Precious Remedies Against Satans Devices, Part 3

Precious Remedies Against Satans Devices · Part 3

p. 195The third thing to be ſhewed, is the ſeverall Devices that Satan hath to keep ſouls in a ſad, doubting, queſtioning, and uncomfortable condition.Bleſſed Bradford in one of his Epiſtles ſaith thus; O Lord, ſometimes me thinks I feel it ſo with me, as if there were no difference between my heart and the wicked, I have a blind mind, as they, a ſtout, ſtubborn, rebellious, hard heart as they, & ſo hee goes on, &c.

THough he can never rob a Believer of his Crowne, yet ſuch is his malice and envy, that he will leave no ſtone unturn'd, no means unattempted to rob them of their comfort, and peace, to make their life a burden, and a hell unto them, to cauſe them to ſpend their days in ſorrow and mourning, in ſighing and complaining, in doubting and queſtioning; ſurely we have no intereſt in Chriſt, our graces are not true, our hopes are the hopes of hypocrites; our confidence is but preſumption; our injoyments are but deluſions, &c.

I ſhall ſhew you this in ſome particulars.

p. 196The first Device that Satan1 Device. hath to keepe ſouls in a ſad, doubting, and queſtioning condition, and ſo making their life a hell, is,

BY cauſing them to be ſtill poring,A Chriſtan ſhould weare Chriſt in his boſome as a flower of de light, for he is a whole paradiſe of delight; he that minds not Chriſt more then his ſin, can never be thankfull and fruitfull as he ſhould. and muſing upon ſinne, to minde their ſins more then their Saviour, yea, ſo to mind their ſins, as to forget, yea, to neglect their Saviour, that as the Pſalmiſt ſpeaks; The Lord is not in all their thoughts; their eyes are ſo fixt upon their diſeaſe, that they cannot ſee the Remedie, though it be neare; and they doe ſo muſe upon their debts, that they have neither mind nor heart to think of their ſurety, &c.

p. 197Now the firſt Remedie against1 Remedie. this device of Satan, is,

FOr weake beleevers to conſider, that though Jeſus Chriſt hath not freed them from the preſence of ſin, yet hePeccata enim non nocent, ſi non placent, my ſins hurt me not, if they like me not. Sinn is like that wild figtree, or Ivie in the wall, cu… off ſtump, body, bough, and branches; yet ſome ſtrings or other will ſprout out again till the wall be pluckt down. Rom. 8. 1.Rom 8:1 hath freed them from the damnatory power of ſin. It's moſt true, that ſinne and grace were never borne together, neither ſhall ſin and grace dye together; yet while a beleever breaths in this world, they muſt live together, they muſt keep houſe together. Chriſt in this life will not free any beleever from the preſence of any one ſin, though he doth free every beleever from the damning power of every ſin; There's no condemnation to them that are in Chriſt Jeſus, who walke not after the fleſh, but after the ſpirit. The Law cannot condemn a beleever, for Chriſt hath fulfilled it for him; divine Juſtice cannot condemn him, for that Chriſt hath ſatisfied; his ſinns cannot condem him, for they in the blood of Chriſt are pardoned; and his owne conſcience (upon righteous grounds) cannot condemn him, becauſe Chriſt, that is greater then his conſcience, hath acquitted him, &c.

p. 198The ſecond Remedy againſt this device2 Remedie. of Satan, is, to conſider, that though Jeſus Chriſt hath not freed you from the moleſting, and vexing power of ſin, yet he hath freed you from the reigne andThe primitive Chriſtians choſe rather to be thrown to lions without, then left to luſts within Ad leonem magis quam leonem, ſaith Tertullian. Rom. 6. 14.Rom 6:14 dominion of ſin. Thou ſayeſt that ſinne doth ſo moleſt and vex thee, that thou canſt not think of God, nor go to God, nor ſpeak with God; oh! but remember, 'tis one thing for ſin to moleſt and vex thee, and another thing for ſinne to reigne, and have dominion over thee. For ſinne ſhall not have dominion over you; for ye are not under the law, but under grace. Sin may rebell, but it ſhall never reigne in any Saint; it fareth with ſin in the regenerate, as with thoſe Beaſts that Daniel ſpeaks of, That had their dominion taken Dan. 7. 12.Dan 7:12away, yet their lives were prolonged for a ſeaſon, and a time.

Now ſin reigns in the ſoule, when the ſoul willingly and readily obeys it, and ſubjects to its commands, as Subjects do actively obey, and embrace the commands of their Prince. The commands'Tis a ſigne that ſin hath not gained your conſent, but committed a rape upon your ſouls, when you cry out …o God; if the raviſhed Virgin under the Law cryed out, ſhe was guiltleſſe▪ Deut. 22. 27. So when ſinne plays the Tyrant over the ſoule, and the ſoul cries out 'tis guiltleſſe, thoſe ſins ſhall not be charged upon the ſoule.Deut 22:27 of a K. are readily embraced and obeyed by his Subjects; but the commands of a Tyrant are embraced & obeyed unwillingly. All the ſervice that is done to a Tyrant, is out of violence, and not out of obedience; A free and willing ſubjection to the commands of ſin, ſpeaks out p. 199the ſoul to be under the reign and dominion of ſin; but from this plague, this hell, Chriſt frees all Beleevers: Sin cannot ſay of a beleever, as the Centurion ſaid of his ſervant; I bid one goe, and be goeth, and to another come, and he cometh, and to another do this, and he doth it. No, the heart of a St. riſes againſt the commands of ſin; and when ſin would cary his ſoule to the Devill, he hales his ſin before the Lord, and cries out for Juſtice, Lord, ſaith the beleeving ſoule, ſinn playes the Tyrant, the Devill in mee, it would have mee to doe that which makes againſt thy holineſſe, as well as againſt my happineſſe; againſt thy honour and glory, as my comfort & peace; therefore do me juſtice, thou righteous Judge of Heaven and Earth, and let this tyrant ſin die for it, &c.

The third Remedie againſt this device3 Remedie. of Satan, is, conſtantly to keep one eye upon the promiſes of remiſſion of ſinne,Iſa. 44, 22. Mica 7. 18, 19. Coloſſ. 2. 13, 14. The promiſes of God are a precious booke, every leafe drops myrthe and mercy.Isa 44:22Col 2:13Col 2:14 as well as the other eye upon the inward operations of ſin. This is moſt certain truth, that God will graciouſly pardon thoſe ſins to his people, that he will not in this life fully ſubdue in his people. Paul prayes thrice, i. e. often to be delivered from the thorn in the fleſh, all he can get is, my grace is ſufficient for thee; I will graciouſly pardon that to p. 200thee, that I will not conquer in thee,Though the weak Chriſtian cannot open, read, and apply them, Chriſt can, & will apply them to their ſouls. Ier. 33. 8. Iſa. 43. 25. foreign An Hebrew participle, & notes a conſtant, a continued act of God; I, I am he, blotting out thy tranſgreſſions, to day, and to morrow, &c. 4 Remedie.Jer 33:8Isa 43:25 ſaith God. And I will cleanſe them from all their iniquity, whereby they have ſinned againſt me, and I will pardon all their iniquities whereby they have ſinned againſt me, and whereby they have tranſgreſſed againſt me. I, even I am hee that blotteth out thy tranſgreſſions for mine owne ſake, and will not remember thy ſinnes. Ah! you lamenting ſoules, that ſpend your dayes in ſighing and groaning under the ſenſe and burthen of your ſins; why doe you deale ſo unkindly with God, and ſo injuriouſly with your own ſoules, as not to caſt an eye upon thoſe precious promiſes of remiſſion of ſinne, which may beare up, and refreſh your ſpirits in the darkeſt night, and under the heavieſt burden of ſin.

The fourth Remedie againſt this device of Satan, is, to look upon all your ſins, as charged upon the account of Chriſt, as debts which the Lord Jeſus hath fully ſatisfied; and indeed were there but one farthing of that debt unpaid, that Chriſt was engaged to ſatiſfie, it would not have ſtood with the unſpotted juſtice of God, to have let him come into Heaven, and ſit down at his owne right hand; but all our debts by his death being diſcharged, we are freed, and he is exalted to ſit down at the right p. 201hand of his Father, which is the top of his glory, and the greateſt pledg of our felicity; For he hath made him to be ſin for 2 Cor. 5. 21. Chriſt was (peccatorum maximus) the greateſt of ſinners by imputation, and reputation. Iſa. 53. 5, 6.2 Cor 5:21Isa 53:5Isa 53:6us that knew no ſinne, that we might be made the righteouſneſſe of God in him, ſaith the Apoſtle: All our ſins were made to meete upon Chriſt, as that Evangelicall Prophet hath it. He was wounded for our tranſgreſſions, he was bruiſed for our iniquities, the chaſtiſement of our peace was upon him, and with his ſtripes we are healed. All we like ſheep have gone aſtray, we have turned every one to his owne way, and the Lord hath layd on him the iniquity of us all; or as the Hebrew hath it, he hath made the iniquity of us all to meet in him. In Law we know, that all the debts of the Wife are charged upon the Husband; ſaith the Wife to one, and to another, ifChriſt hath the greateſt worth and wealth in him, as the worth and value of many pieces of ſilver is in one piece of gold, ſo all the excellencies ſcattered abroad in the creatures, are united to Chriſt. I owe you any thing, go to my husband; ſo may a beleever ſay to the Law, and to the juſtice of God; if I owe you any thing, go to my Chriſt, who hath undertaken for me; I muſt not ſit downe diſcouraged under the apprehenſions of thoſe debts, that Chriſt to the utmoſt farthing hath fully ſatisfied; would it not argue much weakneſſe, I had almoſt ſaid much madneſſe, for a debtor to ſit down diſcouraged, upon his looking over thoſe debts, that his ſurety hath readily, freely, and fully ſatisfied; the ſenſe p. 202of his great love ſhould engage a man forAll the whole volume of perfections, which is ſpread through Heaven & earth, is epitomized in him. ever to love, and honour his ſurety, and to bleſſe that hand that hath paid the debt, and croſt the books, &c. but to ſit down diſcouraged when the debt is ſatisfied, is a ſinnne that beſpeaks Repentance, &c.

Chriſt hath cleared all reckonings betwixt God and us; you remember the Scape-goate, upon his head all the iniquities Levit. 16. 21.Lev 16:21of the children of Iſrael, and all their tranſgreſſions in all their ſinns were confeſſed Chriſt is (Canalis gratiae) the channell of grace from God.and put, and the Goate did beare upon him all their iniquities, &c. Why, the Lord Jeſus is that bleſſed Scape-Goate, upon whom all our ſins were laid, and who alone hath carried our ſins away into the Land of forget fulneſſe, where they ſhall never, never be remembred more; a beleever under the guilt of his ſin may looke the Lord in the face, and ſweetly plead thus with him; 'Tis true Lord, I owed theeThe bloods of Abel, for ſo the Hebrew hath it (as if the blood of one Abel had ſo many tongues as drops) cryed for vengeance againſt ſinne; b…t the blood of Chriſt cries louder for the p…rdon of ſin. much, but thy Son was my Ranſome, my Redemption; his blood was the price, he was my ſurety, and undertook to anſwer for my ſinnes; I know thou muſt be ſatisfied, and Chriſt hath ſatisfied thee to the utmoſt farthing, not for himſelf, for what ſins had he of his own? but for me, they were my debts that he ſatisfied for; be pleaſed to look over the book, and thou ſhalt find that 'tis croſt p. 203by thy owne hand, upon this very account that Chriſt hath ſuffered, and ſatisfied for them.

