A Covert from the Storm, Doctrine 4
The Fourth Doctrine.
The Devil is the impriſoner of Believers.
Sayes the Text, Behold the Devil ſhall caſt ſome of you into priſon. The words may be referred more particularly to the Miniſters, or more generally to the Saints in Smyrna.
1. More particularly to the Miniſters. As by One Candleſtick the whole Body of the Congregation, ſo by One Angel the whole company of the Paſtours are … underſtood. Ʋnto you I ſay, and to the reſt in Thyatira, Rev. 2. 24. That is, unto you the Miniſters, and the reſt of believers. So here, The Devil ſhall caſt ſome of you into priſon; that is, you who are the Shepherds, that ſo againſt the flock he may have the greater advantage.
Faithful Miniſters Satan never could, neither can he now endure. He endeavours if he can to corrupt them, to puff them up with pride, to draw them aſide by filthy lucre, to make them fall ſome way or other; and he does it with this deſign, that their doctrine may be the loſs heeded, and his Kingdome not ſo much weakned by them. But if he be not able to corrupt, he will be induſtrious to diſcourage them. They trouble him, will not let him alone, they will not ſuffer the ſtrong man armed to keep his houſe in peace, but by warning, exhorting, reproving, rebuking the ſecure and ungodly, endeavour to diſpoſſeſs him. No wonder if the Devil wax angry at them, and fling them out of their houſes into places of confinement.
The Prince of darkneſs would not that theſe Stars ſhould ſhine; he would fain have theſe Candles put under Buſhels… for Light diſcovers what Satan is, what a defiled, hateful and hating ſpirit, it diſcovers what his works be, namely to pollute us, and by polluting to fit us for perdition. Light alſo diſcovers what ſin is, and the unconceivable needfulneſs and excellency of the Lord Jeſus. And hereupon the Devils Vaſſals, ſeveral of them, are made to bethink themſelves, and are delivered from the Power of darkneſs, and tranſlated into the Kingdome of the Son of God, Gol. 1. 13. The joyful ſound of mans ſalvation is harſh in Satans ears; he impriſons therefore the Publiſhers of theſe glad-tydings, and cloſe ſomtimes, that the flock may be edified neither in a publick, nor more private way.
2. The words may be referred more generally to the Saints in Smyrna. Every member of Chriſt the Devil hates, and would fain tear from him; every ſheep this roating Lion would make his prey; therefore he raiſes perſecution to diſhearten them from following their great Shepherd. Though herein the ſubtle Serpent playes the fool egregiouſly; for the Saints grow more acquainted with their Lord in Priſon, like him the better, and are knit the faſter to him ever after.
But here it may be enquired, How the Devil doth caſt the Saints into priſon? The Reſolution of this ſhall be in theſe three particulars.
1. The Devil ſtirs up falſe accuſers of Believers. The Name which the Holy Ghoſt gives him in the Text is foreign a calumniator, or falſe accuſer. He accuſeth the Brethren before God, and his Inſtruments at his inſtigation do it before men. He inſpired falſe witneſſes againſt Chriſt; he doth the ſame againſt Chriſts followers. This unclean Spirit is utterly alienated both from Truth and Love. Malicious lyes, eſpecially againſt the Brotherhood, he is the Father of: Words that they never ſpake, nay, which to ſpeak is againſt their conſcience; Deeds that they never did, nay which they abhor to do, are notwithſtanding fathered upon them by the children of the Father of lyes and lyars.
2. The Devil cheriſhes in the minds of his ſervants unreaſonable jealouſies and ſurmizes concerning Saints; and this is another matter which occaſions their impriſonment; they are lookt upon as dangerous perſons, and that 'tis inconvenient and unſafe to have them at liberty. As the Primitive Chriſtians had the skins of brute beaſts put upon them, and then were worryed. So believers are repreſented by Satan to the minds of their enemies, as enemies to Government, as Turners of the world upſide down, as thoſe that would ſet the Nation in a combuſtion. But oh! how far are they from deſerving ſuch a Character! They pray earneſtly and deſire heartily, under authority to live quiet and peaceable lives in all godlineſs and honeſty. They are indeed the Diſciples of the Prince of peace, and make conſcience of following after Peace and holineſs, without which no man ſhall ſee the Lord, Heb. 12. 14.
