Precious Remedies Against Satans Devices, Part 4

Precious Remedies Against Satans Devices · Part 4

p. 264The fourth thing to be ſhewed, is, the ſeverall wayes and devices that Satan hath to deſtroy and enſnare all ſorts and rankes of men in the world.

I Shall begin with the honourable and the great, and ſhew you the Devices that Satan hath to deſtroy them; I will only inſtance in thoſe that are moſt conſiderable.

His firſt Device to deſtroy the1 Device. great, and honourable of the earth, is,

BY working them, to make it their buſineſſe to ſeek themſelves, to ſeek how to greaten themſelves, to raiſeSelfe-ſeeking …ke the deluge overflowes the whole world. themſelves, to enrich themſelves, to ſecure themſelves, &c. As you may ſee in Pharaoh, Ahab, Rehoboam, Jeroboam, p. 265Abſolom, Joab, Haman, &c. But were the Scripture ſilent, our owne experiences do abundantly evidence this way and method of Satan, to deſtroy the great, and the honourable, to bury their names in the duſt, and their ſouls in Hell, by drawing them wholly to mind themſelves, and onelyonly to minde themſelves, and in all things to minde themſelves, and always to mind themſelves. All (ſaith the Apoſtle) minde Phil. 2. 21.Phil 2:21themſelves, all comparatively, in reſpect of the paucity of others, that let fall their private intereſts, and drowne all ſelf-reſpects in the glory of God, and the publick good, &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,Self-love is the root of the hatred of others. 2 Tim. 3. 2. Firſt, lovers of themſelves, & then fierce, &c.2 Tim 3:2 that ſelfe-ſeeking is a ſin that will put men upon a world of ſin; upon ſins not only againſt the Law of God, the rules of the Goſpel, but that are againſt the very lawes of Nature, that are ſo much darkned by the fall of man; It put the Phariſees upon oppoſing Chriſt, and p. 266Iudas upon betraying Chriſt, and Pilate The Naturaliſt obſerves, that thoſe beaſts which are moſt cruel to others, are moſt loving to their own.upon condemning Chriſt. It put Gehezi upon lying, and Balaam upon curſing, and Saul and Abſolom upon plotting Davids ruine. It put Pharaoh and Haman upon contriving wayes to deſtroy thoſe Jewes, that God did purpoſe to ſave by his mighty arme. It puts men upon uſing wicked ballances, and the bag of deceitfull weights. It puts m…n upon wayes of oppreſſion, and ſelling Amos 2. 6.Amos 2:6the righteous for ſilver, and the poore for a paire of ſhooes, &c. I know not any ſin in the world, but this ſin of ſelfe-ſeeking will put men upon it, though it be their eternall loſſe.

The ſecond Remedie againſt this Device2 Remedy. of Satan, is, ſeriouſly to conſider, that ſelf-ſeeking doth exceedingly abaſeA ſelf-ſeeker is a Cato without, but a Nero within. Domitian would ſeem to love them beſt, whom he willed leaſt ſhould live, & that's the very temper of ſelfe-ſeekers. a man; it ſtrips him of all his royalty, and glory; of a Lord, it makes a man become a ſervant to the creature, I often to the worſt of creatures; yea, a ſlave to ſlaves, as you may ſee in Iudas, Demas, Balaam, and the Scribes and Phariſees. Selfe-ſeekers bow downe to the creatures; as Gideons many thouſands bowed down to the waters; ſelf-ſeeking will make a man ſay any thing, do any thing, and be any thing, to pleaſe the luſts of others, & to get advantages upon others; ſelf-ſeeking tranſforms a p. 267man into all ſhapes, and formes; nowIt was death in Moſes Rites to counterſet that Ceremoniall, and figurative oyntment, Exod. 30. what ſhall it then be to counterſeit the ſpirit of life and holineſſe.Exod 30 it makes a man appeare as an Angell of light, anon as an Angel of darkeneſſe; now ſelfe-ſeekers are ſeemingly for God, anon they are openly againſt God; now you ſhall have them crying Hoſanna in the higheſt, and anon crucicifie him, crucifie him; now you ſhall have them build with the Saints, and anon you ſhall have them plotting the overthrow of the Saints, as thoſe ſelfeſeekers did in Ezra, and Nehemiah's time. Self-ſeekers are the baſeſt of all perſons; there is no ſervice ſo baſe, ſo poor, ſo low, but they will bow to it. They cannot look neither above, nor beyond their owne luſts, and the enjoymentRom. 1. 25.Rom 1:25 of the creature, theſe are the prime and ultimate objects of their intendments.

'Tis ſaid of Tiberius, that whilſt Auguſtus rul'd, he was no wayes tainted in his reputation; and that whilſt Druſus and Germanicus were alive, hee feigned thoſe vertues which hee had not, to maintain a good opinion of himſelfe in the hearts of the people; but after hee had got himſelf out of the reach of contradiction, and controulment, there was no fact in which he was not faulty, no crime to which he was not acceſſary. My prayer ſhall be, that Tiberius his p. 268ſpirit may not be found in any of our Rulers, left it prove their ruine, as it did his; and that where ever it is, it may be detected, loathed, and ejected, that ſo neither the State, nor ſoules may be ruin'd by it, &c.

The third Remedy againſt this Device3 Remedy. of Satan, is, ſolemnly to dwell upon thoſe dreadfull curſes, and woes that are from heaven denounced againſt ſelfe-ſeekers. Woe unto them that joyne Iſa. 5. 8.Isa 5:8houſe to houſe, that lay field to field, till there be no place, that they may be placed alone in the midſt of the earth. So Habakkuk, Hab. 6. 9, 10, 11, 12. Craſſus a very rich Roman, and a great ſelf-ſeeker, for greedy deſire of Gold, he managed war againſt the Parthians, by whom both he & 30000. Romans were ſlain: and becauſe the Barbarians conjectured that he made this aſſault upon them for their gold; therfore they melted gold, & poured it into his dead body, ſaying (ſatura de auro) ſatiſfie thy ſelfe with gold. Iſa. 15. 1, 2.Isa 15:1Isa 15:2Wo to him that increaſeth that which is not his, and to him that ladeth himſelfe with thick clay. Woe to him that coveteth an evill covetouſneſſe to his houſe, that hee may ſet his neſt on high, that he may be delivered from the power of evill. Thou haſt conſulted ſhame to thy houſe by cutting off many people, and haſt ſinned againſt thy ſoule. For the ſtone ſhall cry out of the wall, and the beame out of the timber ſhall anſwer it. Woe to him that buildeth a Towne with blood, and ſtabliſheth a City by iniquity. The materialls of the houſe built up by oppreſſion, ſhall come as joynt-witneſſes; The ſtones of the wall ſhall cry, Lord, we were built up by blood and violence; and the beam ſhall anſwer, True Lord, even ſo it is; The ſtones ſhall cry p. 269vengeance Lord upon theſe ſelf-ſeekers, and the beame ſhall anſwer, wo to him, becauſe he built his houſe with blood. So Iſaiah, Woe unto them that decree unrighteous decrees, and that write grievouſneſſe which they have preſcribed. To turne aſide the needy from judgement, and to take away the right from the poore of my people; that widdowes may be their prey, and that they may rob the fatherleſſe. So Amos, Wo Amos 6. 1. 7.Amos 6:1Amos 6:7unto them that are at eaſe in Zion, and truſt in the mountaine of Samaria, which are named chiefe of the Nations, to whom the houſe of Iſrael came. That put far away the evill day, and cauſe the ſeate of violence to come neer. That lie upon beds of Ivory, and ſtretch themſelves upon their couches, and eate the Lambs out of the flock, and the Calves out of the midſt of the ſtall. That drinke wine in bowles, and annoint themſelves with the chiefe oyntments, but they are not grieved for the afflictions of Joſeph. So Micah, woe to them that deviſe iniquity, Mica 2. 1, 2. Tacitus the Roman Emperours word was (fibi bonus aliis malus) he that is too much for himſelfe, failes to be good to others.and worke evill upon their beds: when the morning is light they practiſe it, becauſe it is in the power of their hand. And they covet fields, and take them by violence, and houſes, and take them away: ſo they oppreſſe a man and his houſe, even a man and his heritage.

By theſe Scriptures, you ſee, that ſelfe-ſeekers labour like a woman in p. 270travell, but their birth proves their death, their pleaſure their paine; their comfort, their torment; their glory, their ſhame; their exaltation, their deſolation. Loſſe, diſgrace, trouble, and ſhame, vexation and confuſion will be the certaine portion of ſelfeſeekers. When the Tartarians had taken in battell the Duke of Muſcovia, they made a cup of his skull, with this inſcription, All covet, all looſe.

The fourth Remedie againſt this device4 Remedie. of Satan, is, ſolemnly to conſider, that ſelf-ſeekers are ſelfe-looſers, andAdam ſeeks himſelfe, and looſes himſelf, Paradiſe, and that bleſſed Image that God had …amp't upon him. Lot ſeeks himſelf, Gen. 13. 10, …. and looſes himſelf, and …is goods, &c. Peter ſeeks to ſave himſelfe, and miſerably looſe himſelf. Hezekiah in the buſineſſe of the Ambaſſadours ſeeks himſelf, and looſes himſelf, and his life too, had not God ſaved him by a Miracle.Gen 13:10 ſelf-deſtroyers. Abſolom and Judas ſeek themſelves, and hang themſelves. Saul ſeeks himſelf, and kills himſelf; Ahab ſeeks himſelf, and looſes himſelfe, his Crown and Kingdome. Pharaoh ſeeks himſelf, and overthrows himſelfe and his mighty Army in the red ſea. Cain ſought himſelfe, and ſlew two at once, his brother, and his own ſoul. Gehazi ſought change of rayment, but God changed his rayment into a leprous skin. Haman ſought himſelf, and loſt himſelfe. The Princes and the Preſidents ſought themſelves (in the ruine of Daniel) but ruin'd themſelves, their wives and children. That which ſelfeſeekers think ſhould be a ſtaffe to ſupport them, becomes (by the hand of

p. 271Juſtice) an iron rod to break them; that which they would have as ſprings to refreſh them, becomes a gulf utterly to conſume them; the croſſes of ſelfeſeekers ſhall alwayes exceed their mercies, their paine, their pleaſure, their torments, their comforts; every ſelfeſeeker is a ſelfe-tormenter, a ſelfe-deſtroyer; he carries a hell, an executioner in his own boſome, &c.

The fifth Remedy againſt this Device5 Remedy. of Satan, is, to dwell much upon the famous examples of thoſe worthy Saints that have denyed themſelves, and prefer'd the publick good before their owne particular advantage: As Moſes; And the Lord ſaid unto Moſes, let me alone that I may deſtroye them, and blot out their name from under Heaven, and I will make of thee a Nation mig…ter, and greater then they; oh! but this offer would not'Tis good to be of his opinion & mind, who was rather willing to beautifie Italy then his own houſe. take with Moſes, he being a man of a brave publique ſpirit, is hot in his deſires and prayers that the people might be ſpared and pardoned; ſaith he, pardon I beſeech thee the iniquity of this people, according unto the greatneſſe of thy mercy, and as thou haſt forgiven this people from Egypt untill now. And the Lord ſaid, I have pardoned according to thy word. A…hould God make ſuch an offer to many that write themſelves Moſes, and are called p. 272by many, Moſes, I am afraid they would prefer their own advantage above theThe Antients were wont to place the Statues of their Princes by their fountains, intimating they were (or at leaſt ſhould be) fountains of the publick good. publique good; they would not care what become of the people, ſo they and theirs might be made great and glorious in the world; they would not care ſo they might have a Babell built for them, though it was upon the aſhes, and ruine of the people; baſer ſpirits then theſe are not in hell, no, not in hell, and I am ſure there are no ſuch ſpirits in Heaven; ſuch mens hearts and principles muſt be chang'd, or they wil be undone for ever. Nehemiah was aA certaine great Emperour coming into Egypt, to ſhew the zeal he had for the publick good, ſaith to the Aegyptians, draw from me as from your river Nilus. choice ſoule, a man of a brave publick ſpirit, a man that ſpent his time, his ſtrength, and his eſtate for the good and eaſe of his people. Moreover (ſaith he) from the time that I was appointed to be their Governour in the Land of Judah, from the twentieth yeer, even unto the two and thirtieth yeare of Artaxerxes the King, that is, twelve yeares; I and my brethren have not eaten the bread of the Governour. Yea, alſo I continued in the worke of this wall, neither bought we any land, and all my ſervants were gathered thither unto the worke. Moreover, there were at my table an hundred and fifty of the Jewes and Rulers, beſides thoſe that came unto us from among the Heathen that are about us. Now that which was prepared for me daily, was p. 273one Oxe, and ſixe choice ſheep: alſo fowles were prepared for me, and once in ten dayes ſtore of all ſorts of wine; yet for all this required not I the bread of the Governour, becauſe the bondage was heavy upon the people. Thinke upon me, my God, for good, according to all that I have done for this people. So Daniel was a man of a brave publick ſpirit; Then the Preſidents and Princes The Counſellor ſaith a Stateſ-man ſhould be thus tripartited, his will to God, his love to his Maſter, his heart to his Countrey, his ſecret to his friend, his time to buſiſineſſe.ſought to finde occaſion againſt Daniel, concerning the Kingdome, but they could finde no occaſion nor fault, for as much as he was faithfull, neither was there any errour, or fault found in him. Then ſaid theſe men, we ſhall not finde any occaſion againſt this Daniel, except we finde it againſt him, concerning the law of his God.

Chriſt had a publick ſpirit, hee laid out himſelfe, and laid down himſelfe for a publick good. Oh! never leave looking and meditating upon theſe precious and ſweet examples, till your ſoules are quickned, and raiſed up, to act for the publick good, more then for your owne particular advantage; manySolomons Tribunall was underpropt with Lions, to ſhew what ſpirit, and mettall a Magiſtrate ſhould be made of. Heathens have been excellent at this. Macrobius writes of Auguſtus Caeſar (in whoſe time Chriſt was borne) that hee carried ſuch an entire and fatherly affection to the Common-wealth, that he called it (filiam ſuam) his own daughter, and therefore refuſed to be called p. 274(Dominus) the Lord or Maſter of his Countrey, and would only be called (pater patriae) Father of his Countrey, becauſe he governed it not by feare (per timorem ſed per amorem) but by love; the Senate and the people of Rome joyntly ſaluting him, by the name of (pater patriae) Father of his Countrey. The people very much lamented his death, uſing that ſpeech, Would hee had Ʋtinam aut non naſceretur, aut non moreretur.never been borne, or never dyed. So Marcus Regulus, to ſave his Countrey from ruine, expoſed himſelfe to the greateſt ſufferings that the malice and rage of his Enemies could inflict. So Titus and Ariſtides, and many others have been famous for their preferring the publick good above their own advantage. My prayer is, and ſhall be, that all our Rulers may be ſo ſpirited by God, that they may be willing to be any thing, to be nothing, to deny themſelves, and to trample their ſinfull ſelves under feet, in order to the honour of God, and a publick good, that ſo neither Saints nor Heathens may be witneſſes againſt them in that day, wherein the hearts & practiſes of all the Rulers in the world ſhall be open, and bare before him that ſhall judge the world in Righteouſneſs, and Judgment, &c.