The fifth Remedy againſt this device5 Remedie. of Satan, is, ſolemnly to conſider of the reaſons, why the Lord is pleaſed to have his people exerciſed, troubled, and vexed with the operations of ſinful corruptions,Auguſtin ſaith, that the firſt, ſecond, and third vertue of a Chriſtian is humility. and they are theſe; partly to keep them humble, and low in their owne eyes; and partly to put them upon the uſe of all divine helps, whereby ſin may be ſubdued and mortified; And partly, that they may live upon Chriſt for the perfecting the work of Sanctification;Lilmod lelammed, we therefore learn, that wee may teach, is a proverb among the Rabbins. After the Trojans had been wandering, & toſſing up and down the Mediterranean Sea; as ſoon as they eſpied Italy, they cried out with exulting joy, Italy, Italy: ſo will Saints when they come to Heaven. and partly, to weane them from things below, and to make them heart-ſick of their abſence from Chriſt, and to maintain in them bowels of compaſſion towards others, that are ſubject to the ſame infirmities with them; and that they may diſtinguiſh between a ſtate of grace, and a ſtate of glory, and that Heaven may be more ſweet to them in the cloſe. Now doth the Lord upon theſe weighty reaſons ſuffer his people to be exerciſed, and moleſted with the operations of ſinfull corruptions; oh! then let no beleever ſpeak, write, or conclude bitter things againſt his owne ſoule, and comforts; becauſe that ſinne troubles and vexes his righteous ſoule, p. 204&c. but lay his hand upon his mouth, and be ſilent, becauſe the Lord will have it ſo, upon ſuch weighty grounds, as the ſoule is not able to withſtand.

The ſixth Remedy againſt this Device6. Remedy. of Satan, is, ſolemnly to conſider, that Beleevers muſt repent for their beingGod never g…ve a Beleever a new h…art, that it ſhould always li… a bleeding, and that it ſhould always be rent and torn in pieces with diſcouragements. diſcouraged by their ſins. Their being diſcouraged by their ſins will coſt them many a prayer, many a teare, and many a groane: And that, becauſe their diſcouragements under ſin flowes from ignorance and unbeliefe; it ſprings from their ignorance of the riches, freeneſſe, fulneſſe, and everlaſtingneſſe of Gods love; and from their ignorance of the power, glory, ſufficiency, and efficacy of the death and ſufferings of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt: And from their ignorance of the worth, glory, fulneſſe, largeneſſe, and compleatneſſe of the righteouſneſſe of Jeſus Chriſt: And from their ignorance of that reall, cloſe, ſpiritual, glorious, and inſeparable union that is betwixt Chriſt, and their precious ſoule: Ah! did precious ſouls know, and beleeve the truth of theſe things, as they ſhould, they would not ſit down dejected, and over-whelmed under the ſenſe and operations of ſin, &c.

p. 205The ſecond Device that Satan2 Device. hath to keep ſouls in a ſad, doubting, and questioning condition, is,

BY working them to make falſe definitions of their graces: Satan knows, that as falſe definitions of ſinne wrong the ſoule one way, ſo falſe definitions of grace wrong the ſoule another way.

I will inſtance only in faith; oh! how doth Satan labour might and main to work men to make falſe definitions of faith; Some he works to define faith too high, as that it is a full aſſurance of the love of God to a mans ſoule in particular, or a full perſwaſion of the pardon, and remiſſion of a mans owne ſins in particular; ſaith Satan, what doſt thou talk of faith? faith is an aſſurance of the love of God, and of the pardon of ſin, and this thou haſt not; thou knoweſt thou art far off from this, therefore thou haſt no faith; and by drawing men to make ſuch a falſe definition of faith, he keeps them in a ſad, doubting, and queſtioning condition, and makes them ſpend their days in ſorrow and ſighing, p. 206ſo that teares are their drink, and ſorrow is their meate, and ſighing is their work all the day long, &c.

The Philoſophers ſay there are eight d…grees of heat; we diſcern three; now i… a m…n ſhould define heat only by the higheſt degree, then all other degrees will be caſt out from being heat: ſo if men ſhall define fai…h only by the higheſt degrees, by aſſurance of the love of God, and of the pardon of his ſins in particular, what will become of leſſer degrees of faith?

If a man ſhould define a man to be a living man, onelyonly by the higheſt and ſt…ongeſt demonſtrations of life, as laughing, leaping, running, working, walking, &c. would not many thouſands that groan under internal, and externall weakneſſes, and that cannot laugh, nor leap, nor run, nor work, nor walk, be found dead men by ſuch a definition, that yet wee know to be alive; 'tis ſo here, and you know how to apply it, &c.

p. 207Now the Remedies againſt this device of Satan are theſe that follow.

THe firſt Remedie againſt this Device1. Remedy. of Satan, is, ſolemnly …o conſider, that there may be true faith, yea, g…eat meaſures of faith, where there is no aſſurance. The Canaanite woman in the Goſpel had ſtrong faith, yet no aſſurance that we read of. Theſe things have I written unto you (ſaith John) that believe on the name of the Son of God, that yee may know, that ye have eternall life,, and that ye may beleeve on the name of the Son of God; In theſe words you ſee that they did believe, and had eternall life, in reſpect of the purpoſe and promiſe of God, and in reſpect of the ſeeds, and beginnings of it in their ſouls; and in reſpect of Chriſt their head, who ſits in Heaven as a publique perſon, repreſenting all his choſen ones; Who hath raiſed us up together, Epheſ. 2. 6.Eph 2:6and made us ſit together in heavenly places in Chriſt Jeſus; and yet they did not know that they had eternall life. 'Tis one thing to have a right to heaven, and another thing to know it; 'Tis one thing to be beloved, and another thing for a p. 208man to know that he is beloved. 'Tis one thing for God to write a mans name in the book of life, and another thing for God to tell a man, that his name is written in the book of life, and to ſay to him, rejoyce, becauſe thy name is written in heaven.

So Paul: In whom yee alſo truſted after Epheſ 1. 13. So thoſe in …ha… Iſa. 50. 10 had faith, though they had no aſſurance. Mica 7. 8, 9.Eph 1:13Isa 50:10yee heard the word of truth, the Goſpell of your ſalvation, in whom alſo after that yee believed, yee were ſealed with that holy ſpirit of promiſe.

So Micha, Rejoyce not againſt me oh my enemie, when I ſhall fall, I ſhall riſe; when I ſhall ſit in darkneſſe, the Lord ſhall be a light unto me. I will beare the indignation of the Lord, becauſe I have ſinned, &c. or the ſad countenance of God, as the Hebrew hath it. This ſoul had no aſſurance, for he ſits in darkneſſe, and was under the ſad countenance of God, and yet had ſtrong faith: As appears in thoſe words, when I fall, I ſhall ariſe: when I ſit in darkneſſe, the Lord ſhall be a light unto me. He will bring me forth to the light, and I ſhall behold his righteouſneſſe, and let this ſuffice for the firſt anſwer.

The ſecond Remedie againſt this Device2. Remedie. of Satan, is, ſolemnly to conſider, that God in the Scriptures doth defineJohn 1. 12.John 1:12 faith otherwiſe; God defines faith to be a …ceiving of Chriſt; As many as received p. 209him, to them he gave this priviledge to be Act. 11. 23.Acts 11:23the ſons of God, to as many as beleeved on his name; to be a cleaving of the ſoule unto God, though no joy but afflictions attend the ſoule. Yea, the Lord defines faith to be a coming to God in Chriſt,Mat. 11. 28. John 6. 37. Heb. 7. 25. 26. Iſa. 3. 4, &c.Matt 11:28John 6:37Heb 7:25Heb 7:26Isa 3:4 and often to a reſting, and ſtaying, or rouling of the ſoule upon Chriſt. 'Tis ſafeſt, and ſweeteſt to define as God defines, both vices and graces; this is the only way to ſettle the ſoule, and to ſecure it againſt all the wiles of men and devills, who labour by falſe definitions of grace to keepe precious ſoules in a doubting, ſtaggering, and languiſhing condition, and ſo make their lives a burden, a hell unto them.

The third Remedie againſt this device3 Remedie. of Satan, is, ſeriouſly to conſider this, that there may be true faith, where thereMat. 6. 30. chap. 14. 31. & chap. 16. 8.Matt 6:30 is much doubtings; witneſſe thoſe frequent ſayings of Chriſt to his Diſciples, Why are yee afraid oh yee of little faith? Luke 12. 28.Luke 12:28Perſons may be truly believing, who nevertheleſſe are ſometimes doubting; in the ſame perſons (that the fore-mentioned Scriptures ſpeak of) you may ſee their faith commended, and their doubts condemned, which doth neceſſarily ſuppoſe a preſence of both.

The fourth Remedie againſt this device4 Remedy. of Satan, is, ſolemnly to conſider, p. 210that aſſurance is an effect of faith; therefore it cannot be faith. The cauſe cannot be the effect, nor the root the fruit; as the effect ſlowes from the cauſe, the fruit from the root, the ſtream from the fountain, ſo doth the aſſurance flow from faith; this truth I ſhall make good thus.

The aſſurance of our ſalvation, and pardon of ſin doth primarily ariſe from the witneſſe of the ſpirit of God, thatEpheſ. 1. 13. Gal. 5. 6.Eph 1:13Gal 5:6 we are the children of God: And the ſpirit never witneſſeth this, till we are beleevers; for we are ſonnes by faith in Gal. 4 6.Gal 4:6Chriſt Jeſus: therefore aſſurance is not faith, but followes it, as the effect follows the cauſe.

Againe, no man can be aſſured, and perſwaded of his ſalvation, till he be united to Chriſt, till he be ingrafted into Chriſt; and a man cannot be ingrafted into Chriſt, till he hath faith; hee muſt firſt be ingrafted into Chriſt by faith, before he can have aſſurance of his ſalvation, which doth clearly evidence, that aſſurance is not faith, but an effect and fruit of faith, &c.

Again, faith cannot be loſt, but aſſurance may; therefore aſſurance is not faith. Though aſſurance be a preciousPſal. 51. 12. Pſal. 30. 6, 7.Ps 51:12Ps 30:6Ps 30:7 flower in the garden of a Saint, and is more infinitely ſweet, and delightful to p. 211the ſoule, then all outward comforts,Cant. 5. 6. Iſa. 8. 17.Song 5:6Isa 8:17 and contents; yet 'tis but a flower that is ſubject to fade, and to looſe its freſhneſſe,There is many thouſand precious ſouls, of whom this world is not worthy, that have the …aith of reliance, & yet want aſſurance, and the effects of it; as high joy, glorious peace, and vehement longings after the coming of Chriſt. and beauty, as Saints by ſad experience finde, &c.

Againe, a man muſt firſt have faith, before he can have aſſurance, therefore aſſurance is not faith; and that a man muſt firſt have faith, before he can have aſſurance, is cleare; by this a man muſt firſt be ſaved, before he can be aſſured of his ſalvation, for he cannot be aſſured of that which is not; and a man muſt firſt have a ſaving faith, before he can be ſaved by faith; for he cannot be ſaved by that which he hath not; therefore a man muſt firſt have faith, before he can have aſſurance, and ſo it roundly followes, that aſſurance is not faith, &c.

The third Device that Satan3 Device. hath to keepe the ſoul in a ſad, doubting, and queſtioning condition, is,

BY working the ſoule to make falſePſal. 77. 7. 11. Pſal. 88. 1. ult. Pſal. 73. 2. 23.Ps 77:7Ps 77:11Ps 88:1Ps 73:2Ps 73:23 inferences from the croſſe actings of providence; ſaith Satan, doſt thou not ſee how Providence croſſes thy prayers, p. 212and croſſes thy deſires, thy teares, thy hopes, thy endeavours; ſurely, if his love were toward thee, if his ſoule did delight and take pleaſure in thee, he would not deale thus with thee, &c.

Now the remedies againſt this Device of Satan are theſe that follow.

THe firſt Remedie againſt this device1 Remedie. of Satan, is, ſolemnly to conſider that many things may be croſſe to our deſires, that are not croſſe to our good; Abraham, Jacob, David, Job, Moſes, Jeremiah, The Circumcellians being not able to withſtand the preaching, & writing of Auguſtine, ſought his deſtruction, having beſet the way he was to goe his viſitation, but by Gods providence, he miſſing his way, eſcaped the danger.Jonah, Paul, &c. met with many things that were contrary to their de fires, and endeavours, that were not contrary to their good, as all know, that have wiſely compared their deſires and endeavours, and Gods actings together. Phyſick often works contrary to the Patients deſires, when it doth not work contrary to their good. I remember a ſtory of a godly man, who had a great deſire to goe to France, and as he was going to take ſhipping, he broke his leg, and it pleaſed providence ſo to order it, that the ſhip that he ſhould have gone in, at that very ſame time was p. 213caſt away, and not a man ſaved, and ſo by breaking a bone, his life was ſaved. Though Providence did worke croſſe to his deſires, yet it did not work croſs to his good, &c.

