The Sinfulness of Evil Thoughts, Treatise · Chapter 36
CHAP. XXXVI. The laſt uſe of admonition to Simon and his followers.
BEfore we make an end, we muſt have a word with our young Simons, the Schollers and followers of this old Sorcerer, Neque enim ulli ſunt ex h… mano genere magis degeneres, vel minus homines, quam qui paciſcuntur cum inſernis ſpiritibus, a…t ill…s quovis modo conſulu…t. Dr. Arrowſmith. Tact. Sac. 1. … c. 3.who gave us the occaſion of all this diſcourſe; Among men theſe are worſt, among Chriſtians none at all. They have neither part nor lot in this matter. Theſe, if any, would be rebuked ſharply, as he was then by Peter, men in the gall of bitterneſſe, and bonds of all iniquity. The Aſtrologer, Southſayer, and fortune teller is his brother, whoſe firſt aim is to be foreign ſome great one, whoſe laſt end is to be foreign a foul black one. Some ſins are ſcarlet and bloudy ſins, yet may be cleanſed, theſe are like the Ethiopians skin, not to be changed; yet I do not ſay it is impoſſible theſe ſhould be ſaved, for Manaſſeh repented of this ſin, and found mercy. 2 Chr. 33.But I ſay with Peter, Repent of this wickedneſſe, and know thy ſin is great; The greateſt ſin in Scripture, Rebellion, is ſaid to 1 Sam. 15. 23.be, as the ſin of witchcraft, therefore what is witchcraft it ſelf? The profeſſors of this black art, ſince oracles ceaſed, are the onelyonly oracles the devil now hath left, by them he is enquired of, by them he gives his anſwers. Theſe are the dragons mouth, out of which he caſts flouds of impiety and reproach againſt the Miniſters of Chriſt; and theſe his taile by which he would ſweep the ſtars out of heaven.Rev. 12. 4.
If Saul periſhed for going unto ſuch, 1 Chr. 10. 13.what ſhall become of ſuch who are ſo themſelves? but the truth is both theſe blind ones fall into the ditch. And as the Pſalmiſt ſaith of Idolls, Idoll makers, and Idoll worſhippers they are all alike, They that make them Pſal. 135. 18.are like unto them, ſo are all that truſt in them; So I may ſay of Satan, the ſorcerer and them who reſort to them. The ſorcerer who erects the figure is like to Satan from whom he learnes his art, he ſpeaks in this image, and he that truſts in him is as bad as himſelf.
I ſhall deſire him if he have yet any ſenſe left, to think of Peters words to Simon Magus, and adde to them the words of Paul Act. 13. 10.to Elimas Magus, And ſo leave him. It is ſaid, Paul full of the Holy Ghoſt ſet his eyes upon him and ſaid, Oh full of all ſubtilty and miſchiefe, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteouſneſſe, wilt thou not ceaſe to pervert the right ways of the Lord? Here are ſeven vialls full of the wrath of God poured upon the head of ſuch.
1. Thou full of all ſubtilty] The devil ever makes choice of ſerpents, ſubtle (not ſimple) one… to deceive others by. They are ſubtle, crafty, ſlippery, and cunning ſerpents, that makes ſimple ones admire them.
2. And full of miſchief] Theſe have as much of the one, as the other, ſerpents in both theſe properties, ſubtilty and miſchief.
3. Thou child of the devil] Others are the ſervants, or captives of the devil, theſe his legitimate children, begotten by him, bearing his image, profeſſing his black art and upholding his kingdome of darkneſſe among the children of diſobedience.
4. Thou enemy of all righteouſneſse] worſt of men, others want righteouſneſſe, theſe ha…e it, oppoſe it, calumniate it; who ſpeak or write ſo maliciouſly againſt Godly and learned Miniſters as theſe do? where is there ſuch lying, cheating, bewitching, enſnaring, deſtroying, as among theſe ſons of Apollyon?
5. Theſe pervert the right way of the Lord] Others ignorantly miſtake it, and wander from it; Theſe …udiouſly pervert it, and miſlead others out of it.
6. Wilt thou not ceaſe to pervert, &c.] Theſe when they begin, ſeldome make an end, but perſiſt in their pernicious waies, as being given up to a reprobate mind.
7. And the laſt viall puts out his eyes, and ſmites him with ſpirituall Excaecation. The hand of God is commonly obſerved to fall heavy on them in this world either bringing them to ſhamefull deaths, as to their bodies, or ſealing them under ſpirituall and judiciall hardneſſe of heart, and blindneſſe of mind.
Diſcite juſtitiam, aut judicium tremite.Betimes amend. Or hell's your end.