The ſixth Remedy againſt this Device6 Remedie. p. 275of Satan, is, ſeriouſly to conſider, that ſelf is a great let to divine things, therefore the Prophets and Apoſtles were uſually carried out of themſelves, when they had the cleareſt, choiſeſt, higheſt, and moſt glorious viſions. Self-ſeeking blinds the ſoul, that it cannot ſee a beauty in Chriſt, nor an excellency in holineſs; it diſtempers the palate, that a man cannot taſte ſweetneſſe in the word of God, nor in the ways of God, nor in the ſociety of the people of God; it ſhuts the hand againſt all the ſoule-enriching offers of Chriſt; it hardens the heart aganſt all the knocks and entreaties of Chriſt; it makes the ſoul as an empty vine, and as a barren wilderneſſe. Iſrael is an empty Hoſea 10. 1.Hos 10:1vine, he brings forth fruit to himſelf. There is nothing that ſpeaks a man to be more empty, and void of God, Chriſt, and grace, then ſelf-ſeeking. The Phariſees Selfe-ſee…ers with Eſau, prefer a meſſe of pottage above thair birth-right, and with the men of Shechem, eſteem the bramble above the Vine, the Olive, and the figtree, yea empty things above a full Chriſt▪ & baſe things above a glorious Chriſt.were great ſelf-ſeekers, & great undervaluers of Chriſt his word & ſpirit. There is not a greater hindrance to all the duties of piety, then ſelf-ſeeking; oh! this is that that keeps many a ſoule from looking after God, and the precious things of eternity; they cannot waite on GOD, nor act for God, nor abide in thoſe ways wherein they might meete with God, by reaſon of ſelfe; ſelf-ſeeking is that which puts many a p. 276man upon neglecting, and ſlighting the things of his peace; ſelf-ſeekers will neither go into Heaven themſelves, nor ſuffer others to enter, that are ready to take the Kingdome by violence, as you may ſee in the Scribes and Phariſees. Oh! but a gracious ſpirit is acted quite otherwayes, as you may ſee in that ſweet Scripture, Cant. 7. 13. At our gates are all manner of pleaſant fruits, new Cant. 7. 13.Song 7:13and old, which I have laid up for thee oh my beloved. All the Church hath and is, isThe Saints Motto is, Propter te, Domine, propter te. only for him; let others beare fruit to themſelves, and lay up for themſelves; gracious ſpirits will hide for Chriſt, and lay up for Chriſt; all the divine indeavours, and productions of Saints fall into Gods boſome, and empty themſelves into his lap. As Chriſt layes up his merits for them, his graces for them, his comforts for them, his Crown for them: ſo they lay up all their fruits, and all their loves, all their graces, andThe Saints Motto is, non nobis Domine. all their experience, and all their ſervices, only for him, who is the ſoule of their comforts, and the crown, and top of all their royalty, and glory, &c.

p. 277The ſecond Device that Satan2 Device. hath to enſnare, and deſtroy the great and honourable of the earth, is,

BY engaging them againſt the people of the moſt high, againſt thoſe that are his jewels, his pleaſant portion, the delight of his eye, and the joy of his heart, &c. Thus he drew Pharaoh to engageExod. 14.Exod 14 againſt the children of Iſrael, and that was his overthrow. So he engagedHeſter 7.Esth 7 Haman againſt the Iews, and ſo brought him to hang upon that gallows that he had made for Mordecai. So he engagedDan. 6.Dan 6 thoſe Princes and Preſidents againſt Daniel, which was the utter ruine of them and their relations. So in Revel. 20.Revel. 20. 7, 8, 9.Rev 20:7Rev 20:8Rev 20:9 7, 8, 9. And when the thouſand yeares are expired, Satan ſhall be looſed out of his priſon. And he ſhall goe out to deceive the Nations which are in the four quarters of the earth▪ Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: whoſe number is as the ſand of the Sea. And they went up upon the breadth of the earth, and compaſſed the camp of the Saints about, and the beloved City: p. 278and fire came down from God out of Heaven, and conſumed them.

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 none have engaged againſt theAs they ſaid once of the Grecians in the Epigram, whom they thought invulnerable; we ſhoot at them, but they fall not downe, we wound them, and not kill them, &c. Saints, but have been ruin'd by the God of Saints; divine juſtice hath been too hard for all that have oppoſed and engaged againſt the Saints, as is evident in Saul, Pharaoh, Haman, &c. He reproved Kings for their ſakes, ſaying, Touch not mine anointed, nor do my Prophets no harm; when men of Balaams ſpirit tnd principles have been engaged againſt the Saints, how hath the Angel of the Lord met them in the way, and juſled their bones againſt the wall? how hath hee broke their backs, and necks, and by his drawn ſword cut them off in the prime of their dayes, and in the height of their ſins? Ah! what a harveſt hath hell hadTanto plas gloriae referemus quoniam eo plures ſuperabimus, the number of oppoſers makes the Chriſtians conqueſt the more illuſtrious, ſaid Paedarelus in Eraſmus. in our dayes, of thoſe who have engaged againſt the Lamb, and thoſe that are called choſen and faithfull? ah how hath divine Juſtice powred out their p. 279blood as water upon the ground? how hath he laid their honour and glory in the duſt? who in the pride, and madneſſe of their hearts ſaid, as Pharaoh, we will purſue, we will overtake, we will divide the ſpoile, our luſts ſhall be ſatisfied upon them: we will draw our ſword, our hand ſhall deſtroy them; in the things wherein they have ſpoken & done proudly, Juſtice hath been above them. Hiſtory abounds in nothing more then in inſtances of this kind, &c.

The ſecond Remedie againſt this Device2 Remedie. of Satan, is to dwell ſometime every morning upon theſe following Scriptures, wherein God hath engaged himſelfe to ſtand by his people, and for his people, and to make them victorious over the greateſt, and wiſeſt of their enemies.Iſa. 8. 9, 10.Isa 8:9Isa 8:10 Aſſociate your ſelves (ſaith the Lord by the Prophet) oh yee people, and Occidit poterant ſed vinci non poterant, ſaid Cyprian of the Chriſtians in his time.and yee ſhall be broken in pieces, and give eare, all ye of far Countries: gird your ſelves & ye ſhal be broken in pieces gird your ſelves and ye ſhall be broken in pieces. Take counſell together, and it ſhall come to nougbt: ſpeake the word, and it ſhall not ſtand, for God is with us. Feare not thou worm Jacob, Iſa. 41. 14, 15.Isa 41:14Isa 41:15and ye men of Iſrael, I will help thee ſaith the Lord, and thy Redemer the holy one of Iſrael. Behold, I will make thee a new ſharp threſhing inſtrument having teeth, p. 280thou ſhalt threſh the mountaines, and beate them ſmall, and ſhalt make the hills as chaff. Verſe 16.Thou ſhalt fanne them, and the winde ſhall carry them away, and the whirle-winde ſhall ſcatter them, and thou ſhalt rejoyce in the Lord, and ſhalt glory in the holy one of Iſrael. No weapon that is formed againſt Iſa. 54. 17.Isa 54:17thee ſhall proſper, and every tongue that ſhall riſe againſt thee in judgement, thou ſhalt condemn. This is the heritage of the ſervants of the Lord, and their righteouſneſſe is of me ſaith the Lord. Now alſo many Mica 4. 11.Nations are gathered together againſt thee, that ſay, let her be defiled, and let our eye looke upon Zion. But they know not Verſe 12.the thoughts of the Lord, neither underſtand they his counſell; for he ſhall gather them as the ſheaves into the floore. Ariſe and threſh Verſe 13.oh daughter of Zion, for I will make thy horne iron, and I will make thy hoofs braſſe, and thou ſhalt beat in pieces many people, and I will conſecrate their gaine unto the Lord, and their ſubſtance unto the Lord of the Zach. 12. 2, 3.Zech 12:2Zech 12:3whole earth. Behold, I will make Jeruſalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they ſhall be in the ſiege both againſt Judah and againſt Jeruſalem. And in that day will I make Jeruſalem a burden ſome ſtone for all people, all that burden themſelves with it ſhall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together againſt it.

p. 281The 3. Remedie againſt this device of3 Remedie. Satan, is, to conſider, that you cannot engage againſt the Saints, but you muſtActs 5. 39. It ſeems to be drawn from the ſable of the Gyants, which were ſaid to make War with the Gods.Acts 5:39 engage againſt God himſelfe, by reaſon of that neer, and bleſſed union that is between God and them; you cannot be fighters againſt the Saints, but you will be found in the caſting up of the account, to be fighters againſt God himſelf; and what greater madneſſe, then for weakneſſe it ſelfe to engage againſt an almighty ſtrength; the neer union that is between the Lord and Beleevers, is ſet forth by that neer union that is betwixt a husband and his Wife.The ſoules happineſſe conſiſts not in any thing but in its union with God; nor its miſery lies not ſo much in any thing, as in its diſunion from God. (They two ſhall be one fleſh; This is a great Miſtery, but I ſpeake concerning Chriſt & the Church) We are members of his body, of his fleſh, and of his bones, ſaith the Apoſtle: This neer union is ſet forth by that union that is between the head and the members, which make up one body, and by that union that is betwixt the graft and the ſtock, which are made one by inſcition. The union between the Lord and a Beleever is ſo neer, that you cannot ſtrike a Beleever, but the Lord is ſenſible of it, and takes it as done to himſelf, Saul, Saul, why perſecuteſt thou Acts 9. 4. Iſa. 63. 9.Acts 9:4Isa 63:9me? And in all their afflictions he was afflicted, &c. Ah ſoules! who ever engaged againſt God, and proſpered? who p. 282ever took up the ſword againſt him, but periſht by it? God can ſpeak you to hell, and nod you to hell at pleaſure; 'tis your greateſt concernment to lay downe your weapons at his feet, and to Pſal. 2. 12.Ps 2:12kiſſe the ſonne leſt he be angry, and you periſh in the mid-way.

The 4th Remedie againſt this Device 4 Remedie.of Satan is, ſolemnly to conſider, thatHic homo potuit apud Deum quod voluit. Said one concerning Luther, he could have what hee would of God. you are much engaged to the Saints (as inſtruments) for the mercies that you do enjoy, and for the preventing and removing of many a judgment, that otherwiſe might have been your ruine, before this day; were it not for the Saints ſake, God would quickly make the Heavens to be as braſſe, and the Earth as iron, God would quickly ſtrip thee of thy Robes, and glory, and ſet thee upon the dunghill with Job: They are the props that bear the world from falling about thy eares, and that keep the iron rod from breaking of thy bones. Therefore he ſaid that hee would Pſal. 106. 23.Ps 106:23deſtroy them, had not Moſes his choſen ſtood before him in the breach, to turn away Prayer is (porta coeli, clavis Paradiſi) the gate of Heaven, a key to let us into Paradiſe.his wrath, leſt he ſhould deſtroy them.

Ah! had not the Saints many a time caſt themſelves into the breach, betwixt Gods wrath and you, you had been cut off from the land of the living, and have had your portion with thoſe, p. 283whoſe names are written in the duſt;When the danger is over the Saint is forgotten, is a French Proverb, and that which many Saints in England have found by experience. many a Nation, many a City, and many a Family is ſurrounded with bleſſings for the Joſephs ſakes that live therein, and are preſerved from many calamities and miſeries, for the Moſeses, the Daniels, the Noahs, and the Jobs ſakes, that dwell amongſt them. That's a ſweet word, Prov. 10. 25. As the whirlewinde paſſeth, ſo is the wicked no more: but the foreign Jeſodh gnolam from Joſadh.righteous is an everlaſting foundation, or is the foundation of the world; the righteous is the foundation of the world, which but for their ſakes would ſoon ſhatter, and fall to ruine: ſo the Pſalmiſt, Pſal. 75. 3. The earth and all the inhabitants thereof are diſſolved, I bear up the pillars of it. Selah.Mary Queen of Scots, that was Mother to King James, was wont to ſay, that ſhe feared Mr. Knoxes prayer more then an Army of ten thouſand men.

The Emperour Marcus Antonius, being in Almany with his Army, was incloſed in a dry Countrey by his enemies, who ſo ſtopped all the paſſages, that he and his Army were like to periſh for want of water; the Emperours Lievtenant ſeeing him ſo diſtreſſed, told him that he had heard, that the Chriſtians could obtaine any thing of their God, by their prayers; whereupon the Emperour having a legion of Chriſtians in his Army, deſired them to pray to their God, for his and the Armies delivery out of that danger; which p. 284they preſently did, & preſently a great Thunder fell amongſt the enemies, and abundance of water upon the Romanes, whereby their thirſt was quenched, and the enemies overthrowne without any fight. I ſhall cloſe up this laſt Remedy, with thoſe ſweet words of the Pſalmiſt. In Judah is God knowne, his name is great Pſ. 76. 1, 2, 3.Ps 76:1Ps 76:2Ps 76:3in Iſrael: In Salem alſo is his Tabernacle, and his dwelling place in Sion. There brake he the arrowes of the bow, the ſhield, and the ſword, and the bettell. Selah.

Secondly, Satan hath his Devices to enſnare and deſtroy the Learned and the Wiſe, and that ſometimes

BY working them to pride themſelvesJohn 5. …4.John 5:4 in their parts and abilities;1 Kings 22. 22, 23, 24, 25. 1 Cor. 1. 18. to 29.1 Kgs 22:221 Kgs 22:231 Kgs 22:241 Kgs 22:251 Cor 1:18–29 and ſometimes by drawing them to reſt upon their parts and abilities, & ſometimes by cauſing them to make light and ſlight of thoſe that want their partsThe truth of this you may ſee i'the learned Scribes and Phariſees. and abilities, though they excell them in grace and holineſſe; and ſometimes by drawing them to ingage their parts and abilities, in thoſe wayes and things that make againſt the honour of Chriſt, the joy of the ſpirit, the advancement p. 285of the Goſpel, and the liberty of the Saints, &c.