The ſecond Remedie againſt this device2 Remedy. of Satan, is, ſolemnly to conſider, that the hand of God may be againſt a man, when the love and heart of God is much ſet upon a man; No man can conclude how the heart of God ſtands by his hand. The hand of God was againſt Ephraim, and yet his love, his heart wasIer. 31. 18, 19, 20. Gods providentiall hand may be with perſons, when his heart is ſet againſt them; Gods providentiall hand was for a time with Saul, Haman, Aſhur, & Iehu, and yet his heart was ſet againſt them. No man knoweth love or hatred by all that is before them. Eccleſ. 9. 1, 2.Jer 31:18Jer 31:19Jer 31:20Eccl 9:1Eccl 9:2 dearly ſet upon Ephraim. I have ſurely heard Ephraim bemoaning himſelfe thus; thou haſt chaſtiſed mee, and I was chaſtiſed as a bullocke unaccuſtomed to the yoke: turn thou me, and I ſhall be turned, for thou art the Lord my God. Surely after that I was turned, I repented; and after that I was inſtructed, I ſmote upon my thigh; I was aſhamed, yea, even confounded, becauſe I did beare the reproach of my youth. Ephraim is my deare ſonne, he is a pleaſant child; for ſince I ſpake againſt him, I doe earneſtly remember him ſtill: therefore my bowells are troubled for him, I will ſurely have mercy upon him, ſaith the Lord.

God can look ſowrly, and chide bitterly, and ſtrike heavily, even where, and when he loves dearly. The hand of God was very much againſt Job, and yet p. 214his love, his heart was very much ſet upon Job, as you may ſee by comparing the 2. firſt chap. of Iob with the two laſt. The hand of God was ſore againſt David, and Jonah, when his heart was much ſet upon them. He that ſhall conclude, that the heart of God is againſt thoſe that his hand is againſt, will condemne the generation of the juſt, whom God unjuſtly would not have condemned.

The third Remedie againſt this device3 Remedie. of Satan, is, to conſider, that all the croſſe providences that befall the Saints, are but in order to ſome noble good, that God doth intend to conferre upon them. Providence wrote croſſe to Davids deſire, in taking away the child ſinfully begotten, but yet not croſſe to a more noble good; for was it not farre better for David to have ſuch a legitimate Heire as Solomon was, then that a Baſtard ſhould weare the Crown, and ſway the Scepter?

Joſeph you know, was ſold into a far Country by the envy and malice of his brethren, and afterwards impriſoned, becauſe he would not be a priſoner to his Miſtriſſes luſts; yet all theſe croſs providences did wonderfully conduce to his advancement, and the preſervation of his Fathers family, which was then the viſible Church of Chriſt. It was ſo p. 215ordered by a noble hand of providence, that what they ſought to decline, they did promote; Joſeph was therefore ſold by his brethren, that he might not be worſhipped, and yet he was therefore worſhipped, becauſe he was ſold.

David was deſigned to a Kingdome; but oh the ſtraits, troubles, and deaths, that he run through, before he feels the weight of the Crown; and all this was but in order to the ſweetning of his Crown, and to the ſetling of it more firmly and gloriouſly upon his head; God did ſo contrive it, that Jonah's offence, and thoſe croſſe actings of his that did attend it, ſhould advantage that end which they ſeemed moſt directlyThe motions of divine providence are ſo dark, ſo deep, ſo changeable, that the wiſeſt and nobleſt ſoules cannot tell what concluſions to make. to oppoſe; Jonah he flies to Tanſhiſh, then caſt into the Sea, then ſaved by a miracle: Then the Marriners, as is very probable, who caſt Jonah into the Sea, declared to the Ninivites what had hapned; therefore he muſt be a man ſent of God, and that his threatnings muſt be beleeved, and hearkned to, and therefore they muſt repent, and humble themſelves, that the wrath threatned might not be executed, &c.

The fourth Remedy againſt this device4 Remedie. of Satan, is, ſeriouſly to conſider, that all the ſtrange, dark, deep, and changeable providences that Believers p. 216meet with, ſhall further them in their way to heaven, in their journey to happineſſe; divine wiſdome and love will ſo order all things here below, that they ſhall work for the reall, internall, and eternall good of them that love him. All the rugged providences that David met with, did contribute to theOroſius ſpeaking of Valentinian, ſaith, he that for Chriſts name ſake had loſt a Tribune ſhip, within a while after ſucceeded his perſecutor in the Empire. bringing of him to the Throne; and all the rugged promiſes that Daniel, and the three children met with, did contribute to their great advancement; So all the rugged providences that Believers meet with, they ſhall all contribute to the lifting up of their ſoules, above all things below God. As the waters lifted up Noah's Ark nearer Heaven: and as all the ſtones that were about Stevens eares, did but knock him the cloſer to Chriſt, the corner-ſtone, ſo all the ſtrange rugged providences that we meet with, they ſhall raiſe us nearer Heaven, and knock us neerer to Chriſt, that precious corner-ſtone, &c.

p. 217The fourth Device that Satan4 Device. hath to keep the ſoule in a ſad, doubting, & queſtioning condition, is,

BY ſuggeſting to them, that their graces are not true, but counterfeit; ſaith Satan, all is not gold that gliſters, all is not grace that you count grace, that you call grace; that whichYet it muſt be granted, that many a fair flower may grow out of a ſtinking root, and many ſweet diſpoſitions, and fair actions may be where there is onelyonly the corrupt root of nature. you call faith is but a fancy, and that which you call zeal, is but unnaturall heat and paſſion; and that light you have, 'tis but common, 'tis ſhort to what many have attained to, that are now in hell, &c. Satan doth not labour more mightily to perſwade hypocrites that their graces are true, when they are counterfeit, then he doth to perſwade precious ſouls that their graces are counterfeit, when indeed they are true, and ſuch as will abide the touch-ſtone of Chriſt, &c.

p. 218Now the Remedies againſt this device of Satan are theſe that follow.

THe firſt Remedie againſt this device of Satan, is, ſeriouſly to conſider, that grace is taken two wayes.

Firſt, 'tis taken for the gracious good will and favour of God, whereby he is pleaſed of his owne free love, to accept of ſome in Chriſt for his owne. This ſome call the firſt grace, becauſe 'tis the fountaine of all other graces, and the Spring from whence they flow; and it's therefore called grace, becauſe it makes a man gracious with God, but this is only in God.

Secondly, grace is taken for the gifts of grace, and they are of two ſorts, common, or ſpecial.

Some are common to Beleevers, and hypocrites, as a gift of knowledge, a gift of prayer, &c.Gal. 5. 22, 23.Gal 5:22Gal 5:23

Some are ſpecial graces, and they are proper, and peculiar to the Saints, as faith, humility, meekneſſe, love, patience, &c.

The ſecond Remedie againſt this device2 Remedie. of Satan, is, wiſely to conſider the p. 219differences betwixt renuing grace, andGod brings not a paire of ſcales to weigh our graces, but a touch-ſtone to try our graces. Purity, preciouſneſs, & holines is ſtampt upon all ſaving graces. Acts 15. 9. 2 Pet. 1. 1. Iude 20.Acts 15:92 Pet 1:1Jude 1:20 reſtraining grace; betwixt ſanctifyng grace, and temporary grace, and this I ſhall ſhew you in theſe following particulars

1. True grace makes all glorious within and without. The Kings daughter is all glorious within, her raiment is of wrought gold. True grace makes the underaſtanding glorious, the will glorious, the affections glorious, it caſts a generall glory upon all the noble parts of the ſoule; The Kings daughter is all glorious within: And as it makes the inſide glorious, ſo it makes the out-ſide glorious; Her cloathing is of wrought gold; it makes men looke gloriouſly, and ſpeak gloriouſly, and walke, and act gloriouſly: ſo that vaine ſouls ſhall beActs 4. verſ. 8. to verſ. 15.Acts 4:8 forced to ſay, that theſe are they that have ſeen Jeſus; as grace is a fire to burn up, and conſume the droſſe, and filth of the ſoule, ſo it is an ornament to2 Cor. 5. 17. foreign, a new creation, new Adam, new Covenant, new Paradiſe, new Creation, new Lord, new Law, new hearts, & new natures go together▪2 Cor 5:17 beautifie and adorn the ſoule. True grace makes all new, the inſide new, and the out-ſide new; If any man be in Chriſt he is a new creature; but temporary grace doth not this. True grace changes the very nature of a man, morall vertue doth only reſtrain, or chain up the outward man; it doth not change the whole man; a Lion in a p. 220grate is a Lion ſtill, he is reſtrained, but not changed; for he retains his Lion-like nature ſtill: ſo temporary graces reſtraine many men from this and that wickedneſs, but it doth not change and turn their hearts from wickedneſſe; but now true grace, that turnes a Lion into a Lamb, as you may ſee in Paul, Acts 9.Acts 9and a notorious ſtrumpet, into a bleſſed and glorious Penitent, as you may ſee in Mary Magdalen, &c.Luke 7.Luke 7

2. The objects of true grace are ſupernaturall; true grace is converſant about the choiſeſt, and the higheſt objects,2 Cor. 4. 18. chap. 11. Hebr. 15. Prov. 14. A Saint hath his feet where other mens heads are. Matth. 6.2 Cor 4:18Prov 14Matt 6 about the moſt ſoul-enobling, and ſoul-greatning objects, as God, Chriſt, precious promiſes, that are more worth then a world; and a Kingdome that ſhakes not, a Crown of glory that withers not, and Heavenly treaſures that ruſt not. The objects of temporary grace are low, and poor, and alwayes within the compaſſe of reaſons reach.

3. True grace inables a Chriſtian (when he is himſelfe) to do ſpirituall actions with reall pleaſure and delight. To ſouls truly gracious, Chriſts yoke is Mat. 11. 30. 1 John 5. 3. Rom. 7. 22.Matt 11:301 John 5:3Rom 7:22eaſie, and his burden is light, his commandements are not grievous, but joyous; I delight in the law of God after the inward man, ſaith Paul; the bleſſed man is deſcribed by this, that he delights in the law p. 221Pſal. 1. 2.Ps 1:2of the Lord; 'Tis joy to the juſt to doe judgment, Prov. 21. 15.Prov 21:15ſaith Solomon; To a gracious ſoul all the wayes of the Lord are pleaſantneſſe, and his paths are peace. But to ſouls that have but temporary grace, but morall vertues, religious ſervices, are a toile, not a pleaſure; a burden, and not a delight: Wherefore have we faſted ſay they, Iſa. 58. 3.Isa 58:3and thou ſeeſt not? wherefore have wee afflicted Mal. 3. 14.Mal 3:14our ſoules, and thou takeſt no knowledg, &c. Yee have ſaid (ſay thoſe in Malachi) it is vaine to ſerve God, and what profit is it that wee have kept his Ordinances, and that we have walked mournfully before the Lord of Hoſts? When will the new Moone be gone (ſay thoſe in Amos) that Amos 8. 5.Amos 8:5we may ſell corne? and the Sabbath, that we may ſet forth wheat, making the Epha ſmall, and the ſhekell great, and falſifying the balances by deceit.

Fourthly, True grace makes a man moſt carefull, and moſt fearfull of his owne heart; it makes him moſt ſtudious about his owne heart, informing that, examining that, andP…. 51. 10. Pſal. 119. 36. 80. Pſal. 139. 23. Pſal. 86. 11. Matth. 23.Ps 119:36Ps 119:80Ps 139:23Ps 86:11Matt 23 watching over that; but temporary grace, morall vertues, make men more mindfull, and carefull of others to inſtruct them, and counſell them, and ſtir up them, and watch over them, &c. which doth with open mouth demonſtrate, that their graces are not ſaving, p. 222and peculiar to Saints; but that they are temporary, and no more then what Judus, Demas, and the Phariſees had, &c.

