The Christians in Complete Armor, Religious treatise · Introduction 3
That ye may be able to ſtand againſt the wiles of the devil.
THeſe words preſent us with the reaſon, why the Chriſtian ſouldier is to be thus compleatly arm'd, That he may be able to ſtand againſt the wiles of the devil. The ſtrength of which argument lies in theſe two particulars.
Firſt, the danger, if unarm'd, the enemy is no mean contemptible one, no leſſe then the devil, ſet out as a cun…ing Engineer by his wiles and ſtratagems.
Secondly, the certainty of ſtanding againſt all his wits and wiles, if we be thus arm'd, That ye may be able to ſtand. As no ſtanding without armour, ſo no feare of falling into the fiends hands if arm'd.
To begin with the firſt, the Saints enemy, the devil deſcribed by his wiles foreign, properly the methods of Satan, foreign of foreign, which ſignifies, that Art and order one obſerves in handling a point; we ſay ſuch a one is methodical; Now becauſe it ſhews ingenuity and acuteneſſe of wit ſo to compoſe a diſcourſe, therefore it is transferr'd to expreſſe the ſubtilty of Satan in laying of his plots and ſtratagems, in his warlike preparations againſt the Chriſtian. Indeed, the expert ſouldier hath his order as well as the ſcholar, there is method in forming of an army, as well as framing an argument. The Note which lies before us is,
Doct.The devil is a very ſubtile enemy. The Chriſtian is endangered moſt by his policy and craft; he is call'd the old Serpent. The ſerpent? ſubtil above other creatures, an old Serpent above other ſerpents; Satan was too crafty for man in his perfection, much more now in his maimed eſtate, having never recovered that firſt crack he got in his underſtanding by the fall of Adam. And as man hath loſt, ſo Satan hath gained more and more experience; he loſt his wiſdome indeed aſſoon as he became a devil, but ever ſince he hath increaſt his craft; though he hath not wiſdom enough to do himſelf good, yet ſubtilty enough to do others hurt. God ſhewes us where his ſtrength lies, when he promiſeth he will bruiſe the head of the Serpent; his head cruſh't and he dies preſently. Now in handling this Point of Satans ſubtilty, we ſhall conſider him in his two main deſignes, and therein ſhew you his wiles and policies. His firſt main deſign is to draw into ſin. The ſecond is to accuſe, vex and trouble the Saint for ſinne. Firſt, let us conſider the devil as a tempter to ſin, and there he ſhews his wily ſubtilty in three things.
Firſt, in chooſing the moſt advantagious ſeaſon for tempting.
Secondly, in managing his temptations, laying them in ſuch a method and forme, as ſhews his craft.
Thirdly, in pitching on fit inſtruments for his turne, to carry on his deſign.