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

THe firſt Remedy againſt this Device1 Remedie. of Satan, is, ſeriouſly to conſider, that you have nothing but what you have received; Chriſt being as well the fountaine of common gifts, as of ſaving1 Cor. 4. 7. Quicquid es debes creanti, Quicquid potes debes redimenti, ſaid Bern. Whatſoever thou art, thou oweſt to him that made thee, & whatever thou haſt, thou oweſt to him that redeemed thee.1 Cor 4:7 grace. What haſt thou (ſaith the Apoſtle) that thou haſt not received? And if thou haſt received it, why doſt thou glory as though thou hadſt not received it? There are thoſe that would hammer out their owne happineſſe, like the Spider climbing up by the thread of her owne weaving; of all the parts and abilities that be in you, you may well ſay, as the young man did of his Hatchet, Alas Maſter! it was but borrowed; Alas Lord! all I have is but borrowed from that Fountaine that fills all the Veſſel in Heaven, and on Earth, and it overflowes; my gifts are not ſo much mine,1 Chro. 29. 14.1 Chr 29:14 as thine: Of thine owne have we offered unto thee, ſaid that Princely Prophet, &c.

p. 286The ſecond Remedy againſt this Device2 Remedie. of Satan, is, ſolemnly to conſider, that mens leaning and truſting to their own wits, parts, and abilities, have been their utter overthrow, and ruine;General counſels were ſeldome ſucceſfull, becauſe men came with confidence, leaning to their owne underſtanding, and ſeeking for victory rather then verity, ſaith one. as you may ſee in Achitophel, and thoſe Preſidents and Princes that engaged againſt Daniel, and in the Scribes and Phariſees; God loves to confute men in their Confidences; he that ſtands upon his parts and abilities, doth but ſtand upon a quick-ſand, that will certainly faile him. There is nothing in the world that provokes God more to with-draw from the ſoul, then this, and how can the ſoul ſtand when his ſtrength is departed from him? Every thing that a man leanes upon, but God, will be a dart that will certainly pierce his heart through and through; ah! how many in theſe dayes have loſt their eſtates? their friends? their lives? their ſouls? by leaning upon their admired parts and abilities? The Saints are deſcribedCant. 8. 5.Song 8:5 by their leaning upon their beloved the Lord Jeſus; he that leanes onelyonly upon the boſome of Chriſt, lives the higheſt, choyceſt, ſafeſt, and ſweeteſt life; miſeries alwayes lye at that mans doore, that leans upon any thing below the precious boſome of Chriſt. Such a man is moſt in danger, and this is none p. 287of his leaſt plagues, that he thinks himſelfe ſecure. 'Tis the greateſt wiſdome in the world, to take the wiſe mans counſell. Truſt in the Lord with all thy Prov. 3. 5.Prov 3:5heart, and leane not to thine owne underſtanding.

The third Remedy againſt this Device3 Remedie. of Satan, is to conſider, that you doe not tranſcend others, more in parts and abilities, then they doe you inJudas and the Scribes & Phariſees, had great parts, but no grace, the Diſciples had grace, but weak parts. grace and holineſſe, there may be, and often is great parts and abilities where there is but little grace, yea no grace; and there may be, and often is, a great deale of grace, where there is but weak parts and abilities; you may be higher then others in gifts of knowledge, utterance, learning, &c. and thoſe very ſouls may be higher then you in their communion with God, in their delightingLuke 11. 1. Mark 8. 31, 32, 33. Luke 24. 19. to 28.Luke 11:1Mark 8:31Mark 8:32Mark 8:33Luke 24:19–28 in God, in their dependance upon God, in their affections to God, and in their humble, holy, and unblamable walking before God; Is it folly and madneſſe in a man, to make light and ſlight of another, becauſe he is not ſo rich in lead, or iron, as he, when he is a thouſand thouſand times richer in ſilver and in gold, in Jewels, and in Pearls, then he? And is it not madneſſe and folly with a witneſſe, in thoſe that have greater parts and abilities then others, p. 288…o ſlight them upon that account, when that thoſe very perſons, that they make light and ſlight of, have a thouſand times more grace then they? And yet ah! how doth this evill ſpirit prevaile in the world? 'Twas the ſad complaint of Auſtin in his time, The unlearned (ſaidSurgeant indocti & rapiunt coelum & nos cum doctrinis noſtris detrudimur in gehennā. he) riſe up, and take Heaven by violence, and we with all our learning are thruſt down to hell; 'tis ſad to ſee, how many of the Rabbies of theſe times, doe make an Idol of their parts and abilities; and with what an eye of pride, ſcorne, and contempt doe they looke upon thoſe that want their parts, and that doe not worſhip the idoll that they have ſet up in their own hearts. Paul who was the great Doctor of the Gentiles, did wonderfully tranſcend in all parts and abilities, the Doctors and Rabbies of our times, and yet ah! how humbly, how tenderly, how ſweetly doth he carry himſelfe towards the meaneſt and the1 Cor 9. 22. 2 Cor. 11. 29.1 Cor 9:222 Cor 11:29 weakeſt; To the weake I became as weake, that I might win the weak; I am made all things to all men, that I might by all meanes ſave ſome. Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burne not? Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will ea… no fleſh while the World ſtandeth, leaſt I make my brother to offend. But ah! how little of this ſweet ſpirit is to be found p. 289in the Doctors of our age, who look ſowrely, & ſpeak bitterly againſt thoſe that doe not ſee as they ſee, nor cannot ſpeak as they ſpeak. Sirs, the ſpirit ofIſa. 60. 13, 14, 15, 16, 17.Isa 60:13Isa 60:14Isa 60:15Isa 60:16Isa 60:17 the Lord (even in deſpiſed Saints) will be too hard for you, and his appearances in them, in theſe latter dayes, will be ſo full of ſpirituall beauty and glory, as that they will darken that, that you are too apt to count and call your glory; the ſpirit of the Lord will not ſuffer his choyceſt jewell grace, to be alwayes buried under the ſtraw, and ſtubble of parts and gifts.

The fourth Remedy againſt this Device4 Remedy. of Satan, is, to conſider, that thereBecanus ſaith, that the tree of Knowledge beares many leaves, and little fruit; ah! that it were not ſo with many in theſe dayes, who once did outſhine the ſtars, &c. is no ſuch way for men to have their gifts and parts blaſted, and withered, as to pride themſelves in them, as to reſt upon them, as to make light and ſlight of thoſe that want them, as to engage them againſt thoſe perſons, wayes, and things that Jeſus Chriſt hath ſet his heart upon. Ah! how hath God blaſted, and withered the parts and abilities of many among us, that have once been famous ſhining lights, how is their ſun darkned, and their glory clouded? How Zech. 11. 17.Zech 11:17is the ſword of the Lord upon their arme, and upon their right eye? How is their arm clean dried up, and their right eye utterly darkned? as the Prophet ſpeaks. This is p. 290matter of humiliation and lamentation; many precious diſcerning Saints doe ſee this, and in ſecret mourn for it; and oh! that they were kindly ſenſible of Gods withdrawing from them, that they may repent, keep humble, and carry it ſweetly towards Gods Jewels, and lean only upon the Lord, and not upon their parts and underſtanding, that ſo the Lord may delight to viſit them w^th his grace, at ſuch a rate, as that their faces may ſhine more gloriouſly then ever, and they may be more ſerviceable to the honour of Chriſt, and the faith of the Saints, then formerly they have been, &c.

Thirdly, Satan hath his Devices to destroy the Saints, & one great Device that he hath to destroy the Saints, is,

BY working them firſt to be ſtrange,Gal 5. 15. If we knock, we break▪ diſſolution is the d…ghter of d…ſſen…ion.Gal 5:15 and then to divide, and then to be bi…er and jealous, and then to bite and devoure one another; our owne wofull experi…nce is too great a proof of this. The Iſraelites in Aegypt did not more p. 291vex one another, then Chriſtians in theſe dayes have done, which occaſioned a deadly conſumption to fall upon ſome.

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

THe firſt Remedy againſt this Device1 Remedie. of Satan, is, to dwell more upon one anothers graces, then upon one anothers weakneſſes and infirmities: 'tis ſad to conſider, that Saints ſhould haveFlavius Veſpaſianus (the Emperour) was more ready to conceal the vices of his friends, then their virtues; can you think ſeriouſly of this Chriſtians (that a Heathen ſhould excell you) & not bluſh? 2 Cor. 2. 7, 8.2 Cor 2:72 Cor 2:8 many eyes to behold one anothers infirmities, and not one eye to ſee each others graces; that they ſhould uſe ſpectacles to behold one anothers weakneſſes, rather then looking glaſſes to behold one anothers graces. Eraſmus tels of one, who collected all the lame and defective Verſes in Homers works, but paſſed over all that were excellent; ah! that this were not the practice of many that ſhall at laſt meet in Heaven, that they were not carefull and skillfull to collect all the weakneſſes of others, and to paſſe over all thoſe things that are excellent in them. The Corinthians did eye more the inceſtuous perſons ſinne, p. 292then his ſorrow, which was like to have drown'd him in ſorrow.

Tell me Saints, is it not a more ſweet, comfortable, and delightfull thing, to look more upon one anothers graces, then upon one anothers infirmities? Tell me, what pleaſure, what delight, what comfort is there in looking upon the enemies, the wounds, the ſores, the ſickneſſes, the diſeaſes, the nakedneſſe of our friends? Now ſin you know, is the ſouls enemy, the ſouls wound, the ſouls ſores, the ſouls ſickneſſe, the ſoulsNon Gens, ſed mens, non Genus ſed Genius, Not race, or place, but grace, truly ſets forth a m…n. diſeaſe, the ſouls nakedneſſe; and ah! what a heart hath that man that loves thus to look? Grace is the choiceſt flower in all a Chriſtians garden, 'tis the richeſt Jewell in all his Crown, 'tis his Princely Robes, 'tis the top of Royalty, and therefore muſt needs be the moſt pleaſing, ſweet, and delightfull object for a gracious eye to be fixt upon. Sin is darkneſſe, grace is light, ſin is hell, grace is Heaven; and what madneſſe is it, to look more at darkneſſe, then at light; more at hell, then at Heaven?Jam. 5. 11. 2. 25. 1 Pet. 2. 6. vide. Sin is Satans work, Grace is Gods work… & is it not moſt …et that the child ſhould eye moſt, and mind moſt his Fathers work, &c.Jas 5:11Jas 5:2Jas 5:251 Pet 2:6

T…ll me Saints, doth not God look more upon his people graces, then upon their weakneſſes, ſurely he doth; he looks more at Davids and Aſa's uprightneſſe, then upon their infirmities, though they were great and many; he p. 293eyes more Job's patience, then his paſſion, Remember the patience of Job, not a word of his impatience, &c. He that drew Alexander whileſt he had a ſcar upon his face, drew him with his finger upon the ſcar; God puts his finger upon his peoples ſcars, that no blemiſh may appear; ah Saints! that you would make it the top of your glory in this, to be like your heavenly Father; by ſo doing, much ſin would be prevented, the deſignes of wicked men fruſtrated, Satan out-witted, many wounds healed, many ſad hearts cheared, and God more aboundantly honored, &c.

The ſecond Remedy againſt this Device2 Remedy. of Satan, i…, ſolemnly to conſider, that love and unity makes moſt for your own ſafety, and ſecurity. We ſhallThere was a Temple of Concord amongſt the Heathens, and ſhall it not be found among Chriſtians, that are Temples of the holy Ghoſt. be inſuperabiles, if we be inſeperabiles, invincible, if wee be inſeperable. The world may frowne upon you, and plot againſt you, but they cannot hurt you; unity is the beſt bond of ſafety, in every Church and Common-wealth. And this did that Scythian King in Plutark, repreſent lively to his 80 Sons, when being ready to dye, he commanded a bundle of Arrowes faſt bound together, to be given to his Sons to break, they all tried to break them, but being bound faſt together, they could not, then he p. 294cauſed the band to be cut, & then theyPancirollus ſaith, that the moſt precious pearle among the Romans was call'd unio union. broke them with eaſe: he applyed it thus; My Sons, ſo long as you keepe together, you will be invincible, but if the band of union be broke betwixt you, you will eaſily be broken in …ieces. Plinie writes of a ſtone in the Iſland of Scyrus, that if it be whole, though a large and heavy one, it ſwims above water, but being broken, it ſinks: ſo long as Saints keep whole, nothing ſhall ſink them, but if they break, they are in danger of ſinking and drowning, &c.

The third Remedy againſt this Device3 Remedy. of Satan, is to dwell upon thoſe commands of God that doe require youTo act, or run croſſe to Gods expreſſe command, though under pretence of Revelation from God, is as much as a mans life is worth, as you may ſee in that ſad ſtory, 1 Kings 13. 24.1 Kgs 13:24 to love one another; oh! when your hearts begin to riſe againſt each other, charge the Commands of God upon your hearts, and ſay to your ſouls, oh our ſouls! hath not the eternall God commanded you to love them that love the Lord? And is it not life to obey, and death to rebell? Therefore looke that you fulfill the commands of the Lord, for his commands are not like thoſe that are eaſily reverſed, but they are like thoſe of the Medes that cannot be changed. Oh! be much in pondering upon theſe Commands of God; A new Commandement I give unto you, that yee John 13. 34.John 13:34love one another as I have loved you; that p. 295yee alſo love one another. 'Tis called a newSome conceive it to be an Hebraiſme, in which language, new, rare, and moſt excellent are Synonima's. John 15. 12. 17.John 15:12John 15:17 commandement, becauſe 'tis renewed in the Goſpel, and ſet home by Chriſts example, and becauſe 'tis rare, choiſe, ſpeciall, and remarkable above all others. This is my commandement, that ye love one another as I have loved you. Theſe things I command you, that ye love one another. Owe no man any thing, but love one another; for he that loveth another, hath Rom. 13. 8.Rom 13:8fulfilled the Law. Let brotherly love continue. Heb. 13. 1.Heb 13:1Love one another, for love is of 1 Iohn. 4. 7.1 John 4:7God: And every one that loveth is borne of 1 Pet. 1. 22.1 Pet 1:22God, and knoweth God. See that ye love Chap. 3. v. 8.one another with a pure heart fervently. Finally, be ye all of one minde, having compaſſion one of another. Love as brethren, be pittifull, be courteous. For this is the meſſage 1 Iohn 3. 11.1 John 3:11that ye heard from the beginning, that we ſhould love one another. And this is his Verſe 23.Commandement, that wee ſhould beleeve on the name of his ſonne Jeſus Chriſt, and love one another as he gave us commandement. Beloved, if God ſo loved us, we ought to love Chap. 4. v. 11.one another.