5. Grace will work a mans heart to love, and cleave to the ſtricteſt, and h… lieſt wayes and things of God, for their purity and ſanctity, in the face of all dangers and hardſhips; Thy word is very Pſal. 119. 140.Ps 119:140pure, therefore thy ſervant loveth it; others love it, and like it, and follow it, for the credit, the honour, the advantage that they get by it; but I love it for the ſpirituall beauty and purity of it. So the Pſalmiſt, All this is come upon us, Pſal. 44. 17, 18, 19. Grace is a panoply againſt all troubles, & a paradiſe of all pleaſures.Ps 44:17Ps 44:18Ps 44:19yet have we not forgotten thee, neither have we dealt falſly in thy Covenant. Our heart is not turned backe, neither have our ſteps declined from thy way. Though thou haſt ſore broken us in the place of Dragons, and covered us with the ſhadowes of death. But temporary grace that will not beare up the ſoule againſt all oppoſitions and diſcouragements in the wayes of God, as is cleare by their apoſtacie in that ſixtMat. 13. 20, 21.Matt 13:20Matt 13:21 of John, and by the ſtony grounds falling away, &c.

6. True grace will inable a man to ſtep over the worlds Crown, to take up Chriſts Croſſe, to preferre the croſſe of Chriſt above the glory and bravery of this world. It inabled Abraham, and p. 223Moſes, and Daniel, with thoſe otherHeb. 11.Heb 11 Worthies in the 11. of the Hebrews to do ſo.

Godfrey of Bullen, firſt King of Jeruſalem, refuſed to be crowned with a Crown of Gold, ſaying, that it becameFew are of Hieroms mind, that had rather have St. Pauls coate with his heavenly graces, then the purple of Kings with their Kingdoms. 2 Tim. 4. 10. Mat. 19. 20, 21, 22. The King of Navarr told Beza, that in the cauſe of Religion hee would launch no further into the Sea, then he might be ſure to return ſafe to the Haven.2 Tim 4:10Matt 19:20Matt 19:21Matt 19:22 not a Chriſtian to weare a Crowne of Gold, where Chriſt had wore a Crown of thornes; oh! but temporary grace cannot work the ſoul, to prefer Chriſts croſſe above the worlds Crowne; but when theſe two meet, a temporary Chriſtian ſteps over Chriſts croſſe, to take up, and keep up the worlds crown. Demas hath for ſaken us to embrace this preſent world. So the young man in the Goſpel had many good things in him, he bid fair for Heaven, and came neer to Heaven; but when Chriſt ſet his Croſſe before him, he ſteps over that to enjoy the worlds Crown. When Chriſt bid him goe, and ſell all that he had and give to the poor, &c. He went away ſorrowfull, for he had great poſſeſſions. If Heaven be to be had upon no other terms, Chriſt may keep his Heaven to himſelfe, hee'l have none, &c.

Then in the ſeventh place, conſider this, that ſanctifying grace, renewing grace puts the ſoule upon ſpirituall duties, from ſpirituall and intrinſical motives, as from the ſenſe of divine love, p. 224that doth conſtrain the ſoul to wait onAs what I have, if offered to thee, pleaſeth not thee, oh Lord without my ſelfe, ſo the good things we have from thee, though they may refreſh us, yet they ſatisfie us not without thy ſelf. Ber. It is an excellent ſpeech of Bernard (bonus es domine, animae quaerenti; quid invenienti?) Good art thou oh Lord to the ſoule that ſeeks thee, what art thou then to the ſoul that finds thee. God, and to act for God, and the ſenſe of the excellency and ſweetneſs of communion with God, and the choiſe and precious diſcoveries that the ſoule hath formerly had of the beauty and glory of God, whilſt it hath been in the ſervice of God. The good looks, the good words, the bleſſed love-letters, the glorious kiſſes, and the ſweet embraces that gracious ſoules have had from Chriſt in his ſervice, do provoke and move them to waite upon him in holy duties; ah but reſtraining grace, temporall grace that puts men upon religious duties, only from externall motives, as the eare of the creature, the eye of the creature, the rewards of the creature, & the keeping up of a name amongſt the creatures, and a thouſand ſuch like conſiderations, as you may ſee in Saul, Jehu, Judas, Demas, and the Scribes and Phariſees, &c.

The Abbot in Melancton lived ſtrictly, and walked demurely, and look'd humbly, ſo long as hee was but a Monke; but when by his ſeeming extraordinary ſanctity, he got to be Abbot, hee grew intollerable proud and inſolent; and being asked the reaſon of it, confeſſed, that his former lowly look was, but to ſee, if he could find the keyes of the Abbie. p. 225Such poore, low, vaine motives work temporary ſoules to all the ſervice they do perform, &c.

8. Saving grace, renewing grace wil cauſe a man to follow the Lord fully in the deſertion of all …in, and in the obſervation of all Gods precepts. Joſhua andNumb. 14. 2. foreign hath fulfilled after me; a metaphor taken from a ſhip under ſaile, that is ſtrongly carried with the wind, as fearing neither rocks, nor ſands. Luke 1. 5, 6. Rev. 14. 4. Mat. 23. 23.Num 14:2Luke 1:5Luke 1:6Rev 14:4Matt 23:23 Caleb followed the Lord fully; Zacharias and Elizabeth were righteous before God, and walking in all the commandements and ordinances of the Lord blameleſſe. The Saints in the Revelation are deſcribed by this, that they follow the Lamb whereſoever he goes; but reſtraining grace, temporary grace cannot enable a man to follow the Lord fully; all that temporary grace can enable a man to do, is to follow the Lord partially, unevenly, and haltingly, as you may ſee in Jehu, Herod, Iudas, and the Scribes and Phariſees, who paid tithe of Mint, and Aniſe, and Cumming, but omittted the weighty matters of the Law, Judgement, Mercy, and faith, &c.

True grace works the heart to thePſal. 119. 104. 128. I had rather goe to hell pure from ſin, then to Heaven polluted with that filth, ſaith Anſelm.Ps 119:104Ps 119:128 hatred of all ſin, and to the love of all truth; it works a man to the hatred of thoſe ſins, that for his blood he cannot conquer, and to loath thoſe ſins, that he would give all the world to overcome: So that a ſoule truly gracious can ſay, though there be no one ſinne p. 226mortified, and ſubdued in mee, as it ſhould, and as I would, yet every ſinne is hated, and loathed by me. So a ſoule truly gracious can ſay, though I doe not obey any one command as I ſhould, and as I would, yet every word is ſweet, every command of God is precious; dearly prize, and greatly love thoſeDa quod jubes & jube qu…d vis, give what thou commandeſt, and command what thou wil…. Pſal. 119. 119. 127. 167. verſes.Ps 119:119Ps 119:127Ps 119:167 commands that I cannot obey, though there be many commands that I cannot in a ſtrict ſenſe fulfill, yet there is no command I would not fulfill, that I do not exceedingly love. I love thy commandements above gold, above fine gold. My ſoule hath kept thy teſtimonies, and I love them exceedingly.

9. True grace leads the ſoule to reſt in Chriſt, as in his (ſummum bonum) chiefeſt good; it works the ſoul to center in Chriſt, as in his higheſt and ultimate end; Whether ſhould we goe, thou haſt … 6. 68. Cant. 5. 10. Cant. 3. 4. Grace is that ſtar that leads to Chriſt, 'tis that cloud & pillar… of fire that leads the ſoule to that heavenly Canaan, where Chriſt ſi…s chiefe.Song 5:10Song 3:4the worlds of eternall life. My beloved is white and ruddy, the chiefeſt of ten thouſand. I found him whom my ſoule loved, I held him and would not let him goe.

That wiſdome a Beleever hath from Chriſt, it leads him to center in the wiſdome of Chriſt; and that love the ſoule hath from Chriſt, it leads the ſoule to center in the love of Chriſt; and that Righteouſneſſe the ſoule hath from Chriſt, it leads the ſoule to reſt, and p. 227center in the Righteouſneſſe of Chriſt;1 Cor. 1. 30. Phil. 3. 9.1 Cor 1:30Phil 3:9 True grace is a beame of Chriſt, and where it is, it will naturally lead the ſoul to reſt in Chriſt: The ſtreame doth not more naturally lead to the fountain, nor the effect to the cauſe, then true grace leads the ſoule to Chriſt. But reſtraining grace, temporary grace works the ſoule to center, and reſt in things below Chriſt; Sometimes it works the ſoule to center in the prayſes of the creature, ſometimes to reſt inMat. 6. 1, 2. Zach. 7. 5, 6.Matt 6:1Matt 6:2Zech 7:5Zech 7:6 the rewards of the creature; verily they have their reward ſaith Chriſt, and ſo in a hundred other things, &c.

10. True grace will inable a ſoule to ſit down ſatisfied, and contented with the naked enjoyments of Chriſt. TheCui cum paupertate bene convenit, pauper non eſt, ſaith Seneca. A contented man cannot be a poor man. enjoyment of Chriſt without honour will ſatisfie the ſoule; the enjoyment of Chriſt without riches, the enjoyments of Chriſt without pleaſures, and without the ſmiles of creatures, will content and ſatisfie the ſoule. 'Tis enough, Joſeph is alive. So ſaith a gracious ſoule, though honour is not, and riches are not, and health is not, andCharles the great his Motto was, Chriſtus regnat, vincit, triumphat. And ſo 'tis the Saints. friends are not, &c. It is enough that Chriſt is, that he reigns, conquers, and triumphs; Chriſt is the pot of Mannah, the cruice of oyle, a bottomleſſe ocean of all comfort, content, and ſatisfaction; p. 228hee that hath him wants nothing; he that wants him enjoys nothing, having nothing (ſaith Paul) and yet poſſeſſing 2 Cor. 6. 10. Saint Auſtine upon Pſal. 12. brings in God rebuking a diſcontented Chriſtian thus; what is thy faith? have I promiſed thee theſe things? what, wert thou made a Chriſtian that thou ſhouldſt flouriſh here in this world?2 Cor 6:10Ps 12all things. Oh! but a man that hath but temporary grace, that hath but reſtraining grace, cannot ſit downe ſatisfied and contented under the wan… of outward comforts; Chriſt is good with honours, ſaith ſuch a ſoule; and Chriſt is good with riches, and Chriſt is good with pleaſures, and he is good with ſuch and ſuch outward contents. I muſt have Chriſt, and the world, or elſe with the young man in the Goſpel (in ſoight of my ſoule) I ſhall forſake Chriſt to follow the world. Ah! how many ſhining Profeſſors be there in the world, that cannot ſit down ſatisfied, and contented under the want of this, or that outward comfort and content, but are like Bedlams, fretting and vexing, raging, and madding, as if there were no God, no Heaven, no Hell, nor no Chriſt to make up all ſuch outward wants to ſoules. I but a ſoule truly gracious canContent is the deputy of outward felicity, & ſupplies the place where its abſent. As the Jews throw the book of Heſter to the ground before they read it, becauſe the name of God is not in it, as the Rabbins have obſerved: So do Saints in ſome ſenſe, thoſe mercies wherein they do not read Chriſts name, & ſee Chriſts heart. Luther ſaid, he had rather be in hell with Chriſt, then in heaven without him. ſay, In having nothing, I have all things, becauſe I have Chriſt; having therefore all things in him, I ſeek no other reward, for hee is the univerſall reward; ſuch a ſoule can ſay, nothing is ſweet to me without the enjoyment of Chriſt in it; honours, nor riches, p. 229nor the ſmiles of creatures are not ſweet to me, no further then I ſee Chriſt, and taſt Chriſt in them; the confluence of all outward good cannot make a Heaven of glory in my ſoule, if Chriſt who is the top of my glory be abſent. As Abſolom ſaid, What is all this to mee, ſo long as I cannot ſee the Kings face? ſo ſaith the ſoule, what do you tell me of this, and that outward comfort, when I cannot ſee his face whom my ſoul loves? why, my honour is not my Chriſt, nor riches is not Chriſt, nor the favour of the creature is not Chriſt; let me have him, and let the men of this world take the world & divide it amongſt themſelves, I prize my Chriſt above all; I would injoy my Chriſt before all other things in the world; his preſence will make up the abſence of all other comforts, and his abſence will darken, and embitter all my comforts; ſo that my comforts will neither taſte like comforts, nor look like comforts, nor warm like comforts, &c. when hee that ſhouldLam. 1. 16.Lam 1:16 comfort my ſoule ſtands a far off, &c. Chriſt is all, and in all to ſoules truly gracious; we have all things in Chriſt, and Chriſt is all things to a Chriſtian;Coloſſ. 3. 11. None but Chriſt, none but Chriſt, ſaid Lambers, liſting up his hands, and his ſingers ends flaming.Col 3:11 if we be ſick, he is a Phyſician; if wee thirſt, he is a fountaine; if our ſinnes trouble us, he is righteouſneſſe; if wee p. 230ſtand in need of help, he is mighty to ſave; if we feare death, he is life; if we be in darkneſſe, he is light; if we be weake, he is ſtrength; if we be in poverty, he is plenty; if we deſire Heaven, he is the way. The ſoule cannot ſay, this I would have, and that I would have; but ſaith Chriſt, 'tis in me, 'tis in me, eminently, perfectly, eternally.

