The Christians in Complete Armor, Religious treatise · Introduction 3 · Chapter 6
CHAP. VI. A brief Application of the ſecond Branch of the Point, viz. Of Satans ſubtilty as a Troubler and Accuſer for ſin.
Ʋſe 1 IS Satan ſo ſubtile to trouble the Saints peace? this proves them to be the children of Satan, who ſhew the ſame Art and ſubtilty in vexing the ſpirits of the Saints, as doth their infernal father: not to ſpeak of bloody Perſecutors, who are the devils ſlaughter-ſlaves to butcher the Saints, but of thoſe who more ſlily trouble and moleſt the Saints peace.
Firſt, ſuch as rake up the Saints old ſins, which God hath forgiven and forgotten, (meerly to grieve their ſpirits and beſpatter their names,) theſe ſhew their divelliſh malice indeed, who can take ſuch pains to travel many yeares back, that they may finde a handful of dirt to throw on the Saints face. Thus Shimei twitted David, 1 Sam. 16.7Come out thou bloody man. When you that feare God meet with ſuch reproaches, anſwer them as Beza did the Papiſts, who for want of other matter charged him for ſome wanton Poems penn'd by him in his youth, Hi homunciones invident mihi gratiam Dei. Theſe men (ſaid he) grudge me the pardoning mercy of God.
Secondly, ſuch as watch for the Saints halting, and catch at every infirmity to make them odious and themſelves merry. 'Tis a dreadful curſe ſuch bring upon themſelves; (though they little think of it,) no leſſe then Amaleks, the remembrance of whoſe name, Deut. 25.19.God threatened to blot from under heaven; why, what had Amalek done to deſerve this? they ſmote the hindermoſt, thoſe that were feeble, and could not march with the reſt. And was it ſo great a cruelty to do this? much more to ſmite with the edge of a mocking tongue the feeble in grace.
Thirdly, ſuch who father their ſins upon the Saints, thus Ahab calls the Prophet the Troubler of Iſrael, when it was himſelf and his fathers houſe. What a grief was it, think you to Moſes his ſpirit, for the Iſraelites to lay the blood of thoſe that died in the wilderneſſe at his door? whereas (God knows) he was their conſtant Baile, when at any time Gods hand was up to deſtroy them: and this is the charge which the beſt of Gods ſervants in this crooked generation of ours lie under: We may thank them (ſay the profane) for all our late miſeries in the Nation: we were well enough till they would reforme us. O for ſhame, blame not the good Phyſick that was adminiſtred, but the corrupt body of the Nation that could not bear it.
Fourthly, ſuch as will themſelves ſin, meerly to trouble the Saints ſpirit. Thus Rabſhakeh blaſphemed, and when deſired to ſpeak in another language, he goes on the more to grieve them. Sometimes you ſhall have a profane wretch (knowing one to be conſciencious, and cannot brook to hear the Name of God taken in vain, or the ways of God flouted,) will on purpoſe fall upon ſuch diſcourſe as ſhall grate his chaſte eares, and trouble his gracious ſpirit, ſuch a one ſtrikes father and childe at one blow, think it not enough to diſhonour God, except the Saint ſtands by to ſee and heare the wrong done to his heavenly Father.
Ʋſe 2 Secondly, This may afford matter of admiration and thankfulneſſe to any of you, (O ye Saints) who are not at this day under Satans hatches. Is he ſo ſubtile to diſquiet, and haſt thou any peace in thy conſcience? To whom art thou beholden for that ſerenity that is on thy ſpirit? to none but thy God, under whoſe wing thou ſitteſt to warme and ſafe. Is there not combuſtible matter enough in thy conſcience for his ſparks to kindle? Perhaps thou haſt not committed ſuch bloody ſins as others: that's not the reaſon of thy peace, for the leaſt is big enough to damne, much more to trouble thee. Thou haſt not groſſely fallen (may be) ſince Converſion, that's rare, (if thou beeſt of long ſtanding) yet the ghoſts of thy unregenerate ſins might walk in thy conſcience: thou haſt had many teſtimonies of Gods favour, haſt thou not? who more then David?Pſal. 77. yet he at a loſſe ſometimes learning to ſpell his evidences, as if he could never have read them. The ſenſe of Gods love comes and goes with the preſent taſt. He that is in the dark (while there) ſees not the more for former light. O bleſs God for that light which ſhines in at thy window; Satan is plotting to undermine thy comfort every day. This Thief ſees thy pleaſant fruits as they hang, and his teeth water at them, but the wall is too high for him to climbe; thy God keeps this Serpent out of thy Paradiſe. 'Tis not the grace of God in thee, but the favour of God, as a ſhield about thee, defends thee from the wicked one.
Ʋſe 3 Thirdly, let Satans ſubtilty to moleſt your peace, make thee, (O Chriſtian) more wiſe and wary, thou haſt not a fool to deale with, but one that hath wit enough to ſpill thy comfort, and ſpoil thy joy, if not narrowly watch't, this is the dainty bit he gapes for; 'tis not harder to keep the flies out of your Cup-boards in Summer, from tainting your proviſion, then Satan out of your conſciences; many a ſweet meal hath he robbed the Saints of, and ſent them ſupperleſſe to bed; take heed therefore that he roams not thine away alſo.