Precious Remedies Against Satans Devices, Part 1 · Subpart 6
Now the Remedies againſt this device of Satan are theſe that follow.
THe firſt Remedy is, ſeriouſly to conſider,1 Remedy. Fallen man hath loſt (imperium ſuum, and imperium ſui) the command of himſelfe, and the command of the creatures; and certainly, he that cannot command himſelfe, cannot repent of himſelfe. Da poenitentiā & poſtea indulgentiam, ſaid dying Fulgentius. that Repentance is a mighty work, a difficult work, a work that is above our power. There is no power below that power that raiſed Chriſt from the dead, and that made the world, that can break the heart of a ſinner, or turn the heart of a ſinner; thou art as well melt Adamant, as to melt thine owne heart, to turn a flint into fleſh, as to turn thine own heart to the Lord; to raiſe the dead, and to make a world, as to Repent. Repentance is a flower that growes not in Natures garden. Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the Leopard his ſpots, then may yee alſo doe good, that are accuſtomed to doe evill, Jer. 13. 23. Repentance is a gift that comes down from above, men are not born with Repentance in their hearts, as they are borne with tongues in their mouths, Acts. 5.It was a vain brag of King Cyrus, that cauſed it to be written upon his Tomb-ſtone (foreign) I could doe all things. So could Paul too, but it was through Chriſt which ſtrengthned him. 31. Him hath God exalted with his right hand, to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give Repentance to Iſrael, and forgiveneſſe of ſins. So in that 2 Tim. 2. 25. In meekneſſe inſtructing them that oppoſe themſelves, if God peradventure will give them repentance, to the acknowledging of the truth. 'Tis not in the power of any mortall to repent at pleaſure: Some ignorant, deluded ſouls vainly conceit that theſe five words, Lord have mercy upon me, are efficacious to ſend them to Heaven; but as many are undone by buying a counterfeit Jewell: ſo many are in Hell, by miſtake of their Repentance; many reſt in their Repentance, though it be but the ſhadow of Repentance, which cauſed one to ſay, Repentance damneth more then ſin.
The ſecond Remedy againſt this Device2 R…medy. of Satan, is, ſolemnly to conſider of the nature of true Repentance; Repentance is ſome other thing then what vain men conceive. Repentance is ſometimes taken in a more ſtrict and narrowThe Hebrew word for Repentance, is foreign from foreign wch ſignifies to returne, implying a going back from what a man had don, it notes a returning or converting from one thing to another, from ſin to God. The Greeks have two words, by which they expreſſe the nature of repentance, one is foreign, which ſignifies to be carefull, anxious, ſolicitous after a thing is done; the other word is foreign, is reſipiſcentia, after-wit, or after-wiſdom, the minds recovering of wiſdome, or growing wiſer after our folly. Ab foreign dementia & foreign poſt, it being the correction of mens folly, and returning ad ſanam mentem. True repentance is a thorough change, both of the mind and manners, optima & aptiſſima poenitentia eſt nova vita, ſaith Luther, which ſaying is an excellent ſaying. Repentance for ſin is nothing worth, without repentance from ſin. If thou repent with a contradiction (ſaith Tertullian) God will pardon thee with a contradiction; thou repenteſt, and yet continueſt in thy ſin, God will pardon thee, and yet ſend thee to Hell; there's a pardon with a contradiction. Negative goodneſſe ſerves no mans turn to ſave him from the axe. It is ſaid of Ithacus, that the hatred of the Priſcillian Hereſie, was all the vertue that he had. The evill ſervant did not riot out his Talent. Thoſe Reprobates, Mat. 25. robbed not the Saints, but relieved them not; for this they muſt eternally perish ſenſe, for godly ſorrow; ſometimes Repentance is taken in a large ſenſe, for Amendment of Life. Repentance hath in it three things, viz. the Act, the Subject, and the Termes.
1. The formall Act of Repentance is a changing, and converting; 'tis often ſet forth in Scripture by Turning, Turne thou me, and I ſhall be turned, ſaith Ephraim; after that I was turned, I repented, ſaith he; 'tis a turning from darkneſſe to light.
