The Christian Warfare Part 2, Book 1 · Chapter 2
CHAP. II.
Of the nature and qualitie of our enemie the world.
ANd thus hauehave I shewed what the world is, and as§. Sect. 1. That the world is euill and wicked in it self, yeelding obed…ence to Satan, as the prince thereof. it were hauehave singled our enemies out of the companie of our friends; lest our louelove of these should slacken and abate our zealous courage in opposing against our mortall foes; or our hatred of those should make vsus to dislike and hate our wel-deseruing friends. In the next place we will consider of the nature and qualitie of our enemie; and then shew his weapons and forces which hee vseth in this fight, that so wee may know the better how to auoid his furie, and to arme our selues against the encounter. And for the cleering of the former wee will briefly shew what the world is in it selfe, and then respectiuely what it is to vsus. In it selfe, the Scripture saith of it, that it is euill, yea so euill, that Christ Iesus spared not to giuegive his owne most preciousGal. 1. 4. blood, to deliuer his seruants out of this spirituall Egypt: and lest wee should thinke that this euill hath but a little tainted it, or that it is corrupted but in part only, the Apostle Iohn telleth vsus, that the whole world lieth in wickednes,1. Ioh 5. 19. not a little sprinkled or dipped, but sourced and sunk into a deepe and bottomlesse gulfe of sinne. The which will more manifestly appeare if wee consider that this wicked world, like a rebellious traitor, hath denied and refused to hauehave the Lord and great Creator of heauen and earth for his Soueraigne and King, and will not yeeld any obedience vntounto his lawes and commandements, but contemneth his promises and rewards, as also his threatnings and punishments. And contrariwise hath submitted himselfe to Satan as his prince and gouernour, yeelding obedience vntounto his will, and subiecting himselfe to be ruled by the law of sinne, for the wages of worldly vanities, as pleasures, profits, and preferments. Whereof it is that in the Scriptures the diuell is called the aIoh. 12. 31. and 16. 11. Ephes. 2. 2.prince of the world, and the bEphes. 6. 12. Ephes. 2. 2.gouernour therof; not because he is indeed the ruler and gouernour of heauen and earth, to dispose of all at his pleasure (for this is Gods royall prerogatiue; whose slaue and vassall Satan is, and forced to doe his will when he most opposeth it) but because he ruleth in the children of disobedience, hauing them alwaies c2. Tim. 2. 26.readie as his deuoted bond slaues to do his will: who are called the world, because they set their hearts and affections vponupon it; it being the nature of louelove to transforme as much as may be the louer into the nature of the thing beloued, and so to denominate the one according to the name of the other. Yea he not only as a king ruleth their outward actions, but also in their hearts and consciences, causing them to yeeld vntounto him free, willing and absolute obedience: and therefore he is also called the god of the world,2. Cor. 4. 4. who with his mists of falsehood blindeth the eyes of infidels and worldings, so as they cannot see his vglie filthines and palpable lies, nor the diuine puritie and excellencie of their Creator, and the glorious light of his truth.
And as the world yeeldeth this subiection vntounto Satan as§. Sect. 2. That the world sighteth vnderunder Satan against God. his king and soueraigne, so also it maketh choice of him for his captaine and chiefe commander, receiuing his colours and cognizance, marching vnderunder his conduct, and fighting vnderunder his standerd with like inueterate malice, both against God himselfe, and all his Church and children. Against God the world opposeth with such deadly and implicable hatred, that it is impossible for any to a1. Ioh. 2. 15.adhere vntounto the world, but hee must necessarily be diuided from God; nor bMatth. 6. 24.serue it, but hee must neglect and disobey the Lord; nor cIames 4 4.louelove it, but God and he must be at emnitie. Neither doth it onelyonly oppose against the diuine nature, but also against eueryevery person of the Deitie; it rebelleth against God the Father and Creator, by refusing to serue him as his creature, but contrariwise disobeyeth his will, and desperately reiecteth all his commandements, yeelding voluntarie obedience to his arch-enemie the diuell; it dIoh. 1. 11.receiueth not the Sonne Iesus Christ as it Sauiour and Redeemer, but treadeth vnderunder foote his precious blood, and maketh but a mocke of all his sufferings, neither doth it eIoh. 14. 17.receiue the holy Ghost the sanctifier, but checketh all his motions, and scorneth all his sanctifying and sauing graces, preferring before them worldly …oyes and base vanities of no value. Needs therefore must the world be exceeding wicked, which submitteth it selfe to bee ruled and guided by that wicked one Satan; needs must it be outragiously euill, which purposely and malitiously opposeth it selfe against God the author and fountaine of all goodnesse.
