A Scripture-Map of the Wilderness of Sin, Treatise · Part 2 · Chapter 10
CHAP. X. The ſecond ſort of Advantages Satan hath from himſelfe, largely opened.
2d. Sort of Advantages, Satan hath from himſelfe.COme we now to the ſecond ſort of Satans Advantages, which he hath of himſelfe, in order to the bewildring of the poore ſoule: His nu…ers, Their Unity: His Nature, his Relations, his Experience.
Firſt, Satan hath a great advantage, as to the bewildring of ſoules in reſpect of the numberleſſe numbers of ſatanical ſpirits.As 1. Head. His numbers. The Dragon and his Angells; who can number them? if they doe but ſtand round about a poore unregenerate Creature, who can but be bewildred by them? When Chriſt asked the poſſeſſed perſon, what his name was, Mark. 5. He anſwered, ſaying,Iſid. 9.3. My name is Legion, for we are many, verſe 9. Many? how many is that? A legion is ſix thouſand. Satans numbers are ſo great, that he can even ſpare 6000 Devils to bewilder one poore ſoule. Now thinke with your ſelves: if there be ſix thouſand Counſellors about a man, one ſaith, goe this way, another ſaith, goe that way; a third, another way, a tenth, a tenth way, an hundreth, an hundreth way, &c. The proud Devil cryes, goe my way: the drunken Devill, go my way: the unclean Devill, go my way: the blaſpheming Devill, goe my way: the prophane Devill, goe my way; the ſuperſtitious Devill, go my way: the transformed Devill, or the Devill turned into an Angell of light, goe my way: The mad-merry frolick Devill, goe my way: and the melancholick deſpairing Devill, go my way: how can it be but that a poore ſoule muſt needs be bewildred amongſt all theſe, and five hundred times as many more? for I have reckon'd but twice ſix unto you. When ſix thouſand tempters and temptations ſhal at once environ one ſingle ſpirit, as Legion did here this poore man; can you wonder if as you read of this man, Luk. 8.29. That he was driven into the Wilderneſſe; ſo you finde it true of your owne ſoules, that they are ſo often bewildred. I obſerve that in ſome caſes, Satan doth as the great Turk, that bears down all meerly with the numerouſneſſe of his Armies. When poore ſoules ſhall think with themſelves to be ſerious with God, and to go indeed about the buſineſs of Converſion: oh! what ſwarms of Devills, what multitudes of temptations be there, even to the tyring out of ſuch thoughts and reſolutions! Oh! how doe theſe Legions bewilder us both in prayer and meditations, and indeed in every ſpirituall Undertaking. It were eaſie for Satan at even hand to conquer us, no wonder then if he lead us captive even whither ſoever he will, being ſix thouſand to one, that's great odds.
Secondly,2d. Head. His agreement unity, and concord. Great is Satans advantage as to the bewildring of your ſoules, becauſe of the accord and unity that is amongſt them all. So the ſoule be but bewildred, they care not which of them doth it; and indeed whoever of them prevailes to ſeduce, meets all the reſt of them in the Wilderneſſe. As now there are millions of waies in England, a way likely in every paſture, and that foot-path leads to ſome lane, that lane to ſome Market-town Road, and that Road in time to London-Road, till at length all will meet at London: ſo amongſt the millions of temptations and legions of tempters, the ſmaller temptations lead into greater wayes, and thoſe into greater, till at length all runne together into the broad way of the wilderneſſe of ſinne, for all of them conſpire to meet one another there. There is a marvellous ſtrange concord amongſt whole legions of Devills (Oh! that there were no breaches to be ſeen amongſt the thouſands of Gods Saints. You may obſerve, that though this man were poſſeſſed with many, even with a Legion; yet Chriſt calls them all but an uncleane ſpirit, Luk. 8.29. ver. 27. He had Devills, verſe 30. a Legion, even many Devills were entred into him, yet verſe 29. Jeſus commanded the unclean ſpirit: ſo Mark 5.8. He ſaid, Come out of the man, thou unclean ſpirit. And all the Devils beſought him, ver. 12. and forthwith the unclean ſpirits went out, verſe 14. I obſerve that the Devils be they never ſo many, agree all of them as one. Hence it is, that you heare but of Satan and the Devill in the ſingular, when wee meane all thoſe numberleſſe numbers of uncleane helliſh, tempting, damned ſpirits. And what is it now, that they are thus agreed upon, or accord better in, then in tempting of ſouls into this wilderneſſe? He was tempted of a whole Legion: 'tis ſaid of him, Luk. 8.29. He was driven of the Devill into the Wilderneſſe. It ſeems they all agreed in this, as one Devill to lead him thither. Now who can imagine, but it is rather Satans buſineſſe to lead a ſpiritually poſſeſſed ſoule into this ſpirituall wilderneſſe, then to take ſo much paines about ſuch a poore Gadaren, to drive him into dry and deſart places? Whatſoever may be the literall import of this ſcripture, ſure I am, that the Devills in our dayes deſigne, and accord an hundred fold more in the bewildring of poore ſoules, by their legion of temptations, then to lead them into deſolate and viſibly deſart places.