Oh! dwell much upon theſe precious commands, that your love may beThe Ancients uſe to ſay commonly that Alexander and Epheſtion had but one ſoule in two diſtinct bodies, becauſe their joy and ſorrow, glory, and diſgrace was mutual to them both. inflamed one to another. In the primitive times it was much taken notice of by the Heathens, that in the depth of miſery, when fathers and mothers forſook their children, Chriſtians (otherwiſe p. 296ſtrangers) ſtuck one to another, whoſe love of Religion proved firmer then that of nature. Ah! that there were more of that ſpirit among the Saints in theſe dayes. The world was once deſtroyed with water, for the heat of luſts, and 'tis thought it will be again deſtroyed with fire, for the coldneſſe of love.

The fourth Remedie againſt this Device4 Remedy. of Satan, is, to dwell more upon thoſe choice and ſweet things, wherein you agree, then upon thoſe things wherein you differ; ah! did you but thus, how would ſinfull heats be abated, and your love raiſed, and your ſpirits ſweetned one to another; you agree in moſt, you differ but in a few; you agree in the greateſt, and weightieſt; as concerning God, Chriſt, the ſpirit, the Scripture, &c. you differ only in thoſe points that have been long diſputable amongſt men of greateſt piety, and parts; you agree to own the Scripture, to hold to Chriſt the Head, and to walkWhat a ſad thing was it that a Heathen ſhould ſay, No beaſts are ſo miſchievous to men, as Chriſtians are one to another. according to the lawes of the new creature. Shall Herod and Pilate agree? ſhall Turks and Pagans agree? ſhall Beares and Lions, Tygers and Wolves, yea, ſhall a legion of Devills agree in one body? and ſhall not Saints agree, who differ only in ſuch things as have leaſt of the heart p. 297of God in them? and that ſhall never hinder your meeting in heaven, &c.

The fifth Remedie againſt this Device5 Remedie. of Satan, is, ſolemnly to conſider, that God delights to be ſtiled (Deus pacis) the God of peace; and Chriſt to be ſtiled2 Cor. 13. 11. Iſa. 9. 6. Ʋbi pax ibi Chriſtus, quia Chriſtus pax, where peace is, there is Chriſt, becauſe Chriſt is peace.2 Cor 13:11Isa 9:6 (Princeps pacis) the Prince of peace; and King of Salem, that is, King of Peace; and the Spirit is a ſpirit of Peace. The fruit of the ſpirit is love, joy, peace, Gal. 5. 22. Oh! why then ſhould not the Saints be children of peace? Certainely men of froward, unquiet, fiery ſpirits cannot have that ſweet evidence of their intereſt in the God of Peace, and in the Prince of Peace, and in the ſpirit of Peace, as thoſe precious ſouls have that follow after the things that make for love and peace. The very name of peaceDulce nomen pacis ſaid the Oratour. The Grecians had the ſtatue of peace with Pluto, the god of Riches in her Arms. is ſweet and comfortable; the fruit and effect thereof pleaſant, and profitable, more to be deſired then innumerable Triumphs; 'Tis a bleſſing that uſhers in a multitude of other bleſſings. The Ancients were wont to paint Peace in the form of a Woman, with a horne of plenty in her hand. Ah! peace and love among the Saints is that which will ſecure them, and their mercies at home; yea, it will multiply their mercies, it wil engage the God of mercy to crown them with the choiceſt mercies, and 'tis p. 298that will render them moſt terrible, invincible, and ſucceſſefull abroad; love and peace among the Saints, is that which puts the counſells of their Enemies to a ſtand, and renders all their enterprizes abortive; 'tis that which doth moſt weaken their hands, wound their hopes, and kill their hearts, &c.

The ſixth Remedie againſt this Device6 Remedie. of Satan, is, to make more care and conſcience of keeping up your peaceThere is no fear of knowing too much, but there is much feare in practiſing too little. with God; ah Chriſtians! I am afraid, that your remiſneſs herein is that which hath occaſioned much of that ſowreneſſe, bitterneſſe, and diviſions that be among you; ah! you have not as you ſhould kep't up your peace with God; and therefore 'tis that you do ſo dreadfully breake the peace among your ſelves. The Lord hath promiſed, That Prov. 16. 7.Prov 16:7when a mans wayes pleaſe him, he will make his enemies to be at peace with him; ah!Pharnaces ſent a Crown to Caeſar at the ſame time hee rebelled againſt him▪ but he returned the Crown, & this meſſage back (faceret imperata prius) let him return to his obedience firſt; there is no ſound peace to be had with God or man, but in a way of obedience. how much more then would God make the children of peace to keep the Peace among themſelves, if their wayes did but pleaſe him? All creatures are at his beck and check. Laban followed Jacob with one Troup, Eſau met him with another, both with hoſtile intentions; but Jacobs wayes pleaſing the Lord, God by his mighty power ſo works, p. 299that Laban leaves him with a kiſſe, and Eſau meets him with a kiſſe; he hath an oath of one, tears of the other, and peace with both; if we make it our buſineſſe to keep up our league with God, God will make it his worke, and his glory to maintain our peace with men; but if men make light of keeping up their peace with God, 'tis juſt with God to leave them to a ſpirit of pride, envy, paſſion, contention, diviſion, and confuſion, to leave them to bite and devour one another, till they be conſumed one of another, &c.

The ſeventh Remedie againſt this Device7 Remedie. of Satan, is, to dwell much upon that neer relation, and union that is between you; this conſideration had a ſweet influence upon Abrahams heart. And Abraham ſaid unto Lot, Let there be Gen. 13. 8. foreign Oh let there be no bitterneſs between us, for we are brethren.Gen 13:8no ſtrife I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen, and thy herdmen, for we be brethren. That is a ſweet word in the Pſalmiſt; Behold, how good, and how pleaſant it is for brethren to live together in unity. It is not good, and not pleſant;The party coloured coats were characters of the Kings children, ſo is following after peace now. or pleaſant and not good, but good and pleaſant; there be ſome things that be (bona ſed non jucunda) good, and not pleaſant, as patience and diſcipline; and there be ſome things that are pleaſant, but not good, as carnall pleaſures, p. 300voluptuouſneſſe, &c. and there are ſome things that are neither good, nor pleaſant, as malice, envy, worldly ſorrow, &c. and there are ſome things that are both good and pleaſant, as piety, charity, peace and union among brethren; and oh! that wee could ſee more of this among thoſe that ſhall one day meet (in their Fathers Kingdome) and never part, &c. And as they are brethren, ſo they are all fellow-members. Now yee are the body of 1 Cor. 12. 27.1 Cor 12:27Chriſt, and members in particular.

And again, We are members of his body, of his fleſh, and of his bones. ShallEpheſ. 5. 30.Eph 5:30 the members of the naturall body be ſerviceable, and uſefull to one another, and ſhall the members of this ſpirituall body cut, and deſtroy one another? Is it againſt the Law of Nature for the naturall members to cut, and ſlaſh one another? and is it not much more againſt the Law of Nature, and of grace, for the members of Chriſts glorious body to do ſo? And as you are all fellowmembers, ſo you are all fellow-ſouldiersRevel. 12 7, 8. Heb. 2. 10.Rev 12:7Rev 12:8Heb 2:10 under the ſame Captain of ſalvation, the Lord Jeſus, fighting againſt the world, the fleſh, and the Devill. And as you are all fellow-ſouldiers, ſo are you all fellow-ſufferers under the ſame enemies, the Devill, and theRevel. 2. 10.Rev 2:10 p. 301world. And as you are all fellow-ſufferers,John 15. 19▪ 20. Heb. 13. 1…. Heb. 1…. ….John 15:19John 15:20Heb 13:1Heb 1 ſo are you fellow-travellers towards the Land of Canaan, the new Jeruſalem that is above. Here we have no abiding City, but we looke for one to come; the heires of Heaven are ſtrangers on earth. And as you are all fellow▪ travellers, ſo are you all fellow-heirs ofRom. 8. 17.Rom 8:17 the ſame Crown and inheritance.

The eighth Remedie againſt this Device 8 Remedie.of Satan, is, to dwell upon the miſeries of diſcord; diſſolution is theOur diſſentions are one of the Jews greateſt ſtumbling blocks; can you thinke of it, and your hearts not bleed? daughter of diſſention; ah! how doth the name of Chriſt, and the way of Chriſt ſuffer by the diſcord of Saints? how are many that are entring upon the wayes of God hindered, and ſadded, and the mouths of the wicked opened, and their hearts hardned againſt God, and his ways, by the diſcord of his people? Remember this, the diſagreement of Chriſtians is the Devills triumph; and what a ſad thing is this, that Chriſtians ſhould give Satan cauſe to triumph. 'Twas a notable ſaying of one, take away ſtrife, and call backe peace, leſt thou looſe a man thy friend, and the Devill an enemie joy over you both, &c.

The ninth Remedie againſt this Device9 Remedie. of Satan, is, ſolemnly to conſider, that 'tis no diſparagement to you to be firſt in ſeeking peace, and reconcilement, p. 302but rather an honour to you,They ſhall both have the name, and the note, the comfort, and the credite of being moſt like unto God, who firſt begin to purſue after peace. that you have begun to ſeek peace. Abraham was the elder, and more worthy then Lot, both in reſpect of grace, and nature alſo (for hee was unkle unto Lot) and yet he firſt ſeeks peace of his inferiour, which God hath recorded as his honour. Ah! how doth the God of peace by his ſpirit, and meſſengers purſue after peace with poor creatures. God firſt makes offers of peace to us. Now then we are Ambaſſadors for Chriſt, as 2 Cor. 5. 20.2 Cor 5:20though God did beſeech you by us: wee pray you in Chriſts ſtead, be ye reconciled to God Gods grace firſt kneels to us, and who can turn their backs upon ſuch bleſſed, and bleeding embracements; but ſoul…, in whom Satan the God of this world kings it? God is the party wronged, and yet he ſues for peace with us at firſt. I ſaid, Iſa. 65. 1.Isa 65:1behold me, behold mee, unto a Nation that was not called by my name; ah! how dothBehold mee, behold me, 'tis geminated to ſhew Gods exceeding forwardneſſe to ſhew ſavour and mercy to them. the ſweetneſſe, the freeneſſe, and the riches of his grace break forth, and ſhine upon poor ſoules. When a man goes from the ſun, yet the ſun-beams follow him: ſo when wee goe from the Sun of Righteouſneſſe, yet then the beames of his love and mercy follow us. Chriſt firſt ſent to Peter that had denyed him, and the reſt that had forſaken him; Goe your wayes, and tell his Diſciples and Peter, p. 303that he goeth before you into Galilee, Marke 16. 7.Mark 16:7there ſhall yee ſee him, as he ſaid unto you.

Ah ſouls! 'tis not a baſe, low thing, but a God-like thing, though we are wronged by others, yet to be the firſt in ſeeking after peace, ſuch actings will ſpeake out much of God with a mans ſpirit, &c.

Chriſtians! 'tis not matter of liberty, whether you will, or you will not purſue after peace; but 'tis matter of duty that lies upon you, you are bound by expreſſe precepts to follow after peace; and though it may ſeem to flie from you, yet you muſt purſue after it. Follow Heb. 12. 14. foreign, it ſignifies to follow after peace, as the perſecutor doth him whom he perſecuteth. Pſal. 34. 14.Heb 12:14Ps 34:14peace with all men, and holineſſe, without which no man ſhall ſee the Lord. Peace and holineſs is to be purſued after with the greateſt eagerneſſe that can be imagined: So the Pſalmiſt, Depart from evill, and do good, ſeeke peace, and purſue it; the Hebrew word that is here rendred ſeeke is in Pihil, and it ſignifies to ſeeke earneſtly, vehemently, affectionately,foreign ſtudiouſly, induſtriouſly, and purſue it: that Hebrew word ſignifies earneſtlyforeign to purſue, being a Metaphor taken from the eagerneſſe of wilde Beaſts, or ravenousforeign Fowles, which will run, or flye both faſt, and far, rather then be diſappointed of their prey. So the Apoſtle preſſes the ſame duty upon the Romans, p. 304Let us follow after the things that make for Rom. 14. 19.Rom 14:19peace, and things wherewith one m…y edefie another.

Ah! you froward, ſower, dogged Chriſtians, can you looke upon theſe commands of God without teares, and bluſhing? I have read a remarkable ſtory of Ariſtippus, though but a Heathen,Plutarch. who went of his owne accord to Aeſchines his enemy, and ſaid, ſhall we never be reconciled, till wee become a Table-talk to all the Countrey? And when Eſchines anſwered, he would moſt gladly be at peace with him; Remember then ſaid Ariſtippus, that though I were the elder and better man, yet I ſought firſt unto thee. Thou art indeed ſaid Aeſchines, a far better man then I; for I began the quarrell, but thou the reconcilement. My prayer ſhall be, that this Heathen may not riſe in judgment againſt the flouriſhing Profeſſours of our times; Who whet their tongues like Pſal. 64. 3.Ps 64:3a ſword, and bend their bowes to ſhoot their arrowes, even bitter words.

The tenth Remedie againſt this device10 Remedy. of Satan, is, for Saints to joyne together, and walk together in the wayes of grace and holineſſe, ſo far as they do agree, making the word the only touchſtone, and judge of their actions. That is ſweet advice that the Apoſtle gves; I p. 305preſſe toward the marke for the price of the Phil. 3. 14.Phil 3:14high calling of God, in Chriſt Jeſus. Let Verſe 15.us therefore as many as be perfect (comparatively, or conceitedly ſo) be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwiſe minded, God ſhall reveale even this unto you. Nevertherleſſe, whereto we have already attained, Verſe 16.let us walke by the ſame rule, let us minde the ſame thing.

Ah Chriſtians! God looſes much, and you looſe much, and Satan gains much by this, that you doe not, that you will not walke lovingly together, ſo far as your wayes lye together; 'Tis your ſinne and ſhame that you doe not, that you will not pray together, and heare together, and conferr together, and mourn together, &c. becauſe thatGreat is the power of joynt-prayer. Mary Queen of Scots, ſaid, ſhe ſeared more the prayers of Mr. Knox, and his accomplices, then an Army of 30000. men. in ſome far leſſer things you are not agreed together; what folly and madneſſe is it in thoſe, whoſe way of a hundred miles lies fourſcore and nineteen together, yet will not walk ſo far together, becauſe that they cannot goe the other mile together; yet ſuch is the folly and madneſſe of many Chriſtians in theſe dayes, who will not do many things they may doe, becauſe they cannot doe every thing they ſhould doe. I feare God will whip them into a better temper before he hath done with them; He will breake their bones, and pierce p. 306their hearts; but he will cure them of this malady, &c.