The fifth Device that Satan5 Device. hath to keepe ſoules in a ſad, doubting, and queſtioning condition, is,

BY ſuggeſting to them, that that condictIohn 8. 44. The Devill is a lyar, and …he Father of it. The Devils breaſts ſaith Luther, …re very fruitfull with lies.John 8:44 that is in them, is not a conflict that is onelyonly in Saints; but ſuch a conflict that is to be found in hypocrites, and prophane ſoules; when the truth is, there is as much difference betwixt the conflict that is in them, and that which is in wicked men, as there is betwixt light and darkneſſe, betwixt Heaven and H…ll. And the truth of this I ſhall evidence to you in the following particulars.

1. The whole frame of a B…leevers p. 231ſoul is againſt ſin; underſtanding, will, and affections, all the powers and faculties'Twas a good prayer of him that ſaid (Domine libera me a malo homine meipſo.) Lord deliver mee from an ill man my ſelfe. Auſtine complains, that men doe not tame the beaſts in their own boſomes. Rom. 2. 21, 22, 23.Rom 2:21Rom 2:22Rom 2:23 of the ſoule are in armes againſt ſin. A covetous man may condemne covetouſneſſe, and yet the frame and bent of his heart may be to it; a proud perſon may condemn pride, and yet the frame of his ſpirit may be to it; & the drunkard may condemne drunkenneſſe, and yet the frame of his ſpirit may be to it; a man may condemn ſtealing and lying, and yet the frame of his heart may be to it. Thou that preacheſt a man ſhould not ſteale, doſt thou ſteale? Thou that ſayeſt a man ſhould not commit Adultery, doſt thou commit Adultery? Thou that ab…orreſt idols, doſt thou commit ſacriledg? Thou that makeſt thy boaſt of the Law, through breaking the law, diſhonoureſt thou God? But a Saints will is againſt it. The evill that I would not doe, I doe; and his affections are againſtRom. 7. 19. 17.Rom 7:19Rom 7:17 it, what I hate, I doe.

2. A Saint conflicts againſt ſin univerſally,Pſal. 119. 104. I hate every falſe way, Sanethi from foreign which ſignifies to hate with a deadlyly and irreconciliable hatred.Ps 119:104 the leaſt as well as the greateſt, the moſt profitable, and the moſt pleaſing ſin, as well as againſt …hoſe that are leſſe pleaſing and profitable; he will combate with all, though he cannot conquer one as he ſhould, and as he would; he knowes that all ſin ſtrikes at Gods holineſs, as well as his own happineſs; at Gods glory, as well as at his ſoules comfort and peace.

p. 232He knows that all ſinne is hatefull to God, and that all ſinns are Traytors to the Crown and dignity of the Lord Jeſus. He looks upon one ſin, and ſeesHe knows that all the parts of the old man hath, and doth play the part of a treacherous friend, and a friendly traytor; therefore his heart ſtrikes at all. The greater the combat is, the greater ſhall be the following rewards, ſaith Tertullian. that that threw down Noah, the moſt righteous man in the world; and hee looks upon another ſinne, and ſees that that caſt down Abraham, the greateſt beleever in the world; and he looks upon another ſinne, and ſees that that threw down David, the beſt King in the world; and he looks upon another ſin, and ſees that that caſt down Paul, the greateſt Apoſtle in the world. He ſees that one ſinne threw down Sampſon, the ſtrongeſt man in the world; another caſt down Solomon, the wiſeſt man in the world; and another Moſes, the meekeſt man in the world; and another ſinn caſt downe Job, the patienteſt man in the world, and this raiſes a holy indignation in his ſoule againſt all: ſo that nothing can ſatisfie, and contentTrue hatred is foreign againſt the whole kind. Plutarch reports of one who would not be reſolved of his doubts, becauſe he would not looſe the pleaſure in ſeeking for reſolution. So wicked men will not be rid of ſome ſins, becauſe they would not looſe the ſeeming pleaſure of ſinning. his ſoule, but a deſtruction of all thoſe luſts and vermine, that vex and rack his righteous heart; it will not ſatisfie a gracious ſoul to ſee Juſtice done upon one ſin, but he cries out for Juſtice upon all; he would not have ſome crucified, and others ſpared, but cries out, Lord, crucifie them all, crucifie them all. Oh! but now the conflict that is p. 233in wicked men is partiall; they frown upon one fin, and ſmile upon another; they ſtrike at ſome ſins, but ſtroake others; they thruſt ſome out of doors, but keep others cloſe in their boſomes, as you may ſee in Iehu, Herod, Iudas, Simon Magus, and Demas. Wicked men ſtrike at gtoſſe ſins, ſuch as are not only againſt the law of God, but againſt the Laws of nature and Nations; but make nothing of leſſe ſinnes, as vaine thoughts, idle words, ſinfull motions,John 3. 20.John 3:20 petty oathes, &c. They fight againſt thoſe ſins that fight againſt their honor, profits, pleaſures, &c. but make truce with thoſe that are as right hands, and as right eyes to them, &c.

3. The conflict that is in a Saint againſt ſin, is maintained by ſpirituall Arguments, by arguments drawn fromThough to be kept from ſin brings comfort to us, yet for us to oppoſe ſin from ſpirituall, and heavenly arguments, and God to pardon ſin, that brings moſt glory to God. 2. Cor. 12. 7, 8, 9.2 Cor 12:72 Cor 12:82 Cor 12:9 the love of God, the honour of God, the ſweetneſs of communion with God, and from the ſpirituall and heavenly bleſſings, and priviledges that are conferred upon them by God, and from Arguments drawn from the blood of Chriſt, the glory of Chriſt, the eye of Chriſt, the kiſſes of Chriſt, and the interceſſion of Chriſt: And from Arguments drawn from the earneſt of the Spirit, the ſeale of the Spirit, the witneſſe of the Spirit, the comforts of the p. 234Spirit. Oh! but the conflict that is in wicked men, is from low, earnall, and legall Arguments drawn from the eye, eare, or hand of the creature, or drawn from ſhame, hell, curſes of the Law, &c

4. The conflict that is in Saints is a'Twas an excellent ſaying of Euſebius Emeſenus; Our fathers overcome the torments of the flames, let us overcome the fiery darts of vices. Conſider that the pleaſure and ſweetneſs that follows victory over ſin, is a thouſand times beyond that ſeeming ſweetneſſe that is in ſinne. conſtant conflict; though ſin and grace were not born in the heart of a St. together, and though they ſhall not die together, yet whilſt a Beeleever lives they muſt conflict together; Paul had been about fourteen years converted, when he cryed out, I have a law in my members rebelling againſt the law of my minde, and leading mee captive to the law of ſinne.

Pietro Candiano, one of the Dukes of Venice, died fighting againſt the Nauratines, with the weapons in his hands: ſo a Saint lives fighting, and dies fighting, he ſtands fighting, and falls fighting, with his ſpirituall weapons in his hands. But the conflict that is in wicked men is inconſtant; now they fal out with ſin, and anon they fall in with ſin; now 'tis bitter, anon 'tis ſweet; now the ſinner turns from his ſin, and anon he turns to the wallowing in ſin, as the ſwine doth to the wallowing in the mire; one hour you ſhall have him2 Pet. 2. 19, 20.2 Pet 2:192 Pet 2:20 praying againſt ſin, as if he feared it p. 235more then hell, and the next houre you ſhall have him purſuing after ſin, as if there were no God to puniſh him, no juſtice to damne him, no hell to torment him.

The conflict that is in the Saints, is 5in the ſame faculties; there is the judgement againſt the judgement, the minde againſt the minde, the will againſt the will, the affections againſt the affections;A Heathen could ſay, their ſoule is in a mutiny; a wicked man is not friends with himſelf, he and his conſcience are at difference. Ariſt. that is, the regenerate part againſt the unregenerate part, in all the parts of the ſoule; but now in wicked men, the conflict is not in the ſame faculties, but between the conſcience and the will; the will of a ſinner is bent ſtrongly to ſuch and ſuch ſins; but conſcience puts in, and tels the ſinner God hath made me his Deputy, he hath given me a power to hang and draw, to examine, ſcourge, judge, and condemn, and if thou doeſt ſuch and ſuch wickedneſſe, I ſhall be thy Jay…or, and thy tormentor; I doe not beare the rod, nor the ſword in vaine, ſaith Conſcience; if thou ſinneſt I ſhall doe my office, and then thy life will be a hell, and this raiſes a tumult in the ſoule.

6. The conflict that is in the Saints, is a more bleſſed ſucceſſefull, and prevailing conflict; a Saint by his conflict with ſin, gaines ground upon his ſin. They p. 236that are Chriſts (ſaith the Apoſtle) have Theſe two, Grace and Sin, are like two Buckets at a wel, when one is up, the other is down, they are like the two Lawrels at Rome, when one flouriſhes, the other withers. The more grace thrives in the ſoule, the more fin dies in the ſoule. 2 Tim. 3. 13. From naught they gro… to be very naught, and from very naught, to be ſtark naught. Lactantius ſaith of Lucian, Nec diis nec hominibus pepercit, heſpared neither God nor man. Mortification is a continued act, 'tis a daily dying to ſin. I dye daily. A crucified man will ſtrive and ſtruggle, yet in the eyes of the Law, and in the account of all that ſee him, he is dead; 'tis juſt ſo with ſin. Pſal. 58. 11. There is no ſuch pleaſure (ſaith Cyprian) as to have overcome an offered pleaſure, neither is there any greater conqueſt, then that that is gotten over a mans corruptions.2 Tim 3:13Ps 58:11crucified the world with the affections, and luſts. Chriſt puts to his hand, and helps them to lead captivity captive, and to ſet their feet upon the necks of thoſe luſts that have formerly trampled upon their ſouls and their comforts. As the houſe of Saul grew weaker and weaker, and the houſe of David grew ſtronger and ſtronger, ſo the Lord by the diſcoveries of his love, and by the influences of his ſpirit, he cauſes grace, the noble part of a Saint, to grow ſtronger and ſtronger, and corruption like the houſe of Saul, to grow weaker and weaker. But ſin in a wicked heart gets ground, and growes ſtronger and ſtronger; notwithſtanding all his conflicts, his heart is more encouraged, emboldened, and hardened in a way of ſin, as you may ſee in the Iſraelites, Pharoah, Jehu, and Judas; who doubtleſſe found many ſtrange conflicts, …umults, and mutinies in their ſouls, when God ſpake ſuch bitter things againſt them, and did ſuch juſtice upon them.