And thus we see what our enemie is in himselfe: now to§. Sest. 3. That the world is a most dangerous enemie. vsus he is exceeding dangerous; for he is so malitiously subtile, so treacherously cruell, and armed with such forces and power, that vnlesse the Christian man be well sitted with the spirituall armour, and mightily strengthened and defended with the spirit of God, hee is sure either to bee vanquished and ouercome, or else to receiue shamefull foyles. This danger is by one thus described: There (saith he) is the world, Mundus ergo est vbi malitiae plurimum, vbi sapientiae modicum, &c. Bernard.where as there is much m…lic…, little wisedome, where all things are limie and catching, all things slimie and slipperie, all things couered with darknesse, and beset with snares; where soules are endangered and bodies afflicted, where all is vanitie and affliction of spirit. Another saith, that the world is pitch, which defileth those who come neere it with the least touch: It is birdlime, Dugo Philonius, in Tiliano, de scient. benè morien. fol. 28.which intangleth his admirers with sin and eternall death; it is a snare, which with his pleas…res and riches, as it were offered baits, allureth and catcheth vnwarie men, and draweth them with it into the net of destruction: and therefore impossible it seemeth to me that hee who liueth according to the lawes of the world▪ should passe away hence pure and vndefiled▪ from the filth of the world. In respect of which danger the world is fitly compared to a perillous sea, in which howsoeuer some escape shipwrack, yet none escapeth danger. For with vaine hopes as with a prosperous gale of winde, men are allured to hoyse vp the sailes of their desires, and to enter into this▪ porillous passage and course of worldlings, but before they can arriue at the wished hauen, they encounter a thousand desperate dangers; one while they are tossed with tempestuous stormes of troubles, crosses, and vexations; sometime lifted vp with their hopes, as though they should touch the heauens; sometime deiected and cast downe with feare, as though they should bee swallowed in the gulfe and (as it were) hell of despaire; now they are in danger to dash against the rockes of violence and oppression, and soone after to split their ship vponupon the sands of treacherie and falsehood: sometimes they are carried into an vncouth vastnes in hazard to lose themselues in the bywaies of error, vnlesse following the aduice of their skilfull Pilots, Gods messengers and Ministers, they suffer themselues to be guided and directed with the Card of Gods word: sometime they are driuen into the straits, where they are beset with perils, heere Scylla, there Charybdis, being readie to fall into the one, whilest with improuident care they auoid the other. Which being passed, their danger is not past; for though the storme, rocks and sands spare them, yet are they beset with ten thousand wicked fiends, which like cruell pirats are readie to rob them of all those rich wares of Gods spirituall graces, and to enchaine them in their galleys of endlesse bondage. But say they are not encountred with these rough dangers of troubles and crosses, say that they hauehave a faire calme of prosperitie, and a comfortable shunshine of worldly fauours; surely howsoeuer their securitie may be much more, yet their danger is not abated, yea rather it is much increased. For being thus encalmed, they hauehave neither power nor will to go forward to the blessed hauen of eternall happinesse, but contrariwise being bewitched with those Syrens songs of carnall-alluring pleasures, they cast themselues headlong into the gulfe of perdition, they now deuouring them which before allured them. This danger by another is thus expressed: This world (saith he) is to Christians a dangerous sea: for as the Ambros. in Rom. 8.sea being stirred with aduerse stormes doth mount aloft, and causeth a tempest to the passengers; so the world being moued with the conspiracie of wicked men, doth trouble the mindes of the faithfull, and with such diuersitie is this effected by the enemie, that a man can hardly know what is first to bee auoided: for if higher powers cease to oppose, it exasperateth the mindes of priuate men against vsus; if their rage be also appeased, it setteth all on fire by those who are of a mans owne familie; and if this also be quieted, by his art hee setteth discord betweene brethren and neere kinred, that so tempestuously beating vponupon the house on eueryevery of the foure corners, he may on one side or other cause a ruine. For which cause it is with one consent to be fled from of all Christians, &c. And this he inforceth elsewhere: Flee (saith hee) the sea of the world, and thou shalt not need to feare shipwracke, Ambros. in Luc. 4. tom. 5.&c. In the sea when as the windes rage, though all be not cast away, yet all are subiect to great danger.
