A Scripture-Map of the Wilderness of Sin, Treatise · Part 2 · Chapter 12
CHAP. XII. Queſt. What paines Satan takes to bewilder ſoules, opened and applyed.
WE come in the ſecond place to conſider,Diſcovery of the point in the 2. Query, viz. What paines Satan takes to bewilder ſoules.
The paines that Satan takes to bewilder, or to turne poore ſoules out of the way, that he may devour them in the wilderneſſe. You know the paines a Spirit takes, is inceſſant paines. When you ſleepe, your ſoule waketh; and when you ſleep, Satan (who is a Spirit) waketh. Now all that inceſſant paines that Satan takes, is onelyonly in order hereunto, 1 Pet. 5.8. Your adverſary the Devill walkes as a roaring Lyon, ſeeking whom he may devour: whom reſiſt ſtedfaſt in the faith, verſe 9.All his paines are to this purpoſe. Three things I hence note unto you to our preſent purpoſe: That all the paines that Satan takes, he takes it as a wild beaſt of the Wilderneſſe, as a Lyon of the Forreſt. Againe, That all that paines is out of emnity to, and in order to the ruine of poore ſoules. Laſtly, That there is no way for your ſecurity, but the holding of your ground, and ſtanding ſtiffely in the way where God hath ſet you; loſe your ground, and you loſe your ſoules; therefore reſiſt him stedfaſt in the faith: The ſame counſel is preſcribed in the ſame caſe, Jam. 4.7. Submit to God, but reſiſt the Devill. If God meet you in your way (as he did Moſes, Exod. 4.24.) Submit unto him: but when Satan meets you in your way and would hinder your paſſage, take heed, take heed of turning aſide, keepe your ſtanding ſirs. Reſiſt, that's ſtand againſt him, as the phraſe is, Ephe. 6.11. That you may be able to ſtand againſt the wiles of the Devill. That is, neither turne to the right hand, nor to the left, for flattery, nor for feare of Satan; but ſtand where you are, and keepe your way, and ſo you ſhall keepe out of the Wilderneſſe. Methinks, though you ſhould be faint-hearted, & affraid to fight with Satan for the way; yet when God thus comes after you, and by a voyce behind you, calls to you to keepe the Way; then methinks you ſhould bee encouraged to turne the Devill back, or aſide out of your way. Now this is the call of Gods voice, 1 Cor. 16.13. Stand faſt in the faith, and quit your ſelves like men: ſo Eccleſ. 5.1. Keep thy foot, ſaith God, keep thy footing. Oh! this is Gods frequent counſell, and therefore let us (in oppoſition to Satan, and obedience to God) as David, Pſal. 101.3. Hate the work of them that turn aſide. Hate thou thoſe works, and the rather, for as much as the Devill loves to be imployed in the turning of ſouls aſide. For diſcovery whereof,
Diſcovery hereof in three heads.Obſerve, when ever Satan changeth either Poſtures, Perſons, or Practiſes, all is done in order to turn poor ſoules out of the way.
1.1. Head. All his poſtures, 1. When Serpent and couchant. You ſhal find Satan in different poſtures throughout Scripture, and all to this one purpoſe. The firſt poſture that ever we find the Devill in, was [Serpent] or a creeping poſture, Gen. 3.1. He comes meekly and lowly, as it were upon his belly, creeping and oringing to Eve; and what's the end of all, but to turne their Eden into a Deſart, and their Paradice to a Wilderneſſe? You may ſee this to be his poſture in his inſtruments: 'Tis ſaid of the wicked, Pſal. 10.10. He croucheth and humbleth himſelfe, that the poor may fall by his ſtrong ones.
2ly, You ſhall ſometimes find him ſtanding up,2. When erect. when that poſture ſhall bee more available to his purpoſe, 1 Chro. 21.1. Satan ſtood up againſt Iſrael, and provoked David to number the people. Now what's Satans drift in this? Joab will give you an account of it, in his demanding of the King, verſe 3. Asking the King, why would he be a cauſe of treſpaſſe to Iſrael? Treſpaſſe? when doth a man doe that? why, you know when he turnes out of the way that he ſhould goe in, and goes in the ground wherein he ſhould not goe, then he is a treſpaſſer, Satans end therefore in ſtanding up, is to be a cauſe of treſpaſſe unto Iſrael.