But remember this by way of Caution, though Chriſt hath given ſinne its deaths wound (by his power, ſpirit, death, and reſurrection) yet it will die but a lingring death: As a man that is mortally wounded, dies by little and p. 237little, ſo doth ſin in the heart of a Saint. The death of Chriſt on the Croſſe was a lingring death, ſo the death of ſin in the ſoule, is a lingering death, now it dies a little, and anon it dies a little, &c. as the Pſalmiſt ſpeaks, Slay them not leaſt my people forget, ſcatter them by thy power, and bring them downe oh Lord our ſhield. He would not have them utterly deſtroyed, but ſome reliques preſerved as a memoriall: ſo God dealeth in reſpect of ſin, 'tis wounded and brought downe, but not wholly ſlaine, ſomething is ſtill left as a monument of the Divine grace, and to keep us humble, wakefull, and watchfull, and that our armour may be ſtill kept on, and our weapons alwayes in our hands. The beſt mens ſoules in this life hangs between the fleſh and the ſpirit, as it were like Mahomets Tomb at Aleppo, between two load-ſtones; like Eraſmus, as the Papiſts paint him, betwixtThe Romanes loſt many a battel, …nd yet in the iſſue were Conquerors in all their wars; 'tis juſt ſo with the Saints. Heaven and Hell; like the Tribe of Manaſſeh, halfe on this ſide Jordan, in the Land of the Amorites, and halfe on that ſide in the Holy Land; yet in the iſſue they ſhall overcome the fleſh, and trample upon the necks of their ſpirituall enemies.

p. 238The Sixth Device that Satan hath to keep a poor ſoule in a ſad, doubting, and queſtioning condition, is,

BY ſuggeſting to the ſoule, that ſurely6 Device. his eſtate is not good, becauſe he cannot joy and rejoyce in Chriſt, as once he could, becauſe he hath loſt that comfort and joy that once was in his ſpirit. Saith Satan, thou knoweſt the time was, when thy heart was much carried out to joying and rejoycing in Chriſt; thou doeſt not forget the time when thy heart uſed to be full of joy and comfort; but now, how art thou fallen in thy joyes and comforts? Therefore thy eſtate is not good, thou doeſt but deceive thy ſelfe, to think that ever it was good, for ſurely if it had, thy joy and comfort would have continued. And hereupon the ſoule is apt to take part with Satan, and ſay, 'tis even ſo, I ſee all is naught, and I have but deceived my owne ſoule, &c.

p. 239Now the Remedies againſt this device of Satan are theſe that follow.

THe firſt Remedy againſt this Device1 Remedie. of Satan, is to conſider, that the loſſe of comfort is a ſeparable adjunct from grace; the ſoul may be f…ll of holy affections, when 'tis empty of Divine conſolations. There may be, and oftenPſ. 63. 1, 2, 8. Iſa. 50. 10. 7. Mic. 7. 8, 9. Pſal. 42. 5,Ps 63:1Ps 63:2Ps 63:8Isa 50:10Isa 50:7Mic 7:8Mic 7:9Ps 42:5 is true grace, yea, much grace, where there is not a drop of comfort, nor a dram of joy. Comfort is not of the being, but of the wel-being of a Chriſtian. God hath not ſo linked theſe 2 choice lovers together, but that they may beSpirituall joy is a Sun that is often clouded▪ though it be as precious a flower as moſt Paradiſe affords, ye… 'tis ſubject to ſide and w… ther. put aſunder. That wiſdome that is from above, will never work a man to reaſon thus, I have no comfort, therefore I have no grace, I have loſt that joy that once I had, therefore my condition is not good, was never good, &c. but 'twill inable a man to reaſon thus, tho my comfort is gone, yet the God of my comfort abides; though my joy is loſt, yet the ſeeds of grace remaine. The beſt mens joyes are as glaſſe, bright and brittle, and evermore in danger of breaking.

p. 240The ſecond Remedy againſt this Device2 Remedy. of Satan, is, ſolemnly to conſider, that the precious things that thou ſtill injoyeſt, are far better then the joyes and comforts that thou haſt loſt. Thy union with Chriſt, thy communion with Chriſt, thy ſon-ſhip, thy ſaint-ſhip, thy heir-ſhip, thou ſtill injoyeſt by Chriſt, is far better then the comforts thou haſt loſt by ſin; what though thy comforts be gone, yet thy union and communion with Chriſt remaines, though thy comforts be gone; yet thou art a Son, thoJer. 31. 18, 19, 20.Jer 31:18Jer 31:19Jer 31:20 a comfortleſſe Son; an heir, though a comfortleſſe heir; a Saint, though a comfortleſſe Saint. Though the bag of ſilver (thy comforts) be loſt, yet theWhen one objected to Faninus, his chearfullneſſe to Chriſts Agony and ſadneſſe, he anſwered, Chriſt was ſad, that I might bemerry, he had my ſins, and I have his righteouſneſſe. box of Jewels (thy union with Chriſt, thy communion with Chriſt, thy Sonſhip, thy Saint-ſhip, thy Heir-ſhip) w^ch thou ſtill injoyeſt, is far better then the bag of ſilver thou haſt loſt; yea, the leaſt of thoſe precious Jewels is more worth, then all the comforts in the world; well, let this be a cordiall to comfort thee, a ſtar to lead thee, and a ſtaffe to ſupport thee, that thy box of Jewels are ſafe, though thy bag of ſilver be loſt.

The third Remedie againſt this Device3 Remedy. of Satan, is to conſider, that thy condition is no other then what hath p. 241been the condition of thoſe preciousPſal. 51. 12. Pſal. 30. 6, 7. Job 23. 6 8 9. 30. 31. Lam. 1. 16. Mat. 27. 46.Ps 51:12Ps 30:6Ps 30:7Job 23:6Lam 1:16Matt 27:46 ſoules whoſe names were written upon the heart of Chriſt, and who are now at reſt in the boſome of Chriſt. One day you ſhall have them praiſing and rejoycing, the next day a mourning & weeping: one day you ſhall have them a ſinging,Pſal. 42. 5.Ps 42:5 The Lord is our portion, the next day a ſighing and expoſtulating with themſelves,Lam. 5. 15.Lam 5:15 Why are yee caſt downe oh our ſouls? Why is our Harp turned to mourning? And our Organ into the voice of them that weep? &c.

The fourth Remedy againſt this Device4 Remedy. of Satan, is ſolemnly to conſider, that the cauſes of joy and comfort are not alwayes the ſame. Happily thy former joy and comfort did ſpring fromThe ſpirit doth not every day make a feaſt in the ſoul, he doth not make every day to be a day of wearing the wedding robes. the witneſſe of the ſpirit, he bearing witneſſe to thy ſoule that thy nature was changed, thy ſins pardoned, thy ſoule reconciled, &c. Now the Spirit may upon ſome ſpeciall occaſion, bear witneſſe to the ſoul, that the heart of God is dearly ſet upon him, that he loves him with an everlaſting love, &c. and yet the ſoule may never injoy ſuch a teſtimony all the dayes of his life again: Though the ſpirit be a witneſſing ſpirit, it's not his office every day to witneſſe to believers their intereſt in God, Chriſt, Heaven, &c.

p. 242Or happily thy former joy and comfort, did ſpring from the newneſſe and ſuddenneſſe of the change of thy condition; for a man in one houre to haveA pardon given unexpectedly into the hand of a malefactor, when he is on the laſt ſt…p of the ladder, ready to be turn'd off, will cauſe mu…h joy & rejoycing; the newneſſe and ſuddenneſſe of the change of his condition, will cauſe his heart to leap and rejoyce; yet in proces of time much of his joy will …e aba…ed, tho his li…e be as d…a… to him ſtill, as ever it was. his night turn'd into day, his darkneſſe turn'd into light, his bitter into ſweet, Gods frownes into ſmiles, his hatred into love, his hell into a Heaven, muſt greatly joy and comfort him. It cannot but make his heart to leap, and dance in him, who in one houre ſhall ſee Satan accuſing him, his owne heart condemning him, the eternall God frowning upon him, the gates of Heaven bar'd againſt him, all the creation ſtanding armed at the leaſt beck of God, to execute vengeance on him, and the mouth of the infernall pit open to receive him. Now in this hour, for Chriſt to come to the amazed ſoule, and ſay to it, I have trod the Win…-preſſe of my Fathers wrath for thee, I have laid down my life a ranſome for thee, by my blood I have ſatisfied my Fathers Juſtice, and pacified his anger, and procured his love for thee; by my blood I have purchaſed the pardon of thy ſins, thy freedom from hell, and thy right to Heaven, &c. Oh! how wonderfully will this cauſe the ſoule to leap for joy?

The fifth Remedy againſt this Device5 Remedie. of Satan, is, to conſider, that God will p. 243reſtore and make up the comforts of his people; though thy candle be put out,Hudſon the Martyr deſerted at the ſtake, went from under his chain, and having prayed earneſtly, was comforted immediately, and ſuffered valiantly. So Mr. Glover, when he was within ſight of the ſtake, cryed out to his friend, he is come, he is come, meaning the comforter that Chriſt promiſed to ſend. yet God will light it againe, and make it burn more light then ever; though thy ſun for the preſent be clouded, yet he that rides upon the clouds, ſhall ſcatter thoſe clouds, and cauſe the ſun to ſhine, and warm thy heart, as in form…r dayes, as the Pſalmiſt ſpeakes, aaPſ. 71. 20, 21.Ps 71:20Ps 71:21Thou which haſt ſhewed me great and ſ…re troubles, ſhalt quicken me againe, and ſhalt bring me up againe from the depths of the earth. Thou ſhalt increaſe my greatneſſe, and comfort me on every ſide. God takes away a little comfort, that he may make room in the ſoule for a greater degree of comfort. This the Prophet Iſaiah ſweetly ſhewes, bbIſa. 57. 18.Isa 57:18I have ſeen his wayes, and will heale him, I will lead him alſo, and reſt…re comforts unto him, and to his mourners. Bear up ſweetly oh precious ſoule! thy ſtorme ſhall end in a calm; and thy dark night in a ſun-ſhine day; thy mourning ſhall be turn'd into rejoycing, and the waters of conſolation ſhall be ſweeter and higher in thy ſoule, thenSee alſo the 126 Pſal. 6. v. and the 42 Pſal. 7, 8.Ps 6Ps 7:8 ever; the m…rcy is ſurely thine, but the time of giving it is the Lords: wait but a lit…le, and thou ſhalt find the Lord comforting thee on every ſide.

p. 244The ſeventh Device that Satan hath to keep ſouls in a doubting and queſtioning condition, is,

BY ſuggeſting to the ſoule his often7 Device. relapſes into the ſame ſin which formerly he hath purſued with particular sorrow, grief, ſhame and tears, and prayed, complained, and reſolved againſt. Saith Satan, thy heart is not right with God, ſurely thy eſtate is not good, thou doſt but flatter thy ſelfe, to think that ever God will eternally owne, and embrace ſuch a one as thou art, who complaineſt againſt ſin, and yet relapſeſt into the ſame ſin, who with teares and groanes confeſſeſt thy ſin, and yet ever and anon art fallen into the ſame ſin, &c.

I confeſſe this is a very ſad condition for a ſoule, after he hath obtained mercy and pity from the Lord, after God hath ſpoken peace and pardon to him, and wip't the tears from his eyes, and ſet him upon his legs, to returne to folly; ah! how doe relapſes lay men open p. 245to the greateſt afflictions, and worſtA backſlider may ſay (opera & impenſa periit) all my paines and charge is loſt. temptations? How doe they make the wound to bleed afreſh? How doe they darken and cloud former aſſurances and evidence… for Heaven? How doe they put a ſword into the hand of conſcience to cut and ſlaſh the ſoule? They raiſe ſuch feares, terrours, horrours, and doubts in the ſoule, that the ſoule cannot be ſo frequent in duty, as formerly, nor ſo fervent in duty as formerly, nor ſo confident in duty as formerly, nor ſo bold, familiar, and delightfull with God in duty as formerly; nor ſo conſtant in duty as formerly: they give Satan an advantage to triumph over Chriſt; they make the work of repentance mo…e difficult; they make a mans life a burden, and they render death to be very terrible unto the ſoule, &c.

p. 246Now the Remedies againſt this device of Satan are theſe that follow.