But how dangerous this enemie is, it will better appeare,§. Sect. 4. That the world is a malicious enemie. if we doe consider the will and abilitie, the malice and power thereof; which if they be in an high nature and degree ioyned together, the perill must needs be out of measure perillous.
Concerning the malice of this enemie, it is exceeding great and vnreconcilable, inueterate and perpetuall. For as taking part with our arch-enemie Satan, it malitiously opposeth against God, so also against all those who professe themselues his children and seruants. And as the Libbard so hateth man, that with furious malice it will flie vponupon his picture or image, so this Serpents brood the world, as it maligneth God himselfe, so also with like hate it pursueth those in whom the image of God is repaired. And as with outragious malice and deadly outrage it persecuted our head Iesus Christ, so with equall furie it rageth against all the true members of his bodie. Of this our Sauiour gaue vsus warning, Ioh. 15. 18. If the world hate you, you know that it hated me before Ioh. 15. 18. 19.you. 19. If ye were of the world, the world would louelove his owne; but because ye are not of the world, but I hauehave chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. 20. Remember the word that I said vntounto you, the seruant is not greater then his master. If they hauehave persecuted me, they will persecute you also. And this appeareth by continuall experience euen from the beginning of the world. Caine a wicked worldling persecuteth and murthereth his religious brother Abel, as soone as hee saw that God respected him. The sonnes of men with giant like furie oppresse the sonnes of God, the Sodomites maligne holy Lo…, Ismael persecuteth Isaac, Esau Iacob, the idolatrous Egyptians cruelly oppresse Israel, the people and Church of God, with more then barbarous furie, Saul pursueth Dauid, I…sabel the true Prophets, the heathenish Gentiles the Church of the Iewes, the Scribes and Pharisees, Christ and his Apostles, and the vnbeleeuing Pagans, the beleeuing Christians. In a word, there was neuer any escaped, but assoone as they hauehave been friends with God, they were presently accounted the worlds enemies; and no sooner doth God receiue them into fauour, but the world pursueth them with malice and hatred.
But as the world is exceeding malitious, and therefore§. Sect. 5. That the world is a subtill enemie. Luke 16. 8. willing; so also it is very powerfull, and therefore able to hurt vsus, seeing neither policie nor strength is wanting vntounto it; for the children of this world are wiser in their generation then the children of the light, as the wisest of men, and wisedome of God, giueth testimonie; and a thousand cunning sleights they hauehave to deceiue vsus, and tenne thousand subtill policies to betray and circumuent vsus. So that Christian wisedome which dares not exceed the bounds of simplicitie and truth, seemeth vntounto them doltish sottishnes, and sillie foolishnes; and in regard of their aduantages of dissimulation, lying, and base treacherie, it were most easie for them to ouermatch and goe beyond them, did not the Lord by his infinite wisedome and power defeate their policies, and conuert the wisedome of these Ahitophels into meere foolishnes.