3ly,3. When paſſant. You ſhall ſometimes find this Lyon [paſſant] Satan, in a moving-poſture, Job 1.7. I come, ſaith Satan, from going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. And why (doſt thinke?) doth Satan keepe ſuch a walking up and downe in the earth, but to keepe thee walking up and downe in the Wilderneſſe? to turne as many as he meets out of the way, and into the tranſgreſſion as he did Eve, and would have done Job here.
4ly,4. When rampant. You ſhall ſometimes find this Lyon [rampant] Satan in a running and ranging poſture, as you heard: as a roaring Lyon, and going about &c. and then ſaith the Apoſtle, Be ſure you keep your way, it ſeemes his buſineſſe will be to turne you out of it.
So that whatever poſture thou art in, Satan can keepe pace with thee, If either thou lie in ſinne, or ſtand up to ſin.So then whatſoever poſture thou art in, Satan can keepe poſture with thee. It may be thou art a Crouching ſinner, that art not willing to ſinne above-board, as we ſay, ſub dio. Why? Satan will crouch to keepe thee company in thy dark and wilderneſſe Den, and ſuit thine humour with ſuch temptations. It may bee thou art a Daring ſinner, and art not affraid to ſtand to it, as Goliath, that ſtood and defied the Armies of Iſrael, and the God of Iſrael: or as the proud preſuming Phariſee, that ſtood and prayed. Why, Satan will ſtand at thine elbow to ſtrengthen thee in thy way: If thou get up from creeping in ſinne, to ſtand to it, Satan will get up as well as thou. It may bee thou art a Rambling ſinner,Or ramble about in ſinne: thou muſt be firſt in this way, and next in that: thy vaine fancy runnes to and fro in the earth, and thy wicked heart ſeekes up and downe for freſh delights and paths of ſinne. Why? Satan will be thine attendant ſtill, his ſervice ſhall be at thy command (whileſt thine rather is at his) for he can goe up and downe, and to and fro as well as thou: Thou art as the Harlot, Prov. 7. Now ſhe is without, now in the Corners of the ſtreets, her feet abide not in the houſe. Why? Satan will keepe thee company ſtill. It may be thou art a Ranting ſinner,Or rant & run on in ſinne. that will go galloping to Hell, as thoſe Rom. 3. Whoſe feet were ſwift to ſhed blood, and ſaith the Apoſtle, They think it ſtrange that you runne not with them into the ſame exceſſe of riot. Why? Satan can yet keepe pace with thee, and ſuit his temptations to thee; for he is a Rampant Lyon, and thou and he art but in the wilderneſſe of ſin together all this while.
Again, If thou be either a crouching Saint.Againe, It may be the Lord hath begun his Worke upon thee, and the ſpirit of bondage m…kes thee crouch under feare of Death, and feare of Hell, and feare of Conſcience, and feare of divine wrath; and now thou beginneſt to creepe out of the thickets of the wilderneſſe. Now you ſhall finde Satan will crouch as low as thou canſt crouch, to meet thee with full breaſt, either to turne thee back againe, or to turne thee to the right hand, or to the left, or at leaſt to ſtop thy progreſſe; or if he can't doe one of theſe, then to cruſh thee to pieces with loads of black temptations, to blaſpemous deſpair. You, whom God hath brought low, when he began to bring you out of the wilderneſſe, cannot, I am ſure, forget the aſſaults of that couchant Lyon. It may be, God hath ſet thee upon thy feet,Or a raiſed and ſtanding Saint. (as the Spouſe raiſed up under the Apple tree) and thou haſt got a little ſtrength, comfort, and reſolution for God, and now thou thinkeſt to feele thy feet, and without any doubt to be gone: Truly Satan will now get up upon his feet too, and ſtand as Rev. 12.4. before thee, if he cannot beare thee downe againe, yet to keep thee from ſtirring any farther. Oh! whence are thoſe wretched ſtops unto our reſolutions? whence is it that after we are upon our feet, we move ſo ſlowly forward? It may be God hath given thee a ſtirring, Or a ſtirring or a moving Saint.as well as a ſtanding principle, and thou muſt be up and downe in the wayes of God, ſometimes in this duty, ſometimes in that: Why? Satan can goe up and down as well as thou, and will goe whither thou goeſt, and all to bewilder thee in thy duties. It may be God hath ſo farre enlarged thine heart,Or an enlarged running Saint, Satan can ſtill keepe poſture with thee. as to run the waies of Gods Commandements. Why? truly now Satan muſt runne for it, if he will doe any thing; he muſt ply hard, and faſt with temptations, and ſo he will bee ſure to doe, for hee is a Lyon rampant, ſeeking whom hee may devoure.