THe firſt Remedie againſt this device1 Remedie. of Satan, is, ſolemnly to conſider, that there are many Scriptures that doe clearly evidence a poſſibility of the S^t. falling into the ſame ſins, whereof they have formerly repented. ccHoſ. 14. 4.Hos 14:4I will heale their backsliding, I will love them freely, for mine anger is turned away from them, ſaith the Lord by the Prophet Hoſea, ſo the Prophet Jeremiah ſpeaks, ddIer. 3. 12. 14.Jer 3:12Jer 3:14Goe and proclaime theſe words towards the North▪ and ſay, returne thou back-ſliding Iſrael▪ ſaith the Lord, and I will not cauſe mine anger to fall upon you: for I am mercifull▪ ſaith the The ſin of backſliding is a ſoul-wounding ſin. I will heale their backſliding: you read of no arms for the back, though you doe for the breaſt.Lord, and I will not keep anger for ever. Turne, oh backsliding Iſrael, ſaith the Lord, for I am married unto you: And I will take you one of a City, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion: So the Pſalmiſt, They turned back and dealt unfaithfully like their Fathers, they were turned aſide like a deceitfull bow. And no wonder, for tho their repentance be never ſo ſincere and ſound, yet their graces are but weak, p. 247and their mortification imperfect inWhen a ſouldier bragged too much of a great ſcar in his forehead, Auguſtus Caeſar (in whoſe time Chriſt was borne) asked him if he did not get it when he looked back as he fled. this life; though by grace they are freed from the dominion of ſin, and from the damnatory power of every ſin, and from the love of all ſin, yet grace doth not free them from the ſeed of any one ſin; and therefore 'tis poſſible for a ſoule to fall againe and againe into the ſame ſin; if the fire be not wholly put out, who would thinke it impoſſible that it ſhould catch and burne againe and againe?

The ſecond Remedy againſt this Device2 Remedie. of Satan, is ſeriouſly to conſider, that God hath no where ingaged himſelfe by any particular promiſe, that ſoules converted and united to Chriſt, ſhall not fall againe and againe into the ſame ſins after converſion. I cannot find in the whole Book of God, where heIn ſome caſes the Saints have found God better then his word; he prom…ſed the Children of Iſrael onelyonly the Land of Canaan, but beſides that he gave them two other Kingdomes, which he never promiſed. And to Zachary he promiſed to give him his ſpeech at the birth of the child, but beſides that, he gave him the gift of Prophecy. hath promiſed any ſuch ſtrength or power againſt this or that particular ſin, as that the ſoule ſhall be for ever (in this life) put out of a poſſibility of falling againe and againe into the ſame ſins; and where God hath not a mouth to ſ…eak, I muſt not have a heart to believe. God will graciouſly pardon thoſe ſins to his people, that he will not in this life effectually ſubdue in his people. I would goe far to ſpeak with that ſoule that can ſhew a promiſe, that when our p. 248ſorrow and grief hath been ſo great, or ſo much, for this or that ſin, that then God will preſerve us from ever falling into the ſame ſin; the ſight of ſuch a promiſe would be as life from the dead, to many a precious ſoule, who deſires nothing more then to keepe cloſe to Chriſt, and feares nothing more then backſliding from Chriſt.

The third Remedy againſt this Device3 Remedy. of Satan, is ſeriouſly to conſider, that the moſt renowned, and now crowned Saints, have in the dayes of their being on earth, relapſed into one and theA ſheep may often ſlip into a ſlough, as well as a ſwine. ſame ſin. Lot was twice overcome with wine; John twice worſhipped the Angel; Abraham did often diſſemble, and Iay his wife open to adultery, to ſave his owne life, which ſome Heathens would not have done. And it came to Gen. 20. 13. …h. 12.Gen 20:13paſſe, when God cauſed me to wander from my Fathers houſe, that I ſaid unto her, this is thy kindneſſe which thou ſhalt ſhew unto me, at every place whether we ſhall come, ſay of me, he is my brother. David in hisPerhaps the Prodigall ſets out unto us, a Chriſtian relapſt; for he was a ſon before, and with his Father, & then went away from him and ſpent all, and yet he was not quite undone, but returned againe. wrath was reſolved, if ever man was, that he would be the death of Nabal, and all his innocent Family, and after this he fell into the foule murther of Ʋriah. Though Chriſt told his Diſciples that his Kingdome was not of this world, yet againe, and againe, and again, three p. 249ſeverall times, they would needs be on horſe-back, they would faine be high, great, and glorious in this world; their pride and ambitious humour put them (that were but as ſo many baggars) upon ſtriving for preheminence, and greatneſſe in the world, when their Lord and Maſter told them 3 ſeverall times of his ſufferings in the world, and of his going out of the world. Jehoſhaphat, 2 Chron. 18. ch. 1. 2. 3. 30, 31.2 Chr 18though a godly man, yet joynes affinity with wicked Ahab, and though he was ſaved by a miracle, yet ſoon after he fals into the ſame ſin, and joynes himſelf with ch. 20. 35. 36, 37.Ahaziah, King of Iſrael, who did very wickedly. Sampſon i… by the Spirit of the Lord numbred among the faithful worthies,Heb. 11. 32.Heb 11:32 and yet he fell often into one groſs ſin, as is evident in the book of Judges; Jud. 14. 15. 16. ch.Judg 14:15Judg 14:16Peter you know relapſt often, and ſo did Jonah; and this comes to paſſe, that they may ſee their owne inability to ſtand, to reſiſt, or overcome any temptation, or corruption. And that they may be taken off from all falſe confidences, and reſt wholy upon God, and onelyonly upon God, and alwayes upon God; and for the praiſe and honour of the power, wiſdome, skill, mercy, andThe Prodigal ſaw the compaſſion of his Father, the greater in receiving him, after he had run away from him. goodneſſe of the Phyſitian of our ſouls, that can heale, help, and cure, when the diſeaſe is moſt dangerous, when the p. 250ſoule is relapſt, and growes worſe and worſe, and when others ſay there is no help for him in his God, and when his owne heart and hopes are dying.

The fourth Remedy againſt this Device4 Remedie. of Satan, is, to conſider, that ther… are relapſes into enormities, and there are relapſes into infirmities; now 'tis not uſuall with God to leave his peopleRelapſes into enormities are (peccata vulnerantia & diviſtantia) wounding & waſting ſins. Therefore the Lord is graciouſly pleaſed to put under his everlaſting arms, and ſtay his choſen ones from frequent falling into them. frequently to relapſe into enormities, for by his ſpirit and grace, by his ſmiles and frownes, by his word and rod, he doth uſually preſerve his people from a frequent relapſing into enormities; yet he doth leave his choiceſt ones frequently to relapſe into infirmities (and of his grace he pardons them in courſe) as idle words, paſſion, vaine thoughts, &c. Though gracious ſoules ſtrive againſt theſe, and complaine of theſe, and weep over theſe, yet the Lord to keep them humble, leaves them frequently to relapſe into theſe; and theſe frequent relapſes into infirmities ſhall never be their bane, becauſe they be their burden

The fift Remedy againſt this Device5 Remedy. of Satan, is to conſider, that there areThere is a great difference betwen a ſheep that by weakneſſe fals into the mire, & a ſwine, that delights to wallow in the mire; between a woman that is forced, though ſhe ſtrives, and cries out, and and an alluring adultreſs. involuntary relapſes, and there are voluntary relapſes; involuntary relapſes are, when the reſolution and full bent of the heart is againſt ſin, when the ſoul ſtrives with all its might againſt ſin, by p. 251ſighes and groans, by prayers and tears, and yet out of weakneſſe, is forced to fall back into ſin, becauſe there is not ſpirituall ſtrength enough to overcome; Now though involuntary relapſes muſt humble us, yet they muſt never diſcourage, nor deject us, for God will freely and readily pardon thoſe in courſe. Voluntary relapſes are, when the ſoule longs, and loves to return to the fleſh-pots of Egypt; when 'tis a pleaſure, and a paſtime to a man to return to his old courſes; ſuch voluntary relapſes ſpeak out the man blinded, hardned, and ripened for rulne, &c.

The ſixth Remedie againſt this Device 6 Remedy.of Sathan, is, to conſider, that there is no ſuch power, or infinite vertue in theChriſt upbraded his Diſciples for their unbelief, and hardneſſe of heart, who had ſeene his glory, as the glory of the only begotten ſon of God, full of grace and truth. 1 John 14. greateſt horror, or ſorrow the ſoul can be under for ſin, nor in the ſweeteſt, or choſeſt diſcoveries of Gods grace, and love to the ſoule; as for ever to fence, and ſecure the ſoule from relapſing into the ſame ſin; Grace is but a created habite, that may be prevailed againſt by the ſecret, ſubtile, and ſtrong workings of ſin in our hearts: And thoſe diſcoveries that God makes of his love, beauty, and glory to the ſoule, doe not always abide in their freſhneſſe, and power upon the heart; but by degrees they fade, and weare off, and then the ſoule p. 252may return again to folly; As we ſee in Peter, who after he had a glorious teſtimonyMat. 16. 15, 16, 17, 18, 19. 22, 23, 24.Matt 16:15Matt 16:16Matt 16:17Matt 16:18Matt 16:19Matt 16:22Matt 16:23Matt 16:24 from Chriſt his own mouth, of his bleſſedneſſe and happineſſe, labours to prevent Chriſt from going up to Jeruſalem to ſuffer out of baſe ſlaviſh fears, that he and his fellows could not be ſecure, if his Maſter ſhould be brought to ſuffer. And againe, after this, Chriſt had him up into the Mount, and thereMat. 7. 1, 2, 3.Matt 7:1Matt 7:2Matt 7:3 ſhewed him his beauty, and glory, to ſtrengthen him againſt the hour of tentation that was a comming upon him; and yet ſoone after he had the honour, and happineſſe of ſeeing the glory of the Lord (which moſt of the Diſciples had not) he baſely, and moſt ſhamefully denies the Lord of glory, thinkingMat. 26. 69. ult.Matt 26:69 by that means to provide for his owne ſafety: And yet again, after Chriſt had broke his heart with a looke of love, for his moſt unlovely dealings, and bade them that were firſt acquainted with his reſurrection, to goe and tell Peter that he was riſen; I ſay, after all this, ſlaviſh fears prevail upon him, and he baſely diſſembles, and plays ehe Iew with the Iewes, and the Gentile with the Gentiles, to the ſeducing of Barnabas, Gal 2. 11, 12, 13.Gal 2:11Gal 2:12Gal 2:13&c.

Yet by way of caution, know it's very rare, that God doth leave his beloved p. 253ones frequently, to relapſe into one and the ſame groſſe ſin; for the law of nature is in armes againſt groſſe ſins, aſwell as the law of grace; ſo that a gracious ſoule cannot, dares not, will not frequently returne to groſſe folly. And God hath made even his deareſt ones dearly ſmart for their relapſes, as may be ſeen by his dealings with Samſon, Iehoſaphat, and Peter; Ah Lord! what a hard heart hath that man, that can ſee thee ſtripping and whipping thy deareſt ones for their relapſes, and yet make nothing of returning to folly, &c.

The eighth Device that Satan8 Device. hath to keepe ſoules in a doubting, and questioning condition, is,

BY perſwading them that theis eſtate is not good, their hearts are not upright, their graces are not ſound, b… cauſe they are ſo followed, vexed, and tormented with 'temptations; 'tis his method, firſt to vex, and weary the ſoul with temptations, and then to tempt p. 254the ſoule, that ſurely 'tis not beloved,He may ſo tempt, as to make a Saint weary of his life. Job 10. 1. My ſoule is weary of my life.Job 10:1 becauſe 'tis ſo much tempted; and by this ſtratagem he keeps many precious ſouls in a ſad, doubting, and mourning temper many years, as many of the precious ſonnes of Sion have found by wofull experience, &c.

Now the remedies againſt this Device of Satan are theſe that follow.

THe firſt Remedie againſt this Device 1 Remedie.of Satan, is, ſolemnly to conſider, that thoſe that have been beſt, and moſt beloved, have been moſt tempted by Satan. Though Satan can never rob a Chriſtian of his Crown, yet ſuch is his malice, that hee will therefore tempt, that he may ſpoyle them of their comforts; ſuch is his enmity to the Father, that the nearer and dearer any child is to him, the more will Satan trouble him, and vex him with temptations;Pirats do not uſe to ſet upon poor, empty veſſels; and beggars need not feare the thieſe; thoſe that have moſt of God, and moſt rich in grace, ſhall be moſt ſet upon by Satan, who is the greateſt and wiſeſt Pirate in the world. Chriſt himſelfe was moſt neer, and moſt deare, moſt innocent, and moſt excellent, and yet none ſo much tempted as Chriſt; David was dearly beloved, and yet by Satan tempted to number the people; Iob was highly praiſed by God p. 255himſelfe, and yet much tempted, witneſſe thoſe ſad things that fell from his mouth, when he was wet to the skin; Peter was much prized by Chriſt, witneſſe that choiſe teſtimony that Chriſt gave of his faith and happineſſe, and his ſhewing him his glory in the Mount, and that eye of pity that he caſt upon him after his fearfull fall, &c. and yet tempted by Satan. And the Lord ſaid, Luke 22. 31, 32.Luke 22:31Luke 22:32Simon, Simon, behold Satan hath deſired to have you, that he may ſift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith faile thee not, &c.