So also it is exceeding strong both in it owne strength,§. Sect. 6. That the world is a powerfull enemie in regard of it owne strength. and in respect of the great forces which our owne corrupt flesh doth minister vntounto it. In it selfe it is so puissant, that Satan maketh choice of it as his chiefe champion to fight against vsus; it is his right hand wherewith he striketh vsus; it is the armorie which affoordeth vntounto him all those mortall weapons wherewith hee woundeth vsus; it is the treasurie which yeeldeth vntounto him all that wages whereby he hireth vsus to offend God, and all those alluring baites wherewith he inticeth vsus vntounto sinne: neither could Satan hurt vsus with his sharpe hookes of hellish tentations, vnlesse they were couered with the sweete baites of worldly vanities; he could not get vsus stoope, and intangle our selues in his nets and limetwigs of sinne and wickednesse, vnlesse he vsed stales in our owne likenes, and betraied vsus by the example and perswasions of men like vntounto our selues. Thus he inticed Eue with a faire apple, the sons of God with the beautie of the daughters of men, Lot with the pleasures of Sodom, Achan with the wedge of gold, the chiefe of the Iewes with the glorie of the world: yea in these haires of worldly vanities his strength so mainly lieth, that when he was to vse all his policie, and imploy all his forces, to get the victorie of the sonne of God himselfe, hee maketh choice of these worldly weapons, and inticeth him to sinne by offering vntounto him the baites of worldly necessaries, honours and preferments;Matth. 4. 11. with which when hee could not ouercome, hee fleeth from him as despairing of victorie. So that wee may here learne, that Satans chiefe strength consisteth in the worlds aides, and that in the conflict of tentations hee will flee, when the world cannot ouercome, as despairing of the conquest when his chiefe forces faile him.
Neither doth Satan with his owne soule hands offer vntounto vsus these baits and bribes to allure vsus vntounto sinne, but hee chuseth as his messengers and deputies those who are in our owne likenesse, and couered with the same flesh. He inticeth chast Ioseph to commit vncleannes, by the perswasions of his wanton Mistrisse; the Israelites to filthinesse, by the wicked Moabites; the people of God to Idolatrie, by the example of the cursed nations, and Salomon by his outlandish wiues. Whereby it commeth to passe that his counsailes hauehave more free audience, his perswasions greater authoritie, and his gifts wherewith he allureth vsus to commit sinne, are lesse suspected and mistrusted. By all which it plainly appeareth that the worlds forces are not weak, seeing in them consisteth Satans chiefe strength, and that his power and policies are not securely to be contemned, seeing our arch-enemie the diuell placeth in them his chiefe confidence for the obtaining of victorie.
But no little are these forces strengthened for our ouerthrow,§. Sect. 7. That much strength is added to the vvo…lds forces through our corruption. through the aide and helpe which our owne corrupt flesh ministreth vntounto them. For as the world is Satans wildfire, wherewith he inflameth vsus; so our flesh is the tinder which receiueth and nourisheth this fire, as soone as it is cast into it; and such a neere league of friendship there is betweene our flesh and worldly vanities, that Satan can be no more readie to offer, then it to receiue this wages of sin: whereof it commeth to passe, that when by the word of God, or the motion of his holy spirit, we thinke vponupon these earthly vanities, that wee may learne the better to flee and contemne them, they sticke to our fingers when wee would throw them away, they catch vsus when we would flee from them; and being insnared with these worldly lime-twigs; (like the sillie bird) the more wee struggle to get out, the more we are intangled and disabled. So that it fareth with vsus as with the foolish louer, who fondly louing, but yet worthily disliking his ill-deseruing mistresse, groweth to a seeming resolution to forsake her companie, and armeth himselfe with many forcible arguments to strengthen him in his purpose; but at the next meeting he is so allured with her lookes, and so bewitched with the least apparance of a proffered fauour, that he doteth on her againe with more wonted fondnes. The reason hereof is, because it is as naturall for our corrupt flesh to louelove the world, as for the loose youth to louelove the cunning harlot, for the water to runne downe the hill, the fire to ascend vpward, or for the tender hearted mother to louelove her deare bought and only babe. So that it needeth no arguments to perswade vsus to imbrace his sinfull vanities, for only the sight of them is sufficient to allure vsus, our own affections more violently drawing vsus, then the inticing eloquence and well framed reasons of the best perswading Oratour.§. Sect 8. The power of the world shewed by the experience of former times.