3. The Devil hightens the enmity againſt, and hatred of piety, that naturally is in the minds of the ungodly; ſo that it breaks out into acts of cruelty and injuſtice. Although corrupted Nature of it ſelf be very furious, yet 'tis more violent when the Devil joyns with it. He can ſet an edge on the luſts of men, and make them the more impetuous. When concupiſcence is blown up by an unclean Spirit, how doth it burn and flame then? When pride is hightned by a proud Devil, how uncontroulable is it by any adviſe or conſideration? and in like manner, when envy, hatred and malice, and uncharitableneſs (as they are put together in the Letany) are made more keen by a ſpightful Satan: No wonder if the tongues of the ungodly prove ſcourges, and their hands ſtrike at believers liberty, if not at their lives.
USE I.
Of counſel and advice to perſecutors. I know not but this Book may light into the hands of one of them. Underſtand O enemy, whoever thou art, that thou haſt a friend at the … houſe who wiſhes thee well, who prayes for thy welfare as well as his own, who would ſtop thee in thy pernicious way; not ſo much for the Saints ſake as for thy own: for thou doeſt thy ſelf, not them, the greateſt miſchief. Let not O ye perſecutors, your rage ſtop your eares, be a little in cool blood, and hearken unto theſe two words of counſel.
1. Conſider then by whom you are acted. The Devil caſts the Saints into priſon, whoſe inſtruments and ſervants then are you? Is there not a better Maſter to be ſerved, a better work to be employed about? What thanks do you think our Lord Chriſt will give you for the ſervice you do to this deſtroyer.
But you will ſay, 'Tis zeal puts us upon what we do, and we hope we do God and his Church good ſervice: Yes, ſo the Jews thought they ſerved God, when they ſet themſelves againſt his Son: and Chriſt himſelf foretold this, Joh. 16. 2. They ſhall put you out of the Synagogues, they ſhall excommunicate you, yea the time cometh, that wh… ſoever killeth you will think that he doth God good ſervice.
2. O that you would become friends to your ſelves, by being friends unto the Saints. The Apoſtle Paul ſayes that before his converſion, he was exceeding mad againſt the Lords Diſciples, Acts 26. 11. He ſhewed himſelf to be exceeding mad indeed, to ſet himſelf againſt them that were ſo dear to the Lord Jeſus. But at laſt he is recovered to his wits, he is cured of that perſecuting phrenzy that poſſeſt and acted him, and then he preached that faith, which once he endeavoured to deſtroy, Gal. 1. 23. O that you would become propagatours of that Goſpel which now you oppoſe and hinder from being preached.
USE II.
Of conſolation to the priſoners of Jeſus Chriſt.
1. Think how weak the Devil is, if compared with the Captain of your Salvation. Chriſt has fought with this old Dragon and overcome him, he has tried his ſtrength, and has been much too hard for him: He has taken the Devil captive and holds him in a chain. As the great Emperour and Conquerour Tamerlane kept Bajazet the Turkiſh King in an iron cage: So the Lord Jeſus having ſubdued Satan keeps him in ſhackles; he cannot ſtir to deſtroy a Swine, much leſs to moleſt a Saint without Chriſts leave; and will he give the Devil leave to do any thing to his faithful followers that may be really to their prejudice?
2. There is leſs danger when Satan rages, then when he flatters; 'tis better he ſhould caſt you into priſon for well doing, then draw you into his ſnar…, and unto the commiſſion of evil. His pleaſing temptations are moſt hard to be reſiſted. When you ſee him furious and play the Devil indeed, as 'tis a ſign he has loſt you, ſo his enmity being more perceivable, it will make you fly to that Merciful and Faithful High Prieſt who knowes how to ſuccour them that are tempted, Heb. 2. ult. And beſides his hatred at ſuch a time being ſo viſibly diſcovered, 'twill make you more ſober and vigilant ever after; and to get on the armour, that you may ſtand againſt all his wiles all his devices.
3. The Devil may have great wrath, but he hath but a ſhort time, Rev. 12. 12. He is the more buſie becauſe he is aware that your warfare will ſhortly be at an end; and that the ſpiritual combatants, within a few yeares will be Conquerours and Crowned. Happy thoſe that are above! Devils cannot come at them! they know not what temptation means. 'Tis no more poſſible for any of Satans fiery darts to hit any of the Saints in glory, than for an Arrow that we ſhoot upward into the aire to hit the Sun in the firmament. Now you Saints that are below, will come to be above ſhortly, Romans 13. 11. Your ſalvation growes nearer and nearer every day.