2ly, Satan ſometimes changes perſonages,2. Head. All his perſonatings. and all the paines that he induſtriouſly takes under different perſons is, to turn poor ſoules out of the way. You have him ſometimes as a Lawyer at the Bar, ſometimes as a Miniſter in the Pulpit, ſometimes as a Souldier in the field.
1. As a Lawyer at Barre.Firſt, You ſhall finde Satan ſometimes acting the part of a Lawyer at the Barre. And what is the buſineſs of a corrupt Lawyer, is the buſineſs of Satan that ſet him on worke. 'Tis ſaid, Amos 2.7. They turne aſide the way of the meeke: that is in judgement. If a man be not of a contentious ſpirit, though he be in the way of right, yet his way is turned aſide; ſo Amos 5.12. They take a bribe, they turne aſide the poor from their right. This is Satans very buſineſſe, to turne poore ſoules as (a Lawyer) out of the way of their right. And have you never ſeen a corrupt Lawyer ſweat at a bad Cauſe? ſuch paines will Satan take, to turne aſide the way of poore ones: ſo Zach. 3.1. He ſhewed me Joſhuah the high Prieſt, ſtanding before the Angell of the Lord, and Satan ſtood at his right hand to reſiſt him. It was the High Prieſts Office to ſtand and plead with God for the people. It was it ſeemes, Satans worke to ſtand at his right hand, and to plead againſt both him and them. So when a poore ſoule goes to plead at the Throne of Grace, Satan will be ſure as an adverſe ſolicitor to bee there, and to plead againſt them. And as ſome have obſerved it to be the worke of corrupt Lawyers, to invalidate the ſuite of poore ones, on whoſe ſide the right hath beene by defaming themſelves, or their witneſſes, by Obloquies, Opprobri…, Calumnies, and reproaches, and all to turn their right out of the waie, juſt ſo doth Satan. What? ſaith Satan, doſt thou come to the Throne of Grace as intereſted in God? What? thou a Believer? thou a Child of God? Remember ſuch a day what a lie thou toldſt, remember what a vaine heart thou haſt had, what a worldly minde, how proud and how paſſionate thou haſt been: and if thou canſt now prove a beleever, who may not? with ſuch like wretched Calumnie…, is this corrupt ſolicitor Satan, ready to turne our very prayers, and repentance, and faith, and all out of the way: I appeal herein to your own experiences.
Secondly,2. As a ſouldie… in the field. You have Satan ſometime perſonating a ſouldier in the field, and ſtill his buſineſſe is to turne poor ſouls out of their ground and way. Paul ſaith, 2 Tim. 4.7. I have fought a good fight, I have kept the faith, I have finiſhed my courſe. So if you would keepe the way of believing, which is your way, and finiſh your Courſe therein; you muſt reſolve to fight for it, there's no holding your ground otherwiſe, therefore ſaith Paul to you alſo, Put on the whole armour of God, that you may be able to stand againſt the bewildrings of the Devill. Eph. 6.1. Sure it requires the ſhield of faith, the Helmet of hope, the breaſt plate of righteouſneſſe, &c. (and all theſe require the management of a ſouldier) to ſtand your ground, to withſtand your Adverſarie in the evill day, and then having done all to ſtand.