But if wee would hauehave yet a more plaine and euen palpable demonstration of the great power and puissance of this our enemie, let vsus propound the experience of former times, and of our owne daies, and take a view of those trophies of victorie, which the world hath erected in all ages for the eternizing of his owne glorie; and you shall finde that the greatest Potentates of the earth, the great Commanders of conquering armies, they who hauehave most excelled in wisedome and policie, in power and fortitude, in temperance and in all other ciuill and morall vertues, hauehave after all their victories, bin vanquished by the world, fettered in the chaines of his vanities, tied to his triumphant chariot; offering themselues euen after they hauehave subdued the greatest part of the earth, to become the worlds slaues and sworne vassals, for the base and contemptible wages, either of windle honors, vncertaine riches, or carnall pleasures. Neither hath this bin the case of the worlds deuoted seruants onelyonly, but of the stoicall contemners of the world, who hauing cast downe the gauntlet of defiance, and as it were challenged to fight with it in single combat; hauehave at vnawares receiued foyles, in the very time of challenge, with their owne weapons, affecting the praise of the world by their dispraises of it, and being tickled with vaine pleasure, whilest they hauehave declaimed against the vanitie of pleasures; and when as by the waight of their arguments they hauehave ouercome their epicurish aduersaries, themselues hauehave been ouercome with pleasure no lesse vaine and carnall, although more subtile and refined. Yea this puissant enemie hath not only conquered the heathen multitude, and ruled amongst them as an vniuersall Monarch, (for if this were all, his power were not so terrible, seeing they wanted a Captaine to guide them, spirituall eyes to direct them, and the shield of faith which might beate backe the force of the worlds furies) but not contented with his owne territories and dominions, he hath made fearefull inrodes euen into the holy land, and hath fought many fierce battels in the middest of Gods visible monarchie, vanquishing some of Gods professed seruants through their owne treacherie or cowardize, and leading them captiue to doe his will; foiling many euen of his great Worthies, through their secure negligence; and finally murthering and killing (though not ouercomming) others, who resisted his furie and would not yeeld. In the formost ranke was Saul, whom of Gods elected and anointed king, he made his owne deuoted vassall; Absalon, whom of the sonne of a holy and religious king, he made with the baite of honour a bloodthirstie rebell, and (it is to be feared) the sonne of perdition; Demas, who of a disciple became an apostate; and Iudas, who being hired with the wages of iniquitie, of an Apostle became a diuell. In the second was iust Noah foiled with intemperance, righteous Lot defiled with filthie incest; the tenne Patriarkes, some of which were ouercome with lust, some stained with blood, and all ouerborne with pride …d bitter enuie; holy Dauid, first defiled with lust, and then embrued with innocent blood, the feare of God for a time being beaten back with the feare of losing his credit in the world: religious Ezechias swolne with a cruell blow of vainglorie which the world gaue him, through his great conceit of his riches and treasures; a disease much more dangerous then that swelling sore, of which through the merciemercy of God he had recouered. And to these we might adde the strong Sampson, and the wise Salomon, whom the world ouercame by his female forces; and the Disciples themselues, enuying one anothers greatnesse, and contending for superioritie there, where the meanest inferiour is much more glorious then the earths greatest Monarch. In the last march that armie of glorious Martyrs, against whom the world raged with barbarous crueltie, and so farre preu…led in the fight, that hee foiled, yea murthered their bodies, though hee could not hurt their soules, they being inuincible and immortall.