2. The Subject changed, and converted, is the whole man; 'tis both the ſinners heart and life: firſt his heart, then his life; firſt his perſon, then his practice and converſation. Waſh yee, make you cleane; there's the change of their perſons; put away the evill of your doings from before mine eyes; ceaſe to doe evill, learne to do well; there's the change of their practiſes: So Caſt away (ſaith Ezekiel) all your tranſgreſſions, whereby you have tranſgreſſed; there's the change of the life; and make you a new heart, and a new ſpirit, there's the change of the
3. The Tearmes of this change, and converſion from which, and to which, both heart and life muſt be changed from all ſin, to God; the heart muſt be changed from the ſtate and power of ſin, the life from the acts of ſin, but both unto God, the heart to be under his power in a ſtate of grace, the life to be under his rule, in all new obedience, as the Apoſtle ſpeaks, To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkneſſe to light, and from the power of ſatan unto God: ſo the Prophet Iſaiah ſaith, Let the wicked forſake their wayes, and the unrighteous man his thoughts, and let him returne unto the Lord. Thus much of the nature of Evangelicall Repentance. Now ſoules, tell me whither it be ſuch an eaſie thing to repent, as Satan doth ſuggeſt; beſides what hath been ſpoken, I deſire that you will take notice, that Repentance doth include a turning from the moſt darling ſin: Ephraim ſhall ſay, What have I to doe any more with Idols? Yea, it's a turning from all ſin to God. Ezek. 18. 30. Therefore I will judge you, O Houſe of Iſrael, every one according to his wayes, ſaith the Lord God: repent, and turne your ſelves from all your tranſgreſſions: ſo iniquity ſhall not be your ruine. Herod turn'd from many, but turn'd not from his Herodias, which was his ruine; Judas turn'd from all viſible wickednes, yet he would not caſt out that golden Devil Covetouſneſſe, and therefore was caſt into the hotteſt place in Hell. He that turnes not from every ſin, turnes not aright from any one ſin; every ſin ſtrikes at the Honour of God, the Being of God, the Glory of God, the Heart of Chriſt, the Joy of the Spirit, and the Peace of a mans Conſcience; and therefore a ſoul truly penitent, ſtrikes at all, hates all, conflicts with all; and will labour to draw ſtrength from a crucified Chriſt to crucifi… all; a true penitent knowes neither father nor mother, neither right eye, nor right hand, but will pluck out the one, and cut off the other. Saul ſpared but one Ag…g, and that coſt him his ſoul and his Kingdome: beſides, Repentance is not onelyonly a turning from all ſin, but alſo a turning to all good, to a love of all good, to a prizing of all good, and to a following after all good. Ezek. 18. 21. But if the wicked will turne from all his ſins that he hath committed, and keep all my Statutes, and doe that which is lawfull and right, he ſhall ſurely live, be ſhall not die; that is, onelyonly negative righteouſneſſe and holineſſe is no righteouſneſſe nor holineſſe; David fulfilled all the wills of God, and had reſpect unto all his Commandements, and ſo had Zacharias and Elizabeth. 'Tis not enough that the Tree bears not ill fruit; but, it muſt bring forth good fruit, elſe, it muſt be cut downe, and eaſt into the fire: So, 'tis not enough that you are not thus and thus wicked, but you muſt be thus and thus gracious, and good, elſe Divine Juſtice will put the Axe of Divine Vengeance to the root of your ſouls, and cut you off for ever. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit, is hewn downe, and caſt into the fire; beſides, Repentance doth include a ſenſibleneſſe of ſins ſinfulneſſe, how oppoſite and contrary 'tis to the bleſſed God: God is light, ſin is darkneſſe, God is life, ſin is death, God is Heaven, ſin is hell, God is beauty, ſin is deformity. Alſo true Repentance includes a ſenſiblenes of ſins miſchievouſneſſe, how it caſt Angels out of Heaven, and Adam out of Paradiſe; how it laid the firſt corner-ſtone in hell, and brought in all the curſes, croſſes, and miſeries, that be in the world, and how it makes men liable to all temporall, ſpirituall, and eternall wrath; how it hath made men Godleſſe, Chriſtleſſe, hopeleſſe, and heavenleſſe in this world: further, true repentance doth include ſorrow for ſin, contrition of heart; it breaks the heart with ſighes and ſobs, and groans, for that a loving God, and Father is by ſin offended, a bleſſed Saviour a freſh crucified, and the ſweet Comforter, the Spirit,True repentance is a ſorrowing for ſin as it is offenſivum Dei, averſivum à Deo, this both comes from God, & drives a man to God, as it did the Church in the Canticles, and the Prodigall. Ezek. 20. 22, 23. grieved and vexed. Again, Repentance doth include, not onelyonly a loathing of ſin, but alſo a loathing of our ſelves for ſin; as a man doth not onelyonly loath poyſon, but he loaths the very diſh or veſſel that hath the ſmell of the poyſon: ſo a true Penitent doth not onelyonly loath his ſin, but he loaths himſelfe, the veſſel that ſtill ſmels of ſin. So Ezek. 20. 43. And there ſhall ye remember your wayes and all your doings, wherein yee have been defiled; and ye ſhall loath your ſelves in your owne ſight, for all your evills that ye have committed; true Repentance will work your hearts, not onelyonly to loath your ſins, but alſo to loath your ſelves. Againe, true Repentance doth not onelyonly work a man to loath himſelf for his ſins, but it makes him aſham'd of his ſin alſo. What fruit have ye of thoſe things, whereof ye are (now) aſhamed? ſaith the Apoſtle: ſo Ezekiel, And thou ſhalt be confounded, and never open thy mouth any more, becauſe of thy ſhame, when I am pacified toward thee, for all that thou haſt done, ſaith the Lord God. When a pen… tentiall ſoul ſees his ſins pardoned, the anger of God pacified, and Divine Juſtice ſatisfied, then he ſits down (and bluſhes, as the Hebrew hath it) as one aſhamed; yea, true Repentance dothQuantum diſplicet Deo immunditia pecca…, in tantum placet deo eruhiſcentia poenitentis. Ber. i. e. So much the more God hath been diſpleaſed with the blackneſſe of ſin, the more will he be pleaſed with the bluſhing of the ſinner. They that do not burn now in zeale againſt ſin, muſt ere long burne in Hell for ſin. work a man to croſſe his ſinfull ſelf, and to walk contrary to ſinfull ſelfe, to take a holy revenge upon ſin, as you may ſee in Paul, the Jaylor, Mary Magdalen, and Manaſſes; this the Apoſtle ſhewes in that 2 Cor. 7. 10, 11. For godly ſorrow worketh repentance never to be repented of, but the ſorrow of the world worketh death; for behold the ſelfeſame thing that ye ſorrowed after a Godly ſort, what carefullneſſe it wrought in you; yea, what clearing of your ſelves; yea, what indignation; yea, what feare; yea, what vehement deſire; yea, what zeale; yea, what revenge. Now ſouls, ſum up all theſe things together, and tell me, whether it be ſuch an eaſie thing to repent, as Satan would make the ſoul to beleeve; and I am confident your hearts will anſwer, that 'tis as hard a thing to repent, as 'tis to make a world, or to raiſe the dead. I ſhall conclude this ſecond Remedy, with a worthy ſaying of a precious holy man, Repentance (ſaith he) ſtrips us ſtark naked of all the garments of the old Adam, and leaves not ſo much as the ſhirt behind; in this rotten building it leaves not a ſtone upon a ſtone. As the Flood drowned Noa'hs own friends, and ſervants: ſo muſt the flood of repenting tears drown our ſweeteſt, and moſt profitable ſins.
