then the Moabites became David's Servants, and they brought him Gifts, 1 Chron. 18.2. And this was a prodigious Gift unto David's Succeſſor, namely, an hundred thouſand Lambs, and an hundred thouſand Rams with their Wool, 2 King. 3.4. The King of Moab was a greatSheep-Maſter, and his Tribute he paid yearly was this vaſt number of Lambs, (with all their Dams alſo,) and this vaſt number of Rams, in ſuch a ſeaſon of the Year, when their Wool was beſt grown upon their Backs; and many more ſuch examples of Tribute might be added. Oh that we could ask our own Hearts, whether our Affections have been conquered by the Lord Jeſus, the Stronger Man and Conqueror: NB. Are all our Affections turned into Graces, as the Affection of Fear into the Grace of Fear, and the Affection of Love into the Grace of Love, and ſo of the reſt; then our Lord hath laid his Laws upon them, and they pay each of them their Tribute to Chriſt. Oh bleſſed is that Soul, that pays ſo many thouſand Lambs (or devout Prayers) to Chriſt the King of Glory, which muſt needs be numerous, if both Occaſional and Appointed Prayers, if publick and private Prayers, both in our Cloſets, and in our Families, for the ſpace of one whole year, be reckoned up all together. If we do all theſe things, then this Great King will greatly delight in our Beauty, Pſal. 45.10.11. and give us Victory over our laſt Enemy, Death, which Chriſt will deſtroy, 1 Cor. 15.26.55,56,57.