And be ſure you make the word the onelyonly Touch-ſtone, and Judge of all perſons and actions. To the Law and to Iſa. 8. 20.Isa 8:20the Teſtimony, if they ſpeake not according to this word, 'tis becauſe there is no light in them. 'Tis beſt and ſafeſt, to make that to be the judge of all men, and things now, that all ſhall be judged by in the latter day. The word (ſaith Chriſt)Iohn 12. 48.John 12:48 that I have ſpoken, the ſame ſhall judg him in the laſt day. Make not your dim light, your notions, your fancies, your opinions, the Judge of mens actions, but ſtill judge by rule, and plead, 'tis written, when a vaine, importunate ſoule cryed out in conteſt with a holy man, heare me, heare me; the holy man anſwered, Neither heare me, nor I thee, but Nec ego te, nec tu me, ſed ambo audiamus Apoſtulum.let us both heare the Apoſtle.

Conſtantine in all the diſputes before him with the Arrians, would ſtill call for the word of God, as the only way, if not to convert, yet to ſtop their mouths, &c.

The 11. Remedy againſt this Device11 Remedie. of Satan, is, to be much in ſelf-judging.1 Cor. 11. 31.1 Cor 11:31 Judge your ſelves, and you ſhall not be judged of the Lord: ah! were ChriſtiansIts ſtoried of Nero himſelf, being unclean, he did think there was no man chaſte. hearts more taken up in judging themſelves, and condemning themſeves, they p. 307would not be ſo apt to judge and cenſure others, and to carry it ſowrly, and bitterly towards others that differ from them. There are no ſouls in the world, that are ſo fearfull to judge others, asIn the Olympick games, the wreſtlers did not put their Crowns upon their own heads, but upon the heads of others; 'tis ſo with ſouls, that are good at ſelfejudging. thoſe that do moſt judg themſelves, nor ſo carefull to make a righteous judgement of men, or things, as thoſe that are moſt carefull to judge themſelves. There are none in the world that tremble to think evill of others, to ſpeak evill of others, or to do evill to others, as thoſe that make it their buſineſſe to judge themſelves; there are none that make ſuch ſweet conſtructions, and charitable interpretations of men, and things, as thoſe that are beſt, and moſt in judging themſelves. One requeſt I have to you, that are much in judging others, and little in judging your ſelves; to you that are ſo apt, and prone to judge raſhly, falſly, and unrighteouſly, and that is, that you will every morning dwel a little upon theſe Scriptures.

Judge not that yee be not judged. For Math. 7. 1.Matt 7:1with what judgement yee judge, yee ſhall be judged: and with what meaſures ye meet, it Verſe 2.ſhall be meaſured to you again. Judge not according Iohn 7. 24.John 7:24to appearance, but judge righteous judgment. Let not him that eateth not, judg Rom. 14. 3.Rom 14:3him that eateth, for God hath received him. p. 308Why doſt thou iudge thy brother? or why doſt Verſe 10.thou ſet at nought thy brother? we ſhall all ſtand before the judgement-ſeat of Chriſt. Let us not judge one another any more, but Verſa 13.judge this rather, that no man put a ſtumbling blocke, or an occaſion to fall in his brothers way. Judg nothing before the time, 1 Cor. 4. 5.1 Cor 4:5untill the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkneſſe, and will manifeſt the counſells of the hearts, and then ſhall every man have praiſe of God. Speak not evill one of another (brethren)Iam. 4. 11.Jas 4:11 he that ſpeaketh evill of his brother, and judgeth his brother, ſpeaketh evill of the Law, & judgeth the Law; but if thou judgeſt the Law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a Judge. There is one Law-giver, who Verſe 12.is able to ſave, and to deſtroy: who art thou that judgeſt another? who art thou that judgeſt Rom. 14. 4.Rom 14:4another mans ſervant? to his own Maſter he ſtandeth or falleth: yea, he ſhall be holden up, for God is able to make him ſtand.

One Delphidius accuſing another before Julian, about that which he could not prove; the party denying the fact, Delphidius anſwers, if it be ſufficient to deny what is laid to ones charge, who ſhall be found guilty? Iulian anſwers, and if it be ſufficient to be accuſed, who can be innocent? You are wiſe, and know how to apply it.

The 12. Remedie againſt this Device p. 30912 Remedy.of Satan is this. Above all, labour to be 1 Pet. 5. 5.1 Pet 5:5cloathed with humility. Humility makes a man peaceable among brethren, fruitfull in well doing, cheerfull in ſuffering, and conſtant in holy walking; humility fits for the higheſt ſervices wee owe to Chriſt, and yet will not neglectIohn 13. 5.John 13:5 the loweſt ſervice to the meaneſt Saint. Humility can feede upon the meaneſt diſh, and yet 'tis maintained by the choiceſt delicates, as God, Chriſt, and glory; Humility will make a man bleſs him, that curſes him, and pray for thoſe that perſecute him. An humble heart is a habitation for God, a ſcholarHumility is (conſervatrix vir virtutum) ſaith Bernard, that which keeps all graces together. for Chriſt, a companion for Angels, a preſerver of grace, and a fitter for glory. Humility is the nurſe of our graces, the preſerver of our mercies, and the great promoter of holy duties. Humility cannot finde three things on this ſide Heaven; it cannot find fulneſſe in the creature, nor ſweetneſſe in ſinne, nor life in an Ordinance without Chriſt. An humble ſoule always finds three things on this ſide Heaven; the ſoule to be empty, Chriſt to be full, and every mercy and duty to be ſweet, wherein God is injoyed. Humility can weep over other mens weakneſſes, and joy, and rejoyce over their graces. Humility will make a man1 Theſ. 1. 2, 3.1 Thess 1:21 Thess 1:3 quiet, and contented in the meaneſt p. 310condition, and 'twill preſerve a man from envying others proſperous condition. Humility honours thoſe that are ſtrong in grace, and puts two handsEpheſ. 3. 8.Eph 3:8 under thoſe that are weak in grace. Humility makes a man richer then other men, and it makes a man judge himſelfe the pooreſt among men. Humility will ſee much good abroad, when it can ſee but little at home; Ah Chriſtians! though faith be the champion of grace, and love thee nurſe of grace, yet humility is the beautifier of grace; it caſts a generall glory upon all the graces in the ſoule; ah! did Chriſtians more abound in humility,The humble ſoul is like the violet, which grows low, hangs the head downwards, and hides it ſelfe with his own leaves, and were it not that the fragrant ſmel of his many vertues diſcover him to the world, he would chooſe to live and die in his ſelf contenting ſecreſie. they would be leſſe bitter, froward, and ſower; and they would be more gentle, meek, and ſweet in their ſpirits and practiſes. Humility will make a man have high thoughts of others, and low thoughts of a mans ſelfe; it will make a man ſee much glory and excellency in others, and much baſeneſſe and ſinfulneſſe in a mans ſelfe; it will make a man ſee others rich, and himſelf poor; others ſtrong, and himſelf weak; others wiſe, and himſelf fooliſh. Humility will make a man excellent at covering others infirmities, and at recording their gracious ſervices, and at delighting in the… graces; it makes a man joy p. 311in every light that out-ſhines his owne, and in every winde that blowes others good; Humility is better at beleeving, then 'tis at queſtioning other mens happineſſe. I judge, ſaith an humble ſoul, 'tis well with theſe Chriſtians now, but it will be far better with them hereafter; they are now upon the borders of the new Ieruſalem, and 'twill be but as a day before they ſlide into Ieruſalem. An humble ſoule is willinger to ſay, Heaven is that mans, then mine, and Chriſt is that Chriſtians, then mine, and God is their God in Covenant, then mine; ah! were Chriſtians more humble, there would be leſſe fire, and more love among them then now is, &c.

Laſtly, as Satan hath his DevicesLaſt Device. to destroy gracious ſoules, ſo he hath his devices to destroy poore ignorant ſoules, and that ſometimes

BY drawing them to affect ignorance, and to neglect, ſlight, andHoſ 4. 6. Prov. 22. 29.Hos 4:6Prov 22:29 deſpiſe the means of knowledg; ignorance is the mother of miſtake, the p. 312of trouble, error, and of terrourMat. 22. 29.Matt 22:29 'tis the high way to hell, and it makes a man both a priſoner and a ſlave to the Devill at once. Ignorance unmans aIgnorants have this advantage (ut mitius ardeant) they have a cooler hell. man, it makes a man a beaſt, yea, it makes him more miſerable then the beaſt that periſheth; there are none ſo eaſily, nor ſo frequently taken in Satans ſnare, as ignorant ſouls; they are eaſily drawn to dance with the Devill all day, and to dreame of ſupping with Chriſt at night, &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 an ignorant heart is an evill heart; without knowledge, the minde is not good.Prov. 19. 2.Prov 19:2

As an ignorant heart is a naughty heart, 'tis a heart in the dark, and noIgn…at ſane improbus omnis, ſaith Aririſ…otle. M…. 6. 22. good can come into a dark heart, but it muſt paſſe through the underſtanding; and if the eye be darke, all the body is dark. A leprous head, and a leprous heart are inſeparable companions; ignorant hearts are ſo evill, that they let flye on all hands, and ſpare not to ſpit their p. 313venone in the very face of God, as Pharaoh did, when thick darkneſſe was upon him.

The ſecond Remedie againſt this Device2 Remedie. of Satan, is to conſider, that ignorance is the deformity of the ſoule; As blindneſſe is the deformity of the face, ſo is ignorance the deformity of the ſoule; as the want of fleſhly eyes ſpoils the beauty of the face, ſo the want of ſpirituall eyes ſpoils the beauty of the ſoule. A man without knowledg, is as a work-man without his hands, as a painter without his eyes, as a traveller without his legs, or as a ſhip without ſailes, or a bird without Wings, or like a body without a ſoule.

The third Remedy againſt this Device3 Remedie. of Satan, is, ſolemnly to conſider, that ignorance makes men the objects of Gods hatred and wrath. It is a people Heb. 3. 10, 11. They muſt needs e…re that know not Gods wayes, yet cannot they wander ſo wide as to miſſe of hell. Iſa. 27. 11. 2 Theſ. 1. 8.Heb 3:10Heb 3:11Isa 27:112 Thess 1:8that do erre in their hearts, and have not knowne my wayes; Wherefore I ſware in my wrath, they ſhould never enter into my reſt. My people are a people of no underſtanding, therefore he that made them, will have no mercy on them Chriſt hath ſaid, that he will come in flaming fire to render vengeance on them that know not God. Ignorance will end in vengeance: When you ſee a poor blind man here, you doe not loath him, nor hate him, but you p. 314pity him; oh! but ſoul-blindneſs makes you abhominable in the ſight of God; God hath ſworn that ignorant perſons ſhall never come into Heaven, HeavenHoſ. 4. 6. foreign cut off. Rome ſaith Ignorance, is the mother of devotion; but the Scripture faith, 'tis the mother of deſtruction. 4 Remedy.Hos 4:6 it ſelfe would be a hell to ignorant ſoules. My people are deſtroyed for want of knowledge; becauſe thou haſt rejected knowledge, I will reject thee.

Chilo one of the ſeven Sages, being asked what God had done, anſwered, he exalted humble men, and ſuppreſſed proud, ignorant fooles.

The fourth Remedie againſt this device of Satan, is, to conſider, that ignorance is a ſin that leads to all ſins. All ſins are ſeminally in ignorance: You doe Mat. 22. 29.Matt 22:29erre, not knowing the Scriptures; It puts men upon hating and perſecuting the Saints. They ſhall hate you, and put you Iohn 16. 2, 3.John 16:2John 16:3out of the Synagogues, yea, the time cometh, that whoſoever killeth you, will think that Ariſtotle makes ignorance the mother of all the miſrule in the world. 1 Tim. 1. 13.1 Tim 1:13he doth God ſervice. And theſe things will they doe unto you, becauſe they have not known the Father nor me. Paul thankes his ignorance for all his cruelties to Chriſtians. I was a blaſphemer, and a perſecutor, and injurious, but I obtained merciemercy, becauſe I did it ignorantly; 'twas ignorance that put the Jewes upon crucifying Chriſt; Eather forgive them, ſaith Chriſt of his murtherers, for they know 1 Co…. 2. 8.not what they doe; for if the Princes of this p. 315world had known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. Sinne at the firſt was the cauſe of ignorance, but now ignorance is the cauſe of all ſin: ſwearing, They did like Oedipus, who killed his father Laius, K. of Thebes, and thought he killed his enemy.and lying, and killing, and ſtealing & whoring abound, ſaith the Prophet, becauſe there is no knowledg of God in the Land. There are none ſo frequent, and ſo impudent in the wayes of ſin, as ignorant ſoules; they care not, nor mind not what they do, nor what they ſay againſt God, Chriſt, Heaven, holineſſe, and their own ſoules. Our tongues Hoſea 4. 1, 2. Pſal. 73. 8, 9.Hos 4:1Hos 4:2Ps 73:8Ps 73:9are our owne, who ſhall controule us? They are corrupt, and ſpeake wickedly, concerning oppreſſion, they ſpeake loftily. They ſet their mouth againſt the Heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth. Have all the Pſal. 14. 4.Ps 14:4workers of iniquity no knowledge? who eate up my people as they eate bread, and call not upon the Lord.

And now to prevent Objections, I ſhall lay down ſome Propoſitions, or Concluſions concerning Satan and his Devices, and then give you the Reaſons of the Point, and ſo come to make ſome Uſe and Application of the whole to our ſelves.

p. 316The firſt Propoſition or Concluſion I ſhall lay downe is this.

THat though Satan hath his Devices 1 Propoſition.to draw ſoules to ſin, yet we muſt be carefull, that we do not lay all our temptations upon Satan, that we doe not wrong the Devill, and father that upon him, that is to be fathered upon our own baſe hearts; I thinke that oftentimes men charge that upon the Devill, that is to be charged upon their own hearts. And the Lord ſaid unto the Gen. 3. 13.Gen 3:13woman, VVhat is this that thou haſt done? and the woman ſaid, the Serpent beguiled me, and I did eate. Sin and ſhifting came into the world together. This is no ſmall baſeneſſe of our hearts, that they will be naught, I very naught, and yet will father that naughtineſſe upon Satan. Man hath an evill root within him; that were there no Devil to tempt him, nor no wicked men in the world to entice him, yet that root of bitterneſſe, that curſed ſinfull nature that is in him, would draw him to ſin, though he knows before hand, that the wages of ſinne is eternall death. For out of the p. 317heart proceed evill thoughts, murders, adulteries, Rom. 6. ult. Mat. 5. 19.Rom 6Matt 5:19fornications, thefts, falſe witneſſes, blaſphemies. The whole frame of man isCum primum naſcimur in omnt continuo pravitate verſamur; we are no ſooner borne then buried in a bog of wickedneſſe, Tully. out of frame, the underſtanding is dark; the will croſſe, the memory ſlippery, the affections crooked, the conſcience corrupted, the tongue poiſoned, and the heart wholly evill, only evill, and continually evill. Should God chaine vp Satan, and give him no liberty to tempt, or entice the ſons of men to vanity, and folly; yet they would not, yet they could not but ſin againſt him, by reaſon of that curſed nature that is in them, that will ſtill be a provokingIude 15, 16. them to thoſe ſins, that will provoke and ſtir up the anger and wrath of God againſt them. Satan hath only a perſwading ſleight, not an enforcing might; he may tempt us, but without our ſelves, he cannot conquer us; heeIames 1. 4.Jas 1:4 may entice us, but without our ſelves, he cannot hurt us; our hearts carries the greateſt ſtroak in every ſin. Satanforeign. The fire is our wood, though it be the Devills flame, Nazianzen. can never undoe a man without himſelfe, but a man may eaſily undo himſelfe without Satan. Satan can onelyonly preſent the golden cup, but he hath no power to force us to drinke the poyſon that is in the cup; he can only preſent to us the glory of the world, he cannot force us to fall down and worſhip him, p. 318to enjoy the world, he can only ſpread his ſnares; he hath no power to force us to walke in the mid'd of his ſnares; therefore do the Devill ſo much right, as not to excuſe your ſelves, by your accuſing him, and laying that load upon him, that you ſhould lay upon your owne hearts.