The third Remedy againſt this Device3 Remedy. of Satan, is, ſeriouſly to conſider, that Repentance is a continued act; the word Repent, implies the continuation of it. True Repentance inclines a mansAnſelme in his Meditations confeſſeth, that all his life was either damnable for ſin committed, or unprofitable for good omitted and at laſt concludes (Quid reſtat o peccat…r niſi ut in tota vita tua deplores totam vitam tuam) Oh what then remaines, but in our whole life, to lament the ſins of our whole life. heart to perform Gods Statutes always, even unto the end; a true Penitent muſt goe on, from Faith, to Faith, from ſtrength to ſtrength, he muſt never ſtand ſtill, nor turne back; Repentance is a grace, and muſt have its daily operation, as well as other graces; true Repentance is a continued ſpring, where the waters of godly ſorrow are alwayes flowing; My ſins are ever before me; a true penitent is often caſting his eyes back to the dayes of his former vanity, and this makes him morning and evening to water his couch with his tears: Remember not againſt me the ſins of my youth, ſaith one bleſſed Penitent; and I was a blaſphemer, and a perſecuter, and injurious, ſaith another Penitent: Repentance is a continued act of turning, a Repentance never to be repented of, a turning never to turne again to folly; a true penitent hath ever ſomething within him to turn from he can never get near enough to God, no, not ſo near him as once he was; and therefore he is ſtill turning and turning, that he may get nearer and nearer to him; that is his chiefeſt good, and his onelyonly happineſſe (optimum 'Tis truly ſaid of God, that he is omnia ſuper omnia.maximum) the beſt, and the greateſt; they are every day a crying out, O wretched men that we are, who ſhall deliver us from this body of death? They are ſtill ſenſible of ſin, and ſtill conflicting with ſin, and ſtill ſorrowing for ſin, and ſtill loathing of themſelves for ſin; Repentance is no tranſient act, but a continued act of the ſoul; and tell me, oh tempted ſoule! whether it be ſuch an eaſie thing, as Satan would make thee believe, to be every day a turning, more and more from ſin, and a turning nearer and nearer to God, thy choiceſt bleſſedneſſe. A true Penitent can as eaſily content himſelfe with one act of faith, or one act of love, as he can content himſelfe with one act of Repentance. A Jewiſh Rabbie preſſing the practice of Repentance upon his Diſciples, exhorting them to be ſure to Repent the day before they dyed; one of them replyed, that the day of any mans death was very uncertaine; Repent therefore, every day (ſaid the Rabbin) and then you ſhall be ſure to repent the day before you dye; you are wiſe, and know how to apply it to your own advantage.
The fourth Remedy againſt this Device4 Remedy. of Satan, is, ſolemnly to conſider, that if the work of Repentance were ſuch an eaſie work, as Satan wouldIf thou be backward in the thoughts of Repentance, be forward in the thoughts of Hell; the flames whereof, onelyonly the ſtreams of the penitent eye can extinguiſh. Tertul. make it to be; then certainly ſo many would not lye roaring, and crying out (of wrath and eternall ruine) under the horrours and terrours of conſcience, for not repenting; yea, doubtleſſe, ſo many millions would not goe to hell for not Repenting, if 'twere ſuch an eaſie thing to repent: Ah! doe not poor ſouls under horrours of conſcience, cry out, and ſay, were all this world a lump of gold, and in our hand to diſpoſe of, we would give it for the leaſt dram of true Repentance, and wilt thou ſay, it is an eaſie thing to repent? When a poor ſinner, whoſe Conſcience is awakened, ſhall judge the exchange of all the world, for the leaſt dram of Repentance, to be the happieſt exchange that ever ſinner made, tell me, oh ſoul! is itOh how ſhalt thou …ear, and rend thy ſelf? how ſhalt thou lament fruitleſſe repenting? what wilt thou ſay? woe is me, that I have not caſt off the burden of ſin; woe is me, that I have not waſhed away my ſpots, but a… now pierced with mine iniquities, now have I loſt the ſurpaſſing joy of Angels. Baſil. good going to hell? is it good dwelling with the devouring fire? with everlaſting burnings? Is it good to be for ever ſeperated from the bleſſed and glorious preſence of God, Angels, and Saints? And to be for ever ſhut out from thoſe good things of eternall life? which are ſo many, that they exceed number, ſo great, that they exceed meaſure▪ ſo precious, that they exceed all eſtimation; we know, 'tis the greateſt miſery that can befall the ſons of men; and would they not prevent this by Repentance, if it were ſuch an eaſie thing to repent, as Satan would make it? well then, doe not run the hazard of looſing God, Chriſt, Heaven, and thy ſoul for ever, by hearkening to this Device of Satan, viz. That it is an eaſie thing to Repent, &c. If it be ſo eaſie, why then doe wicked mens hearts ſo riſe againſt them, that preſſe the Doctrine of repentance in the ſweeteſt way, and by the ſtrongeſt and the choiceſt Arguments that the Scripture doth afford? And why doe they kill two at once? The faithfull Labourers name, and their own ſouls, by their wicked words and actings, becauſe they are put upon repenting, which Satan tells them is ſo eaſie a thing: ſurely, were repentance ſo eaſie, wicked men would not be ſo much enraged when that doctrine is by evangelicall conſiderations preſt upon them.