Paul had the honour of being exalted as high as high as heaven, and of ſeeing that glory that could not be expreſt; and yet hee was no ſooner ſtept out of Heaven, but he is buffetted by Satan, leſt he ſhould be exalted above meaſure. If2 Cor. 12. 2. 7.2 Cor 12:22 Cor 12:7 theſe that were ſo really, ſo gloriouſly, ſo eminently beloved of God; if theſe that have lived in Heaven, and ſet their feet upon the ſtars, have been tempted, let no Saints judge themſelves not to be beloved, becauſe they are tempted.

It is as natural for Saints to be tempted that are dearly beloved, as 'tis for the Sun to ſhine, or a bird to ſing; the E…gle complains not of her wings, nor the Peacock of his train, nor the Nightingale of her voyce, becauſe theſe are p. 256naturall to them; no more ſhould S^ts. of their temptations, becauſe they are naturall to them; For wee wreſtle not againſt Epheſ. 6. 12.Eph 6:12fleſh and blood, but againſt principalities, againſt powers, againſt the Rulers of the darkneſſe of this world, againſt ſpirituall wickedneſſe in high places.

The ſecond Remedie againſt this Device 2 Remedy.of Satan, is, to conſider, that all the temptations that befall the Saints, ſhall be ſanctified to them by a hand of love; ah! the choiſe experiences that the Saints get of the power of God, ſupporting them, of the wiſdome of God directing them (ſo to handle their ſpirituall weapons, their graces, as not only to reſiſt, but to overcome) of the mercy and goodneſſe of the Lord, pardoning and ſuccouring of them. And therefore ſaith Paul, I received the meſſenger 2 Cor. 12. 7. Vi…e B…zam, …, & … Lather ſaid there were three things this made a P…eacher; M…itation, prayer, and temptation.2 Cor 12:7Satan for to buffet me, leſt I ſhould be exalted, leſt I ſhould be exalted above meaſure, 'tis twice in that verſe he begins with it, and ends with it; if he had not been buffeted, who knows how his heart would have ſwelled; hee might have been carried higher in conceit, then before he was in his extacie. The ſchool of temptation is a choiſe ſchool, a ſchool wherein God gives his people the cleareſt, and the ſweeteſt diſcoveries of his love; a ſchool wherein God teaches p. 257his people to be more frequent, and fervent in duty; when Paul was buffeted, then he prayed thrice, that is, frequently, and fervently; A ſchoole wherein God teaches his people to be more tender, meek, and compaſſionate to other poor tempted ſouls then ever; A ſchool wherein God teaches his people to ſee a greater evill in ſinne then ever, and a greater emptineſs in the creature then ever, and a greater need of Chriſt, and free-grace then ever; A ſchool wherein God will teach his people, that all temptations are but his Gold-ſmiths, by which he will try, and refine, and make his people more bright and glorious. The iſſue of all temptations ſhall be the good of the Saints; as you may ſee by the temptations that Adam, and Eve, and Chriſt, and David, and Job, and Peter, and Paul met with. Thoſe hands of power, and love that bring light out of darkneſſe, good out of evill, ſweet out of bitter, life out of death, Heaven out of Hell, will bring much ſweet and good to his people, out of all the temptations that come upon them.

The third Remedie againſt this Device 3 Remedie.of Satan is, wiſely to conſider, that no temptations don't hurt nor harm the Saints, ſo long as they are not reſiſted p. 258by them, and prove the greateſt affliction that can befall them; 'tis not Satans tempting, but your aſſenting; not his enticing, but your yeelding, that makes temptations hurtfull to your ſoules; if the ſoule when 'tis tempted, reſiſts the temptation, and ſaith with Chriſt, get thee behind mee Satan; and with that young Convert, I am not the man that I Ego non ſum ego.was; or as Luther counſells all men, to anſwer all temptations with theſe words (Chriſtianus ſum) I am a Chriſtian; if a mans temptations be his greateſt affliction, then is the temptation no ſin upon his ſoule, though it be a trouble upon his mind: when a ſoule can look the Lord in the face, and ſay, ah Lord! I have many outward troubles now upon me, I have loſt ſuch and ſuch a neere mercy, and ſuch and ſuch dear deſirable mercies, and yet thou that knoweſt the heart, thou knoweſt that all my croſſes and loſſes do not make ſo many wounds in my ſoule, nor fetch ſo many ſighes from my heart, nor teares from my eyes, as thoſe temptations doe, that Satan follows my ſoul with: when 'tis thus with the ſoule, then temptations are only the ſouls trouble, they are not the ſouls ſin.

Satan is a malious and envious enemie;…metime… he …hewes his malice, by letting thoſe things abide by the ſoule, as may moſt vex, and plague the ſoule, as Gregory obſerves in his leaving of Jobs wife, which was not out of his forgetfulneſs, careleſneſſe, or any love, or pity to Iob, but to vex, and torment him, &c. and to work him to blaſpheme God, deſpair, and die, &c. as his names are, ſo is he; his p. 259names are all names of enmity; the Accuſer, the Tempter, the Deſtroyer, the Devourer, the envious Man; and this malice, and envy of his, he ſhewes ſometimes by tempting men to ſuch ſins as are quite contrary to the temperature of their bodies, as he did Veſpaſian and Julian, men of ſweet and excellent natures to be moſt bloody murtherers; and ſometimes hee ſhews his malice, by tempting men to ſuch things as ſhall bring hi… no honour, nor profit, &c. fall downe and worſhip mee, to blaſphemie, and Atheiſme, &c. the thoughts and firſt motions whereof cauſe the beart and the fleſh to tremble; And ſometimes he ſhewes his malice, by tempting them to thoſe ſins, which they have not found their natures prone to, and which they abhor in others, &c.

Now if the ſoule reſiſts theſe, and complains of theſe, and groanes and mourns under theſe, and lookes up to the Lord Jeſus to be delivered from theſe, then ſhall they not be put down to the ſoules account, but to Satans, who ſhall be ſo much the more tormented, by how much the more the Saints have beene by him maliciouſly tempted, &c.

p. 260Make preſent and peremptory reſiſtance againſt Satans temptations, bid defiance to the temptation at firſt ſight;When Conſtantine the Emperour was told that there was no means to cure his leproſie, but by bathing his body in the blood of Infants, he preſently anſwered (malo jemper aegrotare quam tali remedio convaleſcere) I had rather not be cured, then uſe ſuch a remedie. 'tis ſafe to reſiſt, 'tis dangerous to diſpute; Eve loſt her ſelfe, and her poſterity, by falling into the liſts of diſpute, when ſhe ſhould have reſiſted, and ſtood upon terms of defiance with Satan; he that would ſtand in the hour of temptation, muſt plead with Chriſt, 'tis written; he that would triumph over temptations, muſt plead ſtill, 'tis written. Satan is bold and impudent, and if you are not peremptory in your reſiſtance, he will give you freſh onſets. 'Tis your greateſt honour, and your higheſt wiſdome, peremptorily to with-ſtand the beginnings of a temptation, for an after remedie comes often too late.

Miſtris Katherine Bretterge, once, after a great conflict with Satan, ſaid, Reaſon not with me, I am but a weake woman; if thou haſt any thing to ſay, ſay it to my Chriſt, he is my Advocate, my ſtrength, and my redeemer, and he ſhall plead for me.

Men muſt not ſeek to reſiſt Satans craft with craft (ſed per apertum martem) but by open defiance; he ſhoots with Satan in his own bow; who thinks by diſputing and reaſoning to put him off. As ſoon as a temptation ſhewes its face, ſay to the temptation, as Ephraim p. 261to his idols; get you hence, what have I any Hoſea 14.Hos 14more to doe with you? oh! ſay to the temptation, as David ſaid to the ſonnes of Zerviah; What have I to doe with you? 2 Sam. 16. 10.2 Sam 16:10you will be too hard for me. He that doth thus reſiſt temptations, ſhall never be undone by temptation, &c.

Make ſtrong and conſtant reſiſtanceI have read of one who being tempted with offers of money to deſert Chriſt, gave this excellent anſwer, let not any man think, that he will embrace other mens goods to forſake Chriſt, who hath forſaken his own proper goods to follow Chriſt. againſt Satans temptations, make reſiſtance againſt temptations by arguments drawn from the honour of God, the love of God, your union and communion with God; and from the blood of Chriſt, the death of Chriſt, the kindneſs of Chriſt, the interceſſion of Chriſt, and the glory of Chriſt; and from the voice of the Spirit, the counſell of the Spirit, the comforts of the Spirit, the preſence of the Spirit, the ſeale of the Spirit, the whiſperings of the Spirit, the commands of the Spirit, the aſſiſtance of the Spirit, the witneſſe of the Spirit; and from the glory of Heaven, the excellency of grace, the beauty of holineſſe, the worth of the ſoule, and the vildneſſe or bitterneſſe, and evill of ſinne, the leaſt ſin being a greater evil, then the greateſt temptation in the world.

And looke that you make conſtant reſiſtance, as well as ſtrong reſiſtance; be conſtant in armes, Satan will come p. 262on with new temptations; when oldLuke 4. 14. And when the Devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from him for a ſeaſon. Chriſt had no reſt untill he was exactly tried with all kinds of temtations. Calvin.Luke 4:14 ones are too weak in a calme, prepare for a ſtorm; the temper is reſtleſſe, impudent, and ſubtile; he will ſute his temptations to your conſtitutions, and inclinations; Satan loves to ſaile with the winde; if your knowledg be weake, he will tempt you to errour; if your conſciences be tender, he will tempt you to ſcrupuloſity, and too much preciſeneſſe, as to do nothing but heare, pray, read, &c. If your conſciences be wide and large, hee will tempt you to carnall ſecurity; if you are bold ſpirited, he will tempt you to preſumption; if timerous, to deſperation; if flexible, to inconſtancy; if proud and ſtiffe, to groſſe folly, therefore ſtill fit for freſh aſſaults; make one victory a ſtep to another. When you have overcome a temptation, take heed of unbending your bow, and look well to it, that your bow be alwayes bent, and that it remains in ſtrength; when you have overcome one temptation, you muſt Be ready to enter the liſt with another; as diſtruſt (in ſome ſenſe) is the mother of ſafety, ſo ſecurity is the gate of danger; a man had need to feare this moſt of all, that he fears not all; if Satan be always a roaring, wee ſhould be alwayes a watching, and reſiſting of p. 263him; and certainely, hee that makes ſtrong and conſtant reſiſtance of Satans temptations, ſhall in the end get above his temptations, and for the preſent is ſecure enough from being ruin'd by his temptations, &c.

For a cloſe of this, remember that tisHe that will yeeld to ſin, to be rid of temptation, will be ſo much the more tempted, and the leſſe able to withſtand temptations. dangerous, to yeeld to the leaſt ſin, to be rid of the greateſt temptation. To take this courſe were, as if a man ſhould think to waſh himſelfe cleane in Inke; or as if a man ſhould exchange a light croſſe made of paper, for an Iron croſſe which is heavy, toileſome, and bloody, the leaſt ſin ſet home upon the conſcience, will more, wound, vex, and oppreſſe the ſoul, then all the temptations in the world can; therefore never yeeld to the leaſt ſin, to be rid of the greateſt temptation. Sidonius Apolinaris relateth, how a certain man named Maximus, arriving at the top of honour, by indirect meanes, was the firſt day very much wearied, and fetching a deep ſigh, ſaid, Oh Damocles! how happie doe I eſteem thee, for having been a King but the ſpace of a dinner, I have been one a wholeday, and can beare it no longer. I will leave you to make the Application.