The ſecond Propoſition is this.

2 Propoſition.That Satan hath a great hand, and ſtroak in moſt ſinnes. 'Twas Satan thatGen. 3. 1. 4, 5.Gen 3:1Gen 3:4Gen 3:5 tempted our firſt Parents to Rebellion. 'Twas Satan that provoked David to1 Chron. 21. 1.1 Chr 21:1 number the people. 'Twas Satan that put Peter upon rebuking Chriſt; therefore ſaith Chriſt, Get thee behind me, Satan. Mat. 16. 22, 23.Matt 16:22Matt 16:23'Twas Satan that put Cain upon murdering of righteous Abel: therefore 'tis that he is called a murderer from Iohn 8. 44.John 8:44the beginning. 'Twas Satan that put treaſon into the heart of Judas, againſt Chriſt. And ſupper being ended, the Devill Iohn 13. 2.John 13:2having put it into the heart of Iudas Iſcatiot, Simons ſon, to betray him. 'Twas Satan that pu… Ananias upon lying: Peter ſaid,Acts 5. 3.Acts 5:3 Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the holy Ghoſt? As the hand of Ioab was in the tale of the woman of Tekoah, ſo Satans hand is uſually in all the ſins that men commit; ſuch is Satans p. 319malice againſt God, and his envyDiaholus tendat deus orobat. Tertul. againſt man, that he will have a hand one way or another in all their finnes, though ke knows that all the ſins that he provokes others to, ſhall be charged upon him to his greater woe, and eternall torment. Ambroſe brings in the Devill boaſting againſt Chriſt, and chalenging Judas as his owne; hee is not thine Lord Jeſus, hee is mine; his thoughts beat for me; he eats with thee, but is fed by me; he takes bread from thee, but money from me; he drinks wine with thee, and ſells thy blood to me; ſuch is his malice againſt Chriſt, and his wrath and rage againſt man, that he wil take all advantages to draw men to that, that may give him advantage to triumph over Chriſt, and mens ſoules for ever.

The third Propoſition is this.

That Satan muſt have a double leave,3 Propoſition. before he can do any thing againſt us; he muſt have leave from God, and leave from our ſelves, before he can act any thing againſt our happineſſe; he muſt have his commiſſion from God, as you may ſee in the example of Iob; thoughIob 1. 11, 12. Chap. 2 v 3, 4, 5.Job 1:11Job 1:12 the Devil had malice enough to deſtroy him, yet he had not ſo much as power to touch him, till God gave him a Commiſſion.

p. 320They could not ſo much as enter intoLuke 8. 32.Luke 8:32 the ſwine without leave from Chriſt; Satan would faine have combated with Peter; but this could not he doe without leave; Satan hath deſired to have you, Luke 22. 13.Luke 22:13to winnow you: So Satan could never have overthrown Ahab and Saul, but by1 Kings 22.1 Kgs 22 a commiſſion from God; Ah! what a cordiall, what a comfort ſhould this be to the Saints, that their greateſt, ſubtileſt, and watchfulleſt enemie cannot hurt, nor harme them without leave from him, who is their ſweeteſt Saviour, their deareſt husband, and their choyſeſt friend.

And as Satan muſt have leave fromAdverſaria po…e… non habet vim c…gendi, ſed perſuadendi Iſ…do…e. God, ſo he muſt have leave of us: when he tempts, we muſt aſſent; when hee makes offers, we muſt hearken; when he commands, we muſt obey, or elſe all his labour and temptations will be fruſtrate; and the evill that he tempts us to, ſhall be put down only to his account; that's a remarkable paſſage of the Apoſtle in Acts 5. 3. Why hath Satan Acts 5. 3.Acts 5:3filled thy heart to lie to the holy Ghoſt? &c.

He doth not expoſtulate the matter with Satan, he doth not ſay, Satan, why They are the wor…, and groſſeſt lyars, who pretend Re…igion, and the Spirit, and yet are acted onley by carnall principles to carnal ends.hoſt thou filled Ananias heart to make him lie to the holy Ghoſt? but he expoſtulates the caſe with Ananias; Peter ſaid, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie p. 221to the holy Ghoſt? Why haſt thou given him an advantage to fill thy heart with infidelity, hypocriſie, and obſtinate audacity, to lie to the holy Ghoſt? as If he had ſaid, Satan could never have done this in thee (which will now for ever undoe thee) unleſſe thou hadſt firſt given him leave. If when a temptation comes, a man cries out, and ſaith; ah Lord! here is a temptation that would force me, that would deflowr my ſoul, and I have no ſtrength to with-ſtand it; oh! help, help, for thy honours ſake, for thy Sonnes ſake, for thy promiſe ſake, 'tis a ſigne that Satan hath not gained your conſent, but committed a rape upon your ſoules, which he ſhall dearly pay for.

The fourth Propoſition is this.

That no weapons, but ſpirituall4 Propoſition. weapons will be uſefull and ſerviceable to the ſoule in fighting, and combating with the Devill; this the Apoſtle ſhewes, VVherefore take unto you (ſaithEpheſ. 6. 13.Eph 6:13 he) the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to ſtand in the evill day, and having done all, to ſtand. So the ſame Apoſtle tells you, that the weapons of your warfare are not carnall, but mighty through God, to 2 Cor. 10. 4.2 Cor 10:4the caſting downe of ſtrong bolds; you have p. 322not to do with a weak, but with a mightyWe read of many that out of greatneſſe of ſpirit could offer violence to nature, but were at a loſs when they come to deale with a corruption, or a temptation. enemy; and therefore you had need look to it, that your weapons are mighty, and that they cannot be, unleſſe they are ſpirituall; carnall weapons have no might, nor ſpirit in them towards the making of a conqueſt upon Satan. 'Twas not Davids ſling, nor ſtone that gave him the honor, & advantage of ſetting his feet upon Goliah, but his faith in the name of the Lord of Hoſts. Thou comeſt 1 Sam. 17. 45.1 Sam 17:45to me with a ſword, with a ſpeare, and with a ſhield: but I am come to thee in the name of the Lord of Hoſts, the God of the Armies of Iſrael, whom thou haſt defied. Hee thatHeraclius his Motto was (a Deo victoria) it is God that gives victories, and that ſhould be every Chriſtians Motto.) fights againſt Satan, in the ſtrength of his owne reſolutions, conſtitution, or education, will certainely flie and fall before him; Satan will be too hard for ſuch a ſoule, and lead him captive at his pleaſure. The onelyonly way to ſtand, conquer, and triumph, is ſtill to plead, 'tis written, as Chriſt did. There is no ſword, but the two-edged ſword of theMat. 4. 10.Matt 4:10 Spirit; that will be found to be mettle of proofe, when a ſoule comes to engage againſt Satan: Therefore when you are tempted to uncleanneſſe, plead, 'tis written, Be ye holy as I am holy. And 1 Pet. 15. 16… 2 Cor. 5. 7. Chap. 1.2 Cor 5:7l…t us cleanſe our ſelves from all filthineſſe of the fleſh and ſpirit, perfecting holineſſe in the …eare of the Lord. If he tempts… you to p. 323diſtruſt Gods providence, and fatherly care of you, plead, 'tis written, They Pſal. 34. 9.Ps 34:9that feare the Lord ſhall want nothing that is good. 'Tis written, The Lord will give Pſal. 84. 11.Ps 84:11grace and glory, and no good thing will hee with-hold from them that purlely live. If he tempt you to feare, that you ſhall faint, and fall, and never be able to run to the end of the race that is ſet beforeIob 17. 9.Job 17:9 you, plead, 'tis written, The righteous ſhall hold on his way, and he that hath clean hands ſhall be ſtronger, and ſtronger. 'Tis written, I will make an everlaſting covevenant with them, that I will not turne away Ier. 32. 40.Jer 32:40from them, to doe them good, but I wil put my feare in their hearts, that they ſhall not depart from me. 'Tis written, They that wait upon the Lord, they ſhall renew their Iſa. 40. 31.Isa 40:31ſtrength: they ſhall mount up with wings as Eagles, they ſhall run, and not be weary, and they ſhall walke, and not …aint. If Satan tempt you to think, that becauſe your ſunne for the preſent is ſet in a cloud, that therefore 'twill riſe no more, and that the face of God will ſhine no more upon you? that your beſt days are now at an end, and that you muſt ſpend all your time in ſorrow, and fighing? plead, 'tis written, He will turn again, he Mica. 7. 19.will have compaſſion upon us, and caſt all our ſins into the depths of the ſea. 'Tis written, For a ſmall moment have I forſaken p. 324Iſa. 54. 7.Isa 54:7thee, but with great mercies will I gather Verſe 8.thee. In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment, but with everlaſting kindneſſe will I have mercy on thee, ſaith the Lord thy Redeemer. 'Tis written, The mountaines ſhall depart, and the hills be Verſe 10.removed, but my kindneſſe ſhall not depart from thee, neither ſhall the Covenant of my peace be removed, ſaith the Lord, that hath merciemercy on thee. 'Tis written, Can a woman Iſa. 49. 15.Isa 49:15forget her ſucking child, that ſhe ſhould not have compaſſion on the ſon of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will not I forget thee. Behold, I have graven thee upon the Verſe 16.palmes of my bands, thy walls are continually before me. If ever you would be too hard for Satan, and after all your aſſaults have your bow abide in ſtrength, then take to you the word of God, which is the two-edged ſword of the Spirit, Epheſ. 6. 1.Eph 6:1and the ſhield of faith, whereby you ſhall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the Devill. 'Tis not ſpitting at Satans name, nor croſſing your ſelves, nor leaning to your owne reſolutions, that will get you the victory.

Luther reports of Staupicius a German Miniſter, that he acknowledged himſelf, that before he came to underſtand aright the free and powerfull grace of God, that he vowed, and reſolved an hundred times againſt ſome particular p. 325ſinne, and never could get power over it; at laſt he ſaw the reaſon, to be his truſting to his own reſolution; therefore be skilfull in the word of righteouſneſſe, and in the actings of faith upon Chriſt, and his victory, and that Crown of glory that is ſet before you, and Satan will certainly flye from you, Iames 4. 7.Jas 4:7&c.

The fifth Propoſition is this.

That we may read much of Satans5 Propoſition. nature, and diſpoſition, by the divers names and Epithites, that are given him in the Scriptures. Sometimes he is called Behemoth, which is bruta, wherebyIob 40. 15.Job 40:15 the greatneſſe, and brutiſhneſſe of the Devill is figured. Thoſe evill ſpirits are ſometimes called foreign, Accuſers, for their calumnies and ſlanders; and foreign evill ones for their malice: Satan is Adverſarius, an adverſary that troublethRevel 9.Rev 9 and moleſteth: Abaddon is a deſtroyer. They are called Tempters for their ſuggeſtion, Lions for their devouring, Dragons for their cruelty, and Serpents for their ſubtlety, &c. As his names are, ſo is he; as face anſwers to face, ſo do Satans names anſwer to his nature; hee hath the worſt names, and the worſt nature of all created creatures, &c.

p. 326The ſixth and laſt Propoſition is this.

That God will ſhortly tread downe6 Propoſition. Rom. 16. 20. foreign ſuntripſei from ſuntribo, the Greek word ſignifies to break, or cruſh a thing to pieces, being applyed to the feet; it noteth that breaking or cruſhing, which is by ſtamping upon a thing.Rom 16:20 Satan under the Saints feet. Chriſt our Champion hath already won the Field, and will ſhortly ſet our feet upon the necks of our ſpirituall enemies. Satan is a foiled Adverſary, Chriſt hath led him captive, and triumph't over him upon the Croſſe. Chriſt hath already overcome him, and put weapons into your hands, that you may overcome him alſo, & ſet your feet upon his neck. Though Satan be a roaring Lion, yet Chriſt, who is the Lion of the Tribe of Judah will make Satan flye, and fall before you. Let Satan doe his worſt, yet you ſhall have the honour and the happineſs to triumph over him. Cheer up, you precious ſons of Sion, for the certainty and ſweetneſſe of Victory will abundantly recompence you, for all the paines you have taken, in making reſiſtance againſt Satans temptations. The broken horns of Satan ſhall be Trumpets of our triumph, and the Cornets of our joy, &c.

p. 327Now I ſhall come to the Reaſons of the Point, and ſo draw to a cloſe, &c.

THe firſt Reaſon is, that their hearts1 Reaſon. may be kept in an humble, praying,The Philoſopher had a ball of braſſe in his hand, which if he chanced to ſleep with, the fall into a baſon awaked him to his ſtudies; You are wiſe: and know how to apply it. watching frame; oh! hath Satan ſo many devices to enſnare, and undoe the ſoules of men? how ſhould this awaken dull, drowſie ſoules, and make them ſtand upon their watch? A Saint ſhould be like a Seraphim, beſet all over with eyes and lights, that he may avoid Satans ſnares, and ſtand faſt in the hour of temptation. The Lord hath in the Scripture diſcovered the ſeveral ſnares, plots, and devices that the Delill hath to undo the ſoules of men, that ſo being forwarn'd, they may be forearm'd, that they may be alwayes upon their watch-tower, and hold their weapons in their hands, as the Iewes did in N…hemiah's time, &c.