Thirdly,3. As a Miniſter in the Pulpit. you have Satan ſomtime perſonating a Miniſter in the Pulpit, what paines ſhould a godly and Conſciencious Miniſter take to lead into, and to keep poor ſouls in the way? ſuch will Satan take to turne them aſide from the way. 2 Cor. 11.14, 15. Satan himſelf is transformed into an Angell of light: therefore it is no great thing, if his Miniſters alſo be tranſformed as the Miniſters of righteouſnes. What ſad experience have we of the preaching-Devill, and of the pulpit-Devill in theſe times, in thoſe that are ſo ſadly and ſtrangely led away, 1 Tim. 4.1. You have mention made of theſe two together, ſeducing ſpirits and Doctrines of Devills. The ſpirits that preach the Devills Doctrine, will be ſure to be ſeducing ſpirits. This is a truth however that place be underſtood.
Thirdly,3. Head. All his practices. you ſhall find Satan engaged in different practiſes, and all in order unto ſoul-bewildrings. His waitings, his watchings, his huntings, his wreſtlings, &c. are laborious imployments; yet he is ſedulous and diligent in them all unto this end. As
Firſt, you have Satan waiting upon God,1. His waiting. or upon the ſoul. For Satan to wait upon God, I believe is the hardeſt ſervice to him imaginable, certainly that damned and deſpairing ſpirit cannot but tremble even to the height of an helliſh horror, when he looks God in the face; yet upon God, for all that, will hee wait amongſt the ſons of God. Iob. 1.6. and you may finde the end of this was to turne the upright man into crooked paths. Yea, beloved, Satan will ſtand as a ſuiter and wait as a Petltioner at Gods door. Simon Simon, Satan hath deſired to have thee? and what did hee with Peter when hee had him? he led him firſt into temptation, and into a tranſgreſſion by the temptation.
2. His watching.Secondly, You have Satan watching, as 'tis ſaid of the wicked. Pſ. 10.8, 9. He lies in the lurking places of the Villages, in the ſecret places doth he murther the innocent: His eyes are privily ſet againſt the poor. He lyeth in wait ſecretly as a Lyon in his Den. Friends, know that Satan lies in the very ſecret places of your hearts to watch your hearts, and if he watch them, 'tis to this purpoſe, that the rentings of a Lyon, even that a Wilderneſſe-death may come upon them. No ſooner were Davids eyes upon Bathſheba, but Satans eyes were as intently upon David.
3. His hunting.Thirdly, you have Satan hunting, and that's laborious Exerciſe. Jeremiah laments in Lam. 4.18, 19. They hunt our ſteps that we cannot go in our ſtreets. Our perſecutors are ſwifter then the Eagles of Heaven, they purſued us upon the Mountains, they laid wait for us in the Wilderneſſe. If you view this ſcripture with a ſpirituall eye, and do but think of your ſpirituall perſecutors, you may take up a ſadder lamentation. Surely Satan is a mighty hunter (upon the account of that ſcripture) 2 Tim. 2.26. That they may recover themſelves out of the ſnare of the Devill, that we (foreign) the word ſignifies, taken alive (in hunting) by Satan at his will. Therefore ſaith the Apoſtle, in the verſe before, if peradventure God would give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth: You may eaſily ſee whither it is that Satan leads them, that hee takes alive in hunting.
Fourthly, You have Satan wreſtling,4. His wreſtling. and that Exerciſe you know calls out all the ſtrength, and requires choiceſt diligence. Now all the paines that hee takes in wreſtling too, is, to caſt them, and ſo to throw them out of the way. That you may be able to ſtand againſt the methods of Satan. Eph. 6.11. For wee wreſtle not with fleſh and blood, but with principalities and powers. ver. 12.
Firſt, Then if it be ſo, Uſe If Satan take ſuch paines to bewilder ſouls. 1. Conviction to ſinners that are ſo mad as to take paines to bewilder themſelves.that Satan takes ſo great pains to bewilder poor ones, let me ſpeak to the mad wanderers, and bewildred wretches of the World, whom Satan cannot take paines faſt to bewilder, but they will take paines enough themſelves to bewilder their own ſoules; as if the Devill could not lay ſnares enough for the unclean perſon, or the like, he will lay them for himſelf. You have mention of ſome, Iſa. 30.11. that ſay to the Prophets, Go you out of the way: turn aſide out if the path, and cauſe the holy one to ceaſe from us. That is, turn you aſide that you may turn us aſide. Oh! how ſad is it where a man ſhall ſay to his Miniſter, or to his Conſcience, that ſhould be his Guide, goe you out of the way, and turne aſide. You need not take paines to tempt the tempter, hee can tempt you faſt enough without being tempted by you.
