The Wiles of Satan, Discourse · Chapter 2
Chap. II.
Containing the main Propoſition, and Summ of the Diſcourſe.
I May haply be deemed to have lingered over-long upon the borders of the Text, and to have ſpun out the Explication of a few words into too long a Thread; but my purpoſe herein was onelyonly to free them from any difficulty which might ſeem to ſit upon them, as dark ſhadowes on the tops of the Mountaines, or Miſts on the Valleys, that intercept the light. And now methinks they are like a bright and unſpotted Mirrour, which exactly preſents the Object, or Species that is ſhed upon it, to the eye of every beholder; So clearly do they hold forth this one Propoſition, in which both the parts of the Verſe, the Caution of Circumſpection given, and the Ground, or Motive to it, do equally center.
That Satan is full of deviſes, and ſtudies arts of Circumvention, by which he unweariedly ſeekes the irrecoverable ruine of the Soules of Men.
It is the obſervation of the learned Zanchy, that Satan hath above twenty diſtinct Names and Appellations given unto him in the Scripture; ſome of which ſet forth the high impurity of his nature, in oppoſition to that ſtate of holineſs in which the bleſſed Angels ſtand, and from which he is fallen; and in this reſpect he is ſtiled an Unclean Spirit, Mark 9. 25. A Spirit of Wickedneſs in the abſtract, Epheſ. 6. 12. The Evil One, by way of eminency, Matth. 13. 19. Other of his Titles ſpeak the Soveraignty and Dominion which he exerciſeth over multitudes of Men, and hence he is called by our Saviour, the Prince of this World, John 12. 31. And by the Apoſtle, the God of this World, 2 Cor. 4. 4. Some again of them point out his Malice, and fierce rage, armed with Power, hence he is called the Accuſer of the Brethren, Rev. 12. 10. A roaring Lion, not ſeeking whom he may bite, but whom he may devour, 1 Pet. 5. 8. A great red Dragon, that out of his mouth ſends forth Waters, Rev. 12. 15. and with his Tail eaſts down the third part of the Stars of Heaven to the Earth, Rev. 12. 4. Others of them again declare his craft to deceive, his wiles to enſnare, his dexterity and skill to tempt: and in this regard he is ſaid to be the Father of Lies, John 8. 47. The Old Serpent, that by his windings and turnings deceives all the World, Rev. 12. 9. The Tempter, Matth. 4. 3. And this Name ſome think to be ſo peculiar to the Devil, as that it agrees to no Perſon, or thing beſides, ſave as it is his Inſtrument; that though Men tempt Inſtrumentally, the World Materially, yet Efficiently Satan onelyonly is ſaid to Tempt. But amongſt the many wayes by which the Holy Writ doth ſignalize the tranſcendent emnity that the Devil beareth to the Church and Choſen of God, there are none that are to be more eyed, or dreaded then his pernicious wiles and devices. He captivates more by his bidden Snares, then he woundes by his fiery Darts: He poiſons more as a hiſſing Serpent, then he devours as a roaring Lyon: He cheates more as a Tempter, then he hurts as an Accuſer. And as he in his immediate workings hath alwayes been, and ſtill is more miſchievous to the Church and Truth of God, by his Machinations and arts, then by his open force: ſo likewiſe have thoſe Inſtruments, and Emiſſaries of his in the ſucceſſion of all Ages, proved more fatall to the welfare of Religion, that have uſed rather the Head of this Serpent, then the Paw of this Lyon; and have carried on their deſigns rather by fraud and ſubtilty, than by an hoſtile War and defiance. The Midianites vexed Iſrael more by their Wiles, Numb. 25. 18. then the combined Powers of all the Kings of Canaan by frequent Battells. The Samaritan Faction obſtruct the building of the Temple by falſe inſimulations, Ezra 4. 6. By ſcornfull de…iſions, Neh. 4. 3. By pretenced compliances of building with Zerubbabel, and the chief of the Fathers, Ezra 4. 2. So Julian the infamous Apoſtate did more indanger the Goſpel, and leſſen the number of its Profeſſors, by his Serpentine Pollices, then all his Predeceſſors had done by their bloody Perſecutions, as Auſtin and other of the Ancients have truly obſerved. Yea, and Romiſh Babylon it ſelf, though it hath exceeded in cruelty all the Edomites of the former Ages, in making her Garments red, and her ſelf drunk with the blood of the Saints as with new Wine, yet the advancement of the Papacy hath been effected, after the Working of Satan, with all power, and ſignes, and lying wonders; and with all deceivableneſs of unright couſneſs, 2 Theſ. 2. 9, 10. In faining Apparitions of Angels and Spirits, in forging of Decrees of Counſells, and corrupting of Fathers, in ſembling and diſſembling of Piety, in ſwearing and forſwearing, in ſawnings, flatterings, bribings, and the uſe of all arts of couſenage and impoſture that wickedneſs it ſelf can deviſe or exerciſe. If then it be a ſtu…y and labour not unuſuall to the Military Profeſſion, to record the Stratagems of the moſt renowned Chieftains in War, as Vegetius, Frontinus, and others have done; to … of the ordering of Armies, and the ranging of them into ſeveral formes, and figures, as Aelian in his Tacticks hath done; or to Write with Lypſiois of the Warlike Engines and Weapons of the Ancients: It cannot but be both gratefull and neceſſary to acquaint ſuch who are engaged in a ſpiritual Warfare againſt Satan and his infernal Legions, what be his methods of Temptation, his arts of looſe skirmiſhing, and cloſe fighting with thoſe againſt whom he ſets the Battel in array: What be the wayes of his retreates, and fained flying, that ſo they may neither be enſnared by his Wiles, nor vanquiſhed by his Power. To this end therefore, in the purſuance of that needfull Truth which I have propounded to inſiſt on, I ſhall endeavour the performance of theſe five following Particulars.
Firſt, To demonſtrate the great abilities of Satan, as a Tempter, to effect and bring about his curſed deſigns, in making his Suggeſtions to become our Sins; his Snares our Chaines; his Baits our Food; his Will our Rule; and his Inventions our Circumventions.
Secondly, To ſet down, not by way of Enumeration, but of Inſtance, ſome of thoſe grand Stratagems, and uſuall Polices, which too often render him the Conquerour, and us the Captives: For he who hath (as Jerom ſpeakes) nomina mille, a multitude of diſtinct Names, hath alſo mide nocendi artes, as many arts to hurt and deſtroy.
Thirdly, To furniſh the Combatans in this War and Conflicts, with Weapons out of the Tower of David, Cant. 4. 4. the Armory of the Holy Scripture, ſuch, which being mighty through God, may bot… pierce the Scales of this Helliſh Leviathan, though ſhut up together as with a cloſe Seal, Job 41. 15. and may alſo ſafeguard them againſt the ſore danger of his poyſonful and fiery arrows.
Fourthly, To reſolve ſome Queries, the diſcuſſion of which will properly fall under the ſubject in hand.
Fifthly, To ſhut up the whole Diſcourſe with ſuch practical deductions, and inferences, as may be like the emanations of the Sun, that carry both light and heat with them.