The fift Remedy againſt this Device5 Remedy. of Satan, is, ſeriouſly to conſider, that to repent of ſin is as great a work of grace, as not to ſin. By our ſinfull falls the powers of the ſoule are weakned, theYet it is better to be kept from ſin, then cu…ed of ſin by Repentance, as it is better for a man to be preſerved from a diſeaſe then to be cured of the diſeaſe. ſtrength of grace is decayed, our evidences for Heaven are blotted, feares and doubts in the ſoul are raiſed (will God once more pardon this ſcarlet ſin, and ſhew mercy to this wretched ſoul) and corruptions in the heart are more advantaged, and confirmed, and the conſcience of a man after falls, is the more inraged, or the more benummed; now for a ſoul, notwithſtanding all this, to repent of his falls, this ſhewes, that 'tis as great a work of grace to repent of ſin, as 'tis not to ſin. Repentance is the vomit of the ſoul, and of all Phyſick, none ſo difficult, and hard, as 'tis to vomit; the ſame means that tends to preſerve the ſoul from ſin, the ſame means works the ſoul to riſe by Repentance, when 'tis fallen into ſin: We know, the mercy and loving kindneſſe of God, is one ſpeciall means to keep the ſoul from ſin, as David ſpake, Thy loving kindneſſe is alwayes before mine eyes, and I have Pſal. 26. 3, 4, 5.walked in thy truth; I have not ſat with vain perſons, neither will I go in with diſſemblers. I have hated the Congregation of evill doers, and will not ſit with the wicked: So by the ſame means the ſoul is raiſed, by Repentance out of ſin, as you may …ee in Mary Magdalen, who loved much, andLuke 7. 37, 38, 39, &c. Hoſ 6. 1, 2. wept much, becauſe much was forgiven her: ſo thoſe in Hoſea, Come, let us returne unto the Lord, for he hath torne, and he will heale us; he hath ſmitten, and he will binde us up: after two dayes he will revive us, in the third day he will raiſe us up, and we ſhall live in his ſight; or before his face, as the Hebrew hath it, i. e. in hisforeign favour, confidence in Gods mercy, and love, that he would heal them, and bind up their wounds, and revive their dejected ſpirits, and cauſe them to live in his favour, was that which did work their hearts to repent, and return unto him; I might further ſhew you this truth in many other perticulars; but this may ſuffice: onelyonly remember this in the gnerall, that there is much of the power of God, and love of God, and faith in God, and fear of God, and care to pleaſe God, and zeale for the glory of God, requiſite to work a man to repent2 Cor. 7. 11. of ſin, as there is to keep a man from ſin, by which you may eaſily judge, that to repent of ſin, is as great a work, as not to ſin; and now tell me, oh ſoul! is it an eaſie thing not to ſin? we know then certainly, 'tis not an eaſie thing to repent of ſin.