Secondly, If Satan take ſuch paines to bewilders us,2. Exhortation to become laborious unto God in the keeping of our way. let thoſe that hear me this day, become a laborious people to the Lord. I remember what the Poet ſaith
Ut jugulent homines, ſurgunt de nocte latrones.
Ut …eipſum ſerves non expergiſceris —
Shall theeves take paines to kill men, and not men to keep themſelves? ſhall Satan take paines to get you into, or to keep you in the Wilderneſſe, and not you to get or to keep your way? withſtand, my brethren,Encouragemeet herunto. in the evill day, and when you have done all, ſtand. Eph. 6.13. Alas! ſaiſt thou, this I ſhould doe, but this I know not how to do. I am afraid to ſtand it out againſt Satan.
We ſhall have Gods armour and ſtrength.If I be but in the dark or alone. Oh! how ſhal I doe to ſtand or keep my way? Why? to this the Apoſtle tells you. ver. 10. be ſtrong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. ver. 11. Put on the whole armour of God, that you may be able to ſtand.
The Lord Chriſt hath taken as much pains to ſecure thee in thy way as Satan can to turne thee aſide.If thou with a whip be afraid to adventure to turne an armed man out of the way; yet when a ſtronger then he ſhall come, and not onelyonly arme thee, but ſecond thee, not only give thee whole armor, but his whole ſtrength is laid out for thee; of whom ſhouldſt thou now be a friend? Take faith for a ſhield, and hope for an helmet, and the word for a ſword, and Chriſt for thy ſtrength, and what can Satan do unto thee? Never were paines taken by Satan againſt thee, but the Lord Chriſt hath taken as great, yea greater, to ſecure thee. If Satan creep; Chriſt was humbled. If Satan riſe up upon his feet; Chriſt alſo is riſen. If Satan walk to and fro, up and down in the Earth. You know Chriſt hath done as much, and his eyes doe as much continually. If Satan run and range to devour; ſurely Chriſt will make haſt to deliver.
Again, If Satan turn Lawyer at the Bar to turne thy faith, or prayer, or title, or right to Heaven, out of the way, and ſtand at Ioſuahs right hand to reſiſt Ioſuah; Chriſt the Angell will bee ſure to ſtand at the Devills right hand, to reſiſt him, and to ſay, the Lord rebuke thee Satan. Zech. 2.2. the Lord ſaid, the Lord rebuke thee (that is, I am perſwaded) the Lord Chriſt ſaid ſo to the Lord God the Father. If Satan take the paines of a Miniſter in Pulpit to deceive thee; Chriſt who is annointed a Prophet and preacher of the Goſpell of truth will take much more pains to undeceive thee. If Satan as a Souldier fight againſt thee; Chriſt did undertake as thy Protector, with his whole. ſtrengh and armory (as you have heard) to ſecure thee
Again, If Satan wait either on God or thee, that hee might have thee to tempt thee; Chriſt doth wait with more carefulneſſe upon both to pray for thee, that thy faith faile not. So ſaith himſelf. Luk. 22.32. and thus as Satan watcheth you, Chriſt watcheth Satan. If Satan hunt after you to take you in his ſnare; Chriſt will alſo purſue and hunt after Satan to take him in his own ſnare; And ſo Satan ſhall be reſerved in chaines for ever. Jude 6. If Satan wreſtle with you, and you fear leſt you ſhould get the fall; know Chriſtians, that Chriſt hath already wreſtled with him, and prevail'd, when Satan would have caſt him down from the pinnacle of the temple, the Lord Chriſt threw him down into the bottomleſſe pit; therefore what ever paines Satan takes, hee is ſtil but a Lyon in his grate, or a chain'd bear to thoſe that are ſtrong in the ſtrength of Jeſus Chriſt, therefore reſiſt him ſtedfaſt in the faith.