But leauing former ages, let vsus come vntounto our owne,§. Sect. 9. The power of the world shewed, by the experience of these present times. where we may obserue a world of victories, which the world hath through his force and cunning obtained, euen in these latter times, which are still fresh in our memories and daily subiect to our view. And to say nothing of the barbarous Heathen and wilde Indians, who scarce acknowledge any other master (vnlesse it bee the prince of the world) nor expect any other wages but what is paid vntounto them out of the worlds exchequer; to passe by the Turkes and Saracens, the worlds denoted vassals and sworne souldiers, waged by him to fight continually against the kingdome of Iesus Christ; and not to speake of the whole kingdom of the Romish Antichrist, whose whole religion is nothing else but a mixture of superstition, hypocrisie, and worldly policies, of purpose inuented and contriued, that they may attaine their worldly ends, and maintaine their glorie and authoritie, inrich their chests, and wallow themselues in the filthie sinke of voluptuous pleasures; euen amongst our selues who hauehave giuen our names to Iesus Christ, and doe make profession of his holy Gospell; how many are there, who hauing in their baptisme taken vponupon them the badge of Christian profession, do make apostasie from their saith, and in the whole course of their liues shew, that they are professed worldlings, seruing this wicked master with all their thoughts, words & works, for the wages of worldly vanities; minding onelyonly earthlie things, and being in their cogitations and hearts fast glued vntounto the ground, so as they hauehave neuer any leisure to lift them vp in any holy and heauenly meditations; talking of nothing but of their worldly businesses and delights, and how they may compasse & atchieue their worldly designes; and all their actions aiming at this marke how they may increase or continue their riches, pleasures or preferments? How many are there (who not daring for feare of that hellish condemnation, which they heare is so terrible, to giuegive themselues ouer wholly to the seruice of the world) do notwithstanding vnequally share themselues betweene God and Mammon, giuing the world their hearts, yea and their bodies too, sauing that they doe an houre or two in a week, make (as it were) a tender of them to the grand Lord▪ offering vntounto him the small pepper corne of their outward deuotion, for feare of forfeiting the tenure of their saluation? How many disguized hypocrites are there, who offer vntounto God more seruice, but with as small deuotion, and professing religion, oftentimes with shew of zeale more then ordinarie, doe notwithstanding secretly reconcile themselues vntounto the world, swearing vntounto him their alleageance for the hire of earthly trifles? who offer vntounto the Lord only the sacrifice of their lips, and take vponupon them the vizard of religion, that their shew of godlinesse may increase their gaine, and set forward their worldly ends; but when God and the world, religion and their pleasure, profit and preferment, are so diuided, that they cannot together be imbraced, then they vnmask themselues, cast aside the Lords liuerie; and openly professe that if they must hauehave but one, then the world alone shall be their Lord and master.
And all these proclaime the worlds force and power by§. Sect. 10. That the world often preuaileth with Gods seruants. their vtter ouerthrow and base slauerie. But how many are there besides who in the sinceritie of their hearts serue the Lord, and fight vnderunder his standerd, who feele often the force of the worlds blowes, and receiue deepe and grisly, though not mortall wounds, in this conflict? How many are there who hauing escaped out of the diuels slauerie, and had the vpper hand in many combats of tentation, after they hauehave put him to flight, and obtained a glorious victorie, are pursued and ouertaken by the world, which encountring and closing fast with them, either casteth them downe, or grieuously foileth them, by wounding their consciences with some knowne sinne, or maketh them to stand still, or at least exceedingly hindreth their race in the course of Christianitie? How many are there who hauehave lost their first louelove, and are much abated in their zeale, becomming cold and negligent in the duties of Gods seruice, and in the workes of merciemercy and charitie towards their brethren, after that the world hath combated with them? And yet alas so secure we are, that though this enemie be much more dangerous and pernicious then Satan▪ himself, ouercomming more through his treacherous flatteries, then his grand captaine by his open violence, yet the most thinke not of it, as of a mortal foe, but as though it were a kinde friend, they impart vntounto it a great share in their louelove and affection, esteeming it aboue Gods spirituall graces whilest they hauehave it, and mourning with sorrow and bitter griefe when they are forced to part from …t. And howsoeuer they professe emnitie against the world, as being commonly reckoned for one of the enemies of our saluation, yet their quarrell is but against an idle name: for as for the nature of the world, what it is, and the dangerous effects which it worketh, they know it not, much lesse doe they with any care furnish themselues with such spirituall weapons as might enable them to fight against it. Whereof it commeth to passe that they are vanquished by the world at vnawares, and liue in subiection to this dangerous enemie, and neuer feele the burthen of their bondage, because it is sweete and pleasing to the flesh.