The ſecond Reaſon is, from that malice,2 Reaſon. envy, and enmity that is in Satan,Malice cares not what it ſaith, or doth, it may kill or gall. againſt the ſouls of men; Satan is full of envy and enmity, & that makes him very ſtudious, to ſuit his ſnares and plots to the tempers, conſtitutions, fancies, p. 328and callings of men, that ſo hee may make them as miſerable as himſelf. The Ruſſians are ſo malicious, that you ſhall have a man hide ſome of his own goods in the houſe of him, whom he hateth, and then accuſe him for the ſtealth of them: ſo doth Satan out of malice toAn envious heart and a plotting head are inſeparable companions. the ſoules of men, hide his goods, his wares, as I may ſay, in the ſoules of men, and then goe, and accuſe them before the Lord, and a thouſand, thouſand other wayes Satans malice, envy, and enmity puts him upon, eternally to undoe the precious ſoules of men, &c.

The third Reaſon is drawn from that3 Reaſon. long experience that Satan hath had, he is a ſpirit of mighty abilities, and his abilities to lay ſnares before us, are mightily increaſed by that long ſtanding of his; hee is a ſpirit of above five thouſand yeares ſtanding; he hath had time enough to ſtudie all thoſe wayes, and methods, which tend moſt to enſnare, and undo the ſouls of men: And as he hath time enough, ſo he hath made it his whole ſtudy, his only ſtudy, his conſtant ſtudy to find out ſnares, depths and ſtratagems, to entangle, and overthrow the ſoules of men; when he was but a young Serpent, he did eaſily deceive, and out-wit our firſt Parents, but now he is grown that Old Serpent, asGen. 3.Gen 3 p. 329John ſpeakes, Hee is as olde as the world, Revel. 12. 9.Rev 12:9and is grown uery cunning by experience.

The fourth Reaſon is, in Judgement4 Reaſon. to the men of the world, that they may ſtumble, and fall, and be enſnared for ever; wicked men that withſtand the offers of mercy, and deſpiſe the ſpirit of grace; that will not open, though God knocks never ſo hard by his word, and rod; by his Spirit, and conſceience, are given up by a hand of Juſtice, to be1 King. 22. 22.1 Kgs 22:22 hardned, deceived, and enſnared by Satan to their everlaſting ruine; and what can be more juſt, then that they ſhould be taken, and charmed with Satans wiles, who have frequently refuſed to be charmed by the Spirit of grace, though he hath charmed never ſo wiſely, and never ſo ſweetly, &c.

The fifth Reaſon is, That the excellency,5 Reaſon. and power of Gods grace may be the more illuſtrated, and manifeſted, by making man able to grapple with this mighty Adverſary, and that notwithſtanding all the plots, devices, and ſtratagems of Satan; yet he will make them victorious here, and crown them with glory hereafter; the greater, and the ſubtiler the enemies of the children of Iſrael were, the more did divine power, wiſdome, and goodneſſe ſparkle, p. 330and ſhine; that notwithſtanding, all their power, plots, and ſtratagems, &c. yet to Canan he would bring them at laſt. When Paul had well weighed this, he ſits downe, and glories in his infirmities, 2 Cor. 12. 7, 8, 9.2 Cor 12:72 Cor 12:82 Cor 12:9and diſtreſſes, and Satans buffetings, that the power of Chriſt might reſt upon him.

The uſe of the Point.

IF Satan hath ſuch a world of devices,Ʋſe. and ſtratagems to enſnare, and undo the ſoules of men, then inſtead of wondering that ſo few are ſaved, ſet down, and wonder that any are ſaved, that any eſcape the ſnares of this cunning fowler, who ſpreads his nets, and caſts forth his baits in all places, and in all caſes and companies, &c.

But this is not the main thing that I intend to ſpeak to; my main buſineſs ſhall be, to ſet before you ſome ſpeciall Rules, and helps againſt all his Devices, and the firſt is this.

If you would not be taken by any of 1Satans Devices, then walk by rule; hee that walks by rule, walks moſt ſafely,Prov. 12. 28. Gal. 6. 16. Prov. 15. 24.Prov 12:28Gal 6:16Prov 15:24 he that walks by rule, walks moſt honourably; he that walke by rule, walks moſt ſweetly; when men throw off the p. 331word, then God throws off them, and then Satan takes them by the hand, and leads them into ſnares at his pleaſure; he that thinks himſelfe too good to be ruled by the word, will be found too bad to be owned by God; and if God doe not, nor will not owne him, Satan will by his ſtratagems overthrow him. Them that keep to the rule, they ſhall be kept in the hour of temptation. Becauſe Revel. 10. 3.Rev 10:3thou haſt kept the word of my patience, I alſo will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which ſhall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.

2. As you would not be taken with any of Satans devices, take heed of vexing,Spiritus Sanctus eſt res delicata, the divine ſpirit is a very tender thing; if you grieve him, he will certainly grieve and vex your precious ſoules. Lam. 1. 16.Lam 1:16 & grieving the holy Spirit of God; 'tis the Spirit of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt that is beſt able to diſcover Satans ſnar'e unto us; 'tis only he that can point out all his plots, and diſcover all his methods, and inable men to eſcape thoſe pits that he hath digged for their precious ſouls; Ah ſouls! if you ſet that ſweet and bleſſed ſpirit a mourning, that alone can ſecure you from Satans depths by whom will you be ſecured? man is a weake creature, and no way able to diſcover Satans ſnares, nor to avoyd them, unles the ſpirit of the Lord gives skil & power; therfore who ever be grieved, be ſure the ſpirit be not grieved p. 332by your enormities, nor by your refuſingIſa 63. 10. Pſal. 73. 2, 3.Isa 63:10Ps 73:2Ps 73:3 the cordials, and comforts that he ſets before you; nor by ſlighting, and diſpiſing his gracious actings in others,1 Theſ. 5. 19. Acts 2. 13.1 Thess 5:19Acts 2:13 nor by calling ſincerity, hypocriſie; faith, fancie, &c. nor by fathering thoſe things upon the ſpirit, that are the brats, and fruits of your own hearts. The ſpirit of the Lord is your counſellor, your comforter, your upholder, your ſtrengthner. 'Tis onelyonly the ſpirit that makes a man too great for Satan to conquer. Greater is he that is in you, 1 John 4. 4.1 John 4:4then he that is in the world.

Thirdly, if you would not be taken with any of Satans devices, then labour for more heavenly wiſdome: Ah ſouls!If men could but ſee the faire face of wiſdome with morta…l eyes, they would be in love with her, ſaith Pla…. you are much in the dark, you have but a little to that others have, and to that you might have had, had you not been wanting to your ſelves. There are many knowing ſoules, but there are but a few wiſe ſoules; there is oftentimes a great deale of knowledge, where there is but a little wiſdome to improve that knowledge; knowledge without wiſdomeSine prudentia ſimplicitas ſtul…tia eſt, Dru…ius. is like mettle in a blind horſe, which is often an occaſion of the Riders fall, and of his bones being juſtled againſt the walls. 'Tis not the moſt knowing Chriſtian, but the moſt wiſe Chriſtian, that ſees, avoids, and eſcapes p. 333Satans ſnares. The way of life is above to Prov. 15. 24.Prov 15:24the wiſe (ſaith Solomon) that he may depart from hell beneath. Heavenly wiſdome makes a man delight to flye high; and the higher any man flies, the more he is out of the reach of Satans ſnares; Ah ſoules! you had need of a great dealMalim prudentiae guttam quam foecandioris fortunae pelagas, ſaid Nazianzen. A Serpents eye is a ſingular ornament in a doves head. of heavenly wiſdome, to ſee where, and how Satan layes his baits, and ſnares; and wiſdome to finde out proper Remedies againſt his Devices, and wiſdome to apply thoſe Remedies ſeaſonably, inwardly, and effectually to your owne hearts, that ſo you may avoid the ſnares which that evill one hath laid for your precious ſoules.

4. If you would not be taken with any of Satans devices, then make preſent reſiſtance againſt Satans firſt motions; 'tis ſafe to reſiſt, 'tis dangerous to diſpute; Eve diſputes, and falls in Paradiſe;Gen. 3.Gen 3 Job reſi…te, and conquers upon the dunghill. He that will play with Satans bait, will quickly be taken with Satans hook. The promiſe of conqueſt is made over to reſiſting, not to diſputing; Reſiſt the Devill, and hee ſhall file Iam. 4. 7.Jas 4:7from you. Ah ſouls! were you better at reſiſting, then at diſputing (though happily you are not very expert at either) your temptations would be fewer, and your ſtrength to ſtand would be greater then now it is, &c.

p. 334Fifthly, if you would not be taken with any of Satans Devices, then labour to be filled with the ſpirit; the ſpirit of the Lord is a ſpirit of light and power, and what can a ſoule doe without light, & power againſt ſpiritual wickedneſſes Epheſ. 6. 12.Eph 6:12in high places. 'Tis not enough that you have the ſpirit, but you muſt be filled with the ſpirit, or elſe (Satan) that evill ſpirit will be too hard for you, and his plots will proſper againſt you. That's a ſweet word of the Apoſtle,Epheſ. 5. 18. foreign. To be filled with the ſpirit, as the ſailes of a ſhip is filled with wind. Luther ſaith, a ho…y gluttony is to lay on, to ſeed hard, and to fetch hearty draughts, till they be even drunke with loves, & with the abundance of the Spirit; & oh! that there were more of ſuch holy gluttony in the world.Eph 5:18 be filled with the Spirit, i. e. labour for abundance of the ſpirit; hee that thinks he hath enough of the holy Spirit, will quickly find himſelfe vanquiſhed by the evill ſpirit. Satan hath his ſnares to take you in proſperity & adverſity, in health & ſickneſs, in ſtrength and weakneſs; when you are alone, and when you are in company; when you come on to ſpirituall duties, and when you come off from ſpirituall duties, and if you are not filled with the Spirit, Satan will be too hard, and too crafty for you, and will eaſily, and frequently take you in his ſnares, and make a prey of you in ſpight of your ſoules; therefore labour more to have your hearts filled with the Spirit, then to have your heads filled with notions, your ſhops with wares, your cheſts with p. 325ſilver, or your bags with gold, ſo ſhall you eſcape the ſnares of this fowler, and triumph over all his plots, &c.

Sixtly, if you would not be taken in any of Satans ſnares, then keep humble;'Tis reported of Satan, that he ſhould ſ…y thus of a lea… ned man (tu me ſemper vincis) chou do…t alwayes overcome me; when I would exalt, & promote thee, thou keepeſt thy ſelfe in humility; and when I would throw thee dawne, thou lifteſt up thy ſelfe in aſſurance of faith. An humble heart will rather lie in the duſt, then riſe by wickedneſſe; and ſooner part with all, then the peace of a good conſcience. Humility keepes the ſoul free from many darts of Satans caſting, and ſnares of his ſpreading; as the low ſhrubs are free from many violent guſts, and blaſts of wind, which ſhake and rend the taller trees. The Devil hath leaſt power to faſten a temptation on him, that is moſt humble; hee that hath a gracious meaſure of humility, is neither affected with Satans profers, nor terrified with his threatnings. I have read of one, who ſeeing in a viſion many ſnares of the Devil ſpread upon the earth, he ſate down, & mourned, and ſaid in himſelf (Q…is pertranſiet iſta) who ſhal paſs through theſe? wherunto he heard a voyce anſwering (humilitas pertranſiet) humility ſhall; God hath ſaid, that he will teach the humble, Pſal. 25. 9. Iſa. 57. 15. James 4. 6.Ps 25:9Isa 57:15Jas 4:6and that he will dwell with the humble, and that he will fill and ſatisfie the humble; And if the teachings of God, the in-dwellings of God, if the pourings in of God will not keepe the ſoule from falling p. 336into Satans ſnares, I do not know what will: And therefore as you would be happy in reſiſting Satan, and bleſſed in triumphing over Satan, and all his ſnares keepe humble, I ſay again, keep humble, &c.

7. If you would not be taken in any of Satans ſnares, then keep a ſtrong, cloſe, and conſtant watch; a ſecure1 Theſ. 5 6. We muſt not be like Agrippas dormouſe, that would … awake, till caſt into boyling lead▪ but effectually mind theſe following Scriptures, wherein this duty of watchfulneſſe … ſtrict…y enjoyned.1 Thess 5:6 ſoule is already an inſnared ſoul: That ſoul that will not watch againſt temptations, will certainely fall before the power of temptations; Satan workes moſt ſtrongly on the fancie, when the ſoule is drowſie. The ſoules ſecurity is Satans opportunity to fall upon the ſoule, and to ſpoil the ſoule, as Joſhua did the men of Ai. The beſt way to be ſafe and ſecure from all Satans aſſaults, is with Nehemiah, and the Iews, to watch and pray, and pray, and watch; by this meanes they became too hard for their enemies, and the work of the Lord did proſper ſweetly in their hands. Remember how Chriſt chid his ſluggiſh Diſciples, what, could you not watch with Mat. 24. 42. Chap. 26. 41. Mar. 1…. 33, 34, 35. 37▪ Luke 21. 36.Matt 24:42Mark 1:33Mark 1:34Mark 1:35Mark 1:37Luke 21:36me one houre? what, cannot you watch with mee? how will you then dye with mee? If you cannot endure words, how will you endure wounds, &c. Satan always keeps a craftie, and malicious watch, ſeeking whom he may devour (katapie) or1 Cor. 16. 13.1 Cor 16:13 p. 237whom he may drink, or ſip up, as theColoſſ. 4. 2.Col 4:2 Apoſtle ſpeaks in that 1 Pet. 5. 8. Satan1 Pet. 4. 7. Revel. 3. 3.1 Pet 4:7Rev 3:3 is very envious at our condition, that we ſhould enjoy that Paradiſe out of which he is caſt, and out of which hee ſhall be for ever kept.

Shall Satan keep a crafty watch, andAnniball never reſted whether hee did conquer, or was conquered. 'Tis ſo with Satan, Learn for ſhame of the Devill, ſaid bleſſed Latimer, to watch, ſeeing the Devill is ſo watchfull. ſhall not Chriſtians keep a holy ſpirituall watch? our whole life is beſet with temptations, Satan watches all opportunities to break our peace, to wound our conſciences, to leſſen our comforts, to impaire our graces, to ſlur our evidences, and to damp our aſſurances, &c. Oh! what need then have we to be alwayes upon our Watch-Tower, leſt we be ſurprized by this ſubtle Serpent. Watchfulneſſe includes a waking, a rouſing up of the ſoule; 'Tis a continuall, carefull obſerving of our hearts and wayes, in all the turnings of our lives, that wee ſtill keep cloſe to God, and his word.