The ſixt Remedy againſt this Device6 Remedy. of Satan, is, ſeriouſly to conſider, that he that now tempts thee to ſin, upon this account, that repentance is eaſie, will ere long, to work thee to deſpaire,Beda tells of a certain great man, that was admoniſhed in his ſicknes to repent, who anſwer'd, that he would not repent yet, for if he ſhould recover, his companions would laugh at him, but growing ſicker and ſicker, his friends preſſed him again to repent; bu…then he told them it was toolate (Quia jam judicatus ſum & condemnatus) for now (ſaid he) I am judged, and condemned. to ſay, we are thine, and we muſt follow thee; Now Satan will help to work the ſoul to look up, and ſee God angry, and to look inward, and ſee Conſcience accuſing and condemning; and to look downwards, and ſee Hells mouth open to receive the impenitent ſoul, and all this to render the work of repentance impoſſible to the ſoul; what, ſaith Satan, doeſt thou think that that is eaſie which the whole power of grace cannot conquer, while we are in this world? Is it eaſie, ſaith Satan, to turn from ſome outward act of ſin, to which thou haſt been addicted? Doſt thou not remember that thou haſt often complained againſt ſuch and ſuch particular ſins, and reſolved to leave them, and yet to this hour thou haſt not, thou canſt not? What will it then be to turn from every ſin? Yea, to mortifie, and cut off thoſe ſin…, thoſe darling luſts, that are as joynts and members, that be as right hands, and right eyes? Haſt thou not loved thy ſins above thy Saviour? Haſt thou not preferred earth before Heaven? Haſt thou not all along neglected the means of Grace, and deſpiſed the offers of Grace, and vexed the ſpirit of Grace? There would be no end if I ſhould ſet before thee the infinit evils that thou haſt committed, and the innumerable good ſervices that thou haſt omitted,As one Lamachus a Commander ſaid, to one of his ſouldiers, that was brought before him for a misbehaviour, who pleaded he would doe ſo no more, ſaith he (Non li cet in bello bis peccare) no man muſt offend twice in war: ſo God will not ſuffer men often to neglect the day of grace. and the frequent checks of thy owne Conſcience, that thou haſt contemned, and therefore thou mayeſt well conclude, that thou canſt never repent, that thou ſhalt never repent; now ſaith Satan, doe but a little conſider thy numberleſſe ſins, and the greatneſſe of thy ſins, the foulneſſe of thy ſins, the hainouſneſſe of thy ſins, the circumſtances of thy ſins, and thou ſhalt eaſily ſee, that thoſe ſins that thou thoughteſt to be but motes, are indeed mountaines; and is it not now in vain to repent of them? Surely ſaith Satan, if thou ſhouldeſt ſeek repentance and grace with tears, as Eſau, thou ſhalt not find it; thy glaſſe is out, thy ſun is ſet, the door of mercy is ſhut, the golden Scepter is taken in, and now thou that haſt deſpiſed mercy, ſhalt be for ever deſtroyed by Juſtice; for ſuch a wretch as thou art to attempt repentance, is to attempt a thing impoſſible; 'tis impoſſible that thou, that in all thy life couldeſt never conquer one ſinne, ſhouldeſt maſter ſuch a numberles number of ſins, which are ſo near, ſo dear, ſo neceſſary, and ſo profitable to thee, that have ſo long bedded and boarded with thee, that have been old acquaintance and companions with thee; haſt thou not often purpoſed, promiſed, vowed, and reſolved to enter upon theRepentanceis a work that muſt be timely done, or men are utterly undone for ever. Aut poenitendum aut pereundum. practice of repentance, but to this day couldeſt never attain it: Surely 'tis in vain to ſtrive againſt the ſtreame, where it is ſo impoſſible to overcome; thou art loſt, and caſt for ever to hell, thou muſt to hell, thou ſhalt; ah ſouls! he that now tempts you to ſin, by ſuggeſting to you the eaſineſſe of repentance, will at laſt, to work you to deſpaire, preſent repentance as the hardeſt work in all the world, and a work as far above man, as Heaven is above Hell, as light is above darkneſſe. Oh! that you were wiſe, to break off your ſins, by timely repentance.
Now the ſeventh Device that Satan7 Device. hath to draw the ſoul to ſin, is, by making the ſoul bold to venture upon the occaſions of ſin. Saith Satan, you may walk by the Harlots door, though you won't goe into the Harlots bed; you may ſit and ſip with the drunkard, tho you won't be drunk with the drunkard; you may look upon Jezabels beauty, and you may play and toy with Daliloh, though you doe not commit wickedneſſe with the one, or the other; you may with Achan handle the golden wedge, though you doe not ſteale the golden wedge, &c.