3d. Head. His nature.Thirdly, As Satans numbers and accord, ſo his nature gives him advantage unto your ſpirituall bewildring. He is a Spirit, He is an Angell, Hee is a Devill.
1. He is a Spirit, and there…Firſt, Satan (by his nature) is a Spirit: and this is an eminent advantage ſpiritually to bewilder us, Eph. 6.11. Put on the whole Armour of God, that you may be able to ſtand againſt the methodizings or bewildring▪ of Satan, for ſaith the Apoſtle, verſe 12. We wreſtle not with fleſh and blood, but againſt Principalities, and againſt ſpiritual wickedneſſes in high places. Oh! if thoſe Principalities were not ſpirituall wickedneſſes, our ſoules ſhould leſſe need to feare their devices: it were eaſier to ſtand againſt the wiles of the Devill. But now becauſe Satan is a Spirit, therefore he is the better able to eneer into the ſoule: the nearer related he is to the ſoule, the more able is he to argue out the buſineſſe with the ſoule.
Firſt, Satan being a ſpirit,1. He is able to enter into the ſoule. is eaſily able to enter the ſoule. When a Generall beſieges a City, though he caſt a trench about it, yet every one within it doth move in his own motion, and goe his owne waies for all him, or any of his commands, while he is without: but now if once he enter the City, then they muſt goe whither ſoever he drives them, ſome to Priſon, ſome into the Water, others to the Gallowes, others into the Wilderneſſe: ſo though there be legions of Devils without us, yet till they enter us, our hearts may keepe their own motions; yea, though they be round about us: but you'l ſay, They muſt needs go whom the Devill drives; though it be into Water, as the herd of ſwine; into the halter, as Judas; in the Wilderneſſe, as Legion: and the Devill may eaſily drive when he enters, and indeed may eaſily enter, becauſe hee is a Spirit. Sirs, What can poſſibly keep out a Spirit? ſhut downe your Windowes, lock your doores, yea though your Gates were Iron, and your Barres of Braſſe, yet will a Spirit enter, and that without penetration, becauſe its not a body. 'Tis ſaid, Luk. 22.3. That Satan then entred into Judas. From henceforward trace him; and where ever he goes, you may plainly ſee the Devill drives him. It followes immediately, verſe 4. And he went his way. He goes Chriſts wayes no longer, but his owne, and his owne are but Satans; for firſt he goes and betrayes his Maſter, and then he goes and hangs himſelfe. He muſt needs goe, the Devill drives him. Drunkards, you little thinke who drives you to the Alehouſe, he that drives you, is got within you, and therefore though you cannot ſee him, yet you goe with him whitherſoever he would have you to goe: ſo it is with all ſinners. Satan's a Spirit, and therefore he can enter: he enters, and therefore he can drive: hee can drive, and you muſt therefore needs go, and hence you are driven of the Devill into the Wilderneſs, as hee was, Luk. 8.29.
2ly, He (as a Spirit) is akinne to the ſoule.2ly, Satan is a Spirit, and therefore he is (as it were) akinne to the ſoule: You know the proverb concerning Birds, and I may ſay in ſome ſort, Satan is of a feather with our ſoules, and one wing one way. Hence it is that when our ſoules ſee Satan goe before, we are ſo mad of fluttering aftrr. Beloved, Satans ſuggeſtions are ſo alike our owne hearts motions, that wee ſometimes ſhall finde it very hard to know his footſteps from our owne. Now marke, If a man be in a Wilderneſſe, and there be never ſo many tracts of this, and that, and th'other wild beaſt, if the man light upon a print but of one mans foot, oh! that's the way that he will be ſure to take; and Satans footſteps are ſo like ours, that who can ſometimes know the print aſunder? You have Peter diſſwading Chriſt from ſuffering, Mat. 16.22. And 'tis ſaid, Peter began to rebuke him; and I verily thinke, that Peter thought it it was his owne way, and an expreſſion of his owne hearts love to Jeſus Chriſt: and I believe the other Diſciples thought it was a print of Peters feet, of Peters tender affections to his Lord and Maſter: But it ſeemes it was not ſo, or primarily ſo: 'twas Satans footſtep rather then Peters, for Jeſus turn'd him, and ſaid unto him, Get thee behind me Satan, verſe 23. We are often going Satans way, when we think we are going but our own way. Therefore with eaſe may Satan lead you into the wildernes, when wee may ſo eaſily perſwade you that is your own way.