Watchfulneſſe is nothing elſe but the ſoul running up and downe, too and fro, buſie every where; it is the heart buſied, and employed with diligent obſervation of (Quid inde) what comes from within us, and of (Quid unde) what comes from without us, and into us. Ah ſoules! you are no longer ſafe and ſecure, then when you are upon p. 338your watch; while Antipater kept the watch, Alexander was ſafe, and while we keep a ſt…ct watch, we are ſafe; a watchful ſoul is a ſoule upon the wing, a ſoule out of gun-ſhot, a ſoule upon a rock, a ſoule in a Caſtle, a ſoule above the clouds, a ſoule held faſt in everlaſting armes.

I ſhall conclude this 7^th head with this advice: Remember the Dragon is ſubtle, and bites the Elephants ear, and then ſucks his blood, becauſe he knows that to be the onelyonly place which the Elephant cannot reach with his trunck to defend; ſo our enemies are ſo ſubtill, that they will bite us, and ſtrike us, where they may moſt miſchiefe us, and therefore it doth very much concerne us to ſtand alwayes upon our guard.

Eightly, if you would not be taken with any of Satans ſnares, and devices, then keep up your communion with God; your ſtrength to ſtand, and withſtand2 Cor. 6. 16. The words are very ſignificant in the original, there are two ins, as if God could never have neare enough communion with them.2 Cor 6:16 Satans fiery darts, is from your communion with God; a ſoul high in communion with God may be tempted, but will not eaſily be conqu…red, ſuch a ſoul wil fight it out to the death; Communion with God furniſheth the ſoule with the greateſt, and the choiſeſt arguments to withſtand Satans temptations; p. 339Communion is the reſult of union; communion is a reciprocall exchange between Chriſt, and a gracious ſoule; Communion is Jacobs ladder, where you have Chriſt ſweetly coming down into the ſoul, and the ſoul by divine influences ſweetly aſcending up to Chriſt. Communion with Chriſt is very inflaming, raiſing, and ſtrengthning; while Sampſon kept up his communionThe ſea ebbs and flows, the Moon encreaſes, and decreaſes, ſo 'tis with Saints in their communion with God. with God, no enemy could ſtand before him, but he goes on conquering, and to conquer; but when he was fallen in his communion with God, he quickly falls before the plots of his enemies; 'twil be ſo with your ſoules, ſo long as your communion with God is kept up, you wil be too hard for ſpiritual wickedneſſes in high places; but if you fall from yourPlutarch tells of Eudoxus, that he would be willing to be burnt up preſently by the Sun, ſo he might be admitted to come ſo near it, as to learne the nature of it; what ſhould not wee be content to ſuffer for the keeping up of commuion with Chriſt? communion with God, you will fall as others before the face of every temptation. David, ſo long as he kept up his communion with God, he ſtands, and triumphs over all his enemies; but when he was fallen in his communion with God, then he falls before the enemies, that were in his own boſom, & flies before thoſe that purſued after his life; 'Twil be ſo with your ſouls, if you doe not keepe up your communion with God. Iob keeps up his communion with God, and conquers Satan upon the dunghill. p. 340Adam looſes his communion with God, and is conquered by Satan in Paradiſe. Communion with God is a ſhield upon land, as well as an anchor at ſea; 'tis a ſword to defend you, as well as a ſtaffe to ſupport you; therefore keep up your communion.

9. If you would not be taken in any of Satans ſnares, then engage not againſt Satan in your own ſtrength, butThat is a remarkable ſaying of Moſes, Exod. 15. God is fortitudo mea, and Laus mea, and ſalus mea, my ſtrength, and my praiſe, and my ſalvation, all in the abſtract.Exod 15 be every day drawing new vertue, and ſtrength from the Lord Jeſus; certainly, that ſoule that engages againſt any old or new temptation, without new ſtrength, new influences from on high, will fall before the power of the temptation; you may ſee this in Peter, hee reſted upon ſome old received ſtrength (Though all men ſhould deny thee, yet will not I) and therefore he falls ſadly before a new temptation; he curſes, andMat. 26.Matt 26 ſwears, and denies him thrice, that had thrice appeared gloriouſly to him; ah ſoules! when the ſnare is ſpread, look up to Jeſus Chriſt, who is lifted up in the Goſpell, as the brazen Serpent was'Tis but look up, and live, look unto me and be ſaved from the ends of the earth, … 45. 2…. in the wilderneſſe, and ſay to him, Dear Lord, here is a new ſnare laid to catch my ſoule, and grace formerly received wi…hout freſh ſupplies from thy bleſſed boſome, will not deliver me from this ſnare; oh! give me new ſtrength, new p. 341power, new influences, new meaſures of grace, that ſo I may eſcape this ſnare. Ah ſoules! remember this, that yourJohn 15. 5. foreign is ſeorſim a me ſeparat, from me, or apart from me, ye can doe nothing.John 15:5 ſtrength to ſtand, and overcome, muſt not be expected from graces received, but from the freſh, and renewed influences of Heaven; you muſt leane more upon Chriſt then upon your duties, you muſt leane more upon Chriſt, then upon ſpirituall taft… and diſcoveries; you muſt leane more upon Chriſt, then upon your graces, or elſe Satan will lead you into captivity, &c.

Tenthly, and laſtly, If you would not be taken in any of Satans ſnares, then be much in prayer; prayer is a ſhelter to the ſoule, a ſacrifice to God, and a ſcourge to the Devill; Davids heart was oft more out of tune, then his Harp; he prays, and then, in ſpightOf Carolus Magnus it was ſpoken, Carolus plus cum Deo quam cum hominibus loquitur, that he ſpake more with God then with men; ah! that I could ſay ſo of the Chriſtians in our dayes. of the Devill, cries, returne unto thy reſt oh my ſoule. Prayer is (Porta coeli, clavis Paradiſi) the gate of Heaven, a key to let us into Paradiſe; there is nothing that renders plots fruitleſſe like prayer, therefore ſaith Chriſt, watch and pray, that yee enter not into temptation; you muſt watch and pray, and pray, and watch, if you would not enter into temptation. When Sennacherib and Haman had laid plots and ſnares to have deſtroyed the Jewes, they prayed, and p. 342their ſouls were delivered, & Sennacherib and H…man deſtroyed. David had many ſnares laid for him, and this put… him upon prayer; Keep me (ſaith hee) from the ſnare which they have laid for me, Pſal. 141. 9, 10.Ps 141:9Ps 141:10and the grins of the workers of iniquity. Let the wicked fall into their owne nets, whilſt that I eſcape. The proud ſaith he, hath hid a ſnare for me, and cords, they have ſpread a net by the way ſide, they have ſet grins Pſal. 140. 5, 6.Ps 140:5Ps 140:6for me, Selab. I ſaid unto the Lord, thou art my God, heare the voyce of my ſupplication Nunquam abs te, abſque te recedo, Bern. Oh Lord, ſaith he, I never go away from thee, without thee.oh Lord. Saul and many others had laid ſnares for David, and this puts him upon prayer, and ſo the ſnares are broken, and he is d…lived; ah ſouls! take words to your ſelves, and tell God that Satan hath ſpread his ſnares in all places, and in all companies; tell God that he digs deep, and that he hath plot upon plot, and device upon device, and all toLet us ſaith Baſil, with a holy impudence, make God aſhamed that he cannot looke us in the face, if he do deny our importunity, Jacob like, I wil not let thee go, unleſſe thou bleſſe me. undo you; tell God, that you have neither skill, nor power to eſcape his ſnares; tell God, that 'tis a work too high, and too hard for any created creature to work your deliverance, unleſſe he puts under his own everlaſting arms; tell God how his honour is engaged to ſtand by you, and to bring you off, that you be not ruin'd by his plots; tell God how the wicked would triumph, if you ſhould fall into Satans ſnares; p. 343tell God of the love of Chriſt, of the blood of Chriſt, and of the interceſſion of Chriſt for you, that away may be found for your eſcape; tell God, if he will make it his honour to ſave you from falling into Satans ſnares, you will make it your glory to ſpeak of his goodneſſe, and to live out his kindeneſſe. Chriſtians muſt do a… Ded…lus, that when hee could not eſcape by a way upon earth, went by a way of heaven, and that is, the way of prayer, which is the only way left to eſcape Satans ſnares, &c.

The next Uſe is a uſe of thankfulneſs,Ʋſe. to thoſe that eſcape Satans ſnares, that are not taken by him at his will; ah Chriſtians! it ſtands you upon with that Princely Prophet David, to call upon your ſoules, and ſay, Bleſſe the Pſal. 103. 1, 2.Ps 103:1Ps 103:2Lord oh our ſoules, and all that is within us, bleſſe his holy name; Bleſſe the Lord oh our ſoules, and forget not all his benefits; who hath not given us to be a prey to Satan, and to be enſnared by thoſe ſnares that he hath laid for our ſouls; the ſenſe of this great favour did work up Davids heart to praiſes; Bleſſed be the Lord (ſaithPſalm 144. 6, 7.Ps 144:6Ps 144:7 hee) who hath not given us as a prey to their teeth, our ſoule is eſcaped as a bird out of the ſnares of the Fowlers, the ſnare p. 344is broken, and we are eſcaped: Ah Chriſtians! Remember, that the greateſt part of the world, yea, the greateſt part of Profeſſors are taken in Satans ſnares; can you think ſeriouſly of this, and notThe Ancients uſe to ſay, ingratum dixeris omnia dixeris, ſay a man is unthankfull, and ſay he is any thing. bluſh to be unthankful; what are you better then others? and what have you deſerved of God, or done for God more then other…? that you ſhould by the help of a Divine hand eſcape the ſnares, when others are taken, and held in the ſnares of the Devill, to their eternallPſal. 71. 14. I will yet praiſe thee more & more; in the Originall 'tis▪ I will adde to thy praiſe.Ps 71:14 overthrow, &c.

Will you be thankfull for the eſcaping the ſnares that men ſpread for your lives, or eſtates, &c? and will you not be much more thankfull for eſcaping thoſe ſnares that Satan hath laid for your precious ſouls?

Remember this, that deliveranceThe Stork is ſaid to leave one of her young ones where ſhee hatcheth them; and the Elephant to turn up the firſt ſprig toward Heaven, when he cometh to feed, out of ſome inſtinct of gratitude; ah ſoules! that theſe may not bear witneſſe againſt you in the day of Chriſt. from Satans ſnares doth carrie with it the cleareſt, and the greateſt evidence of the ſoule and heart of God to be towards you. Many a man by a common hand of Providence eſcapes many a ſnare that man hath laid for him, but yet eſcapes not the ſnares that Satan hath laid for him. Saul, and Iudas, and Demas, doubtleſſe eſcaped many ſnares, that men had laid for them, but none of them eſcaped the ſnares that the Devill had laid for them. Many men are p. 345lifted up above the ſnares of men, by a common hand of providence, that are left to fall into the ſnares of the Devill, by a hand of Juſtice; your deliverance from Satans ſnares is a fruit of ſpeciall love; can you thus look upon it, and not be thankfull, oh precious ſoules? I judge not.

The laſt uſe of this point is to beſpeakƲſe. Chriſtians to long to be at home; oh! long to be in the boſome of Chriſt, long to be in the Land of Canaan; forAuſtin wiſhed that he might have ſeene 3. things, Rome flouriſhing, Paul preaching, & Chriſt converſing with men upon the earth. Bede comes after, & correcting this laſt wiſh, faith, yea, but let me ſee the King in his beauty, Chriſt in his heavenly Kingdome. this world, this wilderneſſe is full of ſnares, and all employments are full of ſnares, and all enjoyments are full of ſnares; in civill things, Satan hath his ſnares to entrapus; and in all ſpirituall things, Satan hath his ſnares to catch us. All places are full of ſnares, City and Countrey, ſhop, and cloſet, Sea, and Land, and all our mercies are ſurrounded with ſnares; there are ſnares about our tables, & ſnares about our beds, &c. yea, Satan is ſo powerful, and ſub…il, that he will oftentimes make our greateſt, neareſt, and deareſt mercies to become our greateſt ſnares; ſometimes hee will make the wife that lies in the boſome, to be a ſnare to a man, as Sampſons was, and as Jobs was; ſometimes he will make the child to be a ſnare, as Abſolom was, and Elies ſons p. 346were; and ſometimes he will make the ſervant to be a ſnare, as Joſeph was to his Miſtris; ah ſoules! Satan is ſo cunning, and artificiall, that he can turne your cups into ſnares, and your cloths into ſnares, and your houſes into ſnares, and your gardens into ſnares, & all your recreations into ſnares, &c. And oh! how ſhould the conſideration of theſe things work all your ſouls to ſay with the Church, Make haſt my Cant. 8. ult. foreign Berahh dodi flee away ſpeedily my beloved.Song 8beloved, and be like to a Roe, or a young Hart upon the mountaines of ſpices, and to love, and look, and long for the coming of Chriſt; ſhall the eſpouſed Maid long for the marriage day? the ſervant for his freedome? the captive for his ranſome? the Traveller for his Inne? thePhil. 1 23. 2 Cor. 5. 2. 4:Phil 1:232 Cor 5:22 Cor 5:4 Mariner for his Harbour? and ſhall not the people of the Lord long much more to be in the boſome of Chriſt? there being nothing below the boſome of Chriſt, that is not ſurrounded with Satans ſnares.

What Paul once ſpake of bonds andActs 20. 23.Acts 20:23 afflictions, that they attended him in every place; that may all the Saints ſay of Satans ſnares, that they attend them in every place, which ſhould cauſe them to cry out (migremus hinc, migr… mus hinc) let us goe hence, let us goe hence; and to ſay with Monica, Auſtins p. 347mother, **Quid hic faciemus? cur non ocyus migramus? cur non hinc avolamus?what do we here? why depart we not hence? why flie wee no ſwifter? Ah ſoules! till you are taken up into the boſom of Chriſt, your comforts will not be ful, pure, and conſtant till then; Satan will ſtill be tempting you, and ſpreading ſnares to entangle you, therefore you ſhould alwayes bee crying out with the Church, Come Lord Rev. 22. 20. It is as eaſie to compaſs the Heavens with a ſpan, and contain the Sea in a nut-ſhel, as to relate fully Chriſts excellencies, or heavens happineſſe.Rev 22:20Jeſus. Is not Chriſt that ſtar of Jacob, that giveth light to them that are in darkeneſſe? that Prince of Peace, who brings the Olive-branch of Peace to ſouls that are perplexed? Is not the greateſt worth and wealth in him? Is not all the petty excellencies and perfections of all created creatures epitomized in him? Is not he the Crown of Crowns, the glory of glories, and the Heaven of Heavens? Oh then! be ſtill a longing after a full, cleare, and conſtant enjoyment of Chriſt in Heaven; for till then, Satan will ſtill have plots and deſignes upon you; he acts by an untired power, and will never let you reſt, till you are taken up to an everlaſting reſt in the boſome of Chriſt.