Thirdly, Satan is a ſpirit,3. He (as a ſpirit) is able to converſe & reaſon with the ſoul. and therefore able to Converſe with the ſoul, as to look our ſpirits (as I may ſay) in the face in their own likeneſſe, ſo alſo to ſpeak to them in their own language. As Hannah ſpake with her heart, when ſhee ſpake not with her lips, ſo can Satan ſpeak to our hearts, and they to him without any opening of the lips, for both are ſpirits. As are wee, ſo Satan is a diſcurſive rationall ſpirit; and as at firſt he diſputed out the buſineſſe with Eve, and prevailed, ſo ever ſince in the ſerpents voice, though not in the ſerpent skin, hee maintaines a like argument in our ſoules; and this hee can do becauſe a ſpirit. You ſhall therefore finde that the ſame that is called foreign. Eph. 6.11. the bewildrings of Satan, is called, foreign 2 Cor. 2.11. the devices of Satan; ſo we read it, but the word is that which ſignifies the reaſonings and arguings of our hearts. So then Satan ſeduceth us into the Wilderneſſe, by preſſing upon us our own arguments, he perſwades us by our own logick, in the naturall language of our own hearts. A Lyon may roar long enough, before a man that is without the Forreſt, and hears him, would come in to him: But if inſtead of a Lyon, a man were there calling, and ſo the other ſhould hear one crying in his owne voice and language, that might perhaps perſwade him. It were vain for Satan to roar men into ſin, though hee be a roaring Lion: but he muſt flatter them into it by ſecret whiſperings, in their own language, to their ſoules. If the Devill ſhould appear and ſpeak to the drunkard in the morning, in a dog or a toad, as he doth to ſome witches, ſure the Drunkard would be affrighted for that day. But he ſpeaks in the mans own hearts language: Go to ſuch a place, there's ſuch company, and ſuch ber, &c. Therefore that Scripture is ſadly to be thought up. Ezek. 11.21. Their heart goes after the heart of their dete ſtable things, and of their abominations. Here's one heart going after another: the heart of the tempted after the heart of the temptation. Our hearts in ſinning, going after Satans heart in tempting. He projects and we proſecute; his heart deſignes, and our heart purſues the deſigne. The temptations of Satan are deſtable, yet they are after his heart, and our heart goes after the heart of the deteſtable things, that is, after Satans heart; you ſee the ſame word that ſignifies our Cogitations, the Holy Ghoſt uſeth for Satans devices: and this is becauſe hee is a Spirit.
Secondly, As he is a Spirit, ſo he is an Angell, and this gives him yet far greater advantage:2dly, He is an Angel, and therefore can preſent all his temptations ſpecious and angelicall. God tells them. Exod. 23.20. that he would ſend his Angell before them, and that encourages them to venture upon that Wilderneſſe. So Satan ſends his Angell before poor ſouls, and ſo gets them into this ſpirituall Wilderneſſe. He is an Angell, and therefore all his temptations ſhall be guilded temptations; beautified with Angells feathers. Though he be a Devill, yet his Apparitions to the ſoul, ſhall be as an Angell, even as an Angell of light. 2 Cor. 11.14. 'Tis ſaid of ſome that they draw iniquity with Cords of Vanity, and ſin as it were with Cart-ropes. Iſa. 5.18. and what are theſe drawing Cords? ver. 20. they call evill good, and put light for darkneſſe, and ſweet for bitter; and whence is this? but becauſe the Devill can appear as an Angell; the firſt view of temptation is as Paradiſe, the laſt view or end thereof as Hell. The young man is inticed. Pro. 7. with a deckt bed, Coverings of Tapeſtry, carved works, fine linnen of Aegypt, perfumes of Mirrhe Aloes and Cinamon: fill of love, ſolaces with loves. ver. 16, 17, 18. Fair words and ſhewes, but flattering. ver. 19. and he goes after theſe, but 'tis like an Ox to the ſlaughter, or a fool to the Correction of the ſtocks. This then is Satans leading-influence, his temptations though as Hell, as Devills, ſeem as faire as Angells. Therefore I may ſay of Satan, though he ſpeak thee fair, believe him not: for there are ſeven abomination in his heart. as Pro. 26.25.
Thirdly, As he is a Spirit, and an Angell,3dly, He is a Devil, and ſo cares not what meanes he uſeth. ſo is hee a Devill, and therefore hath yet the more advantage. A Devill; therefore he cares not what means he uſeth to bewilder ſoules. A Miniſter muſt not lie for God, he muſt not vent a lie to ſave a ſoul; But Satan will tell a thouſand to undoe a ſoul. Yea, he had as live damne them with ſpeaking falſe as true, he is a Devill, and therefore cares not what way he goes. One of you ſhall betray me (ſaith Chriſt) One of us, Lord? might they ſay, who could find in his heart to do ſo? who could dare to doe ſo? why? ſaith Chriſt, One of you is a Devill. He can do any thing, he is a Devill. A Devill cares not what he ſaith, nor what he ſwears, in order to the ruine of a poor ſool. An high-way man cares not, though he ſwear you, or lye you, into a wrong way; telling you its right, that there he may have opportunity to rob you. Ioh. 8.44. When he (that is the Devill) ſpeaketh a lie, hee ſpeaketh it of his own, for he is a lyer, and a Father of it: and that becauſe he is a Devill.